“The somberness of Holy Week is intensified for Catholics this year.
“The recent tidal wave of headlines about abuse of minors by some few priests, this time in Ireland, Germany, and a re-run of an old story from Wisconsin, has knocked us to our knees once again.
“Anytime this horror, vicious sin, and nauseating crime is reported, as it needs to be, victims and their families are wounded again, the vast majority of faithful priests bow their heads in shame anew, and sincere Catholics experience another dose of shock, sorrow, and even anger.
“What deepens the sadness now is the unrelenting insinuations against the Holy Father himself, as certain sources seem frenzied to implicate the man who, perhaps more than anyone else has been the leader in purification, reform, and renewal that the Church so needs.
“Sunday Mass is hardly the place to document the inaccuracy, bias, and hyperbole of such aspersions.
“But, Sunday Mass is indeed the time for Catholics to pray for “ . . . Benedict our Pope.”
“And Palm Sunday Mass is sure a fitting place for us to express our love and solidarity for our earthly shepherd now suffering some of the same unjust accusations, shouts of the mob, and scourging at the pillar, as did Jesus.
“No one has been more vigorous in cleansing the Church of the effects of this sickening sin than the man we now call Pope Benedict XVI. The dramatic progress that the Catholic Church in the United States has made--documented again just last week by the report made by independent forensic auditors--could never have happened without the insistence and support of the very man now being daily crowned with thorns by groundless innuendo."
“The recent tidal wave of headlines about abuse of minors by some few priests, this time in Ireland, Germany, and a re-run of an old story from Wisconsin, has knocked us to our knees once again.
“Anytime this horror, vicious sin, and nauseating crime is reported, as it needs to be, victims and their families are wounded again, the vast majority of faithful priests bow their heads in shame anew, and sincere Catholics experience another dose of shock, sorrow, and even anger.
“What deepens the sadness now is the unrelenting insinuations against the Holy Father himself, as certain sources seem frenzied to implicate the man who, perhaps more than anyone else has been the leader in purification, reform, and renewal that the Church so needs.
“Sunday Mass is hardly the place to document the inaccuracy, bias, and hyperbole of such aspersions.
“But, Sunday Mass is indeed the time for Catholics to pray for “ . . . Benedict our Pope.”
“And Palm Sunday Mass is sure a fitting place for us to express our love and solidarity for our earthly shepherd now suffering some of the same unjust accusations, shouts of the mob, and scourging at the pillar, as did Jesus.
“No one has been more vigorous in cleansing the Church of the effects of this sickening sin than the man we now call Pope Benedict XVI. The dramatic progress that the Catholic Church in the United States has made--documented again just last week by the report made by independent forensic auditors--could never have happened without the insistence and support of the very man now being daily crowned with thorns by groundless innuendo."
A GOOD WAY TO EXPRESS YOUR LOVE AND SOLIDARITY FOR OUR HOLY FATHER IS BY JOINING THE ROSARY FOR THE BISHOP CAMPAIGN AND BY MAKING A COMMITMENT TO PRAY ONE ROSARY A MONTH FOR HIM!
Since January of this year, 25 Catholics from 24 parishes in 19 dioceses have made a commitment to pray one or more Rosaries a month for Pope Benedict XVI. Surely, there must be many more Catholics who would want to support our dear Holy Father in this way if they knew about the Rosary for the Bishop campaign. Spread the word!
Of course, it would be appropriate to make a commitment to pray the Rosary for your own diocesan bishop also. Personally, it is easier for me to be faithful to a specific commitment than to a general intention to pray. I am grateful to those who started, promote and maintain the Rosary for the Bishop campaign. This work of the Holy Spirit, seeking the intercession of the Blessed Mother for her bishop sons, is a POWERFUL WEAPON in the spiritual warfare being waged against the Holy Father, bishops, priests and the entire Church!
More information about Rosary for the Bishop can be found here.
Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests, and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests. Amen.
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