Abbey-Roads2

Of Motu Poo-poo-ers and non-Catholics.

Ray of Stella Borealis sent me a link to Fr. Debruycker’s 2 Cents column from the St. Joan of Arc bulletin.  I liked it.  I thought it contained a certain wisdom, and was rather restrained, even sage-like.  Father’s column really deals with the Vatican clarification of the Catholic Church as the true Church, rather than the recent Motu Proprio on the TLM.  (I just wanted to use my term, Motu Poo-poo!) 

So a priest and a rabbi…

“I have been discussing the Pope’s statement about the primacy of the Roman Catholic faith with a variety of different friends. I asked my old friend Rabbi Oelnik his thoughts about the subject. Now some people think Rabbi Oelnik is my invisible friend, but I can tell you Dumbledore and Gandalf would disagree.

“So rabbi what do you think?”

“I’ll tell you. I am not a Rabbi because I think I am wrong. I am a very nice fellow but I believe what the scriptures say: that the people of Israel are a people chosen. I believe there are laws set in the scriptures by which I must live my life - ways to pray, ways to dress, ways to eat, ways to act. When I disagree with these teachings - and there are exceptions in emergencies - I must be able to tell myself and my people with good reason why.”

“So, your Pope believes he is not wrong either; it’s nice to know he believes in what he stands for. He must want you to clarify your exceptions and tell him why you are still Catholic. There is nothing more dishonest than to pretend you agree when you don’t. How can you ever make true progress?” “ - Fr. DeBruycker (Read the whole article.) 

The great divide.

I think the rabbi presents a valid point of view.  However, the arguing and protests he recommends seem to me to be rather pointless.  One can’t expect to change the perennial teaching of the Catholic Church.  The discussion simply reinforces my view that the current Pope’s affirmation of Church teaching is a defining moment in Church history.  Some may see it as divisive, but Christ came for division (Luke 12: 51), and those dividing lines seem to be in the process of being delineated by those opposed to Benedict XVI.  (Although, let me be quick to say, I don’t believe Fr. DeBruycker is opposed to B16.  He is a good priest.)

It seems to me the Holy Father is simply putting on the brakes, with regard to liberal interpretations of Vatican II and Church discipline, and some heads (ideas) may just go through the windshield.

I don’t know what it is.

I’ve been obsessed with Our Lady for the past several weeks.  I keep thinking about her and the Rosary and her message at Fatima.  Ever since I was very little, I have been devoted to Our Lady of Fatima, I suppose because Our Lady appeared to such young children, she seemed to be much more accessible in some way.  I also grew up in an atmosphere of expectation regarding the Third Secret of Fatima, which most expected would be revealed in 1960.

Elena’s post at Tea at Trianon today, regarding my earlier specualtion that Pope Benedict XVI may be ‘the’ Pope of the prophecies, once again returned my attention to Fatima.   Many people continue to believe there is actually more to the Third Secret than the Vatican revealed, I still don’t think there is.  In her letter dated 12 May, 1982 to John Paul II, Sr. Lucy more or less provides evidence to that effect.

Sr. Lucia’s words.

Writing to John Paul II, Sister Lucia had already supplied an indication for interpreting the third part of the “secret” in the 1982 letter to the Holy Father:  (I’m convinced the details are in the actual vision, since Lucy here repositions the text of what we already knew Our Lady said.) 

“The third part of the secret refers to Our Lady’s words: ‘If not [Russia] will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated’ (13-VII-1917). 

The third part of the secret is a symbolic revelation, referring to this part of the Message, conditioned by whether we accept or not what the Message itself asks of us: ‘If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, etc.’. 

Since we did not heed this appeal of the Message, we see that it has been fulfilled, Russia has invaded the world with her errors. And if we have not yet seen the complete fulfilment of the final part of this prophecy, we are going towards it little by little with great strides. If we do not reject the path of sin, hatred, revenge, injustice, violations of the rights of the human person, immorality and violence, etc. 

And let us not say that it is God who is punishing us in this way; on the contrary it is people themselves who are preparing their own punishment. In his kindness God warns us and calls us to the right path, while respecting the freedom he has given us; hence people are responsible” - Fatima Secret - Message and Commentary.

We already know what we need to know.

It seems to me, and as I have frequently stated - although it is only my opinion, the essential Secret has always been known.  We were missing the visual aspect only, which can lend itself to various interpretations of course.  (Too bad Sr. Lucy had not left us her own interpretation of the vision, as Don Bosco had done in respect to his dream, yet Sr. Lucy left it up to the Church to interpret the vision, known as the Third Secret.)

Though it is obvious that Our Lady’s message has not been heeded completely - primarily by the faithful - nevertheless, Our Lady will ”save the day” as it were, as evidenced by her promise: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph, the Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.”

Conversion as reunion.

Monsignor Georg Ganswein, the Holy Father’s personal secretary, recently responded to a question regarding the Pope’s desire for re-union with the Orthodox.  (This seems relevant to the Fatima prophecy, since I believe reunion with the Orthodox implies the “conversion of Russia”.)  Monsignor Ganswein stated:

“That’s nothing sensational, that’s always been the declared goal.  (Ed. note: Union with the Orthodox.) That a Pope who’s especially influenced this area theologically over the last years and decades formulates this explicitly should go without saying. Let’s not forget that the Orthodox Churches stand in Apostolic succession and therefore have a valid institution, the Eucharist and also the seven sacraments. What still needs to be clarified is the question of the primacy and the jurisdiction of the Pope. But it is a scandal that Christianity is still fractured. The restoration of the full unity of faith is certainly a great goal of the theologian-Pope.” - Interview; translated by Gerald at Cafeteria is Closed.  (Read the entire interview.)

The Catholic Church is One, Holy, Apostolic Church.  The recent reaffirmation of the Orthodox Church as Church seems to me to be a huge step forward in this Ecumenical dialog.  There is only one Church, the other communities are splinter groups, not independent “churches”, as the document made clear.  One must also understand that Sr. Lucy believed the ultimate meaning of ‘the conversion of Russia’ referred to the reunion of the Orthodox Church with Rome.

It seems to me, we can expect to see this reunion begin to take shape, perhaps relatively soon - most likely in Benedict XVI’s pontificate.  (Nothing is impossible with God!)  I’m convinced something is coming.  At the risk of sounding like Michael Chertoff, our Homeland Security Secretary, “I have a gut feeling” something is coming.  (Of course, I’m in charge of nothing and so I can talk about gut feelings all I want - Homeland Security guys probably shouldn’t.)

The Medal of the Immaculate Conception. 

I woke up this morning thinking, “Yes, it’s today, the apparitions to St. Catherine Labore began on this date in 1830!”  Actually they began on July 18, and two weeks later on this date, another of the revolutions in France, foretold by Our Lady errupted.  Interestingly enough, St. Catherine Labore was also canonized on this date in 1948.  Here is a narrative of the initial message from the events at Rue De Bac, Paris:

“The Lady continued, “The times are evil. Sorrows will come upon France; the throne will be overthrown. The Cross will be thrown down and trampled. The Archbishop will be stripped of his clothes. Blood will flow in the streets. The side of Our Lord will be pierced anew. The whole world will be afflicted with tribulations.” The Virgin appeared sad and could hardly speak as she said this. But as if giving a remedy, she pointed toward the foot of the altar and said, “Come to the foot of the altar. Here graces will be shed on all who ask for them. Graces will be shed especially on those who ask for them.”

Our Lady specified other sorrows and tribulations that were to come: There will be victims in other Religious Communities and among the clergy. The Archbishop of Paris will be killed. The whole world will be in sadness. And she gave Catherine to understand that some of these things would take place soon, and others in forty years.

Our Lady’s predictions came true. The following week, on July 27, 1830, a revolution broke out in Paris. The King, Charles X, was dethroned. The mobs desecrated churches, destroyed statues and threw down crucifixes and trampled them. Bishops and Priests were imprisoned, beaten and killed. Archbishop Hyacinth de Quelen of Paris had to flee into hiding twice to save his life.

In another revolution, that of 1848, King Louis Philippe was dethroned and went into exile. Archbishop Affre of Paris was shot while trying to plead for peace at the barricades.

Then forty years later, in September of 1870, yet another French Monarch was toppled, Emperor Louis Napoleon III, through the Franco-Prussian War. Six months later a revolution broke out in Paris. It lasted only two months; but before it was over, the sorrows and tribulations that had been predicted by Our Lady would be a matter of history. Many churches in Paris were desecrated, including the venerable church of Our Lady of Victories. Sacred things were publicly profaned. Even the graves and bodies of the dead were not spared. Many priests, both Diocesan and Religious were arrested; and finally thirty of them were executed, including Archbishop Darboy. True to the promise of the Blessed Virgin, the Vincentian Communities were saved, although the Sisters went through some very frightful moments.

After having revealed these events to Catherine in 1830, the Blessed Virgin spoke to her about many other things which were for Catherine alone. Then Our Lady disappeared. The Angel, after having led Catherine back to the dormitory, also disappeared, just as the clock struck two in the morning. The groundwork for Catherine’s mission was now laid.” - http://www.marys-touch.com/Saints/medal/medal.htm