Pastor’s Column

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

Sun, Dec 24: Normal Sunday; Matins at 9:30 pm.
Mon, Dec 25: Masses at Midnight, 7, 8:30, 10, 11:30 am, & 1pm. The Midnight and 1 pm Masses are Solemn. There is no 6 pm Mass.
Tues, Dec 26: Normal schedule. 6 pm Mass is the Solemn Mass with Guild Ceremony. A reception will follow.
Mon, Jan 1: Normal schedule; not a Holy Day of Obligation.
Tues, Jan 2: Masses at 7 am, noon & 6 pm.
Wed, Jan 3: Mass at noon.
Thurs, Jan 4: Masses at noon & 6 pm.
Fri, Jan 5: Mass at noon.

FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS

On Monday, December 18, the Holy See released the document Fiducia Supplicans: On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings. Probably many of you are already familiar with the content of this document and the controversy surrounding it, as it purports to lay out the conditions for the blessing of so-called couples in sinful relationships.
The response to this document has been nothing if not predictable. The heterodox are exuberant. Wicked priests have already started extending such blessings in a manner which validates such persons in their sinful lifestyle; certain bishops, especially in Europe, have read into the document a confirmation of their existing practice, and some have gone so far as to forbid priests from not extending this blessing.

The neo-con element, comprised at this point mostly by “professional” Catholics, has been quick to point out that the document reaffirms the traditional teaching on marriage, distinguishes between the depraved union and the persons themselves, and acknowledges the sinful character of any extra-marital use of the generative faculties. The document does, thank God, assert these. However, from there, the neo-cons move on towards castigating the faithful for their response of confusion and dismay, which they interpret as a lack of proper adherence and loyalty to the Holy See. This is gaslighting.

It is wise to refrain from speculating at intentions, as man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Sam 16:7). But even setting aside the question of motive, the document is acting as a dog whistle to liberal elements in our society, that seek to abolish entirely the Sixth Commandment, calling evil good (cf. Is 5:20).

We can be grateful to the growing number of faithful Catholic bishops, who recognize the outrage and scandal of this document and are speaking out publicly against it. These would include bishop conferences in Africa, Ukraine, Poland, Kazakhstan, as well as individual bishops in many other regions. Please pray for these and for all bishops.

As your pastor, I want to express to you my profound and lasting sadness prompted by the confusion of the last ten years, which has unsettled the faithful, emboldened the enemies of the Church, and placed a tragic stumbling block in the path of many converts. While there are many possible explanations for this confusion, all would seem to admit only of probability, even after long hours of careful study and reflection. Therefore I caution against giving too much credence to certain online pundits, who speak with a dubious authority and an unwarranted certainty. Bishop Athanasius Schneider reminds us: God permits these times of great crisis and confusion to purify our faith and our unshakeable hope in Him. In such times, we should avoid overly human solutions, which are often prompted by anger and frustration.

We are in a time of greatest chastisement. Our Lady has been warning us of these times for centuries, and we can be mindful of the words of Our Lord: I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe (John 14:29). I wish I could tell you why, and by what means, and for how long; but all of these are, at present, known to heaven alone. We must attend with loving confidence on the providence of Our Lord, who alone is our savior. At present, I invite all to enter more deeply into the spirit of reparation, and to cling carefully to the injunction of Our Lord, given under the shadow of his own Passion: Remain here, and watch with me… watch, and pray (Mt 26:38, 41). And again, what I say to you I say to all: Watch (Mk 13:37)