WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

I doubt not then but innocence shall make false accusation blush, and tyranny tremble at patience.

Living the Faith is made a little easier when... .

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  • ... a Supreme Pontiff is a consummate theologian whose grace-filled words of truth, faithful to the received Tradition of the Church, empower believers to remain steadfast in the Faith.
  • ... a bishop is more concerned about the salvation of souls than politics and economics.
  • ... a priest is courageous, speaks the truth in love, and stands up boldly for his flock with charity and grace while celebrating the Mass with due reverence.
  • ... fellow parishioners believe in the Real Presence of Jesus, worship God in the beauty of holiness, and defend life from conception to natural death.

Conversely, when the going gets tough and a pope or bishop or priest becomes, how shall we say, intellectually and verbally cumbersome, and demonstrates odd or uncharitable behaviour, faithful Catholics fervently pray for their spiritual fathers.

And when... .

  • ... a bishop gets distracted by power and/or material concerns, or becomes decadent and bound to worldly preoccupations, we offer him charitable fraternal correction and call for him to be held to account.
  • ... a priest submits to lust and abandons his vows or abuses another person, we pray for him, the community and the victim-survivors, and insist that appropriate action be taken to hold the offender to account, and that every measure of protection and support be offered to the wounded and most vulnerable.
  • ... any fellow Catholic engages in rude polemics, or demonstrates questionable behaviour toward another, we follow the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ:

Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 18:15-20

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

We would all do well to remember that the door to the confessional is (or should be) always open!

ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Lady of Walsingham: pray for us.

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