Shared Summary from Father Martins

2018: The Year from Hell for the Catholic Church

By Fr. Carlos Martins, Treasures of the Church:

This is a good summary of the debacle that was 2018 for the Catholic Church. I say this even though it is written by the Religion Editor of CNN. Actually, things are even worse than what he says. The article did not include the high number of priests that were removed from ministry after being credibly accused of committing abuse.

Reading through this summary is like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

To me, the only bright spot in the year was Archbishop Viganò. He was the only one screaming, “Fire!,” as the building was burning. It took him to expose the filth.

Notice how it’s been months since any confusing statements have been issued by Vatican officials? You know, bone-headed comments that lack reason, or logic, or that appear to challenge the basic content of the Divine and Catholic Faith? And notice how no one in the Holy See dares to say any longer, “Everything is O.k. It’s all under control. We are taking care of things. Don’t worry.”? The reason why, friends, is because Archbishop Viganò is immensely feared. No one knows what else he knows. And no one knows what he is capable of doing with it. That’s why. That is the only reason why. An idiotic comment today could mean 10,000 news cameras in the speaker’s face tomorrow, should Viganò open his mouth.

It does not take a genius to conclude that Archbishop Viganò IS the wrath of God. What he exposed hurts like hell. But I am so thankful he exposed it. He had the courage and will to speak and act for the truth when so many Vatican officials–many who will probably never see heaven–were silent. Archbishop Viganò brought us the hurt that heals. “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up” (Hosea 6:1).

Doubtless, there are some of you who will criticize my affirmation of Archbishop Viganò. You will call him a traitor and a vigilante. And you will have some choice words for me too (you always have in the past). Let me save you the trouble. I am not interested in your comments. I wear a collar around my neck. I do so because I gave my life for the Church. My gift to Her was my life. Whole and entire. My commitment to the Church included surrendering my freedom, my time, my right to marriage and a family, my professional career, and my wealth. My concern for Her is not a passing interest. It is my life. It is deeply personal. So personal that only another person with a collar around his neck can understand.

But, there is one thing that I did not surrender when I became a priest: my integrity. I refuse to stand politely silent and watch the damned crucify the Lord anew by raping His Church. I married the Church. An attack against Her, is an attack against me.

Thus, when scoundrels who also wear collars abuse children, prey upon seminarians, form “gay mafias” that control who is promoted to the episcopacy, stand silent while a serial predator is promoted to the rank of Cardinal, pay-off their boyfriends with the Church’s money, bankrupt dioceses, make the civil authorities believe the Church can no longer be trusted to police itself, I will always stand next to the man who is exposing the serpent. The clerical sex abuse problem has been a long time in the making. If the current structure could be trusted, then we wouldn’t be here. Period.

It is your right to disagree with this. But if you do, rather than criticize me, please go do something productive, like evangelize and convert McCarrick.

Consecration of the Altar & Liturgy at Holy Virgin Protection Church

Interesting. This is the Russian Orthodox Church's ceremony to consecrate an altar.  The altar is washed with wine and rose water.  It is sprinkled with Holy Water and anointed with Holy Chrism.

Paul Can't Walk on Water

As stupid, irreverent and blasphemous, the "Dancing with Jesus" figurine is, I see God's hand in it. What would He think of it?  Well, He's a big boy; He can take care of Himself.

The stories before the dance moves are good, except for the first story, "The Water Walk."  The scripture story is in all the Gospels except Luke: Mark 6: 45-52, Matthew 14: 22-34, John 6: 15-21.  I will copy the story and you tell me what's wrong with it.

The Water Walk

Make waves without making a splash.

Inspiration: One day the Apostles took a boat across the Sea of Galilee to meet Jesus, who was already on the other side, but waves threatened to swamp them.  Just then they spotted Jesus approaching from the opposite shore--by walking on the water.  The disciple Paul, displaying truly extraordinary intestinal fortitude, reportedly climbed out of the boat and started toward the Master.  It worked for a while, until Paul lost his nerve and began to sink, forcing the Savior to save him.  ...

What's wrong with this story?

God Turns Negative Into Positive

Along with my "Dancing Jesus" came a little booklet of instructions explaining how to dance.

The table of contents lists these dances:

The Water Walk

The Carpenter Clog

The Temptation Tango

The Temple Slam

The Lazarus Lurch

The Judas Hustle

The Cheek Turn

The Last Supper Stomp

The Pilate Shuffle

The Ascension Swing

My initial feelings were offensive disgust.  I perceived that the figurine was trivializing something sacred, yet I couldn't react in any way that suggested repulsion because the "Dancing Jesus" figurine was a gift from my four-year-old granddaughter.  And the look on her face when she gave the present was pure proud pleasure.  She thought she was giving me the best present, ever.

So she asked to dance.  She thought the Temple Slam sounded like fun so we followed the directions: 

Shake your moneymaker at the moneychangers.

Inspiration: When Jesus visited the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, he found it overrun with everything from moneychangers to merchants and livestock dealers.  But not for long.  In the New Testament's only example of messianic butt-kicking, Jesus chased them away with an improvised whip.  Commemorate the one-and-only time the Prince of Peace morphed into a man of action with these moves designed to clear the dance floor of moneygrubbers, blasphemers, and wallflowers.

FOLLOW THE MASTER

1. Make sure your partner is ready, willing, and well-padded.  This is a rough freeform romp.
2. Once the music starts, look surprised and angry.  Hey, there's a guy exchanging drachma for shekels!  Get him!
3. Flail your arms and pogo around the dance floor.                                                                     
4. Fashion a pretend "whip" and start slinging it.  If you've got one, feel free to use a scarf or belt.  Take that, moneychangers!
5. Tip over some pretend tables! (Caution: Do not, no matter how much you're feeling it, tip over real tables.  This could earn you a very un-Jesus like ejection from the club.)

At the end of the song, do a couple of victorious chest bumps with your partner.  Temple cleansed!  Mission accomplished!

Well.  I realized this was a unique way of teaching Matthew 21: 12-13.  My four-year-old now knows the story of Jesus cleansing the temple.  She had fun; I enjoyed it, in spite of myself.  

Irreverent, funny, or just Stupid?

My four-year-old granddaughter gave me a "Dancing with Jesus" figurine.  See it bends in the middle; there's a spring separating the top from the bottom.

I was appalled!  But she is only four years old and didn't buy it to mock Jesus or trivialize Him in any way.  She bought her grandmother a figurine of her hero.  In fact, she asked me a question when I opened it that led me to think that her parents tried to discourage her from purchasing it and presenting it to me as a gift.  She said, "You like Him, right?"

So she must have insisted on getting "Dancing with Jesus" because Grandma loves Him.

The figurine is irreverent and stupid, but the thought behind purchasing it as a present is a beautiful gift.  

Prison as a Prep School

This morning I was reading a letter from St. Cyprian (Ep. 6, 1-2; CSEL 3, 480-482) and this

paragraph caught my eye:

How blessed is the prison honored by your presence, how blessed the prison that sends men of God to heaven!  

Not all prisons, only those which recognize God, honor Him, and work towards their personal salvation to live with Him in eternity.  For example, the Lay Dominican chapters inside prisons.  Presently, there are three: MCI Norfolk, Huntsville, Texas, and one in Belgium.

Certainly, God is in MCI Norfolk.  In fact, I can just picture Jesus returning in the little, poor, interdenominational chapel in the CSD building.  That is exactly where our Redeemer who was born in a stable would return.  It's just His style.

However, St. Cyprian was speaking of his imprisonment during the reign of Emperor Valerian.  An edict of persecution was issued against anyone who refused to sacrifice to the pagan deities.

Well, you know why bishops wear red.

The Bishop's exchange was public and preserved:

Galerius Maximus: "Are you Thascius Cyprianus?" Cyprian: "I am." Galerius: "The most sacred Emperors have commanded you to conform to the Roman rites." Cyprian: "I refuse." Galerius: "Take heed for yourself." Cyprian: "Do as you are bid; in so clear a case I may not take heed." Galerius, after briefly conferring with his judicial council, with much reluctance pronounced the following sentence: "You have long lived an irreligious life, and have drawn together a number of men bound by an unlawful association, and professed yourself an open enemy to the gods and the religion of Rome; and the pious, most sacred and august Emperors ... have endeavoured in vain to bring you back to conformity with their religious observances; whereas therefore you have been apprehended as principal and ringleader in these infamous crimes, you shall be made an example to those whom you have wickedly associated with you; the authority of law shall be ratified in your blood." He then read the sentence of the court from a written tablet: "It is the sentence of this court that Thascius Cyprianus be executed with the sword."
 Cyprian: "Thanks be to God.”


Galerius Maximus is the proconsul.  Cyprian responds "Thanks be to God."  when he learns he will be martyred.  And so Cyprian's prison was preparation to send him to heaven.

Thanks be to God.

MEN !!!!

No, I don't want to do Lectio Divina. I want God to listen, not talk. 

 I'm pissed. (Excuse the language but Thesaurus doesn't have a synonym for "pissed.")  In Morning Prayer, the reading is from Acts 6: 2b-5a:

"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.  Look around your own number, brothers, for seven men acknowledged to be deeply spiritual and prudent, and we shall appoint them to this task.  This will permit us to concentrate on prayer and the ministry of the world."  The proposal was unanimously accepted by the community.

This reading is what set me off.  You can tell men wrote this.  Why does it have to be either, or? Why can't it be both, and?  I'll tell you why.  Because these apostles were men and the writers were men, that's why.  Men have one track minds.  Women wait on their families all the time while doing other tasks!  If the apostles were incapable of waiting on tables and evangelizing why didn't they take turns preaching and serving others?

Note that the requirement for serving was seven spiritual and prudent men. Weren't the apostles spiritual?  Were they foolish?  So whom did they assign the task of serving?  If the servers were spiritual why weren't they evangelizing?  If one can wait on tables then one can preach to others; that's a people skill.

Grrrrrr.

What about witnessing?

The apostles should have given us a good example of serving others by waiting on tables AND preaching the Word.  Jesus gave them the example of washing feet; did they pick seven others to do that task so they could concentrate on prayer?  How did they define ministry?

And don't get me started on Martha and Mary!  That was written by men, too--obviously.