A Word from Pope
A little learning is a dang'rous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again.
An Essay on Criticism, Alexander Pope (1709)
The disciplining of a priest by his bishop,
as in the case of Fr. Treco by Bishop Steven J. Lopes, is no light matter.
Too often, it seems, enthusiasts of a certain ilk - those laced or possessed with "a little learning", which "is a dang'rous thing" - infect a community with the bile of personal preferences. Those preferences may contain elements of the Truth. Sadly, however, whatever smattering of truth may be present is then suppressed and an agenda of not so pleasant fictions emerges to fray the edges of a community and eventually rend it entirely.
Pray for the
Minnesota Ordinariate Community.
Opinions traversing the internet have amounted to much useless scuttlebutt and digital chaff. It is far too easy to get on one's online soapbox and pretend at papal supremacy. It is possible, and quite necessary for self declared internet pundits, to avoid saying or writing anything to confuse matters in a way that proves uncharitable and that obscures the truth. Some forums, however, had best conduct a collective examination of conscience for fanning the flames of ill will.
1567 "The priests, prudent cooperators of the episcopal college and its support and instrument, called to the service of the People of God, constitute, together with their bishop, a unique sacerdotal college (presbyterium) dedicated, it is, true to a variety of distinct duties. In each local assembly of the faithful they represent, in a certain sense, the bishop, with whom they are associated in all trust and generosity; in part they take upon themselves his duties and solicitude and in their daily toils discharge them." Priests can exercise their ministry only in dependence on the bishop and in communion with him. The promise of obedience they make to the bishop at the moment of ordination and the kiss of peace from him at the end of the ordination liturgy mean that the bishop considers them his co-workers, his sons, his brothers and his friends, and that they in return owe him love and obedience.
Obedience in Christ requires a docile spirit, a spirit that bears just or unjust punishments with charity, clarity and composure. For those striving to be obedient to the will of God, God gives grace to those who with complete sincerity of heart ask Him for said grace.
Ask God for His grace to guide us together forward. Trust in His mercy.
Titus 3:1-7
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Procedamus in pace.
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JAMES 4: 13-17
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain”; whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
PSALM 54
Behold, God is my helper : the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
ST THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX
Let us not grow tired of prayer: confidence works miracles.
THOMAS SOWELL
It is amazing how many people think that they can answer an argument by attributing bad motives to those who disagree with them. Using this kind of reasoning, you can believe or not believe anything about anything, without having to bother to deal with facts or logic.
MARCUS AURELIUS
There is but one thing of real value - to cultivate truth and justice, and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men.
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