I know a lot of this stuff is very hard to believe in. But just look around you , it is coming to pass ll around us. If you don;t believe me , pray the rosary, go and as Our Blessed Lady yourself. The Church is going into a serious skid and is about to crash and bang. Mary will save the day, but we need to get our spiritual seat belts right on. We're going into a serious head on.
I too believe its about to hit the fan and we need to be as ready for it as possible. The most dangerous lie however is the one that is closest to the truth. That is the one with most potential to draw the faithful away from the true Faith or if you like to deceive the elect. By instict and evidence we know that traditionalists and modernists lie on the edges of the bed. Their ways have some very attractive features. But they are not the ways of the Church. The remnant will not come from them but only from The Centre or The Heart. Stay in the middle and you won't fall out. "Virtue stands in the middle" and without obedience there is no virtue. When we consecrate ourselves to the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary, pledging obedience to them and their One True, Catholic and Apostoslic Church I am sure they will preserve our souls to life everlasting.
No one is going to argue with that Joe . Exactly where the middle actually is, may come as a surprise to us all.
Yes it may. But the more we surrender our wills and our lives to God the less we will have to be concerned with finding the middle. It will find us. Joy is the satisfaction of a soul surrendered to God. Unless you are an innocent child it is not just a happy clappy reaction. We know who God is. We know what God is. Jesus is God. Communion is Jesus. We are fortunate indeed to have such a Mother in heaven but infinitely more fortunate to have such a Saviour on earth. This is why we have been asked to visit the blessed Sacrament often and to give more importance to the Eucharist. We have to stay close to Jesus. We have to stay in the middle. Only in the Catholic Church can we attain such proximity to Jesus. There is no Salvation outside the Church. Again, don't fall off the edge. Pull those on the edge into the middle by your love. Witness to the truth and live good lives as commanded by Our Lady. "By this shall all men know thst you are my disciples, that you love one another." There is plenty room in the middle of the bed. If we drift to the sides and fall out there is still time to get back in........but not much.
I have just seen the overwhelming majority of my fellow , 'Catholics', here in Ireland just come out publically and vote for sexual perverts getting married, Joe. A traditionalist Catholic by definition would never vote for such a thing. The position of the Catholic Bishops here gives cause, even, for some concern. So the question is, if the Holy Spirit is with the centre or heart of the Church why is the centre or heart of the Church not with the Holy Spirit? All I can say is, give me a Catholic Traditionalist anytime who opposes sexual perversion (and they all do) to the majority of main line Irish Catholics who have given their blessings to it. The heart of the Church has effectively been poisoned. There is no middle of the bed here in Ireland. The middle of the bed has turned Protestant. http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2015/05/gay-marriage-will-split-the-catholic-church/
You have the benefit of a reasonable upbringing and a half decent Catholic education . What of the youth ? Where is their middle?
Numbers: Catholics are More Liberal than You Think The weekly report on research and demographics of the secular movement by Julie Esris Same-sex couples and their allies in Ireland had reason to celebrate last week. In a national referendum, 62.1% of the voting population said “yes” for the legalization of same-sex marriage. This means that Ireland’s constitution will now be amended to define marriage as the union between two people, regardless of sex. It may seem a bit surprising that same-sex marriage is now legal in Ireland. After all, divorce was illegal until 1996, and abortion is still illegal under most circumstances. But after examining some polls, it may not be as surprising as one might think. Oddly enough, studies have indicated that, despite the Catholic Church’s official stance on issues such as stem-cell research, contraceptives and, yes, same-sex marriage, individual Catholics are among the most liberal Christians. Unfortunately, the most comprehensive polls around these issues were conducted with Americans, but the information may still prove valuable. A 2009 Gallup poll revealed that 62% of American Catholics are slightly more likely than non-Catholics to support stem-cell research. 71% of Catholics find divorce morally acceptable, as opposed to 66% of non-Catholics. 67% of Catholics versus 57% of non-Catholics believe that sex between an unmarried man and unmarried woman is moral. 61% of Catholics versus 52% of non-Catholics believe that having a baby outside of wedlock is okay. 54% of Catholics find homosexual relations morally acceptable, versus 45% of non-Catholics. Another issue, the death penalty, is often positively correlated with religious adherence. However, only 61% of Catholics support the death penalty, whereas 68% do not. The only issue examined that Catholics were less likely to support than non-Catholics was abortion, but only slightly so: 40% versus 41%. Of course, when comparing regular churchgoing Catholics to non-churchgoing Catholics, the numbers are quite different: the acceptability of the aforementioned issues is much lower for regular churchgoing Catholics, even, strangely enough, in regards to the death penalty. However, non-churchgoing American Catholics are still more liberal on these issues than churchgoing non-Catholics. Abortion is morally acceptable for 52% of non-churchgoing Catholics versus 19% of churchgoing non-Catholics, 77% versus 30% on the moral acceptability of sex between an unmarried man and woman, 77% versus 46 % on the question of divorce, 70% versus 45% on stem-cell research, 70% versus 29% on having a baby outside of wedlock, and 61% versus 29% on homosexual relations. Moral acceptability of the death penalty is very similar between churchgoing Catholics and non-churchgoing non-Catholics, at 67% versus 66%. A 2014 Pew study closely corroborates the Gallup data on Catholics’ stance on homosexuality, revealing that American Catholics are among the least likely group of Christians to think that homosexuality is sinful, at only 44%. Unfortunately, a major issue with this poll and the Gallup poll is that they only surveyed American Catholics, and there was no comprehensive report to be found about Irish Catholics’ stance on homosexuality. However, a study released in 2011 indicates that almost half (47%) of Irish Catholics have an unfavorable view of the Irish Catholic church, possibly because of the recent sex-abuse scandals that have occurred in Ireland and elsewhere. 24% held a favorable view, and another quarter had no view either way (It is tempting to consider whether similar disillusionment of the Catholic church is also largely responsible for American Catholics’ more liberal stances on moral issues). Additionally, research has shown that the degree of religiosity has significantly dropped in Ireland, and that it is among the least religious nations. In fact, a study released in 2012 revealed that 78% of self-identified Irish Catholics do not actually adhere to Catholic teachings, and only 34% even go to church at all. Only 18% of churchgoers go to church regularly. Ireland is clearly becoming less and less religious, despite the illegality of abortion and divorce only having been legalized recently. While some archaic laws remain, the outcome of the referendum on same-sex marriage strongly suggests that lawmakers and the general population hold very different views. It is likely that same-sex marriage was legalized in Ireland, not because of decisions of lawmakers but because of decisions of the liberal, irreligious, only-nominally-Catholic people. Perhaps same-sex marriage would not have been legalized had the decision been made by politicians and not in a national vote.
Padraig asked ... So the question is, if the Holy Spirit is with the centre or heart of the Church why is the centre or heart of the Church not with the Holy Spirit? Because ..“He who should speak seasonably will remain silent.'' Our Lady of Quito
Appearances can be deceptive. Those who support and promote the homosexual agenda cannot be Catholics. If you sign up to play soccer, unless you are the goal keeper, you cannot pick the ball up in your hands and run with it. If you do you get penalized and if you persist you get thrown off. Eventually you will be excluded from the team. You cannot call yourself a soccer player even if you look like one. Just so, people who say that homosexual marriage is pleasing in the sight of God cannot call themselves Catholics. They are not part of the team. They are playing another game. Their decision is worth nothing. They are far from the true heart of the church. So the answer to your question is that ....it is late Saturday night and I am very tired. Will look at this in the morning.
Interesting analogy, while they will tell us they cant change the game of soccer ,they will change the rules , and everyone will be goalkeepers and can handle the ball. [after all, that would help embrace everyone] 1nil to Ecumenism
If we who are faithful and ardent Catholics are confused by what is going on then God help us all as we are headed for choppy waters in the next few months.
I think the Church as it is at the moment is very deceptive. If you look at it superficially , from the outside, it is huge and imposing, like a great whale. However when you walk up to it and walk a little closer you start to see a great white glistening skeleton being eaten away by worms. Because the Church has huge great buildings, Universities, hospitals, the most efficient bureaucracy in the world, an imposing hierarchy, lots of money , historical and cultural punch , huge paper number membership and so we all of inclined to put up a , 'Buisness as usual ', sign , no matter what. But my own believe is that this is all a mirage. That the Church is rapidly rotting and decaying before our eyes. I know this is not a popular or usual way of looking at things . But look at a great huge tree whom the woodsmen are taking the ax too. To the very last minute it looks like things are fine; then suddenly the whole thing falls over. That is the way the Church is now, a rotting skeleton with an excellent bureaucracy. Pope Francis certainly knows this, he has said it...in so many words. View attachment 2989
The roots , will never die . Our Lord has promised us this. Cardinal Oddi and Ciappi who both read the Secret of Fatima spoke about the APOSTASY in the Church, and Card. Ciappi added that "APOSTASY will begin at the TOP", What is rotten will fall.
A thing may never die but return to being a little seed. If only one Faithful Catholic remained on the face of the Earth the Church would continue to exist. One Faithful Catholic on the face of the Earth is not a success story. Certainly , in Ireland at least if previous generations could view the Church in Ireland at the present day, people who gave their lives, their freedom their very blood for the Faith they would indeed swoon in horror and unbelief. Saying the Church will continue is as hollow as a Doctor telling a cancer patient his nails will continue grow for a few days after he dies. I just don't think people are being realistic about what is going down here. Mary knows, which is why she is being sent from heaven. The Immaculate Heart of Mary...the Church will Triumph, but this victory will only grow out from complete and utter failure. Like Jesus we are to die on the Cross, be buried and on the third day rise again.
Exactly Mac. They have done it here in the US with the constitution, it (the constitution) as George W Bush said, is just a piece of paper. I just read a piece by Charlie Johnston (whom I admire greatly) spinning the new encyclical from Pope Francis (he does sign it doesn't he) about climate change. I believe CJ is spinning and dancing around the fact that, if true, our pope is jumping in bed with the enemies of the church on this issue. Plain and simple. Our Holy Father has been the best example for the poor, disadvantaged, basically the social gospel. He has been fearless in his defense of Christians in the middle east, but silent on the ravages of the homosexual agenda and the damage done to countless souls from it. To Mark Mallet, what about that field hospital, don't their souls count. Why is the church putting "a bushel basket over the light of Christ"? What happened to the "new springtime"?
....... and election year after election year near 50% of American "Catholics" vote for the Political Party of Abortion, Sexual Perversion/"marriage" and godless BigBro Government ...... and 50% of Catholic Colleges aren't If God does not step in soon with a big "Wake-Up" Call, then He will have to apologize to Sodom & Gomorrah! GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
When I was camping I saw an old statue head of Janus. The two headed God. It reminded me of something the Irish post Yeats once said. He said the Socialist/ liberal will always be concerned with the wrongs that everyone else is doing. The spiritual person will always look inward to see what he himself is doing wrong. I think this is the touchstone of true litmus test of true spiritual teaching ,that it makes us look inward at our own faults rather than outward at the faults at everyone else. We point the finger at our own nose rather than anyone else. In other words it is not a social, political, psychological Gospel or whatever....it looks within, it is spiritual.
Sir John Harrington's famous quote comes to mind in these times: "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? Why, if it prosper, none dare call it treason!" Sir John was speaking of civil affairs but one can easily apply this to the Church today (as well as USA/Europe Society). The useful idiots of satan be they the Gay or Environmental or Socialist Lobby have become so powerful within the hierarchy of the Church that "none dare call it treason" ....... and why, I believe, God will very soon lead a grass root movement to re-take His Church. Maranatha!! GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
Yes, Denis, these are difficult times. I was just thinking today that people who do not pray at these times will most certainly be lost and dragged away to hell. Of course the Catholic Cathechism , quoting Saint Alphonsus Ligouri has always taught us, 'Those who pray will most certainly be saved, those who do not pray will most certainly be damned'. But this is more true today than ever before. We are surrounded on all sides by heresy and lies. Mary help of Christians be our salvation!
