Letter to U.S. Bishops from Archbishop Vigano:
Dear Brother Bishops in the US,
I am writing to remind you of the sacred mandate you were given on the day of your episcopal ordination: to lead the flock to Christ. Meditate on Proverbs 9:10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom! Do not behave like frightened sheep, but as courageous shepherds. Do not be afraid of standing up and doing the right thing for the victims, for the faithful and for your own salvation. The Lord will render to every one of us according to our actions and omissions.
I am fasting and praying for you.
Arch. Carlo Maria Viganò
Your former Apostolic Nuncio
November 13, 2018
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
Yesterday, knowing the US Bishops were meeting in DC to address the horrible scandal and crisis in the Church, I couldn't help but notice how perfectly timed the Mass readings were:
In the first reading, Paul spoke about the need for godliness for those chosen to be bishops:
"For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant,not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive,not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness,temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled,holding fast to the true message as taughtso that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrineand to refute opponents." Titus 1: 4-9In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus warned about the horrible sin of leading little ones to stray, which is the heartbreaking reality of what has been and what is still going on in the Church in too many dioceses and by too many bishops:
"Jesus said to his disciples,"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,but woe to the one through whom they occur.It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neckand he be thrown into the seathan for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.Be on your guard!If your brother sins, rebuke him;and if he repents, forgive him." Lk 17: 1-3Also, providentially, the saint of yesterday seemed perfectly chosen by God. St. Josaphat was an Uniat orthodox priest who became united to Rome. He stood up against his brother bishops who were against that unity. Because of his outspoken faithfulness to the Truth, he was greatly hated and ended up being killed by a mob who invaded his residence. (How timely is his story in our country today???) It was said that:
"his death was a shock to both sides of the dispute, which brought some sanity and a cooling off period to both sides of the conflict."
He is quoted as saying:
You ... want to put me to death. You make ambushes for me everywhere, in the streets, on the bridges, on the highways, and in the marketplace. I am here among you as a shepherd, and you ought to know that I would be happy to give my life for you. I am ready to die for the holy union, for the supremacy of Saint Peter, and of his successor the Supreme Pontiff. – Saint Josaphat (emphasis mine)
He much do we need Bishops wiling to die for us!!! In a wonderful interview with EWTN by Msgr. Charles Pope,
he called for all priests and bishops to teach clearly -- especially about sexual morality.
“We don’t want to offend, we don’t want to upset anybody. Well, we have to be willing. Jesus offended a few people. He didn’t [end] up on a cross by just saying nice platitudes.”
Msgr. Pope also called for the Church to sanction those who clearly aren't teaching the Catholic Truth - specifically regarding homosexuality.
“We have to get back in the business of speaking clearly and teaching clearly, and then also, we have to discipline in the Church,” Pope told Arroyo. “Whatever happened to sanctions? Nobody seems to ever be sanctioned.”
How greatly do the Bishops need our prayers!!!
The following are excepts from news reports from Day 1 of the USCCB Conference:
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo -- the president of the U.S. bishops' conference -- told the group that the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops had asked the bishops not to take action until after a worldwide meeting of church leaders in February.“This kind of thing is a blow to what we’re trying to overcome here in the United States – the perception of a hierarchy that is unresponsive to the reality of the tragedy,” said Jefferson City Bishop Shawn McKnight [Bishop McKnight is a priest from my home diocese of Wichita, Kansas).
He said bishops need to be able to call out and challenge members of the Roman Curia,
“I’m beginning to wonder if we need to look at a resolution where we refuse to participate in any kind of cover-up from those above us,” McKnight, who became a bishop nine months ago, said. “It’s for the good of the church. We have to be respectful of the Roman Curia but also we have an obligation to our people. And our priests.”
Bishop McKnight is one of the bishops of Missouri who wrote a letter that they hoped could help to provide direction for this general assembly of bishops, taking place now in Baltimore Nov. 12-14.
While supporting the action items which were to have been voted on, the Missouri bishops said, “we fear these measures will not be enough in either substance or timeliness to meet the demands that this pastoral crisis presents.”
“We must pay attention to that which threatens our communion with one another. Transparency, accountability, and genuine reform in the way in which the Church handles issues of abuse of power by the hierarchy are required,” they wrote.
It was said the Bishops prayed and fasted during the week prior to this conference, which began with:
"A holy hour Monday morning, [in which] two survivors of clerical sexual abuse spoke to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops about their experiences, and their hopes for the future of the Church.
One survivor, Luis Torres, asked the bishops to make changes to ecclesial policies and culture that might ensure that sexual abuse or coercion by anyone in the Church, including bishops, is put to an end:
"I ask that you inspire me and our community to faith and hope through your courage and your action, which is needed right now. Not in 3 months. Not in 6 months. Yesterday.”
The same report continued:
Of principal concern to many bishops is that they take action in order to convey to Catholics that they find sexual abuse and coercion intolerable, and that they will not abide the presence of wolves in their midst. Bishops know they will need to return to their dioceses and explain what has happened. They know they will have to explain the Vatican’s decision to their priests, many of whom are hoping for reform. And they know that they have to explain to the Department of Justice and to state attorneys general, who are investigating them, that they are trying to address this problem in a serious way.
After a curveball almost no one saw coming, when they were told they could not vote on their resolutions, but must wait until after the meeting the Pope called for in Rome in February] the bishops know they are short on explanations. The mood at the bishops’ conference is tense.
After reading these reports, may it help us realize the great obstacles that Our Bishops and Our Church are up against. In light of this, may we hold fast to the conclusion of the yesterday's Gospel, which is perfect for all of us -- bishop, priest and laity alike, who may be struggling with forgiveness and who are need of ever greater faith:
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,'you should forgive him."And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,you would say to this mulberry tree,'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." Lk 17: 4-6We must hold fast to our faith and be ever ready to forgive, while also calling for and praying for our bishops to never cease: "holding fast to the true message" of Christ, so that they "will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents."
So please join with me!
Please never cease praying for our shepherds.
Please never cease praying for our Church to take up the Call to Repentance and Reform
Please never cease praying for Divine Intervention.
Please never cease praying that they are inspired to fulfill Our Lady of America's requests while they are meeting, or soon afterward:
Mary promised that if her statue was placed in the Shrine it would be a special safeguard for our nation.
She also promised, when her request was fulfilled, that the Shrine would become a place of enormous grace, "a place of wonders", a place from which:
"greater miracles than those granted at Lourdes and Fatima would be granted here in America, the United Stares in particular, if we would do as She desires."
I promise to reward their love by working through the power of my Son’s Heart and my Immaculate Heart miracles of grace among them. I do not promise miracles of the body, but of the soul.”In this time of unequaled sin and corruption in both our nation and in our Church, our only hope is Divine Intervention!
Now is the time for Our Blessed Mother's request to be fulfilled.
Our own plans, agendas, timelines must hold sway to the plans of God.
No matter if they make little sense to us or seem ridiculously inadequate or untimely -
We are called upon to simply believe and obey them.
"For the ways of God are not the ways of men."
If we do as Our Lady requests, perhaps we will see the wonder:
of millions of conversions like that of Mexico,
or thousands of healings like that of Lourdes,
or extraordinary signs and wonders that led tens of thousands to faith like that in Fatima...
Or, instead, we will see far greater miracles than these -- for that is what she promised.
On the other hand, if we do not obey her requests, she warned us:
"My dear children, either you will do as I desire and reform your lives, or God Himself will need to cleanse you in the fires of untold punishment.
...Oh, if you knew the punishments I am holding back from you by my pleading and intercession on your behalf!
"Will you do as I wish at last, my children?''
I come again to warn and to plead. Oh, penance, penance! How little my children understand it! They give me many words, but sacrifice themselves they will not. It is not me they love but themselves. Oh, what blindness, sweet child, what blindness! How it pierces my heart!
“See, I weep, but my children show me no compassion. They behold the sword in my heart but will make no move to withdraw it. I give them love; they give me only ingratitude.
“Weep, then, dear child, weep with your Mother over the sins of men. Intercede with me before the throne of mercy, for sin is overwhelming the world and punishment is not far away.”
“My Immaculate Heart will win in the end, and the Spirit of Christ will dwell in the hearts of men. Those in whom this Spirit is not found will be condemned to eternal hell-fire."
Our Lady's messages have been given especially to our country "for such a time as this". Our only proper response, therefore, is to heed them.
One way of doing so is to ask our bishops to fulfill Our Blessed Mother's request to have her statue and the Eucharist (the two pillars that would save our Church according to the dream of St. John Bosco) processed into and honored in the National Shrine.
What a tangible witness to the faithful and the world that the Bishops are united in their desire for reform, penance and mortification that are an essential part of Our Lady's messages!
Our Lady of America, pray for us!
St. Josaphat, pray for us!
All you saints and angels, pray for us!
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, our heavenly Father,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, one God,
Holy Mary,
pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Saint Michael,
Saint Gabriel,
Saint Raphael,
All you holy Angels and Archangels,
All you holy orders of blessed Spirits,
Saint Michael,
Saint Gabriel,
Saint Raphael,
All you holy Angels and Archangels,
All you holy orders of blessed Spirits,
Saint John the Baptist,
pray for us.
Saint Joseph,
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets,
Saint Joseph,
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets,
Saint Peter,
pray for us.
Saint Paul,
Saint Andrew,
Saint James,
Saint John,
Saint Paul,
Saint Andrew,
Saint James,
Saint John,
Saint Thomas,
pray for us.
Saint James,
Saint Philip,
Saint Bartholomew,
Saint Matthew,
Saint Simon,
Saint Thaddeus,
Saint Matthias,
Saint Barnabas,
Saint Luke,
Saint Mark,
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists,
All you holy Disciples of the Lord,
All you holy Innocents,
Saint James,
Saint Philip,
Saint Bartholomew,
Saint Matthew,
Saint Simon,
Saint Thaddeus,
Saint Matthias,
Saint Barnabas,
Saint Luke,
Saint Mark,
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists,
All you holy Disciples of the Lord,
All you holy Innocents,
Saint Stephen,
pray for us.
Saint Laurence,
Saint Vincent,
Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian,
Saint John and Saint Paul,
Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian,
Saint Gervase and Saint Protase,
All you holy Martyrs,
Saint Laurence,
Saint Vincent,
Saint Fabian and Saint Sebastian,
Saint John and Saint Paul,
Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian,
Saint Gervase and Saint Protase,
All you holy Martyrs,
Saint Silvester,
pray for us.
Saint Gregory,
Saint Ambrose,
Saint Augustine,
Saint Jerome,
Saint Martin,
Saint Nicholas,
All you holy Bishops and Confessors,
All you holy Doctors,
Saint Gregory,
Saint Ambrose,
Saint Augustine,
Saint Jerome,
Saint Martin,
Saint Nicholas,
All you holy Bishops and Confessors,
All you holy Doctors,
Saint Anthony,
pray for us.
Saint Benedict,
Saint Benedict,
Saint Bernard,
Saint Dominic,
Saint Francis,
All you holy Priests and Clergy,
All you holy Monks and Hermits,
Saint Dominic,
Saint Francis,
All you holy Priests and Clergy,
All you holy Monks and Hermits,
Saint Mary Magdalene,
pray for us.
Saint Agatha,
Saint Lucy,
Saint Agnes,
Saint Cecilia,
Saint Catharine,
Saint Anastasia,
All you holy Virgins and Widows,
All you Saints of God,
Saint Agatha,
Saint Lucy,
Saint Agnes,
Saint Cecilia,
Saint Catharine,
Saint Anastasia,
All you holy Virgins and Widows,
All you Saints of God,
Be merciful,
Lord, save your people.
From every evil,
From every sin,
From your anger,
From sudden and unforeseen death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, hatred, and all ill-will,
From the spirit of uncleanness,
From lightning and tempest,
From the scourge of earthquake,
From plague, famine, and war,
From everlasting death,
By the mystery of your holy Incarnation,
By your coming,
From every evil,
From every sin,
From your anger,
From sudden and unforeseen death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, hatred, and all ill-will,
From the spirit of uncleanness,
From lightning and tempest,
From the scourge of earthquake,
From plague, famine, and war,
From everlasting death,
By the mystery of your holy Incarnation,
By your coming,
By your birth,
Lord, save your people.
By your baptism and holy fasting,
By your Cross and suffering,
By your death and burial,
By your holy resurrection,
By your wonderful ascension,
By the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,
On the day of Judgement,
Be merciful to us sinners,
That you will spare us,
That you will pardon us,
That it may please you to bring us to true repentance,
To govern and preserve your holy Church,
To preserve in holy religion the Pope, and all those in holy Orders,
To humble the enemies of holy Church,
To give peace and unity to the whole Christian people,
To recall to the unity of the Church all those who are straying, to bring all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel,
To strengthen and preserve us in your holy service,
To raise our minds to desire the things of heaven,
To reward all our benefactors with eternal blessings,
To deliver our souls from eternal damnation, and the souls of our brethren, kinsmen, and benefactors,
To give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
To grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
That it may please you to hear and heed us, Jesus,
Son of the living God, Lord, hear our prayer,
By your baptism and holy fasting,
By your Cross and suffering,
By your death and burial,
By your holy resurrection,
By your wonderful ascension,
By the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,
On the day of Judgement,
Be merciful to us sinners,
That you will spare us,
That you will pardon us,
That it may please you to bring us to true repentance,
To govern and preserve your holy Church,
To preserve in holy religion the Pope, and all those in holy Orders,
To humble the enemies of holy Church,
To give peace and unity to the whole Christian people,
To recall to the unity of the Church all those who are straying, to bring all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel,
To strengthen and preserve us in your holy service,
To raise our minds to desire the things of heaven,
To reward all our benefactors with eternal blessings,
To deliver our souls from eternal damnation, and the souls of our brethren, kinsmen, and benefactors,
To give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
To grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
That it may please you to hear and heed us, Jesus,
Son of the living God, Lord, hear our prayer,
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, hear us.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
© Janet Moore. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
© Janet Moore. 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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