| Devotion to Our Lady |
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What's the Point of Doing This Novena?
Why on Earth Do This?
“Why on earth organize a 54-Day Novena for the Church and the Pope Francis?” you ask. Or some would like to rephrase that and say: “Why on earth organize a 54-Day Novena for the Church and the Francis?”―because they do not believe that Francis is the pope! Others will prefer to say: “Why on earth organize a 54-Day Novena for the Church and Putative Pope Francis?”―because they think Francis could be the pope, probably is the pope, but, there again, he might not be the pope: they are not quite sure.
Some will say: “Francis is a Modernist and a destroyer! I am not praying for him!” Others will say: “I am not praying for him! He doesn’t need my prayers―he is a saint!” The result ends up being the same―no prayers for Francis.
Regardless of what opinion colors your mind, Francis―pope or not―needs prayers. If he is the pope―then he is in a mess and making an even greater mess by his Liberal and Modernist policies and viewpoints. If he is not the pope―then he is in an even greater mess. You could say that Francis has become the lightning-rod for true Catholicism. The ultimate test of true Catholicism is to pray for your enemies and wish them good! Ouch! Painful, but true. One way or another―Francis has made himself the enemy of the Church. Liberalism and Modernism are enemies of the Church―and if we hold their beliefs, then we make ourselves enemies of the Church. Then there are the more evil and cunning enemies of the Church, who have infiltrated the Church with a view of destroying it from within―they are even greater enemies of the Church.
Our Lord Comes to Save Not Destroy, to Show Mercy, not Hatred
Speaking of enemies, Our Lord says: “You have heard that it hath been said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you, so that you may be the children of your Father Who is in Heaven, Who maketh His sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect!” (Matthew 7:43-48).
Yet, all of these enemies―some of them charming and others nasty―are precisely the souls that Our Lord came to save! He Himself tells us: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost!” (Luke 19:10). His Father, in the Old Testament, said the same thing: “Is it My will that a sinner should die, saith the Lord God, and not that he should be converted from his ways, and live?” (Ezechiel 18:23) Jesus comes with the gift of His mercy—which is the greatest of all of His gifts―and He does not wish to exclude anyone from receiving that precious gift: “The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy. The Lord is sweet to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 144:8-9). Are we going to exclude anyone from the possibility and chance of obtaining mercy and salvation from God? As Holy Scripture says: “Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the Faith” (Galatians 6:10)―and like him or not, believe he is pope or not, whether he is a great sinner or not―Francis is still, by virtue of his Baptism, within “the household of the Faith.”
What’s Your Papal Assessment Like?
How does Pope Francis’ pontificate add-up in your eyes? What is the sum of his rule? Is it positive or negative? “Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six” (Apocalypse 13:18). Aha! You are immediately jumping to rash conclusions and judging this to be going where it will not necessarily be going! You are thinking that this is going to paint Pope Francis as the Antichrist! No. If you think that, then you think very little and should think more and inform yourself more. The Antichrist is supposed to come towards the end of the “period of peace” that will be given to the world AFTER the “Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”―therefore, since we are yet to witness the terrible degeneration of both Church and world, where all seems lost and evil seems to gain control of the whole world, all of which MUST PRECEDE the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart, then Pope Francis cannot be the Antichrist. What then is he? Well, let us look and learn more about Francis. I doubt that there are very many of those who hammer Francis―and deservedly so in some things―who have taken time to research Francis. All that they know about Francis’ past life, could be written on the back of an envelope, or even on the back of postage stamp.
The Need for Judging and the Danger of Judging
Holy Scripture does not forbid us to judge, but it does tell us to be careful in judging―“Thou shalt not do that which is unjust, nor judge unjustly. Respect not the person of the poor, nor honor the countenance of the mighty. But judge thy neighbor according to justice” (Leviticus 19:15). Our Lord says: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge just judgment” (John 7:24). For there is a grave danger in taking upon ourselves the role of a judge―as Our Lord Himself points-out: “Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you measure unto others, it shall be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:1-2). If we wish to take on the role of a judge, then we shall find ourselves judged by God with the same elevated strictness that He will judge all judges― “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more!” (Luke 12:48).
Judgment Requires Action, Not Talk
Our Lord continues: “You judge according to the flesh―I judge not any man. And if I do judge, My judgment is true!” (John 8:15-16). “And if any man hear My words, and keep them not, I do not judge him: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47). “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost!” (Luke 19:10). Our Lord’s primary concern is seek and save that which is lost, not to judge it―though He will judge it also, and says: “If I do judge, My judgment is true!” (John 8:16). Judgment should lead to action―a doctor who examines a patient and judges them to be in need of treatment, HAS TO GIVE THAT TREATMENT, or at least send them to someone who can treat the patient if the doctor thinks himself unqualified in expertise to do so successfully. Likewise, if we judge that there is a serious problem, then we have to follow-up on that judgment with an appropriate action.
Take, once again, the example of a house on fire―whether it be yours or someone else’s house. Once you realize that there is a problem―the house is on fire―common sense, and even moral law, obliges you to do something appropriate and effective about it―inasmuch as you are able. It is not appropriate, nor is it effective, to start calling and texting everyone you know and telling them that your (or someone else’s) house is on fire, nor is it appropriate nor effective to start taking photos of the burning house and sending them, by phone or email, to everyone on your address list, telling them about the house that is on fire. Nor is it appropriate nor effective to start calling all the newspapers and TV and radio stations to tell them about the house on fire. Nor is it appropriate, nor very effective, to run over to the house on fire and throw a bucket of water at it and then go away, just because your one single bucket of water failed to put out the fire. Sure, you took some action―but way too little. The appropriate and effective action that must be taken is to call for the Fire Department and, in the meantime, if at all possible, do something or anything that might help contain or slow down the spreading of the fire―using whatever is readily available. Anything other than that constitutes culpable (blameworthy, guilty) negligence. Our Lord points this out in His parable about the Good Samaritan.
So What Are We Judging?
When the house is on fire, we do not start talking about and focusing on who the house belongs to, or whether or not the house really does belong to the person who is occupying it, or whether or not that person really is who he says he is. When the house is on fire, we do not discuss the moral or sinful state of the people in the house; nor the things they have said and done in the past. Our judgment of the danger―the house that is on fire―leads us to make judgments about the safety of its occupants and also the surrounding properties and their inhabitants. The resulting judgment should again lead to further action―such as, for the sake of safety―ensuring the immediate evacuation of the surrounding properties and sheltering their occupants in a safe place.
Currently, there is a ‘fire’ of controversy raging about Pope Francis―Is he good? Is he bad? Is he pope? Is he not pope? The fact of whether or not he is pope is not and should not be our prime concern. The fact of whether he is good or bad should be our prime concern. If he is bad, then he is on the way to being lost and Our Lord’s PRIME PURPOSE was to come and seek and save that which was lost―just as the Fire Department will, first of all, try to rescue and save the inhabitants in burning house, while, at the same time, try to save what can be saved of the house and protect the surrounding properties from catching the fire, while evacuating, if necessary, the residents.
“Jesus walked through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who He was, and he could not for the crowd, because he was low of stature. And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, that he might see Him; for He was to pass that way. And when Jesus was come to the place, looking up, He saw him, and said to him: ‘Zacheus! Make haste and come down! For this day I must abide in thy house!’ And he made haste and came down; and received Him with joy. And when all saw it, they murmured, saying, that he was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner. But Zacheus standing, said to the Lord: ‘Behold, Lord! The half of my goods I give to the poor! And if I have wronged any man of anything, I restore him fourfold!’ Jesus said to him: ‘This day is salvation come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost!’” (Luke 19:1-10).
“Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him. And the Pharisees and the Scribes murmured, saying: ‘This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them!’ And He spoke to them this parable, saying: ‘What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and, if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing, and coming home, call together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: “Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!” I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance!’” (Luke 15:1-7).
We tend to hate the sinner and neglect to try to save the sinner. The sinner, for us, is an object of opprobrium, shame, disgust. An object to be scorned, shunned or stoned―as was the woman caught in adultery by the Scribes and Pharisees, who wanted to stone her to death (which the Jewish Law, given to them by God, allowed). “And the Scribes and the Pharisees bring unto Him a woman taken in adultery: and they set her in the midst, and said to Him: ‘Master! This woman was even now taken in adultery! Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one! But what sayest Thou?’ And this they said tempting Him, that they might accuse Him. But Jesus, bowing Himself down, wrote with His finger on the ground. When, therefore, they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said to them: ‘He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her!’ But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. Then Jesus lifting up Himself, said to her: ‘Woman! Where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee?’ Who said: ‘No man, Lord!’ And Jesus said: ‘Neither will I condemn thee! Go, and now sin no more!’” (John 8:7-11).
Humble Judgment Requires a Humble Soul
Our Lord―“bowing Himself down” to the ground―signifies humility. The Scribes and Pharisees―towering above Him and standing their ground because “they continued to ask Him”―signify pride. It is this humility that we learn from St. Francis of Assisi and from little Francesco of Fatima. Humility has to be the foundation of the spiritual life―without it, much like without charity (the soul of all virtues), all virtue is sham, fake and useless. The words of Holy Scripture on charity, could well be ascribed to humility also: “If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity [humility]―then I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [humility]―then I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity [humility]―then it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Our Lord preaches this kind of humility and love: “You have heard that it hath been said: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth!’ But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other! And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him! And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two! Give to him that asketh of thee and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away. You have heard that it hath been said: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy!’ But I say to you: Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: so that you may be the children of your Father, Who is in Heaven, who maketh His sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect!” (Matthew 5:43-48).
This kind of attitude is incomprehensible and repugnant to the world and to Christians who do not really have the true spirit of Christ, but instead possess a Christian spirit of their own design and making. They lack the humility that permits this kind of a love. This world is most certainly not a humble world―and we have allowed ourselves to be infected by this “non-humble” spirit of the world. You see this spirit ooze-out in conversations, in internet blogs and forums, in daily conversations, etc. Because there is no true humility, there is also no true love―and because there is no true love, there is no true humility. By its very nature, love creates dependence―for we care little for ourselves while we care for the one we love and thus we depend upon the one we love, to care for our welfare in return―and this dependence, based on love, creates humility. So it is, also, mysteriously, in God.
“Why on earth organize a 54-Day Novena for the Church and the Pope Francis?” you ask. Or some would like to rephrase that and say: “Why on earth organize a 54-Day Novena for the Church and the Francis?”―because they do not believe that Francis is the pope! Others will prefer to say: “Why on earth organize a 54-Day Novena for the Church and Putative Pope Francis?”―because they think Francis could be the pope, probably is the pope, but, there again, he might not be the pope: they are not quite sure.
Some will say: “Francis is a Modernist and a destroyer! I am not praying for him!” Others will say: “I am not praying for him! He doesn’t need my prayers―he is a saint!” The result ends up being the same―no prayers for Francis.
Regardless of what opinion colors your mind, Francis―pope or not―needs prayers. If he is the pope―then he is in a mess and making an even greater mess by his Liberal and Modernist policies and viewpoints. If he is not the pope―then he is in an even greater mess. You could say that Francis has become the lightning-rod for true Catholicism. The ultimate test of true Catholicism is to pray for your enemies and wish them good! Ouch! Painful, but true. One way or another―Francis has made himself the enemy of the Church. Liberalism and Modernism are enemies of the Church―and if we hold their beliefs, then we make ourselves enemies of the Church. Then there are the more evil and cunning enemies of the Church, who have infiltrated the Church with a view of destroying it from within―they are even greater enemies of the Church.
Our Lord Comes to Save Not Destroy, to Show Mercy, not Hatred
Speaking of enemies, Our Lord says: “You have heard that it hath been said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you, so that you may be the children of your Father Who is in Heaven, Who maketh His sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect!” (Matthew 7:43-48).
Yet, all of these enemies―some of them charming and others nasty―are precisely the souls that Our Lord came to save! He Himself tells us: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost!” (Luke 19:10). His Father, in the Old Testament, said the same thing: “Is it My will that a sinner should die, saith the Lord God, and not that he should be converted from his ways, and live?” (Ezechiel 18:23) Jesus comes with the gift of His mercy—which is the greatest of all of His gifts―and He does not wish to exclude anyone from receiving that precious gift: “The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy. The Lord is sweet to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 144:8-9). Are we going to exclude anyone from the possibility and chance of obtaining mercy and salvation from God? As Holy Scripture says: “Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the Faith” (Galatians 6:10)―and like him or not, believe he is pope or not, whether he is a great sinner or not―Francis is still, by virtue of his Baptism, within “the household of the Faith.”
What’s Your Papal Assessment Like?
How does Pope Francis’ pontificate add-up in your eyes? What is the sum of his rule? Is it positive or negative? “Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six” (Apocalypse 13:18). Aha! You are immediately jumping to rash conclusions and judging this to be going where it will not necessarily be going! You are thinking that this is going to paint Pope Francis as the Antichrist! No. If you think that, then you think very little and should think more and inform yourself more. The Antichrist is supposed to come towards the end of the “period of peace” that will be given to the world AFTER the “Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”―therefore, since we are yet to witness the terrible degeneration of both Church and world, where all seems lost and evil seems to gain control of the whole world, all of which MUST PRECEDE the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart, then Pope Francis cannot be the Antichrist. What then is he? Well, let us look and learn more about Francis. I doubt that there are very many of those who hammer Francis―and deservedly so in some things―who have taken time to research Francis. All that they know about Francis’ past life, could be written on the back of an envelope, or even on the back of postage stamp.
The Need for Judging and the Danger of Judging
Holy Scripture does not forbid us to judge, but it does tell us to be careful in judging―“Thou shalt not do that which is unjust, nor judge unjustly. Respect not the person of the poor, nor honor the countenance of the mighty. But judge thy neighbor according to justice” (Leviticus 19:15). Our Lord says: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge just judgment” (John 7:24). For there is a grave danger in taking upon ourselves the role of a judge―as Our Lord Himself points-out: “Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you measure unto others, it shall be measured to you again” (Matthew 7:1-2). If we wish to take on the role of a judge, then we shall find ourselves judged by God with the same elevated strictness that He will judge all judges― “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more!” (Luke 12:48).
Judgment Requires Action, Not Talk
Our Lord continues: “You judge according to the flesh―I judge not any man. And if I do judge, My judgment is true!” (John 8:15-16). “And if any man hear My words, and keep them not, I do not judge him: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47). “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost!” (Luke 19:10). Our Lord’s primary concern is seek and save that which is lost, not to judge it―though He will judge it also, and says: “If I do judge, My judgment is true!” (John 8:16). Judgment should lead to action―a doctor who examines a patient and judges them to be in need of treatment, HAS TO GIVE THAT TREATMENT, or at least send them to someone who can treat the patient if the doctor thinks himself unqualified in expertise to do so successfully. Likewise, if we judge that there is a serious problem, then we have to follow-up on that judgment with an appropriate action.
Take, once again, the example of a house on fire―whether it be yours or someone else’s house. Once you realize that there is a problem―the house is on fire―common sense, and even moral law, obliges you to do something appropriate and effective about it―inasmuch as you are able. It is not appropriate, nor is it effective, to start calling and texting everyone you know and telling them that your (or someone else’s) house is on fire, nor is it appropriate nor effective to start taking photos of the burning house and sending them, by phone or email, to everyone on your address list, telling them about the house that is on fire. Nor is it appropriate nor effective to start calling all the newspapers and TV and radio stations to tell them about the house on fire. Nor is it appropriate, nor very effective, to run over to the house on fire and throw a bucket of water at it and then go away, just because your one single bucket of water failed to put out the fire. Sure, you took some action―but way too little. The appropriate and effective action that must be taken is to call for the Fire Department and, in the meantime, if at all possible, do something or anything that might help contain or slow down the spreading of the fire―using whatever is readily available. Anything other than that constitutes culpable (blameworthy, guilty) negligence. Our Lord points this out in His parable about the Good Samaritan.
So What Are We Judging?
When the house is on fire, we do not start talking about and focusing on who the house belongs to, or whether or not the house really does belong to the person who is occupying it, or whether or not that person really is who he says he is. When the house is on fire, we do not discuss the moral or sinful state of the people in the house; nor the things they have said and done in the past. Our judgment of the danger―the house that is on fire―leads us to make judgments about the safety of its occupants and also the surrounding properties and their inhabitants. The resulting judgment should again lead to further action―such as, for the sake of safety―ensuring the immediate evacuation of the surrounding properties and sheltering their occupants in a safe place.
Currently, there is a ‘fire’ of controversy raging about Pope Francis―Is he good? Is he bad? Is he pope? Is he not pope? The fact of whether or not he is pope is not and should not be our prime concern. The fact of whether he is good or bad should be our prime concern. If he is bad, then he is on the way to being lost and Our Lord’s PRIME PURPOSE was to come and seek and save that which was lost―just as the Fire Department will, first of all, try to rescue and save the inhabitants in burning house, while, at the same time, try to save what can be saved of the house and protect the surrounding properties from catching the fire, while evacuating, if necessary, the residents.
“Jesus walked through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who He was, and he could not for the crowd, because he was low of stature. And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, that he might see Him; for He was to pass that way. And when Jesus was come to the place, looking up, He saw him, and said to him: ‘Zacheus! Make haste and come down! For this day I must abide in thy house!’ And he made haste and came down; and received Him with joy. And when all saw it, they murmured, saying, that he was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner. But Zacheus standing, said to the Lord: ‘Behold, Lord! The half of my goods I give to the poor! And if I have wronged any man of anything, I restore him fourfold!’ Jesus said to him: ‘This day is salvation come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost!’” (Luke 19:1-10).
“Now the publicans and sinners drew near unto him to hear him. And the Pharisees and the Scribes murmured, saying: ‘This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them!’ And He spoke to them this parable, saying: ‘What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and, if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing, and coming home, call together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: “Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!” I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance!’” (Luke 15:1-7).
We tend to hate the sinner and neglect to try to save the sinner. The sinner, for us, is an object of opprobrium, shame, disgust. An object to be scorned, shunned or stoned―as was the woman caught in adultery by the Scribes and Pharisees, who wanted to stone her to death (which the Jewish Law, given to them by God, allowed). “And the Scribes and the Pharisees bring unto Him a woman taken in adultery: and they set her in the midst, and said to Him: ‘Master! This woman was even now taken in adultery! Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one! But what sayest Thou?’ And this they said tempting Him, that they might accuse Him. But Jesus, bowing Himself down, wrote with His finger on the ground. When, therefore, they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said to them: ‘He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her!’ But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst. Then Jesus lifting up Himself, said to her: ‘Woman! Where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee?’ Who said: ‘No man, Lord!’ And Jesus said: ‘Neither will I condemn thee! Go, and now sin no more!’” (John 8:7-11).
Humble Judgment Requires a Humble Soul
Our Lord―“bowing Himself down” to the ground―signifies humility. The Scribes and Pharisees―towering above Him and standing their ground because “they continued to ask Him”―signify pride. It is this humility that we learn from St. Francis of Assisi and from little Francesco of Fatima. Humility has to be the foundation of the spiritual life―without it, much like without charity (the soul of all virtues), all virtue is sham, fake and useless. The words of Holy Scripture on charity, could well be ascribed to humility also: “If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity [humility]―then I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [humility]―then I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity [humility]―then it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Our Lord preaches this kind of humility and love: “You have heard that it hath been said: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth!’ But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other! And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him! And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two! Give to him that asketh of thee and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away. You have heard that it hath been said: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy!’ But I say to you: Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: so that you may be the children of your Father, Who is in Heaven, who maketh His sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect!” (Matthew 5:43-48).
This kind of attitude is incomprehensible and repugnant to the world and to Christians who do not really have the true spirit of Christ, but instead possess a Christian spirit of their own design and making. They lack the humility that permits this kind of a love. This world is most certainly not a humble world―and we have allowed ourselves to be infected by this “non-humble” spirit of the world. You see this spirit ooze-out in conversations, in internet blogs and forums, in daily conversations, etc. Because there is no true humility, there is also no true love―and because there is no true love, there is no true humility. By its very nature, love creates dependence―for we care little for ourselves while we care for the one we love and thus we depend upon the one we love, to care for our welfare in return―and this dependence, based on love, creates humility. So it is, also, mysteriously, in God.
CLICK ON THE DAY YOU ARE PRAYING
Day 01 Joyful Mysteries
Day 02 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 03 Glorious Mysteries Day 04 Joyful Mysteries Day 05 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 06 Glorious Mysteries Day 07 Joyful Mysteries Day 08 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 09 Glorious Mysteries Day 10 Joyful Mysteries Day 11 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 12 Glorious Mysteries Day 13 Joyful Mysteries Day 14 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 15 Glorious Mysteries Day 16 Joyful Mysteries Day 17 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 18 Glorious Mysteries Day 19 Joyful Mysteries Day 20 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 21 Glorious Mysteries Day 22 Joyful Mysteries Day 23 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 24 Glorious Mysteries Day 25 Joyful Mysteries Day 26 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 27 Glorious Mysteries Day 28 Joyful Mysteries Day 29 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 30 Glorious Mysteries Day 31 Joyful Mysteries Day 32 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 33 Glorious Mysteries Day 34 Joyful Mysteries Day 35 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 36 Glorious Mysteries Day 37 Joyful Mysteries Day 38 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 39 Glorious Mysteries Day 40 Joyful Mysteries Day 41 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 42 Glorious Mysteries Day 43 Joyful Mysteries Day 44 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 45 Glorious Mysteries Day 46 Joyful Mysteries Day 47 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 48 Glorious Mysteries Day 49 Joyful Mysteries Day 50 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 51 Glorious Mysteries Day 52 Joyful Mysteries Day 53 Sorrowful Mysteries Day 54 Glorious Mysteries |
OUR MORAL OBLIGATION TO PRAY FOR THE CHURCH AND THE POPE
It must be understood that it is a duty and necessity to pray for the Pope and his good (not bad) intentions. As St. Clement Mary Hofbauer says: “A Christian who does not pray for the pope is like a child who does not pray for his father.”
Fr. McHugh, O.P. and Fr. Callan, O.P., in the book Moral Theoolgy―A Complete Course (§2160), say: “The Persons for Whom Prayer Is Offered.―There is an obligation of charity to pray for ourselves and also for others … One should pray for enemies in common prayers that are offered for all, and in special prayers for them in particular, when there is a special reason, such as their grave necessity or the scandal that would be given if one refused to join in a special prayer for one’s enemy.” The Roman Missal shows us the mind of the Church with regard to our enemies by the following prayers that Holy Mother Church has composed with regard to our enemies: COLLECT: O God, the lover and guardian of peace and charity, grant unto all our enemies true peace and charity, together with remission of all their sins, and by Thy power deliver us from their wiles. Through Our Lord, etc. SECRET: Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by these gifts which we offer unto Thee, and in Thy mercy deliver us from our enemies, granting them the pardon of their sins. Through Our Lord, etc. As Our Lord says: “You have heard that it hath been said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you, so that you may be the children of your Father Who is in Heaven, Who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect!” (Matthew 7:43-48). The Church gives us an example of that duty in the Canon of the Mass―whereby in every Mass the pope is at the head of the list of personages that we pray for. First of all we pray for the CHURCH, then the POPE, then the local bishop and all those who are still faithful to the Faith: “Accept and bless these gifts … which in the first place we offer Thee for Thy Holy Catholic Church … deign to pacify, to guard, to unite and to govern Her throughout the world, together with Thy servant (Name) our Pope, (Name) our bishop and all orthodox believers of the Catholic and Apostolic Faith…” |
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