By now many have heard the news that Pope Francis has fired yet another salvo at the Latin Mass. I went to find defenders of Pope Francis trying to spin this, but haven't found any. In fact, among those I often went to in order to hear 'the other side' regarding support for Pope Francis, I've seen little in recent weeks. Most defenders seem to have dropped off after President Biden announced to the world that Pope Francis sees a rabid pro-abortion politician as a model of Catholic fealty. I guess that is hard to defend unless you're a post-Catholic modernist.
Sometimes it's worth remembering that in the days surrounding that first Christmas, the religious leadership was likely no more inspiring than many see in Christian leadership today. A very unpopular 'king' ruled over the land, but in clear obedience to the power of Rome. Rome itself had recently seized control of the region and the people. Things looked dour.
Like today. Many are abandoning the Faith because I fear the faithful sparred with the rising modern secularism from a point of naiveté. They believed there was common ground, and assumed good will and the search for objective truth from anyone but the faithful. That was clearly wrong. While we spent generations trying to find ways to evangelize the World, including changing and modifying anything we could to keep up with the World, it was successfully evangelizing us.
For those who have weathered the storm and strive to remain faithful to the historical, orthodox Catholic faith, future years will prove quite lonely. As lonely as those disciples who followed Jesus between so many splinter groups who went this way and that in reaction to the spirit of the time in those days.
Just as thought as I muse on the days surrounding that first Christmas, and the troubling times in which we find ourselves today.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed, who was with child. Luke 2. 4-5
I find the title of this post so sad. True on some level but sad. It's like saying "I pray the Lord to protect the mother and her children from their abusive father and husband." I wonder what God's plans are for our current pope and the Church. From the pew sitters view things don't look so good but for a reason? As you've said before perhaps the Church is being purged, purified and our times and experiences are to make us stronger for what is to come. What is to come will not be pleasant I believe, for if we follow Christ we must remember He was put to death before He rose. As followers of Christ we should not expect to escape our own sorrows and maybe death by our enemies.
ReplyDeleteTrue that. Jesus didn't say He would bail us out if we're persecuted for His name's sake. He merely said we would be blessed. One of my sons has said if you think you would have been one of the heroes in history, there's a 95% chance you're wrong. And if you are right, watch out. Heroes have it bad. They just get the good in the end. Those who go along with the evils of the age have it easy, until the end. A bit broad I'll admit, but not too far from the truth.
Delete"One of my sons has said if you think you would have been one of the heroes in history, there's a 95% chance you're wrong"
ReplyDeleteVery wise your son. Reminds me of this one: Saints know they are sinners but there are sinners who think they saints.
"Saints know they are sinners but there are sinners who BELIEVE they are saints." Oops
ReplyDelete