Deus, in adjutorium meum intende. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.
It is getting more and more frustrating to try to put out a daily blog. I get too impatient with this computer. It freezes, it's so slow as to tire me just waiting for it to move. I think I will suspend the blog until I get a new computer - SOON!
Meanwhile, to end up, I'll just continue with a little of Pope Gregory XVI's Encyclical on Liberalism and Religious Indiferentism. It still could be written today. Our pastor inserts these things into our Sunday bulletin, along with reflections from the Church Fathers of old. Following are some excerpts from Sunday, July 22.
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.....take care that the faith may be preserved amidst this great conspiracy of impious men who attempt to tear it down and destroy it. May all remember the judgment concerning sound doctrine with which the people are to be instructed.........It is the duty of individual bishops to cling to the See of Peter faithfully, to guard the faith piously and religiously, and to feed their flock....
Furthermore, the discipline sanctioned by the Church must never be rejected or be branded as contrary to certain principles of natural law. It must never be called crippled, or imperfect or subject to civil authority. In this discipline the administration of sacred rites, standards of morality and the reckoning of the rights of the Church and her ministers are embraced.
To use the words of the fathers of Trent, it is certain that the Church "was instructed by Jesus Christ and His Apostles and that all truth was daily taught it by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit." Therefore, it is obviously absurd and injurious to propose a certain "restoration and regeneration" for her as though necessary for her safety and growth, as if she could be considered subject to defect or obscuration or other misfortune. Indeed these authors of novelties consider that a "foundation may be laid of a new human institution," and what Cyprian detested may come to pass, that what was a divine thing "may become a human church."
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And yes, these things have come to pass. The "springtime" or "restoration and regeneration" for the Church that was offered at Vatican II Pastoral Council has turned out to be like the Arab spring - disastrous - for the unity of the Church and the sacredness of its rites and teachings. Secular authority and dissenters within the Faith may weaken the Church; but the Holy Spirit will remain with the loyal followers of the truth. The Church may be chastised by God Himself, persecuted by civil authority , decimated in its numbers, but "the gates of Hell will not prevail against it." There will be a remnant to rebuild and cherish the Faith until the end of time; which may be sooner than we think.
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The feast of Mary Magdalen was also yesterday, July 22. The feastdays of the saints usually have after their name, something like - confessor, bishop, virgin and martyr, etc. Our pastor pointed out that St. Mary Magdalen's name is followed by "Penitent." She is the only one to be so designated. She was the penitent of all penitents. Her faith in and love for Our Lord sets her apart. "Because she has loved much, many sins are forgiven her." (Luke vii: 36-50). She followed Him even to the cross, not so the frightened apostles, except for John. There is a lot more to the story of Mary of Magdala, some from tradition, of her life and service after Christ's Ascension. If we note in the Gospels Our Lord's words when he heals or forgives sin, it is always the "Faith" of the person that He commends. "Thy faith has made thee whole." "Thy faith has saved thee." We need faith and love for Christ to sustain us and to lead us to become saints.
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Until I get that new computer - or unless something REELY needs to be said - I'm signing off for awhile.
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