LIBERAL CATHOLICS = PROTESTANTS

I have recently been seeing and hearing far too many Catholics who are constantly gripping about Rome and its antiquated approach to the modern age.  So often in their ‘new’ and ‘enlightened’ way of thinking, liberal Catholics believe the Church and Our faith need to conform to the current human condition of our modern society.  They believe the Church’s Magisterium are backward and out of touch.  Yet, these same people who feel they are far more educated and enlightened by their personal opinions and knowledge are blinded to the fact that the Church has been around for 2000 years and is still the oldest most successful organization on the face of the earth.  There is only one REASON for that!  THAT cannot happen without the ability to change what is needed, and KEEP what is important! This fact alone confirms that the Magisterium and the Pope know what they are doing is right.  DON’T MESS WITH SUCCESS!

So here, I would like to address my fellow Catholics who do nothing but complain about Rome and the Magisterium.  Please understand that the Church is still here because Christ commissioned her to Preach, Keep and Protect the Christian Faith.  HE promised to keep the ‘evil one’ from overcoming it.  He also promised to send the Holy Spirit as Her permanent Guide.  I ask you my fellow liberal Catholics, who should I as a faithful catholic, follow?  YOU and your ‘withering grass-like’ whims and fancies or the  TRUE and TIME-TESTED Apostolic Faith directed by the Magisterium who HAS the Holy Spirit as their Personal Guide?  YOUR enlightened brains SHOULD tell you that it is a NO-BRAINER!  I will follow Pope Benedict XVI and the rest of the Magisterium in all matters of Faith and Morals.  Although I know, I have, and may again fail to do so, I CONTINUALLY THANK GOD for his faithfulness to OUR CHURCH and her Magisterium.  Without their guidance and direction, we would be much worse off than we find ourselves today.  The ‘enemy’ has been working OVERTIME, trying to destroy us from within.

I know that as Catholics we should be patient with our brothers and sisters of the faith.  However, many of us have been hinting and coaxing them to get in step with Rome for years.  NOW, it’s time to either NOT SPARE THE ROD, LEST WE CONTINUE TO SPOIL THE CHILDREN, or tell them to MOVE ON to their own denomination just as ‘Luther’ did.  I still pray that all may be one, but for now… if you do not LIKE the Heat in this kitchen, DON'T LET the DOOR HIT YOU IN THE BEHIND on YOUR WAY OUT!  IT is time for ALL CATHOLICS who support Rome and the Magisterium to stand up and be counted.  CLEAN out the CHURCH and get ALL the heretics out!  They do not want to listen and are just RUINING the CATHOLIC FAITH for the rest of us here in the USA.  Pray for ‘conversion’ and get BACK in line with Rome, or move on!

When they leave as I once did, they will see and discover the ERRORS of their ways.  I am SURE the Church will be there to welcome them back with open arms.  Let them go and see why so many of us (and me PERSONALLY) realize why the Roman Catholic Church is TRULY the ONE PLACE where you will find the FULLNESS of FAITH, as God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit intended!  AS those who crucified our Lord; those who oppose and persecute 'Rome' don’t know what they are doing!  THEY do not understand the JEWEL they have in the ROMAN Catholic Faith.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Do You Dread It?

This Lent the bishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg, Bishop Terry R. LaValley has asked that parish priests set aside March 26, 2011 as a day for the Sacrament of Reconciliation /Penance.  He has asked them to schedule additional time for the faithful to fulfill their yearly minimum requirement.  As Catholics, we are required to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once per year during the season of Lent.

Are you AFRAID to go to Confession?  Are you SCARED what the priest might THINK about you?  Well, I would like to share with you, my experience of going to “confession” for the first time in OVER 25 YEARS.  I was born and raised Catholic but by the time I was 26, I had left the Church and joined a protestant evangelical church.  Shamefully, I actually tried to get other Catholics to go with me; but that is another story for a later time.  I must also admit that over the years I often confessed that I would NEVER, EVER, EVER, go back to the Catholic Church. Did I say ‘never’? Well, we have all heard that before… “Never say never.”… Right?  After about 15 years in the protestant church, I began to have doubts about their beliefs and slowly attended church less and less until I just stopped going altogether.  Then I had some life changing and dramatic events in my life.  As you might expect, I looked to the only place that I knew I could find hope and help.  I turned to God.  

Although this process took a year or so, I ultimately found myself at
the doors of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg.  BOY was I scared!  I was shaking so, as I opened that door and went in.  NO, the roof did not cave in… but I did look up to make sure.   It was Saturday and I learned that confessions were being heard at this time. I approached the confessional; still shaking with my heart racing I entered the box. I was surprised when I saw that I had the option of sitting right in front of the priest. “OH NO! I’m DEAD!” I thought.  “I gotta look him in the eye? OH GOD!  WHAT have I done!?” I almost turned around and walked out I was so scared. “What is this man going to THINK of me when I tell him that I tried to lead Catholics away from the Church!?”  Then, into my head popped… “JUST DO IT”… like Nike says, “JUST DO IT!” And I did.  I sat down RIGHT in front of him.

He was reading a book and as he set it down, he lifted his eyes to me
with a wide and sincere smile. I immediately turned my eyes to the floor. I
just could not look at him. He extended his hand and I looked up at his eyes as we shook hands. I then introduced myself.  Then I froze!  I couldn’t speak.  MY lips and mouth were like a parched desert! “HOW am I going to get through this?!” I thought.  He sensed my anxiety and said in a soft voice, “It’s OK, just relax. Take a deep breath and relax.” I tried, but was not very successful.  I tried to speak and uttered a few words stumbling over them.  Then I finally got it out… “Bless me father for I have sinned, it has been over 25 years since my last confession...”  He said with a great big smile… “WELLLLLLL….” (At that instant I thought, ‘OH GOD… here it comes!")…. WEL-COMMMME Back!”  I was pleasantly surprised and so relieved. This priest was not like Monsignor Tierney whom I once feared as a child.  Maybe this isn’t going to be as hard as I thought.  I must say that as I began to share of my thoughts, my words and deeds of the last quarter century… he listened so intently.  He was sincere, genuinely concerned, loving, and encouraged me as we talked.  He made me feel so comfortable, and he even helped me with the prayers. He was truly lifting me up.  The Love I felt was amazing. "This is what Church should be like" I thought to myself. After he shared the story of the prodigal son and we discussed it briefly. He then prayed the words of absolution and my eyes welled up with tears of joy.  The BURDEN off my shoulders was enough to make me want to SOAR!  It was then I remembered one of the best things about confession… the RELIEF of Guilt and the JOY of being reconciled to God and his Church.   Once again, I was assured that I was once again in ‘right relationship” with my God.  I saw Father chuckle, as he noticed me let out a HUGE sigh of relief.  As I got up to leave, Father LaValley said to me. “Welcome home, we're SO glad to have you back.” I exited  the confessional with tears in my eyes.  I now go to confession at least once per month, whether I really need to or not.  I sit before the Blessed Sacrament before I go, and pray, collecting my thoughts, and reviewing my sins ... as well as my sins of omission. 


I was in that confessional no more than 5 minutes and I didn’t have to pay a dime. Going to confession regularly keeps me in right relationship with God, his Church, and especially with MYSELF!   Now I  go and CELEBRATE the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly.  The Sacrament is SOOOO precious to me ... "Priceless"!  I think today, the  Sacrament of Reconciliation is nothing like i remember.  Sometimes I actually look forward to going. There is GENUS in CATHOLICISM! -- People just don't know what they are missing!  It may be the best kept secret in the CHRUCH!!!

Please check your parish bulletin for the times when the Sacrament of
reconciliation is celebrated. During Lent I am sure you will find Penance Services, Parish Missions, Stations of the Cross, as well as extended times for confessions.  I encourage you …. Please go and celebrate this wonderful Sacrament, and do it often.  Jesus misses each one of us who are not in right relationship with him.  He wants us ALL to be the VERY BEST person that we can be, and he wants to give us the grace to do so.  One more thing... don’t worry about being embarrassed about your shortcomings.  I have heard several priests say… “There is nothing that you might tell me that I haven’t heard many times before.  You just aren’t that original!”  I am also sure that over time those coming into the confessional are just like people you might meet at work.  You know the face, but you don’t remember every detail of the conversations you’ve ever had with them.  They all seem to just blend into obscurity.   I truly beleive that God give his priests an additional special gift.  The gift to forget the sins of many... including mine.  Thank you Lord for the thought you put into the Sacraments... There is GENIUS in CATHOLOCISM! ( I know... i'm repeating myself again.)

Go and celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week.  You KNOW that you will be glad you did.  In addition, going to confession may just make THIS celebration of the Feast of Easter the best you’ve had in years!

Until next time,
May God Bless and Keep You.