There is so much of what sounds like double-speak these days, it's enough to spin your head. I was just listening to the news and imagining how Joe Six Pack might understand what he heard. The Pope reportedly said that "The great majority of our sacramental marriages are null." But he followed that up by declaring: "I’ve seen a lot of fidelity in [unmarried] cohabitations, and I am sure that this is a real marriage, they have the grace of a real marriage because of their fidelity ..." Ummm. Okay. How would Archie Bunker understand that? For that matter, how would nearly anyone understand it?
Then there's the cognitive dissonance produced by the just condemnation of priestly pedophilia and pederasty (which actually turns out according to the John Jay College of Criminal Justice to be ephebophilia, or homosexual relations with adolescent young men), on the one hand, and then the existence of such respected national organizations as NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) in the wake of the gay juggernaut that brought about the Obergefalling of the Supreme Court. How would Archie understand that? Emmm ... Any heads ready to explode?
ådd to that the attention given to 18-24 years olds in Britain who think oldsters' votes should not count... After these are the people who have been working and paying taxes for decades while they have been busying listening to Adele and One Direction.. Ih, and a petition about Brexit signed by over two million, half of whom aren't Britons. Whole new brave new world...
ReplyDeleteHelterskelter is the first pope to discern the sacramental dimensions of acedia.
ReplyDeleteCatholics would sing the praises of his novelties, but they are too glum, indifferent, depressed, and slothful. `
This ----- was elected Pope. Why would anyone listen to what the hierarchy say anymore? Why wonder at the loss of faith?
ReplyDeleteThings will only get worse.
I regret, most of the time now, defending our marriage and remaining faithful to it. I am an old man now at 62. I was 35, when my life was devastated. Were it not for the love that I have for our children, I would regret having ever set eyes upon my wife. If she called me tomorrow and asked me to forgive her, I do not know that I could, even if I truly believed her repentance. Fortunately, I will never have to face that. Now, I mostly wait for death. But, why, puzzles me since I am not looking forward to seeing God, if He really exists.
It is funny, in a very ironic and painful sense, that once upon a time, I treasured being a Catholic husband and father. Now, I regret having reproduced resulting in our children having to live in such a cesspool world. I am also much more understanding of those who take their own lives, from despair and of doctors who assist them.
This is the fruit of the pastoral practices that have long been "unofficially" in place, for as far back as I remember. Jorge, merely want to make them official. Honestly, it is a name change only, not a change in practice.
[Censored by Site Owner]
Dear Karl,
ReplyDeleteYou've got to find a way to "let go and let God." Our time in this vale of tears is only a few summers, and it's gone. There is a purpose for which Jesus Christ brought us into being and planted our feet on this earth, and it cannot be to allow Satan to take away all our joy, to seethe in resentment all our years until we are old, haggard, and bitter.
Try to find a way to reach outside of yourself, to show God's love to others, to exhibit the fidelity of Job in the Book of Job when all was taken away from him and finally restored manifold in the end.
Perhaps you can reach out to your children and exhibit to them something of the loving Father that God the Father is to you. Read St. Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises, get up earlier each morning, do some exercise, and start looking around you for chances to do something kind for others. It will change you. Try it.
Love and prayer,
PP
No, thank you, Dr. B. As the song says: The thrill is gone..
ReplyDeleteKarl
Well I'm very sorry to see you turning yourself into a bitter old crotchety fart, my friend. One can grow old into hoary geezerdom with a great deal of joy in his heart even amidst tragedies in his life. As Abraham Lincoln once said, "A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be." Remember whom Lincoln was married to. Ugh. Your choice, my friend. If you want to be grumpy, I won't try to stop you any more; though I think you're missing a great deal of life. And despair can ultimately be a threat to your eternal happiness as well.
ReplyDeleteThere are two kinds of people in the world: Those who say to God "Thy will be done." And those to whom God says "Thy will be done." Hell is God's monument to human free will.
I would likely be merciful to someone who those that I CHOSE TO LEAVE IN POWER, broke.
ReplyDeleteIf, ultimately, God is real but would choose against such a man, then that man in HELL, is TRULY MORE JUST THAN GOD.
YES, I live my everyday life trying to actually do tangible good.
Karl
Karl,
ReplyDeleteYou might want to carefully re-read the Book of Job. Many of these very sorts of questions are raised in the course of Job's 'complaint' against God, as if Job were 'prosecuting' the 'injustice' of God. Job, the Good Book says, was a "righteous" man. He WAS a good man. So why did God permit this seeming injustice? You would identify with him well, I should think. Read the whole book. It's powerful, but don't neglect the resolution of Job's problem. That's the critical part, though you have to read carefully and discerningly to see it.
Best wishes, PP
Hey I'm a bitter old crotchety fart too. That what Catholicism made us in the "olden days" and we liked it!
ReplyDeleteDan,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree. But the operative word is 'liked'; and it doesn't sound to me like Karl is enjoying it very much. The point is to become a diehard pertinacious old papist cuss, crotchety as the day is long, sort of like Robret Duvall and Michael Caine in 'Second Hand Lion's, and really enjoy shootin' off them shotgun blasts at the consarned solicitors.
I have not read Job in many years and am not likely going to. Nor do I want to insult you.
ReplyDeleteMy alienation from the Church is not likely to be healed. But, I do not want to surrender the final shreds of hope.
The breach cannot be healed unless Rome yields in public. There is no defense for its behavior towards me and for its treatment of our marriage and countless marriages, in its scandalous tribunals and pastoral practices.
Karl
Karl