Before going any further, I first wish to state it has been my intention to eventually address the historical facts regarding the papal consecrations so far made. Although I have been asked, it is not my intention to offer my personal conjecture on the why’s and wherefore’s regarding the reason(s) the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary has not yet been made.
At the same time, I again will say that Fatima’s history spans the last 90 years; I know my readers will understand that what I will share might be considered an historical “briefing” or a “highlighting’ of the key points of Fatima.
To briefly respond on the question of Pope John Paul II's consecrations of the world to the Immaculate Heart: It was not only Pope John Paul II (may God rest his soul) who made world consecrations to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There was, first, a world consecration made by Pope Pius XII in the first years of WWII; years later, the same pope alone performed a consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart, but he did not command the bishops to join him.
These historical facts and the world events that followed them prove that, while God may accept such consecrations “to a degree,” they do not completely fulfill the obligation which heaven expects in regard to the solemn, collegial consecration of Russia (not the world) to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In the tradition of the Church, an act of consecration is a “solemn consecration” (whether made by a pope, reigning Catholic monarch, or a bishop in his own diocese). It is one that is publicly made in a church, basilica, or cathedral. It stands to reason that a solemn collegial consecration must follow the same traditional protocol.
Our Lady’s request in 1929 was succinctly and clearly made when she said:
“The moment has come when God asks the Holy Father to make, in union with all the bishops of the world, the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means.”
Incidentally, while Our Lady did not specifically ask that the bishops join the Holy Father in Rome when the consecration of Russia is made to Her Immaculate Heart, it would be highly proper, from a pious standpoint, and it could have been accomplished many times in the past. However, it does not seem that heaven requests that all bishops travel to Rome; it shall be enough that the Holy Father and the bishops of the world spiritually unite, on one day, to make the solemn consecration.
Friday, October 5, 2007
FATIMA: One Secret, Three Parts
About a week ago, I announced that we on the Keeping It Catholic list shall discuss the entire message of Fatima. Since various obligations are pressing and also because covering 90 years of history in a succession of emails is a formidable task, I have decided to outline the Secrets of Fatima and then primarily focus on the yet-to-be-accomplished collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. To Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Graces, we dedicate our poor service in sharing with our fellow Catholics the entire truth about Fatima. To Jesus through Mary!
Please understand that KIC’s only concern is that the entire message of Fatima is shared with our fellow Catholics. The One Secret in Three Parts inevitably demands a firm faith, as well as a strong grasp on the key doctrines of the Faith. Faith places obligations upon all Catholics (laity and clergy), because God revealed through both Tradition and Scripture that we only attain salvation through “faith and good works.”
The Fatima revelations are in full conformity with Divine Revelation because, in their sum total, they underline, in the utmost simplicity, the key doctrines of the faith. As always, God chooses to act through persons, but the Fatima revelations make is clear that, in this era, it is His Holy Will that the Immaculate Heart must be loved and honored and that all Catholics on earth fulfill their roles in what He now asks, from the humblest lay person up to he who holds the highest office on earth, which is held by Pope Benedict XVI.
Since 1830, Fatima was the only Marian apparition in which Heaven requests the cooperation of all Catholics to fulfill the Divine Plan for the world.The apparitions of Fatima revealed the obligations of Catholics to the Lord God, which are as follows:
--Make acts of reparation to the Lord our God for sins, and also for the conversion of sinners, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (This is God's confirmation of the holy and humble work of St. Louis de Montfort, who taught "To Jesus through Mary.")
--Pray the Rosary every day (especially for the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who, as God’s handmaiden and Mother of God, desires not the eternal death of sinners but wishes to save them).
--Make all that we do a sacrifice for the love of God - again, in reparation to the sins which offend Him and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for the conversion of sinners. Our Lord later explained to Sr. Lucia that the sacrifice which He now requires of us is the faithful accomplishment of our daily duty.
--Wear the Brown Scapular and live chastely according to one’s state in life
--Accomplish the Five First Saturday devotions in reparation for five particular blasphemies against the Virgin Mother of God - for what offends the Mother, offends the Son.
---Finally, there is the most critical Secret in which the Lord commands His Vicar, who alone holds the office of Supreme Pontiff and who alone possesses the authority and solemn duty to command the princes (the bishops) to join him in the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
We Catholics cannot forget that a reigning pope holds the ultimate position as a reigning monarch in his office as God our King’s Steward. Jesus Christ is King and a reigning pope serves the King as Steward of the Catholic City, which is visible in the hierarchy and the laity but is also invisible, because it is found in the Catholic interior life of each faithful soul. "For lo, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke XVII: 20, 21) The Pope’s authority as Christ's steward-monarch is world-wide and extends also to non-Catholics, although they reject his office. Like any of the King’s subjects, he also must obey the command of the King, whether through by His own word or by those of the Queen Mother, the Virgin Mother of God.
The outline above highlights the true and entire message of Fatima. As faithful Catholics, we know that we cannot reject, ignore or dismiss any part of the Fatima revelations; we cannot ignore all that was related to and asked of the Catholic world by the Virgin Mother of God.
It was Our Lady who first asked the three shepherd children if they were willing to do as she asked, rather than impose herself against their free will. Catholic doctrine explains that God, Who gave all mankind free will, also allows us to every day make the choice whether we will do what is right or do what is easy, for - as we should know - they are never the same thing and they are forever diametrically opposed to each other.
As we know, the three children said "Yes" to Our Lady, just as she once said "Yes" to God. Our Lady's response to the children: "Then you will have much to suffer, but My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the path that will lead you to God."
Lest we hesitate because we fear suffering, let us recall also Our Lord's fear in the Agony of the Garden, and let us also remember that we cannot avoid suffering in this life; yet what makes suffering meritorious is our resignation and forbearance to God's Will. Moreover, we have Our Virgin Mother, who promises us that Her Immaculate Heart will be our refuge and the path that shall lead us to God!
Again---To Jesus through Mary! If mere children could so quickly and generously respond to Our Lady, cannot we adults also say "Yes" to our Virgin Mother --- and through her, say "Yes" to the Lord our God?
May we all continue to pray to Our Lady of the Rosary for the graces God wishes to give us through the hands of His Mother, so that we will both live and spread the entire Fatima message. The time is already late...let us pray and sacrifice especially for the intentions of the Holy Father, who will one day command and lead the solemn, collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In the love of Christ and His Virgin Mother,
Marianna Bartold
We're "Keeping It Catholic" on the Net!
Please understand that KIC’s only concern is that the entire message of Fatima is shared with our fellow Catholics. The One Secret in Three Parts inevitably demands a firm faith, as well as a strong grasp on the key doctrines of the Faith. Faith places obligations upon all Catholics (laity and clergy), because God revealed through both Tradition and Scripture that we only attain salvation through “faith and good works.”
The Fatima revelations are in full conformity with Divine Revelation because, in their sum total, they underline, in the utmost simplicity, the key doctrines of the faith. As always, God chooses to act through persons, but the Fatima revelations make is clear that, in this era, it is His Holy Will that the Immaculate Heart must be loved and honored and that all Catholics on earth fulfill their roles in what He now asks, from the humblest lay person up to he who holds the highest office on earth, which is held by Pope Benedict XVI.
Since 1830, Fatima was the only Marian apparition in which Heaven requests the cooperation of all Catholics to fulfill the Divine Plan for the world.The apparitions of Fatima revealed the obligations of Catholics to the Lord God, which are as follows:
--Make acts of reparation to the Lord our God for sins, and also for the conversion of sinners, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (This is God's confirmation of the holy and humble work of St. Louis de Montfort, who taught "To Jesus through Mary.")
--Pray the Rosary every day (especially for the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who, as God’s handmaiden and Mother of God, desires not the eternal death of sinners but wishes to save them).
--Make all that we do a sacrifice for the love of God - again, in reparation to the sins which offend Him and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for the conversion of sinners. Our Lord later explained to Sr. Lucia that the sacrifice which He now requires of us is the faithful accomplishment of our daily duty.
--Wear the Brown Scapular and live chastely according to one’s state in life
--Accomplish the Five First Saturday devotions in reparation for five particular blasphemies against the Virgin Mother of God - for what offends the Mother, offends the Son.
---Finally, there is the most critical Secret in which the Lord commands His Vicar, who alone holds the office of Supreme Pontiff and who alone possesses the authority and solemn duty to command the princes (the bishops) to join him in the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
We Catholics cannot forget that a reigning pope holds the ultimate position as a reigning monarch in his office as God our King’s Steward. Jesus Christ is King and a reigning pope serves the King as Steward of the Catholic City, which is visible in the hierarchy and the laity but is also invisible, because it is found in the Catholic interior life of each faithful soul. "For lo, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke XVII: 20, 21) The Pope’s authority as Christ's steward-monarch is world-wide and extends also to non-Catholics, although they reject his office. Like any of the King’s subjects, he also must obey the command of the King, whether through by His own word or by those of the Queen Mother, the Virgin Mother of God.
The outline above highlights the true and entire message of Fatima. As faithful Catholics, we know that we cannot reject, ignore or dismiss any part of the Fatima revelations; we cannot ignore all that was related to and asked of the Catholic world by the Virgin Mother of God.
It was Our Lady who first asked the three shepherd children if they were willing to do as she asked, rather than impose herself against their free will. Catholic doctrine explains that God, Who gave all mankind free will, also allows us to every day make the choice whether we will do what is right or do what is easy, for - as we should know - they are never the same thing and they are forever diametrically opposed to each other.
As we know, the three children said "Yes" to Our Lady, just as she once said "Yes" to God. Our Lady's response to the children: "Then you will have much to suffer, but My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the path that will lead you to God."
Lest we hesitate because we fear suffering, let us recall also Our Lord's fear in the Agony of the Garden, and let us also remember that we cannot avoid suffering in this life; yet what makes suffering meritorious is our resignation and forbearance to God's Will. Moreover, we have Our Virgin Mother, who promises us that Her Immaculate Heart will be our refuge and the path that shall lead us to God!
Again---To Jesus through Mary! If mere children could so quickly and generously respond to Our Lady, cannot we adults also say "Yes" to our Virgin Mother --- and through her, say "Yes" to the Lord our God?
May we all continue to pray to Our Lady of the Rosary for the graces God wishes to give us through the hands of His Mother, so that we will both live and spread the entire Fatima message. The time is already late...let us pray and sacrifice especially for the intentions of the Holy Father, who will one day command and lead the solemn, collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In the love of Christ and His Virgin Mother,
Marianna Bartold
We're "Keeping It Catholic" on the Net!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Fatima Message: The Most Important Part is Still Missing
A few individuals have asked "Who is behind" the eclipse or the "hijack" of the national Rosary Campaign in regard to the complete Fatima message? In response, I can only emphasize that we don't know whether or not various organizations promoting the incomplete message fully realize what they are doing. Because the days are fleeting before the arrival of October 13, 2007, my view is that the time required to thoroughly investigate the answer is time better spent relating Fatima's historical events and the "Three Secrets" of Fatima.
Our only intention is to point out that the most important request of Our Lady is conspicuously absent and to do our best to rectify that most serious omission.
In filial obedience to the Lord's and the Virgin Mary's requests, KIC also asks that those who may participate in a local Rosary Campaign politely invite the organizers to please include the most necessary request:
"For the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."
Only if one encounters resistance, there is recourse to Plan B (not to be used lightly except in extreme circumstances), which is to ask for the intention to be couched in the following way:
"For the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary."
Yet, if even that does not work, then there is a last recourse: During the public recitation of the the Rosary, while at any Rosary Campaign, publicly and charitably announce the intention as the Rosary begins! Doing so will take much courage and fortitude, not to mention either overcoming or not possessing that awful encumbrance of human respect.
That said, we Catholics should not be forced into compromise, but there are circumstances where prudence is the better part of valor. But it would be an offense to God if, due to a lack of the virtue of fortitude, we totally disregard THE MOST IMPORTANT PART of the Fatima message.
The Rosary Campaign will take place in parishes and other places across the United States and, it is to be hoped, in other nations. We must keep in mind that, if thousands of Catholics first and foremost pray the Rosary "for the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary," together we shall be making thousands, if not millions, of supplications to heaven for the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart.
Only an FYI, the organizations listed on a flyer insert of a local parish bulletin includes a small note at the bottom, "Coordinated nationally by Tradition Family Property and its American Needs Fatima campaign."
Mothers' Watch also sent out a newsletter (dated Summer 2007) in which they included a one-page letter which stated, "Because of the different subject matter, this most important newsletter does not have the banner of Mothers' Watch, but 'Moms for Fatima' as our identity so that we may reach as many people as possible. This time we are not pointing a finger at bishops, sex education or Catholic schools. This special newsletter is a plea to bring as many people as possible to our Blessed Mother."
At this point, I first must say I highly respect the Mothers' Watch ladies; some of you may also recall that I once wrote an article for them (Spring 1998). Due to the respect I hold for them, it was distressing to discover that, while the first half to three-quarters of their recent newsletter included pertinent facts and observations about the Rosary, Our Lady of Fatima, Masonry, and the Muslim threat (with a spot-on reference to Hillaire Belloc), the last section on Fatima repeated the half-truths and innuendos with which so many of us are familiar.
The article of which I speak can be found at http://www.momsforfatima.org (Btw, I earnestly tried to contact the Mothers' Watch moms but had no success. The phones ring, there's no voice mail, and emails bounce.) Should anyone choose to read that article, please be sure to pay special attention to the last part, especially the two subtitles "Dividing the Faithful" followed by "The Virgin Mary's Requests at Fatima."
It is the last section with which we at KIC are specifically concerned. One will find a number of truths in regard to what is called "Our Lady's Peace Plan," but one will also find that some of them are "incomplete." That incompleteness is the problem.
Very troubling is the insinuation that the world is now threatened by a world-war, at the hands of an Islamic jihad, "because we have failed to live the message of Fatima." While that threat is indeed true, the blame appears to be once more solely placed upon a lack of Marian devotion amongst the faithful - another popular assumption these days.
In other words, it is the same insinuation (based only on subjectivity but on nothing historically related by either Our Lady or Our Lord in later apparitions to Sr. Lucia) that if enough of the lay faithful obeyed Our Lady - in daily praying the Rosary, wearing the Brown Scapular, fulfilling the First Saturday Devotions, offering all that they do, especially their daily duty, as a sacrifice for the conversion of sinners - then the popes and bishops would follow suit and also obey the Mother of God.
Today the insinuation includes human, erroneous thinking that the "world" consecrations already made fulfilled Our Lady's request. However, since it is painfully clear that the promised era of peace is yet to be seen, it is alleged that the problem must be due to laxity on the part of the laity. What continues to be totally ignored or fallaciously explained away is the critical fact that God Himself still awaits complete and total obedience in regard to the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When that finally occurs, Our Lady promised that "an era of peace will be given to mankind."
Our only intention is to point out that the most important request of Our Lady is conspicuously absent and to do our best to rectify that most serious omission.
In filial obedience to the Lord's and the Virgin Mary's requests, KIC also asks that those who may participate in a local Rosary Campaign politely invite the organizers to please include the most necessary request:
"For the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."
Only if one encounters resistance, there is recourse to Plan B (not to be used lightly except in extreme circumstances), which is to ask for the intention to be couched in the following way:
"For the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary."
Yet, if even that does not work, then there is a last recourse: During the public recitation of the the Rosary, while at any Rosary Campaign, publicly and charitably announce the intention as the Rosary begins! Doing so will take much courage and fortitude, not to mention either overcoming or not possessing that awful encumbrance of human respect.
That said, we Catholics should not be forced into compromise, but there are circumstances where prudence is the better part of valor. But it would be an offense to God if, due to a lack of the virtue of fortitude, we totally disregard THE MOST IMPORTANT PART of the Fatima message.
The Rosary Campaign will take place in parishes and other places across the United States and, it is to be hoped, in other nations. We must keep in mind that, if thousands of Catholics first and foremost pray the Rosary "for the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary," together we shall be making thousands, if not millions, of supplications to heaven for the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart.
Only an FYI, the organizations listed on a flyer insert of a local parish bulletin includes a small note at the bottom, "Coordinated nationally by Tradition Family Property and its American Needs Fatima campaign."
Mothers' Watch also sent out a newsletter (dated Summer 2007) in which they included a one-page letter which stated, "Because of the different subject matter, this most important newsletter does not have the banner of Mothers' Watch, but 'Moms for Fatima' as our identity so that we may reach as many people as possible. This time we are not pointing a finger at bishops, sex education or Catholic schools. This special newsletter is a plea to bring as many people as possible to our Blessed Mother."
At this point, I first must say I highly respect the Mothers' Watch ladies; some of you may also recall that I once wrote an article for them (Spring 1998). Due to the respect I hold for them, it was distressing to discover that, while the first half to three-quarters of their recent newsletter included pertinent facts and observations about the Rosary, Our Lady of Fatima, Masonry, and the Muslim threat (with a spot-on reference to Hillaire Belloc), the last section on Fatima repeated the half-truths and innuendos with which so many of us are familiar.
The article of which I speak can be found at http://www.momsforfatima.org (Btw, I earnestly tried to contact the Mothers' Watch moms but had no success. The phones ring, there's no voice mail, and emails bounce.) Should anyone choose to read that article, please be sure to pay special attention to the last part, especially the two subtitles "Dividing the Faithful" followed by "The Virgin Mary's Requests at Fatima."
It is the last section with which we at KIC are specifically concerned. One will find a number of truths in regard to what is called "Our Lady's Peace Plan," but one will also find that some of them are "incomplete." That incompleteness is the problem.
Very troubling is the insinuation that the world is now threatened by a world-war, at the hands of an Islamic jihad, "because we have failed to live the message of Fatima." While that threat is indeed true, the blame appears to be once more solely placed upon a lack of Marian devotion amongst the faithful - another popular assumption these days.
In other words, it is the same insinuation (based only on subjectivity but on nothing historically related by either Our Lady or Our Lord in later apparitions to Sr. Lucia) that if enough of the lay faithful obeyed Our Lady - in daily praying the Rosary, wearing the Brown Scapular, fulfilling the First Saturday Devotions, offering all that they do, especially their daily duty, as a sacrifice for the conversion of sinners - then the popes and bishops would follow suit and also obey the Mother of God.
Today the insinuation includes human, erroneous thinking that the "world" consecrations already made fulfilled Our Lady's request. However, since it is painfully clear that the promised era of peace is yet to be seen, it is alleged that the problem must be due to laxity on the part of the laity. What continues to be totally ignored or fallaciously explained away is the critical fact that God Himself still awaits complete and total obedience in regard to the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When that finally occurs, Our Lady promised that "an era of peace will be given to mankind."
Friday, September 28, 2007
Fatima Message: Still in Eclipse
It recently came to KIC's attention that almost every "mainstream" Catholic apostolate and parish is currently promoting what might be sadly called an "eclipse" of the Fatima message via a nationwide "Rosary Campaign," which is planned for Saturday, October 13, 2007 - the 90th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, Portugal.
At first glance, the upcoming Rosary Campaign is a most welcome and pious commemoration of the greatest public miracle since the parting of the Red Sea. However, thus far the plans for the Rosary Campaign fail to acknowledge the most crucial command of the Lord our God - a command so imperative for the salvation of souls living during this crisis in Church history that He sent His Holy Virgin Mother to deliver it.
This one command has yet to be obeyed in full: The Holy Father and the bishops throughout the world must consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In response, it is my hope, both on this blog and the KIC email list, to cover the key points of Fatima and the very real necessity of the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
At first glance, the upcoming Rosary Campaign is a most welcome and pious commemoration of the greatest public miracle since the parting of the Red Sea. However, thus far the plans for the Rosary Campaign fail to acknowledge the most crucial command of the Lord our God - a command so imperative for the salvation of souls living during this crisis in Church history that He sent His Holy Virgin Mother to deliver it.
This one command has yet to be obeyed in full: The Holy Father and the bishops throughout the world must consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In response, it is my hope, both on this blog and the KIC email list, to cover the key points of Fatima and the very real necessity of the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
September: A Holy Month to Start Homeschooling
The summer has practically flown by! I know many people view this first weekend in September only as the Labor Day weekend, but we Catholics know that it is much more than a secular holiday. After all, today is September 1, a First Saturday of the month - a special day of devotion and reparation to Our Lady's Immaculate Heart for five major blasphemies against the one one and only Virgin Mother. In addition, this coming Friday (September 7) is a First Friday, in loving honor and reparation to Our Lord's Sacred Heart.
Speaking of how quickly time passes, members of the Keeping It Catholic list may recall my mentioning a literal answer to a prayer this past spring. That’s also the reason you haven't heard much from me. My "summer break" primarily focused on very real and serious health needs. Ultimately, I was able to fully implement (and plan to continue) an amazing combo of strategies that are working well: A low-carb lifestyle, loads of natural health supplements, and water therapy three times or more a week. As a result, the more severe symptoms of arthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia have greatly improved. More and more often, I see a return to normal energy instead of chronic exhaustion. In addition, I no longer need daily medication, and (finally!) I am much slimmer. All glory to God and grateful thanks to Our Lady for answering my prayers!
I’m also happy to say that my mom, who suffers from many diabetes-related health problems, recently returned home to us. Since we are all doing our best to help her, the home schedule shifted a bit and we are adjusting to it. Our second and third older children are working full-time and getting ready for their third year in college. Our high school-age son, who will be 17 yo this fall, wants to begin college classes this year, too, and our youngest is entering 4th grade. It looks to be another full year, with every day blessed with wholesome work!
There are many things for which each of us can be grateful as September opens. September is another month in which to practice particular devotions to Our Lord, Our Lady, and the saints. Next Saturday, September 8, the entire Catholic Church will once more honor the Nativity of Our Lady. Just a few days later on Wednesday, September 12, we publicly revere the Holy Name of Mary. This year, the Exultation of the Cross falls on Friday, September 14 (and also is the eve of Our Lady of Sorrows on Saturday, September 15), and it is the same day that the Holy Father’s recent “Motus Propio” officially goes into effect. Wednesday, September 19, commemorates the apparition of Our Lady of La Salette, while Monday, September 24, pays homage to Our Lady of Ransom.
Like most months on the liturgical calendar, every day of September honors at least one or more saints, from St. Stephen, King (September 2), Pope St. Pius X (September 3), St. Rose of Viterbo and St. Rosalia (September 4), St. Laurence Justinia (September 5), St. Eleutherius (September 6), and St. Cloud and St. Regina (September 7) to St. Padre Pio (September 23), the Eight North American Martyrs (September 26), Sts. Cosmas and Damian (September 27), St. Michael the Archangel (September 29) and, finally, St. Jerome (September 30).
In addition to all these beautiful feasts, September also sees the majority of Catholic parents on the Keeping It Catholic List formally begin the task of home education. May we remember to humbly ask God the Father to bless us and our children, while we also petition the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts for their hourly help in carrying our daily crosses.
In the love of Christ and His Virgin Mother,
Marianna Bartold
We're "Keeping It Catholic" on the Net at http://www.keepingitcatholic.org
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
"One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular,
I shall save the world."
~ Our Lady to Blessed Alan de la Roche
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Speaking of how quickly time passes, members of the Keeping It Catholic list may recall my mentioning a literal answer to a prayer this past spring. That’s also the reason you haven't heard much from me. My "summer break" primarily focused on very real and serious health needs. Ultimately, I was able to fully implement (and plan to continue) an amazing combo of strategies that are working well: A low-carb lifestyle, loads of natural health supplements, and water therapy three times or more a week. As a result, the more severe symptoms of arthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia have greatly improved. More and more often, I see a return to normal energy instead of chronic exhaustion. In addition, I no longer need daily medication, and (finally!) I am much slimmer. All glory to God and grateful thanks to Our Lady for answering my prayers!
I’m also happy to say that my mom, who suffers from many diabetes-related health problems, recently returned home to us. Since we are all doing our best to help her, the home schedule shifted a bit and we are adjusting to it. Our second and third older children are working full-time and getting ready for their third year in college. Our high school-age son, who will be 17 yo this fall, wants to begin college classes this year, too, and our youngest is entering 4th grade. It looks to be another full year, with every day blessed with wholesome work!
There are many things for which each of us can be grateful as September opens. September is another month in which to practice particular devotions to Our Lord, Our Lady, and the saints. Next Saturday, September 8, the entire Catholic Church will once more honor the Nativity of Our Lady. Just a few days later on Wednesday, September 12, we publicly revere the Holy Name of Mary. This year, the Exultation of the Cross falls on Friday, September 14 (and also is the eve of Our Lady of Sorrows on Saturday, September 15), and it is the same day that the Holy Father’s recent “Motus Propio” officially goes into effect. Wednesday, September 19, commemorates the apparition of Our Lady of La Salette, while Monday, September 24, pays homage to Our Lady of Ransom.
Like most months on the liturgical calendar, every day of September honors at least one or more saints, from St. Stephen, King (September 2), Pope St. Pius X (September 3), St. Rose of Viterbo and St. Rosalia (September 4), St. Laurence Justinia (September 5), St. Eleutherius (September 6), and St. Cloud and St. Regina (September 7) to St. Padre Pio (September 23), the Eight North American Martyrs (September 26), Sts. Cosmas and Damian (September 27), St. Michael the Archangel (September 29) and, finally, St. Jerome (September 30).
In addition to all these beautiful feasts, September also sees the majority of Catholic parents on the Keeping It Catholic List formally begin the task of home education. May we remember to humbly ask God the Father to bless us and our children, while we also petition the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts for their hourly help in carrying our daily crosses.
In the love of Christ and His Virgin Mother,
Marianna Bartold
We're "Keeping It Catholic" on the Net at http://www.keepingitcatholic.org
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
"One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular,
I shall save the world."
~ Our Lady to Blessed Alan de la Roche
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Men!!! Pt. 2: "I Bid You Stand, Men of the West!"
On the day my essay MEN!!! Pt. 1: Missing in (Catholic) Action was published on the KIC blog, I also posted it to my Keeping It Catholic email list (at Yahoogroups).
In response to that essay, Syler Womack, the very lady whom I mentioned in that piece (as author of The Catholic Code of Chivalry), wrote a wonderful composition of her own.
With her permission, it is posted here as a fantastic follow-up to "MEN!!" To openly borrow from Syler's signature line, our mutual message comes from the not-yet-crowned-king Aragorn in the move version of The Return of the King:
"I Bid You Stand, Men of the West!"
Well, it's sure not going to surprise you when I concur with you 100%...and you hit the nail square on the head when you said our men are, for the most part, no longer chivalrous. How BLESSED are those of us who have real men for husbands! We are far too busy basking in their love and making their homes to embrace any sort of feminist behavior. Invading the realm of men is in no way appealing, for we are too joyful to be Catholic Wives!
So, here's my word to those Trad Men who spend all their time worrying and writing about women:
Fellows, you need to remember your place!
Your place is at the head of your family---not as a tyrant, but as a provider and protector and one who cherishes his mate above all earthly things. Your place is to make your wife realize that she is the Queen of your world. She is your Guenivere--- your Isolde---your Dulcinaea. She has sacrificed her health and strength to bear you fine sons and daughters. Do you realize how many times the fate of nations has turned on the ability of a Queen to bear sons? If your wife has borne you one, or several, you should fairly weep with gratitude every time you think of her! If she has mothered adopted sons, why, she is even more to be exalted! If she has been open to life, she has been willing to sacrifice her own life so that YOU can have heirs! Do you thank her for it? Do you respect her for it?
Your home is your wife's World. She desires nothing more than to make it a haven for you and your heirs. Do you ever see what she does? Do you ever thank her for the meals she cooks for you? For the patience with which she plans and executes thankless jobs every day? For the fact that she daily cleans your filth off the bathroom porcelain? or do you only see when she fails to live up to perfection?
You complain about Feminism, and Feminism IS the oldest and most deadly heresy---but it is a heresy which is made possible not by women but by MEN. Your failure to honor her womanly accomplishments, your habit of taking her for granted---these are the things which have driven her out of her home, out of her realm and into situations which mock her and all women. She receives no appreciation from you, so she seeks appreciation in false venues. She feels like a thankless drudge at home, but she can be center stage as a eucharistic minister---and then, to make matters worse, you casually abdicate your responsibilities and allow her to take over because it's so much easier on you! Your sons see it, and it's fine with them for their sisters to take over their responsibilities on the altar.
Shame on you! You have forgotten how to be men. You have forgotten to thank God constantly for this wonderful gift of a loving wife! You have failed to cherish her. Ah, but you can still find time to write critical tracts about her behavior! Step away from the computer and go love your wife! No, you won't receive adulation from all the other sour-faced fellows who browbeat their wives with your accusations, but you may just become the man you should be, and that will pave the way for your wife and children to be as they should be, too. Your place is at the head of your family, not in the bully pulpit. Get back to your place, and stay there!
Syler Womack
"By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!"
~King Aragorn
In response to that essay, Syler Womack, the very lady whom I mentioned in that piece (as author of The Catholic Code of Chivalry), wrote a wonderful composition of her own.
With her permission, it is posted here as a fantastic follow-up to "MEN!!" To openly borrow from Syler's signature line, our mutual message comes from the not-yet-crowned-king Aragorn in the move version of The Return of the King:
"I Bid You Stand, Men of the West!"
Well, it's sure not going to surprise you when I concur with you 100%...and you hit the nail square on the head when you said our men are, for the most part, no longer chivalrous. How BLESSED are those of us who have real men for husbands! We are far too busy basking in their love and making their homes to embrace any sort of feminist behavior. Invading the realm of men is in no way appealing, for we are too joyful to be Catholic Wives!
So, here's my word to those Trad Men who spend all their time worrying and writing about women:
Fellows, you need to remember your place!
Your place is at the head of your family---not as a tyrant, but as a provider and protector and one who cherishes his mate above all earthly things. Your place is to make your wife realize that she is the Queen of your world. She is your Guenivere--- your Isolde---your Dulcinaea. She has sacrificed her health and strength to bear you fine sons and daughters. Do you realize how many times the fate of nations has turned on the ability of a Queen to bear sons? If your wife has borne you one, or several, you should fairly weep with gratitude every time you think of her! If she has mothered adopted sons, why, she is even more to be exalted! If she has been open to life, she has been willing to sacrifice her own life so that YOU can have heirs! Do you thank her for it? Do you respect her for it?
Your home is your wife's World. She desires nothing more than to make it a haven for you and your heirs. Do you ever see what she does? Do you ever thank her for the meals she cooks for you? For the patience with which she plans and executes thankless jobs every day? For the fact that she daily cleans your filth off the bathroom porcelain? or do you only see when she fails to live up to perfection?
You complain about Feminism, and Feminism IS the oldest and most deadly heresy---but it is a heresy which is made possible not by women but by MEN. Your failure to honor her womanly accomplishments, your habit of taking her for granted---these are the things which have driven her out of her home, out of her realm and into situations which mock her and all women. She receives no appreciation from you, so she seeks appreciation in false venues. She feels like a thankless drudge at home, but she can be center stage as a eucharistic minister---and then, to make matters worse, you casually abdicate your responsibilities and allow her to take over because it's so much easier on you! Your sons see it, and it's fine with them for their sisters to take over their responsibilities on the altar.
Shame on you! You have forgotten how to be men. You have forgotten to thank God constantly for this wonderful gift of a loving wife! You have failed to cherish her. Ah, but you can still find time to write critical tracts about her behavior! Step away from the computer and go love your wife! No, you won't receive adulation from all the other sour-faced fellows who browbeat their wives with your accusations, but you may just become the man you should be, and that will pave the way for your wife and children to be as they should be, too. Your place is at the head of your family, not in the bully pulpit. Get back to your place, and stay there!
Syler Womack
"By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!"
~King Aragorn
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Men!!! Pt. 1: Missing in (Catholic) Action: Chivalry!
I'm a Catholic woman. One who simply considers herself a Catholic...but it appears I'm also one whom others consider a "rad Trad" due to my staunchly Catholic approach to very serious subjects.
On the other hand, I've heard from other women, also considered "rad Trad" (aka Tradosaurus Regina!) who get very annoyed with a few of my more light-hearted posts or go into a state of shock upon meeting me and seeing that I wear jewelry (!) and...make-up.
Seems we Catholics today are a motley-crew. Sad but true.
The fact is: A person can't please everybody all of the time... and one shouldn't try. To paraphrase Shakespeare: To God and thine own self be true.
That said, I can guarantee this post is going to irritate, annoy, and tick off a lot of men and women who, for reasons unfathomable to me, possess a heretical, Calvinist, legalistic Puritanistic attitude which cunningly pretends to be that of traditional Catholicism. This is especially true in regard to the alleged traditional Catholic view of women and their roles - at least, as explained to us by a number of our contemporary "traditional" Catholic men.
In the interest of fair play...
Isn't it time the Catholic audience heard a traditional Catholic woman chime in on the subject of men? (And I freely admit I plan to have some fun with this.)
A reader of almost all things Catholic, I've gone through phases, so to speak, throughout my adult reading life. Always looking for meat in Catholic papers, I often received pablum. As a result (and as a mature, well-catechized Catholic), I’ve mainly focused on traditional Catholic papers these past seven years. For the most part, I greatly enjoy them. Yet it cannot be denied there is a serious flaw continually displaying itself as an "integral" part of the mindset of most (but not all) traditional male authors.
Say what? you may ask. Please allow me to explain.
In almost every article bewailing the disastrous changes in the Church, I began to notice that the first thing mentioned or listed by a traditional male author will always, consistently, and without fail have something to do with women or girls.
Now, it isn't as though I was looking for that pattern; it's simply one that came to my attention.
And an interesting pattern it is...but what does it mean?
Something about "splinters and beams" comes to mind.
While some trad men authors harp on a woman's role, place and behavior in the great scheme of things, we never read an article in which a traditional man reminds his brothers in Christ of their collective duties toward God, wife, children and society. Seriously - have any of you ever read a carefully researched article on that subject? Or an article that touched on the subject even momentarily?
I wondered why some "trad" men just can't let any opportunity slip by without even the slightest, off-hand remark about women and their "rightful" place. I even discussed it with a few trustworthy "trad" lady friends. As one of them wrote to me:
"The men who are doing right are too dam' busy to write about it, that's why! The 'writers' are generally on a power trip."
Hmmm. Now that's a thought. I can't say I like it, but it's a thought. C'mon, now...are most trad male writers on a power trip? Really? If true, one would also have to consign the majority of all male Catholic writers (be they trad, neo, or whatever label is in vogue at the moment) to the same pitiful little dustbin. On the other hand, one can't deny that modernist male writers who think they are members of the Kool Kathlix Klub are prone to a different kind of arrogance than their trad counterparts.
At any rate, as a traditional Catholic author in my own right, I've often pondered writing an article on this quirky, bizarre attitude of some trad men that seemingly appears to lean-toward-misogynism, especially in regard to Catholic women.
But then what?
Would I place it on the KIC website or submit it to be published in a "paper"? And to whom would I submit it? Would my favorite trad papers take me for a radical feminist posing as a traditionalist woman, due to what I wrote? I think so. Would a few seriously consider what I wrote and change their minds, even a wee bit? I hope so.
So the question remains: Why do most trad male authors who write any kind of list outlining "What's Wrong with The Church" think it their duty to whine and gripe first about women, whether trad or Novus Ordo?
I'll tell you why: Men - even trad men - are no longer chivalrous. Very few of them even pretend to be. What these men need are lessons from the "Catholic Code of Chivalry" (a beautiful piece by Syler Womack, published in my Catholic Study Guide on The Return of the King)!
Sad to say, too many "trad" men consider it their obligation to zoom in on the symptoms of the Church's decline (and lo, they are many) and transform one of the more recent symptoms into the seeming "Queen of them All."
What is that symptom?
Women-in-the-Sanctuary (serving as EM's - e.g., Extraordinary Ministers), but that term also includes "Altar Girls" (too often disrespectfully spelled "gurlz" or "gurls" - as though the problem should be laid at the feet of the poorly-taught, badly-led little girls and teens who have been wrongly led to believe they can and should serve at the altar.)
Seriously...These men blather on about the splinters in the eyes of both little girls and grown women, never once considering the beams in their own eyes. But let's take another step or two. I am serious here, and I ask in all sincerity:
Who is responsible for the infiltration and decline of the Church?
Men.
Who allowed the Rhine group and liberal "periti" to take over Vatican II?
Men - from the pope right on down to the liberal cardinals and bishops.
Who within the Church of the past 40+ years is responsible for the rape of ALL our children, body and soul, and who tenaciously connived to keep those sins "under cover"?
Men.
Why did most religious orders go down the proverbial hell-hole?
Through the example, admonition and insistence of MEN with authority in the Church.
So where do so many traditional men get the idea that their subjective viewpoint/mindset/opinion/whatever on women is "traditionally Catholic," anyway? Heck if I know, but it didn't issue forth from true traditional Catholicism.
Thanks be to the good God, I've been graced to marry a true Catholic gentleman. I've also had the fortune to know a small (very small) number of men like him. But all in all, I'm not impressed by most males posing as men today. Where have all the real men gone?
Sadly, my husband and I have had the misfortune to meet lay "trad" men who think they can admonish any woman they please, simply by their "virtue" of being born male. (Can you tell my tongue-is-firmly-implanted-in-my-cheek?)
Then there are the "trad" men who are extremely ungallant but think the facade of a smiling face fools an intelligent Catholic woman just because she is a woman.
There are even "trad" men who think they can spank their wives! I kid you not. (Talk about perverted Puritanism!)
And there are "trad" men who - not going so far as their more vicious brothers - are still very keen on "keeping a woman in her place."
(As one lady friend says, "I like knowing my place. It means I have one. Not everyone does, you know...But I don't need some document dork in a suit to tell me what my place is.")
What is a woman's role in the Church and, through Her (the Church), society? Above all else, the true Catholic woman is the mainstay and heart of the family and of society. A woman's role as mother - whether physical or spiritual - is a high vocation and one that should be loved, honored and cherished. (Btw, married ladies and gents, do those last 3 words sound familiar? It's what a man promises to his wife for all the days of his life!)
To return to my point - most trad Catholic male authors will inevitably first list among the Church's most severe problems either "women in the sanctuary" or "altar girls."
I'm not saying that either fact isn't a huge concern. But whose FAULT is it that lay men and women are in the sanctuary, or that little girls or teen girls are serving at the altar?
Men's.
Now, please understand - my purpose is not to finger-point. It's to MAKE a point.
Of all the travesties in the Church, do the majority of traditional Catholic men really consider "women in the sanctuary" or "altar girls" to be the worst of them all?
-What about the altering (and often the renaming) of every single Rite in the Church - from Baptism to Extreme Unction? That's correct - it's not only the Mass that was changed, but each and every Rite, thanks to the "spirit of Vatican II" (whatever that means!).
-What of moving the Blessed Sacrament in the sacred Tabernacle to the side, the basement, or anywhere other than its rightful place on the High Altar? Our Lord and Savior is no longer honored as He deserves to be.
-What about Communion in the hand? Our Lord, hiding under the appearance of bread, is passed from hand-to-hand, popped in the mouth and chewed like a common potato chip.
-What about the forced absence of kneeling during the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God in the Novus Ordo) and the reception of Holy Communion? (Don't you know that we no longer need to genuflect or kneel before Our God? We are "enlightened" now.)
-What about that atrocious hand-holding? The Kiss of Peace? (Be sure to keep what should be Divine Worship totally horizontal - which means focused on the community.)
-How about "Extraordinary Ministers" - male and female? (They were not seen before Vatican II, either. Even the adjective "Extraordinary" was later changed to "Eucharistic" - e.g., Eucharistic "Ministers" - as though a Catholic layman or laywoman is a "minister"!)
-What of the almost Church-wide demise of the First Friday and First Saturday devotions?
-Who is responsible for the decline of the Rosary in our days?
-For that matter, who is behind the eclipse of the true, entire Fatima message?
-Who decided that a mere 30 minutes for Confession shall be allotted per week to the entire parish?
-What of the seemingly prevalent number of sodomites who are now either our priests, bishops, or cardinals? And because of them, true and faithful priests of the Catholic Church are shunned and disrespected everywhere they go.
-And what of the number of Catholic men from all walks of life - from those who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders to laymen (who may or may not be in the pews) - who abrogate their responsibilities, in countless ways, every single day?
-What of the Catholic lay men who live just like pagans? So many men do not want to marry but prefer to live in sin with women or other men. If they do marry, so many do not wish to sacrifice for their wives and children, do not see to the Catholic education of their children, do not even want to accept children, barely participate in the raising of the few children they have or, even worse, do not remain faithful to their marriage vows.
When traditional men point out the true or alleged failings, misdemeanors or sins of women, they only reveal themselves to be true Sons of Adam. They do exactly what our first father did. Instead of accepting responsibility for his own actions, good ol' Father Adam actually had the gall to petulantly complain to God the Father Himself: "The woman YOU gave me..."
Guess what? All of Adam's sons have been doing the same ever since - pointing their fingers at women instead of taking responsibility for their own actions or at least admitting that it is men in the Church who failed all of us.
And, dear Catholic reader, in case you don't know it, the human race did not fall until the moment FATHER ADAM consented to the first sin. Each one of us inherited Original Sin and all of its effects (even after baptism) through this one man, the first FATHER, Adam.
I don't know about you, but I feel sorry for him....what a load with which he had to live for almost 1,000 years! Because of his sin, the first baby ever born grew up to be the first murderer. Because of his sin, he and his wife and all their children throughout time (including our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ) suffer and die.
If today's traditional Catholic men want to see the Church partially restored (because total restoration is not going to happen until we all see the happy day of the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary), it's about time they take a good look at all of their collective duties and responsibilities.
Once they honestly do that, they just might finally "get it" that real Catholic women are looking for real Catholic men to lead by virtuous word and example. We would dearly love to see our men as true Catholic knights...complete with the truly beautiful and manly virtue of chivalry and its self-sacrificing love.
'Nuf said. For today, anyway. ;)
On the other hand, I've heard from other women, also considered "rad Trad" (aka Tradosaurus Regina!) who get very annoyed with a few of my more light-hearted posts or go into a state of shock upon meeting me and seeing that I wear jewelry (!) and...
Seems we Catholics today are a motley-crew. Sad but true.
The fact is: A person can't please everybody all of the time... and one shouldn't try. To paraphrase Shakespeare: To God and thine own self be true.
That said, I can guarantee this post is going to irritate, annoy, and tick off a lot of men and women who, for reasons unfathomable to me, possess a heretical, Calvinist, legalistic Puritanistic attitude which cunningly pretends to be that of traditional Catholicism. This is especially true in regard to the alleged traditional Catholic view of women and their roles - at least, as explained to us by a number of our contemporary "traditional" Catholic men.
In the interest of fair play...
Isn't it time the Catholic audience heard a traditional Catholic woman chime in on the subject of men? (And I freely admit I plan to have some fun with this.)
A reader of almost all things Catholic, I've gone through phases, so to speak, throughout my adult reading life. Always looking for meat in Catholic papers, I often received pablum. As a result (and as a mature, well-catechized Catholic), I’ve mainly focused on traditional Catholic papers these past seven years. For the most part, I greatly enjoy them. Yet it cannot be denied there is a serious flaw continually displaying itself as an "integral" part of the mindset of most (but not all) traditional male authors.
Say what? you may ask. Please allow me to explain.
In almost every article bewailing the disastrous changes in the Church, I began to notice that the first thing mentioned or listed by a traditional male author will always, consistently, and without fail have something to do with women or girls.
Now, it isn't as though I was looking for that pattern; it's simply one that came to my attention.
And an interesting pattern it is...but what does it mean?
Something about "splinters and beams" comes to mind.
While some trad men authors harp on a woman's role, place and behavior in the great scheme of things, we never read an article in which a traditional man reminds his brothers in Christ of their collective duties toward God, wife, children and society. Seriously - have any of you ever read a carefully researched article on that subject? Or an article that touched on the subject even momentarily?
I wondered why some "trad" men just can't let any opportunity slip by without even the slightest, off-hand remark about women and their "rightful" place. I even discussed it with a few trustworthy "trad" lady friends. As one of them wrote to me:
"The men who are doing right are too dam' busy to write about it, that's why! The 'writers' are generally on a power trip."
Hmmm. Now that's a thought. I can't say I like it, but it's a thought. C'mon, now...are most trad male writers on a power trip? Really? If true, one would also have to consign the majority of all male Catholic writers (be they trad, neo, or whatever label is in vogue at the moment) to the same pitiful little dustbin. On the other hand, one can't deny that modernist male writers who think they are members of the Kool Kathlix Klub are prone to a different kind of arrogance than their trad counterparts.
At any rate, as a traditional Catholic author in my own right, I've often pondered writing an article on this quirky, bizarre attitude of some trad men that seemingly appears to lean-toward-misogynism, especially in regard to Catholic women.
But then what?
Would I place it on the KIC website or submit it to be published in a "paper"? And to whom would I submit it? Would my favorite trad papers take me for a radical feminist posing as a traditionalist woman, due to what I wrote? I think so. Would a few seriously consider what I wrote and change their minds, even a wee bit? I hope so.
So the question remains: Why do most trad male authors who write any kind of list outlining "What's Wrong with The Church" think it their duty to whine and gripe first about women, whether trad or Novus Ordo?
I'll tell you why: Men - even trad men - are no longer chivalrous. Very few of them even pretend to be. What these men need are lessons from the "Catholic Code of Chivalry" (a beautiful piece by Syler Womack, published in my Catholic Study Guide on The Return of the King)!
Sad to say, too many "trad" men consider it their obligation to zoom in on the symptoms of the Church's decline (and lo, they are many) and transform one of the more recent symptoms into the seeming "Queen of them All."
What is that symptom?
Women-in-the-Sanctuary (serving as EM's - e.g., Extraordinary Ministers), but that term also includes "Altar Girls" (too often disrespectfully spelled "gurlz" or "gurls" - as though the problem should be laid at the feet of the poorly-taught, badly-led little girls and teens who have been wrongly led to believe they can and should serve at the altar.)
Seriously...These men blather on about the splinters in the eyes of both little girls and grown women, never once considering the beams in their own eyes. But let's take another step or two. I am serious here, and I ask in all sincerity:
Who is responsible for the infiltration and decline of the Church?
Men.
Who allowed the Rhine group and liberal "periti" to take over Vatican II?
Men - from the pope right on down to the liberal cardinals and bishops.
Who within the Church of the past 40+ years is responsible for the rape of ALL our children, body and soul, and who tenaciously connived to keep those sins "under cover"?
Men.
Why did most religious orders go down the proverbial hell-hole?
Through the example, admonition and insistence of MEN with authority in the Church.
So where do so many traditional men get the idea that their subjective viewpoint/mindset/opinion/whatever on women is "traditionally Catholic," anyway? Heck if I know, but it didn't issue forth from true traditional Catholicism.
Thanks be to the good God, I've been graced to marry a true Catholic gentleman. I've also had the fortune to know a small (very small) number of men like him. But all in all, I'm not impressed by most males posing as men today. Where have all the real men gone?
Sadly, my husband and I have had the misfortune to meet lay "trad" men who think they can admonish any woman they please, simply by their "virtue" of being born male. (Can you tell my tongue-is-firmly-implanted-in-my-cheek?)
Then there are the "trad" men who are extremely ungallant but think the facade of a smiling face fools an intelligent Catholic woman just because she is a woman.
There are even "trad" men who think they can spank their wives! I kid you not. (Talk about perverted Puritanism!)
And there are "trad" men who - not going so far as their more vicious brothers - are still very keen on "keeping a woman in her place."
(As one lady friend says, "I like knowing my place. It means I have one. Not everyone does, you know...But I don't need some document dork in a suit to tell me what my place is.")
What is a woman's role in the Church and, through Her (the Church), society? Above all else, the true Catholic woman is the mainstay and heart of the family and of society. A woman's role as mother - whether physical or spiritual - is a high vocation and one that should be loved, honored and cherished. (Btw, married ladies and gents, do those last 3 words sound familiar? It's what a man promises to his wife for all the days of his life!)
To return to my point - most trad Catholic male authors will inevitably first list among the Church's most severe problems either "women in the sanctuary" or "altar girls."
I'm not saying that either fact isn't a huge concern. But whose FAULT is it that lay men and women are in the sanctuary, or that little girls or teen girls are serving at the altar?
Men's.
Now, please understand - my purpose is not to finger-point. It's to MAKE a point.
Of all the travesties in the Church, do the majority of traditional Catholic men really consider "women in the sanctuary" or "altar girls" to be the worst of them all?
-What about the altering (and often the renaming) of every single Rite in the Church - from Baptism to Extreme Unction? That's correct - it's not only the Mass that was changed, but each and every Rite, thanks to the "spirit of Vatican II" (whatever that means!).
-What of moving the Blessed Sacrament in the sacred Tabernacle to the side, the basement, or anywhere other than its rightful place on the High Altar? Our Lord and Savior is no longer honored as He deserves to be.
-What about Communion in the hand? Our Lord, hiding under the appearance of bread, is passed from hand-to-hand, popped in the mouth and chewed like a common potato chip.
-What about the forced absence of kneeling during the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God in the Novus Ordo) and the reception of Holy Communion? (Don't you know that we no longer need to genuflect or kneel before Our God? We are "enlightened" now.)
-What about that atrocious hand-holding? The Kiss of Peace? (Be sure to keep what should be Divine Worship totally horizontal - which means focused on the community.)
-How about "Extraordinary Ministers" - male and female? (They were not seen before Vatican II, either. Even the adjective "Extraordinary" was later changed to "Eucharistic" - e.g., Eucharistic "Ministers" - as though a Catholic layman or laywoman is a "minister"!)
-What of the almost Church-wide demise of the First Friday and First Saturday devotions?
-Who is responsible for the decline of the Rosary in our days?
-For that matter, who is behind the eclipse of the true, entire Fatima message?
-Who decided that a mere 30 minutes for Confession shall be allotted per week to the entire parish?
-What of the seemingly prevalent number of sodomites who are now either our priests, bishops, or cardinals? And because of them, true and faithful priests of the Catholic Church are shunned and disrespected everywhere they go.
-And what of the number of Catholic men from all walks of life - from those who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders to laymen (who may or may not be in the pews) - who abrogate their responsibilities, in countless ways, every single day?
-What of the Catholic lay men who live just like pagans? So many men do not want to marry but prefer to live in sin with women or other men. If they do marry, so many do not wish to sacrifice for their wives and children, do not see to the Catholic education of their children, do not even want to accept children, barely participate in the raising of the few children they have or, even worse, do not remain faithful to their marriage vows.
When traditional men point out the true or alleged failings, misdemeanors or sins of women, they only reveal themselves to be true Sons of Adam. They do exactly what our first father did. Instead of accepting responsibility for his own actions, good ol' Father Adam actually had the gall to petulantly complain to God the Father Himself: "The woman YOU gave me..."
Guess what? All of Adam's sons have been doing the same ever since - pointing their fingers at women instead of taking responsibility for their own actions or at least admitting that it is men in the Church who failed all of us.
And, dear Catholic reader, in case you don't know it, the human race did not fall until the moment FATHER ADAM consented to the first sin. Each one of us inherited Original Sin and all of its effects (even after baptism) through this one man, the first FATHER, Adam.
I don't know about you, but I feel sorry for him....what a load with which he had to live for almost 1,000 years! Because of his sin, the first baby ever born grew up to be the first murderer. Because of his sin, he and his wife and all their children throughout time (including our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ) suffer and die.
If today's traditional Catholic men want to see the Church partially restored (because total restoration is not going to happen until we all see the happy day of the collegial consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary), it's about time they take a good look at all of their collective duties and responsibilities.
Once they honestly do that, they just might finally "get it" that real Catholic women are looking for real Catholic men to lead by virtuous word and example. We would dearly love to see our men as true Catholic knights...complete with the truly beautiful and manly virtue of chivalry and its self-sacrificing love.
'Nuf said. For today, anyway. ;)
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