The Present Concerns in The Church

Source: brettmccracken.com

In 1967, I chose to become a member of the Roman Catholic faith. The Roman Catholic Church was going through an upheaval at that time; statues were being tossed and devotions discarded. There were times when I actually wondered why I even left the Anglican Church because my new place of worship seemed so similar to my previous church.

The Latin Missal was gone, and I even discovered in the confessional, that I could choose if I wanted to take the birth control pill to prevent a pregnancy in my early months of marriage. The priest told me to do whatever I thought was best. It shocked me to hear that, but without an awareness of the true meaning of being Pro-Life, I did not pay much attention.

For the first fifteen years of my Catholic life, I was especially blessed because I had a faithful Catholic husband who urged me to get to Mass on Sundays, even when I was feeling tired and lazy. I thank God for his quiet steadfast faith that provided me with the direction I needed.

Then I was privileged to meet two priests who gave me good spiritual direction; Father Tom Raby who lived in Kingston, and wrote a popular column in the Catholic Register and an Oblate named Father Andre Steinmann. They nourished within me the traditions of the Catholic faith that had been neglected during my earlier instruction.

Then I met Our Lady in a garden at a retreat house. No, she did not actually appear to me. It was a full-size statue of the Mother of Jesus and a director who gave me the Magnificat as y meditation; through the Mother, I was introduced to the Son.

Jesus was born into my heart in 1982, and continues to teach and guide me through the Holy Spirit. My faith was further embellished through seven years working beside a strong, traditional Jesuit named Father Fred Power, S.J. He died in November, 2017 so he is not having to suffer the pain of the present crisis within our Church.

And now, in this time of a great reckoning with the discovery of multiple sexual scandals, I am trusting in the Holy Spirit to personally keep me on track, console those in need of comfort, and inspire the changes necessary to clean house.

And as I heard a priest say on a podcast, there is no better person to do that cleaning than Our Lady. Long ago, I learned that a priest who loves Mary, the Mother of Christ, as the woman in his life, will remain faithful to his celibacy. In his trials, she will console him.

The Catholic Church will grow from this difficult time only if those in charge humble themselves, and provide the whole truth. We have some excellent leaders in our church, and they know who they are. It is time for them to stand tall and be heard. Every priest, bishop, archbishop or cardinal who is living a chaste life must be willing to defend our faith from the pulpit. Let us pray for them, as they need our support.

The time has come for those with negative agendas that do not serve truth and traditional Catholic teaching to be exposed, no matter how much it hurts.

Years ago, I met a religious sister who sat before me full of anger and she asked me:  “Why do men have seven sacraments available to them and women only six?” That day in 1985 I learned about the radical feminist agenda that had infiltrated my adopted church. She left my table quickly when she discovered I was not in agreement with her views, but I am glad that I had this experience. Some lessons are not easy, but they do make us stronger.

May God bless those who are dealing with the scandalous situation recently revealed, and especially, assist the victims. Through the glorious mercy of God, healing will come to all who are in need.

 

Joan Levy Earle was an author and artist living in Cornwall, Ontario. She was the former Associate Editor of the Canadian Messenger of the Sacred Heart magazine.

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3 Comments
  • Peter Bisson, SJ
    Posted at 01:27h, 08 May Reply

    Thank you Joan!

  • Peter Chouinard
    Posted at 06:12h, 08 May Reply

    Ms. Levy, Peace!

    Well written! Thank you for penning this beautifully written article. I have forwarded it along to a few folks.

    May Jesus continue to guide your heart and mind in strong support of our Church.

    Blessings
    Peter Chouinard
    Willow Grove N.B.

  • darcy Mann
    Posted at 10:05h, 08 May Reply

    No one likes to discuss the sex scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church over the past several decades. Yet, it has to be the number one priority that the leaders must address openly as the Church moves forward. When having conversations with people outside the Catholic faith, that’s the number one topic they all want to discuss. And as a Catholic, there is no defense at all for these heinous crimes, especially against helpless children. I do pray that the Church Leaders are more open about cleaning out this evil that has infiltrated the church.

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