Crisis in the Church.
Well, here we are again.
People are shocked, lives are shattered, shepherds have shown themselves to be untrustworthy. We ask ourselves, “Are we not doing things right?” – “I thought we fixed this”…. “We have rules and procedures to prevent these things now”. I submit to you that this is not a procedural problem, but a spiritual one. And we have been warned. Multiple times.
Our Lady has appeared numerous times to us – Fatima, Ecuador, Akita and elsewhere. Her message is always the same: “Pray the rosary daily, offer sacrifices in reparation for sin. Turn away from evil and back to God.” The same message she gave at the wedding at Cana:
“Do whatever He tells you”.
At Fatima, in 1917, she told the children:
“This war will end, but if men do not refrain from offending God, another and more terrible war will begin…”
Think about it. World war II did NOT have to happen.
In Ecuador, under the title of “Our Lady of Good Success” our Lady warned about the 20th century:
“The sacrament of Matrimony, which symbolizes the union of Christ with the Church, will be thoroughly attacked and profaned. Masonry, then reigning, will implement iniquitous laws aimed at extinguishing this sacrament. They will make it easy for all to live in sin, thus multiplying the birth of illegitimate children without the Church’s blessing….
“The holy sacrament of Holy Orders will be ridiculed, oppressed, and despised, for in this both the Church and God Himself are oppressed and reviled, since He is represented by His priests.”
Akita Japan, 1973
“The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres…churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.
“The demon will be especially implacable against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them”
How bad does it have to get before we listen? How much will it take for us to turn away from sin, go to confession, get back to mass – (not just on Christmas and Easter), and truly turn back to God? It’s not about “oppression” – that God doesn’t want us to have “FUN”…. Just look at those parts of society where people are left to their own devices!…. They either keep getting thrown in jail for one crime or another…. Or they’re killing themselves, or overdosing on drugs! — doesn’t seem too “happy” a life. Somehow, they don’t seem all that “fulfilled”.
I think this just stems from fear. We’re convinced that we’re all going to be wearing rags, and moaning all day while we starve to death and have people spit on us while they pass by… Incidentally, in some places in the world, that’s called “living”, whether you believe in God or not.
We’ve bought into the lie that money, status, sex, and power are the “keys to happiness”. If that were true, we should see a lot more “happy people” – the thing is, we really don’t.
I was listening to a report on catholic radio the other day, and the speaker was mentioning that in many of the abuse cases, there’s also financial indiscretions. When did the priesthood buy into the idea that it’s “money, status, sex, and power” that will make them happy? Happier than heaven? We really are warped if we’re willing to trade 5 minutes of pleasure for a lifetime of pain. (that’s just a pale reflection of trading an eternity of true happiness for a fleeting lifetime of pleasure — and in this life, there’s no such thing as being “free” from pain)
We need to examine OURSELVES. We need a return to holiness. We need to turn OFF the TV and Facebook, quit filling our homes with filth – most TV shows are glorifying broken homes, atheism, abortion, sex on demand — and everyone looks so “happy” — (yes, because they’re ACTORS…. They’re PAID to pretend they’re happy!)
Strangely enough, Mother Theresa always had a smile on her face. She was genuinely happy. She also had nothing — nothing but Jesus. He seemed to be more than enough for her. Sharing each day with your best friend would be an amazing thing — it’s even more amazing when your best friend is Christ. It’s even MORE amazing when you can receive him in the Holy Eucharist, and you can join together as one.
We’ve been continually warned by our lady that WE need to convert, and make reparation for sin. THEN things will change. If you’re not willing to change, how can you expect anyone or anything ELSE to change? Let Jesus become your best friend and advisor. Let his Mother be your mother. Take her counsel. Let her bring you to her Son. I promise you won’t be disappointed!