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Monday, June 5, 2017

ALL THESE RIGID CATHOLICS: IS THE POPE NOW THE SUPREME PSYCHOLOGIST AND PSYCHOTHERAPIST ?

Psychologists identify why certain songs get stuck in your head


Pope Sigmund Freud? The Holy Father does seem to be preoccupied as though the same song is playing over and over again in His Holiness' head, as clerics of his age, with the rigidity of Catholics, especially seminarians and priests. The progressive seminaries of the 1970's and 80's were particularly concerned with seminarians who were rigid about doctrine, opposed to women priests, deacons and bishops as well as altar girls and female Extraoridnary Ministers of Holy Communion and lectors.

If they prayed the Rosary everyday, were pro-life and were seen praying before the Most Blessed Sacrament and agitating for Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, these things didn't bode well for them.

I can only venture a guess, but the filth in the seminary amongst seminary personnel and seminarians of the 70's and 80's was not primarily the rigid conservatives, but the progressives who were irreverent, narcissistic and careless about the liturgy, morality and doctrine. The loosey-goosey progressives have corrupted the Church, not the rigid and scrupulous. And if either of these groups have psychological issues, please refer them to actual psycho-therapy by professionals.

So why the preoccupation with rigid Catholics. How many of the 12% of Catholics who actually bother to attend Mass in New York are rigid????? And the 88% who don't go certainly are not scrupulous about their Faith, are they?

Holy Father, stick to the Faith, Morals and Canon Law of the Church--your mandate is to "Teach, Rule and Sanctify" not to be Pope Sigmund Freud!

19 comments:

W. Disney said...

It's a world of laughter a world of tears......

Anonymous said...

Bee here:

Many years ago I worked for a Catholic parish that was, to put it kindly, heterodox. My job was assistant to the Director of Liturgy and the Director of Community Formation (two different guys).

The Director of Liturgy was a former priest (who was also a musician) who went AWOL one day and as a result was released from his vows. Not having any other profession, he secured a job at the parish where I worked. A not relevant but interesting aside was that he was an active homosexual. I mention this only to give you an idea of the progressive tone of the parish.

The Director of Community Formation was a guy who had been in the seminary system from 8th grade until he graduated with a Masters in Divinity degree, but who never became a priest. He was in his early 30's at the time, newly married.

In my role as assistant to the Liturgist, I often was expected to help out at all the special liturgies. One Holy Thursday the Holy Thursday liturgy was "held" in the church hall, with the congregation seated by 10's at banquet tables, and the celebrant at a main table saying the prayers of the Mass, and at each table was a half liter of wine and a basket holding a pita bread. And the celebrant, at the consecration, stretched out his hands to confect the sacrament on all the pita breads and wine on the tables, and then the congregation passed around the basket at their table and each person tore off a piece of the bread, and ate it, and the wine was poured and they drank the wine, and when the final blessing was given, no care was taken for the remnants or crumbs, but then a buffet dinner was served.

After the liturgy, the Blessed Sacrament in the church (in the form of a typical host) was transferred to a side altar in a monstrance for the traditional adoration until midnight. In our city, many people have the pious tradition of visiting a number of different parishes during this evening to adore Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Worried that the church was open and pilgrims were coming and going and that perhaps someone who wanted to do damage would come in, I went upstairs to the church to sit quietly with Our Lord, and be sure no one vandalized the church or profaned the Blessed Sacrament. A while later, the Director of Community Formation came into the church and saw me sitting there. He asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was keeping Our Lord company, and making sure no one harmed Him or the church. He looked at me as if I was the most bizarre person he'd ever met, and seeing his look I asked him, "Don't you believe in the Real Presence?" And his answer stunned me. He said, "No. Not really."

This was the guy who was in charge of the RCIA program, Marriage Formation classes, and CCD, as well as retreats, special talks, and presentations for the spiritual growth of parishioners.

All the time I worked there (over 5 years) I was treated with such disdain for my faith and pious practices (like saying a rosary), that I finally just had to quit. I have to say, when I left I figuratively shook the very dust from this place from my shoes... :-)

I always found it ironic that everything and anything was acceptable there EXCEPT traditional worship and piety.

God bless.
Bee

Gene said...

To paraphrase Sigmund, "Sometimes a heretic is just a heretic."

Carol H. said...

Bee, I am saddened, though not surprised, by your story. I am praying for you and for your former parish. God bless you.

Marc said...

Carol, you've mentioned several times that you were praying for my son and for us. I wanted to share with you the update that he passed away last Friday. Thank you for all your prayers.

Thanks to anyone else who saw those updates and prayed for us as well.

Here is some information about him.

Fr. Michael J. Kavanaugh said...

Marc - I am so very sorry to hear of your son's death. I cannot imagine a greater pain for any parent. You and your family will be in my prayers. May the angels lead him into paradise.

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

Marc, thank you for letting us know the sad news. You and you wife are in my prayers and I will offer our 9 am Mass for your intentions I am sure you had your son baptized and thus you have assurance that he is a Saint in heaven! What name did you give him?

Marc said...

Thank you, fathers. He was baptized very shortly after being born. We named him Ambrose Augustine.

Marc said...

By the way, Fr. McDonald, if I recall correctly, today is your ordination anniversary. Happy anniversary!

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

What a great name! Yes, today is my 37th which is impossible since I am 39 years old! Btw in 1980, the Sunday of my first Mass, June 8th was Corpus Christi.

Marc said...

I'm 34 years old today, so I was -3 when you were ordained at the very young age of 2!

Marc said...

Here's an interesting liturgical note: usually the traditional Mass said for the death of baptized infants is the Mass of the Holy Angels. But since it's the octave of Pentecost with all first class Masses, Mass at our son's funeral today will be the Mass of the day, that of Ember Wednesday in the Octave of Pentecost, complete with red vestments.

I don't know how that situation would shake out in the New Mass. There is no Mass prescribed in this situation for baptized infants in the old books, apparently, so the Mass of the Holy Angels is said by custom. It seems like something the reformers would've changed.

Fr. Michael J. Kavanaugh said...

Marc - I was ordained, along with my classmate Fr. Richard Canty (R.I.P. 2008), on Thursday of Easter Week. We were "constrained" and used the mass of the day. No options! Peace.

Carol H. said...

Marc, I'm so sorry for your loss. I will pray the Rosary at 3:00 for nine days for the intention of his soul, and for the comfort of you, your wife, and your daughter.

I know he was baptized, so I have added his name to my list of patron saints. His time here on earth was short, but he has an eternity to do good in heaven.

God bless you and your family, Marc, and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace.

Marc said...

Thank you, Carol!

Anonymous 2 said...

Marc:

Like others here, I am so sorry to hear about your son and will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Mark

George said...

Marc:
I agree with all the comments above about your son. This is one of those heart wrenching and difficult moments that is part and parcel of our life here on earth. You and your family are in my prayers. You have the comfort and reassurance in knowing that being without sin, your son is in a place where there is no pain,suffering or death,just the eternal bliss of being in the company of God, the angels and the saints.

Congratulations Fr McDonald on the anniversary of you ordination. I give thanks
to God for you and Fr Kavanaugh and all others who have chosen the vocation of the priesthood.





ByzRus said...

Marc:

I too am so very sorry to hear about your son's passing. Be assured of my prayers for him as well as you and your family.

ByzRus said...

Father -

I cannot improve upon your closing statement: "Holy Father, stick to the Faith, Morals and Canon Law of the Church--your mandate is to "Teach, Rule and Sanctify" not to be Pope Sigmund Freud!" Be assured that some portion of the troops that make up the referenced 12% are weary and morale is low. Perceived and real rigidity could, in part, be the result of the unfamiliar uneasiness of the last four years.

I have often wondered if by living through this blur of a papacy that we are somehow being tested by the Holy Spirit. Our faith or, lack thereof, will either preserve the church or, allow it to turn a corner.