A Clarification About “Attacking” Bishops

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Fr. Angelo M. Geiger

The word “attack” in the title to my previous post “Why Those Who Publically Attack Bishops Are Wrong,” is not a synonym for “criticize.” I take this opportunity to clarify my meaning here in a separate post where it won’t get lost in the comments. I also intend here to deal with certain other issues raised in the comments.

I thought it would be clear from the section on “Fraternal Correction” that I was distinguishing between “attacking” and “criticizing.” I wrote the following:

All of this is not to say that fraternal correction of our superiors is never in order, or that we are never justified in having recourse to higher superiors in the Church, or in publically correcting scandal, even when bishops commit it. You can read St. Thomas Aquinas on the subject here. I don’t pretend to have all the answers to the complex situations of our age, but I do know that matter is not as simple as some Internet pundits make it.

Continue reading →

Why Those Who Publicly Attack Bishops Are Wrong

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Fr. Angelo M. Geiger

There is reason to be ambivalent about Michael Voris’ resolution not to publically criticize the Holy Father. Mark Shea has shown good example for having been quick and firm in his commendation of Voris. I certainly could have been more gracious in the matter, especially considering that Voris has refused to back down in the face of the reactionary backlash. But even Mark Shea, as gracious as he is, acknowledges the same defect that I have found necessary to emphasize, namely, that Voris’ “gospel of anger” has created the reactionary “Frankenstein” that now wishes to eat him. In my estimation this is because his argument for his silence about the Holy Father is on shaky ground.

Voris has worked hard to distinguish between his jihad against the bishops and his reverent silence concerning the Pope. He says the Pope is different, but to my mind does not really show how. And his reactionary friends along side of whom he used to fight have now pointed their weapons at him. Still, I do commend him sincerely for having drawn this line, and I do not want this post to be perceived as fundamentally polemical. Voris is sincerely trying to work his way through the quagmire of modern Church life and it is not easy. Continue reading →

The successors …

Quote

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Fr. Angelo M. Geiger

The successors of the Apostles must also expect to be repeatedly beaten, by contemporary methods, if they continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that can be heard and understood. Then they can rejoice that they have been considered worthy of suffering for him. Like the Apostles, we naturally want to convince people and in this sense to obtain their approval. Naturally, we are not provocative; on the contrary we invite all to enter into the joy of that truth which shows us the way. The approval of the prevailing wisdom, however, is not the criterion to which we submit. Our criterion is the Lord himself. If we defend his cause, we will constantly gain others to the way of the Gospel. But, inevitably, we will also be beaten by those who live lives opposed to the Gospel, and then we can be grateful for having been judged worthy to share in the passion of Christ.

From Pope Benedict’s homily for Epiphany

Boo Hoo to Burning Bridges

Posted on November 12, 2008 by Fr. Angelo M. Geiger

Some bishops are on the right track. We should blow up all the Catholic hospitals before we let Lord Obama and his minions control them. Of course, the Catholic “elite” thinks differently:

But Dr. Patrick Whelan, a pediatrician and president of Catholic Democrats, said angry statements from church leaders were counterproductive and would only alienate Catholics.

“We’re calling on the bishops to move away from the more vicious language,” Whelan said. He said the church needs to act “in a more creative, constructive way,” to end abortion.

Catholics United was among the groups that argued in direct mail and TV ads during the campaign that taking the “pro-life” position means more than opposing abortion rights.

Chris Korzen, the group’s executive director, said, “we honestly want to move past the deadlock” on abortion. He said church leaders were making that task harder.

“What are the bishops going to do now?” Korzen said. “`They have burned a lot of bridges with the Democrats and the new administration.”

Teach the faith and burn those bridges. We don’t need them. We are headed away from hell and hopefully won’t be going back.

A bow of the head to Patty.

Can You Not Watch One Hour?

Posted on February 22, 2008 by Fr. Angelo M. Geiger

The Holy Hour was a success.

Here again is the post with links to the flyer and bulletin anncoucement. Please spread the word. And here is the program with are using for the holy hours.

In March the third Thursday will be the 20th, which happens to be Holy Thursday. Our Mass will be at 5:30 pm and the Blessed Sacrament should be reposed at the Altar of Reposition by 7:00 pm or shortly thereafter. It would not be appropriate to conduct a holy hour with vocal prayers; however, I am still encouraging men to come, that evening and adore in silence for the intention of our novena.

It is interesting to note that Thursday evening is a most appropriate time for a holy hour, since it is the time when our Lord went through His agony in the garden. Can you not watch one hour with Me? Our Lord pointed out to St. Margaret Mary that the Thursday evening holy hour was especially pleasing to Him. How much more, a holy hour on Holy Thursday evening.

Pray for Success of Holy Hour Novena

Posted on February 20, 2008 by Fr. Angelo M. Geiger

Tomorrow night at 7:00 pm we will have the first of nine holy hours for men in preparation for the elections in November.

All those in distant lands, kingdoms and fields of battle who will not be able to come, and all wives, damsels and maidens, please pray for the success of our efforts, that Our Lady of Victory will lead those She wants to be here to get out of the Lazy Boy. Thank you.

Fathers Praying for Fathers

Posted on January 29, 2008 by Fr. Angelo M. Geiger

Please excuse a more local concern. I will justify this post on the basis of its illustration of Knights of Lepanto Spirituality.

The knights here in Griswold are organizing a series of holy hours for men. Our third Thursday discussion group meeting will go from less prayer and more talk to more prayer and less talk. Our exact plan is to organize a novena of holy hours for men between February and October. The object is to have Fathers and Sons pray for fathers: fathers of families, fathers within the Church and fathers within civil society.

We do a lot of complaining and nowhere near enough prayer. We are all very concerned about the future of our country with the upcoming elections, and in Connecticut specifically, many are upset by the recent decision of the Connecticut bishops to go along with our anti-Catholic legislature and permit Plan B contraception in Catholic hospitals. It is time for men to come together and storm heaven that we might find the fortitude to regroup the Church Militant and fight for what is right. . . and do it in an honorable way.

I always say that the spirituality of the knight, that is, masculine spirituality, is concerned with translating faith and prayer into action. For us men, we easily understand the action part, but usually it is not based on faith and prayer. Hence, such things as sports becomes our religion. (Don’t forget that this Sunday.) This format for our holy hours is a great way to put prayer first in a masculine way.

Here is the flyer for our holy hours, and here is a blurb for Church bulletins. Anyone who is in the vacinity is free to print them out and do what you can with them. Ask your pastor before you post them in your church vestibule.

Mary Victrix

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