The Estranged Cat is Out of the Bag Part 2

See Part 1 which began:  

For all you parents and grandparents out there who are dealing with the pain of estrangement or parental discart from one or more of your adult children, I recommend this post:

The Estranged Cat Is Out of the Bag: The Introduction of the Estranged Parental Voice in the Conversation

And now part 2: 

Yes, adult children, your parents were flawed and sinful people who made lots of mistakes like almost every other family on the planet. Most of us are sorry and wish we had done a better job. If truth be told, however, you are doing the same thing to your own children. You aren't a perfect parent either. You can blame your parents for that too, but it won't help you if your children follow your example and imitate your behavior by going no contact with you. I hope it never happens, but I see some of it already in the next generation.

The Estranged Cat is Out of the Bag and the Herd of Elephants in the Room is Being Acknowledged

Before I begin, I want readers to know that I have a lot of trepidation about posting this two-part article. Although I don't get too specific about my husband's and my experience with estrangement, it identifies us as members of the discarded parents club. The post has been sitting in my draft folder for several weeks and Larry and I have been mulling over it and praying. I spoke to my spiritual director as well. 

After serious consideration, I've decided to post it now during the month of the Sacred Heart uniting our sorrow to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate and sorrowful heart of the Blessed Mother.

Cancel Culture from Rome: Pope Leo and Archbishop Vigano

Yesterday I read Archbishop Vigano's letter to the pope. Like he did with the SSPX, Leo  dissed the archbishop first agreeing to a private meeting and then changing his mind and refusing. Hmm...first thing I thought of was "Say yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no." 

Part 2 of Traditio: Catholic Missionaries Across the World

For years when I was a child I dreamed of being a missionary. My parents got Maryknoll Magazine every month and I poured over the pages imagining myself going to foreign countries to serve the gospel as a Maryknoll nun. When I was in elementary school I was convinced I had a vocation to religious life. But when I reached the age where it could actually become a reality, I had completely forgotten and never thought about it again.

Part 1 of Traditio, the three part series on the SSPX -- What is a Priest?

How many of our U.S. clergy believe what is presented in this video? Pray for priests! Pray even harder for bishops...and even harder for the pope. Some demons are only driven out by prayer AND FASTING! Does your bishop "accompany you in the spiritual life?" Is your local Church building the faith or undermining it? SSPX priests are well formed and they preach and teach the faith with zeal. No showmanship, no clapping, no novelties — just the pure, unadulterated faith. Let us all keep praying and trust in God.

Sunday Meditation: Did the Bishops Really Consecrate the Nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?

On June 11th the bishops ostensibly consecrated the U.S. to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. But did they? What is a consecration? Here's the prayer they offered. As you read it find, if you can, the point where they consecrated the nation to the Sacred Heart:

O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: You know the longings of our hearts, and you desire that we enjoy friendship with you. From your pierced side, you have poured out the wellspring of life, for which we thirst. Your heart burns with a love for all people to return to a right relationship with you.

In this month of the Sacred Heart, Let us read the Visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

What better time to read the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque than the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart. She can appropriately be described as the apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. How united she was to his passion and death to the point of receiving the stigmata. How united she was to the sufferings of her Lord.

Suffering? Join It To the Cross of Christ

Today is the feast of the Sacred Heart. It offers an invitation to each of us to look on our sufferings as fuel. The heart of Christ is a burning furnace of charity. We can place the logs of our sufferings in that furnace and watch them burst into flame creating embers mixed with the glowing embers of Christ's love. 

Remember St. Paul's admonition in Romans 12:20 to heap burning coals on the heads of our enemies, the burning coals of conversion. Let us never miss an opportunity to love our neighbor with both the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.

As a companion to my previous post about St. Alphonsus

In this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I offer this reflection from St.  Alphonsus Liguori as a companion piece to my previous post. How often have we despised love and returned ingratitude for the suffering and sacrifices, not only of our Savior Jesus Christ, but of others. How often have we taken for granted the love of Christ and failed to thank Him? Let us get up every morning thanking God for the new day, for everything that will take place in it, for all our blessings and benefits. And let us remember our duty to "love your neighbor as yourself."

Today, the bishops of the United States consecrate our country to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. May that heart strengthen all our faithful bishops, our good shepherds for whom we are so grateful and convert the hearts of all our unfaithful bishops, the wolves and hirelings, for whose conversion we sacrifice and pray.

A Poem in Honor of St. Alphonsus Liguori

Every now and then I write poetry, not especially good poetry, mind you, just flights of fancy. It happens a lot when I'm on five-day silent retreats. Perhaps I'm a bit stir crazy by the fourth day, but I have lots of poems in the back of my retreat journals.