tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post8198863455866680117..comments2023-12-16T16:17:43.886+00:00Comments on Fr Ray Blake's Blog: My People are Suffering!Fr Ray Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584140126211527252noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-20186192917736498112010-04-05T19:25:17.751+01:002010-04-05T19:25:17.751+01:00A very late contribution to this post:
I don't...A very late contribution to this post:<br />I don't think we should be too downhearted. These scandalous sins do not follow from what we believe, from what the Church teaches; therefore they cannot invalidate it. It is precisely because of what we believe that we recognise them as sins and reject them.<br />Christ promised to be with his Church until the end of time; he founded the Church on a Rock and promised that it would not be overcome by the powers of hell (even if they do try to undermine it from within and without); the teaching of the Church is reliable.<br />It may be that some bishops have not lived up to their commission and have failed. It would not shock me if the Pope had not handled the situation perfectly (he can teach infallibly but Christ did not promise impeccability). As a matter of fact, I believe he is a good man and has done a good 'job'. Whatever the case may be, we know that Christ rules the church through his pastors, despite their human imperfections, and our trust is in Him, who cannot fail us.RJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13871618901190898384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-90594214321446514972010-03-29T14:44:12.231+01:002010-03-29T14:44:12.231+01:00Father: I love your blog and it's one of the f...Father: I love your blog and it's one of the first things I log on to when I switch my PC on in the morning. <br /><br />However, lately I do feel that you have a bad case of the blues and some of your posts have been overly pessimistic. The Palm Sunday Mass I attended in my parish was the busiest I have seen for a while (I was in a good position to judge as I was reading). The priest who celebrated assured me that all other Masses (including the 8.00am) were better attended than usual. Today I was at a lunchtime Mass in the city centre which, from the numbers in attendance, a stranger might surmise it was a Holy Day of Obligation. <br /><br />Yes, times are tough and our enemies are massing for a great onslaught on the Holy Father and the Church. But we are stronger than them because we have God on our side.<br /><br />Sobrii estote vigilate quia adversarius vester diabolus tamquam leo rugiens circuit quaerens quem devoret; cui resistite fortes fide scientes<br /><br />Keep the faith.Crux Fidelishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03949811845963570447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-637748072841367462010-03-28T22:14:26.579+01:002010-03-28T22:14:26.579+01:00Father, if you want some positive media coverage o...Father, if you want some positive media coverage of Catholics, you could have a listen to this:<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00rd4ds/Desert_Island_Discs_Frank_CottrellBoyce/josephmchardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738907399491732201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-76182485336383733092010-03-28T21:23:03.484+01:002010-03-28T21:23:03.484+01:00This too shall pass, and as far as the press is co...This too shall pass, and as far as the press is concerned, it will pass very quickly!<br /> <br />"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."<br /><br />I used to think it should be the other way around, because many wax cold lawlessness will abound, but NOW I see it really is BECAUSE lawlessness abounds that people wax cold!Marianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805433224633562648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-10294848151711078992010-03-28T20:16:19.620+01:002010-03-28T20:16:19.620+01:00Lucy
your comment is the most authentically Christ...Lucy<br />your comment is the most authentically Christian one here. Most priests are demoralised - please pray for us.Fr Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-53379576543484708272010-03-28T15:22:13.735+01:002010-03-28T15:22:13.735+01:00I am terrified that I would be one of the weak in ...I am terrified that I would be one of the weak in faith - and at times I am unfaithful, too. May God have mercy.Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14907284328066937884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-14426870685240455352010-03-28T13:46:16.493+01:002010-03-28T13:46:16.493+01:00Dear Nicholas,
Thanks for publicising this. The ...Dear Nicholas,<br /><br />Thanks for publicising this. The "stance" of the CES is a disgrace, and needs to be publicised as widely as possible. I have seen several of your posts recently and have been informed by them. Sadly, I have not been edified. But I need to know.Simon Platthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16196039882299400327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-11112689035842408462010-03-28T11:57:43.407+01:002010-03-28T11:57:43.407+01:00I think it is time to move on from the paedophile ...I think it is time to move on from the paedophile scandals and consider the future. <br /><br />The Catholic Education Service has written to me giving the following quote from Baroness Morgan speaking in the House of Lords:<br /><br /><i>“We recognise that a one-size-fits-all approach to SRE will not work. ... programmes of study are written at a very high level and why schools can still teach SRE in a way that reflects parents' wishes and the ethos of the school. ... What we propose achieves the right balance. It does not, for instance, require Catholic schools to teach young people where to access an abortion, ... “Faith schools will still-as now-be able to teach pupils about the stance of their church ..."</i><br /><br />The CES went to say that they hoped that I am reassured by that statement. However I looked up Hansard to see what Baroness Morgan actually said:<br /><br /><i>“We recognise that a one-size-fits-all approach to SRE will not work. That is something that the noble Lord will not be surprised to hear me say. That is why the programmes of study are written at a very high level and why schools can still teach SRE in a way that reflects parents' wishes and the ethos of the school. However, there is a common core of knowledge and skills that all children should receive. It is not right that schools can choose simply not to teach about contraception or same-sex relationships. What we propose achieves the right balance. It does not, for instance, require Catholic schools to teach young people where to access an abortion, but it requires them to teach young people where they can access health information and advice.”<br /><br />“Faith schools will still-as now-be able to teach pupils about the stance of their church, so Catholic schools, for example, will be free to communicate the Catholic Church's views about the use of contraception, but they will be required to teach that contraception exists, is available, and to say that the church's point of view is not the only one.”</i><br /><br />Nothing like half-truths and selective quoting to prove a case.<br /><br />Nicolas Bellordsantoeusebiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07032325567755620919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-22276600720956348632010-03-28T10:02:25.162+01:002010-03-28T10:02:25.162+01:00Mikesview
Grumpiness. Sorry. On the other hand,...Mikesview<br /><br />Grumpiness. Sorry. On the other hand, I do incline to the view that tired, puerile irony in pursuit of weary, dreary, partisan finger-pointing is surplus to requirements, in the context. <br /><br />Everything is not about the "Council", whether with a plus or a minus. The Trads are no different from their enemies in this regard. Their black-and-white world can accommodate only this single datum, pre- or post-, from which the 'correct' response to every phenomenon imaginable can be instantly arrived at; Gerald Warner and Joan Chittester lobbing bricks over the barricade in an eternal 1968.<br /><br />Get beyond 'Crisis-tianity'. It's not about the wretched 'Council'.Anagnostishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03706938507885553293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-82016789501351072322010-03-28T03:31:20.045+01:002010-03-28T03:31:20.045+01:00"the answer is the Cross. Who will accept it?..."the answer is the Cross. Who will accept it?"<br /><br />More than you might imagine, Father, and you (and faithful catholics like you) will be one of the reasons that many will fully return to the Faith as Alan of TorchOfTheFaith so beautifully described in his comment here.<br /><br />Thank you too Annie and Shadowlands for the Julian quotes:<br /><br />Annie said...<br /><br />"All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well."<br /><br />shadowlands said...<br /><br /> "Since I have set right the greatest wrong, you can know that I will right all lesser wrongs."<br /><br /> Jesus words to Mother Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love: 13th revelation: Chapter 29.epsilonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785182500278281351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-16458936625296631762010-03-27T23:52:46.410+00:002010-03-27T23:52:46.410+00:00Mike
No climate change here.Mike<br />No climate change here.Fr Ray Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05584140126211527252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-85488126659925089532010-03-27T23:17:04.148+00:002010-03-27T23:17:04.148+00:00The cries of indignation about sexual exploitation...The cries of indignation about sexual exploitation from people who have no explanation or justification for any sexual ethic whatsoever is laughable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-25169745146262433202010-03-27T21:50:19.709+00:002010-03-27T21:50:19.709+00:00moretben.
I am intrigued; why do you bid Sirian t...moretben.<br /><br />I am intrigued; why do you bid Sirian to grow up?mikesviewhttp://mictel08@yahoo.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-72801306545554106862010-03-27T21:47:28.969+00:002010-03-27T21:47:28.969+00:00Mike, the coldest winter in northern Europe for 30...Mike, the coldest winter in northern Europe for 30 years is a strange weather phenomenon. Other places have been exceptionally warm at the same time. It proves nothing one way or the other.<br /><br />The climate has always changed. We appear to be going through a period of more change than in the previous century or so. It will have a social and political impact. Which will get our problems off the front pages.<br /><br />Most people who get sensitive about the notion seem to think it is an attack on their right to drive a gas-guzzler to the local shop. That is another issue with other consequences which go beyond the fact that people are letting their hard-earned wages go up in smoke.Physiocrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682019625346594568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-52415601295285604192010-03-27T21:31:10.107+00:002010-03-27T21:31:10.107+00:00Well I met up with a friend mom of 9..5 living chi...Well I met up with a friend mom of 9..5 living children..ardent pro-lifer, radiant, husband ex pharmacist due to conscience..they give talks to young people,..this week in Knock. Their 8 & 9 year old children are so cathechised they live their faith. Somehow God gave me..a weak, scared of pain & suffering, lukewarm Catholic...an enormous strength & gift of 12 souls..10 living..if the Faith can come to me through my wonderful family & all my children practice..well Fr Ray..anything is possible. I think we need to move out of this depressed state..the Lord can work marvels..no use us droning on about some evil priests or others..like the poor we will always have them. But one Cure of Ars down Brighton way could do an enormous amount of good. Chin up..Jackie's back to help you Fr Ray! Oh you find that bit depressing! lol<br /><br />God bless & Keep the Faith!Jackie Parkes MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16693505024823229152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-636785757721978992010-03-27T21:22:24.145+00:002010-03-27T21:22:24.145+00:00Physiocrat said:
“And on top of that there is cli...Physiocrat said:<br /><br />“And on top of that there is climate change and the strange weather phenomena that are going with it.”<br /><br />You mean like that coldest winter for 30 years we’ve just had, for example? Please, Physiocrat, don’t get taken in by the alarmists. It’s nothing like as bad as some of them would have you believe. <br /><br />Sorry to deviate from the very important topic of this post by Fr Ray but I couldn’t resist that.<br /><br />On the more important topic of the post let us bear in mind several things.<br /><br />Firstly, there are Catholics in some parts of the world who are having to bear a much heavier Cross than anything that anybody has to put up with in this country.<br />Secondly, let us pray for all Catholics who are being persecuted in anyway whatsoever. Let us pray that they are given the grace to ignore their persecutors where this is possible and to bear their suffering where it is not. <br />Thirdly, let us remember what Catholics and other Christians had to put up with for decades in Communist countries and let us remember what Catholics had to put up with in this country after the Reformation. <br />Fourthly, let’s remember that “Sticks and stones break my bones but names don’t hurt me.”<br />Fifthly, yes, this sorry mess (and the unscrupulous accusations in much of the media) may be helping the atheists to reap a larger harvest of souls but that should just mean that we stand up to them more strongly. It should also spur on a more effective catechesis of our Catholic children so that they are better able to withstand the onslaught from those who wish us harm.<br />Sixthly, let us remember that the Church is a divine institution. There may be people in the Church who have failed to follow Christ but that does not mean that Christ did not establish His Church.<br />Finally, may I say that I came back to this Church a year ago after an absence of about forty years and I do not see anything in what has been going on to make me feel that I made the wrong decision. I see the evil that has been perpetrated but I see far more good in the Church than any evil. More importantly, none of the evil makes the Sacraments any less effective. <br /><br />Here’s something which might help to cheer you up, Father. It’s a sad story in one way but heartening in another. One Tuesday, recently, I went to Confession. When I arrived in the church there was quite a number of people waiting to go to Confession. As it got nearer and nearer to my turn the time got nearer and nearer to 12.15, the time when Confession was timed to stop. Which would come first: 12.15 or my turn? 12.15 came and went and still the priest carried on hearing Confessions. But he was due to say Mass at 12.30 so he couldn’t go on much longer. Then my turn came. I was in luck. But the moment I left the confessional he turned the light out and all the people after me were too late. I don’t know that the queue is quite that big every Tuesday but I can say that there are quite a number of people going that day most weeks.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-52205793704732254712010-03-27T20:47:36.325+00:002010-03-27T20:47:36.325+00:00It is inevitable that Satan must attack his greate...It is inevitable that Satan must attack his greatest enemy on earth, Holy Church. We would not be the first generation to think we are living in the days when Satan has been loosed for a little time (The Apocalypse, Chapter 20). But perhaps we are?Gerontiusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-89050244413295780792010-03-27T20:21:33.273+00:002010-03-27T20:21:33.273+00:00Perhaps a thought from St John of the Cross would ...Perhaps a thought from St John of the Cross would be helpful:<br /><br />“Clearly it is always useless to be disturbed, since being disturbed is never any help. Thus, if the whole world were to crumble and to come to an end and all things were to go wrong, it would be useless to get disturbed, for this would do more harm than good. Enduring all with tranquil and peaceful equanimity not only reaps many blessings but also helps the soul so that in these very adversities it may manage better in judging them and employing the proper remedy. <br /> <br /> In all events, however unfavourable, we ought rather to rejoice than be disturbed, and bear them all with equanimity so as not to lose a blessing greater than all prosperity.”<br />Ascent of Mt Carmel Book Three Chapter 6, 4<br /><br />Perhaps also a quote from St Teresa of Jesus (Avila):<br />"All things pass; God never changes"<br /><br />"If the whole world were to crumble..." !RJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13871618901190898384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-12695111026801557612010-03-27T20:04:14.675+00:002010-03-27T20:04:14.675+00:00"Since I have set right the greatest wrong, y..."Since I have set right the greatest wrong, you can know that I will right all lesser wrongs."<br /><br />Jesus words to Mother Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love: 13th revelation: Chapter 29.mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06962374096401238994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-77905674182395877432010-03-27T20:04:14.676+00:002010-03-27T20:04:14.676+00:00Hang on in there, Father!Hang on in there, Father!Patriciushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08906131174326742939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-78761688260441938292010-03-27T19:41:15.482+00:002010-03-27T19:41:15.482+00:00I second Moretben.I second Moretben.berenikehttp://exlaodicea.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-82141259752662957252010-03-27T19:35:03.013+00:002010-03-27T19:35:03.013+00:00In times of trouble physiocrat the people love a s...In times of trouble physiocrat the people love a scapegoat, we are that scapegoat.Volpius Leoniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10273209983337706262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-58994563436959369902010-03-27T19:16:51.743+00:002010-03-27T19:16:51.743+00:00All shall be well, and all manner of things shall ...All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.<br /><br />Well, that's what I think. Might not be easy, but it's all going to be ok.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10653640127655491512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-7900471476464508502010-03-27T19:10:06.350+00:002010-03-27T19:10:06.350+00:00Where else is there to go Lord? You have the messa...Where else is there to go Lord? You have the message of eternal life.<br /><br />Those who have misused their position will have to answer for it. It is their responsibility. We have no option but to stick in there.<br /><br />We should not worry too much about stuff in the newspapers. The headlines will soon be filled up with other things. We have not felt the real force of the economic catastrophe. The deluge will be unleashed after the election, with mass unemployment, strikes, riots, more power for the police, surveillance, inflation. It will be a combination of the 1970s unrest, 1984 and the trouble with the miners, and the financial instability of the early 1990s all at the same time.<br /><br />And on top of that there is climate change and the strange weather phenomena that are going with it.Physiocrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682019625346594568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-69935491212699715962010-03-27T18:54:21.709+00:002010-03-27T18:54:21.709+00:00The treatment we are receiving from the world is t...The treatment we are receiving from the world is the normal experience of Catholics living in a land governed by heretics and pagans. <br /><br />We have been blessed for a short time, thanks to the centuries of Catholics fighting and dying for Catholic emancipation, with some small amount of legal equality, however we stopped the struggle to soon. <br /><br />Emancipation and equality which was founded on the sand of the fickle mercy of infidels based as it always is on expediency was always going to be a mere pause in the fight between them and us.<br /><br />Catholics in attempting to fuse with other people have renounced their own identity. Yet no where have they ever truly succeeded in obtaining from their fellow citizens recognition as natives of equal status.<br /><br />The world has yet long to wait for eternal peace.Volpius Leoniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10273209983337706262noreply@blogger.com