Wherein Fr. Z asks a favor during this time of blogosphere chaos

I am heading back to home from Rome today.  In the lounge I’m checking on blogs, etc., since I haven’t been paying much attention during and in the wake of the pilgrimage I came for.

Lot’s of tension and conflict right now… following the Synod.   That brings to mind something about trees and fruit…. what was that quote again?

Anyway, do me a favor.   If you are reading the blogs and news outlets, etc., do not… do NOT forget prayer, before and after.   Remember in prayer the people who are out there posting, especially if you can’t stand them … disagree with them!  (Say one for me, too, please?)

You might use the Internet Prayer.  If St. Isidore isn’t your go-to-guy, ask another saint or angel for help.

 

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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16 Comments

  1. Peter Stuart says:

    Thanks, Father, that’s timely advice. I’m kind of spun around right now after reading Dr. Ed Peters talking about the remarks of my bishop Cardinal Wuerl on canon law, so I can use all the prayers St. Isidore and everybody else can offer.

  2. frjim4321 says:

    Hope you have a safe and enjoyable flight home.

  3. Long-Skirts says:

    “That brings to mind something about trees and fruit…. ”

    Today, with an informed conscience, one really has to be a fruit picker!

  4. majuscule says:

    I have found myself starting to reply in comboxes and then feeling some sort of spiritual message telling me to delete delete delete! So I delete.

    I haven’t gotten that message for this post so I am thinking perhaps I’ve been hearing from my guardian angel.

    So pray before and after reading and ask for guidance before attempting to post.

  5. McCall1981 says:

    A very positive statement from Cardinal Dolan:

    “The Church’s longstanding practice—recently confirmed clearly by St. John Paul II after the synod on the family in 1980, and renewed by Pope Benedict XVI after the synod on the Eucharist in 2005—is that they cannot as long the second conjugal union continues. It is the necessary consequence of what Jesus taught about divorce and re-marriage and of what St. Paul the Apostle taught about being in a state of grace to receive Holy Communion. The final proposals of the Synod bishops did nothing to alter that teaching.
    Catholics in such situations are often carrying a heavy cross; they may well feel like the forlorn disciples on the road to Emmaus. Yet the Church cannot admit them to Holy Communion if she is to remain faithful to the teaching of Christ. The synod did not change any of this, despite what you may have read in misinformed reports.”

    http://www.cny.org/stories/Report-on-the-Synod,13240

  6. Gerard Plourde says:

    Great reminder. Prayer is always appropriate, but most especially so when the soul is troubled by vexatious discourse. We should remember that Our Lord has assured us that the Church would never be abandonded.

  7. Vincent says:

    Majuscule: I’m the same. So many comments go uncommented….

    Today someone told me (in relation to my job) to “ignore the noise”. I recommend we do that. There’s a lot of noise emanating from Rome (and blogs) these days. The only thing we know is that we know very little about what’s been happening. So yeah. Offer up your masses, say your prayers, and hope! Ignore the noise.

  8. Stephanus83 says:

    The Silverstream Priory (Benedictine Monks in Ireland who follow the traditional liturgy) periodically publish homilies as a podcast. The homily from 4 October, right before the synod started, has some very good information. It’s about twenty minutes long, but it’s a good homily. Here is the link if anyone is interested:
    http://cenacleosb.podbean.com/

    Alternatively, their podcast is on iTunes. If you’re not interested in listening, you can add them to your prayer list. Every group of monks (and nuns) faithfully following the word of the God deserve our prayers.

  9. Fr. Vincent Fitzpatrick says:

    On “The World Over” (Oct. 29), Raymond Arroyo interviewed Cardinal Wuerl. Buzz-words like “accompanying,” “discernment,” “acceptance,” “conscience,” etc., were coming thick and fast. About half-a-dozen times, Arroyo asked whether Cardinal Wuerl thinks that “accompanying,” or “discernment,” or “acceptance,” or “conscience” means that divorced-and-remarried people should be given Communion. Wuerl responded at length–great length–managing never to utter the word “yes” or the word “no.”

  10. SanSan says:

    Majuscule and Vincent:
    Oh my goodness. This past week I’ve been prompted to not read certain blogs, nor comment. This is the only blog that I’m still able to read. I left a prayer intention and was able to share this note. Very interesting.

  11. akp1 says:

    I’m avoiding reading most blogs, twitter, etc – sticking to prayer and good reading whilst waiting for my copy of God or Nothing to arrive – still praying now for the Apostolic Exhortation, Holy Face prayers and St. Michael the Archangel.

  12. Mike says:

    Well done, akp1. God or Nothing (which I bought on Fr. Z’s recommendation), by a man who has probably borne more burdens than any half-dozen people I know, is the most heartening book I’ve read this year.

  13. AnnTherese says:

    Chaos isn’t an enemy– it’s the prelude to critical change and growth. We are on a thrilling ride…!

    And thank you for the reminder to pray, pray, pray!

  14. Fr. Vincent Fitzpatrick says:

    I have been corrected by a friend, who counted. Raymond Arroyo asked TEN times whether “accompanying,” “discernment,” “conscience,” “mercy,” “acceptance,” etc., mean that Cardinal Wuerl thinks that divorced-and-remarried Catholics should be given Communion. Cardinal Wuerl did not answer, ever.

  15. Frank says:

    Thanks, Fr. Vincent, for bringing up that interview; I saw it when it ran Thursday evening. In addition to the dissembling you already pointed out, Arroyo at least twice asked Crd. Wuerl to confirm that part of the mission of the Church, when “accompanying” sinners, is to lead them (us!) out of our sins. (He didn’t use those exact words both times, but that was clearly the gist–you can watch the show online on EWTN’s website or on their YouTube channel.) No answer to either attempt, just more weasel words.

    I had the most amusing thought yesterday evening, after listening to Al Kresta remark on the same interview…wouldn’t it be fun to see San Francisco Archbishop Cordileone moved to D.C. to become the Archbishop there? Someone who actually thinks canon law is more than just a waste of paper? Someone who would inform the various pseudo-Catholic politicians in the capital city that they had best do some serious repentance and sacramental reconciliation before they again present themselves for Holy Communion? Not to mention bringing the hammer down on the ultra-“progressive” staff of the USCCB. Francis could bring his buddy Cardinal Wuerl to Rome to continue the revolution there…
    I don’t know how long D.C. has been in the wilderness; at least since late 2000 when Cardinal McCarrick took over, and possibly longer than that. It sure could use a house-cleaning.

    I realize this is about as likely to happen as Pope Francis suppressing the Society of Jesus (and resigning from it himself in the bargain), but hope is a virtue, right? :)

  16. Montenegro says:

    Thank you Fr. Z. for the reminder about prayer before and after reading blogs (and these days: FB posts). While I support the use of alternate media outlets for coverage and commentary of Church events (crises?) like the Synod, I deeply tire of the pearl-clutching, fatalistic, arrogant, usually-testosterone-[- deficiency -]fueled fits thrown by bloggers who are schoolboy theologians and frustrated non-bishops/clergy. Many blogs come to mind that fit this description. I’ve now been blocked from one such blog combox (and my one positive comment deleted), and blocked by many such similar personalities on Twitter. And to keep things fair, I’m blocked on Twitter by Frs. Rosica and Spodaro as well. (Then again, isn’t everyone?) :-)

    The singular pattern I see amongst such personalities is a distinct lack of Hope. Hence, your reminder to pray the Act of Hope is _so_ important. Our Lady did not appear in Fatima to say, “Lose hope! Freak out and blog like it _all_ depends on _you!_ ” No, she indeed did not. She urged us to pray the Rosary daily, and she assured us that her Immaculate Heart will triumph. Thank you again for your urging to pray. Blessed Feast of All Souls to all.

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