I'm just writing for myself, tonight. As I used to do at the very beginning of this road. So, pay no heed. Just typing some words without much thought - curious to observe what spits out. On a phone, and not on my notebook - which is my usual writing routine.
I go to a wonderful Benedictine priory called Silverstream, never have to listen to any of that bs there thankfully. The pope is trying to put a stop to their ways of course. Fear no doubt. Great words Gerry, pity more people don’t kick back against the propaganda, so many deaths and injuries like mine because of lies and liars like the current pope
Gerry, we have Good Friday liturgy in the Catholic church; the heretics have 'service'.
What a poor choice of analogy on the part of the bishop. Seems as though these leaders are every bit as blind as most politicians. You should attend latin rite for 4 / 5 Sundays to see if the authentic has an appeal for you. They certainly won't be pandering to the UN / World / the Great Who#e of Babylon. Only avoid SSPX for two reasons: no one can say conclusively if they are back in 'full' communion with the church & they've been caught protecting and moving around ...diddlers.
The truth of the smouldering embers.. They haven't died out... How could they? The idiotic things just keep adding up.. Nothing has been resolved.. Just brushed under the carpet.. Well done on getting out of there.. I'd have sat on those feelings years ago, afraid to rock the boat, afraid to offend anyone by my exit and would have ended up with a panic attack.. Now I just know it's truth begging to be acknowledged.. And then it does subside.. The positive side of everyone getting so offended by everything these days, is.. We can finally stop blaming ourselves for offending them.. We couldn't possible be responsible for all the offence caused to everyone who is offended.. So we can finally just be ourselves.. And let ourselves off the hook.. And follow spirit.. And look u found what u were looking for. In the end. It was just in a different place to where u thought.. More real.. Timeless..
Corruption and its enablers exist in the Church just as in governments and the business/trade world.
Properly, each arena should stay within its boundaries and areas of expertise. Of God and souls on one side and on laws and the world on the other, but both are too intermixed and become rotten..
I think you just need to read the Bible Gerry, to find the answers you’re looking for. Esp New Testament / Psalms / Proverbs. ‘My Word is truth.’ John 17 v17 - 26
I think the vaccine issue is contentious . There are 2 sides to it. I know a few elderly people beside me saw it as a life saviour. The difference between spending their remaining years confined to their room or freedom to enjoy their remaining years and from that point of view I can see why the church would err on the side of caution to protect people. I saw as well a work colleague of mine out with covid the last 2 weeks and she said she was out for the count for about a week and she would be early 50s. On the other hand God knows the short and long term effects of the vaccine.
At Good Friday service here in Belfast we were told to simple bow at the cross . I left. My 92 year old mother at church in Birmingham kissed the cross. A friend in limerick kissed the cross. I have emailed the diocese to ask why that is!
There is great depth in what you wrote. It resonated with me and I too feel the rage at times that wells up within me against the sins committed by the State and Church and the refusal to repent and acknowledge their wrongdoing. Their pride and arrogance is astonishing. I recall during the time of "covid" my grief at the church not being there for the people at a time when they were needed, the isolation of the elderly and for those whose only social contact was daily Mass. Then the added protocols of hand sanitisers, mask wearing, social distancing etc increasing the fear and anxiety on an already traumatised people and I wondered what happened to the church that over the centuries in every kind of crisis was there in self sacrifice for the people...but no more. How like the state they banned people from partaking in communial events. I recall being banned from entering our church with my family because we refused to wear masks even though we had exemptions. The next week billboards at each entrance "NO MASK NO ENTRY" and feeling like a leper as we stood outside hearing Mass.
You wrote "Where is the spirit of myself supposed to be consistently regenerated, I ponder". For me I found it in silence sitting in an empty church before the tabernacle. That was what kept me sane. I often wonder at the symbol of the cross and the lesson to be learned from Jesus in carrying ours.
Great stuff Gerry. I would have reacted in the same way you did. To me, it is like an assault to be confronted by whatever form of de covid nonsense is displayed. I automatically reject it outright . I will only go into a church when nothing is going on other than a funeral. I would rather speak straight to the Boss myself.
Courtyard of the Papal Summer Residence, Castel Gandolfo
Sunday, 7 August 2011
(Video)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In this Sunday’s Gospel we find Jesus who, after withdrawing to the mountain, prays throughout the night. The Lord, having distanced himself from the people and the disciples, manifests his communion with the Father and the need to pray in solitude, far from the commotion of the world.
This distancing, however, must not be seen as a lack of interest in individuals or trust in the Apostles. On the contrary, Matthew recounts, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, “and go before him to the other side” (Mt 14:22), where he would see them again. In the meantime the boat “was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them” (v. 24). And so in the fourth watch of the night [Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea” (v. 25); the disciples were terrified, mistaking him for a ghost and “cried out for fear” (v. 26). They did not recognize him, they did not realize that it was the Lord.
Nonetheless Jesus reassured them: “Take heart, it is I; have no fear” (v. 27). This is an episode from which the Fathers of the Church drew a great wealth of meaning. The sea symbolizes this life and the instability of the visible world; the storm points to every kind of trial or difficulty that oppresses human beings. The boat, instead, represents the Church, built by Christ and steered by the Apostles.
Jesus wanted to teach the disciples to bear life’s adversities courageously, trusting in God, in the One who revealed himself to the Prophet Elijah on Mount Horeb “in a still small voice” [the whispering of a gentle breeze] (1 Kings 19:12).
The passage then continues with the action of the Apostle Peter, who, moved by an impulse of love for the Teacher, asks him to bid him to come to him, walking on the water. “But when he saw the wind [was strong], [Peter] was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Mt 14:30).
St Augustine, imagining that he was addressing the Apostle, commented: the Lord “leaned down and took you by the hand. With your strength alone you cannot rise. Hold tight to the hand of the One who reaches down to you” (En. in Ps. 95, 7: PL 36, 1233), and he did not say this to Peter alone but also to us.
Peter walks on the water, not by his own effort but rather through divine grace in which he believes. And when he was smitten by doubt, when he no longer fixed his gaze on Jesus but was frightened by the gale, when he failed to put full trust in the Teacher’s words, it means that he was interiorly distancing himself from the Teacher and so risked sinking in the sea of life.
So it is also for us: if we look only at ourselves we become dependent on the winds and can no longer pass through storms on the waters of life. The great thinker Romano Guardini wrote that the Lord “is always close, being at the root of our being. Yet we must experience our relationship with God between the poles of distance and closeness. By closeness we are strengthened, by distance we are put to the test” (Accettare se stessi, Brescia 1992, 71).
Dear friends, the experience of the Prophet Elijah who heard God passing and the troubled faith of the Apostle Peter enable us to understand that even before we seek the Lord or invoke him, it is he himself who comes to meet us, who lowers Heaven to stretch out his hand to us and raise us to his heights; all he expects of us is that we trust totally in him, that we really take hold of his hand.
Let us call on the Virgin Mary, model of total entrustment to God, so that amidst the plethora of anxieties, problems and difficulties which churn up the sea of our life, may our hearts resonate with the reassuring words of Jesus who also says to us “Take heart, it is I; have no fear!”; and may our faith in him grow.
Nice piece, share your sentiments. That moment must have been very jarring. Stay dangerous.
I go to a wonderful Benedictine priory called Silverstream, never have to listen to any of that bs there thankfully. The pope is trying to put a stop to their ways of course. Fear no doubt. Great words Gerry, pity more people don’t kick back against the propaganda, so many deaths and injuries like mine because of lies and liars like the current pope
Gerry, we have Good Friday liturgy in the Catholic church; the heretics have 'service'.
What a poor choice of analogy on the part of the bishop. Seems as though these leaders are every bit as blind as most politicians. You should attend latin rite for 4 / 5 Sundays to see if the authentic has an appeal for you. They certainly won't be pandering to the UN / World / the Great Who#e of Babylon. Only avoid SSPX for two reasons: no one can say conclusively if they are back in 'full' communion with the church & they've been caught protecting and moving around ...diddlers.
Excellent as always Gerry.
Reminds me of this which was always the image of the pandemic for me.
https://x.com/raggedlines/status/1349360209215549443?s=20
The truth of the smouldering embers.. They haven't died out... How could they? The idiotic things just keep adding up.. Nothing has been resolved.. Just brushed under the carpet.. Well done on getting out of there.. I'd have sat on those feelings years ago, afraid to rock the boat, afraid to offend anyone by my exit and would have ended up with a panic attack.. Now I just know it's truth begging to be acknowledged.. And then it does subside.. The positive side of everyone getting so offended by everything these days, is.. We can finally stop blaming ourselves for offending them.. We couldn't possible be responsible for all the offence caused to everyone who is offended.. So we can finally just be ourselves.. And let ourselves off the hook.. And follow spirit.. And look u found what u were looking for. In the end. It was just in a different place to where u thought.. More real.. Timeless..
Corruption and its enablers exist in the Church just as in governments and the business/trade world.
Properly, each arena should stay within its boundaries and areas of expertise. Of God and souls on one side and on laws and the world on the other, but both are too intermixed and become rotten..
I think you just need to read the Bible Gerry, to find the answers you’re looking for. Esp New Testament / Psalms / Proverbs. ‘My Word is truth.’ John 17 v17 - 26
West Awake. This from the Archbishop may help counter your recent experience at mass
https://x.com/carlomvigano/status/1774381825831432571?s=46&t=x7WrPJFV5of-QmXCaNkwRQ
Good one, Gerry, Linking today for Easter @https://nothingnewunderthesun2016.com/
You'll be walking on that lake , next 😄. Happy Easter ,Gerry 🐣
I think the vaccine issue is contentious . There are 2 sides to it. I know a few elderly people beside me saw it as a life saviour. The difference between spending their remaining years confined to their room or freedom to enjoy their remaining years and from that point of view I can see why the church would err on the side of caution to protect people. I saw as well a work colleague of mine out with covid the last 2 weeks and she said she was out for the count for about a week and she would be early 50s. On the other hand God knows the short and long term effects of the vaccine.
At Good Friday service here in Belfast we were told to simple bow at the cross . I left. My 92 year old mother at church in Birmingham kissed the cross. A friend in limerick kissed the cross. I have emailed the diocese to ask why that is!
There is great depth in what you wrote. It resonated with me and I too feel the rage at times that wells up within me against the sins committed by the State and Church and the refusal to repent and acknowledge their wrongdoing. Their pride and arrogance is astonishing. I recall during the time of "covid" my grief at the church not being there for the people at a time when they were needed, the isolation of the elderly and for those whose only social contact was daily Mass. Then the added protocols of hand sanitisers, mask wearing, social distancing etc increasing the fear and anxiety on an already traumatised people and I wondered what happened to the church that over the centuries in every kind of crisis was there in self sacrifice for the people...but no more. How like the state they banned people from partaking in communial events. I recall being banned from entering our church with my family because we refused to wear masks even though we had exemptions. The next week billboards at each entrance "NO MASK NO ENTRY" and feeling like a leper as we stood outside hearing Mass.
You wrote "Where is the spirit of myself supposed to be consistently regenerated, I ponder". For me I found it in silence sitting in an empty church before the tabernacle. That was what kept me sane. I often wonder at the symbol of the cross and the lesson to be learned from Jesus in carrying ours.
Keep up the great writing. 👍
Peace and comfort was found beside the water lucky you have found your way,out from gloomy institution to the warmth of nature's creation.
Great stuff Gerry. I would have reacted in the same way you did. To me, it is like an assault to be confronted by whatever form of de covid nonsense is displayed. I automatically reject it outright . I will only go into a church when nothing is going on other than a funeral. I would rather speak straight to the Boss myself.
BENEDICT XVI
ANGELUS
Courtyard of the Papal Summer Residence, Castel Gandolfo
Sunday, 7 August 2011
(Video)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In this Sunday’s Gospel we find Jesus who, after withdrawing to the mountain, prays throughout the night. The Lord, having distanced himself from the people and the disciples, manifests his communion with the Father and the need to pray in solitude, far from the commotion of the world.
This distancing, however, must not be seen as a lack of interest in individuals or trust in the Apostles. On the contrary, Matthew recounts, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, “and go before him to the other side” (Mt 14:22), where he would see them again. In the meantime the boat “was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them” (v. 24). And so in the fourth watch of the night [Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea” (v. 25); the disciples were terrified, mistaking him for a ghost and “cried out for fear” (v. 26). They did not recognize him, they did not realize that it was the Lord.
Nonetheless Jesus reassured them: “Take heart, it is I; have no fear” (v. 27). This is an episode from which the Fathers of the Church drew a great wealth of meaning. The sea symbolizes this life and the instability of the visible world; the storm points to every kind of trial or difficulty that oppresses human beings. The boat, instead, represents the Church, built by Christ and steered by the Apostles.
Jesus wanted to teach the disciples to bear life’s adversities courageously, trusting in God, in the One who revealed himself to the Prophet Elijah on Mount Horeb “in a still small voice” [the whispering of a gentle breeze] (1 Kings 19:12).
The passage then continues with the action of the Apostle Peter, who, moved by an impulse of love for the Teacher, asks him to bid him to come to him, walking on the water. “But when he saw the wind [was strong], [Peter] was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Mt 14:30).
St Augustine, imagining that he was addressing the Apostle, commented: the Lord “leaned down and took you by the hand. With your strength alone you cannot rise. Hold tight to the hand of the One who reaches down to you” (En. in Ps. 95, 7: PL 36, 1233), and he did not say this to Peter alone but also to us.
Peter walks on the water, not by his own effort but rather through divine grace in which he believes. And when he was smitten by doubt, when he no longer fixed his gaze on Jesus but was frightened by the gale, when he failed to put full trust in the Teacher’s words, it means that he was interiorly distancing himself from the Teacher and so risked sinking in the sea of life.
So it is also for us: if we look only at ourselves we become dependent on the winds and can no longer pass through storms on the waters of life. The great thinker Romano Guardini wrote that the Lord “is always close, being at the root of our being. Yet we must experience our relationship with God between the poles of distance and closeness. By closeness we are strengthened, by distance we are put to the test” (Accettare se stessi, Brescia 1992, 71).
Dear friends, the experience of the Prophet Elijah who heard God passing and the troubled faith of the Apostle Peter enable us to understand that even before we seek the Lord or invoke him, it is he himself who comes to meet us, who lowers Heaven to stretch out his hand to us and raise us to his heights; all he expects of us is that we trust totally in him, that we really take hold of his hand.
Let us call on the Virgin Mary, model of total entrustment to God, so that amidst the plethora of anxieties, problems and difficulties which churn up the sea of our life, may our hearts resonate with the reassuring words of Jesus who also says to us “Take heart, it is I; have no fear!”; and may our faith in him grow.
https://aleteia.org/blogs/aleteia-blog/sail-on-pope-benedict-and-his-seafaring-metaphors