Psalms 2:3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” Psalm 107:14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.
I suppose, as orthodox Catholics, we have a restricted view of Pope Francis, many of us very unhappy with some of his doctrinal words and liturgical actions. However, 'b' on the Moon of Alabama site (my go-to for information on the war in the Ukraine since late '22), gives him great praise for being the only world leader to condemn both the genocide in Gaza and the NATO war in the Ukraine (he said that NATO started it by 'barking at Putin's door'). In this, Pope Francis was perfectly right. May he achieve the Beatific Vision.
In 2022, Francis called Kirill a "Putin’s altar boy" for his blatant support of the special operation in Ukraine. Without a doubt, in this case, he clearly showed himself to be far superior to Viganò, who seemed to have bought into the Russian narrative to the point of even compromising his Catholic faith by calling Moscow the "Third Rome." Incidentally, on his final Easter Sunday and the penultimate day of his life, he condemned both Israel's special operation in Gaza and the rise of antisemitism, without relegating these issues to past events such as the pogroms in Russia or the Holocaust—although modern antisemitism could easily find ways to justify them. In his final moments, he had only extremely limited vocal and respiratory ability to speak even the bare minimum, and he used it in the best way possible. May he rest in peace and at least find the grace of purgatory, which is, at the very least, the certainty of final salvation.
I just read that while we knew Ukraine was losing, it has been accelerating at an incredible pace recently. While Zelensky had some bargaining chips before now he has none. Which is why I believe Trump recently said that Zelensky has no cards. Whatever deal was made between Trump and Putin I believe is playing out currently and Zelensky is now finished.
Exactly! We need to pray for his soul. Like Fr Murr I was sad that I wasn't sad. Just sort of numb and concerned about the conclave.
I went to the church ,in which he had decided to become a priest\go to seminary. The specific confessionary has been into a popular shrine with flags and rosaries, possibly it might become permanently protected\ exhibit, as a sort of relic? Flores cathedral is so beautiful. I like it more than the (biggest) capital cathedral, which honestly has become too "touristy". local reports are talking about a miracle already..I will update, if it turns out it's serious
Pope Francis is the seventh Pope to be buried in the papal basilica of St. Mary Major. Having watched this video about the basilica, I'm sorry now that I didn't visit it when in Rome:
This went straight through my heart, Jo M. Bless you for sharing this. Whether it is the case or not, it is a beautiful thought, a bloom amidst all the others being put out there. And it says much about your beautiful heart too, Jo M.
They say the Nazis killed some 21 million people. They say 94 million people died under Communism. Should we as Christian forgive them for this? Well yes we as Christians should forgive them for this and bar no hatred in our hearts for anyone. But of course we should nuance this by a few things. Firstly that the evil that they did should be called out. We should ensure that those who did this evil be punished. We should ensure that they are never in a position to do such evil again. We should not under any circumstance confuse being loving and forgiving being nice. We have just being through the most evil and harmful Pontificate in the entire 2,000 year history of the Church. Should we as Catholics forgive Papa Frankie and his accomplices for this? Yes of course we should. We are called by Christ to be forgiving and loving. But we should not confuse this with being nice about it all. The people involved in all this need to be called out and punished and placed in a position were they can never do such evil again. Above all we should not erase the stark historical truth about the wickedness that went on and is still going on. We should never ,ever for a second confuse being loving with being nice. One of the very worst plagues of our time is this ever present feeling that somehow or other we should not hurt other peoples feelings. Dead things don't hurt others because they are inert. TO be alive is to cause hurt and to be hurt. To wish to be in a state where you don't want to hurt other peoples feelings is to wish to be buried alive in a mound of pink jelly. If people are to be changed they need to be brought to conviction of sin, contrition , repentance and conversion. Of course this process is going to hurt them. How could it not? But the Hand that hurts is the Hand that Heals.
Somebody needs to tell the European members of NATO who are still strongly lobbying the United States to not 'force' the Ukraine to accept a peace deal. As the Ukraine is on the verge of total defeat and the European countries are wholly and entirely incapable of going to war with Russia, and the American attempt at proxy war has completely failed, the only subtext left is that the Europeans want America to declare open war on Russia. Of course the Europeans will gallantly follow the US's coat-tails.
Churchmen, whether Catholic or Orthodox, have no business promoting war. Of course, Catholics or Orthodox are entitled to be as patriotic as anyone else, in the course of engaging in a just war. But, the Russian Orthodox Church is so entangled in the Russian State that its independance is very questionable. They became very much part of the Communist regime, admittedly after great numbers of their clergy had been slaughtered by the Bolsheviks. On the other hand, the Ukrainian Catholic Church has also tended to identify itself too closely with the Ukrainian regime, which has possibly contributed to the targetting of Catholic Churches by the Russians, although the Russian Orthodox could be playing a major part in encouraging this, also. Pope Francis' simultaneous condemnation of the Gaza genocide and his warnings of rising antisemitism is very wise. He firstly demonstrates that antisemitism is not defined as criticism of Israel, which is how the Zionists are attempting to define it, but also provides a timely warning that the atrocities will inevitably lead to a rise in genuine anti-Jewish sentiment. As Jewish identity is increasingly seen to be inextricably connected with the state of Israel, the reality that people can be Jewish and oppose or be indifferent to the Israeli project is going to be forgotten.
Very well said. We have an effeminate church right now and it is my experience that being nice hurts and damages everything and everyone a thousand times more than being loving and sincere. Being nice is being weak. I can't help but think of how those transgenders are who are being coddled and promoted are the most tortured of souls. They need the truth badly and cannot see it, indulging their behavior only further hurts them.
It's my observation that the US is backing out entirely, while trying to negotiate a peace deal. If no peace deal is to be had due to the reluctance of Zelensky and those influencing him, the US is still backing out. Essentially, Trump is doing his best to give Ukraine and Zelenksy a way out and by extension the rest of Europe. If Zelensky decides to keep going and European nations alongside him, it won't be on the coat-tails of the US.
I hope so, my impression is that Europe is at a boiling point and the satanic grift is in the midst of its destruction. The "elites" think they can buy time for their nefarious plans by keeping the war going. I think they will only back down when loyal politicians are getting air lifted out of their palaces abandoning their positions.
After seeing that zelensky's wife bought Princess Diana's dress in auction a few days ago for 2.9 million euros...it seems obvious of where the money goes
I heard one very holy person say how very,very difficult it would have been to live with Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I believe this was true. Living with people who told the truth all the time would have been like climbing the Alps.
True, but then we got the Apostles. I think it is good to tell the Truth on everything but be kind in enforcing it. Not accommodating to sin but understanding humanity is weak and broken. I think the Truth can be upheld without accommodating sin in this way. Like where Jesus says he wants mercy not sacrifice.
