Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a new survey of Catholics by the Public Religion Research Institute:
Do Catholics support homosexual marriage? It depends on how Catholic they are. Those who attend a few times a year think it's fine (59 percent); those who attend once or twice a month are mostly opposed (only 43 percent support it); and those who attend weekly or more are not big fans of two guys getting married (26 percent). In other words, there is a positive correlation between Mass attendance and adherence to the Church's teachings.
This makes perfect sense: Catholics who are Catholic in name only can be expected to entertain a secular vision of morality, i.e., one that prizes radical autonomy. Those who are serious about their religion look to more authoritative sources for guidance.
It was also disclosed in the survey that when Catholics are compared to other church-goers, they are "significantly less likely to hear about the issue of homosexuality from their clergy." Indeed, as a practicing Catholic, I never once heard a homily on homosexuality; even passing references have been few.
A recent ABC News and Washington Post poll disclosed that, for the first time, the majority of Americans favor homosexual marriage (53 percent). It should be kept in mind, however, that public opinion polls are not an accurate barometer of serious public sentiment: there have been more than 30 state initiatives on this subject, and never once have voters elected to support same-sex marriage.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
praying for Father Corapi
Hey there Father John,
I believe in you man! You are being tested, kicked and beaten by the devil, My family and I will pray for you.
Fr. Corapi said in a March 19 statement that a 3-page letter submitted by a former, unidentified female employee was entirely “false.” The letter claimed that the priest took part in sexual encounters with several adult women and engaged in habitual drug use.
On March 18, Fr. Gerry Sheehan, Regional Priest Servant for the society, issued a statement saying that Fr. Corapi had been placed “on administrative leave from priestly ministry, in accordance to the Code of Cannon Law of the Catholic Church.”
“We have an allegation that Father Corapi has behaved in a manner unbecoming of a priest and are duty-bound to conduct an investigation in this accusation.”
Fr. Sheehan said it was “important to keep in mind that this action in no way implies Fr. Corapi is guilty of the allegation.”
“It is equally important to know that, based on the information we have received thus far,” he added, “the claim of misconduct does not involve minors and does not arise to the (level) of criminal conduct.”
The broadcast of Fr. Corapi’s homilies and teachings is also being affected by the allegation. The Eternal Word Television Network issued a statement from its CEO Michael Warsaw on March 21. He said that the “troubling situation” will result in the suspension of the priest's radio and television shows until further notice.
“As a result of this evolving story EWTN has deemed it prudent to place Fr. John's TV and Radio programs 'on leave' as well, pending the resolution of this situation,” Warsaw said.
“We take this step reluctantly and hope for a speedy resolution,” he added, saying he joins “Fr. John in asking all our family to not only pray for him but for all who may be involved.”
The 63 year-old priest said that he was informed of the accusations, which were reportedly sent to numerous bishops by the former employee, on March 9.
“On Ash Wednesday I learned that a former employee sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women,” he said.
Vatican welcomes European court's reversal of crucifix ban
Vatican City, Mar 21, 2011 / 04:54 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican has welcomed the European Court of Human Rights' decision to overturn a ruling that would have banned the display of crucifixes in Italian public schools.
Following the March 18 ruling,Vatican Spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi stated that the court's decision to allow the crosses to remain “has been received with satisfaction by the Holy See.”
He hailed the “historic and significant sentence” as a sign of reconciliation between the court and those who viewed its initial ruling by a lower chamber as a serious error.
“This new sentence of the Grande Chamber,” he said, “effectively contributes to re-establishing trust in the European Court of Human Rights on the part of a large number of Europeans.”
“It is thus acknowledged, at an authoritative and international juridical level, that the culture and rights of man should not be placed in contradiction with the religious foundations of European civilization, to which Christianity has made an essential contribution.”
The Vatican spokesman noted that many citizens were “convinced of the vital role played by Christian values in their history, and in the construction of European unity and its culture of rights and freedom.”
He recalled that the Italian state's appeal against the crucifix ban had received “an unprecedented degree of support from numerous other European States as well as from many non-governmental organizations.” He described the outpouring of support as “an expression of widespread feeling” among Europeans.
The new ruling overturns a lower chamber's 2009 judgment, which declared that the crosses violated students' human rights and constituted religious discrimination. The case began when an Italian mother of two non-Catholic students complained about the crosses in public schools.
In its new ruling, the court said the crucifix had not given rise to intolerance or religious indoctrination of non-Catholic students, and had not interfered with their education.
Fr. Lombardi noted that many contemporary attempts to prevent religious discrimination, actually serve to limit individual and collective religious freedom.
“In the name of religious freedom,” he observed, “there is a paradoxical tendency to limit or indeed even to deny this freedom, with the result of excluding every expression of it from public spaces.”
“Thus this very freedom itself is violated, obscuring specific and legitimate identities.”
Following the March 18 ruling,Vatican Spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi stated that the court's decision to allow the crosses to remain “has been received with satisfaction by the Holy See.”
He hailed the “historic and significant sentence” as a sign of reconciliation between the court and those who viewed its initial ruling by a lower chamber as a serious error.
“This new sentence of the Grande Chamber,” he said, “effectively contributes to re-establishing trust in the European Court of Human Rights on the part of a large number of Europeans.”
“It is thus acknowledged, at an authoritative and international juridical level, that the culture and rights of man should not be placed in contradiction with the religious foundations of European civilization, to which Christianity has made an essential contribution.”
The Vatican spokesman noted that many citizens were “convinced of the vital role played by Christian values in their history, and in the construction of European unity and its culture of rights and freedom.”
He recalled that the Italian state's appeal against the crucifix ban had received “an unprecedented degree of support from numerous other European States as well as from many non-governmental organizations.” He described the outpouring of support as “an expression of widespread feeling” among Europeans.
The new ruling overturns a lower chamber's 2009 judgment, which declared that the crosses violated students' human rights and constituted religious discrimination. The case began when an Italian mother of two non-Catholic students complained about the crosses in public schools.
In its new ruling, the court said the crucifix had not given rise to intolerance or religious indoctrination of non-Catholic students, and had not interfered with their education.
Fr. Lombardi noted that many contemporary attempts to prevent religious discrimination, actually serve to limit individual and collective religious freedom.
“In the name of religious freedom,” he observed, “there is a paradoxical tendency to limit or indeed even to deny this freedom, with the result of excluding every expression of it from public spaces.”
“Thus this very freedom itself is violated, obscuring specific and legitimate identities.”
illness is caused by sin - not according to Catholic teaching
There are some who say that illness, and disease is due to sin. Well it's not. Such a teaching is not Catholic Belief. Well what about natural disasters and when bad things happen to good people. Well... lets take a look at what the Archbishop of Port of Spain says:
For many if not most people when life is good, it is easy to pray and worship. If life becomes too good, there is always the danger that people will slowly develop a false sense of independence and eventually distance themselves from God. It is a common experience of people that when life becomes difficult or even overwhelming, as it is now in Japan, faith and relationship with God can be seriously tested.
The Perennial Question
The recent natural disaster in Japan – similar to the tragedies in Haiti and Indonesia – raise the perennial theological questions: “How could God have allowed this to happen? Where is God in these events?”
In philosophical and theological terms, natural disasters, victims of crime and incidents of terminal illness among the very young fall into the category of “the mystery of evil”. Evil is a mystery not in the sense that it cannot be recognised. The presence of evil both physical and moral is painfully evident throughout the world. Evil is a mystery in the sense that it cannot be fully understood or explained – not the fact of it, but the why of it.
The Traditional Catholic Response
One of the dimensions of the Catholic understanding of creation which we find summarised in the Creeds is that God is creator of heaven and earth (Apostles’ Creed) and of all that is seen and unseen (Nicene Creed). We believe that not only does God create but God also sustains in being what has been created.
The theology of the Church is that the fall from grace affected not only our first parents and their descendants but also the physical universe. Over the centuries, people had little difficulty in accepting the explanation of human weakness that flowed from original sin and moral evil that was the result of a misuse of human freedom. What most people did not reflect on sufficiently was that “the fall” reported in Genesis also affected the physical universe.
As a result of that lack of reflection, three aspects are operative on an interactive manner even to this day: 1) The goodness of the God of creation; 2) What the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls “the drama of sin”; and 3) The promise of redemption and recreation (not just of people but of the entire universe).
Until the promise of redemption in Christ is completely fulfilled, there will be physical evil in the world e.g. hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and deadly tornadoes. Why? Because God respects the nature of things which God created out of chaos. Unfortunately, what has been created has now been affected by sin both in the evolving physical universe and in the free will of the human person.
The Contribution of Philosophy
Over the centuries, the mystery of evil has received considerable attention in schools of philosophy. The mystery of evil has also been used in philosophical discussions to argue for or against the existence of God e.g. the presence of so much goodness in the world supports faith in the existence of God and the presence of evil (physical and moral) suggests the non-existence of God.
Evil as a concept is considered as an absence of a perfection (a good) that is proper to a creature. Authors use blindness as an example. Blindness is the absence of a function that is part of human completeness.
It is beyond the scope of this column to summarise the various approaches of philosophers some of whom were believers and others not. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (N. 285) offers an outline of the philosophical attempts throughout history to explain or at least address the mystery of evil.
Coping with Physical Evil
What should happen when physical evil happens? How should we cope? The answer to those questions falls into two categories:
1) Science
The scientists agree with the theologians and philosophers about physical evil but for different reasons. Natural disasters have been and will continue to be a part of life on planet earth. The best we can do is to build prudently and to develop accurate warning systems to protect people as effectively as possible. We cannot prevent natural disasters (physical evil) nor can we control their power.
2) Spirituality
Since the promise of a redemptive incarnation of his Son by the Father, the world began the process of restoration. More specifically, the world entered “a state of journeying” toward its ultimate perfection. The constructive and destructive forces of nature will be involved in this journey (CCC, N. 310). The acceptance of the promise in faith will lead to a firm hope.
Sacred Scripture calls this mysterious renewal which will transform humanity and the world, “new heavens and a new earth” (2 Peter 3: 13). For the cosmos, the Book of Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man: “For creation waits with eager longing ….in hope because creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay...” (Romans 8: 19 ff).
The Constitution on the Church from Vatican Council II states: “At that time, together with the human race, the universe itself which is so closely related to man and which attains its destiny through him will be perfectly re-established in Christ” (Lumen Gentium, 48).
While we wait for the transformation of humanity and the cosmos, we must confront the reality of physical evil and moral evil in the world. Many elements of human life and the cosmos must die before all the implications of the death of Jesus are understood and accepted.
3) Intercessory Prayer
When we are personally affected by physical and/or moral evil or when we witness evil affecting others, prayer and charity should be our immediate reaction as believers.
As I watched and continue to watch the troubling pictures in the media about the tragedy in Japan, I instinctively prayed for the people who died so suddenly and so violently that God would be merciful to them and also for those who survived that God would strengthen them to find the energy to rebuild.
I also prayed that the international community would respond quickly to help the Japanese government care for its people. I prayed for all governments to find ways to protect their own people from the dangers of radiation poisoning.
May all God’s people intercede in prayer for those who have been already affected by this tragedy and who may be affected by it in the future.
Conclusion
We have reflected in this column on the inevitable presence of physical evil in the world and the dangers it potentially holds for all of us. My intention was to provide the readers with a theological context to understand what has happened. The context is important because natural disasters will happen again.
I conclude this reflection with a quotation from the teaching of the Second Vatican Council: “The form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away and God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of humanity.” (LG, 39)
Sunday, 20 March 2011
What goes around comes around - the ballad of Bryan Anderson
Here is a touching tale sent to me by email. Who knows if it is true?
One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side
of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could
see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her
Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering
when he approached her. Even with the smile on
his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help
for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He
didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.
He could see that she was frightened, standing out
there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that
chill which only fear can put in you.
He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you
wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name
is Bryan Anderson.'
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady,
that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car
looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles
a time or two. Soon he was able to change the
tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.
As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down
the window and began to talk to him. She told him
that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing
through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming
to her aid.
Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady
asked how much she owed him. Any amount would
have been all right with her. She already imagined all
the awful things that could have happened had he
not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being
paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping
someone in need, and God knows there were plenty,
who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived
his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him
to act any other way.
He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back,
the next time she saw someone who needed help, she
could give that person the assistance they needed,
and Bryan added, 'And think of me.'
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It
had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good
as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe.
She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill
off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It
was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old
gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her.
The waitress came over and brought a clean towel
to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that
even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't
erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly
eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain
and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered
how someone who had so little could be so giving to
a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan ..
After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred
dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get
change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady
had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the
time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered
where the lady could be. Then she noticed something
written on the napkin.
There were tears in her eyes when she read what the
lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have
been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the
way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back,
here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love
end with you.'
Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill,
and people to serve, but the waitress made it through
another day. That night when she got home from
work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about
the money and what the lady had written. How could
the lady have known how much she and her husband
needed it? With the baby due next month, it was
going to be hard....
She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay
sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered
soft and low, 'Everything's going to be all right.
I love you, Bryan Anderson.'
Friday, 18 March 2011
Feast of Saint Joseph
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
The third secret of Fatima
The following is taken from the Vatican Website:
There are other parts to the secret of Fatima:
The third part of the secret revealed at the Cova da Iria-Fatima, on 13 July 1917.
I write in obedience to you, my God, who command me to do so through his Excellency the Bishop of Leiria and through your Most Holy Mother and mine.
After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendour that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: ‘Penance, Penance, Penance!'. And we saw in an immense light that is God: ‘something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it' a Bishop dressed in White ‘we had the impression that it was the Holy Father'. Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the Cross there were two Angels each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God.
There are other parts to the secret of Fatima:
The first part is the vision of hell.
Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire which seemed to be under the earth. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in a huge fire, without weight or equilibrium, and amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear. The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repulsive likeness to frightful and unknown animals, all black and transparent. This vision lasted but an instant. How can we ever be grateful enough to our kind heavenly Mother, who had already prepared us by promising, in the first Apparition, to take us to heaven. Otherwise, I think we would have died of fear and terror.
We then looked up at Our Lady, who said to us so kindly and so sadly:
“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end: but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the Pontificate of Pius XI. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that he is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father. To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she 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. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world”.(7)
Saint Malachy - prophecy of the Popes - the last 10
There is a supposed Prophecy of the last 112 popes of the Catholic Church begining with Pope Celestine II (elected in 1143) and concluding with a pope described in the prophecy as "Peter the Roman", whose pontificate will end in the destruction of the city of Rome. Here is the list of the fianl 10. You can check out the full list on Wikipedia:
Pope Benedict XV (Religio depopulata)The motto means "religions laid waste". During Pope Benedict XV's reign, four significant events occurred:
1. the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fátima in 1917
2. World War I, which killed 20 million people in Europe,
3. Spanish flu, the 1918 flu pandemic which killed 50–100 million people worldwide
4. the October Revolution in Russia, which established the atheist Soviet Union.
Pope Pius XI(Fides intrepida)The motto means "intrepid faith". This pope released the encyclical Mit Brennender Sorge which condemned Nazi racism and also signed agreements with Fascist Italy which, among other things, gave the Vatican sovereignty, established the pope as head of state, and added 700 million lire to the church coffers.
Pope Pius XII (Pastor angelicus)The motto means "angelic shepherd". This pope was known to be very mystical, and it was believed that he received visions. His writings added greatly to understanding of Catholic beliefs and church doctrine. During his reign, Pius exercised Papal Infallibility in defining dogma when he issued, on November 1, 1950 an apostolic constitution, Munificentissimus Deus, which defines ex cathedra the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven, on the request of the heavenly father. He was declared Venerable in 2009.
Pope John XXIII (Pastor et nauta)"Pastor et nauta" translates to "shepherd and sailor". Prior to his election he was patriarch of Venice, which is a maritime city, famous for its waterways and gondolas.
According to Peter Bander in The Prophecies of Malachy, during the conclave which was to elect John XXIII, Cardinal Spellman (who did not become pope), evidently having taken Malachy's forecast that the next pope would be "pastor and mariner" literally, rented a boat, filled it with sheep and sailed up and down the Tiber.
Pope Paul VI (Flos florum)Pope Paul VI, is described in the prophecies as "flos florum" or "flower of flowers". His personal arms bore three fleurs-de-lis, the heraldic charge best known as that in the arms of the French monarchy. Fleur-de-lis literally means "flower of the lily": yet the medieval flower par excellence was the rose[citation needed], not the lily; and many popes have borne various flowers in their arms.
The fleur-de-lys has the meaning of purity and chastity in Catholic religion. This is based upon scripture. Paul VI published his encyclical Humanae Vitae subtitled On Human Life, on July 25, 1968. In this encyclical he reaffirmed the Catholic Church's traditional condemnation of artificial birth control.
Pope John Paul I (De medietate lunae)"De medietate lunae" translates to "from the midst of the moon" or "from the half moon". It has also been interpreted as "De media aetate lunae", meaning "of the middle age of the moon".
Albino Luciani, who later became Pope John Paul I, was born in Canale d'Agordo, diocese of Belluno, which name is similar to bella luna or beautiful moon.
He was elected on August 26, 1978, the day after the moon reached its last quarter, and reigned for 33 days, approximately five days longer than a lunar cycle. He died the day before the new moon. However, a much simpler explanation might be that he was born on the day of the half moon: on October 17, 1912, the moon was in its first quarter.
Others point to his name before becoming pope, Albino Luciani. Albino is related to "albus", white, and "Luciani", derived from "Lucius", is ultimately related to the Latin word lux "light", whence "white light". Still others have linked "half-moon" to the smile often exhibited by John Paul I, who is remembered by many as the "smiling Pope."
Pope John Paul II (De labore solis).The prophetic motto corresponding to Pope John Paul II is "De labore solis", which literally means "Of the labor (work/giving birth) of the sun"; but "labor solis" is a common Latin expression that means a solar eclipse.
There are a variety of explanations that have been given to explain the motto:
Karol Jozef Wojtyła, who later became Pope John Paul II, was born on 18 May 1920, the day of a partial solar eclipse over the Indian Ocean, and buried on 8 April 200, the day of a rare hybrid eclipse over the south-western Pacific and South America.
During World War II, Karol Wojtyła worked in a quarry, "laboring in the sunlight".
John Paul II introduced the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary.
Pope Benedict XVI (Gloria olivae)"Gloria olivae" or "glory of the olive", is the last short phrase on the list.
Prior to the papal conclave, this motto led to speculation that the next pontiff would be from the Order of Saint Benedict, whose symbols include the olive branch.
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, elected in April 2005, is not a Benedictine, but did choose Benedict XVI as his regnal name, partially named after Benedictine founder Benedict of Nursia, which might be regarded as a fulfillment of this prophecy.
By choosing the name Benedict, the Pope became linked with St. Benedict, who in turn is distantly connected to the Olivetans, a small sub-order of Benedictines. Although it is frequently stated that the Order of St Benedict is also known as that of the Olivetans, this is not true: while all Olivetans are Benedictines, few Benedictines are Olivetans.
On 5 April 1993, the future Pope Benedict XVI was installed as the cardinal bishop of Velletri-Segni. Velletri's coat of arms are emblazoned with three olive trees. It was while Cardinal Bishop of the Sees of Ostia and Velletri-Segni that Cardinal Ratzinger took part in the 2005 Conclave, in which he was elected Pope.
Pope Benedict XVI was born on 16 April, the feast day of Saint Benedict Joseph Labre (26 March 1748 – 16 April 1783), also known as the Holy Pilgrim, with whom the Pope now shares both names, Benedict and Joseph. St. Benedict Labre, however, is not associated with olives, Olivetans or Mount Olivet in any way.
Petrus Romanus
The notation that goes with this Pope is translated as folows: "In the last persecution of the Holy Roman Church, Peter the Roman will hold the see, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations: and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the terrible judge will judge his people."
However, in the 1595 Lignum Vitae, it is unclear whether the tribulation is related to Gloria Olivae which precedes it, or to Petrus Romanus, which follows it.
There is, also, a claim that the original list written by St. Malachy, does not contain a reference to Petrus Romanus and that the last lines were added to the printed text in Wyon's Lignum Vitæ. This, however, cannot be proved, as the original manuscript (if any) probably no longer exists.
Pope Benedict XV (Religio depopulata)The motto means "religions laid waste". During Pope Benedict XV's reign, four significant events occurred:
1. the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fátima in 1917
2. World War I, which killed 20 million people in Europe,
3. Spanish flu, the 1918 flu pandemic which killed 50–100 million people worldwide
4. the October Revolution in Russia, which established the atheist Soviet Union.
Pope Pius XI(Fides intrepida)The motto means "intrepid faith". This pope released the encyclical Mit Brennender Sorge which condemned Nazi racism and also signed agreements with Fascist Italy which, among other things, gave the Vatican sovereignty, established the pope as head of state, and added 700 million lire to the church coffers.
Pope Pius XII (Pastor angelicus)The motto means "angelic shepherd". This pope was known to be very mystical, and it was believed that he received visions. His writings added greatly to understanding of Catholic beliefs and church doctrine. During his reign, Pius exercised Papal Infallibility in defining dogma when he issued, on November 1, 1950 an apostolic constitution, Munificentissimus Deus, which defines ex cathedra the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven, on the request of the heavenly father. He was declared Venerable in 2009.
Pope John XXIII (Pastor et nauta)"Pastor et nauta" translates to "shepherd and sailor". Prior to his election he was patriarch of Venice, which is a maritime city, famous for its waterways and gondolas.
According to Peter Bander in The Prophecies of Malachy, during the conclave which was to elect John XXIII, Cardinal Spellman (who did not become pope), evidently having taken Malachy's forecast that the next pope would be "pastor and mariner" literally, rented a boat, filled it with sheep and sailed up and down the Tiber.
Pope Paul VI (Flos florum)Pope Paul VI, is described in the prophecies as "flos florum" or "flower of flowers". His personal arms bore three fleurs-de-lis, the heraldic charge best known as that in the arms of the French monarchy. Fleur-de-lis literally means "flower of the lily": yet the medieval flower par excellence was the rose[citation needed], not the lily; and many popes have borne various flowers in their arms.
The fleur-de-lys has the meaning of purity and chastity in Catholic religion. This is based upon scripture. Paul VI published his encyclical Humanae Vitae subtitled On Human Life, on July 25, 1968. In this encyclical he reaffirmed the Catholic Church's traditional condemnation of artificial birth control.
Pope John Paul I (De medietate lunae)"De medietate lunae" translates to "from the midst of the moon" or "from the half moon". It has also been interpreted as "De media aetate lunae", meaning "of the middle age of the moon".
Albino Luciani, who later became Pope John Paul I, was born in Canale d'Agordo, diocese of Belluno, which name is similar to bella luna or beautiful moon.
He was elected on August 26, 1978, the day after the moon reached its last quarter, and reigned for 33 days, approximately five days longer than a lunar cycle. He died the day before the new moon. However, a much simpler explanation might be that he was born on the day of the half moon: on October 17, 1912, the moon was in its first quarter.
Others point to his name before becoming pope, Albino Luciani. Albino is related to "albus", white, and "Luciani", derived from "Lucius", is ultimately related to the Latin word lux "light", whence "white light". Still others have linked "half-moon" to the smile often exhibited by John Paul I, who is remembered by many as the "smiling Pope."
Pope John Paul II (De labore solis).The prophetic motto corresponding to Pope John Paul II is "De labore solis", which literally means "Of the labor (work/giving birth) of the sun"; but "labor solis" is a common Latin expression that means a solar eclipse.
There are a variety of explanations that have been given to explain the motto:
Karol Jozef Wojtyła, who later became Pope John Paul II, was born on 18 May 1920, the day of a partial solar eclipse over the Indian Ocean, and buried on 8 April 200, the day of a rare hybrid eclipse over the south-western Pacific and South America.
During World War II, Karol Wojtyła worked in a quarry, "laboring in the sunlight".
John Paul II introduced the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary.
Pope Benedict XVI (Gloria olivae)"Gloria olivae" or "glory of the olive", is the last short phrase on the list.
Prior to the papal conclave, this motto led to speculation that the next pontiff would be from the Order of Saint Benedict, whose symbols include the olive branch.
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, elected in April 2005, is not a Benedictine, but did choose Benedict XVI as his regnal name, partially named after Benedictine founder Benedict of Nursia, which might be regarded as a fulfillment of this prophecy.
By choosing the name Benedict, the Pope became linked with St. Benedict, who in turn is distantly connected to the Olivetans, a small sub-order of Benedictines. Although it is frequently stated that the Order of St Benedict is also known as that of the Olivetans, this is not true: while all Olivetans are Benedictines, few Benedictines are Olivetans.
On 5 April 1993, the future Pope Benedict XVI was installed as the cardinal bishop of Velletri-Segni. Velletri's coat of arms are emblazoned with three olive trees. It was while Cardinal Bishop of the Sees of Ostia and Velletri-Segni that Cardinal Ratzinger took part in the 2005 Conclave, in which he was elected Pope.
Pope Benedict XVI was born on 16 April, the feast day of Saint Benedict Joseph Labre (26 March 1748 – 16 April 1783), also known as the Holy Pilgrim, with whom the Pope now shares both names, Benedict and Joseph. St. Benedict Labre, however, is not associated with olives, Olivetans or Mount Olivet in any way.
Petrus Romanus
The notation that goes with this Pope is translated as folows: "In the last persecution of the Holy Roman Church, Peter the Roman will hold the see, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations: and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the terrible judge will judge his people."
However, in the 1595 Lignum Vitae, it is unclear whether the tribulation is related to Gloria Olivae which precedes it, or to Petrus Romanus, which follows it.
There is, also, a claim that the original list written by St. Malachy, does not contain a reference to Petrus Romanus and that the last lines were added to the printed text in Wyon's Lignum Vitæ. This, however, cannot be proved, as the original manuscript (if any) probably no longer exists.
three days darkness
The prophets of doom quote Blessed Anna Maria Taigi and her prophecy of the three days darkness alot. Here it is as taken from the Opus Dei Website:
Years ago I came cross this prophecy and I remember mention of a type of Candle. Also that one third of France would be destroyed. I see many versions now that say one third of the World would be destroyed.
"God will send two punishments: one will be in the form of wars, revolutions and other evils; it shall originate on earth. The other will be sent from Heaven. There shall come over the whole earth an intense darkness lasting three days and three nights. Nothing can be seen, and the air will be laden with pestilence which will claim mainly, but not only, the enemies of religion. It will be impossible to use any man-made lighting during this darkness, except blessed candles. He, who out of curiosity, opens his window to look out, or leaves his home, will fall dead on the spot. During these three days, people should remain in their homes, pray the Rosary and beg God for mercy."
"All the enemies of the Church, whether known or unknown, will perish over the whole earth during that universal darkness, with the exception of a few whom God will soon convert. The air shall be infected by demons who will appear under all sorts of hideous forms."
(Prophecy of Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (1769-1837 A.D.) who was Beatified by Pope Bendedict XV in 1920.)
Years ago I came cross this prophecy and I remember mention of a type of Candle. Also that one third of France would be destroyed. I see many versions now that say one third of the World would be destroyed.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
judgement day may 21st 2011
Oh NO! Not another one? Another quack predicts the end of the world.
This time it is Harold Camping (born 1921). He is a Religious radio broadcaster and president of Family Stations, Inc., a California-based religious broadcasting network, including more than 150 outlets in the United States, as well as a Web site.
Camping's latest prediction is that the Rapture will be on May 21, 2011.
I disagree with him for several reasons:
1. The Rapture teaching is not a catholic teaching,
so the alleged prophecy does not apply to me.
2. According to Saint Malachy, it is the time of the next pope
that the anti-christ reveals himself.
3. The Mayan Calendar has 2012 as it's end of world date.
4. The Solar flare to affect the world hopes to hit in 2012
5. There was a movie about world devestation in 2012 (hollywood never lies).
6. I have something planned for December 2011. LOL!
The three days darkness gives us a great guide to the great tribulation, but the end of the world, that is for God to know and us to guess.
This time it is Harold Camping (born 1921). He is a Religious radio broadcaster and president of Family Stations, Inc., a California-based religious broadcasting network, including more than 150 outlets in the United States, as well as a Web site.
Camping's latest prediction is that the Rapture will be on May 21, 2011.
I disagree with him for several reasons:
1. The Rapture teaching is not a catholic teaching,
so the alleged prophecy does not apply to me.
2. According to Saint Malachy, it is the time of the next pope
that the anti-christ reveals himself.
3. The Mayan Calendar has 2012 as it's end of world date.
4. The Solar flare to affect the world hopes to hit in 2012
5. There was a movie about world devestation in 2012 (hollywood never lies).
6. I have something planned for December 2011. LOL!
The three days darkness gives us a great guide to the great tribulation, but the end of the world, that is for God to know and us to guess.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
with ashes on his forehead he joins the fray
So this guy I know asked a simple question. However his tone suggested scorn: "Do you think that receiving ashes will save your soul?"
Well the truth is no. Ashes are sacramental.
Sacramentals are signs instituted by the church to help us in our spiritual life. Lent is about repentance. Ashes are about repentance.
Every year I end up dealing with someone who has no idea what's going on. "Aye Man! You have something black on your forehead."
"Yes Dude! It's Ashes. Today is Ash Wednesday."... In my mind I keep thinking "Humility, humility, humility!" while the other voice in my head wants to say... "what rock are you living under? Today is ASH WEDNESDAY... ashes on my head.. ash wednesday.. make the link."
I think that keeping the ashes on and trying to use the discussion that it brings as a teaching opportunity is a great idea... and so I do, even though I will never change the mind of the haters who react angrily to anything Catholic.
Well the truth is no. Ashes are sacramental.
Sacramentals are signs instituted by the church to help us in our spiritual life. Lent is about repentance. Ashes are about repentance.
Every year I end up dealing with someone who has no idea what's going on. "Aye Man! You have something black on your forehead."
"Yes Dude! It's Ashes. Today is Ash Wednesday."... In my mind I keep thinking "Humility, humility, humility!" while the other voice in my head wants to say... "what rock are you living under? Today is ASH WEDNESDAY... ashes on my head.. ash wednesday.. make the link."
I think that keeping the ashes on and trying to use the discussion that it brings as a teaching opportunity is a great idea... and so I do, even though I will never change the mind of the haters who react angrily to anything Catholic.
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
The Cab Ride
I recieved the story below as an emial. Maybe it is true maybe it is not, but it sure is moving:
Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, and then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door.
This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. "It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated".
"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"
"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.
"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice." I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long. " I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
"What route would you like me to take?" I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
"I'm tired. Let's go now" We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed
under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. "How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.
"Nothing," I said .
"You have to make a living," she answered.
"There are other passengers," I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent
and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you."
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID,
OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT
THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
Make someone feel good for Jesus Today!
Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, and then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door.
This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. "It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated".
"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"
"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.
"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice." I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long. " I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
"What route would you like me to take?" I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
"I'm tired. Let's go now" We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed
under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door.. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. "How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.
"Nothing," I said .
"You have to make a living," she answered.
"There are other passengers," I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent
and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you."
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID,
OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT
THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
Make someone feel good for Jesus Today!
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