Oh brilliant. Thank God Ireland is Consecrated to Immaculate Heart of Mary. The argument that causes me a lot of confusion is when we hear people screaming this apparition or that apparition is false because they are not in OBEDIENCE to the Bishop........ OK. To whom do we go for direction if the parish Priest is not in OBEDIENCE to the Bishop....The Bishop. To whom do we go for direction if the Bishop is not in OBEDIENCE to the Pope. CONFUSION. To whom do we go if the Pope makes changes we do not approve of........ CONFUSION I know we have the tradition of our Faith to defend on this. And a duty of care for worthy reception of Holy Eucharist. I think we can only turn to Our Lord if we are confused by decisions of the Pope. Who else can help us. Blessed Mother is our only other help. And I hope you understand how confusing all this can become. If the whole Church gets infighting, what confusion is that going to cause. The trads and the libs must be loving this argument.
Yes, Julia, confusion is what we're getting from Pope Francis at a time when we need clarity. Somehow, a term my mother often used keeps popping into my head....."Sleeveen". For all the nice language, the bottom line is that the Church is not faced with any new situations. All that's new after this "love letter to the Church" is that people who couldn't receive Communion in the past due to either unconfessed or unrepented sins or an absence of a firm commitment to refrain from sin can now receive Communion. For all the talk about accompanying the sinner, the Pope's example prior to the Synod was that accompaniment boils down to a phone call telling the person in an adulterous union to shop around for a priest who will give her Communion. The Synod and subsequent exhortation were merely a rubber stamp for what was already decided, and all the supposed gaffes by the Pope were softening us up for this. At this stage, for simple Catholics like us recourse to our Blessed Mother seems to be the best option. Here's a treat for you at the start of the month of Our Lady:
Nice sentiments that wouldn't be out of place on a Valentine's card (I am not one for sentimentality as that is a shallow form of love). What I find strange is that there is no mention at AL of the 'no-fault divorce' culture that is prevalent in western societies from the 1970s which is one of the key reasons for marriage break-down. For a document that is supposed to be a comprehensive treatise on marriage and family that is simply astounding. There are serious problems within our culture. The Catholic Church is meant to be counter-cultural. But we seem to have acquiesced and given up. Perhaps, that is why Pope Francis told Catholics that we shouldn't be obsessing with abortion, 'gay' marriage and contraception (not that we were because few priests talk ever talk from the pulpit about 'those' kinds of things!) because that's just too counter-cultural and we want to want the world to think of us as those 'bad Catholics'.
Bishop: “I’m afraid you’ve got a bad egg, Mr. Jones.” Curate: “Oh, no, my Lord, I assure you that parts of it are excellent.” (From the November 9, 1895 issue of Punch, illustrated by George du Maurier.)
St. John Vianney, Cure d’Ars and Patron of Priests says: “Praise be to Jesus.” “In the world today, both secular and religious, the main problem is there is not a clear distinction between good and evil. Tolerance of evil has taken centre stage. Even within Church circles this is so. Respect for the Blessed Sacrament has diminished, as souls are not encouraged to search their hearts to determine if they are in a state of grace before approaching the altar. As sin is no longer clearly defined, a clear examination of conscience is not always possible. The percentage of sacrileges is higher than ever.”
How Should a Catechist Respond to Amoris Laetitia? Posted by Marlon De La Torre | 0 comments By now many of us have had the opportunity to either read Amoris Laetitia (Love in the Family) or more realistically review and ponder the multiple commentaries and opinion pieces on Pope Francis’s Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation. One of the most striking things to consider about this document is its catechetical applicability either for or against its approach, structure and content on the family. This is an important point to consider when discerning the content of a document such as this because from a catechetical perspective the question is; “how do I catechetically apply this information to those I teach?” Let’s keep in mind that the primal basis of catechesis rests on the faithful transmission of what Christ taught (Deposit of Faith) and what was established by Christ to bring this to fruition (the Church). All this is so we can develop an intimate relationship with Him. Regardless of the content or methodological approach expressed in any Church document the aim is typically tri-fold: reaffirm the origin of Church teaching (Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture) which in turn reaffirms the doctrine of the faith (Catechism of the Catholic Church), which in turns faithfully transmits the teachings of the Jesus Christ in a clear symphonic manner i.e. the Deposit of Faith (CCC 54 ff.). Man participates in the wisdom and goodness of the Creator who gives him mastery over his acts and the ability to govern himself with a view to the true and the good. The natural law expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and the evil, the truth and the lie (CCC 1954). The Premise of Church Documents When the Vicar of Christ issues some form of decree whether by Apostolic letter, Encyclical, Exhortation one: he is not inventing new doctrine, two: Church teaching is reaffirmed, three: the key is to bring the faithful into a deeper conversion to Jesus Christ. St. Cyril of Jerusalem describes this triune approach in the following manner: “The Church is called Catholic or Universal because . . . it teaches fully and unfailingly all the doctrines which ought to be brought to men’s knowledge, whether concerned with visible or invisible things, with the realities of heaven or the things of earth.” The great Theologian Frank Sheed once said that “Marriage is an institution whose nature and laws do not depend upon man’s choice. Marriage is what it is: God made it what it is because thus it is best for the human race. Man cannot alter it: he can only take it or leave it.” How do we respond to Amoris Laetitia as Catechists? The simple answer is to teach the faith. We can easily get caught in the temptation of being exegetes instead of being catechists in transmitting the Kerygma. Even though a document such as Amoris Laetitia this has at best some vague methodological points on how to effectively address the pastoral needs of divorced and remarried couples, it does not mean that Pope Francis Church has somehow altered Church teaching or that there is a supposed softening of the ordinary Magisterium or a compromise of the faith for the sake of certain pastoral priorities. Our most effective approach is a faithful transmission of the faith rooted in charity and clarity. These pillars are synonymous in that both aim to lead the person into a faithful and fruitful relationship with Christ. Our catechesis on marriage and the love of the family should reflect the dignity of the human person and the human condition created by God. We must not forget that on the other side of our instruction lies a human being. The vocation of marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator (CCC 1603). As I mentioned earlier, we can get caught up in being commentators of the faith rather than being teachers of the faith. Amoris Laetitia provides us with an opportunity to understand the important value in effectively proclaiming the Kerygma that lays the groundwork for our catechetical efforts to bring the faithful into a genuine relationship with Christ. As catechists our most effective pastoral response in handling any form of doctrinal confusion is to teach the doctrine of the faith. We owe it to anyone who desires to live a genuine clarity of faith. “The deepest desire of the human heart is to see another and be seen by that other’s loving look.” St. Augustine, Sermon 69 http://www.knowingisdoing.org/2016/04/14/how-should-a-catechist-respond-to-amoris-laetitia/
We are living in very difficult times for marriage and the family. I spent this afternoon talking to a young mother who teaches junior infants. She was talking about all the stress children in her class feel. Hardly any go home to Mum at the end of the school dat, it's back to the minder and eventually home to go to bed. So many only see Dad at weekends when they visit him. Children are dealing with so much brokenness. Marriages are very difficult to sustain in this pressure boiler culture that requires both to work to pay the mortgage. Pope Francis has tried to reach out to young couples and families and ask them to make time for each other. There are many good things but for me the problem is the lack of clarity on the sacredness of the Eucharist. We need to keep our powder dry, continue to pray for the Pope and the church and ask for clear teaching not a fudge on such a fundamental teaching.
The homily at Mass today was about the exhortation. It was given by a young 20 something priest, who I thought to be very orthodox. He said that the Church is a living organism, and that doctrines develop over time, and that we need to be open to the changes that the Holy Spirit is bringing to the Church. I am very confused now, because to me it sounds like he is saying that the teachings of the Church can change, and what used to be sin now isn't. Perhaps he didn't mean that, but that is what I heard. So, now I don't know what to think because to me, if the Church's teachings on sin can change, the whole thing comes crashing down. That would mean Jesus was wrong or has changed His mind. I don't believe that......so the alternative is that the Church is wrong, this priest is wrong, or I misunderstood. I am hoping I misunderstood.
Here is a comment from Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI: "There is no doubt that on this point we are faced with a profound evolution of dogma". (see http://motheofgod.com/threads/emeritus-pope-benedict-interview.8936/#post-123596 ) But to be precise, when comments are made about changes in dogma, what is really being said is that there has been a development in our understanding of our beliefs. I realise some Catholics worry about that but they shouldn't and Emeritus Pope Benedict's comment should reassure them.
I've posted this half a dozen times but I find it needs continual reminding: "If anyone says that it is possible that at some time, given the advancement of knowledge, a sense may be assigned to the dogmas propounded by the Church which is different from that which the Church has understood and understands: let him be anathema." (First Vatican Council) "I entirely reject the heretical misrepresentation that dogmas evolve and change from one meaning to another different from the one which the Church held previously." (From the Oath Against Modernism, Prescribed by Pope St. Pius X, 1910 A.D.) "For the doctrine of the faith which God has revealed is put forward not as some philosophical discovery capable of being perfected by human intelligence, but as a divine deposit committed to the spouse of Christ to be faithfully protected and infallibly promulgated. Hence, too, that meaning of the sacred dogmas is ever to be maintained which has once been declared by Holy Mother Church, and there must never be any abandonment of this sense under the pretext or in the name of a more profound understanding. May understanding, knowledge and wisdom increase as ages and centuries roll along, and greatly and vigorously flourish, in each and all, in the individual and the whole church: but this only in its own proper kind, that is to say, in the same doctrine, the same sense, and the same understanding." (First Vatican Council)
'...that there has been a development in our understanding of our beliefs.' Read it all before in the Old Testament, as thay sold out to current Pagan Culture, just before God struck them all down, What are your crazy! The Truth was always the Truth otherwise it was never the Truth in the first place. The ten commandments a thousand years ago same today ten thousand years from now the same
Looks like we're at the start of major changes in Doctrine under the guise of development or greater understanding. If his holiness Cardinal Kasper is to be believed (and his has been right about this pontificate so far) there are more changes ahead. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/c...il&utm_term=0_c5c75ce940-f244ce0e42-400081713 Don't worry, a personal relationship with Jesus covers everything, even a new definition of what he meant by adultery. After all, Jesus ate with sinners so the Church must have been wrong for the past 2000 years.
Ok, Padraig, so how do you interpret Pope Benedict's words - "... we are faced with a profound evolution of dogma". I was only trying to help those who might have a problem with Benedict's words.
Crazy!! Off course it is . If some thing is inded true it shares in the TrtTh of God Himself who is EteNral, unchangeable. SodOmy was wrong two thousand years ago. So was killing unbirn kids. STILL IS.
I think we have a problem with an obsession over the 6th Commandment. There are 10 Commandments. And to recklessly break any one of them is a Mortal sin. The queues for Confession are all but zero these days. And what have we got. A serious problem with rampant sin unconfessed. And pretty much everyone going up for Holy Communion. Surely no one thinks all the Catholics don't sin against the other 9 Commandments. Confusion reigns it seems. And has done for years. Maybe this new document will open a way for us to share our Faith with other Catholics and remind ourselves of the Truth of the teachings of the Church which have been gathering dust for years on some rectory shelf.
Just in case you missed it: "If anyone says that it is possible that at some time, given the advancement of knowledge, a sense may be assigned to the dogmas propounded by the Church which is different from that which the Church has understood and understands: let him be anathema." (First Vatican Council)
Here is my original comment with the link to the quote from Benedict: Here is a comment from Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI: "There is no doubt that on this point we are faced with a profound evolution of dogma". (see http://motheofgod.com/threads/emeritus-pope-benedict-interview.8936/#post-123596 ) But to be precise, when comments are made about changes in dogma, what is really being said is that there has been a development in our understanding of our beliefs. I realise some Catholics worry about that but they shouldn't and Emeritus Pope Benedict's comment should reassure them.
A good point, Julia. Drunkenness, working on Sunday (without sufficient cause for doing so), taking the Lord's name in vain, looking at pornography, auto-eroticism, cheating on taxes (or any other form of serious lie), disobeying legitimate authority, (and this list could go on, and on, and on) are all mortal sins. Where's the outcry against those who do these things being given Communion? Don't get me wrong, I'm as anti-adultery, anti-sodomy as anyone. But if the Pope wants to ease up pastoral practice a bit so that an invalidly married couple at least trying to live as brother/sister (even if there are many falls) can be given Communion in the process, then that's up to him as the Vicar of Christ. He has absolutely no authority to declare a mortal sin no longer a mortal sin, nor to say that one unrepentant of mortal sin can receive Communion, but he can soften the prudential guidelines on how much evidence of repentance there need be for absolution. Neither risking causing scandal (e.g. others seeing an invalidly married couple receiving), nor remaining in an occasion of sin (e.g. remaining living with one to whom you are not validly married as you try to live as brother/sister), are intrinsic evils: hence they are within the Pope's authority to "bind and loose."
