Święty Zygmuncie, królu Burgundzki, uproś nam u Boga tę łaskę, abyśmy naśladując cię za grzechy nasze żałowali i szczerą czynili za nie pokutę, a otrzymawszy odpuszczenie, abyśmy mogli stanąć bezpiecznie przed tronem sprawiedliwego ale i miłosiernego sędziego. Przez Chrystusa Pana naszego. Amen.
From the New Yorker – A Church Asunder
It is true, Griswold says, that from —the classical point of view— sexuality —is to be exercised only within heterosexual, monogamous marriages.— But he notes that the church has, through time, come to an understanding of marriage and sexuality that is less rigid than that prescribed by the Bible and church tradition. —The Episcopal Church over the years has come to, let us say, an understanding of the human person that is more sophisticated, possibly, than the understanding on the part of the Biblical authors.—
Tip o’ the biretta to Western Orthodoxy
From Conciliar Press via Orthodixie: CHRISTIAN FAITH AND SAME-SEX ATTRACTION —“ A New Book from Fr. Thomas Hopko
An excerpt is on-line —“ I recommend it.
From Sacramentum Vitae via the Young Fogey: Vocations: stop the insanity!
To which I would only add prayer. How many parishes pray for vocations at each Holy Mass?
My Pastor recalled a visit from a German Bishop to a Polish Diocese. When the German Bishop heard of the number of seminarians he assumed it was for the entire country. When he heard it was only for one diocese he was flabbergasted. He asked how it was possible. He was simply told that —we pray for vocations.—
The article could just as easily apply to Western Europe. The priests and bishops live a solitary, yet comfortable —“ on the government dole —“ life.
That’s what I’d want, a steady stream of income, little work, no intimacy, and doing it all for no purpose —“ because you’ve lost any shred of faith.
If you are going to exist as a business then there are many other business models, even in the human services field, that can provide a better life (in this world).
It all starts with faith. If I didn’t believe that Jesus was present in the Church in a unique, special, and extraordinary way —“ in both Word and Eucharist, then why would I want to stand there in layers of hot vestments or sit in an uncomfortable pew? Since I acknowledge the truth of Christ’s presence, my standing there only reminds me of my unworthiness and His great love and mercy.
Lord, Jesus, the fields are ripe for the harvest. Call men to reap the harvest for Your kingdom and glory. Amen.