What are these "Missionaries of Mercy" that Francis has sent out around the world?Is this a joke?
I've written this before; there are no sins a priest in the confessional in your local parish cannot forgive under the usual conditions, admission, sorrow, contrition and a firm purpose of amendment.
There are four penalties reserved for the Holy See. This means the priest can forgive but the penalty is reserved for the Holy See to determine. The matters is to be referred to Rome for a determination.
Of the four sins, three concern clergy, one, the profanation of the Holy Eucharist could affect the laity.
So, what is this joke of the Missionaries of Mercy that Francis has sent out to the world?
What a sham.
What a mockery.
27 comments:
The question is what are people to do when there is (a) no confessional, (b) no priest prepared to hear confession on a regular basis - not just 10-30 minutes before Holy Mass, (c) no catechesis for decades so people don't know what they should confess? This is what the spirit of Vatican II brought upon us and no amount of Missionaries of Mercy are going to make any difference. The fact that the number of Missionaries of Mercy is being kept wilfully low is also another signal that this sacrament is not being taken seriously at Pontifical level in keeping with their obsession with ecumenism.
There seems to be a strategy of negation and trivialization of the pontificate of Saint John Paul II. The Synod on the Family followed this pattern, as well. Will we see a distortion of the Theology of the Body, next?
“Go and sin no more,” is now a hate crime.
There isn't any question that His Holiness Pope Francis takes seriously the Holy Sacrament of Penance. I state confidently that among the Popes during my lifetime, Pope Francis has far and away promoted Confession and exhorted the Faithful to flee Satan.
From the beginning of his Pontificate, Pope Francis has time and again called us to go to Confession. Unfortunately, millions of Catholics have ignored Pope Francis' exhortation in question. Therefore, that is on them.
A Google search reveals the tremendous amount of times that Pope Francis has promoted the Sacrament of Penance.
Vox-permitting, I offer the following:
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Pope Francis says: GO TO CONFESSION! | Fr. Z's Blog
wdtprs.com/blog/2015/01/pope-francis-says-go-to-confession/
Jan 24, 2015 - Francis talks about confession more than his predecessors...
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Pope Francis promotes Confession during Year of Mercy
nickmeisl.blogspot.com/.../pope-francis-promotes-confession-during.htm...
Feb 5, 2016 - Both by bringing the bodies of two great confessors to St. Peter's Basilica and in a recent book, Pope Francis encourages us to get to confession ...
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Don't be afraid or ashamed to go to confession, pope says ...
www.cruxnow.com/.../dont-be-afraid-or-ashamed-to-go-to-confession-p...
Aug 3, 2015
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Pope wants parishes to promote Confession
irishcatholic.ie/.../pope-wants-parishes-promote-confes...
Jan 28, 2016
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Pope: Germany Needs Confession - ChurchMilitant.com
www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/pope-germany-needs-confession
Nov 20, 2015
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Pope promotes confession with 24 hours for the Lord ...
www.catholicireland.net/pope-promotes-co...
Mar 21, 2014 - Pope Francis together with the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation has launched a prayer action called '24 hours for the ...
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Pope Francis Challenges You: “Go to Confession”
https://www.catholiccompany.com/.../pope-francis-challenges-you-go-to...
May 31, 2014 - Pope Francis Challenges You: “Go to Confession”.
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Pax.
Mark Thomas
I believe that the following is responsible in major fashion for the collapse of Confession within the Church, at least, Latin Church: The removal of confessionals from our churches.
Out of sight, out of mind.
I realize that there are parishes where confessionals remain within the main church. But in my diocese (and many additional dioceses), for example, confessionals in all but a handful of parishes were removed decades ago from the main churches. The confessionals were relocated to chapels.
Actually, confessionals were replaced with "Reconciliation rooms". In one parish after another, if a person didn't know better, he would assume that the "Reconciliation rooms" are simply closets.
It is interesting that in my diocese and elsewhere, the parishes have placed large walk-in baptismal fonts (they resemble coffins) within the main churches. But even where smaller baptismal fonts are located, my point is the following:
The Sacraments of Eucharistic, Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Matrimony are celebrated within the main church. However, at many parishes, the Sacrament of Confession, has been removed from the main church and placed in chapels. Again, even in chapels, one is likely to find "Reconciliation rooms" rather than confessionals.
Out of sight, out of mind. Unless one hopes to destroy the Holy Sacrament of Penance, it doesn't make any sense to locate "Reconciliation rooms" to chapels.
Again, out of sight, out of mind.
To begin to restore the Holy Sacrament of Penance to the Latin Church, parishes must build actual confessionals and place confessionals within the main church.
It would also be, oh...just a bit helpful, if priests actually promoted Confession during sermons.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Vox, if I may add to an earlier comment of mine...
I said the following: "From the beginning of his Pontificate, Pope Francis has time and again called us to go to Confession. Unfortunately, millions of Catholics have ignored Pope Francis' exhortation in question. Therefore, that is on them."
That is correct. But perhaps I should also state that the above is, in a real sense, upon many priests. When many of our spiritual fathers at our parishes mention Confession rarely, then some (or much) of the blame for the collapse of Confession falls upon them.
There are Catholics who, no matter how well a parish may promote Confession, are not keen to receive the Holy Sacrament of Penance. But I believe that if exhorted regularly by their priests, many Catholics who haven't been to Confession for years would very much like to receive God's pardon via Confession.
During Lent, my diocese promotes "The Light Is On For You" initiative to promote Confession. From what I have experienced at parishes near, said initiative has been successful in bringing people to Confession. During Advent Season, my diocese also flood various parishes on certain days with priests to hear confessions. That has worked well for my diocese. But other than the above seasons, Confession is all but dead in my diocese (and I have heard priests state that).
-- What we need are priests who exhort us regularly during sermons to go to Confession. They could conclude each sermon with simply..."remember to go to Confession".
-- Parishes should have several signs that read: "Go to Confession".
-- At least every so often, Confession should be made available during Mass.
-- Very important: Place confessions within the main church.
There are easy ways to revive the Holy Sacrament of Confession within the Latin Church. Pope Francis has tried to do so. Now, it's up to bishops and priests to support the Holy Father in that regard.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Vox, I completely agree with you. This is just marketing/P.R. tricks rather than substance.
Though I read the results of the Google search from the posts above regarding Bergoglio and confession, there's a difference between saying it and promoting the proper understanding of confession. So much of what Bergoglio has done with regards to the theology behind the sacrament.
Why go to confession when everybody, Catholic and non-Catholic, are going to heaven and are forgiven regardless of contrition?
How many Lutherans and divorced and remarried Catholics are receiving the Lord right now because of Bergoglio?
my blog: aguardian.blogspot.com
Please let's consider the following: The Missionaries of Mercy have, in just a couple of days, generated a great deal of attention among religious and secular news outlets. Via a Google News search, I just found 21,200 news media mentions of the Missionaries of Mercy.
As time goes on, they will receive even greater news coverage. In particular, when a Missionary of Mercy visits a diocese, the local Church and news media outlets are bound to generate stories about the priest in question. In turn, that will focus the spotlight upon and garner attention for the Holy Sacrament of Penance.
Finally, think of the good that the Missionaries will bring to the Church and world. Speaking relatively, they may be small in number, but then so is the amount of Catholics devoted to the TLM. But due to the holy zeal of Traditional Catholics, they call great attention to the TLM and various issues within the Church.
Thanks to the obvious holy zeal that they possess to preach Jesus Christ and mercy to Catholics and non-Catholics, the Missionaries of Mercy will, in their way, will call great attention to God and holiness. With God's help, that is what just a handful of Catholics can accomplish.
Therefore, with our hearts and minds open to the things of God, let's reconsider certain attitudes that some of us may have in regard to His Holiness Pope Francis' initiative related to the Missionaries of Mercy. Let us as holy Catholics rejoice in and pray for the holy success of the Missionaries of Mercy.
If anything, should the Missionaries of Mercy help to restore even one lost sheep to communion with God, then all of Heaven would rejoice.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
@ Mark Thomas
You place your comments under a video, which gives evidence of the Pope's departure - in his own words - from the Catholic teaching on the Sacrament of Confession.
There are questions raised about the need for special "missionaries of mercy", as though until now the Church has not known and preached and provided for the reception of the fullness of God's mercy. It is clearly an arrogant statement about the Church.
The Pope has made himself known long before he became the pontiff for the uncanny ability to tickle all ears with smooth speech. He is the reconciler of the irreconcilable, of course only in the eyes of irrational people, who do not care much about reason and logic, doctrine and absolute truth.
You are not addressing any of the questions raised, but instead you are providing evidence for the Pope's unmatched ability in saying one thing while meaning another.
Dorota:
You hit the nail on the head about these comments from Mark Thomas.
Not making any aspersions towards him personally, I often wonder about the source of the almost invincible irrationality in some people. Cognitive dissonance? Diabolical disorientation?
I can understand seeking comfort in one's own delusions but why the dogged, tiresome and insistent commentary that inflicts them on others who are not happy with the present scandalous state of affairs?
This is nothing new for Catholics, as Vos says. We see here again the Pope's PR genius.
The charism or purpose of the priests in the Mercy Fathers is to travel around giving "missions," usually at a parish. Occasionally I've seen them come in when the pastor is on vacation or it's a special time. They have struck me as a bit pedantic and stylized, rather than passionate preachers. Of course that may be the few I happen to see.
So here we have a religious order whose priests have the sole purpose of spiritual renewal by visiting. Suppose they aren't doing so well? Suppose they are retiring more priests and not filling up with young ones, causing a lethargy in the order? Or, suppose with thousands of parishes being closed, and thousands of people bailing from the Church, they just aren't getting the same high volume of requests for parish missions?
Voila, enter Francis & Pals. Take this disintegrating group of priests, put them to a specific task, which will help reinvigorate them. At the same time make it appear he is blessing the entire world with a special, unique opportunity for confession.
Well, we who already have the chance to go to confession "anytime" (as in 3:00-3:45 every Saturday!) know the hype is not quite true. But that is OK because those who don't understand the basics of confession at least now have been advised by the secular media that they can go!
@ Mark you are flogging a dead horse, I can understand how hard it is having to face this very sad situation within our church, witnessing the elevation of certain Cardinals / Bishops who support homosexuals by C Jorge is within its self and evil act. The lord clearly says homosexuality is a grave sin. Jesus said I have not come to change the law but fulfill it.. So your claim, * All Is Well*, is like when our lord said to Peter, Get behind me Satan, the very same thing is being said whilst C.Jorge is running around destroying the church.. .. C Jorge believes his version of the church is right, not the lords. You really need to wake up and smell the roses or should I say thorns. The bottom line is this defense for a so-called Pope is irrational and delusional … (C Jorge although rejects the seat of Peter) is a chastisement from our lord… The mystical body of Christ is on the cross.
The devils will have unusual power, the immaculate purity of our Order, and of others, will be so much obscured that there will be very few Christians who will obey the true Sovereign Pontiff and the Roman Church with loyal hearts and perfect charity. At the time of this tribulation a man, not canonically elected, will be raised to the Pontificate, who, by his cunning, will endeavor to draw many into error and death. St. Francis of Assisi
Dorota said..."You place your comments under a video, which gives evidence of the Pope's departure - in his own words - from the Catholic teaching on the Sacrament of Confession.
"There are questions raised about the need for special "missionaries of mercy", as though until now the Church has not known and preached and provided for the reception of the fullness of God's mercy. It is clearly an arrogant statement about the Church."
Dorota, who determined that there "are questions raised about the need for special "missionaries of mercy"? I don't know who determined that. The Missionaries of Mercy have been commissioned by the Vicar of Christ to go forth to preach the Good News and hear confessions. The Missionaries of Mercy will also conduct spiritual retreats in dioceses throughout the world.
Countless Catholics, I among them, have rejoiced at Pope Francis' initiative in question. The Jubilee Year of Mercy has generated countless graces.
For example, last week in Rome, the Jubilee of Mercy attracted 60,000 people to St. Peter's Square where graces abounded. Dorota, you may not have any use for the Jubilee. However, many Catholics differ with you.
Dorota, the bottom line is that His Holiness Pope Francis has been called by God to teach, govern, and sanctify the People of God. In that capacity, the Vicar of Christ has instituted the Jubilee of Mercy.
I am more than happy to participate along with the Vicar of Christ in the Jubilee of Mercy.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Dorota said..."You place your comments under a video, which gives evidence of the Pope's departure - in his own words - from the Catholic teaching on the Sacrament of Confession."
I disagree that Pope Francis has departed from the Church's teaching in regard to the Holy Sacrament of Confession.
I disagree with the Remnant video's claims associated with the video in question. I don't accept the claims that Chris Ferrara and Michael Matt presented on the video. I don't accept their speculation in question.
Too many times on the video they said such things as...Pope Francis "seems" to have said...Pope Francis "seems" to mean...Pope Francis "seems" to believe...
Once again, we have people placing their spins on what they "seem" to believe that His Holiness Pope Francis said.
Rather than follow The Remnant's interpretation of the Pope's sermon and comments in question, I went directly to Pope Francis' remarks and found them to be 100 percent Catholic. Pope Francis delivered a 100 percent Catholic talk on the Holy Sacrament of Penance.
In fact, Pope Francis echoed a 1997 A.D. Holy See document that said the following:
2. "The minister of Reconciliation should always keep in mind that the sacrament has been instituted for men and women who are sinners. Therefore, barring manifest proof to the contrary, he will receive the penitents who approach the confessional taking for granted their good will to be reconciled with the merciful God, a good will that is born, although in different degrees, of a contrite and humbled heart (Psalm 50:19)."
Pope Francis is 100 percent correct that (unless there's concrete evidence otherwise) the very fact that a person simply approaches the confessional is sufficient reason for the priest to accept the penitent's desire to be reconciled to God.
That is the teaching of the Catholic Church. That was taught by the Church long before Pope Francis' Pontificate. Pope Francis simply upheld the Church's teaching in question.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Dorota said..."You are not addressing any of the questions raised, but instead you are providing evidence for the Pope's unmatched ability in saying one thing while meaning another."
Dorota, I responded originally to Vox's comments on the Missionaries of Mercy. Vox was kind enough to have permitted me to offer a view on the Missionaries of Mercy that differed from his. What questions did I not address?
Thank you.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
What diocese do you refer to?
Dorota and Anonymous - Re. Mark Thomas and his endless comments.
I just Scroll Up and up and up and up and up - until I reach a comment (by others) that actually RELATES to what the post is about.
This is a perfect way to keep my sanity and refrain from making myself as unpleasant as I find his logic. I am sure he means well in his spirited defence of what many of us find indefensible. However, it gets really tedious and could drive many people away from this excellent blog, which would be a crying shame.
God's will be Done said..."So your claim, * All Is Well*..."
When did I say that? I have never said that "all is well" within the Church. I have known for decades that all is far from well within the Church. The Church (certainly the Latin Church) is in liturgical and spiritual shambles.
That said, from Her very beginning, all has never been well within the Church. The Church began with Saint Peter, a Pope who had experienced his share of dreadful behavior, and Bishop Judas betraying Jesus Christ.
From there to date, the True Church has been filled with sinful clergy, religious and lay (I am first in line) Catholics who have persecuted Jesus Christ. We have a history of heresy, schism, rotten behavior...
There is much holiness and good within Holy Mother Church. There is much evil within the Church. All is not even close to being well within the Church. Please show me where I said otherwise. Thank you.
That said, I am not despondent in any way in regard to the collapse of the Church...which, I fear, will only grow even more profound. I am saddened but not despondent. We have hopeful signs such as Vox and his blog. He has been persecuted for his love and defense of Holy Mother Church. But he continues forward.
There are many additional Catholic bloggers and countless folks we will never know who daily promote holiness within and without the Church. Again, along with the bad is the good. Look for that which is good.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
That's right, Mark. We have to look for that which is good but we shouldn't cover-up that which is bad. Even if it comes from a pope. To do so would make us accessories to the confusion this pope is sowing. If we want to correct things, we have to see things as they are and not delude ourselves and others.
Anonymous at 5:19 p.m...."I agree that we should not engage in cover-ups, within and without the Church. His Holiness Pope Francis has, for example, asked the Bishops of Mexico to act in transparent fashion. Pope Francis has said many times that he desires honest, transparent discussions, even spirited discussions, within the Church. He has said he wants us, in respectful fashion, to speak frankly and honestly to each other, including the Pope.
To return to the topic at hand, the Missionaries of Mercy, I offered my honest opinions in response to Vox's post. I believe that Vox focused exclusively upon Confession and the Missionaries. There is more to it than that.
The bishops will use the Missionaries of Mercy to lead "various retreats, parish and diocesan missions and other initiatives connected to the jubilee, with a particular concern for the Sacrament of Reconciliation."
Pope Francis has not sewn confusion in regard to the Missionaries of Mercy. I don't understand why anybody would oppose Pope Francis' Missionaries of Mercy initiative. But some people do. Oh, well.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Vox-permitting, I would like to address Anonymous' comment. Anonymous said..."To do so would make us accessories to the confusion this pope is sowing."
Let us address the "confusion" that "this pope is sowing". There isn't any question that His Holiness Pope Francis has, for example, uttered off-the-cuff remarks that spurred confusion within the Church. He has also uttered incomprehensible statements. He has forced at times the Holy See Press Office to clarify his remarks.
But far more often than not, the "confusion" that has surrounded Pope Francis has not flowed from Pope Francis. The "confusion" has been the work of other people.
The Remnant video of Michael Matt and Chris Ferrara's claims about Pope Francis and the Holy Sacrament of Penance is the latest example in question.
Thanks to the video in question, certain Catholics have claimed that Pope Francis has "departed" from the Church's teachings on Confession. Sorry, but a reading of Pope Francis' comments about Confession proves otherwise. In no way did Pope Francis say anything contrary to the Church's teachings in regard to Confession.
On the Remnant video in question, Michael Matt and Chris Ferrara several times state that Pope Francis "seems"..."SEEMS" to say this or that. Again, they claim that Pope Francis "SEEMS" to say... "Seems" is a "weasel word" that people employ when they wish to place their spin upon another's person's words.
Thanks to the Remnant Video in question, certain folks have been whipped into frenzies..."The Pope has "departed" from the Church's teachings on Confession! Oh, my, the Pope said that all we have to do is just show up at Confession...that's suppose to prove that we're sorry for our sins! We have never heard such a thing in the history of the Church!"
Guess what? We have. After I watched the Remnant video, I read Pope Francis' sermon/talk in question. I found that unlike the Remnant's claim, Pope Francis' declarations in question were orthodox.
As I noted in an earlier post, years and years ago, long before Pope Francis' Pontificate, the Catholic Church declared that priests must "keep in mind that the sacrament has been instituted for men and women who are sinners. Therefore, barring manifest proof to the contrary, he will receive the penitents who approach the confessional taking for granted their good will to be reconciled with the merciful God, a good will that is born, although in different degrees, of a contrite and humbled heart (Psalm 50:19)."
Huh? I thought that Pope Francis had overthrown the Holy Sacrament of Confession? I thought that he had uttered something false? He didn't. The Church commands Her priests to exercise extreme mercy in the confessional.
The Church goes so far to teach that unless manifest proof to the contrary exists, priests are to "take for granted" that the penitent's mere presence in the confessional is sufficient to demonstrate that the penitent is sorry for his sins.
That needs to be repeated as the True Church's teaching in question destroyed the Remnant's video in question.
Again, contrary to The Remnant's claims, Pope Francis' approach to Confession is 100 percent Catholic. The mere presence of a Catholic in a confessional is enough for a priest to believe that the sinner in question is sincere in his desire to obtain God's forgiveness.
Pope Francis is 100 percent. A penitent at Confession need not subject himself to the third degree to demonstrate his sorrow. The fact that he simply approached a confessional is enough to demonstrate his good will and desire to receive absolution.
In this case, The Remnant, not Pope Francis, has sown confusion. Pope Francis simply presented the True Church's teachings on Confession.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Scroll up - Scroll up - Scroll up. How long do we have to do this
bat and ball game with Mark Thomas? It is SO BORING.
I am happy with all of my commenters. It is a most interesting and vigorous debate but please, be nice to one another, we have enough slings and arrows from others.
As for this post; my intent was to show the absurdity of these "Missionaries of Mercy" and the idea promoted by Rome and the media imbeciles that they will forgive those sins reserved for the Holy See.
Nonsense!
Any priest in any confessional can forgive any sin under the usual conditions, even abortion.
What he cannot do is lift an "excommunication" due to certain sins. There are a numbers of examples of these but other than abortion, profaning the Blessed Sacrament and potentially hitting the Pope, is the only one pertaining to the laity. The others affect priests or bishops - the violation of the confessional seal and the consecration of bishops illicitly (Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and at one time, the SSPX as example).
This was my point on the mercyfest of flying forgivers, it is a joke and a show for an ignorant population of Catholics and an evil media.
Mark's comments is the very reason why the church is in a mess, hence the false election of cardinal Jorge Bergoglio by the Cardinal Danneel's Mafia club that opposed Pope Benedict XVI. Your heart must be troubled Mark, fear not Jesus is still the head of his Church during her persecution and we will see the resurrection when *Go out and make a mess* is removed by the lord.
Anonymous at 9:19 A.M. said..."Mark's comments is the very reason why the church is in a mess..."
I am pretty sure that the Church was in trouble long before I had come along.
"Your heart must be troubled Mark..."
My heart is troubled over my sins. If that is your meaning, then my heart is troubled.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Vox said..."This was my point on the mercyfest of flying forgivers, it is a joke and a show for an ignorant population of Catholics and an evil media."
Vox, let's hope that there is more than that to the Missionaries of Mercy. Anyway, we will find out in time.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Church's glorious years Holy year 1950 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br2KM3dGbBA
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