Good morning. Is there something you have that is worth dying for? Today we recall the life of Saint Thomas More and the life of Saint John Fisher; both men died rather than set aside their beliefs for the political pleasure of their king. Both went to their death rather than to deny the indissolubility of Marriage. Seems somewhat strange given today's lacking regard for the sacrament of marriage. Here recently we are reminded of the lives of other such martyrs closer to home. With the recent release of the movie For Greater Glory, a true life depiction of the events in Mexico of the rebellion against the Mexican government which had outlawed the public practice of Catholicism, we are reminded that there are things worth dying for. (The timing of this movie I must say seems prophetic) More recently in the Philippines terrorists threatened to disrupt an annual public Catholic procession, yet the people paraded on; and increasingly there are growing terroristic threats which jeopardize the free practice of our faith worldwide. In the Middle-East Catholics are being driven from their homes. And, here in this country, Catholics are under the threat of being denied the right to practice their faith freely as a result of the Health and Human Services Mandate. As we begin this Fortnight for Freedom let us pray for the grace and fortitude to stand up against the efforts of those who threaten the free practice of our faith. We live in a time where for many the Catholic Faith is approached rather casually and for many in the face of so many worldly comforts it seems hardly worth dying for. Yet, over the course of two-thousand plus years millions have sacrificed their lives rather than deny their faith. As we reflect today upon the lives of Saint Thomas More and Saint John Fisher, and consider how they and millions of others through the history of our faith have sacrificed and risked to practice their faith we need to consider how wonderful it is to live in a country where until recently our right to freely practice our faith has been guaranteed. We need to consider how good we have it. Are we willing to stand by and allow that to be taken from us? We need to pause and look to the lives of these two great men whose lives we honor today, and all the saints and martyrs who took to heart the words of today’s Gospel and chose heavenly treasure over the things of this earth. Through the centuries and even today there are those who realize there are things worth dying for. Are we prepared to do the same? Make a great day!
Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saints Thomas More and John Fisher.
Most people forget that they stood with Catherine when they speak of Sts Thomas More and John Fisher.
ReplyDeleteSacramental Marriage is between two Baptized people, man and woman. The rest are considered Natural Marriage, which are STILL VALID.
It has long been my belief that had the Bishops stood up back in the late 60's early 70's for Marriage as they are now against the Mandate, we may have avoided the struggles we are having today. Instead, many bought into the thinking of Henry VIII in the 'changes' made in the name of 'compassion' by those in charge of teaching about permanency of marriage -- and it entered the Tribunals of the US as well.
Why, for instance, are we in the US REQUIRED to have a forced unilateral no fault divorce before we can go before a Tribunal?? To protect themselves for some reason? Or to 'ensure' that there is 'no hope' for reconciliation?? No hope? There is always hope in Jesus Christ, ESPECIALLY with the Grace of His Sacrament.
But it surely does seem to 'absolve them' of their duty to encourage Reconciliation... sorry for the sarcasm. =)
Too often today, adulterers are eventually greatly rewarded after all of the blaming, lying, divorcing, then civilly marrying their new partner. Later, deciding to return to the Church, they are almost assured that the first marriage (more likely to be VALID if done in the Rota) will be found to be Null, allowing them to have their civil one convalidated. Meanwhile, they are to live as brother and sister for the sake of their children.
OH?? For the sake of THEIRS? What about ours?
That is something that they were NOT advised to do when seeking the divorce from their first spouse.
Seldom are they told about the Lord's Command in 1Cor 7:10-11. Elsewhere, you have made reference to Familiaris Consortio--
In his writing, JPII said:
But it is also proper to recognize the value of the witness of those spouses who, even when abandoned by their partner, with the strength of faith and of Christian hope have not entered a new union: These spouses too give an authentic witness to fidelity, of which the world today has a great need. For this reason they must be encouraged and helped by the pastors and the faithful of the church.
~~FAMILIARIS CONSORTIO Pope John Paul II 12/15/1981 (Sec 20)
Yet, we first spouses are most often NOT encouraged or helped by anyone in the Church other than to continually be pointed to the Tribunals. In Italy, there is a woman who HAS had the assistance of a Bishop for many years, Maria Pia Campanella.
http://www.zenit.org/article-13239?l=english
That's where I first heard of her, yet there has been NOTHING in the US like this for those of us who live our vows. There are some trying to get a movement started. Should have happened in the 70's.
May MORE of us have the courage of Sts Thomas More and John Fisher, to stand up for Marriage Permanency (Indissolubility) as they did with Catherine. For in standing up for HER, they also stood up for the Church... for She is HIS Bride.
Today, far too many stand with Henry.
God bless you!