I have to say, I’m happy to read what Bishop Baron writes here on his impressions of the Synod! https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/barron/my-experience-of-the-synod/
Bishop Barron has a very,very good take on the Synod on Synodality in, 'Crisis Magazine'. https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/barron/my-experience-of-the-synod/ I kinda went off the Bishop because of him implying hell does not exist but have changed my mind about him . There are so many wonderful testimonies from folks who through his work have been converted; 'By their fruits you shall know them'. The thing about the bishop is that he is very measured and balanced in what he says and writes. He is the blue eyed boy of the American Bishops ,a great favoutite and so cannot be easily cancelled. Anyway bless him for doing this. It took courage and honesty. I would guess he was speaking for the large majority of his fellow American clergy. But no red hat for him now.
Thanks Mario. I did manage to buy the book but didn't get to read it. It's been so long since I spent any time in the sun that I had forgotten what a nuisance electronic devices are in bright sunshine. I'm glad to have the book and recommendations from people here whose opinions I value. Hoping now that it will help me prepare spiritually for Christmas amidst all the commercial hype.
AED, do you have a source/link re the left out line Fr. Yasuda instructed Sr. Sasagawa not to write? " Fr Yasuda said that Judas ND the last pope are going to betray/ sell Jesus
I heard it in a interview with Fr Elias. He had just come back from Japan. It was from writings not yet translated into English as I recall.
Synod delegates discuss empowering local churches October 17, 2024 By Justin McLellan Catholic News ServiceFiled Under: News, Synodality, Vatican, World News Share Share Pin Share ROME (CNS) — As the Synod of Bishops on synodality engaged in conversation on the church’s hierarchy, synod delegates examined the relationship between the local and universal church during a public theological and pastoral forum. Myriam Wijlens, a theological expert at the synod and canon law professor at the University of Erfurt in Germany, said that since the beginning of the synodal process in 2021, “the people of God have voiced with a remarkable consistency that diocesan and parish pastoral councils should be made obligatory.” But beyond making such structures mandatory, “they desire that canonical norms make them into true vehicles of being a synodal church,” she said at the forum in Rome Oct. 16. Currently, the Code of Canon Law states, “If the diocesan bishop judges it opportune after he has heard the presbyteral council, a pastoral council is to be established in each parish” with the council presided over by the pastor. To respond to the desire voiced by the people of God, Wijlens said that the majority of members on such councils should not be appointed by the diocesan bishop or parish priest, rather “they need to be elected or appointed in a different way.” Additionally, she said “provisions can be made to respond to the request that there must be a majority of laypersons, with an adequate presence of women, young people and people living in conditions of poverty or experiencing other forms of marginalization.” Wiljens noted that just as a diocesan presbyteral council has a right to be consulted before the bishop can act in specific cases, such as altering a parish or building a new church, “a provision could be made that on certain or the same topic, the diocesan pastoral council must be heard as well.” She added that such provisions “do not contradict current law and could already be considered in the statutes that bishops can issue within their local church today.” Father Antonio Autiero, another synod expert and emeritus professor of moral theology at the University of Münster in Germany, discussed the possibility of making the lived experience of the faithful more central in the church’s decision-making and application of doctrine. “The link between faith and morality cannot be conceived in a linear and deductive way,” he said. “We have done that for too long without considering the fact that human practices and the invocation of the moral good correspond to the culture with which people identify.” “Local churches, as a place of living out the church, offer the horizon in which doctrinal aspects regarding human practices, and therefore also moral conduct and legal frameworks, can be authentically generated and then offered as points of truth for the life of other churches as well,” he said. Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, said that “local churches are not mere parts or administrative units of a whole, nor is the universal church the sum of all of those parts as if it were a federation or a grouping together of local communities.” Instead, “the mysterious being of the church of Christ is truly present in each and every one of its local churches, thus achieving its fundamental unity in the richness of a legitimate local diversity.” The cardinal observed that in various parts of the world, “synodal experiences are becoming more like political assemblies rather than true synodal encounters.” Referring to the current synod on synodality, he emphasized the importance of invoking the Holy Spirit in discussions about the church’s future and “seeking the Spirit who lives among us, but to whom we must remain attentive.” https://catholicreview.org/synod-delegates-discuss-empowering-local-churches/
This brought to mind the sound made when something precious crashes on a marble floor ~ a splintering or shattering. But like His Body was broken on the Cross prior to rising up, so to will His Mystical Body, the Church, rise up again. Fear not ~
This also brings to mind the moment when the soldiers divided Jesus' garments before His crucifixion; however, His seamless tunic remained undivided, which seems to represent the faithful remnant of the Church throughout all its crises of faith in history.
Father Antonio Autiero, another synod expert and emeritus professor of moral theology at the University of Münster in Germany, discussed the possibility of making the lived experience of the faithful more central in the church’s decision-making and application of doctrine. “The link between faith and morality cannot be conceived in a linear and deductive way,” he said. “We have done that for too long without considering the fact that human practices and the invocation of the moral good correspond to the culture with which people identify.” The above recommendation from post 548 embraces the lunacy of localized moral standards! In such a situation, Catholics could shop around to see which parish reaffirms their moral preferences! It is hard to believe that such heretical nonsense is now given the light of day, but this is the synodal church, not the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church I was born into. Lord have Mercy!
Imagine the parishioners somewhere in the West demanding the head of their local pastor because he gave a "homophobic speech."
My sister lives in upper Michigan and was telling me her Pastor in a homily told everyone that you can not be pro choice and be Catholic. She said two people got up and walked out of church and the choir director from the choir loft jumped up, pointed his finger and the Priest and said “You are way out of Line”. My sister was shocked. She said her and her husband made a point of thanking the Priest after Mass. I told her my Hispanic Priest said from the pulpit we Can Not vote for a prochoice, pro euthanasia, pro transgender approving president. We all agreed. Although it seems like church attendance is a bit down lately. Lines are being drawn for sure. Tonight’s sermon was in Trust.
Our numbers are down as well. It’s everywhere in Canada. No one cares anymore. All we can do is up our mortifications for souls and pray. Asking God to help us have the strength to be faithful to the end. But it can be lonely, when you’re at Adoration with only a small handful of people. I keep in mind the whole army in heaven is with us. We are not alone. I remember waking up a few years ago with these words on my lips. The words of Fatima..” Penance, Penance, Penance!!!” It lasted all day in my heart.
Yes. Today at Mass the numbers are thinner. There is a suffocating apathy in the air. I too pray hard for the grace to persevere to the end. And I keep dragging my intentions to the altar for the salvation of my loved ones. I am past asking for anything else. Just " save them Lord. Do not let their souls be lost."
Your prayers are never a waste of time, Ann. The Lord will use them as a battering ram to break down the door of inner resistance and spiritual blindness! Jude 1:17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who set up divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; 21 keep yourselves in the love of God; wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And convince some, who doubt; 23 save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, 25 to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen.
