SSPX communique to Rome

[Dee_S]

… I’m sure that if all of us look around, we’ll find little signs of growth and spring around us…

St. Teresa of Avila said, “God save us from sour saints.” Saints are joyful people. They knew how to deal with problems, when and how to bend, as well as appreciate the signs and wonders of God’s life in the Church. The latter gave them great joy, so much so that they didn’t spend much time discussing the problems. They simply dealt with them as they came across them. If it was not in their power to deal with them, they trusted that the Holy Spirit would send someone else who could deal with them.** This trust filled them with hope.**

No matter how great the crisis, many were greater than today, the saints were very balanced people. I think part of what made them so balanced is that they did not worry about those things that were unrelated to their daily lives…Teresa of Avila lived surrounded by the Protestant Reformation and said that she had no time for Luther and his nonsense, because her nuns were more important.

There was a holy indifference, meaning that one focuses on the wrongs that one can fix and leaves the rest up to the Holy Spirit to find someone to fix it. That leaves us free to pray and to contemplate the good that’s all around us.

Fraternally, Br. JR, FFV

Thank you Br JR and another :thankyou:for referring to my favorite saint, Teresa of Avila - as you say, a very balanced person, strong loving and happy. She tells of the time that she became so happy while singing in the choir that she picked up an instrument like a tambourine and shaking it actually danced around for the sheer joy of it.(That I read in one of her books can’t remember which). And also for your reminder to ‘hope’.

Reminded me of these extracts from Pope Benedict’s encyclical Spe Salvi:

“SPE SALVI facti sumus”—in hope we were saved, says Saint Paul to the Romans, and likewise to us (8:24*Rom *).

“To come to know God—the true God—means to receive hope. We who have always lived with the Christian concept of God, and have grown accustomed to it, have almost ceased to notice that we possess the hope that ensues from a real encounter with this God."

“I would like to quote a passage from a letter written by the Vietnamese martyr Paul Le-Bao-Tinh († 1857) which illustrates this transformation of suffering through the power of hope springing from faith. “I, Paul, in chains for the name of Christ, wish to relate to you the trials besetting me daily, in order that you may be inflamed with love for God and join with me in his praises, for his mercy is for ever (Ps 136 [135]). The prison here is a true image of everlasting Hell: to cruel tortures of every kind—shackles, iron chains, manacles—are added hatred, vengeance, calumnies, obscene speech, quarrels, evil acts, swearing, curses, as well as anguish and grief. But the God who once freed the three children from the fiery furnace is with me always; he has delivered me from these tribulations and made them sweet, for his mercy is for ever*. *In the midst of these torments, which usually terrify others, I am, by the grace of God, full of joy and gladness, because I am not alone —Christ is with me …”

"Man is worth so much to God that he himself became man in order to* suffer with* man in an utterly real way—in flesh and blood—as is revealed to us in the account of Jesus’s Passion. Hence in all human suffering we are joined by one who experiences and carries that suffering* with* us; hence* con-solatio* is present in all suffering, the consolation of God’s compassionate love—and so the star of hope rises.”
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

 

[JoeBowen7]

I think that you’re absolutely right. There are problems, but there are also very good things happening. I’ll share something that may not mean much to some, but it means a great deal, if you look at it carefully.

One the diocesan priests in our neighboring parish asked one of our brothers if he could be there for the 12:30 mass tomorrow. The brother responded, “Father, we attend the 9:30 mass as a community.”

The priest, very politely said, “I really need you to do me a favor right after mass. That’s why I’m asking.”

To which Brother very politely responded, “Father, if you tell me what the favor is, I’ll ask Father Superior for permission. He’ll need to know why I won’t be attending mass with the community.”

This may seem small to some people. But let’s look at it in context. The brother in question is 41 years old. The petitioner is a local parish priest, who is a good friend of the community’s. In this day and age, many religious come and go as they please and when they please. This brother insisted on asking for permission, before agreeing to do a favor, even for a beloved priest.

The priest in question did not push the issue or discourage him from asking for permission, which was the bread and butter for the last 40 years. On the contrary, the priest tried to understand something that is foreign to him. He’s a Diocesan Priest. They can come and go as they please, when they please. They are not religious. The idea of having to ask for permission to do someone a favor may even sound silly to them.

As I said, what may seem insignificant is very significant. The idea of obedience, of not owning one’s time or one’s free will is returning. The idea that one must respect those who are bound to obedience is also returning. This is not the only time this has happened.

A few months ago the bishop asked a sister to be the cantor at one of his masses. The woman sings like an angel. She politely said, “I’ll ask Mother Superior if she likes the idea.”

The bishop said, “Are you ok with the idea?”

The sister responded, “I have no right to express an opinion on the matter until Mother has spoken. But don’t worry, I’ll let Mother know that you asked.”

Like this, I’m sure that if all of us look around, we’ll find little signs of growth and spring around us. If we allow ourselves to be so absorbed by the problems, we’ll never rise to the heights of men and women like Francis of Assisi, Dominic, Teresa of Avila, Therese, Mother Teresa or a Philip Neri who laughed all the way to heaven.

St. Teresa of Avila said, “God save us from sour saints.” Saints are joyful people. They knew how to deal with problems, when and how to bend, as well as appreciate the signs and wonders of God’s life in the Church. The latter gave them great joy, so much so that they didn’t spend much time discussing the problems. The simply dealt with them as they came across them. If it was not in their power to deal with them, they trusted that the Holy Spirit would send someone else who could deal with them. This trust filled them with hope.

No matter how great the crisis, many were greater than today, the saints were very balanced people. I think part of what made them so balanced is that they did not worry about those things that were unrelated to their daily lives. So many people here worry about EENS. Mother Teresa focused on Christ in the poor. Francis of Assisi focused on converting Catholics to Christianity. John Bosco took care of his boys. Bonaventure reformed his order. Dominic corrected heresies and stayed clear of heretics. Teresa of Avila lived surrounded by the Protestant Reformation and said that she had no time for Luther and his nonsense, because her nuns were more important.

There was a holy indifference, meaning that one focuses on the wrongs that one can fix and leaves the rest up to the Holy Spirit to find someone to fix it. That leaves us free to pray and to contemplate the good that’s all around us.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

But is it wrong to ignore reports that a great majority of Roman Catholic women are using ABC? Shouldn’t there be more effort to teach that ABC is a mortal sin?

 

[pnewton]

But is it wrong to ignore reports that a great majority of Roman Catholic women are using ABC? Shouldn’t there be more effort to teach that ABC is a mortal sin?

Boy, that is a jump. But, perhaps, and then, yes.

 

[Stylites]

But is it wrong to ignore reports that a great majority of Roman Catholic women are using ABC? Shouldn’t there be more effort to teach that ABC is a mortal sin?

Certainly, if it were in your power or responsibility from God to teach 700,000,000 Catholic women. Try to simply move a mountain first, and then you’ll be better equipped to move the souls of others.

 

[Justin_Swanton]

But is it wrong to ignore reports that a great majority of Roman Catholic women are using ABC? Shouldn’t there be more effort to teach that ABC is a mortal sin?

Can you give me links to these reports?

 

[JoeBowen7]

Boy, that is a jump. But, perhaps, and then, yes.

The question concerns “holy indifference” and whether it is appropriate to have a little preaching on the issue?

 

[JoeBowen7]

Can you give me links to these reports?

One report refers to statements made by William D’Antonio, a researcher at the Catholic University of America:
opposingviews.com/i/religion/christianity/catholicism/catholic-catholic-church-birth-control-it%E2%80%99s-reality-check-time

 

[Justin_Swanton]

I don’t think that’s the case, but I also don’t think folks on this thread believe everything is doom and gloom. There are lots of exciting things happening in the Church right now, alongside some of the sadder things. We have a growing access to the EF and wonderful traditional piety. We have huge numbers of young adults at events like World Youth Day. On the other hand the basically post-Christian culture in much of Europe, the US, and Canada is heartbreaking.

We all need to pray and work to evangelize the people around us.

Dear Mrs Sally, what the Church needs right now, more than anything else, is people like you in every parish, responsible for the catechism classes. The core problem in the Church today is a catastrophic lack of religious formation (= knowing and understanding the core truths of the Faith). Here are some links to polls on Catholic belief today in the US (copied from a previous post).

This one is comprehensive.

This one is less detailed

This one on the stance of US Catholic students on moral issues

I’ve also picked up from various posters (not all Trads) that the catechism materials supplied to catechists are - more often than not - bad. Who prepares these materials and who watches over them? We need a searchlight turned on that corner of the Church.

 

[indiancatholic]

Justin is right here in India we have more traditional minded Catholics because of the faith taught in the family an at the parish,the important part is that at the parish in Sunday school
nobody teaches other than that of religion i.e either the bible or songs or dramas social issues are also dealt in the teachings of Christ in the way of tradition.

 

[JReducation]

But is it wrong to ignore reports that a great majority of Roman Catholic women are using ABC? Shouldn’t there be more effort to teach that ABC is a mortal sin?

Saturday, I had a very long day. I drove a very long way to preach at a retreat. I truly enjoyed it. My topic was, “Entering Into The Mind of God.” On my way there, my cell phone went off. It was one of the brothers from one of the other houses. He wanted to ask if he could see me. He said that it couldn’t wait.

I promised him that I would go over to the house when I returned. I was very tired and wanted to go home and take a nap. But duty called. A superior does not let his brothers go unattended, to attend to everyone else.

We spent the rest of the day together, from about 4 to 10 PM. I don’t think I resolved his problems. He is feeling very lonely and has some strong feelings about some of the community’s positions on certain social issues. I explained that we take those positions, because the Church takes those positions and why the Church does so.

At the end of the evening, he said that most of it made sense. He still disagreed with some things. However, what gave me great hope and joy were two things that he said.

I was explaining how God works in our lives through adversity and I told him about losing my wife and father in an auto accident and having to take my 7 yr old son off life support back in 1993. I finished the story saying, “God is so good.” He looked at me stunned and asked, “Your family was taken way from you. How can you say, ‘God is so Good’?”

I smiled and said, “Where else can a 7-year old boy go but to heaven? Think of the joy and consolation that a father has knowing that God has taken his son to heaven, before letting him grow up and make mistakes that could hurt his soul. My father and wife were in a good spiritual place. God is great. No one can give us such great opportunities to love through pain and suffering like this, but God alone. There was nothing bad about it. I came out of it a stronger man. God proved to me that I can give what he takes and accept what he gives. The strength is in me. I just have to desire to do it.”

He was very quiet for a few minutes and then mumbled something that I couldn’t understand; but I could tell that he got it. At that moment he said, “Father, I understand what you have explained about some of the Church’s problems. I can accept some and not others. But in light of what you just said, I will obey. I will think with the Church and trust that God is so good.”

To me, that is the best news that a superior can receive. “I will think with the Church.”

After being on CAF for a few years, I can see the resentment that arises when people stop thinking with the Church, worry over things out of their control and believe that they have the answers. I’ve seen the effects of worrying about questions that have nothing to do with one’s daily life, instead of dealing with the here and now.

When I was named superior general, I was afraid. I knew that I could not lead my brothers. I don’t have what it takes to make a good leader and a good father to them. Everyday, I ask the Immaculate to do for me as she did for the servants at Cana, to speak to Jesus and to tell him, “He has no more strength, no more wisdom, no more faith,” and then to point me to him that my worries may be turned into joy, as the water was turned into wine.

This is Holy Indifference. I cannot solve what is not in my power to solve. I cannot preach, what is not for me to preach. I cannot force another to do what is not in my power to force. However, I can deal with what’s immediately in front of me, such as a brother who calls and says, “Father, do you have time for me today?” I had a long drive to the retreat. Preached and had a long drive back. My diabetes was acting up, because I had not eaten. However, there was a something right in front of me that I could work with. Rather than go home and eat and take a nap, I sat with my brother and spiritual son for six hours. This was something in my power to to do.

As a bonus, he made me something to eat too.

God is so good; he always has a plan. We won’t understand it, if we spend too much time in other people’s heads rather than following the itinerary that leads us along the journey into the mind of God.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[severus68]

Saturday, I had a very long day. I drove a very long way to preach at a retreat. I truly enjoyed it. My topic was, “Entering Into The Mind of God.” On my way there, my cell phone went off. It was one of the brothers from one of the other houses. He wanted to ask if he could see me. He said that it couldn’t wait.

I promised him that I would go over to the house when I returned. I was very tired and wanted to go home and take a nap. But duty called. A superior does not let his brothers go unattended, to attend to everyone else.

We spent the rest of the day together, from about 4 to 10 PM. I don’t think I resolved his problems. He is feeling very lonely and has some strong feelings about some of the community’s positions on certain social issues. I explained that we take those positions, because the Church takes those positions and why the Church does so.

At the end of the evening, he said that most of it made sense. He still disagreed with some things. However, what gave me great hope and joy were two things that he said.

I was explaining how God works in our lives through adversity and I told him about losing my wife and father in an auto accident and having to take my 7 yr old son off life support back in 1993. I finished the story saying, “God is so good.” He looked at me stunned and asked, “Your family was taken way from you. How can you say, ‘God is so Good’?”

I smiled and said, “Where else can a 7-year old boy go but to heaven? Think of the joy and consolation that a father has knowing that God has taken his son to heaven, before letting him grow up and make mistakes that could hurt his soul. My father and wife were in a good spiritual place. God is great. No one can give us such great opportunities to love through pain and suffering like this, but God alone. There was nothing bad about it. I came out of it a stronger man. God proved to me that I can give what he takes and accept what he gives. The strength is in me. I just have to desire to do it.”

He was very quiet for a few minutes and then mumbled something that I couldn’t understand; but I could tell that he got it. At that moment he said, “Father, I understand what you have explained about some of the Church’s problems. I can accept some and not others. But in light of what you just said, I will obey. I will think with the Church and trust that God is so good.”

To me, that is the best news that a superior can receive. “I will think with the Church.”

After being on CAF for a few years, I can see the resentment that arises when people stop thinking with the Church, worry over things out of their control and believe that they have the answers. I’ve seen the effects of worrying about questions that have nothing to do with one’s daily life, instead of dealing with the here and now.

When I was named superior general, I was afraid. I knew that I could not lead my brothers. I don’t have what it takes to make a good leader and a good father to them. Everyday, I ask the Immaculate to do for me as she did for the servants at Cana, to speak to Jesus and to tell him, “He has no more strength, no more wisdom, no more faith,” and then to point me to him that my worries may be turned into joy, as the water was turned into wine.

This is Holy Indifference. I cannot solve what is not in my power to solve. I cannot preach, what is not for me to preach. I cannot force another to do what is not in my power to force. However, I can deal with what’s immediately in front of me, such as a brother who calls and says, “Father, do you have time for me today?” I had a long drive to the retreat. Preached and had a long drive back. My diabetes was acting up, because I had not eaten. However, there was a something right in front of me that I could work with. Rather than go home and eat and take a nap, I sat with my brother and spiritual son for six hours. This was something in my power to to do.

As a bonus, he made me something to eat too.

God is so good; he always has a plan. We won’t understand it, if we spend too much time in other people’s heads rather than following the itinerary that leads us along the journey into the mind of God.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

A good lesson to be learned and thanks for sharing Brother.

 

[Dee_S]

But is it wrong to ignore reports that a great majority of Roman Catholic women are using ABC? Shouldn’t there be more effort to teach that ABC is a mortal sin?

"Many Catholic leaders across America have raged against the proposed law, telling its congregations the Catholic Church’s freedoms are being violated and that Catholics across the nation are outraged. I can’t help but ask whether Catholic Church leaders are speaking for Catholics or simply for themselves. William D’Antonio, a researcher at the Catholic University of America, has stated recent polls have shown 95% of Catholics use a form of birth control and that 89% say it’s their decision to make, not the Catholic Church’s."
I’m quite sure that all Catholics know that ABC is a mortal sin. And if they did not know before this ‘violation of freedom’ brought about much publicity - then they do know now.

“But it did imply that Catholic youths felt it was okay to disagree with the Catholic Church’s stance on abortion not because of the issue itself but because Catholic youths were expressing their right to not consent to following Church authority, a point of interest leaning toward similar findings of William D’Antonio.”
opposingviews.com/i/religion/christianity/catholicism/catholic-catholic-church-birth-control-it%E2%80%99s-reality-check-time

As can be seen from the above extract from the link supplied by Joe Bowden to an article on a blog, that statistics can be made to say anything…depending on which way you bend them. Here the youth are asked a question pertaining to authority, rather than the question of if they personally agree with abortion. Quite different answers would be derived.

Here is a link to an interview with William D’Antonio/Chester Gillis on CNN.com -
transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0203/10/sm.03.html
it appears he is on something of a mission of his own, and I’m not sure that I would trust how he derives his statistics. One gets an idea of where he is coming from in this extract from the interview" in repy to

“O’BRIEN: Mr. D’Antonio, the appearance at least is that you get the sense that the Catholic Church feels, in some sense, it’s above the law or separate from the law…”

"D’ANTONIO: Yes, there not only have been laws broken, but it is the way in which they have behaved. It really goes back in the tradition really of the hierarchy, keeping things closed, keeping matters under the table if they can do that.

Fortunately, for the church - going back to your opening question about crisis - for American Catholics, at least during the time of our studies over the last 15, 20 years, what is essential to them that identifies them and continues to identify them with the church is not the teachings on sexual morality, but the core teachings for them involve the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the centrality of the Mass in their live, the Eucharist and the meaning that they give for the idea of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Those are the - what I would call, the core elements.
And ever since ..... (ph) (must be Humanae Vitae), ... Pope Paul the VI encyclical reaffirming the Church's opposition to birth control, the Church has lost real credibility in matters of teaching sexual morality. And so..."

 

[JReducation]

"Many Catholic leaders across America have raged against the proposed law, telling its congregations the Catholic Church’s freedoms are being violated and that Catholics across the nation are outraged. I can’t help but ask whether Catholic Church leaders are speaking for Catholics or simply for themselves. William D’Antonio, a researcher at the Catholic University of America, has stated recent polls have shown 95% of Catholics use a form of birth control and that 89% say it’s their decision to make, not the Catholic Church’s."
I’m quite sure that all Catholics know that ABC is a mortal sin. And if they did not know before this ‘violation of freedom’ brought about much publicity - then they do know now.

“But it did imply that Catholic youths felt it was okay to disagree with the Catholic Church’s stance on abortion not because of the issue itself but because Catholic youths were expressing their right to not consent to following Church authority, a point of interest leaning toward similar findings of William D’Antonio.”
opposingviews.com/i/religion/christianity/catholicism/catholic-catholic-church-birth-control-it%E2%80%99s-reality-check-time

As can be seen from the above extract from the link supplied by Joe Bowden to an article on a blog, that statistics can be made to say anything…depending on which way you bend them. Here the youth are asked a question pertaining to authority, rather than the question of if they personally agree with abortion. Quite different answers would be derived.

Here is a link to an interview with William D’Antonio/Chester Gillis on CNN.com -
transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0203/10/sm.03.html
it appears he is on something of a mission of his own, and I’m not sure that I would trust how he derives his statistics. One gets an idea of where he is coming from in this extract from the interview" in repy to

“O’BRIEN: Mr. D’Antonio, the appearance at least is that you get the sense that the Catholic Church feels, in some sense, it’s above the law or separate from the law…”

"D’ANTONIO: Yes, there not only have been laws broken, but it is the way in which they have behaved. It really goes back in the tradition really of the hierarchy, keeping things closed, keeping matters under the table if they can do that.

Fortunately, for the church - going back to your opening question about crisis - for American Catholics, at least during the time of our studies over the last 15, 20 years, what is essential to them that identifies them and continues to identify them with the church is not the teachings on sexual morality, but the core teachings for them involve the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the centrality of the Mass in their live, the Eucharist and the meaning that they give for the idea of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Those are the - what I would call, the core elements.

 And ever since .....  (ph) (must be Humanae Vitae), ... Pope Paul the VI encyclical reaffirming the Church's  opposition to birth control, the Church has lost real credibility in  matters of teaching sexual morality.  And so..."

The red is mine. I love this line. The only way to lose credibility is to tell the opposite of truth. He’ll have to show how the Church told a falsehood in Humanae Vitae. If he had said that the Church lost many fans, I would agree. Idiot.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[Dee_S]

I was explaining how God works in our lives through adversity and I told him about losing my wife and father in an auto accident and having to take my 7 yr old son off life support back in 1993. I finished the story saying, “God is so good.” He looked at me stunned and asked, “Your family was taken way from you. How can you say, ‘God is so Good’?”

I smiled and said, “Where else can a 7-year old boy go but to heaven? Think of the joy and consolation that a father has knowing that God has taken his son to heaven, before letting him grow up and make mistakes that could hurt his soul. My father and wife were in a good spiritual place. God is great. No one can give us such great opportunities to love through pain and suffering like this, but God alone. There was nothing bad about it. I came out of it a stronger man. God proved to me that I can give what he takes and accept what he gives. The strength is in me. I just have to desire to do it.”

He was very quiet for a few minutes and then mumbled something that I couldn’t understand; but I could tell that he got it. At that moment he said, “Father, I understand what you have explained about some of the Church’s problems. I can accept some and not others. But in light of what you just said, I will obey. I will think with the Church and trust that God is so good.”

To me, that is the best news that a superior can receive. “I will think with the Church.”

Rather than go home and eat and take a nap, I sat with my brother and spiritual son for six hours. This was something in my power to to do.

God is so good; he always has a plan. We won’t understand it, if we spend too much time in other people’s heads rather than following the itinerary that leads us along the journey into the mind of God.

Fraternally,Br. JR, FFV

“Heaven is not empty. Life is not a simple product of laws and the randomness of matter, but within everything and at the same time above everything, there is a personal will, there is a Spirit who in Jesus has revealed himself as Love3].”
Br JR you are now a ‘father’ to many who will reach “the ocean of infinite love” with gratitude to your care.

"To imagine ourselves outside the temporality that imprisons us and in some way to sense that eternity is not an unending succession of days in the calendar, but something more like the supreme moment of satisfaction, in which totality embraces us and we embrace totality—this we can only attempt. It would be like plunging into the ocean of infinite love, a moment in which time—the before and after—no longer exists. We can only attempt to grasp the idea that such a moment is life in the full sense, a plunging ever anew into the vastness of being, in which we are simply overwhelmed with joy. This is how Jesus expresses it in Saint John’s Gospel: “I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (16:22).

We must think along these lines if we want to understand the object of Christian hope, to understand what it is that our faith, our being with Christ, leads us to expect9]."
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

 

[Marybeloved]

Certainly, the church is in a crisis, no denying that. The popes themselves have complained about it especially with regards to Western Europe which can no longer in all honesty be considered to be christian. But this is not the first crisis in the church and without the second coming happening any time soon, it will not be the last. But thats life for you, what you going to do? What we have is a guarantee from Our Lord that the church will triump, she will never teach us error and that we must obey those who the Lord has placed in charge. Let God fix the church, you just try and be Christian and be happy being so, teaching those who want to be taught.

Ive found that in life, in my family, I can often be very frustrated with those who are in a position of authority and have gotten myself to be angry to such a state that was hateful and surely mortally sinful. I was in situation where I was convinced that the person was making some disastrous errors that would be fatal etc I was so convinced that it was up to me to “stand up for the truth and what is right!” that I had unwittingly gotten myself in a funk of rage, pride, judgmentalism and even hate towards my closest family and made life absolutely intolerable for the entire household, and the whole time I was convinced I was the hero! Now, Im not saying that the other persons were correct, not at all. But our Lord has shown me quite plainly in prayer that the problem was I forgot that it was he that was in charge, not the person I disagreed with, and certainly not me! Failure to trust in the Lord and be little, we soon start to see all the problems that need our fixing (as if we could!) without seeing the invisible power behind it all. We end up proud, disobedient, angry and uncharitable when we see that our will is not being done nor our counsels followed.

When I began to see the truth in myself and to slowly put the matter onto Gods lap, I found that he was indeed perfectly capable of taking care of things, hard excruciating things in his own way and timing and wisdom. People who let the problems of the church interfere with their faith so much that it drives them to the edge of schism seem so much like me. The Lord can take care of his house. He doesnt need you to make wars and drive yourself insane trying to fix it yourself. Sometimes he actually does more when we have given up and allowed him to be master in his own home. The SSPX should learn to trust him and go on about their business in the church shining their light in the dark and happily being their very best in Gods house while he does what he needs to do.

Peace!

 

[TimothyH]

Saturday, I had a very long day. I drove a very long way to preach at a retreat. I truly enjoyed it. My topic was, “Entering Into The Mind of God.” On my way there, my cell phone went off. It was one of the brothers from one of the other houses. He wanted to ask if he could see me. He said that it couldn’t wait.

I promised him that I would go over to the house when I returned. I was very tired and wanted to go home and take a nap. But duty called. A superior does not let his brothers go unattended, to attend to everyone else.

We spent the rest of the day together, from about 4 to 10 PM. I don’t think I resolved his problems. He is feeling very lonely and has some strong feelings about some of the community’s positions on certain social issues. I explained that we take those positions, because the Church takes those positions and why the Church does so.

At the end of the evening, he said that most of it made sense. He still disagreed with some things. However, what gave me great hope and joy were two things that he said.

I was explaining how God works in our lives through adversity and I told him about losing my wife and father in an auto accident and having to take my 7 yr old son off life support back in 1993. I finished the story saying, “God is so good.” He looked at me stunned and asked, “Your family was taken way from you. How can you say, ‘God is so Good’?”

I smiled and said, “Where else can a 7-year old boy go but to heaven? Think of the joy and consolation that a father has knowing that God has taken his son to heaven, before letting him grow up and make mistakes that could hurt his soul. My father and wife were in a good spiritual place. God is great. No one can give us such great opportunities to love through pain and suffering like this, but God alone. There was nothing bad about it. I came out of it a stronger man. God proved to me that I can give what he takes and accept what he gives. The strength is in me. I just have to desire to do it.”

He was very quiet for a few minutes and then mumbled something that I couldn’t understand; but I could tell that he got it. At that moment he said, “Father, I understand what you have explained about some of the Church’s problems. I can accept some and not others. But in light of what you just said, I will obey. I will think with the Church and trust that God is so good.”

To me, that is the best news that a superior can receive. “I will think with the Church.”

After being on CAF for a few years, I can see the resentment that arises when people stop thinking with the Church, worry over things out of their control and believe that they have the answers. I’ve seen the effects of worrying about questions that have nothing to do with one’s daily life, instead of dealing with the here and now.

When I was named superior general, I was afraid. I knew that I could not lead my brothers. I don’t have what it takes to make a good leader and a good father to them. Everyday, I ask the Immaculate to do for me as she did for the servants at Cana, to speak to Jesus and to tell him, “He has no more strength, no more wisdom, no more faith,” and then to point me to him that my worries may be turned into joy, as the water was turned into wine.

This is Holy Indifference. I cannot solve what is not in my power to solve. I cannot preach, what is not for me to preach. I cannot force another to do what is not in my power to force. However, I can deal with what’s immediately in front of me, such as a brother who calls and says, “Father, do you have time for me today?” I had a long drive to the retreat. Preached and had a long drive back. My diabetes was acting up, because I had not eaten. However, there was a something right in front of me that I could work with. Rather than go home and eat and take a nap, I sat with my brother and spiritual son for six hours. This was something in my power to to do.

As a bonus, he made me something to eat too.

God is so good; he always has a plan. We won’t understand it, if we spend too much time in other people’s heads rather than following the itinerary that leads us along the journey into the mind of God.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

Your words mean more to me than you know.

You mean more to me than you will ever know.

-Tim-

 

[JReducation]

Your words mean more to me than you know.

You mean more to me than you will ever know.

-Tim-

Thank you for those kind words. This has been the week for interesting things to happen. On Tuesday night I received an urgent call from the chancery. “Brother, the the volunteers who are supposed to run the Project Joseph classes did not show up. This is the third time. What can we do about it? It’s not working as it started. Should we shut the program down at center X until you figure out what to do?”

I listened attentively. When the woman finished speaking, I said, “Do nothing. Schedule the next class for that center for the usual time.”

“But Brother, what if the instructors don’t show up, then what do we do?”

“I have no idea, but God has a plan. Do nothing until he tells us what to do. By the way, whatever you do, please stay out of God’s way. Go knit a sweater for your grandchildren or something. Never try to fix something because you read in some book or some encyclical that this is the way it should be. You’re not the pope or the Holy Spirit. You have no idea if you understood what God was saying or if it even applies to current situation. Wait until God tells you. He will always speak through legitimate Church authority. Please go find something to knit or bake a pie or some such thing.”

I hung up the telephone and look at the crucifix. “OK Lord, before I begin my prayers, I have to get out on the table what I need. I need someone who can coordinate that team down there. Otherwise, I’ll have to make a 120 mile drive every Tuesday. If that’s what you want me to do, then you have to give me the physical health to do so. Otherwise, you have to find me a coordinator or if you’re not interested in having the program at the center, you can say so too. I won’t be angry.” I then proceeded with Vespers. That was Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday, I had to teach a class to the juniors (brothers in temporary vows). One of them comes in and said, “Father, this year, my schedule at the university is different. I have no classes on Tuesdays. May I ask for an assignment.”

PRAISE GOD.

“You have an assignment. You will travel to center X and take over the coordination of Prooject Joseph there. They have been having some communication and organization problems.” I proceed to explain what he had to do.

“One question Father, that center is 60 miles away, 120 miles each way. How do I get there? We have only one car for three houses.”

I looked at him and said, “How old are you?”

“I’m 29.”

“Are you healthy?”

“Yes Father, very healthy?”

“Do you play sports?”

“Yes Father, I play soccer.”

“Then you’re used to running about 60 miles on a soccer field during a given game.”

“I guess I am Father. Are you suggesting I run there?”

“Not at all. I’m suggesting that you learn to walk to the bus stop and learn how to transfer buses. It’s less stressful than playing soccer.”

With that Brother started to laugh and said, “I know, I know. You’re going to tell me that God gives us what we need to deal with what’s in front of us, because he always has a plan.”

I just went :yup:

If we could only learn to live in our space and time, we may be able to transform the world one moment at a time.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[Dee_S]

“I have no idea, but God has a plan. Do nothing until he tells us what to do. By the way, whatever you do, please stay out of God’s way. Go knit a sweater for your grandchildren or something. Never try to fix something because you read in some book or some encyclical that this is the way it should be. You’re not the pope or the Holy Spirit. You have no idea if you understood what God was saying or if it even applies to current situation. Wait until God tells you. He will always speak through legitimate Church authority. Please go find something to knit or bake a pie or some such thing.”
A bit uch:Br JR…is she really such a ‘pest’? That ‘pushy’? I’m curious…

I hung up the telephone and look at the crucifix. “OK Lord, before I begin my prayers, I have to get out on the table what I need. I need someone who can coordinate that team down there. Otherwise, I’ll have to make a 120 mile drive every Tuesday. If that’s what you want me to do, then you have to give me the physical health to do so. Otherwise, you have to find me a coordinator or if you’re not interested in having the program at the center, you can say so too. I won’t be angry.” I then proceeded with Vespers. That was Tuesday evening.
Some good communication going there…I like it!!

On Wednesday, I had to teach a class to the juniors (brothers in temporary vows). One of them comes in and said, “Father, this year, my schedule at the university is different. I have no classes on Tuesdays. May I ask for an assignment.”
Asked…and answered.

PRAISE GOD.

“You have an assignment. You will travel to center X and take over the coordination of Prooject Joseph there. They have been having some communication and organization problems.” I proceed to explain what he had to do.

“One question Father, that center is 60 miles away, 120 miles each way. How do I get there? We have only one car for three houses.”

I looked at him and said, “How old are you?”

“I’m 29.”

“Are you healthy?”

“Yes Father, very healthy?”

“Do you play sports?”

“Yes Father, I play soccer.”

“Then you’re used to running about 60 miles on a soccer field during a given game.”

“I guess I am Father. Are you suggesting I run there?”

“Not at all. I’m suggesting that you learn to walk to the bus stop and learn how to transfer buses. It’s less stressful than playing soccer.”

With that Brother started to laugh and said, “I know, I know. You’re going to tell me that God gives us what we need to deal with what’s in front of us, because he always has a plan.”

I just went :yup:

Too good for words

If we could only learn to live in our space and time, we may be able to transform the world one moment at a time.
Awesome…that deserves a:hug3:
Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[TheDoctor]

I hung up the telephone and look at the crucifix. “OK Lord, before I begin my prayers, I have to get out on the table what I need. I need someone who can coordinate that team down there. Otherwise, I’ll have to make a 120 mile drive every Tuesday. If that’s what you want me to do, then you have to give me the physical health to do so. Otherwise, you have to find me a coordinator or if you’re not interested in having the program at the center, you can say so too. I won’t be angry.” I then proceeded with Vespers. That was Tuesday evening.

I wish I had the courage and humility to talk to God like that. Thank you for sharing.

“I guess I am Father. Are you suggesting I run there?”

“Not at all. I’m suggesting that you learn to walk to the bus stop and learn how to transfer buses. It’s less stressful than playing soccer.”

OK, that just made me laugh out loud.

If we could only learn to live in our space and time, we may be able to transform the world one moment at a time.

I have been sitting here for 5 minutes just pondering how simple and compelling this is and how blessed we are to have you contribute here Brother.

Never try to fix something because you read in some book or some encyclical that this is the way it should be. You’re not the pope or the Holy Spirit. You have no idea if you understood what God was saying or if it even applies to current situation.

But Brother, if we did that there would be nothing in the forums on Catholic Answers!

 

[pollycarp]

I wish I had the courage and humility to talk to God like that. Thank you for sharing.

OK, that just made me laugh out loud.

I have been sitting here for 5 minutes just pondering how simple and compelling this is and how blessed we are to have you contribute here Brother.

But Brother, if we did that there would be nothing in the forums on Catholic Answers!

I agree. (And didn’t God ask Francis(iscans) to rebuild His church?!)