Interesting Noises

The Holy Father has received and will drive a second hand car given to him.

Yet, its not only 'old bangers' that are capable of making interesting noises.

Hard on the heels of the Catholic world absorbing His Holiness's criticism of those who believe in a 'different kind' of Resurrection to that which the Church teaches (a perplexing statement), as well as interesting noises on a possible new debate on relaxing the rule of clerical celibacy, more interesting noises come today from the Pope with some delicate and sensitive teachings on the eternal salvation of atheists and agnostics.

While these developments serve as an interesting point of contact in the 'Court of the Gentiles', I would, as his spiritual son, like to hear from the Holy Father some bold teachings that not only shake me out of my spiritual complacency to embrace repentance and the love of God, but rouse in non-Catholics as well teaching that urges sinners to repent, to change, to worship, to love God. The Church exists for Salvation. Her mission is to call men to repentance and into the Ark of Salvation. Jesus made no promises to those outside of the Church, He only made a promise that the gates of Hell should not prevail against His Church.

"The pillars are fine. You don't have to knock down the pillars to rebuild!"

The noises coming from Rome, if put together, form a rather disturbing and even alarming jigsaw puzzle and I cannot help but wonder if something is missing. When Our Lord was asked about Salvation, He seemed to set the bar incredibly high - so high in fact that disciples asked more or less said, "Really? Well, that seems to rule out nearly everybody!'.

As his son, I do not wish to see the Holy Father challenge me in the Faith I have received from all his predecessors. I would like to see the Holy Father challenge me to follow Jesus more closely and love Him more than myself, instead of myself.

I would like to hear His Holiness make statements that challenge, too, our society here in the West and especially in the United Kingdom, if only because we live in an age when sin is being dressed up as something good, vice is being sold as virtue and such evils as abortion, same-sex marital unions and attacks on marriage, the family, the sanctity of human life and on the dignity of the human person are so rampant. Jesus loves us. Mary loves us. How sad they must be that we do not want to love them!

In such a time, it seems almost unreal to hear only 'conciliatory' tones from Rome. My fear is that the World is about to witness what it believes is the building of a new and glorious Church that is willing to accommodate the errors of a new age, while in fact it is witnessing the Church that is 'falling into ruins'. Popularity with liberals and agnostics may make everyone feel warm and fluffy, but does it save souls?

Such extraordinary times surely call for extraordinary acts of penance on the behalf of those who wish to save souls.

Your thoughts?

Join me in praying the Litany of the Holy Name of Mary, for his papacy and for his intentions. May the Lord continue to guide Pope Francis as Chief Shepherd to all of the Faithful and grant him wisdom and protection against his enemies.