And then there was the priest who got into his car on a lockdown Sunday morning. He was carrying a ciborium filled with hosts. He texted faithful Catholics asking if they would like to receive the Blessed Sacrament. He arrived at our home dressed in alb and stole. No words were spoken. We knelt in our doorway, tears streaming, while he gave us Holy Communion, blessed us, left, and went to the next house.
A profound moment of hope and consolation.
@Just_ebube So much for the baby's choice.
And if you do not want a DS child, then sacrifice a few months, let the child have life (the child, is, after all, the beloved child of God) and then put up for adoption.
Your child would have lived to experience life, love and beauty.
Good to have a handy microphone to enhance the message. And that nice watch. Smartphone? Air conditioning and heating? Restrooms? Arrived in car? Or plane? Train? Subway? Safe, paved streets lined with banks, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, businesses and stores that cater to all our needs. Water bottle likely at hand?
We are here in this nation sharing land, resources and the fruits of our labours over centuries. Time to recognize we all benefit from the amazing growth in goods and services.
Love and goodwill would acknowledge this situation of interdependences and insist on understanding. We are so blessed, and yet, we are trying to throw it away.
@TrendPolCa The only thing worse than a tyrant PM is cowardly MPs of his caucus who say nothing because they are afraid of losing paycheques, pensions, prestige and perks.
They are traitors to the electorate who are forced to endure the tyranny of their βelectedβ Liberal leader.
Jennifer, it is time to move on, dear soul.
Seriously, the anger pours out.
And while we must fight the good fight when we are called to it, we need to know when to bow out, especially if it harms our soul and wellbeing.
Let it go, dear soul.
Don't talk about it. Don't embrace the anger and outrage. Ask the Holy Spirit to pour peace and joy into your heart.
Watch good Catholic videos. Check out Fr. Mike Schmitz on youtube for his 400+ 15 minute youtubes of Catholic faith.
I know so many good priests, and I know there are poorly formed priests who do not serve their people well, but the former greatly outnumber the latter.
Meditate on the daily readings every day. Ask the Lord to speak to your heart through his Holy Word. He will. Trust me.
With love, I suggest strongly you need to let it go.
Yes, I so well know the harm - and the struggles not to be scandalized. I also found in myself the penchant to get angry and lash out. Sometimes it is called for. Sometimes not.
We need to know when it is called for - and when it will harm our souls, robbing us of peace, joy, kindness and self control. If we are doing the good work of pushing back, but lose these essentials, then we are likely not within the will of God for us. As they say in football, we need to drop back 10 yards and punt the ball. We may not be called to the fight.
As I mentioned earlier, the c'vid and the Church's reaction taught us a lot. Most importantly, we were reminded what the essentials are and to stick close to them and cherish them. We need to focus on their centrality and their essence as guideposts, for, in the end, all that matters for me personally (and each of us) is to get to heaven.
When we struggled with a pastor and with inept circus liturgy we began attending Ukrainian Catholic liturgies. Peace, solemnity, beauty. We must, if possible, move to where we can find peace and joy and let go of the anger. Tough, yes - but our souls must be carefully tended.
So, what is your goal? What do you hope to gain? Are you tilting at windmills? It is easy for us to fall into that trap. And we are all susceptible. We need to ask what drives our animus towards others and situations.
We need to reflect frequently on the fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness and Self Control. Is this found in me? At the end of any day I know I have fallen way short, but there is always the next sunrise, the confessional, the sacrifice of the Holy Mass, the Holy Eucharist, and the precious Word of God. We know we need to let go - and let God.
Yes, there are some rotten apples in the barrel, but I have never heard that before - and I have known a lot of priests.
So, curious minds wish to know what the point is. We are fallen, we suffer concupiscence, we sin every day. So do priests. And ministers. And rabbis. And Imams.
What matters is that we have the Sacraments even if they are confected or administered by priests who can be sinfully human.
The Mass, the Eucharist, Confession, Sacred Scripture, Teaching, Tradition. That is all that matters, and we well learned that in the last 6 years. Stay close to the Lord, pray for our priests and bishops, and witness when we can to our neighbours.