Sometimes I feel completely alone

[TheRealJuliane]

No, this is not about my marriage.

Our priest this evening decided to forgo the Scripture passage in favor of talking about things that have gone wrong in the world, as well as to discuss Herod and the Holy Innocents. Of course the shooting in CT was the impetus for the homily. And please don’t get me wrong, that was a horrible tragedy and it’s awful that those children and adults were killed. I have been praying for them and for their families since I heard about it yesterday morning.

Then the priest mentioned Syria. OK, well…Why did he pick Syria out of every other location…Why not the Sudan, where Catholics are being slaughtered? Or any other area where Catholics and Christians are being killed for their faith. Well, OK, Father. That was your prerogative, I suppose.

But then…absolutely NO mention of abortion. Yesterday, over 3,000 innocents were slaughtered in their mothers’ wombs, and those were the most innocent victims who had not even drawn a breath. Did anyone mourn for them? Did anyone in high offices shed a tear for them?



It’s as if no one even cares. Sometimes I just feel so alone.

 

[petitfleur]

I can relate, not specifically, but in other instances. I genuinely feel my pro life feelings came from the Holy Spirit, since it came on suddenly for me and I feel such a deep conviction in my heart. Perhaps your priest felt particularly drawn to his convictions.

 

[einna]

No, this is not about my marriage.

Our priest this evening decided to forgo the Scripture passage in favor of talking about things that have gone wrong in the world, as well as to discuss Herod and the Holy Innocents. Of course the shooting in CT was the impetus for the homily. And please don’t get me wrong, that was a horrible tragedy and it’s awful that those children and adults were killed. I have been praying for them and for their families since I heard about it yesterday morning.

Then the priest mentioned Syria. OK, well…Why did he pick Syria out of every other location…Why not the Sudan, where Catholics are being slaughtered? Or any other area where Catholics and Christians are being killed for their faith. Well, OK, Father. That was your prerogative, I suppose.

But then…absolutely NO mention of abortion. Yesterday, over 3,000 innocents were slaughtered in their mothers’ wombs, and those were the most innocent victims who had not even drawn a breath. Did anyone mourn for them? Did anyone in high offices shed a tear for them?



It’s as if no one even cares. Sometimes I just feel so alone.

I am so completely torn on this issue. I believe that God immediately embraces and saves a child who dies in any way, so the second a baby is aborted it is at peace.

My husband is a forensic expert and I could never explain the horrible things that happens to babies and children at the hands of people who should have never had children. Drug addicts, rapist, the most evil people alive. When I hear the horrific details, I can only think it would be a blessing had they been aborted as a seed with a soul. That is how bad the case are that he sometimes gets.

 

[triumphguy]

No, this is not about my marriage.

Our priest this evening decided to forgo the Scripture passage in favor of talking about things that have gone wrong in the world, as well as to discuss Herod and the Holy Innocents. Of course the shooting in CT was the impetus for the homily. And please don’t get me wrong, that was a horrible tragedy and it’s awful that those children and adults were killed. I have been praying for them and for their families since I heard about it yesterday morning.

Then the priest mentioned Syria. OK, well…Why did he pick Syria out of every other location…Why not the Sudan, where Catholics are being slaughtered? Or any other area where Catholics and Christians are being killed for their faith. Well, OK, Father. That was your prerogative, I suppose.

But then…absolutely NO mention of abortion. Yesterday, over 3,000 innocents were slaughtered in their mothers’ wombs, and those were the most innocent victims who had not even drawn a breath. Did anyone mourn for them? Did anyone in high offices shed a tear for them?



It’s as if no one even cares. Sometimes I just feel so alone.

So this is a Sunday obligation mass?

Which scripture did he choose not to read? Let’s hope it wasn’t the Gospel.

 

[Linusthe2nd]

I am so completely torn on this issue. I believe that God immediately embraces and saves a child who dies in any way, so the second a baby is aborted it is at peace.

My husband is a forensic expert and I could never explain the horrible things that happens to babies and children at the hands of people who should have never had children. Drug addicts, rapist, the most evil people alive. When I hear the horrific details, I can only think it would be a blessing had they been aborted as a seed with a soul. That is how bad the case are that he sometimes gets.

That is pure sentimentalism and is one of the abortionists prime arguments. No one on this earth can read the future of any child, no one. And even if they could it would never justify the slaying of an innocent child, never, never. :tsktsk:

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

There is a time for everything.

Yesterday so many of us spent the day trying to muddle through with things while thinking about those murdered children and educators in that elementary school. I learned about Sandy Hook mid-morning out here in California, and the first thing I did was call my husband and tell him. I spent the rest of the day trying not to cry. I mostly failed at that. I consoled a couple of teenagers who were really upset it, who wanted to know why someone would shoot kindergartners. Like I have an answer…

If I could have crawled back into bed yesterday at about 11:00 a.m. I would have.

My stepdaughters’ school was in damage control when the older kids found out. I’m quite sure the teachers and admin staff spent the day trying to keep the little ones from hearing about it. The office allowed the upset older kids use the phones to call their parents. The girls talked with their dad, but because he’s on the road this weekend I was left with the dreadful duty of helping them through it last night alone.

I didn’t eat lunch or dinner yesterday. The girls ate a little dinner. After they ate we just just sat on the couch like stunned mollusks until it was late enough to go to bed. I slept a little, but my sleep was punctuated with anxiety dreams and I was up for the day at 4:15 a.m. I took the girls to daily Mass this morning. There were more people there than usual. As soon as our priest opened his homily by mentioning Sandy Hook, I started crying all over again.

Most of my thoughts today were on those teachers and what must have been going through their minds when the shooting started. As a classroom teacher I can’t even fathom what they must have been thinking. And I can’t even start thinking about what it’s like for the parents of that school. And the little ones who survived, I think my heart is breaking most of all for them.

And, honestly, I just want this last week before Christmas break over. If I could stay home next week I would. If I could just hug the girls all next week and make sure no one was going to shoot at them I would.

Abortion and mass murder are not in competition for which is worse. They’re both things none of us should face. But when one comes seemingly out of nowhere and bonks us on the head, especially when it involves elementary school kids, a lot of us need a little time to deal with that and only that.

All of this is a roundabout way of saying that there will be time to mourn abortion (and all the evil and atrocities that happen). But right now a lot of us need to try to work through Sandy Hook, and I think your priest understood that.

 

[XRU]

No, this is not about my marriage.

Our priest this evening decided to forgo the Scripture passage in favor of talking about things that have gone wrong in the world, as well as to discuss Herod and the Holy Innocents. Of course the shooting in CT was the impetus for the homily. And please don’t get me wrong, that was a horrible tragedy and it’s awful that those children and adults were killed. I have been praying for them and for their families since I heard about it yesterday morning.

Then the priest mentioned Syria. OK, well…Why did he pick Syria out of every other location…Why not the Sudan, where Catholics are being slaughtered? Or any other area where Catholics and Christians are being killed for their faith. Well, OK, Father. That was your prerogative, I suppose.

But then…absolutely NO mention of abortion. Yesterday, over 3,000 innocents were slaughtered in their mothers’ wombs, and those were the most innocent victims who had not even drawn a breath. Did anyone mourn for them? Did anyone in high offices shed a tear for them?



It’s as if no one even cares. Sometimes I just feel so alone.

Well at least you feel alone and think this is not normal. I’ve felt alone my whole life and have come to think of it as normal.

 

[hsmomforlife]

So this is a Sunday obligation mass?

Which scripture did he choose not to read? Let’s hope it wasn’t the Gospel.

I think this is a case where the mind was going faster than the fingers…as I think the OP would have been flabbergasted by a priest skipping an actual reading. Hopefully she meant the priest decided to forego* tying the homily to the* Scripture passage and instead tied it to other human suffering.

Although I just returned from Mass and we had a similar situation…we had two sermons and no homily (ok, I’m not sure the difference off the top of my head, but will look that up later).
His first ‘sermon’ was reading an article/editorial about Cardinal George (Chicago) and the other was about the shooting tragedy…and ironically, I can barely remember the Gospel reading…another thing to look up!LOL!!

 

[Demetra2]

At the Sat vigil mass today our priest talked about the senseless killing of the CT children but he also used the opportunity to talk about the senseless daily killing associated with abortion. I was very proud of our priest today for having the strength and guts to remind us that abortion is an everyday horror that we should not forget.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

At the Sat vigil mass today our priest talked about the senseless killing of the CT children but he also used the opportunity to talk about the senseless daily killing associated with abortion. I was very proud of our priest today for having the strength and guts to remind us that abortion is an everyday horror that we should not forget.

YAY!!!

:clapping::bowdown::bowdown2:

I mean, I’m not happy about either abortion or the killing in CT, but I am glad that at least ONE priest connected the dots to remind Catholics that there is a daily slaughter of innocent children that happens in what should be the safest place in the world - their own mother’s womb. No guns, just a doctor’s instruments. Their tiny bodies pulled apart by suction or cut apart in order to remove the pieces.

Flags are flying at half-staff in many locations today…And yet, over 3,000 babies were killed today, and no one flew a flag in mourning for them.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I don’t understand why you feel no one cares.
There is an outpouring of love, emotion, and prayers from all around the world going out to the innocent adults and children who were murdered yesterday and their families.
As you said yourself, your priest spoke of it because it is something that is raw in everyone’s hearts and minds and people are traumatized.
And the conflicts and massacres in Syria is also a valid issue to talk about related to the craziness we see in the world.
I assume your priest talks of abortion and of people being killed for their faith on many other days. I imagine he cannot cover every issue each time and today, this is what is on everyone’s mind.

No, he does not. Never speaks of it. Neither does the pastor. Never. Not ever. In fact, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade last year, I believe this priest celebrated Mass and NEVER mentioned the upcoming day.

In fact, this particular priest has spoken about the dissenting nuns in quite complimentary terms. He wondered aloud in a homily why there was such a fuss about them, etc.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

h(name removed by moderator)forlife;10138018**:

I think this is a case where the mind was going faster than the fingers…as I think the OP would have been flabbergasted by a priest skipping an actual reading. Hopefully she meant the priest decided to forego* tying the homily to the* Scripture passage and instead tied it to other human suffering.

Although I just returned from Mass and we had a similar situation…we had two sermons and no homily (ok, I’m not sure the difference off the top of my head, but will look that up later).
His first ‘sermon’ was reading an article/editorial about Cardinal George (Chicago) and the other was about the shooting tragedy…and ironically, I can barely remember the Gospel reading…another thing to look up!LOL!!

Yes, thank you, h(name removed by moderator)forlife, that’s exactly what I meant - the Scripture was from John - “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice!” So instead of tying his homily to that Scripture, he spoke about Herod and the Holy Innocents. I thought, “Wow, what a great opportunity to remind people about the 3,000 babies who are slaughtered EVERY DAY in this nation!” But no. Absolutely NOTHING about that.

Oh, AND - he quoted the Rachel Scripture passage and said that it’s nearly unknown! No Father, those of us in the pro-life movement know that passage VERY WELL and we use it ALL THE TIME!!!

Thus says the Lord:
In Ramah is heard the sound of moaning, of bitter weeping!
Rachel mourns her children,
she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more.

The topic of abortion just doesn’t seem to exist in most churches. Mustn’t bring THAT unpleasant subject up!

 

[mymamamary]

No, this is not about my marriage.

Our priest this evening decided to forgo the Scripture passage in favor of talking about things that have gone wrong in the world, as well as to discuss Herod and the Holy Innocents. Of course the shooting in CT was the impetus for the homily. And please don’t get me wrong, that was a horrible tragedy and it’s awful that those children and adults were killed. I have been praying for them and for their families since I heard about it yesterday morning.

Then the priest mentioned Syria. OK, well…Why did he pick Syria out of every other location…Why not the Sudan, where Catholics are being slaughtered? Or any other area where Catholics and Christians are being killed for their faith. Well, OK, Father. That was your prerogative, I suppose.

But then…absolutely NO mention of abortion. Yesterday, over 3,000 innocents were slaughtered in their mothers’ wombs, and those were the most innocent victims who had not even drawn a breath. Did anyone mourn for them? Did anyone in high offices shed a tear for them?



It’s as if no one even cares. Sometimes I just feel so alone.

I agree with You. Hence the reason this culture is in really bad shape…

 

[cheezey]

There is a time for everything.

Abortion and mass murder are not in competition for which is worse. They’re both things none of us should face. But when one comes seemingly out of nowhere and bonks us on the head, especially when it involves elementary school kids, a lot of us need a little time to deal with that and only that.

All of this is a roundabout way of saying that there will be time to mourn abortion (and all the evil and atrocities that happen). But right now a lot of us need to try to work through Sandy Hook, and I think your priest understood that.

’

Well put.
Unfortunately, abortion is a constant that needs constant prayers; the impact is different. No less urgent, mind you. But tragedies like yesterday’s are acute shocks that need acute prayers. We don’t think of tragedies like this happening everyday. Although sadly, it seems to be getting that way.I may not have said this right…

 

[Corki]

There is a time for everything.

All of this is a roundabout way of saying that there will be time to mourn abortion (and all the evil and atrocities that happen). But right now a lot of us need to try to work through Sandy Hook, and I think your priest understood that.

You would have a very good point IF the priest had only made his sermon about the school shooting. However (and I wasn’t there) by making a connection between the shooting and the Sudan and then tieing it all to the Church’s teaching on the Holy Innocents, he shows a level of indifference about Church teaching. The Church regularly makes the connection between the slaughter of the Holy Innocents and the slaughter of the unborn. It is at least possible that many who heard this sermon could come away with sorrow and regret for those children killed after the moment of their birth but not give a second thought to those killed before.

 

[the_phoenix]

In fact, this particular priest has spoken about the dissenting nuns in quite complimentary terms. He wondered aloud in a homily why there was such a fuss about them, etc.

On the way out the door after Mass after such a homily as you describe, I would let the priest know why there’s a fuss about dissenting nuns, so that he would no longer need to wonder.

…

 

[cheezey]

.

I, of course , was not there, but is it possible that he is not well? In some way? Friday’s events notwithstanding? or otherwise? Reactions to stress are innumerable…

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

You would have a very good point IF the priest had only made his sermon about the school shooting. However (and I wasn’t there) by making a connection between the shooting and the Sudan and then tieing it all to the Church’s teaching on the Holy Innocents, he shows a level of indifference about Church teaching. The Church regularly makes the connection between the slaughter of the Holy Innocents and the slaughter of the unborn. It is at least possible that many who heard this sermon could come away with sorrow and regret for those children killed after the moment of their birth but not give a second thought to those killed before.

If the OP feels like her priest was indfifferent to Church teaching by addressing the 36-hour-old mass murder of kindergarteners instead of abortion, she should have that conversation with her priest. Likewise, she should share her concerns about the topics he chooses for homilies and dialogue with him about why he doesn’t talk about abortion more often.

I don’t think there are too many Americans, Catholic and non-, who don’t know where the Church stands on abortion. Accepting and living by those teachings are quite something else. But I think someone would have to live under a rock not to know that the Church views abortion as a evil.

And if someone needs a homily to feel sorrow and regret for mass murder, I think they need to get their moral compasses re-calibrated.

Personally, I think a lot of priests are going to be trying to console people this weekend. Sorrow and regret we got in spades. Right now a lot of us need consolling. I don’t envy the job priests have at the best of times, and I certainly don’t envy them now.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

If the OP feels like her priest was indfifferent to Church teaching by addressing the 36-hour-old mass murder of kindergarteners instead of abortion, she should have that conversation with her priest. Likewise, she should share her concerns about the topics he chooses for homilies and dialogue with him about why he doesn’t talk about abortion more often.

I don’t think there are too many Americans, Catholic and non-, who don’t know where the Church stands on abortion. Accepting and living by those teachings are quite something else. But I think someone would have to live under a rock not to know that the Church views abortion as a evil.

And if someone needs a homily to feel sorrow and regret for mass murder, I think they need to get their moral compasses re-calibrated.

Personally, I think a lot of priests are going to be trying to console people this weekend. Sorrow and regret we got in spades. Right now a lot of us need consolling. I don’t envy the job priests have at the best of times, and I certainly don’t envy them now.

Well, I have come to realize that this parish is heterodox to its core, while this was a priest who rotates through - his philosophy is akin to the pastor’s. There is NO feedback that would get them to change their stance. The pastor has managed to alienate most of the previous congregation who have transferred to other parishes in the area. He’s NOT going to change, period. Over the last 10 years that has become abundantly clear.

It comes down to the downright lack of good catechism over at least the last 40 years. And there are heretical priests. This pastor and this priest may be in that category, I don’t know. Homilies over the years make me wonder.

I do pray for our priests, even the heretical ones.

 

[mommamaree]

I wonder, do you suppose that the absence of talk about abortions in the homily might be due to the presence of young children in the mass? I know as a parent of young children, I wince every time abortion is brought up in mass. Children aged 5 and up are required to be at mass in our parish, yet they use descriptive language talking about the evils of abortion. My oldest daughter learned about abortion in mass and I had to explain it to her at home. She was distraught and terrified.
I don’t know if this makes any sense at all, and maybe my thoughts tend toward the overprotective side of things, but that was my thoughts regarding why the priest might have felt like he had to address the national news issue but refrained from discussing abortion. Because abortion is a situation where a mother asks a “doctor” to purposefully kill her baby. In that case, the monster to be feared is the mother and the doctor, two people whom. Child should be able to trust above most others.

I am sorry you feel alone, though, TRJ. You truly aren’t. Many weep silently at home or in their hearts about the loss of all the holy innocents. Sometimes the pain is too deep for tears. You are not alone in that.

Edited to add: okay, i just saw that you said that your priest and parish are thoroughly heterodox. That would feel incredibly lonely. I am sorry. At least your parish has you! Without faithful orthodox Catholics holding the line, the Church in America would collapse. The Lord promised His Church would last, but not that it would persevere in any particular nation or town. We must hold the line and strive to be faithful. But it is very lonely sometimes.