Thursday 21 May 2015

On Saints and Scholars

"We're back!"
St Patrick drove them out. His Successors invited them back in. I must confess that I haven't been praying much about Ireland until recently when it has dawned on me (I'm a little slow, you know) that the culture of death strangling most of Europe is about to wrap its constrictor-like form around the land of 'Saints and scholars'.

We should pray very much for this coiuntry. We shouldn't be surprised, even if we are horrified by Ireland's free-fall collapse. What a King did for England, the Church itself has done for Ireland, which is made the more disturbing because Ireland's stunning apostasy has occurred with no threat of violence whatsoever and within a single generation. If they vote yes, then the Irish are actually voting for their own destruction, whereas in England the cultural and religious revolution and its horrendous aftermath was imposed from above.

If the 'exit polls' in the referendum for Jesus Christ Vs Satan are anything to go by, this will be a most democratic rupture with its Christian roots, with Christ and His Church. Perhaps they look out at Europe and feel the need to keep up with the Jones's in our general embrace of a godless ideology. Of course, the collapse of the Catholic Faith, the collapse in vocations in these Isles is seen by some English Cardinals as a kind of 'second Spring' under the reign of an Argentinian Pope with record high 'approval ratings' that are not necessarily representative of the Court of Heaven. Or perhaps the post-1960s Catholic Church in Ireland, through its classy, modern, 'relevant' liturgy, widespread irreverence towards the Blessed Sacrament and the sins of its clergy and Bishops, has done enough to secure the demise of Ireland's long-standing identity as a Catholic nation. For some reason I think of Fr Ray Kelly's 'classy' and 'relevant' rendition of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' wedding anthem at a Nuptial Mass. It really encapsulates so much.

Other countries are not, quite yet, so foolish though I suspect the powerful would deem them so. Brave Hungary and under pressure Poland remain more than merely 'culturally' Catholic and it is seen - though Poland remains under threat - in the laws of these countries. These countries however, did not have the nuclear explosion of the sex abuse crisis that Ireland had. Still reeling from that calamitous outrage, you might hope that the Bishops of Ireland, for instance, in Dublin, might launch a final salvo to save Ireland from the abyss of sexual slavery and sin being legislated into the laws of the land but many Bishops are like those who celebrate the country's patron saint. St Patrick may still be wheeled out for Guinness Day in Ireland but his message is completely erased from the celebrations. With some exceptions, it would seem that whatever Apostolic zeal Ireland's prelates had, most have had it mysteriously drained out of them.

Hollywood: Cheery, optimistic stuff in 'San Andreas'
Some are hoping that His Holiness Pope Francis might say something to instill the fear or even love of God back into the Irish but it has been said that Pope Francis believes this is something for the 'local Church' to do, a belief that unhappily co-incides with a rather lacklustre local Church that cannot even bring itself to tell its membership that voting for same-sex marriage puts you out of Communion with the Church.

The fact that some Bishops in Ireland are telling the Irish 'Who am I to judge?' how you vote could, perhaps, be just another aspect of the Francis Effect recently heralded by Fr Linus Clovis in a concise and erudite talk. It would be great for His Holiness to say something in defence of Ireland's comparatively impeccable and hitherto pro-life, pro-traditional marriage laws but like many I am not holding my breath. I read a blog post recently by a US priest who indicated that what the Church is looking at is like looking at a tsunami coming towards you. There is nowhere to go, there is nothing you can do, but pray. 

It is interesting to note that, with a growing number of Catholics, Hollywood retains its affection for the apocalyptic, with 'San Andreas' coming out at the end of the month of Mary. Like death and/or the Second Coming of Christ as Judge, 'The Big One' is not a matter of if, but when. Really, seriously, Irish Bishops and all Bishops have to return to the inconvenient truth that we are all going to die and face Almighty God and have to give an answer and that we should live this life to prepare for this, within the Ark of Salvation, the Catholic Church. Let us not wait for greater chatisements than we have yet known to do this. We will face God and either Heaven or Hell forever. This means turning our lives towards God, not directing our lives towards our own sensuality and our own selfish will. As 'whole nations' are 'annihilated' as forewarned by Our Lady of Fatima, through artificial contraception, laws that promote abortion, homosexuality, the devastation of sin and sacrilege, and the whole 'culture of death' opposed so vigorously by Popes Benedict and St John Paul II we would do well to note the annihilation of the Faith taking place within the Church because only Christ's Church can confront and oppose the evil in the World.

Yes, even the devastation we survey in various nations wrought by a powerful elite under the influence of the prince of this World is as nothing compared to the supreme betrayal of Our Lord that has been witnessed within the bosom of the Catholic Church itself by those entrusted with so much authority and so much responsibility. We must pray and pray hard. Pray for Ireland and at this time of grave crisis in the Church, we must thank God for those who, unafraid of reprisals that could be levelled in their direction, say what must be said in times when confusion and uncertainty over the Truth becomes so widespread for the Salvation of Souls and the good of the Universal Church. Pray for more of such as these. Most Irish Bishops may have invited the snakes back into Ireland, but thank Almighty God for this gentleman and scholar, this man with the spirit of the Saints.



27 comments:

umblepie said...

Very interesting video, thank you.
Please forgive my ignorance, but who was the speaker?

Anonymous said...

The apostasy and thus moral destruction in Ireland definitely "started at the top". For decades, bishops and priests in Ireland have refused to teach and admonish and lead people in the Faith and morals but rather have preached a relativist, worldly false "religion", leading people (some with full understanding and consent, others with less than full understanding and consent) away from God, away from the sacrament of Confession and a life of grace, or even a life open to the possibility of grace. These bishops and priests have colluded (and continue to collude) with the enemies and Enemy of God and His Holy Law. Just look at the evil bilge from the mouths of Archbishop Martin and Bishop McKeown in just the last couple of days. They are doing their utmost to destroy the moral intellect and conscience of those who still want to abide by the Faith and the Natural Law. They are saying just what will get as many people as possible to vote for the abomination of sodomitical "marriage" - the sin that "cries out to heaven". In other words they are encouraging persons to commit mortal sin in voting to legalise grave intrinsic evil, and to commit mortal sin by engaging in such an abomination or cooperating with the ensuing evil and unjust and invalid "law" in some way.

There are not words to describe the evil being perpetrated by these bishops who do not have the Faith, who oppose fundamental objective moral law, and abuse their public platform to collude with protagonists of this evil law to defy God and corrupt weak or naive. They should be very afraid of dying without repenting. They are endangering many, many souls, and along with the likes of Fr Iggy Donovan and other enemies of God and His Holy Laws, will share in the responsibility of those who are helped to engage in mortal sin if this tyrannical "law" is passed. They will also share in the responsibility for the increasingly formalised persecution against those who hold to the unchangeable truth regarding marriage, sodomy, abuse of innocent children, etc.

Blessed Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle . . .

Anonymous said...

Generally speaking, what happened in England during the 16th century is the same thing that is happening in Ireland now.

England was a Catholic nation that lost the Catholic Faith for the most part, and the fault lies with Catholics themselves.

Ditto for Ireland, only the method and the century are different.

DJR

Oakes Spalding said...

Well, "the Irish saved civilization" starting from a few windswept Catholic outposts in the Northern isles. Given how things are going, I expect the next rebirth will be similar. Though, who the "new Irish" will be is anyone's guess. West Africans? Traditionalists in Paris? Chicago? Brighton?

The world will be re-civilized and re-consecrated to Christ. Of that, faithful Catholics can have no doubt.

The Dublin Archbishop doesn't want to "shove his religion down other people's throats." I hope he goes to Heaven. But I know he won't be remembered on Earth. Heroes are remembered. Cowards generally are not. Especially if they are mediocre cowards.

Our Lady of Good Success-pray for us. said...

The 'spring-time' is all about 'convergence' with the world and nothing to do with conversion to the faith. Will the Irish majority passively converge with error rather than actively convert to Truth? Post-Catholic catholicsm is captained by 'convergence clergy' and 'convergence popes'. Convergence is what they have practiced and preached for 50 years; I guess there's no surprise that the sheeple are, with impressive docility, converging.

Savonarola said...

Rather than seeking scapegoats to blame, one might perhaps try to understand in a more realistic way why Catholicism in Ireland has collapsed so quickly. How deeply rooted was the Catholic culture really in days gone by? What was there about it which made it into a house of cards which one gentle push would topple over?
Similar questions arise over the well established Catholic culture of Poland. As soon as they started to receive the benefits of Western consumerism, their Catholic culture was the first thing many Polish people jettisoned. Why? And the benefits were not even things worth having.
Unless we make a serious attempt to understand why people abandon their religion, we can only expect the decline to continue, but I think people in the Church are reluctant to question too far or deeply because they fear what it may show up - not about people, but the about the Church.
One thing we might consider is whether or not the Church over the centuries has placed most of its emphasis on the externals of religion - doctrines, rituals, moral codes, practices which create a tribal identity - rather than on the simple knowing of God which should be the heart of religion. And this is not to blame anyone, but to acknowledge honestly what has happened in order to move on.

Lepanto said...

Retired Irish 'Bishop' Willie Walsh announced after his retirement (and safely collecting his pension and benefits) that he is not convinced that there is an afterlife. No condemnation from the Irish hierarchy, his comments passed almost unnoticed. Maynooth has been a pit of teaching heresy (often to homosexuals) for decades so what could be expected?

Tim said...

Today the relics of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin are at Christ the King, Northumberland Avenue, Reading (half an hour on the train from Paddington then number 5 bus from Station Road). Mass at 7pm. I'm heading there this afternoon - I'll be saying this prayer for Ireland:

Litany of married couples

Ant. Behold the faithful and wise steward whom the Lord set over his family (Luke 12, 42)
V. Glory and wealth shall be in his house
R. And his justice remains for ever and ever (Psalm 111, 3)

Let us pray

O God, who, in Thy wonderful providence, didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, to us who venerate him as our protector on earth, to be found worthy of having him as our advocate in Heaven.
(from the Mass of St. Joseph)

Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy

Christ hear us
Christ graciously hear us

God the Father of Heaven have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit have mercy on us
Holy Trinity one God have mercy on us

Holy Mary and Saint Joseph pray for us

Saint Joachim and Saint Anne pray for us
Saint Zachariah and Saint Elizabeth pray for us
Saint Aquila and Saint Priscilla pray for us
Saint Philemon and Saint Apphia pray for us
Saint Adrian and Saint Natalie pray for us
Saint Gregory and Saint Nonna pray for us
Saint Basil and Saint Emmelia pray for us
Saint Hilarius and Saint Quieta pray for us
Saint Vincent and Saint Waldetrudis pray for us
Saint Hildulf and Saint Aya pray for us
Saint Henry and Saint Cunegund pray for us
Saint Isidore and Blessed Maria pray for us
Saint Stephen and Blessed Gisela pray for us
Saint Elzear and Blessed Delphina pray for us
Blessed Erkenbert and Blessed Richlinde pray for us
Blessed Louis and Blessed Zelie pray for us
Blessed Luigi and Blessed Maria pray for us
Blessed Karl and Servant of God Zita pray for us
Venerable Sergio and Venerable Domenica pray for us

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world spare us o Lord
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world graciously hear us o Lord
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world have mercy on us

Pray for us all holy husbands and wives
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Ant. Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh (Genesis 2, 24)
V. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine on the walls of thy house
R. Thy children as olive plants round about thy table (Psalm 128, 3)

Let us pray

Heavenly Father, through Christ our Lord You have made a new covenant with Your people, so that, as You have redeemed man and woman by the mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection, so in Christ You might make them partakers of divine nature and joint heirs with Him of heavenly glory. Look with favour upon Your servants joined together in Marriage, send down on them the grace of the Holy Spirit and pour Your love into their hearts, that they may remain faithful in the Marriage covenant. May they hold fast to the faith and keep Your commandments; made one in the flesh, may they be blameless in all they do; and with the strength that comes from the Gospel, may they bear true witness to Christ before all; may they be blessed with children, and prove themselves virtuous parents, who live to see their children's children. And grant that, reaching at last together the fullness of years for which they hope, they may come to the life of the blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Christ our Lord
Amen
(from the Nuptial Mass)

Liam Ronan said...

There is an old Irish prophesy "Seven years before the end of the world Eire will be swallowed-up by the ocean's waves in a single inundation." - St. Colomba

I live in County Cork and the nation has gone vicious in the run-up to this same-sex marriage abomination referendum being voted on today, i.e. 22 May.

Pray for a victory for the "No" side and that Mary, the Queen of Ireland will reassert her authority and Christ's dominion here.

The Bones said...

"Seven years before the end of the world Eire will be swallowed-up by the ocean's waves in a single inundation." - St. Colomba

Liam, if it is any consolation, I was told by a friend that such an event would spare Ireland from the horrors of the Antichrist. Where he got that info from, I have no idea.

The Bones said...

http://miracle-witness.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/ireland-earthquakes-and-prophecy.html

FYI

Our Lady of Good Success-pray for us. said...

@savonarola: re 'scapegoatism'. Be interested to know if you would consider the 'convergence' (union or reaching a common conclusion) with the world taught and practiced by Paul VI and his successors could be an actual cause for the loss of Faith. If one is dissuaded from conforming with the universal ordinary magisterium of the Church what is left? the world and its rejection of and defection from the Indefectible and Infallible Catholic Church.

Unknown said...

A friend just found this on facebook:

BREAKING: SECRET VATICAN MEETING PLANS SYNOD COUP
BY Jean-Marie Guénois at LE FIGARO
May 22, 2015 - 6:24 PM (Paris time), updated at 6:50 PM
On Monday [May 25], European episcopates will debate the welcoming of remarried divorcees and homosexuals in the Church.
The initiative has remained very discreet, indeed secret, but it is important. According to our information, three episcopates -- the German, the Swiss, and the French -- have gotten together in order to organize, behind closed doors, on Monday, May 25, in Rome, in the premises of the Jesuit Gregorian University, a day of studies centered on the welcoming of remarried divorcees and homosexual persons in the Church.
Renowned German theologians will take the floor before a chosen audience of only fifty people. The closing conference will be delivered by Cardinal Reinhard Marx, President of the German Bishops' Conference. Along with Cardinal Walter Kasper, this influential cardinal -- a member of the C9, the Pope's close council -- works actively for a policy of opening of the Catholic Church on these dossiers. At the Vatican, only a few personalities have received an invitation.

Seattle Kim

Anonymous said...

Ireland has lost herself, the celtic tiger chose god money and rejected Christ and her glorious Catholic past......Padraigh, where have you gone? Many, many years ago some holy monks colonized the whole Europe and brought the Gospel, now the lost continent once called Europe is sinking down hoping to solve the great Riddle : is there a hereafter? God bless+.

Liam Ronan said...

Given the chance to vote in a 'free and fair' election the majority of Irish voters cried "Give us Barabbas!" The blasphemy of this act makes a mockery of the Irish Constitution:

"In the name of the Most
Holy Trinity, from Whom is
all authority and to Whom,
as our final end, all actions
both of men and States
must be referred,
We, the people of Éire,
Humbly acknowledging all
our obligations to our Divine
Lord, Jesus Christ, Who
sustained our fathers
through centuries of trial,
Gratefully remembering their
heroic and unremitting
struggle to regain the rightful
independence of our Nation,
And seeking to promote the
common good, with due
observance of Prudence,
Justice and Charity, so that
the dignity and freedom of
the individual may be
assured, true social order
attained, the unity of our
country restored, and
concord established with
other nations,
Do hereby adopt, enact, and
give to ourselves this
Constitution."

God will not be mocked nor openly and contemptuously blasphemed. I should think the Final Word has yet to be heard on this travesty.

Anonymous said...

"I live in County Cork and the nation has gone vicious in the run-up to this same-sex marriage abomination referendum being voted on today, i.e. 22 May.

Pray for a victory for the "No" side and that Mary, the Queen of Ireland will reassert her authority and Christ's dominion here."

I, too, lived in Cork for some time during the 70's. Even though things were definitely changing, I would never have guessed they would get so bad in Ireland, of all places.

Open persecution of what's left of the Catholic Church will now begin in earnest.

My paternal grandparents were from Valentia. I'm sure they are shedding tears now.

DJR

Anonymous said...

Ireland may have chosen to get rich, but there is nothing wrong with choosing to be economically free. Economic freedom gives us the power to help with money those who cannot help themselves.

Camper
from the blog veneremur cernui - Dallas Area Catholics

Anonymous said...

DJR, I have experienced the persecution, and seen worse to others. I've experienced demonic attacks and seen others be attacked, here in Ireland. Pray for the persecuted remnant that we do not succumb as the leaders of the Church in Ireland have.

Anonymous said...

Liam, I would really like to make contact with you, if possible, as I know you live here in Ireland. God save us!!

Anonymous said...

Fr Clovis Linus, true Catholic priest, based in St Lucia.

Hrodgar said...

Re: Savanorola

Grouping doctrines and morals with externals does seem to be a part of the problem.

Andrew said...

The campaign for "queer acceptance" hasn't just happened overnight. It has been a decades-long plan, put into action with the most egregious dedication by those who control and shape the public media output.

I think here of a speech given by the US vice-president Joe Biden to Jewish leaders in Hollywood in May 2013*:

Jewish leaders in the media are in large part responsible for American acceptance of gay marriage, Vice President Biden said Tuesday night.

"I believe what affects the movements in America, what affects our attitudes in America are as much the culture and the arts as anything else," he said at a Democratic National Committee reception for Jewish American Heritage Month. He cited social media and the sitcom "Will and Grace," giving Jews a large part of the credit for both.

"I bet you 85 percent of those changes, whether it’s in Hollywood or social media are a consequence of Jewish leaders in the industry," he said. "The influence is immense, the influence is immense. And, I might add, it is all to the good."


The same battle rages today as it has always done. It is the battle between light and darkness. At the moment, we're losing. That much is obvious. But it's a battle we have to fight nonetheless. But we can only effect meaningful opposition by calling the enemy by its name.

Re-read, if you haven't already, the Church Fathers, most notably St. John Chrysostom. He had some unfashionable ideas, which probably need to become fashionable again. Or just pay closer attention to St. Matthew. It's all there, if, as Christ says, you have ears to hear.....

*http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/05/22/biden-jewish-leaders-helped-gay-marriage-succeed/

Our Lady of Good Success-pray for us. said...

@Liam. Well put. The seduction of choosing 'barabbas' at the behest of one's 'betters', rather than choosing God has proven, historically, very magnetic.

torchofthefaith said...

Liam and Lynda,

May God bless you for the light of your witness in this darkness.

May Our Lady bless, protect and strengthen you. May the Holy Ghost be poured upon you and on all who suffer for the Faith this Pentecost.

In Christ,
Alan and Angeline.

Anonymous said...

Thank you again, Angeline and Alan! Your sister in Christ, Lynda

Liam Ronan said...

Thanks Alan and Angeline. All prayers most welcome and indispensable.

I am not despairing because all is in God's Hands, but I am filled with a deep foreboding for the iimmediate future.

This nation of Ireland is 'the' only nation in the world to raise its fist and shake it in God's Face defying Him for all the world to witness. (See the Preamble to our Constitution in my earlier remarks).

Since we are reputed erroneously to be 'the' most Catholic nation on the planet it will be short order until others fall in step.

Francis and the bishops were mute while this battle shaped-up and was fought. The clergy was divided, some supporting same sex marriage and some not.

We must shake-off this idea that some word from Francis or the bishops or the clergy (were it ever to come) will make all the difference in stemming the tide of this filth and blasphemy sweeping the planet.

In an 26 December 1957 interview with Father Fuentes, Sister Lucy of Fatima said (in part):

"Father, we should not wait for an appeal to the world to come from Rome on the part of the Holy Father, to do penance. Nor should we wait for the call to penance to come from our bishops in our diocese, nor from the religious congregations. No!

Our Lord has already very often used these means and the world has not paid attention. That is why now, it is necessary for each one of us to begin to reform himself spiritually. Each person must not only save his own soul but also help all the souls that God has placed on our path.

"The devil does all in his power to distract us and to take away from us the love for prayer; we shall be saved together or we shall be damned together."

@Lynda, I'd be in touch with you if I knew how to communicate with you privately. Let me know.

Pray the rosary every day. Make the First Saturdays and have a blessed crucifix in your homes.

Anonymous said...

Liam, I'll email Laurence, and if you could too, with Laurence's help we could get in contact. Your traumatised sister in Christ, Lynda

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