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Saturday, October 24, 2015

ALLELUIA AND THANK GOD! THE SYNOD ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE IS FINALLY OVER! OVER I SAY! ALLELUIA

Let's all sing a solemn Te Deum!

Philippa Hitchen of Vatican Radio makes some comments on the end of the synod. Nothing here that indicates anything but we can now give thanks it is over!


Vatican Radio It’s hard to describe the mix of emotions that washed around the Synod Hall on Saturday at the close of this three week meeting. Elation, exhaustion, incredulity and relief were certainly among the reactions I heard from Synod Fathers as they worked their way painstakingly through all 94 points of their lengthy final text.  Surprisingly similar, I thought, to that indescribable blend of emotions that most mothers experience as they give birth to a new life.

There’s no denying there have been labour pains over the past weeks here, as tensions surfaced and fears were expressed, both in public and on the pages of letters sent to the Pope and members of the organizing committee. In the small groups and in the open debates, strong words and provocative language has been bandied around, both by those seeking some new developments in Church teaching and by those who resist any openings towards people in so–called irregular situations of cohabitation, remarriage or same-sex relationships.

Yet the final document has been welcomed by most as a carefully crafted work of art which seeks to balance the very different views and cultural perspectives of all Synod participants. Rather than producing any groundbreaking theological developments, it showcases a new, more inclusive way of working, which began with the questionnaires sent out to families around the world and concluded with the intense small group discussions inside the Synod Hall.

Inevitably, the more open, frank discussions of difficult issues, encouraged by Pope Francis at the start of the 2014 Synod, has required a new methodology to find agreement acceptable to all sides, without settling for a lowest common denominator. The key word in this process – unsurprisingly under a Jesuit Pope – is discernment, or the ability to listen, learn and respond to personal stories. Starting from the bible, the catechism and the teaching of popes past and present, pastors are encouraged to open doors and engage with every person and every family, not judging or condemning, but welcoming and caring for each individual need.

While the joys and sorrows of family life have been the main focus of discussions, the bishops have really been learning a new way of relating to each other in the family of the Church. Half a century on from establishment of the Synod of bishops, these Church leaders are moving towards a new way of collaborating more closely with each other and with the pope, respecting differences, while at the same time realizing the value of diversity.

You could call it a growing up and coming of age of that synodality that was born during the Second Vatican Council. Few of those Council Fathers are around today to witness the joy all parents feel as they watch their children mature and make their way in the world. But just as the document born during this Synod stresses the role of each generation in nurturing and handing on the faith, so today’s Synod Fathers will be looking back with gratitude as they strive to respond more effectively to the challenges facing the Church in the contemporary world.

My comment: If this synod has been an exercise in maturity, I'd love to know what an immature synod looks like! YIKES!

8 comments:

Gene said...

Group discussion, new methodology, discernment, openness...yadda, yadda, yadda. Bottom line: A weakening of the Church and her stance on heretofore settled issues of doctrine. You just wait. Brucie and Sammie will be bringing those gifts, being lectors, teaching catechism classes...while Jack and Carol will be shacking up every weekend before coming to Mass while the local Bishop "discerns."

DJR said...

Yet another disgusting attack on faithful Catholics by the pope, with lip service to traditional families but the hint at what is coming: inculturation. In other words, different geographical areas will have different practices.

http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2015/10/24/0817/01826.html#en

There is no excuse for a pope to be attacking believing Catholics like this.

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

You are over reacting. This is overall positive while summarizing the rancor or polarization

Gene said...

Like I said, you just wait.

DJR said...

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...You are over reacting. This is overall positive while summarizing the rancor or polarization.

Father, did the Blessed Virgin overreact when She spoke at Akita to Sister Sasagawa? Was She "overall positive"? Are we to consider those apparitions false?


"My dear daughter, listen well to what I have to say to you. You will inform your superior."

After a short silence:

"As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never have seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests.

"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 (other priests), churches and altars will be 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.

"With courage, speak to your superior. He will know how to encourage each one of you to pray and to accomplish works of reparation.

"It is Bishop Ito, who directs your community."

And She smiled and then said:

"You have still something to ask? Today is the last time that I will speak to you in living voice. From now on you will obey the one sent to you and your superior.

"Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able still to save you from the calamites which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved."

Was Father Gobbi a fake? I don't know, but I know for a fact that a lot of priests and even some bishops consider him authentic.

From Father Gobbi:

There comes out of the earth, by way of aid to the black beast which arises out of the sea, a beast which has two horns like those of a lamb… intimately connected to that of the priesthood… The beast with the two horns like a lamb indicates Freemasonry infiltrated into the interior of the Church, that is to say, ecclesiastical Masonry, which has spread especially among the members of the hierarchy. This Masonic infiltration, in the interior of the Church, was already foretold to you by me at Fatima, when I announced to you that Satan would enter in even to the summit of the Church. The task of ecclesiastical Masonry is that of destroying Christ and His Church, building a new idol, namely a false christ and a false church.

The Church will know the hour of its great apostasy. The man of iniquity will penetrate into its interior and will sit in the very Temple of God, while the remnant which will remain faithful will be subjected to the greatest trials and persecutions.

The apostasy will be, as of then, generalized because almost all will follow the false christ and the false church. Then the door will be open for the appearance of the man or of the very person of the Antichrist!


I have no idea whether these alleged prophecies are authentic, but I do know that they're out there in public view for all to see. If what we're witnessing is not apostasy, I don't know what apostasy would look like.

It sure looks like we're gearing up for the denouement.

Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...

A Catholic is under no obligation whatsoever to believe in private revelations even those put forward. Y the magisterium as worthy of belief!

DJR said...

Father:

Of course the Church teaches what you stated, but that's beside the point. The point is whether those alleged private revelations are true.

Are they?

No one has to believe in the Fatima apparitions in order to be saved, but to call them false, however, is contrary to the truth.

George said...



"A Catholic is under no obligation whatsoever to believe in private revelations even those put forward."

That is correct, Father McDonald. However, in approving private revelations, the Church is saying they are worthy of belief. In order for a private revelation to be approved, it must be thourougly investigated and nothing can be found in it that contradicts Church teaching. Not many have met the criteria for approval. The more well known ones are the Divine Mercy revelations to Saint Faustina, The Miraculous Medal revealed to Saint Catherine Laboure, Lourdes (St Bernadette), the revelations of the Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary, and of course Fatima.
One significant point to consider is that all the recipients of these well-known major revelations are Saints, with the exception of Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto, who are both Blesseds.
The significance of this is when a person is canonized, this is considered to be an infallible pronouncement by the Church. This then confirms the truthfulness of what has been revealed to these Holy Exemplars of the Faith, and that it in no way violates the teaching of the Church to believe in what has been revealed.