S
Shoshana
Guest
Just a couple of paragraphs from Socci’s book. I will do this every so often as I type them:
- For decades there prevailed political and diplomatic preoccupations on the part of those who besieged the pope with warnings that the act requested by the Virgin would be an open provocation to the Soviet Communist power. Then, to the advocates of Postpolitik were added to those who—making ecumenical dialogue into a dogma—have feared an apocalyptic rupture with the Russian Orthodox Church. Finally, many theologians have turned up their noses at talk of a ‘consecration’ to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, because they do not wish to offend Protestants who do not hold Mary worthy of the dignity of a ‘consecration.’ P20
- Is one referred, therefore, to another text? Is that where the ‘dynamite’ is? Evidently, yes. Cardinal Ottaviani, who was head of the Holy Office, stated explicitly on February 11, 1967 why that decision had been made ten years earlier: ‘To prevent something so delicate a nature, not destined for public consumption (sic!) from falling, for any reason whatsoever, even accidently into alien hands.’ But if the Madonna had appeared at Fatima so sensationally to give precisely a message ‘so delicate’ and urgent for humanity and for the Church, how can we Catholics ‘silence Her’ and censor Her, holding that Her message was ‘not destined for public consumption’? Is it not an act of supreme pride to pretend ourselves more prudent than She who is venerated as ‘Virgin most Prudent’, and wiser than she who is described as ‘Seat of Wisdom’? How is it possible that political considerations or human fear have prevailed over the obedience due to Heaven? P29