I don’t have in mind to become a doctor or else to give medical advice on what to do or how to prevent the coronavirus! Yet as a married priest I can’t help it, in writing about some parallel lines with our basic idea of married priesthood.
Fear. If languages divide us, yet one common language was seen throughout the whole world these last weeks: FEAR. When people are afraid, one is surprised what they might do. The case of the corona beer which clearly has nothing to do with the sickness has been victimised…just because it has the corona name, many people are not buying it any more!!! It’s incredible, yet when fear takes over, common sense goes out!
What did we do as a Catholic Church for so many years? The fear of death and hell has made many people submissive to our teachings. I do know of cases where at the point of death, some people have left all their possessions to the church in the belief that they would have won heaven!! Alas, their children might have gone hungry or became poor in the meantime!
In this context, now I do see why so many people are afraid to share their stories of love with a priest. Fear takes over. Even though we promise to change any details in order to protect their identity. How can we liberate these people from the slavery of fear?
Now I do understand what a friend of mine used to say: fire does not kill many people. Panic does! In fact many people in a fire die because of panic and not of fire in itself! Who hasn’t seen the crowds in the supermarkets where some people came to blows in order to buy basic items? Some psychologists called it the fear of the unknown.
Some people panic when the priest declares himself to be married. They want to stay but their panic takes control and they go to a ‘normal church’ to get married or to get baptised. There isn’t an adult faith. It’s just convenience! They are not born fighters! A married catholic priest is an unknown entity in their religious background! It’s fear of the unknown!
Look how people invaded some supermarkets and bought more than enough portions of basic needs! Some people rightly say that the longest journey in the world is not a geographical destination but rather the I to become WE! The supermarkets gave enough proof that we need to work more on community feeling and understanding. It’s one of the main missing type of work in many parishes! We still find it too difficult to leave behind the factory of sacraments to start community building as a main issue in parish work.
One of the expressions which is has become fashionable is the internet of things. Well, in some countries they have been locked in. It goes without saying that many people have to revert to the internet to spend their time and/or to communicate and/or to buy some necessities. We are experiencing a social experiment where we are practically living just with our family members. All other people are ‘virtual’.
Well, many parishes and priests have been caught on the wrong foot. How many of them can use the internet in order to proclaim the Good News? Although many of them have social media accounts, yet they have never used the internet as a medium for their work! They still relied on churches to meet people. Yet, people, especially the young ones, are practically 24/7 on the internet. Shall the coronavirus scare teach them a lesson to start using the internet more? Can we use it for the married priesthood? This was one of our thoughts at the beginning and it still is. We weren’t allowed space in a ‘normal parish’. We didn’t find it a problem because we already knew that the internet would have gained more popularity. Consequently we would meet more young people online rather than in a ‘normal church’!! One has to note that the internet is not to be used simply as a space for mass or for other lecture type of work!!
Within the virtual world, how can we enhance the sense of community? This is going to be our next challenge. People meet online, easily. Yet it doesn’t turn them into a community. One of them is the exchange of views or ideas. We do need to respect others especially when we do not agree. We can’t call others names! We cannot judge others. We have to see the frail, human face behind the monitor or the written message.
The work of community building is a never ending job. It’s not always full of roses, although even roses have thorns! We need to have more people who believe that as a community we can achieve more and better. One, on his own, cannot achieve much.
Yes,,,great title you gave the article,”,Daniel,,coronavirus and the married priest.” We are in total lockdown here in Italy. Not even Easter we will be able to attend mass. I watch it on line live from my parish with only the priest saying mass. It is so sad!!! Yes,,many,,especially young people use internet. They do meet people on internet now adays. The only thing is,,we really don’t know that person on line. That is risky!!! You are right,,most old fashions traditionals view a married priest as if he is not a priest. They want the priest to remain alone,,without a woman in his life. They think the priest is some sort of God,,or a Robot,,for God forbid if the Catholic Church ever will allow married priests. I have a great feeling,,the Germans will be the ones who will change this corruption. Let’s all keep praying for ”Optional Celibacy” soon!!!! amen!! Blessings to you all.
An interesting article sent by one of our most devoted readers: https://churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/outreach-missions-articles/301448-loving-almost-every-second-life-pastors-wife-kay-warren.html
Well the situation in the world is such that my attempt to forgo the internet is down the tubes, so here I am again.
Quickly thank you to everyone for your prayers for Peter. He is better and well on the road to make a complete recovery.
Communities come with my faces. Collectively humanity is a community and during this pandemic, we quickly see how much we share, our common fears, our common vulnerabilities, our common resolve to overcome and our common hope of better days ahead. Do we know everyone personally in this community of humanity ? No, it is impossible, we know of a small group and have relationships with a even smaller group of this shared community of earth.
But communities are also our countries; the city or town we live in; the neighborhood; our own family circle– and eventually, we are in community with the Trinity. And every community will be made up of stranger and friend alike; those whose company we enjoy and those who’s company we tolerate. And same goes with internet “communities”
The biggest difference to communities on line is we are embolden to either be the best version of ourselves or the worse. Things we would never say to our friend face to face, or even an annoying co worker, behind our screens we find the courage to show sides of ourselves we normally hide in polite society, yet when we are honest conveying are thoughts clearly and with compassion, we are heard in ways we cannot fore see.
So yes, strangers on the internet can be a “community” but never mistake that for friendship. But just because we are not friends, doesn’t mean we don’t share a common cause, a common sadness, a common hope.
On this blog, the cause is a married priesthood, the sadness is for relationships with priests that are doomed or destroyed due to forced celibacy and the hope forced celibacy will one day be replace with optional— and the one thing the current state of affairs has shown me, change can come swiftly– I never thought I would see a day when I cannot go mass on Sunday, and even Easter is “cancelled”; so optional celibacy in my day, is possible– but at this moment in time, it is not my biggest concern
Since the thread title mentioned coronavirus, it is not off topic to address it.
I wrote a poem back in 2014, I don’t recall why I wrote it, so obviously the situation that inspired it might have seem dire at the time, yet with time proved to be forgettable.
I don’t think this will happen with the pandemic. The effects of this will be felt for years, and has changed the world in a way, much like 911 did, but on much grander scale.
So I offer it, and hope it brings some small comfort in this time of confusion and fear
Troubled Days
If I were to ponder on the evil that might be
and focus my heart’s attention on the dangers I cannot see.
My spirit would surely follow the darkness in its constant search
for beautiful peace to swallow and precious freedom to besmirch.
Yet my mind will not wander down that black path
my thoughts to you Lord Jesus will I firmly latch
Your promises; Your grace; Your unfailing truth prevail
In all uncertainty, storms and humanity’s conscience fail.
For mightier are Thee than whatever seeks our harm
Please take us under Your wing and give us shelter from alarm
Thank you Lord Jesus for love that cannot be denied
and for light and for goodness, treasures shadows cannot hide.
Praise to You slaughtered Lamb of God
who is risen to reign supreme over all lands
The Word of God made flesh
The Unending name of I AM.
Promise 2014
Dear Promise CAN,
I am so glad that you are back. Also, I am so happy to hear about Peter. God is good all the time!
We are having adoration to the blessed sacrament every day (until permitted), however, no mass.It is hard to believe what this 2020 has bringing to us so far!
Let’s keep praying so God can see us with mercy!
Sending you a big hug and I hope I can hear from Cat soon.
Canadian2705
Yes, God is good, and this pandemic was not his idea or sent to punish the world. However he did warn us in Scripture these types of things would happen and encouraged us to stay strong in our faith and trust in Him.
Our diocese has completely shut down the church, no adoration, no weddings with guests, but the priest is allowed to marry people if they desire, no funerals only burials with a small number of family attending, no baptisms or confession except in cases where death is imminent. I am sure your diocese will follow suit as cases rise in your province.
I was never gone for good, I was merely trying to limit my internet over Lent, but since I am on it so much now, being told to stay home, it has become a way to connect to the outside world, so I think God understands. As for Cat, she might be still reading entries, but I am pretty certain she will not comment again until she feels it is safe to do so.
Between Peter’s health crisis and this pandemic, I am again reminded how fragile life is here on earth, and while we are healthy and able, we shouldn’t take one single breathe of ours for granted, but we do, and after this is over we will again. So perhaps we should take advantage of the times, and speak our hearts to those we love, say things we always wanted to say, but fear prevents us, let us not wait until they are gone to let them know their presence affects your life for good, or perhaps even for not so good.
I had some very lofty ideals about what Christian love and fellowship should be, but those ideals came crashing down on me, yet I believe even if we cannot truly love each other as Christ did, we can all be kind, stranger or friend, kindness is not out of reach– and if there was ever a time for kindness it is now.
This where we should focus! Although at the moment, the internet seems to be an answer to transmit mass and other religious activities, yet the sense of belonging and the building of the community is highly lacking. This community building is part and parcel of the Latino Americans…https://www.ncronline.org/news/parish/catholics-hunker-down-latino-base-communities-provide-church-alternative?clickSource=email+
Another article for the reflection of our readers: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2020/03/priestly-celibacy-as-a-discipline-steve-skojecs-ignorance.html
It seems that the coronavirus has decimated quite a large number of priests in Northern Italy. Some press reports are saying around 28! That’s a very large number by today’s standards! Will they call for married priests now?
https://www.getreligion.org/getreligion/2020/3/20/this-is-a-story-aging-catholic-clergy-risk-health-to-comfort-the-faithful-during-covid-19-crsis
Coronavirus and 28 priests in Northern Italy. Instead of worrying about the solution and calling for married priests, let’s focus on Italy and the devastation. The Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is begging for God to rescue his people. He states that they have done all that they can, and they have lost control. Tears were streaming down his eyes.
I watched my church’s mass on Facebook, and I felt very connected and a part of my community, even though the church was virtually empty. Over 650 tuned in to watch.
Love and Christ is where we need to keep our focus. God’s love and mercy to our world. As a married priest you can always go serve like the rest of us. I don’t think any supporters of the married priest movement want it to be brought on because of a Pandemic.
God speaks in strange ways…maybe He has to let more priests die in order to start anew! Most of the priests I know are totally alienated. The see things in a very strange and unique way! But getting less money maybe might change their mind!
Mass attendance has dwindled for several reasons…but married priests will make a big difference…the church, like an old company needs a new face or a new PRO! A married priest is in a better situation to present the church in 2020!
I too saw a mass being celebrated by my archbishop. There were 2 priests with him. One of them was ordained on the same day. He was just a yard or two away at that time. I think they don’t realise that the church has become a museum. It was all empty (obviously for medical reasons at this time). But during normal times, the crowds have disappeared forever! Just a few old people! How could they be happy about it? Maybe it’s nice in their mind because they command and do what they like!
My church has 3,000 families, 5 masses, seating a maximum of 1,000 people per mass. My church is vibrant with many activities for all age groups. The priests are diversified, one young hip, one foreigner, and the matriarch who built the church. All areas of the world are different. Dwindling with a few old people is not the case. Definitely not a museum.
I agree that married priests would add a major change in the culture of our church, and I think that it would be healthy for our priests and, of course, the women that love them. If the men could marry, then all those deacons would love to be priests as well. Adding the sheer numbers of priest would allow for many opportunities for additional ministries to take place.
However, I would like to add, that I was a Protestant for many years and deeply involved with church activities, the one major disadvantage to having ” a married minister” was that the wife and children were the “very important people” of the congregation. Not having that to contend with is a relief within the church body. Just a small factor, but worth mentioning.
Never the less, I disagree with any presumption that God brought about the Pandemic to change the direction of our church. To qualify that thinking that “God speaks in strange ways and to let more priest die in order to start anew” is a thought process that I don’t associate with my God. And let me remind you, I have on-going mysterious signal graces and I am very open to God working in beautiful and loving ways. Priest’s death is not that.
Thanks Chloe for creating a lively discussion! I like the fact that you make your point in a very civil manner. Full marks to you! May God Bless you!
Respectfully I disagree with some of your thoughts. You quoted just one parish. We don’t know the population of the whole parish.
I’ve been to many countries in Europe, and I can tell you that most of them have very few people who attend religious service on a Sunday. I do remember in old times when on Saturdays [confessions] and Sundays, people used to rush to church because it was so difficult to find an empty seat! In my country we used to have mass at 4.00am!!! Then one every hour till 12.00pm, all of them full of people! Now in the same church we might have just 3 masses and one can find many empty places even when mass has already started! What a difference! Maybe at that time you were attending another church so you can’t notice the difference.
If the family of the priest become too important, what about the rest of the community? There should be fully qualified adults who can handle this situation for sure. In my opinion, I have a different view. Today’s teenagers don’t attend mass in many cases. It would be interesting to see the pastor ‘struggling’ with his own teenagers to come to mass! In my opinion, the young of today have changed in this sense too. What might make you wonder, is that not attending mass at least on a Sunday is not problem at all for today’s teenagers. Believe me I do know many European teenagers [because of my work] and I know what they think. I presume that once a priest has a family, he won’t have just a bed roses [although they say roses have thorns!!]. He would have challenges like every one else. This is a big plus in my opinion.
On the last point: I cannot find where I WROTE that God brought the pandemic to punish…excuse me where did you find that on our blog? I simply can’t. Could you please quote that part for me?
The Church is *not* going to change mandated celibacy anytime soon~ not say it won’t happen, but Francis ain’t doin’ it, and he has said as much.
Our Pope is a charming, kind, people loving shepherd. But he has a terrible pattern of leading us to believe he is going to promote change only for the issue to evaporate, with no change.
He has let down our gay brothers and sisters, divorcees remarried civilly and now married priesthood.
Francis is a *bait and switch* guy~ a strategy serving no other purpose than to create conflict.
And, I would venture to say the kind heart of Francis had him enjoying some flings during his Argentinian days!
Men like him know how to “work a room” !
~Marshmallow
Marsh Mallow~ You break my heart. “Bait and switch” and “work a room”. Whoa. Flings. Oh, ouch. Interesting thought. Painful. But interesting.
Daniel. No quote,but a leap. Sick elderly priests in northern Italy, 28 or them and probably more counting, “to die to start anew”. And, of course I am civil unless you call me a liar. And I too know teenagers, have two living with me right now, plus I devote a career to teaching them. What I see in my church activities is all this hoop and scream for teenagers. Messy games. Stupid stuff that only appeals to a few. What about the quiet introverts who want real information and honest conversations. The silliness left my boys scratching their heads and leaving the nonsense behind. It is to me to develop their spiritual growth.
Signal Graces of God’s Holy Spirit loving me as I battle fear. Fear for the economy. Fear for our country. Lives lost. Married priesthood is very far from my mind right now.
Sorry a leap is your imagination! Sorry, you can’t invent or jump into conclusion. To die and start anew I cannot find this expression in my last publication of our blog. In your previous comment you wrote in inverted commas [brackets] which in the English language give the idea that it’s a quotation: “God speaks in strange ways and to let more priest die in order to start anew.” Could you find where I wrote this?
Are you inventing things??
Secondly, I noticed that you haven’t answered to some of my questions: population [not parishioners] of the area of your parish.
Thirdly, you’re still counting on the experience of your two lovely teens. Well there are millions of them in the world. In the UK, there are around 300,000 who have left home and are roaming in the streets! What about their experience?
Finally if married priesthood is no concern for you, why are you writing on this blog then?
On March 23 2020 7:07 pm here is the copy and paste quote of the line Chloe is referring to, the handle on the reply says it is from maltesemarriedcatholicpriest, so it assumed you wrote it, and the copy and pasting was to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes — this is what you said
God speaks in strange ways…maybe He has to let more priests die in order to start anew!
It does not directly state you believe God is punishing the RCC by killing off priests in this pandemic, to force it to change– but the way it is worded it can be interpreted that way. I like Chloe on first reading thought that is what you were implying. My response was not as nice as hers, so I had the good sense not to post it.
So maybe you did not use the sequence of words in the order Chloe mentioned, so technically you did not say “it”, like she quoted it, but the fact those are the words the leaped out at her, and to me, and probably others who do not comment, is enough that you could graciously accept it was a poorly placed sentence open to misunderstanding given the context that she was speaking of priests dying in Italy, and this is the first line in your reply to her
OK Promise Can,
So I do admit that I wrote (quoting): God speaks in strange ways…maybe He has to let more priests die in order to start anew! It was in a comment. I thought Chloe was referring to the last article [publication] because I read it at least 50 times and couldn’t find it anywhere!! Maybe the comment wasn’t written in the best way to express my true opinion. I admit that too. But in no place did I write punishment or that God intended to bring the virus to end or change the church. God can never, for a split of a second wish something to somebody which is bad. What He does is that out of all the bad actions we commit, He still finds the best possible solution. In the old times they used to express this thought by saying that God writes in crooked lines. Now I hope that it’s all clear.
Regarding the married priesthood movement and the economical situation today, I do believe that there is a strong link. Most probably a priest still has to do a part-time job because the job of a priest won’t let him earn a lot of money, or it could be his wife who ends up without a job. Maybe his grown up sons or daughters who end up without a job. No a married priest is much more interested in the economical situation than a celibate one!
Daniel. I quoted your comment directly above my response; March 23, 7:07. “God speaks in strange ways…maybe He has to let more priests die in order to start anew!”. I could create a flow chart to show that that thinking directs the deaths to God. I am not inventing things. Your words. Your thinking.
The population of my area is 190,000 with several catholic churches. The population of Catholics is proportionately very low compared to Southern Baptist and other Protestant denominations. I have only been a member of two catholic parishes and they both have been about the same population.
What about the experience of the teens in the UK? Enlighten me. I do not live in the UK and I can only share the perspective of what my area offers. That is what makes it a world wide blog.
Finally, married priesthood is, at the moment, is not my top concern with the pandemic, unemployment, and all of the emotions that it brings. I have been on this blog for months, every month, my story should be pretty familiar. As are my beliefs. My point is that I would not be happy if married priests were suddenly the “go to” priests as a result of tragedy of this pandemic. I would hope that an “honorable” resolution could be established for the sake of the priests and their families. Certainly, marriage is honorable and I would like that factor to be in the forefront. As for me, I am trusting my Lord for my personal outcome.
Chloe, I am with you and I agree with all that you have written.I also read Daniels comment and interpreted it in the way you did. A God of love doesn’t act that way. Some of those older priests who have died would have lead exemplary lives.Indeed, there’s one story in the news about a 72 year old popular priest ,whose parishioners bought him a ventilator and HE GAVE IT TO A YOUNG PERSON THAT HE DID NOT KNOW”
“ Greater love has no man than he gives his life……”
Please Daniel, and I don’t know your age you always seem to assume that younger men are going to change the Church. Many young priests are very conservative, far narrower in their understanding of priesthood than many older ordained priests. I say this as a senior lady who has worked professionally with numerous priests for over thirty years.
Marshmallow. I think some of your comments regarding Pope Francis are a little throw away, and need further qualification. My own understanding of the man is that he wants to break structures and perhaps a “bottom up “ model of Church——but that is for another day.
Let’s just pause , and pray for all Mankind at this moment wherever you are or whoever you may love.
I don’t know why you assumed that I’m against old priests and in favour of young ones. Sorry you judged me wrong.
But just to clarify my thoughts: If you want to speak about change, it will come from the bottom ie those who are suffering, rarely from the top! It’s not the age but rather the inner make up of a person which might or might not bring change. I prefer to call it life’s journey. Some people don’t care. Some are brainwashed. Others are alienated. Other people are happy to ramble on and on. A few people go for a true change. These will be the heroes. If they are successful or not, that’s something else!
Sunburst~
Yes, the fling comment is a throw away.
My other comments are well documented and can be easily accessed across the internet but here is my (not so) quick and dirty reply:
Francis harbored both Cardinals Bernard Law (who also escaped extradition) and George Pell~ Law who one could easily say ran the most elite system of violence against children in America~ transferring rapist priests throughout the USA. Law ran that operation and the Vatican protected him until his rather recent death.
And Cardinal Pell, now appealing a prison sentence in Australia because the Aussies hounded the Vatican to bring him to justice for the rape of two boys. A Francis by the way who promoted Pell during this time to one of the Church’s most powerful positions.
A Francis who is YET allowing Bishops across the globe police themselves in response to rape and sexual assault of children and other minors while doling out platitudinous bromides to survivors of clergy sexual abuse. A horrifying posture telling us YET that raped children do not deserve JUSTICE via law enforcement and civil courts. Google SNAP.
A Francis who hasn’t YET provided unconditional acceptance to our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Warm fuzees “Who am I to judge?”~ and his lame calls telling US “we are *all* children of God” and be accepting but yet withholding sacraments to gays and lesbians. As an aside, just WHO has a right to withhold sacraments? Dogma over scripture.
A Francis who promoted the Amazon Synod~ a cultural Synod certainly needed~ but promoting it as a serious response to the extreme shortage of priests when, in fact, his mind had been closed from its onset and nothing is changing. There was no argument during the Synod that brought HIM to that position~ he boldly defended the dire priest shortage in the Amazon as the price to pay for a celibate clergy. Sacraments to the faithful be damned. Yet, another absolute unconscionable decision.
And a Francis who YET bills divorcees a couple thousand bucks to put further asunder an earlier marriage. Determined~ by no less~ than a table of celibates who in synchrony damn a marriage from its *inception* in exchange for the sacraments. Despite the lame attempt by Francis to take up the cross of divorced Catholics remarried civilly.
I hadn’t planned on any more comments here but thought I should provide you some qualification to my earlier comments to Chloe~ I hope this helps. As a FYI, I am a Vatican II woman~ always centered by the wisdom of the conciliar fathers which I~ like many clergy and nuns had hoped after the council~ had anticipated more from Francis. My disappointment in his papacy has only driven me more liberal.
In reality, though, my comments surrounding Francis were *quite* charitable~ when practically speaking~ our Pope has some serious questions of ethics surrounding HIS papacy, no?
All said, I do not dislike Francis; I respect his life accomplishments. But I am reluctant to believe him.
I rest my case.
Wishing you peace~
~Marshmallow
Thank you Sunburst.
Chloe~
I stand terra firma to my words with the exception of my comment about Francis flings… strictly my speculation which I should have kept to myself. My apology for that portion offending your sensibilities. As Shakespeare said, “Much ado about nothing.”
As I have mentioned in earlier posts: My profession is dominated by men; a profession that works in tandem with another profession dominated by men. Nearly forty years of working with nearly all men.
And nearly without exception, men are direct and to the point~ unlike most females. They are fascinating~ cards on the table, fiery exchanges, shake hands and the sparks are rapidly extinguished. A healthy system from which I have garnered more than words can adequately convey.
Yep, Francis can work a room, a crowd~ watch him for God’s sake. Francis can swoon and enchant us~ watch him as he kisses babies, nuns and other women~ with a flirty little eye. Women often with full body press. Francis went from a bouncer at a bar to a pope with a lot of mileage in between, immeasurable charm *and* Italian male genetics. Despite my speculating.
I wholeheartedly agree, Chloe, we must focus on our shared humanity. Do something to support those suffering~ especially the poor in your community. Tonight my friends and I are serving our biweekly buffet dinner at our local homeless shelter~ imagine their homelessness now more than ever with public buildings now shuttered. And where I live, it is still darned cold to spent ten daytime hours outside.
Pray and give alms if you are able for our third world nations. And brace yourself for the global economy that is expected to tank.
Personally, a week ago I was diagnosed with kidney cancer~ adding this unknown to those worries the entire world is already shouldering. It has very quickly put into perspective what is truly important. And this blog ain’t it.
That said~ thanks for the memories.
~Marshmallow
PS~ Credit please: I stayed out of the Rev Daniel conversation!
Marshmallow,
We’ll keep you in our prayers!
Rev Daniel
Marshmallow— as far as I was concern your voice was always valued here. Unfortunately I think this media of comments on a blog makes real communication limited and prone to misunderstandings. But as you pointed out, in times of real crisis, one quickly understands what is important.
Your main focus should be on your health and what lies ahead for you. I think it is vital in these days, never to put off saying what we need to say — never assume there will be time, because we see sometimes there is no time.
And what I want to say, is although we are not technically “friends”, over the last two years I have become fond of you, so your news today, has me in tears knowing what you are about to face. I think we have known someone — family, friend, co-worker who had cancer, some beat it, and others did not, like my own father.
You did not have to share that news with us, so I thank you for doing so– go in the peace of God, and know, I shall never look at marshmallow without thinking of you. It has been a honor and privileged to share parts of our journey ever so briefly here–even if we not always agree, I always respected you.
And as small and as inadequate as this might sound, know I will be praying for you– my dear sister in Christ
Kudos to you!
I read Pope Francis Encyclical on Climate Change… and I found it incredibly light weight. I have advanced degrees in science and I was expecting so much more. I also read a biography, I don’t remember the title, and again left bored. So I love your perspective. I just don’t see any, and I mean ANY dazzle to our Pope. In fact, I think, well, how does one say, not so handsome. So, I am left totally bland. Disappointed too. So, I welcome any opinion. I am aware of his protection of the Cardinals. Again, bland. Just too vanilla for me. He may be bland to God too!
But you, Marsh Mallow are a treat. No vanilla there. I will pray for your health, and I am sorry that this has happened to you. Especially as you are coming to the end of your personal saga, when the taste of freedom right there. God will be good to you I have no doubt. Know that I would still love to share a coffee and chat with you.
Please keep us posted of all the developments that you can, we care.
Thank you, Chloe.
Peace to you and your teens during these troubling times! Our Lord is a good Lord~ He is with us.
~Marshmallow
PS~ I, too, have a degree in science: BS; Biology & Chemistry :~)
Promise~
Thank you for your message~ your thoughts mean more to me than you will likely ever know.
I have had kidney issues for years, and my mother died of cancer. So surprised, yes; but surprising, no.
Thank you for your prayers as well.
~Marshmallow
Marsh Mallow
Thank you for the time and effort it took to qualify your views regarding Pope Francis some of which I am unaware of.
Protecting sexual abusers can never ever be right. One of the priests that I was involved with was an abuser and was gaoled, so I most certainly do have knowledge and experience I that field.
With regard to the L.G.B.T. Q. community ,many ordained priests are gay and a number of my gay friends receive the Eucharist without trouble or guilt.However,I do recognise that this is not “the party line”. More could,and should be done.
I must say it is quite startling the differences culturally between our experiences. In my country you do not pay any Canon Lawyer for the annulment procedure .
From what I’ve read the Vatican is one big spiders web, and Francis is not the spider!! Effective change on a large scale is fraught with politics and personalities working with pedestrian structures and groups. Change is not easy even when you are Pope.!!!!!!
My personal belief is that Francis sees that the Ordained Priesthood certainly in the more developed world, is in big trouble. Is our pyramid model of Church now ,not fit for purpose??
I still believe that in Pope Francis heart. he has a wish to develop, in the future a bottom up model of Church. A church where the People Of God minister and organise themselves.A Church that is of the people, and for the people. A Holy Church .In my life lay people have had far more influence on my spiritual life than any ordained priest married or celibate.
Like others on here ,Marsh Mallow I am sorry to read of your cancer diagnosis.I too will pray for you. You will have a wall of prayer, from around the world , of women whom you have helped, disagreed with!, but loved on this blog.
Thank you, Sunburst for your prayers. While the *C* word invokes immediate fear in most of us, I have a strong faith in the Lord… He will lead me during this new journey while medicine will be His hands toward healing~ it might not be the kind of healing I prefer, but it will all work out. My surgery isn’t until 7 May because of COVID 19 giving me time to prepare.
Good point of Francis’s quest for a bottom up Church~ and as you wrote~ a Church by and for the people. It is a lofty goal given the spiders as you perfectly describe, but we know the Church cannot stay on its current course and survive. Too much change in society~ a society no longer intimidated by a Machiavellian Vatican that has only served to bring empty pews, financial calamities, church closings and consolidations. With the final nail being a priesthood failing to attract men willing to take up the cross of lifetime celibacy.
Here in the USA, we have a very loud and divisive pre Vatican II (I call heretics) eager to diminish Francis at every turn. It’s a well funded campaign~ pushing its agenda via EWTN/The Papal Posse and Ray Arraguro (sp?) and the anti Francis news outlets “Church Militant” and “Life Site News”. I am pretty certain that is where the ventilator story originated. Truly, nasty journalism, and sorely lacking objective reporting. I rarely hit those sites as I find them frightening!
A closing note: I noticed “gaol and loved it! Ireland? Australia? The UK? Each of them having such beautiful dialects.
Take Care, Sunburst
~Marsh Mallow
My priest has gone a bit mad since the coronavirus started. He is sending me mothers days wishes with love heart emojis. Is this confirmation that he has feelings for me??
It’s a little bit difficult to know what’s going on in his mind. Can’t you ask him?
Is there any way for you to contact someone else who might know him and ask them if they have noticed him acting differently, not quite himself? You don’t have to tell them you are getting these type of messages from him, but kinda to find out if this odd behavior is just with you or if others have been picking up on it.
If your priest is suffering from some kind of mental health break down, or if has lost touch with reality, then any direct answer he might give you would be tainted by his illness.
So if it was me, I would first try to discover if this odd behavior is a pattern in all areas of his life or just these strange messages directed only at you. If there is a pattern, he probably needs professional help–but if he fine otherwise, beside the stress we are all feeling in the world today, then yes he is trying to tell you something, and you can help him, by asking questions gently, that might help him to say it more directly and honestly without hiding behind emoji’s
We are having a covid 19 relationship. Lol. No i think its because he survives temptation
by keeping busy
Now in lockdown he can go nowhere. Hence the messages.
Okay Lucy, I just needed to check, I take words like “mad” very seriously, even if I think the person might be using them as slang or exaggeration because I know many with and had my own bout with mental health issues–to know I need to ask questions and not assume all is well
By your light response, it sounds like you know he is fine otherwise, and this is related to just to the two of you. In that case, I don’t find the use of mother day’s greetings odd.
Please remember for most priests the only female male relationship they have been allowed to foster without fear or guilt, is the one between mother and son; or the one between priest and the Virgin Mary.
So a priest to send you mother’s day cards, might be a declaration of love using the only the language of love he can without triggering guilt that he doesn’t really want another mommy, but a lover–or it simply can be an expression of thanks for mothering him–that you like every other woman on the planet, only function is to “mother” or “nurture” men– almost an expectation for some priests that all Catholic women will do this for them as a ministry to them.
You know your priest better than I do– but what you shared suggests the first, so as I advise earlier, you can try to slowly steer him away from hiding between the safe mother image and help him grow up and see there a lot is a lot more to you that the loving care nature priests can only see as mothering- because to think of you sexually is too disrupting to brainwashed training.
It is a bit ironic t that most priests who can wax poetic on a woman’a mothering qualities, easily forget beside the Virgin Mary all women become literal mothers through sex, even their own. It is amusing how that part is quickly gloss over , or seen as a necessary evil for a sainted woman to endure so she can be redeemed by becoming a mother to children
No if a man who was your butcher, baker or candle stick maker was declaring his love via mother’s day cards I would think it odd, but a priest doing it, sounds pretty normal to me, unless he actually thinks you are his mother, or the Virgin Mary, then like I said he needs professional help
Lucy,are you a mother? Does he see you as a”mother figure”.I am new to this blog so I don’t know you or anything about your relationship. I had a relationship with a priest for a number of years ,and he regularly sent me cards,however,normally they would be themed around a particular issue that had happened. Although,I ended up marrying someone else,I still have them. So take Promise Can’s advice, but he must have some sort of “ thing “ for you as I doubt he’s sending them to all his parishioners!! Hang on in there and keep safe during these dystopian days.
Lucy~
Have fun with it!
I do not know if “April Fool’s Day” is celebrated in your country (as I recall, you are an Irish lass) but send him a funny “e card” from the internet on April 1st.
You could make a joke about father… “You aren’t my father.” But, Happy April Fool’s Day to my “Father.” Get a card with a blank inside to write your message. Just an idea.
In the USA, we have lots of fun on April 1st doing innocent, funny. practical jokes on one another.
Peace to you~
~Marshmallow
Lucy
My advice is don’t tell anyone. Don’t talk to him. You will find out soon enough, but if YOU do anything, and I mean anything, it will be your fault. Keep busy. Pray. Lay low!
I cant thank you all enough for your responses. Too be honest he has been contacting me a lot. Sending me valentines messages. Then little messages thro WhatsApp. Nothing too personal and always covering his ass..Tge messages have become more frequent. Very early morning. Im in love with him. Its genuine. He knows im a mother,a single mother…I try not to attach to tge messages as i think he is able to stay detached…Who knows with these guys. I love your quote Marchmallow “He knows how to work a room. Class. So true. But they want to be seen as heros…..
Just some positive news which we desperately need at this time in history: https://www.karunavirus.org/
Sorry for posting that a priest had donated a respirator to a younger man. It proved to be untrue. Sorry. Although we take great care to publish true news, sometimes, maybe the rush to overcome some false ideas makes us print too early. A reader has alerted us to this article: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/fr-berardelli-was-a-man-of-self-sacrifice-but-reports-of-a-donated-respirator-are-not-true-10682
Thank you for the link.Yes, this is the priest I referred to in my post March 24. A priest who displayed complete service to his community. Inspirational.R.I.P.
Well I for one am disappointed the story about the priest was not true. It was one of those things, like a beautiful flower growing out of a crack in a sidewalk that was a sign of hope and possibilities.
I cannot imagine what could have been gain in lying about it in the first place and now it puts all positive accounts on the web in question.
I had already shared it with Peter after Sunburst mentioned it and then this morning I shared the link provided here with him, and now I had to go back and retract it after he was so strengthen by the news. I don’t understand whoever started this story would do such a thing amidst such times– but there are lot people out there doing selfish things these days, that I should not be surprised
Good reminder that it is best to listen to reliable news outlets only and not to twitter or social media
Promise Can,
Which news media can say that its news is reliable? Just to mention one story is that of Iraq. They were accused of having weapons of ‘mass destruction’. Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister at that time, later on admitted that they have never found any proof of such weapons…so WE went to War, killed so many people for a false pretence!!!! Practically all newspapers agreed at that time. Time proved that all of the major news outlets were deadly WRONG!
Well, I admit even reliable media can be mislead by those who choose to lie to them, as it was in your example– but I was thinking more in terms of this pandemic.
For instance traditional reliable sources reported the cause was most likely an animal virus jumping into a human, caused by close contact of species that normally would not be together in nature, but were at this wet market in China. So a virus from a bat jumps to this other animal, it mutates, then jumps in a human being.
Yet, if you listen to the stuff on the internet, this virus was man made, unleash on purpose by a powerful group of people set on taking over the world. What better way to do that than to cause a global crisis that will destroy countries and economies and used the “health threat” to little by little take people’s freedom away, even the freedom to worship together
So, for me, I can choose to believe the conventional media, or the internet– if the normal reliable media is being mislead as some on the internet state then you can’t trust them, because they are part of the lie– but can I really trust strangers on the internet telling me things either? So for me I am going to trust a news source I deemed trustworthy— but in this day and age we all get dupe by fake news, even honest journalists.
However I have since learn this story about the priest wasn’t a deliberate lie, just a misunderstanding of what happened– the priest did refuse a ventilator because he had a condition that made using it impossible– so someone misunderstood his reason for refusing, then told someone, who told someone, who told someone– which lead to the original Italian paper printing the story– and because we live in this fast pace news world, the pressure to be the first to break the story does often cause even the most traditional news organization to report on what they “think” they know as oppose to investigating properly to back it up with time honored methods of journalism.
But I wasn’t faulting you, you had no reason not to believe the article wasn’t true, just like I had no reason to doubt you when you posted it or when Sunburst mentioned it. It was disappointing because for a moment it was a ray of light in the darkness, but as Peter mentioned to me, there are a lot of rays of light in the darkness, we just have to be open to seeing them, right in front of us, in our daily lives.
Hello all,
After what seems like ages ago, I had finally written something last night while feeling inspired. But like some of us have experienced before on here, the whole thought/response was swallowed up inside the system without being posted. Ugh! So, today, here I am trying to re-write what I had already written. Not an easy task to command ‘inspiration’ to my brain and heart!
I have read all of your comments on this last blog, but today, I do not wish to comment on it. I wish to talk about this Covid instead, and what positive actions/feelings it is doing to some of us.
It is not something we can brush under the carpet and pretend it’s not there. It is constantly in our face. I feel this Covid is helping us return to the basics of happiness and what really matters in life. Maybe this virus will change people for the better. Not just during, but for years to come, because this virus is forcing us to come out of our shell of “me-myself-and-I” and realizing that our actions or lack of can impact people around us. I don’t think we will ever forget the year 2020. I wish we could simply delete it and re-upload the best version, but life doesn’t work like that. Haha! 😀 Yes, it’s not fun having life as we know it now, aka the “new-normal”, but let’s keep in mind that some have it much worse than we do.
In Italy, they are keeping their spirits high by having people sing on their balconies with others on their own balconies. Others make entertaining or funny videos on Youtube. Many talk show hosts now do it from their own homes. Many sites offer reduced or free resources to keep us busy or entertained during hard times. How great is that! Things that we usually take for granted, now we can’t. Now, what matters in this time is not our education, our latest electronic gadget we wish to have or have bought, the trips we take or plan to take, the look/price of our car or house, etc-etc, but it’s the connections we have with the people that genuinely care about us that matter the most! Some things need to be put on the back burner for now. Things like hair appointment, shopping unnecessarily, getting a deck built, sitting in a pleasant looking restaurant with people, and yes last but not least, even working towards “married priest”. Don’t get me wrong, I do hope one day this issue is being solved. All of us on here have been or are in a relationship with a priest, or are a priest in love with a woman. I think of mine so much since I have quarantined myself. I will probably always miss him, and I wonder if he too thinks of me while in isolation, even though we have already broken up. But, being in self-isolation, at home, for the last few weeks helps me see some positive sides to staying at home. I am not stuck at home, nor is my health affected, no, I am safe at home. I’m taking precautions for as long as it takes.
I am grateful for my health. I have a house, a comfy bed, electricity. I have food in the house. I have technology with which I can learn stuff or connect with family and friends. During this pandemic, I am enjoying doing my workouts, tidying the house or my office, I’m learning stuff, I’m connecting with family and friends through skype/text, watching movies, giving time for prayer, etc. Everything will be fine. With. time. Yes, in many months, but what makes a difference is knowing we are all in this “together”. It’s almost as though God is helping us slow down in life, smell the roses, live! For some of us, living means to be on the go-go-go all the time. For others, it means to take it one day at a time, to slow down the pace, to connect with people, and not always live life on the german-no-speed-limit highway!
Let’s remain strong and positive during these hard times. Try to imagine people with the Spanish flue in 1918, in a quarantine, with 0 technology to connect with loved ones! I can’t even begin to start imagining! I wish good health for everyone and patience.
Big hug to all.
I would like to leave this video with you. Such a great message! Yes, connect with friends and family and tell them how much you value them in your life!
Thank you for this uplifting message. I for one needed it. It is indeed a challenging time for all, but for many of us who struggle with anxiety and low mood on regular days it can easily overwhelmed us– so I am grateful you decided to post it even after your original posting failed.
It is a comfort that everyone is going through this together, and yes it brings out the best in us and at times the worse. But as stated the world will come out of this, changed but intact.
The only cure for fear is love– will be my mantra each day.
God bless you and keep you safe— it was good to hear from you again.
@Promise
Thank you for your kind words. God bless you too and keep you healthy.
WOW!
Thank, You Anne the 1st for both the video and your post.
Best to you during these *new* times~
~Marshmallow
RE: 30 March 2020; 4:59p Post By Marshmallow~
Oops, a Grammie moment. Original Anne, not Anne the 1st!
Best to you too, Marshmallow.
The respirator story may be inaccurate, but the text does indicate that “ he gave of himself to his parishioners “” and was always ready for those in need. ,true servant priesthood. No doubt if we had met him ,if we were open ,we would recognise “ a ray of light “ as Promise Can’s Peter described.
I’d be interested to know what the majority of catholic priests are doing at the moment.Hopefully, they are reflecting on new ways and opportunities to be church in these strange times. But I very much doubt it !!
If at all possible ,please pray for a married. Catholic priest with children ,who is at the moment a chaplain in the city hospitals. May God protect him.