Pope Benedict XVI & Liturgical Abuse?

[fix]

Harriet:

I know but I’m just annoyed. I hate the way the Church gets so hung up on tradition and sexual morality. I wish to see the Church focus on helping the sick and the dying and encouraging others to do the same. People in the Church preach so much against abortion yet they hardly ever mention the innocent dying everyday through poverty and injustice and nobody cares.

The Pope has so much power, people listen to him, if they saw him actively helping to end poverty then other people would take notice and do the same. The new Pope should really help make a difference instead of arguing whether it is a mortal sin to have sex outside of marriage or not, or to use contraception, if you look at all the issues in the world, all the war, hatred, human suffering mortal sins just seem so trivial. That’s why I think the Church should go back to the gospel and ignore everything else.

The Church has done more to alleviate suffering than any other institution in human history. The Church was founded to save souls. Good works without truth does not lead to salvation. Please read the Gospels and see for yourself.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Harriet, I recommend to you three things.
One: Learn about your faith, not just what you “think” you know. There are several online versions of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. (Google). You’re nearly a grown woman, apparently you have had some Catholic education in your life–now is the time to deepen that education.
Two: While you are reading about your faith, practice it. Start your day with prayer. There are dozens of sites online and there are free resources at your parish, as well as library books of prayers and devotions. Start every day with Acts of Faith, Hope and Love and an Act of Contrition. Say your rosary daily. Explore the “little crown of the blessed virgin”, a church missal, the Liturgy of the Hours (www.liturgyhours or www.universalis are excellent sites). Read your Bible daily; there are many guides online and off with plans for reading through over the course of a year. Do this every single solitary day.
Three: OK, you’re learning about your faith, you’re praying daily. . .now the culmination of the other two steps. . .every single day, do something for God. At least one thing, more as you learn and grow. Start with positives. . .clean your room without being asked, don’t snap at a sibling or parent. Add on “penances”. . .don’t take a dessert, don’t eat meat on Friday. . .

Learn your faith, live your faith. The more you do the three things I’ve recommended to you every day, the more you will grow as a woman and as a Christian, the more you will help others, and the more you will glorify God. Think how our late Pope John Paul II loved you young people, and how much he would be pleased to see your growth in Christ!

God bless you.

God bless our Pope Benedict XVI.
God rest our Pope John Paul II.

 

[ames61]

SouthCoast:

In fact, even my own confirmation may have had a flaw, in that my parish chose to confirm baptized non-Catholics (Candidates) on Palm Sunday rather than Easter Vigil – a practice which I’m not sure is appropriate.
-Michael

Michael,

I believe that as long as your pastor had the necessary permission (or special grant) from his bishop then it would be allowable. One year in my parish the priest felt the class wasn’t ready to be confirmed, so he got permission from the bishop to confirm them at Pentecost.

But what a bummer to miss being confirmed at Easter Vigil. What reason did your priest give for confirming you at Palm Sunday?

Amy

 

[ames61]

Harriet:

The Church doesn’t listen to the likes of me anyway, I’m a girl remember, I have no place.

Harriet,
Read about the life of St Catherine of Siena. She gave advice to the pope, and he took it! She, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of Lisieux are all Doctors of the Church. People pay attention to them. And St. Therese died when she was only 24. But part of the reason people paid attention to them was they were very obviously committed to the Church, the Church as she proclaims herself to be, not the Church which they wished her to be.

Tantum Ergo has great advice. Get to know the Church better, find out why she teaches such wacky things these days, especially when so much of society derides her for doing so. You’ll find that the Church has never contradicted herself on matters of faith or morals in 2000 years! Incredible. I came into the Church 4 years ago and would have agreed with you on everything until I realized that fact.

That was a huge piece of my conversion, as an institution of men couldn’t possibly go that long without contradicting themselves, so it must be divinely inspired on teachings of sexuality and other things, and if so, that would mean I am wrong. Read Good News for Sex and Marriage by Christopher West. Great primer on sexuality in the eyes of the Theology of the Body, taught by JPII.

As far as the liturgy, the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, it is what inspires us in every other aspect of the faith. It is worth protecting. And I, personally would not trust my judgment or the judgment of my liturgy director, pastor, or bishop over the accumulated wisdom of 2000 years of liturgy in the Church, so that is why I don’t think we EVER have the right to introduce something novel into the liturgy with out it being approved by Rome. (and not inferred approval by lack of condemnation)

God bless.