I think Pope Francis may be quite aware of the polarization occurring in the Church under his watch. We know that Pope Francis has a disdain for Cardinal Burke having demoted him. Could Pope Francis be referring to yet another interview Cardinal Burke has given (both His Holiness and His Eminence are tied with the number of interviews they give)?
LifeSiteNews: Since the extraordinary synod on the family, we have entered a period of uncertainty and confusion over several “hot-button” issues: communion for divorced and “remarried” couples, a change of attitude towards homosexual unions and an apparent relaxing of attitudes towards non-married couples. Does your Eminence think that this confusion is already producing adverse effects among Catholics?
Cardinal Burke: Most certainly, it is. I hear it myself: I hear it from Catholics, I hear it from bishops. People are claiming now, for instance, that the Church has changed her teaching with regard to sexual relations outside of marriage, with regard to the intrinsic evil of homosexual acts. Or people who are within irregular matrimonial unions are demanding to receive Holy Communion, claiming that this is the will of the Holy Father. And we have astounding situations, like the declarations of the bishop of Antwerp with regard to homosexual acts, which go undisciplined, and so we can see that this confusion is spreading, really, in an alarming way.
Thus at this morning's General Audience in a rain soaked Saint Peter's Square, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, asked for prayers for the upcoming synod on the family in October. He is asking popes, cardinals, bishops, priests, relgious and lay faithful to pray and His Holiness has a written prayer for us to recite.
But this is what the Holy Father said this morning:
I would like for this prayer, and the whole Synod journey, to be animated by the compassion of the Good Shepherd for His flock, especially for persons and families that, for different reasons, are “troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36). So, sustained and animated by the grace of God, the Church can be ever more committed, and ever more united, in the witness of the truth of the love of God and of His mercy for the families of the world, excluding none, whether within or outside the flock.
I ask you, please, to not neglect your prayer. All of us – the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, priests, religious, lay faithful – we are all called to pray for the Synod. There is need of this, not of chatter! (chiacchierare) I also invite those who feel far away, or who are not accustomed to do so, to pray. This prayer for the Synod on the Family is for the good of everyone.
Here is the prayer:
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
In you we contemplate
The splendour of true love,
We turn to you with confidence.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
Make our families, also,
Places of communion and cenacles of prayer,
Authentic schools of the Gospel,
And little domestic Churches.
Holy Family of Nazareth
May our families never more experience
Violence, isolation, and division:
May anyone who was wounded or scandalized
Rapidly experience consolation and healing.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
May the upcoming Synod of Bishops
Re-awaken in all an awareness
Of the sacred character and inviolability of the family,
Its beauty in the project of God.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
Hear and answer our prayer. Amen.
(Unofficial translation)
5 comments:
That is a nice prayer. But oh how I look to Cardinal Burke's word for clarity. This is, however, sad, I should be looking to Pope Francis to console me on the goings on in the Church. But Pope Francis just sits back and fiddles while the Church of Rome burns then tells us not to "gossip" when it seems like the Church is in turmoil and we have no one to comfort us..DO YOUR JOB PF AND WE CAN STOP GOSSIPING.. Every once in a while he will say something that actually sounds Catholic; I love when he talks about the devil and confession and I think that it is a positive sign that he is going to the World Meeting on the Family right before the synod..even if I am terrified what he will be saying to the UN/Congress :/
All in all, until the Holy Father decides to speak with clarity rather than constantly have word diarrhea, I will be looking to Cardinal Burke for guidance.
Cardinal Burke appears (almost alone) to be the Saint John Fisher of our time. Bp. Fisher was the only one of the 19 English bishops who remained steadfast and resolute in defense of faith in the time of Henry VIII. If 1 of every 19 Catholic bishops worldwide today were similarly and publicly faithful, then almost 300 bishops might be speaking forthrightly as Card. Burke. Imagine that!
For the record, Card Kasper just gave another public statement too, right before Burke did, so the Pope could be referring to both...
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=24415
The Pharisees were the liberal progressives of their era. Look at all the specific customs they raised up above the traditional doctrines of the Law?
They got divorce due to the hardness of heart.
They got a man's obligation to honor father and mother reduced by claiming he could ear mark such funds "to the temple" and thus avoid helping elderly parents.
They added little obligations to dill and cumin while ignoring the heart of the law.
And what do modern progressives do? They claim their theologians can dispense people from the law of God for the sake of contraception.
They put much more stock in the opinion of pop culture leaders and fads and movements than in the words of Our Lord over marriage.
It's pretty clear that the 'older brother' is NOT conservatives and not traditionalists. Those upholding the ancient faith are not the Pharisees.
What!?! No eagles behind that Southern Catholic family in the second photo?
Like Anon, I hope that whatever words and writings that emerge from the Synod is clear(er).
While mental challenges are great for those who see value in them, there are many more who just do not bother and wander off.
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