I used to believe that the consecration of Russia was done and dusted. Now Joe has me wavering but not because of anything related to Garabandal. There's no doubt that a positive result of the belated consecration was the fall of the Soviet Union and a period where Europe wasn't under constant fear of nuclear war between East and West. The Russian Orthodox have also derived great benefits since the end of the cold war. Catholics in other former Eastern Bloc countries are now free to practice the faith, so that's another positive result. Maybe that's all the peace a belated consecration merited and it is time for us and the Orthodox to get our act together with regard to uniting Christ's Church. Russian Catholics in union with Rome don't enjoy the same freedom as the Orthodox, so there's a way to go yet before we enjoy the full fruits of the consecration. Is that down to the consecration being too late or not being carried out as Our Lady requested? I don't know. Maybe Heaven is leaving us to do the rest by uniting so Christ's Church breathing with both lungs can face the atheist world with renewed confidence. Keep doing the first Saturday devotion and it can happen.
In a few hours time (at about 7pm CET), the Pope and Patriarch are due to meet in Cuba. Below is a quote from a good article from 'Vatican Insider' on the expectations. Pope goes to Cuba to embrace his brother Kirill not to forge a “holy alliance” against common enemies Towards achieving full unity The Bishop of Rome has made his intentions with regard to relations with his Orthodox brothers very clear on a number of occasions. Speaking before Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Fanar on 30 November 2014, Pope Francis said that in order to achieve full unity with Orthodox Christians, “the Catholic Church does not intend to impose any conditions except that of the shared profession of faith”. Last year too, in the message sent to the Ecumenical Patriarch for the Feast of St. Andrew’s the Pope repeated that “there is no longer any impediment to Eucharistic communion which cannot be overcome through prayer, the purification of hearts, dialogue and the affirmation of truth”. The direction Christians are called to move in, is that of full sacramental unity, it is not simply about forging “holy alliances” against common enemies. Just by walking together – this is the way Pope Francis sees it – hostilities and misunderstanding will fade away and sooner or later Catholics and Orthodox will realise they are already united. “Unity will not come about as a miracle at the very end. Rather, unity comes about in journeying; the Holy Spirit does this on the journey… But it will happen on this journey, in each step we take. And it is not we who are doing this, but rather the Holy Spirit, who sees our goodwill. The Ut unum sint encyclical in practice To ease the process along, Pope Francis’s “exercise of the Petrine ministry” is about actions more than words, one that is “open to a new situation”, which Wojtyla referred to in his Ut unum sint encyclical as an ecumenical turning point required in the present time, following the Second Vatican Council. The current successor of Peter does not impose his own ways of thinking, he lets go of all theological preconditions and any claims to jurisdictional supremacy over the Primates of the Eastern Churches. The use of tactics to “manage” the differences and rivalries between the various parts of the Orthodox world seems to have been scrapped too. The Roman Catholic Church has given up on any form of imaginary “two-oven politics” as a response to the chronic dualism between the Patriarchate of Moscow and the “mother Church” of Constantinople: Pope Francis hastened to write to his “Brother Bartholomew” to inform him about his meeting with “brother Kirill”, days before the official announcement. The Bishop of Rome adopted the same attitude towards all heads of Eastern Churches, regardless of the political weight they carried, in keeping with that synodal ecclesiology the Argentinian Pope is trying to endorse in the Catholic Church too. In Pope Francis’ eyes, his growing network of friendships with heads of other Churches in not about power relations: his meeting with Kirill, for example, is not so much a meeting with the leader of Orthodoxy’s largest community, but an embrace with the head of a Church of saints and martyrs, who safeguarded the faith during decades of forced atheism, giving all Christianity gems of faith and spirituality of inestimable value. Now, despite certain ambiguities and obscurities, this faith and spirituality is blossoming again, which must come as good news for the Bishop of Rome as well as all other Christians. The time and space of unity Pope Francis embraces his Orthodox brothers just as they are, with their limitations, their assets, their conflicts and inclinations which are not always in tune. He doesn’t have a “line” he wishes to impose. He is well aware of the fact that unity will not come as a result of doctrinal negotiations but he nevertheless encourages the theological dialogue Ioannis Zizioulas is so fond of - Zizioulas is the Metropolitan of the ecumenical patriarchate the Russians do not feel very warm towards and a man Francis has defined “the greatest living Christian theologian”. He is also well aware of the fact that unity between Christians cannot be boiled down to a neo-rigorist “alliance” against modernity. Nevertheless, he shares much of what Russian Orthodox leaders have to say about the negative effects of secularisation. According to Francis, unity with his brothers in Christ does not equate to standardisation but “reconciled diversity” brought about by the Holy Spirit, to be discovered along the way. This is partly the purpose of the meeting in Cuba, which has avoided the self-fulfilling celebratory mega event formula: for him, the important thing is to meet Kirill and walk alongside each other looking to the future. Everything else is secondary: the meeting set-up, the protocol, the set phrases, even the place. A Cuban airport is as good as any other place. Because the Bergoglian principle of time being superior to space applies to Christian unity too. As does the importance of “setting processes in motion rather than occupying spaces”. http://www.lastampa.it/2016/02/12/v...on-enemies-T4zVm5OJAYgK8YbCi0jpSN/pagina.html
Thanks Marti for sending this article. It is by an Orthodox Archbishop, Anthony Bloom. I have read his writings on prayer and consider this guy to be a living saint: http://www.pravmir.com/divided-christendom-is-tragedy/
How does this unity square with church documents, especially with Vat2 document "the bishops have for all that no authority unless United to its head, the Roman Pontiff"? I think it will take the great Warning to sort it all out.
And here is a secular view of what to expect: Pope Francis to Meet Patriarch Kirill: What You Need to Know by ALEXEY EREMENKO, CLAUDIO LAVANGA and SARAH BURKE When the pope and the patriarch come together for the first time today, one of Christianity's most enduring divisions could edge closer to becoming ancient history. The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches have been at odds for over 1,000 years. Friday's meeting in Havana — where Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill will sign a joint accord — could be a critical step towards helping heal the rift. But while the Vatican billed the religious rendezvous as an "important stage" and sign of hope, the event could be more about symbolism than substance. Pope Francis Flies to Cuba to Meet Patriarch 0:51 A MILLENIUM OF DISCORD It took two years for the Holy See and the Patriarchate of Moscow to hash out the terms for the meeting — not long in the grand scheme of things. The Western and Eastern Christian churches split over persistent theological disputes in 1054 — and formally separated in 1438. The Eastern faction later became known as Orthodox Church — which now has 15 separate and equal congregations, Russian Orthodox being the largest. Today's Russian Orthodox church refuses to recognize papal authority and has accused the Vatican of attempting to convert its followers. Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill on Jan. 18, 2016. Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP, file "There was a tension between the two churches particularly from the Orthodox side," said Dr. Erica Hunter, head of Religions and Philosophies at SOAS University in London. "It's a division between cultures and attitudes towards the West in Russia." The tensions and turf wars for religious dominance that punctuated the last 10 centuries have persisted in the modern era, creating an atmosphere of mistrust between the two churches. Pope John Paul II — credited with an important role in ending the Cold War — invited his counterpart to meet more than once. But for the Orthodox Church, any appearance of submitting to Rome's authority was a deal-breaker. "There are plenty of people among Russia's believers and clergy who are historically quite hostile to Catholicism… seeing it as a threat and part of the West that's looking to conquer Russia," explained Sergei Filatov, a religion expert at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. AN ASSYMETRIC ARGUMENT There are more than 1.2 billion Catholics around the world. That number dwarfs the overall Orthodox congregation of 225 million — which is divided between the 15 separate and equal eastern churches. The Moscow Patriarchate oversees the largest flock of about 160 million people. Patriarch Kirill and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 1, 2016. Alexei Nikolsky / Sputnik via AP Not only is it larger, but the Catholic Church has its own state: the Vatican. The Moscow Patriarchate, meanwhile, is closely aligned with the Russian government. "Kirill is closely linked to Putin and Russian state power, while Francis is a genuinely independent operator," said NBC's Vatican expert George Weigel. ARE THEY REALLY THAT DIFFERENT? On many major theological issues Catholics and Russian Orthodox Christians remain closely aligned. But the issues that divide them run deep. The central theological divide dates back to the eighth century and is based in differing philosophical interpretations of the Holy Trinity — the relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in Christianity. The Orthodox Church also does not believe in purgatory, which Catholics believe precedes heaven. There's the key political distinction — the Orthodox Church totally rejects papal authority — and differences on social issues. The Orthodox Church is more hardline on homosexuality, while Pope Francis famously said: "Who am I to judge?" The question of clerical marriage is also treated differently by the Russian Church, in which parish-level priests are permitted to be ordained as married men. WHY NOW? Despite these issues, there is a lot less disagreement than there used to be. Both churches have found themselves on the same side of the barricades, defending traditional religious values from rising secularism. "Despite their differences, the Russian Orthodox church sees its closest ally in Catholicism now," said Sergei Filatov. Experts say Friday's rapprochement comes down to personality — these two spiritual bosses are the right leaders at the right time. "You need men with caliber, with vision, with understanding," said Hunter. Francis — twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize — has been a champion of interfaith dialogue since his election three years ago. Pope Francis greets New Yorkers on Sept. 25, 2015 in New York City. James Devaney / Getty Images Kirill, even before he took the Orthodox church's top job, showed unprecedented openness towards the Vatican as its chief diplomat. World politics also has added urgency to the cause for Christian unity. "Both of them are very aware of the plight of Christians in the Middle East," said Hunter. "Ecumenism and solidarity are important to the beleaguered Christians." DOES IT MATTER? While there's huge symbolic significance to the pope and patriarch's meeting, experts do not anticipate any major progress on the issues that have stood between their two churches for many centuries. "It won't be huge headline leaps," Hunter said. "But all those steps to foster dialogue and to foster charity between two churches, and understanding, that takes a lot of hard, slow groundwork." It's important to remember that while Kirill represents the largest flock of Orthodox, he doesn't speak for the whole Eastern church. Still, that's not to say that overall progress isn't possible. "They would probably not make any major agreements at the meeting, but the very fact of the meeting is a major breakthrough," Filatov said. "What happens now could start some bigger things, bigger collaboration in the future. And worst case, they just meet, and that's it." http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pope-francis-meet-patriarch-kirill-what-you-need-know-n516401
I can't read the Holy Father's heart, but my overwhelming impression is that he knows we have not got a great deal of time left before the hammer falls, hence his great, great urgency to get things done. This would explain a lot. It might also explain why such great graces are being pumped into helping him. I think this is the only way we can explain the Russian Orthodox openess to all this. It is quite astounding. Miraculous, in fact.
I'm sitting here after having read David and Padraig's posts in amazement and with a sense of joy and hope! I'm amazed as the two articles - one on the Pope's perspective and the other Archbishop Bloom's perspective on reunification. Both talk about taking a journey together. They both say let's not impose ourselves on each other. In fact, I love the reference by Arch. Bloom to the disciples arguing who is the best. It's interesting that he mentions this in light of the Pope's words in the other article that he see's this as a journey. In the Gospel passage that Bloom references, they are on a journey with Jesus and it is His words that begin the process of unification. This of course, is completed, as Francis notes through the Holy Spirit. I was also moved to read that Pope Francis chose to let Pope Bartholomew know of his meeting today ahead of time. Wouldn't it be great to see all 3 leaders meet sometime soon. Time to pray that today 's meeting goes as God wills it.
It also reminds us I think that the way saints look at things may be different to the rest of us, Blown as they are entirely by the Winds of the Holy Spirit.
There is no doubt I'm my mind that something gigantic is happening in our time. You can bet both God and his advesary are putting into place the events that have been prophesied and soon coming. I will say though that during this year of mercy everything unfolds rapidly. The Warning will definitively separate the sheep from the goats and there will come from this only one Church and the antichurch as St. John Paul foretold. It's simply amazing to watch 1000's of years of prophecy unfolding in our time in this moment.
It really is an amazing time and yet I still find so many people asleep. I don't say this in a condescending or prideful way, but the are so many people - friends and Church "goers" who look at me as though I'm nuts when I say these things to them. Again, hope I'm not sounding full of pride here, but maybe we are being called to be the voices of hope and love when the time comes? Maybe the little (and for some here the big) trials are helping to prepare us for what will come? I read somewhere recently that a saint or seer said that towards the "end", there will be more saints than in anytime in history. Little saints who do the little unnoticed things I think will be needed in the not so distant future. Pray.
I hear what you are saying Miker. My sediment exactly. My wife and I talked about this last night on one of our many trips to the kids basketball games. Or should I say, I talked and she listened, because either what I am saying is so far over her head or she has not entered into through prayer and study what seems so apparent to me. Then I think, am I the only one around me who sees what is happening or am I nuts! If I had a dollar for every minute I have tried to talk to family, friends and anyone else I come in contact with I could retire now. I think I will start talking to my milk cow and my black German shepherd. At least I know they don't understand, but i don't expect them too. I don't want to sound proud either, but have all those around us who don't seem to have ears, are they not getting the grace at this time or what?
After reading your posts and after having placed in my mind earlier about just doing little things well, I saw my daily email from Mark Mallet's site and it struck that it fits so well here. Not just the message and words that Mark is sharing, but the fact that he is as he says "putting out fires". Aren't we all putting out the fires in our lives more and more. Maybe we are meant to be firemen in these times! Except the fires need to be out out by the Holy Spirit and our quiet faith. I don't know Fatima where it all leads, but I trust your family will "get it" because they are watching and absorbing you even if it seems they are not. Courage. http://www.markmallett.com/blog/on-being-faithful/
I liked the reflection at the end of Mark's peice: Have you failed? Have you been unfaithful? Are you frozen in fear, either of punishment or of the times we are living in? Then lower yourself before Jesus like the paralytic in the Gospel and say, “Lord, I am disoriented, scattered, distracted… I am a sinner, frozen in my dysfunction. Heal me Lord…” And His reply to you is twofold: Child, your sins are forgiven… I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home. That is, be faithful.
Shoeshiner-turned-journalist polishes Francis’ shoes on board papal flight to Cuba Speaking to journalists during the first part of his transatlantic journey, Francis talked about the mysterious image of Our Lady of Guadalupe: “This is an object of God”. The Pope also received a sombrero as a gift 12/02/2016 ANDREA TORNIELLI ON THE FLIGHT FROM ROME TO HAVANA At one point during the papal flight from Rome to Cuba a Mexican journalist suddenly stooped down to polish the Pope’s shoes. Why? “My family was poor and when I was a child,” the journalist explained, “I was able to buy my suit for my first communion by working as a shoeshiner”. For the shoeshiner-turned-correspondent, to be able to polish the Pope’s shoes on board the papal flight from Rome to Havana, is a cause of immense pride, gratification, not to mention liberation. This is a trip Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill have both wanted very much, as have Mexicans: speaking to journalists on board the 12-hour flight from Rome to Cuba, the Pope talked about Our Lady of Guadalupe, he was given a sombrero as a gift, he sent his wishes via video to readers of Italian newspaperLa Stampa and he introduced the Colombian prelate who as of the Pope’s next visit will be in charge of organising papal trips, replacing Alberto Gasbarri who is retiring. “Thank you for your presence, for the work that you do,” the Pope told journalists. “This trip is demanding and quick but one that my brother Kirill, myself and the Mexican people wanted very much.” Francis reminded journalists that “the other day, at the start of Wednesday’s General Audience, your Mexican dean (Televisa correspondent Valentina Alazraki, who has been covering papal visits since John Paul II’s trip to Mexico in January 1979, Ed.) was waiting for me as if to take me on a trip back in time with all Cantinflas’ films . So I entered Mexico through Cantinflas’ door, which is funny”. “My innermost wish,” he added, “is to stand before Our Lady of Guadalupe, that mystery that has been the object of so much study and yet no human explanation can be found”. The Pope was referring to the mystery of how the image of the mestizo (mixed-race) Virgin formed on the native cloak (known as atilma) of Mexican peasant Juan Diego. “Even the most scientific of studies says: ‘This is an object of God’. And this is what it drives Mexicans to say: ‘ I am an atheist but I am Guadalupan’. Some Mexicans, not all of them are atheist!” Francis said smiling. http://www.lastampa.it/2016/02/12/v...ht-to-cuba-FJf3LZ683SzL9v1c9dBqGM/pagina.html
miker, no sooner than I sent my last post an answer was given to me in reading the recent Luz de Maria message as follows: MESSAGE GIVEN BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO HIS BELOVED DAUGHTER LUZ DE MARÍA 9 FEBRUARY 2016 My beloved People, YOU, MY CHILDREN, BECAUSE YOU ARE AWARE OF ALL YOU ARE LIVING, YOU WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE PATH, STRENGTHENING THE FAITH, AND WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU ARE GUIDED TO THE WHOLE TRUTH AND, AIDED BY MY MOTHER, HOLDING HER HAND, YOU WILL RESIST THE ATTACKS OF THE EVIL OPPRESSOR. My People are aware of all that is coming… My People must look up and remember Who created everything that you see in Creation. You owe Me the Honor, Power, and Glory, Forever and Ever. Beloved People, At this instant, the enemy of the soul keeps his diabolical legions upon all mankind, as it has previously done in the history of mankind to deceive... At this instant, My faithful People share a feeling, and it is to warn that humankind will suffer because they disobey My Word. My People feel this. The rest of the men, those who reject Me or those who do not take Me seriously, look at the way the world appears to be instead of looking at the shocking events, and then say, “Life goes on as usual; those who announce that everything will change are wrong, they are fakers.” Saying this, children, is part of the action of evil to keep you in denial, to be lost. I give you My Word with Love, and My Mother keeps you warned; but you keep reading or hearing the Calls from My House waiting for the fulfillment of the events in order to react… you wait for proof to react… CHILDREN, WHEN PROOF COMES BEFORE YOU, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACT LIKE A JURY TO FIND A CONSENSUS VERDICT. ALTHOUGH MY MERCY IS INFINITE, NOT EVERYONE WILL HAVE THE BLESSING OF BEING AWARE IN INSTANTS OF AGONY IN ORDER TO REPENT OR TO SAVE THEMSELVES FROM SATAN’S CLAWS, DESPITE THE INFINITY OF MY MERCY WHICH DOES NOT REJECT THE SLIGHTEST SIGN OF REPENTANCE TO EMBRACE MY CHILDREN. My People, misused science is generating a new race as an attempt to surpass Me. ABOMINATION is what these creatures commit against the gift of life, and My Justice will be prompt. You are this generation that the Holy Scriptures announce: You will witness the fulfillment of the Prophecies just like Noah’s generation did. Humanity, you dance, eat, drink, plunge into wickedness… life is despised, betrayals come up, one after the other, the signs in the Sky abound; but men go on as if nothing were happening, as you are witnessing some who walked under My Word and today have surrendered to darkness, mocking Me, My Warnings, and the Calls from My House. EVIL MULTIPLIES SPEEDILY, terrorism will wreak havoc; prowling all over Earth, it will carry death with it. Without fearing My Justice, the haughty and arrogant man will fall to the ground at his own foolishness. THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL. This way they give authority to evil to move around freely with great intelligence, inserting itself in man to make him despise Me and deny My existence. They call sin good; and good, sin. This is how evil takes men by surprise, disguised as good, due to the ignorance of mankind that does not know Me. Woe to him who does not alert My children about sin and who does not call sin, sin! Woe to him who confuses My People and leads My innocent along paths of error and horror!... “It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” (Matthew 26:24) THE SOULS FAITHFUL TO ME AND TO MY MOTHER AT THIS INSTANT ARE SPIRITUAL LIGHT THAT FORCE ME TO KEEP LOOKING AT EARTH, even though the human creatures are immersed in vices and perversions, in the mafia, trafficking in human life and in scientific advances that are not My Will. The human creatures that are immersed in iniquity and incredulity are more separated from Me and from everything related to the Salvation of the soul.
Yes! I know what you mean exactly...even some of the faithful and many whom I consider to be much kinder and more loving than me. I think it is a special grace to understand why and what is going on. I truly don't understand why I have been privileged to understand what is taking place in our world. I do know there is a purpose and why I am among those, I can't say why (because I don't know). I am sinful and so often put other gods before God. I do believe in Him and love Him, but despite this I feel worse than the prodigal son at times, because it seems that one day I come home to the Father only to venture out into the world a day later ...to again, come home. I hope this is faith and building me up for the days to come .... I want to be a saint but am I strong enough?
Here is the kicker for me and perhaps others who are the 'watchmen' for these times. Perhaps most people whom one speaks to on the signs of the times (especially the ones closest to you) see our own weaknesses and sinfulness and like a person who stops going to Church because of the bad actions of a priest, instead of staying because of the truth it professes, they easily dismiss what we have to say. So it is with our credibility on prophecy and warnings to others, which are often hindered, because of our own imperfections in lieu if the merit of our words. This is why it is so important to remember it is not about us, it is about what the Holy Spirit can do through us if we dont let pride enter in.
