In light of the fact of the continuing erosion of our civil liberties and the marginalization of religion (Christianity) and religious (Christian) values, and in light of the fact that we are in the mysterious period between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost, I share here a video from the USCCB, posted in 2013. A reader sent it to me. It only has 8481 views as I post this.
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I used this video as a intro and “please come take your seat” video for a Saturday morning mens’ group I helped run at my parish. (Rosary at 5:30am, everybody out by 8am.)
No one commented on the clip, but I always enjoyed it and marveled that it came out of the USCCB. As hard-identity as they get, I think.
Funny how I watched it, but the counter is still 8481
The number did not change when I watched it either, Netmilsmom.
8,617.
Sad to say, I too marvel that the group that spent a century effectively pleading the preferential option for the State is now imploring its flock to fast and pray that we may be freed of that same State’s shackles. Whether their corporate heart will belatedly embrace holiness over expediency remains, I fear, to be seen.
Prayers, petitions at Mass, Rosaries & Holy Hours are wonderful…along with the forgotten weapon of fasting…but we must have these issues preached upon from the pulpit! Please, Fathers, preach!
I am shocked, thoroughly shocked, that the USCCB is calling us to prayer, fasting, Mass, The Rosary and Holy Hours. There is hope for their conversion yet.
Maybe they’ve come to realize that dialogue with God is more important than dialogue with men.
I second the motion, ReginaMarie. Many will not see the USCCB message. It is up to our pastors to shake us up. Now THERE is a reason for the Pope’s call to: “Hacer Lio”
I’m pretty sure I saw a Dominican of St. Joseph’s Province in that video. Definitely a thumbs up from me, then!
Nice sentiment, but if the USCCB really believes in the efficacy of fasting and abstinence, then do as the Bishops of England and Wales did and bring back the year round practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays. Actions speak louder than words.
They have called.
Notwithstanding anything else they may have done or not done, they have called.
Who will answer?
The version I viewed missed a couple of slides — those that explain why/how prayer and fasting, undertaken in a spirit of obedience, are a participation in the afflictions of Jesus Christ. Col.1:24
Too “doctrinal” I guess.
This is very timely. I am on deployment. My last of many. Every month the military joins the fed gov with celebrating “cultural diversity” i.e. Black History month, Asian and Pacific American Month, Hispanic American month etc. This month is LGBT..lmnop month. At the military installation where I am deployed there are many activities planned for celebrating this “culture.” A 5K run, bingo, trivia night, and something else. I believe it to be a conscience effort to push this agenda which in my 19yr military career I have never seen. This is particularly important because the military is one of the last places where men are men. If the gov succeeds in indoctrinating the nation’s young military members of this agenda, … I don’t know. It is depressing and prayer and fasting for reparation is entirely appropriate for the promotion of this disordered lifestyle.
Heavenly Father please help us.
Seems we all have it wrong according to Matthew Vines book God and the Gay Christian.
I won’t summarize I’ll just provide the link for you to read which is good but here’s a snippet and don’t comment on that without reading the link.
‘Should this change the way we look at this?’- The church has done this before on issues ranging from slavery to the solar system.
Vines writes, “Christians did not change their minds about (the sun revolving around the Earth) because they lost respect for … the authority of Scripture. They changed their minds because they were confronted with evidence their predecessors had never considered.”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/06/03/christianity-catholic-church-gay-homosexuals-column/9926489/
And now? I don’t know what to think on the subject after reading a cogent argument. Maybe Father Z can help out?
Kay……Read the link but fail to see this as a “cogent” argument.
What Lin said.
Of course nothing is to be said in principle against a same-sex friendship among people feeling homosexually, except perhaps danger and what we call “occasion”: They just have to not commit sodomy.