Between a Rock and a Hard Place!

Hardness can be subjective. If one has a feather in one hand and an egg in the other which one is harder? Obviously, the egg. On the other hand if one replaces the feather with a stone, which one is harder? If you don't know have an egg/stone fight and see.

Those of us connected to the SSPX these days find ourselves between a rock and a hard place. The rock is the faith taught by Peter and the apostles that has been continuous throughout the centuries. Yes, changes have taken place, but always in accordance with Scripture and Tradition. Divine revelation ended with the last apostle. There can be no changes to revealed doctrine and morality. Sins against chastity, like sodomy, can't be evil yesterday and legitimate signs of love as declared by some bishops in good standing today. Any so-called shepherd who proclaims it is a hireling at best or a ravening wolf in shepherd's clothing.

Sunday Meditation: Discernment, Disagreement, Conscience, and the Fullness of the Truth

I follow a gentleman on Substack, D. B. Doherty, whose views on the SSPX situation conflict strongly with my own. I think it's an intelligent practice to study both sides of an issue to help discern where the fullness of the truth lies. That's what I've been doing ever since COVID sent us to the SSPX in recognition and appreciation of their zeal for souls. Up to now, I've found the arguments for the SSPX more convincing than those against them. So I continue, in good conscience, to attend the chapel. But I also continue to examine the arguments presented by those who disagree who I see as people of good will. I ignore the others. Let them rage.

Doherty, describes himself as an "armchair theologian." He warns that all of us who continue to connect ourselves to the Society are in serious spiritual danger. Recently, he posted this article:

How to Defend the SSPX and Accidentally Risk Your Soul

The Grace of Simple Pleasures that Make You Smile

What makes you happy? What makes you smile? What simple pleasures fill you with joy? 

I think I never grew up. One of my favorite possessions is my doll collection. In the morning when I say my prayers, read, and meditate I sit opposite the cabinet filled with (some) of my dolls. I think of them as the congregation of the Church Militant. Lots of nationalities are represented and two nuns, one a teaching nun and the other a missionary. 

I'm not so attached, however, that I can't give one away. I recently shared one with a little first communicant I was talking to after Mass. I also gave away a lovely Irish doll that had a music box inside. You see I smile over my dolls, but I love to have them bring smiles to other little girls. 

Is the Crisis in the Church Real?

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I've been disappointed in Cardinal Sarah's statements criticizing the consecraton of the bishops without a papal mandate. It's not the first time in Church history that a bishop disobeyed the pope. In fact, Pope John Paul II, when he was bishop of Krakow, under the policy of Ostpolitik, was  forbidden to ordain priests. He disobeyed Pope Paul VI's order that no above ground or underground ordinations should take place. He disobeyed and suffered no consequences and, in fact, became pope. 

The Honey Harvest Brings Thoughts of God's Goodness: Taste and See

Life is more than a continuous argument (in the Socratic sense) about the faith, with all the scandals and errors infecting the poor Bride of Christ. Not that the faith should't imbue everything we do, but some things testify to the simple art of living in joy. You get up in the morning, say your morning prayers, offer the entire day to God, and think of Him frequently during the day blessing Him for everything. It's a good practice to spiritualize all the events of the day, especially the simple things. 

When my children were growing up, I prayed for my husband and each child as I folded their laundry. That kept me thinking about them and presenting them to God as I completed a necessary and sometimes tiresome chore. The same with cooking meals. I think about who will eat this food that God has so generously provided. "Bless us, O Lord and these Thy gifts."

"They have the buildings, but we have the faith."

Neo-Arians take note!

Letter of Saint Athanasius to His Flock (4th Century A.D.)

"May God console you! ... What saddens you ... is the fact that others have occupied the churches by violence, while during this time you are on the outside. It is a fact that they have the premises --- but you have the Apostolic Faith. They can occupy our churches, but they are outside the true Faith. You remain outside the places of worship, but the Faith dwells within you. Let us consider: what is more important, the place or the Faith? The true Faith, obviously. Who has lost and who has won in the struggle --- the one who keeps the premises or the one who keeps the Faith?

Who Will Ordain the Priests? Anyone?

Today is, in the old calendar, the feast of Cyril and Methodius, slavic brothers who became bishops. As missionaries they were sent to catechize the slavs in the east since they spoke their language. As I was reading their story in Butler's Lives this morning I came across this:

In 863 the two brothers set out with a number of assistants and came to the court of Rostislav (Prince of Moravia); they were well received and at once got to work....The Byzantine missionaries, armed with their pericopes from the Scriptures and liturgical hymns in Slavonic, pursued their way with much success, but were soon handicapped by their lack of a bishop to ordain more priests. The German prelate, the bishop of Passau, would not do it and Cyril therefore determined to seek help elsewhere.

Thinking about Gratitude for the Three Fs: Faith, Friends, and Family

Gratitude!

I was thinking about it on Saturday while we celebrated 250 years of this great country. And how grateful I was to see all the enjoyment of the day with family and friends. What a blessing going in the pool with our little two-year-old grandson who sat on the steps and splashed with glee. What joy! What laughter! O beautiful for summer skies and little toddlers' feet!

Sunday Meditation: Be at Peace, Avoid Bitter. Zeal.

I've stopped going to several websites by Catholic authors because of the bitter tone and nasty language they use. I hate seeing Pope Leo called names (or even Cardinal Fernandez, although I use his common nickname, Tucho). There is something cringe-worthy about seeing Fernandez in lipstick and a clown nose. Perhaps my reluctance over this approach is because of my long experience as a pro-life activist. 

Of Validity and Excommunication and the Insanity of the Present Time

I have some really smart readers and how blessed I am to learn from them. In fact, I appreciate and pray for all my visitors even the trolls. They are particularly helpful to my retaining my sense of humor. 

But as for my fellow well-catechized Catholics, often I'm humbled by what they share.  So today I'm offering a few recent comments that are so smart and insightful they deserve wider viewing. Thank you to all my faithful readers for your kindness and prayers.

The first comment is about Pascal's wager. You've no doubt heard of it. Pascal defended the wisdom of living and acting as if you believe in God. You have nothing to lose (unless you consider living a virtuous life instead of a licentious one a loss). When you die, if there is no God you will be none the wiser. If there is a God and you lived the virtuous life of the believer, you go to heaven to glorify God forever. On the other hand, if you lived a sinful life ignoring God's laws, you will meet the God you didn't believe in and go to hell. Isn't the wiser course obvious?