What Star Will You Follow?
Devoted to the Church even amid Fallen Clergy
Photo By: Carl T. Bergstrom - Statue, Copenhagen
Our world is in trouble, and the only thing that can save her is Christ, and more specifically Christ through His Bride - the Church. That is becoming more and more difficult these days as one by one the Church's credibility is devastated by Her Faithful, through the wiles of Satan. You see, Satan has been at war with God since before this world was created. Satan hates everything that God loves and is out to destroy anything and everything he can that God has created. The fact that we as human beings so easily fall for his trickery and craftiness certainly works well into His game plan, and makes our tasks of goodness, holiness and salvation all the more difficult.
If anyone out there thinks that being Christian is easy, then they are not doing it right. Yet, many align themselves as fans of Christ instead of disciples. Most of us, if not almost all of us still love and trust ourselves more than we love and trust Christ. And because of that we continue to fall and when some of us fall, we can take multitudes with us.
Lately in the headlines I've seen stories about clergy disobeying and denying True and Dogmatic teachings of the Church, a study indicating that 1/3 of Catholics don't believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and as a Cincinnati native and member of Her Archdiocese, a beloved bishop falling prey to bad and very destructive decisions that have yielded a firestorm within the community of believers here. There are many more examples in the headlines of the apostasy of Christians, who are leaving Christ in droves to become embedded in feel good sentimental false ideas and acts of worship, that more readily accept and tolerate sin. Why is this happening? Because it is easier, because being truly Christian is difficult, and not always subject to good feelings, lack of suffering, and engaging "entertainment". How can any of those who are devoted and faithful deny that when anyone walks away from the Eucharist for a "good so called worship" band, that the vices of ego, pride, selfishness and ignorance are at work. The skill in which Satan has been able to veil his vile and filth in images of goodness is astounding. Yet every day, even those who are presumably the most holy fall prey to this craftiness. It demonstrates so vividly how the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
So yes, I am very angry right now. Angry with my Archdiocese and many other high level clergy and Church leaders who are letting us down and succumbing to evil. I will never leave the Church though. Christ can only be found in His Church - the Catholic Church. The One, True, Holy and Apostolic Church. Even the Apostles fell pray to these kinds of trickery, espcially our beloved first Pope - Saint Peter. It is only through His Church that we find the Sacraments - especially the Eucharist. Thankfully sinful and unfaithful clergy are still valid instruments of Christ to bring us those Sacraments. The Church will defeat Satan, Christ promised us that. That victory led by Christ and Our Mother will come will come through battle, and many will fall and be victimized in that process. Christ and His Church will crush the serpent's head but that serpent will bruise the heel of Christ and His Church. Prayer is our weapon, especially the Rosary, and the world was never in need of that more than right now.
We are at war, and not a temporal one, we are at war and fighting for the souls of as many as we can gain for Christ. It is a very treacherous endeavor and not for the faint of heart. Remember though, the things of this world are temporary, even our reputations and good names. Disobedience to the Church and thus Christ will never be fruitful, we were not made to go it alone, and when we makes calls and decisions that are not ours to make, even with good and noble intentions yet in defiance of the dictates and norms of the Church, we place ourselves and so many others at risk. Better for us to go down together than to do it alone. Christ stands with the Church and Her united members and those who go rogue will to some degree undo that unity.
Let us unite in prayer for the Church as she continues to blast through the firestorm that so many of her members, both clergy and laity alike continue to create.
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About the Author
I am a wife and mother of two grown sons. Although I am Cradle Catholic, I experienced a profound reversion to the True faith several years ago that motivated and inspired me to dive more deeply into an understanding of the Church and Her teachings, and why She has these teachings and where they come from. Surprisingly, for me, the more I read and discovered, the deeper my love of the Catholic Church and her teachings became. This certainly is a journey that doesn't end, and so as I uncover more amazing facts about our Faith and Church, I just can't help but want to share what I'm learning. So, I began writing for Catholic 365.
I have recently served for a year and a half as the Executive Director of a very active and busy Crisis Pregnancy Center on the West side of Cincinnati. God is so good and does answers prayers, even though He knows at times, we have no idea what we are asking for. The pro life cause is paramount to our times, I am so honored and humbled to have had the experience and opportunity to serve women and the unborn in this capacity! I am also very grateful to God, for allowing me to see for myself, that perhaps such a calling was not His long term plan for me. We go where God seeminly calls us, and for me, that was a return to corporate America. I currently work as a recruiter and sales onboarding specialist where I am helping a Franchising company open and support small businesses that serve seniors and the elderly, giving them opportunities to age in place and live thier final chapters with dignity. It is the other end of the pro life spectrum and such an amazing endeavor!
I love being able to share this great faith of ours and use this platform as a way to express my deep love and devotion to our Lord. We need each other, and this effort has truly become a wonderful way to connect with all of you- my brothers and sisters in Christ!
