NEWSFLASH: Motu Proprio in Danger? How To Help

Rumors are circulating that the long awaited 'clarification' of Summorum Pontificum may be expected shortly. It is feared that this 'clarification' may serve to 'water down' the Motu Proprio.

How you can help...

* Pray

* Sign relevant online petitions (e.g. the petition at www.motuproprioappeal.com) [Note: After signing the petition on the above site, a donation appeal may appear. This appeal may be ignored. Also, for those concerned about privacy or the receipt of future e-mail, note that an e-mail address such as 'not @ applicable . com" (without the spaces) may suffice at the above site]

* Send a polite letter and/or e-mail to appropriate parties at the at the Vatican

* Tell your friends

Related: Traditional Latin Mass (Topic Page)

[2/18/11]

Alleged Marian Apparition in Wisconsin: Answers Still Needed

Some concerns regarding the alleged Marian apparition approved by a U.S. bishop in 12/10 were recently shared with a faithful priest. The priest reviewed the concerns and agreed that some elements involving the alleged apparition in Wisconsin appear 'strange'. If nothing else, it seems the following items at least deserve an adequate answer...

* Why is it that the alleged visionary in Wisconsin, Adele Brise, never took religious vows, yet she dressed in a habit and is referred to as "Sr. Adele"? The image of Adele wearing a habit is used to promote the shrine (see one such image below), and the laywoman's appearance as a 'nun' may therefore give an apparent air of credibility to the alleged apparition. Even her tombstone refers to her as "sister", yet she took now religious vows. Why is this?

* Why did the apparition instruct a lay woman, rather than a priest or religious, to "Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation". In contrast, Jesus instructed certain males (e.g. priests) - not women - to teach. As Pope John Paul II stated: "Priestly ordination, which hands on the office entrusted by Christ to his Apostles of teaching, sanctifying and governing the faithful, has in the Catholic Church from the beginning always been reserved to men alone" (emphasis added). St. Paul says, "A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet." (1 Tm. 2:11-12) So, does it not seem strange that in a place where the Catholic Church was already established, an apparition would call on a lay woman - rather than the parish priest - to (apparently independently) teach other peoples' children "what they should know for salvation"? If the priest wasn't doing his job of teaching the children, why did the apparition not appear to him or to his bishop? Also, the apparition apparently did not instruct the lay woman to clear her new 'teaching assignment' with the parish priest or other Church authorities, the authentic instructors of the faith. Isn't that rather odd?

* Why was approval of the apparition referred to as a 'thank you' to Adele Brise, rather than simply an objective determination made after careful evaluation of the alleged apparition's authenticity? (Note: The bishop said "In many ways it is also a thank-you gift to Adele Brise, that Belgian immigrant who came here to this country...")

* Why did the bishop also give other reasons for approving the apparition which have nothing to do with authenticity? (Note: Reasons included these two: "My love for the Blessed Mother, and the simple messages to get the faith out there") Why would approval be given for any other reason than that the apparition was found to be authentic?

* Isn't it true that an examination conducted around 150 years after the fact may make it difficult for a careful review of contradictory evidence? (Note: By contrast, the Marian apparition Lourdes occurred less than two years earlier and was approved quickly by the Church)

* Why does the description of the Blessed Virgin's hair seem so unusual (she reportedly had "long, golden, wavy hair" which "fell loosely around her shoulders")? Also, isn't it rather odd that the description and associated image do not indicate that the Blessed Virgin wore a veil?

* Could the timing of the approval be considered strange / opportune since the diocese is embroiled in abuse scandals? (Note that the diocese was recently charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly destroying evidence related to abuse cases, but the diocese denies the claims and the bishop denies that the scandals influenced his decision regarding the apparition)

* Isn't it true that while some associated miracles may seem impressive, it is possible that they could be explained by natural means or as answers to prayers which were unrelated to the alleged apparition?

Especially in light of the various false alleged apparitions in recent times - and the large number of people willing to follow them - it seems especially important for the bishop to provide good answers to questions such as those above.

"The devil is most pleased when he sees that people desire to accept revelations and are inclined toward them. For then he has an excellent opportunity to inject errors and disparage faith as much as possible." (St. John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church)

Related: Marian Apparitions

[2/7/11]

Relevant Quote For Today

The following quotation seems especially relevant in light of recent events...

"Because men have forsaken God and Jesus Christ, they have sunk to the depths of evil. They waste their energies and consume their time and efforts in vain sterile attempts to find a remedy for these ills, but without even being successful in saving what little remains from the existing ruin. It was a quite general desire that both our laws and our governments should exist without recognizing God or Jesus Christ, on the theory that all authority comes from men, not from God. Because of such an assumption, these theorists fell very short of being able to bestow upon law not only those sanctions which it must possess but also that secure basis for the supreme criterion of justice which even a pagan philosopher like Cicero saw clearly could not be derived except from the divine law. Authority itself lost its hold upon mankind, for it had lost that sound and unquestionable justification for its right to command on the one hand and to be obeyed on the other. Society, quite logically and inevitably, was shaken to its very depths and even threatened with destruction, since there was left to it no longer a stable foundation, everything having been reduced to a series of conflicts, to the domination of the majority, or to the supremacy of special interests." (Pope Pius XI)

[2/7/11]

'News Cartoon': Food For Thought

The following 'news cartoon' is respectfully, yet truthfully, presented in light of 'Assisi III' and the announced beatification of Pope John Paul II as 'food for thought'...

"For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils" (Ps. 95:5, DR Trans.)

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (Jn. 14:6)

"Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life." (St. John, 1 Jn. 5:12)

"There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved." (Acts 4:12)

"Do not be yoked with those who are different, with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What accord has Christ with Beliar? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said: 'I will live with them and move among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Therefore, come forth from them and be separate,' says the Lord, 'and touch nothing unclean; then I will receive you and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.'" (St. Paul, 2 Cor. 6:14-18)

"After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned." (St. Paul, Ti. 3:10-11)

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works." (St. John, 2 Jn. 1:10-11)

Related: Ecumenism (Topic Page) | When a Pope Should Be & Should Not Be Called Great (User-Submitted Article)

[2/7/11]