Amen, sister! St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen!
The indissolubility of marriage. CCC: 106 The matrimonial union of man and woman is indissoluble: God himself has determined it "what therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder." 107. This unequivocal insistence on the indissolubility of the marriage bond may have left some perplexed and could seem to be a demand impossible to realize. However, Jesus has not placed on spouses a burden impossible to bear, or too heavy - heavier than the Law of Moses.108 By coming to restore the original order of creation disturbed by sin, he himself gives the strength and grace to live marriage in the new dimension of the Reign of God. It is by following Christ, renouncing themselves, and taking up their crosses that spouses will be able to "receive" the original meaning of marriage and live it with the help of Christ.109 This grace of Christian marriage is a fruit of Christ's cross, the source of all Christian life.
It seems to me one of the problems that has put great pressure on the sacrament of Holy Matrimony is; because for years and years women were told to obey their husbands. The whole weight of responsibility was put on women to obey and put up with abuse physical and mental. When did any of us who are older remember men being told from the pulpit or from the catechism that men should love their wives like they love themselves. And that God would judge them on the way they treated their wives. All I ever remember hearing is how women have to obey their husband. I think that is why the sacrament of Marriage has crumbled for so many younger females, who are not prepared to be treated like slaves with benefits. Sorry but the Church needs to say sorry to females for the way they have ignored the sins committed against them with the Church staying silent for too long. And if you think this is nonsense, look at the women in Russia who are making their voices heard after their government made cruelty to women of less importance under the law.
*C+ occopalmerio explains that the Church “could admit to Penance and Eucharist the faithful who find themselves in illegitimate unions [who] want to change that situation, but can’t act on their desire” because “they would fall in a new sin.” Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio has “unpacked [Amoris’s] rich doctrinal and pastoral message.”https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/c...h-doctrinal-cardinal-over-communion-for-adult Well that's pretty clear. Does anyone still want to defend sacrilege?
Pope St Pius X...I hold with certainty and sincerely confess that faith is not a blind sentiment of religion welling up from the depths of the subconscious under the impulse of the heart and the motion of a will trained to morality; but faith is a genuine assent of the intellect to truth received by hearing from an external source. By this assent, because of the authority of the supremely truthful God, we believe to be true that which has been revealed and attested to by a personal God, our creator and lord. The purpose of this is, then, not that dogma may be tailored according to what seems better and more suited to the culture of each age; rather, that the absolute and immutable truth preached by the apostles from the beginning may never be believed to be different, may never be understood in any other way. http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius10/p10moath.htm
Oh Julia, I'm so sorry to hear that this has been your experience! I wonder if this is a generational experience, or a regional one, or both. Personally, it's rare to hear a priest talk about wives needing to obey their husbands, in my experience. I have a *challenging* husband myself, and am quite outspoken and stubborn. It's only been by reading old Catholic books by saints that have words of wisdom regarding difficult marriages that I have tamed my own tongue and learned the value of what is being communicated in the scriptures. It has truly helped, in my opinion. Of course, men should also love their wives as their own bodies as the scripture says, but in my experience both passages (in fact more so for the men) have been preached. Today is the polar opposite, and women allow themselves to be raunchy and crude, as my country's recent "women's March" demonstrated. We should definitely pray that women be as they were created by God to be, and men as they were created to be
http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/5425/cardinal_coccopalmerios_blow_upon_a_bruise.aspx Cardinal Coccopalmerio's blow upon a bruise Left: Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, in aSept. 8, 2015, file photo. Right: Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is pictured in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in this Nov. 19, 2014, file photo. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) Evelyn Waugh’s character Charles Ryder described his friend Sebastian’s protracted acts of self-destruction as “a blow, expected, repeated, falling upon a bruise, with no smart or shock of surprise, only a dull and sickening pain and the doubt whether another like it could be borne” (Brideshead Revisited, 1945) . I thought of Waugh’s words as I read, in the wake of the Maltese Disaster and the German bishops’ slightly more nuanced program to the same effect, some excerpts translated from Francesco Cdl. Coccopalmerio’s new, short book on Pope Francis’ Amoris laetitia. If the excerpts I read are accurate, the President of the Pontifical Council of Legislative Texts (the body charged with issuing binding interpretations of ecclesiastical legal texts, notably the Code of Canon Law), comes down squarely on the side of the Maltese and Germans in holding that Catholics living in open contradiction to Church teaching on the permanence of marriage and in disregard of Church teaching that marriage is the only proper setting for sexual intercourse, may and should, after “an appropriate period of discernment”, be admitted to the sacraments of Reconciliation and holy Communion. Per Rorate Caeli, Coccopalmerio holds: “The divorced and remarried, de facto couples, those cohabiting, are certainly not models of unions in sync with Catholic Doctrine, but the Church cannot look the other way. Therefore, the sacraments of Reconciliation and of Communion must be given even to those so-called wounded families and to however many who, despite living in situations not in line with traditional matrimonial canons, express the sincere desire to approach the sacraments after an appropriate period of discernment . . . Yes, therefore, to admission to the sacraments for those who, despite living in irregular situations, sincerely ask for admission into the fullness of ecclesial life, it is a gesture of openness and profound mercy on the part of Mother Church, who does not leave behind any of her children, aware that absolute perfection is a precious gift, but one which cannot be reached by everyone.” Fr. Z’s red-line translation reads similarly. These words, assuming they accurately reflect the cardinal’s position, are more blows upon a swollen bruise. It is important to recall that, despite being published by the Vatican’s publishing house and to be rolled out in a Vatican press conference {which it seems the cardinal suddenly backed-out of attending this morning}, Coccopalmerio’s book does not suffice as a vehicle for “authentic interpretation” of canon law itself, let alone is it a response by the Holy See to the Four Cardinals’ dubia—important, I say, because Coccoplamerio apparently stakes out, along with the Maltese and the Germans, an extreme position on reception of sacraments by divorced-and-remarried Catholics—a position not actually taken, whatever might be his personal predelictions, by Pope Francis in Amoris—one that effectively endorses the absolution of those who do not, at the time of their Confession, intend to amend their conduct (contrary to the canonical and ecclesial values behind Canons 959 and 980) and which places confessors in proximate danger of committing the crime of solicitation in Confession. Further, by urging ministers of holy Communion to distribute the sacrament to those who “obstinately persevere in manifest grave sin” (contrary to the canonical and ecclesial values behind Canon 915), Coccopalmerio’s advice not only facilitates the irreverent reception of holy Communion, it tends toward giving what the Church has always recognized as classical scandal. Of course, those undeterred by my arguments offered on these points elsewhere are unlikely to be persuaded by my repeating them here, so I simply note them and move on, except to make one observation. A few weeks ago, Cdl Muller of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith gave an interview that upheld the traditional practice of withholding holy Communion from divorced-and-remarried Catholics. Now, Cdl Coccopalmeria has published a booklet in which he apparently says that, subject only to the toothless requirement of ‘discerning their situation’, such Catholics may and should be admitted to holy Communion. In other words, the Church’s arguably two highest-ranking cardinals in the areas of canonical interpretation and the protection of doctrine and morals are in public, plain, and diametric opposition with each other concerning a crucial canonico-sacramental practice. This division cannot stand.
The divorced and remarried, de facto couples, those cohabiting, are certainly not models of unions in sync with Catholic Doctrine, but the Church cannot look the other way. Opens the pathway to our rainbow friends to receive communion --- I have always believed this is the ultimate aim of the progressives -- 'Discernment' is really just an excuse and a temporary arrangement that will soon be ignored by most priests. The Church cannot look the other way? It is looking the other way and effectively abolishing the 6th and 9th commandments. After all the law is too rigid!
This article is good in highlighting the significance of Cardinal Coccopalmerio's views and the division of opinion it illustrates with Cardinal Muller's views. There is no escaping the differences in views but we have no way of knowing the proportion of bishops and cardinals who support each view. As the article says at the end, "This division cannot stand.". It cannot, but the Lord has provided for these divisions in giving us Peter to be always the rock on which the Church stands.
What is the principle of contradiction? In a nutshell, it’s this: a thing cannot be and not be at the same time. Saint Thomas Aquinas shows that not even God can deny the principle of contradiction, the absolute law of the order of being, because it is impossible for God to will the absolutely impossible (Summa Contra Gentiles, Book 1, chap. 84). So someone cannot be married (in the eyes of God) and be in an irregular union at the same time without breaking God's law!
Hello all. I hope it is ok if I post a few words here. I have been reading the forum for sometime but am not a regular poster. I feel compelled to say a few things however. For a while I was alarmed by the tone and nature of some of that posts here, particularly in regard to the Holy Father and those in the Vatican. However it has become clear that our Mother Church is in grave need and the Truth that she has carried through the ages is in danger. Indeed there is a great battle for truth not just in the Church but in the public, political and social spheres (gender identity, gay marriage, post-truth society, etc). While there have been many trials in the Church to date this, perhaps, has the makings of one of the greatest. Why else would our Blessed Mother visit this earth so often in the last 150 years or so.to warn us to pray, pray, pray and do penance? I know there are numerous Marian apparitions, both approved and non approved, with different messages given in each but the abiding, constant message is for us to pray and do penance. God alone knows exactly what is ahead for us. The Church is on its Via Dolorosa. It is 100% human but also 100% divine. Ultimately it will and can only be victorious but there are most likely much suffering ahead for the people of the world before that point. So please don't waste energy on fighting amongst ourselves. Our Church needs our energy focused on the spiritual fight. There is so much need for prayer, particularly the Rosary and the Adoration of our Lord in the Eucharist. And trust in Him. I know it difficult to ignore the grave difficulties at hand. I have read a lot of St Elizabeth of the Trinity lately. She lived through turbulent times in the third French Republic whereby the French government was vehemently anti-Catholic and the Church at the time was suffering the effects of Modernism. St Elizabeth focused on the indwelling of the Holy Trinity and promised that in Heaven she would assist those in earth to bring themselves to God in totality, she would help us get out of self-occupation to enter deep silence and encounter the Lord in a transformative way. In these troubling times I recommend that you consider reading her, immersing yourself in the Lord and not the world, to ask him in deep reverential prayer for protection, to forgive the sins of the world and assist the Church and us all in this hour of need.
BrigidK, welcome! Lovely post, reminding us that prayer is the most important weapon that we have. I must read more of Elizabeth of the Trinity - so far, she's really just a name for me. ____ Coccopalmerio explains that the Church “could admit to Penance and Eucharist the faithful who find themselves in illegitimate unions [who] want to change that situation, but can’t act on their desire” because “they would fall in a new sin. Oh yeah, and what 'new sin' might that be?
So, now the divorced and remarried can receive communion "when avoiding sex is impossible". Hmmmmmm, doesn't scripture say that "all things are possible with God"? So I guess, those not married living in fornication who cannot avoid having sex can receive communion too? How about those in masturbation and porn? Surely, we cannot be exclusive to the sinners, after all liberals are all about being inclusive. How can anyone not see what is going on? Come Lord Jesus come! Cardinal: remarried can take Communion if continence is ‘impossible’ by Dan Hitchens posted Wednesday, 15 Feb 2017 Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts (CNS) Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio has published a book on Amoris Laetitia A senior Vatican cardinal has argued that the divorced and remarried can take Communion when it is impossible for them to avoid having sex. Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, has published a book on Amoris Laetitia. The cardinal says that a couple should have “absolution and access to the Eucharist as long as – I repeat – there is the impossibility of immediately changing the situation of sin.” St John Paul II and Benedict XVI reaffirmed the Church’s perennial teaching that divorced and remarried Catholics cannot receive Communion, except possibly when they endeavour to live “in complete continence”. The Vatican’s doctrinal chief, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, recently said that this doctrine could not be changed, as it rested on a parallel between marriage and the Eucharist which is essential to Catholic theology. “No power in heaven or on earth, neither an angel, nor the pope, nor a council, nor a law of the bishops, has the faculty to change it,”, Cardinal Müller said. However, some senior figures, including the two bishops of Malta, have said that the Church’s teaching could be changed. The Maltese bishops said that avoiding sex with a new partner may be “impossible”.
Luz de Maria's message on February 14, 2017 seems to be speaking sorrowfully in what it going on in his Church at this moment. "My Church allows me to be reduced to Modernism. They say that revelation ended in scarred scripture, but at this moment they change the law contrived in scripture. They attend to me with the pretension of gaining heaven for it, without repenting of their improper acts. They do not believe in my law and apply it at their whim and at their convenience. They read sacred scripture and interpret it at their convenience. How Painful! The Divine Law reduced by man to a mere interpretation that prevents man from entering into me and knowing me from within the human creature where they find me".... Luz de Maria: Christ speaks strong, but always keeping Divine Love within him. Then he say's to me: "My beloved, the preludes of the future are strong as the storm, but then children become encyst and live in the storm as if it were a normal time, until another storm comes, stronger then the one that is coming from my church and then when they do not have me near as in this moment, because I will have been hidden, then my children will groan and cry to heaven trying to find me and I will say, Do not shout , I have always stayed here with you".
Have a look at this from "The Catholic Thing". I didn't know whether it was ok to quote the full text because there's a copyright notice at the bottom of the page, so I'm providing the link instead. What’s Happening – and Where We’re Headed Fr. Timothy V. Vaverek https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2017/02/10/whats-happening-and-where-were-headed/
Welcome, Brigid. We have had a thread on St. Elizabeth: http://motheofgod.com/threads/saint-elizabeth-of-the-trinity.9501/ Safe in the Father's Arms!
Amen, Brigid. I just said this in another thread trying to get the devil out of the heads of those caught up in the whirlwind. Yes, there are troubles in our Church but Our Lady has constantly urged us to pray for the Holy Father and for our Church. So we either trust Our Blessed Mother, which I do since I'm consecrated to her Immaculate Heart, and trust her constant exhortations to pray. If she constantly asked us to revolt, rise up, get angry, yell, post gossip, undermine our Holy Father then sure I'd be leading the charge! But she didn't ask us to do that, she asked us to pray. So I try to be humble, do what she asked, keep my head down, and pray. And Trust that God has got this. Trust, Do, Love
