There seems to be no sense of shame among so many. On the contrary, multitudes (and of course it is not just an Irish phenomenon, but the Irish are among the most enthusiastic ) seem oddly keen to seek universal publicity, whether it be on television or the internet, and can't make a big enough 'holy show' of themselves-there seem almost no limits to the degree they will degrade themselves, whether it's for this fifteen minutes of fame or whatever is the motive. I suspect all these disgusting rings everywhere and these horrible tatoos represent the same infantile call for attention. Between that and grandmothers going sky-diving and such like, one wonders have most people lost all sense of the eternal altogether. Traditionally, one sowed wild oats when young, but then realised the errors of one's ways and grew up. Now, it's a perpetual adolescence. Ah, maybe I'm just a curmudgeon.
I agree DeGaulle. Even older people seem to have that mischievous, apostate "air" about them that seems so prevalent in Ireland at the moment.
Yes. On more than one occasion I found myself discussing what was then the upcoming same-sex 'marriage' referendum with people older than me, and on one occasion a full generation so, with the naive assumption that we would share the same views. I found myself defending man-woman marriage in vain. One was the sister of a nun. They have all been blinded by the preposterous idol that is 'equality'. They'd defend this ludicrous idea 'til death, or at least until it might be suggested their impending hip replacement be carried out by their postman.
We were all fed the idea that the referendum was about "love". It was amazing how simplistic they made it sound. I was speaking with a friend of mine and he rightly asked who are they going to pray to now when their loved ones are sick or when they themselves are sick, now that they have voted in something that has undermined the family, the institution of marriage and society as we know it. Anyone who voted yes was complicit in all of that.
As a 63 year old man who grew up in rural Ireland where the Rosary was recited every evening after milking the cows, I have seen huge changes both in Catholic faith and the revolutionary changes to our economy. When I left school in 1971 after my leaving cert I went to London to find work as Ireland was still economically depressed. Coming from a family of ten where we had very little in material wealth but a strong Catholic faith and arriving in London earning very good money I embraced the liberal and promiscuous lifestyle and saw Catholicism as outdated and past it's sell by date. I genuinely thought I had great freedom. To use a farming term, I was like a young calf being let out to fresh spring grass having been sheltered in a shed for the winter. Really I fell for it, I was so sure I had it all. Now leading a very immoral life and enjoying my new found wealth, I had shaken off the shackles of Catholicism. My long and sometimes confusing journey back to my Catholic faith was both painful and joyful. In my worst days in London, drinking heavily and sleeping around, there was always a little tug at my shirt tails, sometimes I found myself drifting into a Church for Mass on Sunday, just barely inside the back door. I can't explain this behaviour, on the one hand leading a rather enjoyable sinful life, you don't sin unless you enjoy it, and on the other hand this little tug at my shirt tails. I am convinced the family Rosary and the strong faith of my parents pulled me back from the brink. I believe Our Lady was tugging at my shirt tails, a very gentle little tug at first, but She has brought me on an amazing journey. Indeed my heart was stubborn and my progress slow. Looking back, in hindsight, from my chilhood days of the family Rosary Our Lady never gave up on me, I was a hopeless sinner who betrayed my core principles and Our Lady saved a wretch like me. I went through many painful crisis and many good people were put in my path, especially my spiritual director who came to my parish as parish priest here in Dublin in 1996, a now retired elderly man and still my confidante. I believe anything that has happened in my life is not a coincident, but part of God's plan. Reading the blogs " The state of Faith in Ireland today: How do you see it". From a human perspective everything seems hopeless. My own children do not believe, despite our best efforts as parents, in some ways we also failed. My wife and I pray the Rosary and we belong to a Rosary group. I am convinced Our Lady will bring back to the Faith my children. The two great pillars in John Bosco's dream are the only answer to saving our families and our nation, the Rosary and the Eucharist. The battle of Lepanto, Our Lady saved the Church against overwhelming odds through the power of the Rosary. There are little Rosary groups all over Ireland, Mary's little armies. We can speculate and blog about the state of Faith in Ireland, but the answer is quite simple, the power of the Rosary and Eucharistic Adoration. All the graces are in the Heart of Jesus, but Mary is the dispenser of those graces. I was a hopeless case, but Our Lady never gave up, and She won't give up on our families and on our nation. We need a new Lepanto.
I wouldn't think those chatting are evil either, just uninformed about the real presence. I recently felt compelled to speak to a person chatting in church, this would not be normal for me but I felt the Holy Spirit strongly and my heart started thumping. I asked them if they knew they were offending Jesus by talking in Church. They replied by apologising for disturbing my prayer and offending me. I had to say it a few times before they stopped and thought about what I was saying. I have seen them a few times since and they are a model Catholic now. I exchanged a sign of peace with them recently and in the handshake and eye contact I knew we understood each other with no ill will!
No, DeGaulle, you're not. You are _awake_ to something terrible and I fear growing ever more terrible in Ireland and throughout the West. Decade by decade ... But on a positive note, I still think there are significant groupings of truly pious, prayerful Christian people in Ireland, unlike anywhere else I've seen in the seven or so countries I've lived in. I recently came back from speaking at a Legion of Mary conference in Dublin - and I was amazed by the vitality and living Christianity I felt there. It was truly wonderful to see what the Legion are doing - and yet so, so much more is needed.
Went to Clonfert last week as JPII relics were there just for the day. Surprised to see huge crowd as it was packed ... not usual for that day. It was bit difficult to get it in for JP II relic's blessing as it took us a very long wait due to huge crowd. Knew there was a connection between St Faustina and JPII as i was surprised to see first class relic of St Faustina there which sort of came alive for few seconds. It never happened before , perhaps a sign that God is still working in Ireland. Yeah re evil spell as it's already here in Ireland.... i was reminded of an old prophecy that Ireland faith on the brink of dying as if almost extinct. Then it will take a spark to come back... can't rem where that prophecy was said.
Just want to add a little more after what I wrote yesterday. I didn't say it yesterday, but I was so moved by this - so much that I kept thinking about it as I went to bed and am still with it this morning: And there is something else very present in this Irish subforum that is likewise deeply moving - unlike any Internet forum I know. So hard to find the right words, but I do feel this rich, deep Christianity in the Irish rooted in the faith of the fathers (and mothers!) that speaks across the decades and calls back the lost ... Normally, I just go to Mass or Eucharistic Adoration in various churches and it is this silent thing that I feel, as I don't usually speak much with the folk there. But here in the anonymity of cyberspace, it gets expressed - again, unlike any other Internet forum I know. So rich, pious, human ... Ireland and the Irish are unlike anything else I know in the world. But now the minds and hearts of young are being colonised by globalised (usually Anglo-American) culture ... and their children won't have that family tradition to draw on. Hard to find the right words - but feel both very moved and very concerned ...
The cultural norms and traditions that were like a bed rock for the faith in Ireland are being/have been replaced as you say by a monolithic, globalised pagan culture based on materialism, greed and individualism. The secularisation of Irish culture has been happening for many decades and this culminated in the dreadful vote for abominable marriage, which for me was a watershed moment in Irish history as we officially abandoned God and embraced paganism in accepting evil as a good. There is still a remnant of course but the age profile is weighted too much in one direction for my liking!
Roger, Its lovely to see your post, as always very encouraging. I think grandparents can do a lot to keep the little flame of faith alive in the grandchildren. I see mine off to school in the morning and we always have some morning prayer to the Angel Guardian and Our lady and then we ask Jesus in their own words to help them and bless their friends and family and teachers. The kids have no problem doing that. I also have turned my garden into a prayer garden. I brought a beautiful statue of Our Lady from Medjugorje and a quite large crucifix. Dont ask me how I got them on the plane but I think Our Lady helped me there. I have set them up in 2 shrines in my garden with little wooden huts over them. I have had the rosary there on occasions. Had it last on the feast of the Assumption. I also have a bar-b-q area in the garden so we have regular fun in the garden. I have spied my little 7 year old grandson saying a private prayer to Our Lady. When I asked him what he was praying for he said an X Box. . Still he has little chats with her. Most grandparents are still practicing their faith and with a little inventiveness the grandkids can be introduced. Problem for so many parents now is the hectic pace of life and the constant treadmill. For the revival of faith its a case of constant prayer especially to Our Lady for protection of all the youth from evil influences and for the revival of faith. In Ireland we have a tradition of attending funerals to show solidarity with the bereaved and our respect for the deceased. I attended a funeral last week and it was filled with young people. The family of the deceased was a very extended family so all the friends and neighbours were there. So many young people were in attendance. These occasions can be very good for stirring up the faith. The priest gave a lovely talk on the deceased and the importance of faith and family. Im sure many of those who were present at the funeral service dont regularly attend church but they were very respectful and I think were genuinely touched by the words of the priest. Its easy to judge that people dont care but I think the culture now is very damaging.I am filled with hope despite all the stuff you hear in the media that the faith will be rekindled. Its not really gone just dormant in many.
The anti Christ is not a person, it's an ideology. You are right Roger when you say the hearts of the young are being colonised by globalised culture. It has taken over the hearts and minds of young people, even some practicing Catholics, even older people of my generation. This new secular ideology of relativism is like a silent disease that infects the minds and hearts without the victims being aware that they are infected. Pope Paul vi spoke about the smoke of Satan in the Church. This evil ideology is so sinister and obtrusive that it has turned over a complete 360 degrees. To believe in the sanctity of Marriage as designed by God is seen as bigoted, old fashioned and depriving the gay community of same sex marriage. To speak against abortion is depriving women of the right to choose. Amnesty International and the United Nations see abortion and same sex marriage as a human right. This new secular ideology is also atheistic and anti Catholic and anti Christian, it's purpose is to kill God. When you kill God you kill Love, because God is Love and those who live in Love live in God. When we kill God we start to kill one another, starting at the most innocent in the womb. We will be like rats on a desert island having devoured all the vegetation then devour themselves. Whan you expel God you expel Love and in this vacuum evil takes over.
Paddy, The Church has always been explicit that the antichrist is a person. Your description of the ideology that threatens us is very wise and accurate, but the ideology is not the antichrist. Rather, it is the ideology of the antichrist or of satan himself. Evil is personal, as Pope Paul VI knew when he warned of its presence in The Church in the person of satan. The notion that evil is merely a disease or mental illness is a gnostic error that eradicates the notion of responsibility. Evil always involves personal choice or a series of choices, perhaps mitigated in some cases by ignorance, but these choices are what it consists of, and they are always personal and will have to be answered for.
Responses, first to Mary: It's an odd thing. I recall when I wrote above that I actually started writing about the need for grandparents! And then, for some reason, I didn't. Maybe I needed to keep it short at the time. And then Mary you spoke to exactly what I wanted to say - but much more beautifully than I could. This is WONDERFUL what you are doing and needs to be encouraged in grandparents everywhere. Also your point about keeping the Faith VISIBLE via your prayer garden, large crucifix, etc. This is desperately needed. The world of the giant corporations understands the importance of simply keeping things visible. Thus, they advertise. They wants to keep visible only their products which they wish us to believe in ... In this dark age, we need to start creating these public advertisements for the faith. Very moved by all of what you write. For Paddy and DeGaulle, though differing, you are also both so right in what you see. We must make the faith visible and hand it onto the children who are being helplessly manipulated by twisted ideology rooted in active evil
Roger, The idea of the garden came to me when I was in Medjugorje right after the passing of the referendum on SSM. I attended Mirjana's apparition on 2nd June last year. I was very distraught about the referendum and I felt Our lady asking me to get a large crucifix for my garden. On my way down from the Blue Cross I met a lady selling a beautiful large crucifix so I bought it and then I got a statue of Our lady. Its been such a blessing getting my garden done and I pray there most mornings. Next weekend is Grandparents weekend in Knock. Id love to attend but cant make it this weekend. Im planning to get your book next .
We must remember that behind these corporations, no matter how large and seemingly faceless, are human beings with souls, wills and consciences. Most of us have probably heard of George Soros using his money to promote all sorts of iniquity around the world, but he is just one we know of. There are probably very many more, perhaps uninterested in publicity and fame. I suspect that an element or more among the multinationals based in this country share similar ambitions and are busily driving the secularist agenda. The money available, as recent headlines demonstrate, is incomprehensibly large-greater than our own GDP-and as some of our olympians and charities have shown clearly, where there is soft money there is a strong likelihood of corruption. Scratch beneath the surface of any source of evil and one will find a person (or persons). It has been so since Lucifer's great fall. Wicked ideologies find their source in wicked ideas within the minds of wicked people.
I don't know what anyone else makes of this. Gay "married" couple resign from Church choir in Kildare after apparently coming under pressure: http://www.independent.ie/irish-new...er-text-from-religious-activist-35034550.html
They were right to be 'pressured'. They are giving scandal. Their fantasy 'marriage' is a mockery and they should not hold a position of leadership of any kind. What next-abortion doctors distributing the collection baskets like the one in the Episcopalian Church in America some years ago (he ended up being shot-difficult to say whether his killer committed a sin or engaged in war-one who killed an SS guard in a concentration camp would never have been condemned)? Not to prevent public stands such as by these two women is to consent to them. To consent is to declare there is no sin.
