Oh Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child quieted at its mother's breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul. (Psalm 131: 1-2, RSV-2CE)
For now, the only commentary I'm following about what's going on in the Catholic Church, and especially regarding the Amazon Synod, is the Where Peter Is blog (wherepeteris.com), and Bishop Barron's YouTube channel. Taylor Marshall is still going on about the carved wooden statue of Our Lady of the Amazon being the pagan goddess Pachamama, Michael Voris is still sewing despair, and I can't listen to the disharmonic voices anymore. I want the quiet soul of the song of King David. It seems that certain vocal members of the Church, once representing a centrist, conservative element, are becoming increasingly hyper conservative, taking a hard right toward the "rad trad" position. While stopping short of saying that Vatican II, Pope Francis, and the Ordinary Form of the Mass are invalid, some traditional Catholics nevertheless come across as wanting to erase the teachings and changes of the Council; and to shed doubt on the conclave that elected Francis as Benedict XVI's successor.
I'm not a theologian, and I don't think you have to be one in order to live as a faithful Catholic. Sometimes we strive to comprehend things that are perhaps a bit beyond us. We lean too much on our own understanding, and we forget that we will know what we need to know in God's time. During a period of confusion and uncertainty, it's beneficial to go back to the basics. Focus on prayer, Scripture, and the Fathers of the early Church.
This ressourcement, or a "return to the sources," is what the late Cardinal Henri de Lubac and his Communio school sought to accomplish in the aftermath of Vatican II. Faced on the one hand by a small number of bishops who wanted to reject the council, and on the other hand with a larger, too liberal faction, the Communio bishops persevered in a conservative but not regressive "middle path". This is the path continued on by Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, which we see Pope Francis developing in his unique way. Believing that Francis is actually working more along the excessively liberal lines represented by Karl Rahner, hyper conservative Catholics likewise lump Henri de Lubac into the category of heretics. Their solution to every ill of the Church is a return to the pre-conciliar traditionalism represented by Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, which means jettisoning most of Vatican II and reverting, across the universal Church, to the Tridentine Mass and the pre-conciliar disciplines that go with it; ie., no female altar servers, receiving Communion on the tongue only, the predominance of the Latin language, no Eucharistic ministers, etc... If there's one thing history teaches us, it's that we can't turn back the clock. As Catholics, we must hold to the traditions, both oral and written, left to us by Jesus and his Apostles. This is biblical. It's also a matter of Scripture and oral Tradition that we would see a development of doctrine over time. And that Jesus left us his Church as the ultimate pillar and foundation of Truth (1 Timothy 3: 15). Where Peter (the pope) is, there is the Church. This is what I cling to in these difficult times. So my next step is to read some of the works of Henri de Lubac and prayerfully discern the orthodoxy of his theology. I will follow his lead in returning to the sources as a way of putting the history of the Church in its entirely into perspective. I'll cease hurting my brain with those current arguments "too great and too marvelous for me." I'll keep following St. Therese's little way and the humble wisdom of the Holy Father.
There are some testimonies that may prove helpful
and inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that coud even
lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for
us. The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own
path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal
gifts that God has placed in their hearts (cf. 1 Cor 12:7), rather than
hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them. -- Pope Francis, Gaudete et Exsultate
In a recent post (see Sept. 21 article), I expressed concern about the then upcoming Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region and the dialogue over the interpretation of paganism in its working document. I'd been following various conservative Catholic news outlets and commentaries, especially the Dr. Taylor Marshall Show on YouTube and Michael Voris of Church Militant. Then came an indigenous Amazonian tree planting ceremony on Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, two days before the opening of the Synod on Oct. 6. Pope Francis has dedicated the Synod to the patronage of St. Francis.
I don't want to completely dismiss the concerns of faithful Catholics about Pope Francis and the Amazon Synod, but the reactionary firestorm I've been witnessing is leaving me cold. At a certain point I began to seek out other perspectives, wondering if the narrative I've been hearing is completely accurate and factual. Today I found the Where Peter Is blog and read Pedro Gabriel's article "Paganism in the Vatican? Hermeneutic of Suspicion at its Peak."
The author presents evidence that the tree planting ceremony was not indeed pagan, and that the much decried, carved wooden statue of a pregnant woman represents the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Amazon. The 2nd pregnant figure is believed to be St. Elizabeth, with the two women representing The Visitation. These are not, as the accusation has been put forth, fertility goddesses. I recommend reading Gabriel's complete article: https://wherepeteris.com/paganism-in-the-vatican-hermeneutic-of-suspicion-at-its-peak/.
I've become increasingly uncomfortable with what seems to me to be blatant disrespect for Pope Francis. I agree with Gabriel that a hermeneutic of suspicion, of treating every little thing the pope says and does through a preconceived, negatively critical lens, is at work here. I've also learned since publishing my Sept. 21, "three bad things" article that the working document for the Amazon Synod, Instrumentum Laboris, is not a magisterial document, but rather the blueprint for discussion during the Synod.
Language used in the working document that seems to signal an acceptance of paganism might instead be a reflection of the spirituality of the Amazonian peoples whom the Synod seeks to understand, help in their various needs, and evangelize. It seems more likely that what we have here is an approach of inculturation rather than religious syncretism. News reports have stated that Pope Francis intends to eventually destroy Instrumentum Laboris, and he has indicated his reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide the Synod and its outcomes.
Yes, the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church is real and horrifying, and we can't sweep it under the rug. Perhaps Pope Francis could have responded to it better, but maybe he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Has the pope truly been using "weaponized ambiguity" to undermine the traditional teachings of the Church, as he has been accused? Is he really a Marxist, or does he simply have a deep devotion to helping the poor, the marginalized, and the migrant? As for his intentions in the realm of education, there might be cause for concern, but this remains to be seen.
I refuse to be worked into a frenzy over the narrative being presented by the anti-Francis, hyper conservative Catholic media. Theirs is one perspective, one side of the story. I recently viewed the YouTube video from Bishop Barron on his theological process, in which he presents his "middle path" between the radical Catholic liberals on the one hand, and the traditionalists who want to disregard Vatican II and return to a pre-conciliar version of the Church on the other. I think Bishop Barron's viewpoint is well worth looking into (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB6w4miLEc8). The Catholic Church needs unity right now; and as she has always been, the Church founded by Jesus is unified under the authority of the pope, the successor of St. Peter. We would all do well not to forget that.
It is now late in the day of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and I've found a new sense of peace and hope. I have not had the willpower to avoid all news and stay entirely off YouTube, as I planned to this month, but I've gained a new perspective on the issues I've been recently writing about.
Yesterday while using the computer I saw that Dr. Taylor Marshall was live from Rome on YouTube, and out of curiosity I tuned in. I didn't watch the whole thing, because I could feel my serenity being broken, and I was proud of myself for tuning back out.
Taylor was bemoaning an indigenous Amazonian tree planting ceremony, led by a woman (quel horreur!), and attended by Pope Francis in the Vatican garden. He basically said that he and his cronies had been commiserating about how they might be able to destroy the tree. It just seemed silly, and the scrupulosity I've seen growing among some traditional Catholics is beginning to grate on my nerves.
Taylor also spoke about how happy he was to have gone to a High Mass that day, without all the Novus Ordo type "distractions" of altar girls, Eucharistic ministers, communion in the hand, etc... While it's certainly wonderful that he had the privilege of attending the Latin Mass in Rome, and if I were there, I'd welcome the opportunity as well, I felt tired of this typical spiel.
I had gone to Mass that morning myself. My daughter was an altar server, and my husband was the commentator and lector. Our priest, still weak from cancer treatments, needed to sit during Holy Communion, so everyone received it from a Eucharistic minister. I received on the tongue, which anyone has the choice to do. The kids who will receive the sacrament of Confirmation in February and their parents were called up front for a ceremony, and we prayed for them as a congregation. After Mass we all ate a delicious brunch together and fellowshipped with one another. The entire morning was lovely and Spirit filled, the weather was gorgeous, and I was grateful to be there.
Here's my point. Dr. Marshall did mention that the Novus Ordo (Ordinary Form) Mass is valid, but he clearly seems to think it's inferior to the Tridentine Mass (Extraordinary Form). After encountering this attitude prevalent on the Internet, I too once became distracted by what were being called the "liturgical abuses" of the Ordinary Form. It turned out that nothing I was concerned about was actually an abuse. I refuse to be influenced anymore by this elitism that attempts to suck the joy out of the fact that I receive the Real Presence of Jesus, body, blood, soul, and divinity, every time I partake of the Eucharist!
The pews in my Novus Ordo parish church were packed yesterday. I did not feel like a member of a dying Church. It's time for me to go to sleep now, as I pray my Rosary in the dark. And I pray that you let nothing disturb you. Simply be in awe of the wonder of our enduring Faith.
To be honest, dear readers, I've still been feeling a lot of anxiety over the state of the Catholic Church, and with the Amazon Synod only five days away, I'm fighting a foreboding dread. But today is the Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, and if anyone can shower us with roses, it is she. In the previous post I emphasized that to fight the good fight, we must be saints. One of the best ways to become a saint is to emulate those canonized by the Church.
We can feel so small and powerless against forces beyond our control. Opinions galore on Pope Francis flood the Internet. I feel like I should do something Henny Penny style, running through the streets warning everyone that the sky is falling. I wish it were a mere acorn dropped on our heads. How can we possibly shoulder this burden?
St. Therese has the solution. She said, "Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word;always doing the smallest right, & doing it all for love."
I have attempted to simplify my life over and over again, but at times I realize that I'm trying to pile too much on. I tell myself that I must do great things. But St. Therese did not strive to do great things. Instead, she offered up all the small things of everyday life to God, using her sacrifices for his purpose. In the process, Therese became one of the most beloved of saints, as well as one of four female Doctors of the Church. Her spiritual writings are chock full of simple wisdom.
October 7 is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and this entire month is dedicated in honor of Mary, the Mother of God. This morning I woke early from a nightmare, so I took hold of my Rosary from the bed stand and prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries. Following Therese's "little way," my plan is to simply pray the Rosary daily this month and offer up my small sacrifices for Pope Francis, the Amazon Synod, and the Church, praying only that God's will be done.
A part of me wants to keep up on the news, but following it all on YouTube is too overwhelming. I've got to lay this burden down.
I've been reading a Psalm a day at least a few times a week, but I'm going to make this a daily commitment. Rawley Myers' book, Embraced by Mary, contains devotions for the entire month of October.
So there is my plan. The Rosary, the Psalms, Myers' meditations, and going about my day with intention, following St. Therese's little way. No YouTube, for either news or self-improvement. I have my tasks, and worry is not one of them. Make the most of this October, my friends, and may you be richly blessed and showered with heavenly roses.
Now we know that for those who love God all things work together unto good, for those who, according to his purpose, are saints through his call. Romans 8: 28
When the sex abuse scandal erupted in the Catholic Church during last year's "summer of shame," I wondered how God would work this horror to the good. Like many Catholics, I've experienced confusion, anger, doubt, and despondency. Pope Francis didn't exactly provide the answers his flock were craving. He still hasn't.
To Archbishop Vigano's accusations that the sex crimes of U.S. Cardinal McCarrick were known at the highest levels of the Vatican, that Pope Benedict had in fact put severe restrictions on McCarrick, which Pope Francis subsequently lifted; Francis merely stated, "I will not say a single word" on the allegations of cover-up.
McCarrick has since been defrocked, and the pope eventually claimed that he didn't know about McCarrick, or at least didn't remember being told. He held a meeting of bishops this year in February to deal with the problem of pedophilia in the Church, extending the mission to eradicate crimes of pedophilia worldwide. However, the McCarrick earthquake was only the beginning of a series of aftershocks that have continued to be revealed over the past year. The corruption in the Church goes higher and is more extensive than anyone imagined.
As admirable as Pope Francis' efforts toward addressing the issue of pedophilia are, many were concerned that he needed to clean up his own house before setting out to rid the world of this scourge. And truth be told, pedophilia is not actually the primary issue. Even one case of sex abuse against a child is too many. But as it turns out, 81% of the sex abuse cases perpetrated by Catholic clergy over a period of many decades did not involve children or females at all. Pedophilia as legally defined is a crime against pre-pubescent children. Catholic clergy are no more likely to be guilty of pedophilia than clergy of non-Catholic Christian denominations or other faith traditions.
The fact that 81% of these cases involved adolescent boys and grown men clearly makes this a situation of gross homosexual predation. Homosexual attacks and intimidation perpetrated upon seminarians and a homosexual grooming of the priesthood have been exposed. The Church is blighted with a systemic disorder, and the hierarchy seems unwilling to address it. Only when the secular media exposes abuse against a minor does the Vatican take action.
So in a nutshell, there's the first bad thing in the proverbial series of three. The Body of Christ had not even recovered from the shock of the sex abuse scandal before we were hit with the next blow. The upcoming Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region will meet from Oct. 6 to 27. A significant amount of attention has shifted from the sex abuse crisis to outrage against the agenda of this meeting, which traditional Catholics fear could destroy the Church and her perennial teachings as we know them. The working document of the Pan-Amazon Synod (Instrumentum Laboris), from the portions I've heard via Catholic news outlets, seems like an ode to paganism and the New Age, with phrases like God Father-Mother Creator and the Cosmic Christ (http://www.sinodoamazonico.va/content/sinodoamazonico/en/documents/pan-amazon-synod--the-working-document-for-the-synod-of-bishops.html).
I haven't read the entire document yet, but this is the kind of language I heard when I attended the "New Thought" Unity Church, which did not even have a valid Christian baptism, baptizing in the Holy Spirit only. Its book shop and library were filled with New Age offerings such as Neal Donald Walsh's "channeled" series, Conversations with God, and Eastern teachings, including reincarnation. This is also, I don't think coincidentally, the language used in A Course in Miracles, the "channeled" New Age tome upon which Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson's beliefs are built.
The fear being expressed by some members of the clergy and laity alike is that there is nothing Catholic about these "new paths" of the Amazon Synod. I see a parallel between the fight for the soul of the Church and the fight for the preservation of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness we are witnessing in the United States of America. The good news is that the sex abuse scandal brought intense scrutiny on Pope Francis, so that he isn't going to be able to slip by under the radar with this Amazonian agenda, like he did with his 2016 papal document, Amoris Laetitia. Though the orthodoxy of its content was being seriously questioned, Catholic news media outlets such as EWTN tried to interpret that document with a hermeneutic of continuity, giving the pope the benefit of the doubt that he was not intent on breaking with Tradition. However, some now believe that Amoris Laetitia was intended to set the stage for the impending October Synod. More and more of the faithful are seriously concerned that the Church is indeed in dire straits. Oh, but that isn't all, my friends. Come May 14, 2020, we will be faced with determining the meaning of Pope Francis' "new humanism" agenda, with a meeting titled "Reinventing the Global Educational Alliance." From what I've heard, Pope Francis has already indicated that Catholics must fall in line with the socialist ideology of the United Nations, and this Global Education Pact might just seal the deal. Wait, doesn't the Catholic Church teach that parents are to be respected as the primary and principle educators of their children? Indeed she does. So why does it seem that the pope wants the "global village" to raise our children?
If the saying is true that bad things happen in 3s, there you have it: 1) the scourge of homosexual predators that has infiltrated the Church; 2) The ambiguous agenda of the Pan-Amazon Synod which some believe aims to destroy traditional Church teaching and replace it with paganism and New Age mumbo jumbo; 3) The Global Education Pact to seal the deal by taking possession of the upbringing of our children. Unfortunately, I've become so disturbed and distracted by all of this that I've become less diligent in doing those very things that are directly in my control as a response to any and all worries; such as praying the Rosary, going to Mass whenever possible, going to Confession, and fasting. We especially need to pray for Pope Francis. His intentions might be good and pastoral, but misguided. Perhaps certain men that wish to influence him do not have the best interests of the Church at heart.
I recently learned that Francis is the first post-Vatican II pope. In other words, he received his priestly formation after the Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965. At this point in history the infiltration of unorthodox ideas that had been brewing for some time broke the surface, and much chaos and confusion in the Church ensued. The '70s and '80s are famous as an era of poor catechesis and a watering down of the Faith. Yet Francis remains the Vicar of Christ, and we must respect his holy office. Jesus said, "And I say to thee, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 6: 18). Herein lies our hope. I converted to Catholicism because I came to believe that this Church is the one, holy, catholic (meaning universal) and apostolic Church built by Christ himself. I have seen the Lord work in not only mysterious ways, but with methods that seem downright bizarre.
I don't know how he's going to work these bad things to his purposes, for the good of those who love God and answer the call to be his saints, but I have faith that he will do it. Our Lady also promised at Fatima that her Immaculate Heart will triumph. Satan will not prevail in the end, but we need to gear up for one hell of a battle. Numbers 2 and 3 in my list of Bad Things have not yet transpired. There is still time to turn the tide. This is what I'll be exploring further in upcoming posts. To the men, I implore you to suit up, grab your lance, and mount the horse. You are the head of your family as Christ is the head of his Church. You MUST lead the way out of this quagmire. This means that you will need to reclaim traditional Christian manhood. Likewise, we women need to clean the dust off the men's armor and let them wear it. Allow them to sharpen the lance. Encourage them to ride the steed. We MUST reject feminism and reclaim traditional Christian womanhood. The connection may not seem clear, but I promise to elucidate the pattern of dots. The antidote to the infection is to cling ever more diligently to the cross and the true Tradition of the Church.
It's about the principle of subsidiarity, people. We have to begin with our own homes and communities before we can affect a wider change. And this isn't just for Catholics. Only today I read that the United Methodist Church is going into an official schism over the LGBT issue. That church will no longer be able to call itself United. The Catholic Church is the last bastion of traditional Christian teaching. She's the largest, most influential church in the world, and if she falls too far into darkness, the rest of Christendom will likewise plummet.
The symptoms of heresy, apostasy, and immorality touch all Christians. We have to put our differences aside, not to pretend that they don't matter, because they do; but we need each other to have a hope for the future of our country and our children, wherever in the world we might live. God only works together for our good if we are saints, so it's imperative that we unite as such. I will be speaking most directly to Catholics in many instances, when I explore what actions we might take and what attitudes we can adopt as saints, but I think that many other Christians will be able to relate. Let's build a community to restore the Church right here at Organic Mothering. Are you in?
(P.S. Please see my follow up to this post, the article dated Oct. 12. More recent information is included, and developments have led to my reconsidering some of the views brought out in this post. I'm now questioning the narrative pervasively being put forth by certain members of the conservative Catholic news media and commentary.)
Today's video is inspired by the eyeglasses worn by Marisa Tomei, playing Aunt May in the latest movie installments of Spider-Man. I actually found a pair of frames very similar to Aunt May's at my local optometrist's office. I wear bifocals, but I had these made as reading glasses only. Here is my inspiration:
And here is my version:
A couple of years ago I wrote a post about this younger, more attractive version of the iconic character and how I coveted Marisa's Aunt May style. Since then I've dreamed of having glasses like hers, but because of a special deal at my eye doctor, when I needed a new prescription, I had to choose a different frame. So I'm talking here, as a beauty specialist, about looking your best wearing glasses. This seems to be an overlooked topic that I think is very important in so many ways. I discuss my everyday, no-line bifocal transitionals, wearing glasses by the pool or on the beach, eye makeup for glasses wearers, reading glasses, and more. I hope you enjoy it and begin to think in fresh ways about how your glasses are not only utilitarian, but are a unique expression of your personal style!
I created this video last month on an exceedingly hot day, and I was very tired. The message is perhaps not as succinct as my previous #WalkAway videos, so I've debated publishing it here at the blog. However, I think the topics presented are important, and I've taken some additional steps in regard to social media since I posted this at YouTube.
I've deactivated from Facebook. I had two accounts and deactivated one of them months ago, and the other just last week. I'm considering permanently deleting both accounts. I will probably write a more detailed post with all the issues I've encountered, once I've had time to fully detox.
I've also turned off the comment option here at the blog for the time being. I'm going to be honest about the reason for this. For many years I've been cyber bullied by someone I know. I feel stalked. I thought this abuse had ended, but when I recently discovered comments awaiting moderation that I had received no notification for, I found a barrage of vitriol from this person.
It's alarming that conservative views are increasingly being censored on large social media and news platforms. I want to be able to fight the good fight against this, but doing so puts me in the firing squad of personal attacks. Publishing hateful, obsessive comments of the kind I've been getting would make my blog look unprofessional and would create a hostile place for well-meaning folks to visit. When I set boundaries to protect my personal space and emotional health, I am being told that I'm "censoring" liberal views.
My refusal to continue futile arguments on Facebook when I'd already allowed persons ample space to express their divergent views is not censorship. It's a healthy response. So many people do not respect the boundaries and rights of others, and this is simply more proof that the political left has gone off the rails. It used to be that "hijacking" a thread was bad manners, but more and more we see good manners going the way of the dinosaur.
Conservative author and media personality Milo Yiannopoulos, who has been banned from every social media imaginable, has stated his feeling that these platforms are not going to last the long haul. I think he's right. We are going to have to find other means for protecting free speech, and other methods that will produce more productive means of communication.
I have closed comments on my YouTube channel as well. It's very unfortunate that I can't feel safe, but that is the sad situation. I would love to be able to welcome all views, in response to the actual content I create, and to be able to take joy in these things that bring me happiness and that help other people to feel inspired and supported.
I don't have the answers yet for how to proceed, but I will keep readers posted. Thank you for your patience and understanding as I navigate these tempestuous waters. I am safe under Mary's mantle, and I pray that all will feel so protected and blessed.
