The Criminalization of Christianity - An Urgent Call to Fight for Religious Freedom!
Mary Holds, Weeps and Fights For Us - May We Never Lose Hope Amid Testimony of Apostolic Nuncio
Detail of Lamentation - Pietro Lorenzetti and Companions. Inferior
Why did I choose this image of Mary holding the Body of Her Son to accompany this article?
I used it because it moves me, because I see that it proclaims great truth in the midst of the terrible tragedy of abuse, corruption and complicity that is being brought to light in the Church.
I choose it, because it shows us the depth of love and compassion Jesus and Mary have for us even in the depth of sin, sadness and suffering:
Pierced, bruised, torn and crucified by the egregious sins of those we had trusted to shepherd us.
Mary holds us –
the Church – the Body of Christ –
forever close to herself.
Mary holds each one of us –
her children bought with the priceless blood of Her Son –
and given to her during His agony on the Cross.
She holds us and weeps for each of us –
those who's hearts have been pierced and crucified by the acts of such evil men
and those who's faith has been shattered.
She weeps over each soul lost
the death of the innocent ...
and of the good, faithful and holy priests and bishops who will now be maligned, misunderstood and mistrusted.
She weeps and remains with us ...
holding us...
She weeps, but not without hope!
Even at the foot of Calvary –
a witness to the cruel betrayal and horrific torture and death of Her Son—
she clung to hope.
"Hoping against all hope",
she alone believed in the resurrection for three days.
She believed, though no one else on earth did.
She knows firsthand how to cling to hope when all appears hopeless.
So, while Satan tries to tempt us to despair, to give up hope
and faith in Christ's Body, the Church...
Mary is with us...
interceding for us to cling to faith ... to prayer ... to hope ...
To hold on to Jesus just as she did at the foot of the Cross...
no matter how battered and bloodied His Body ...
no matter how hopeless it seems ...
Still we hold fast to Him in love!
Mary helps us hold fast to Him,
our Only Hope, our Salvation,
Who suffered and died to save us ...
Who is Himself the Eucharist, the very Body and Blood of Christ "given up for us"
Alive and “With us Always”
An Incomprehensible Gift
Given so we can live in union with Him both now and in eternity!
She helps us cling to His Sacraments ...
and to His Body, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church,
Whom He promised "the gates of hell will not prevail against!"
The Church is Christ!!!!
So we cling to Him, the Rock Who saves us!
Because no matter how it appears ...
Christ has already won the victory and
all the forces of evil unleashed against Him from without,
and all the evil Judases betraying Him from within
can and will never destroy His Holy Catholic Church.
Still He lives!
And we live in Him -- and He in us!
So, let us always hold fast to Him and to His Body, the Church on earth...
Who alone is "The Way, the Truth and the Life!"
He alone can bring light to this present darkness ...
life to the death ...
hope and healing to those broken and despairing…
He alone can "make all things new"!
I write this in response to the news reported by all major Catholic News outlets: the 11 page Testimony of Cardinal Vigano regarding the Cardinal McCarrick scandal.
In the report, Cardinal Vigano, as the former Apostolic Nuncio to the United Staes, testifies that he and many others tried to stop Cardinal McCarrick's abuse, but their reports of his abuse were often ignored and even fought against by many in authority.
He states Cardinal McCarrick was ultimately sanctioned when reports finally reached Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, saying:
"Pope Benedict had imposed on Cardinal McCarrick sanctions similar to those now imposed on him by Pope Francis: the Cardinal was to leave the seminary where he was living, he was forbidden to celebrate [Mass] in public, to participate in public meetings, to give lectures, to travel, with the obligation of dedicating himself to a life of prayer and penance."
So, how was Cardinal McCarrick living outside of the sanctions imposed by Pope Benedict?
In answer, Cardinal Vigano names many high ranking Church officials, including Cardinals, even up to Pope Francis, as being complicit in their knowledge of Cardinal McCarrick's horrific pattern of abuse. But even more damning, despite this knowledge, they enabled him to continue in his ministry.
I will not attempt to summarize Cardinal Vigano's testimony regarding these allegations. as I believe it is important to read the testimony for yourself to understand whom Cardinal Vigano names and why.
If Cardinal Vigano's testimony is substantiated, it is a sign, as I mentioned in a previous post, that God is in His Heavens and He will not be mocked!
For He is cleansing His Holy Temple, as zeal for His House consumes Him. (cf. Jn 2:17).
As the prophet Ezekiel foretold, God Himself will save us and come against the false shepherds:
"I swear I am coming against these shepherds.
I will claim my sheep from them
and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep...
I will save my sheep...
I myself will look after and tend my sheep." (cf. Ez 34:1-11)
Interestingly, Cardinal Vigano's Testimony was written on the Queenship of Mary, August 22, 2018. The Scripture quoted above was proclaimed on this same feast of Mary as Queen.
Taken together, I see them as providential signs of Mary's intercession for us, who is a mighty warrior Queen -- fiercely and forever protecting her children -- far more effectively than any Mama Bear.
May we always know we are safe in the arms of Our Mother.
Again and again, Our Blessed Mother is coming to earth - fighting for her children!
She is crushing the head of the serpent, manifested in the false and evil shepherds who feed off the sheep entrusted to their care.
And, in and through her Son, the King of Kings, they are victors, while yet fighting for a thorough cleansing of the false and evil shepherds who are in reality wolves disguised as sheep whom Jesus condemns in Matthew 7: 15:
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
In the midst of these horrific sins that cry out to God for vengeance, may we not allow the Judases in the Church to take us from Christ and His Mystical Body.
Let us instead cling to Jesus, Mary and Holy Mother Church, taking to heart the conclusion of Cardinal Vigano's testimony, which proclaims:
"Even in dismay and sadness over the enormity of what is happening, let us not lose hope!
We well know that the great majority of our pastors live their priestly vocation with fidelity and dedication.
It is in moments of great trial that the Lord’s grace is revealed in abundance and makes His limitless mercy available to all; but it is granted only to those who are truly repentant and sincerely propose to amend their lives. This is a favorable time for the Church to confess her sins, to convert, and to do penance.
Let us all pray for the Church and for the Pope, let us remember how many times he has asked us to pray for him!
Let us all renew faith in the Church our Mother:
“I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church!”
Christ will never abandon His Church! He generated her in His Blood and continually revives her with His Spirit!
Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!
Mary, Virgin and Queen, Mother of the King of glory, pray for us!"Rome, August 22, 2018
Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
You can access Cardinal Vigano's full testimony here:
Here is a report that pulls out key points of the testimony and also refers to their interview with Cardinal Vigano.
Additionally, it is well worth your time to read one holy priest's profound homily regarding this tragedy, as I echo a friend's comments:
"I am angry at these evil men and what they have done. I want them rooted out and gone. I have been told that the Cherokee language has no term for a sexual abuser. They simply call them soul murders and that is true."
Let us never cease praying the rosary, God's weapon against evil, including the 54 Day Novena for our Nation and for Our Holy Mother Church and for her many, many holy priests.
May God bless us and bless His Holy Church by continuing to clean out the evil that lies within it - including it's hierarchy, priests and laity. We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Behind each priest there is a demon fighting for his fall. If we have the language to criticize them. We must have twice as much to pray for them. St Teresa of Avila
© Janet Moore 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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About the Author
Janet is a wife and mother of three whose greatest joys in life are daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, and spending time with family and friends. She holds a MA in Theology and is an active retreat leader, teacher, writer and Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration coordinator. She is passionate about sharing the love of Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit – knowing firsthand that their Love heals and transforms lives!
She writes at http://enteringintothemystery.blogspot.com.
