Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
19 February 2017



In this week’s Encountering the Word video, Jeff Cavins discusses the readings for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings are:

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Alleluia: 1 John 2:5
Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48

Personal thoughts; Remember St Stephen, the first Martyr?

Acts 7:54-60New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)


Blessed Sunday to all Catholics!

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 79



Reading 1 (Lv 19:1-2, 17-18)

The LORD said to Moses,
"Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

"You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD."

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13)

R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Reading 2 (1 Cor 3:16-23)

Brothers and sisters:
Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Let no one deceive himself.
If any one among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:
God catches the wise in their own ruses,
and again:
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
that they are vain.

So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

Alleluia (1 Jn 2:5)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 5:38-48)

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

"You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

This post has been edited by khool: Feb 19 2017, 07:57 AM

where DLL?

I certainly do not mind. Each child is a precious soul in the sight of the Lord.

"Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple."
– 1 Cor 3:16

So sorry, I do not understand you. What do you mean by 'DLL'?

Last Sunday's 2nd reading?

Reading 2 (1 Cor 3:16-23)

Brothers and sisters:
Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Let no one deceive himself.
If any one among you considers himself wise in this age,
let him become a fool, so as to become wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God,
for it is written:
God catches the wise in their own ruses,
and again:
The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,
that they are vain.

So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you,
Paul or Apollos or Cephas,
or the world or life or death,
or the present or the future:
all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

These 8 Keys to Prayer Will Change the Way You Pray

Prayer is intended to be our way of communicating with God. It is a gift, yet sometimes it becomes a task, a burden, or a mundane part of our daily routine. We may also experience dry spells in our spiritual life and begin to feel disconnected from the God who loves us so deeply. And, many times, after a while we just completely give up trying to talk to God.

If any of those things describe how you feel about prayer, I urge you to give it another try. Start with just a few minutes as you begin your day and build from there. Find a prayer style that works for you. Some of us prefer just talking to God as we would a friend, yet others find it better to pray a rosary. Reading the Bible (especially the Psalms) can be a great way to lead us into prayer. These 8 Keys to Prayer will help you succeed in your goal. Don’t let this special gift slip away from you!



Source: http://catholic-link.org/2017/02/18/8-keys...campaign=buffer


This post has been edited by khool: Feb 21 2017, 09:00 AM

St Paul and Distractions in Prayer
Fr. Nnamdi Moneme, OMV

We must all have had that experience before – we come to prayer intent on listening to God but our minds are running all over the place following distracting thoughts. Someone once said humorously, “If you want to remember the things that you easily forget or tend to ignore, start praying seriously.” Prayer time easily become time to remember the chores that must be done, all our unfinished business, our hurts, worries about the future, and regrets about the past.

How do we deal with these distracting thoughts, images or feelings? Some spiritual writers recommend that we merely ignore them. We can indeed ignore them when they are just fleeting thoughts or images that have little or no emotional effect on us. But we just cannot ignore them completely when they are persistent and have strong effects on us.

St. Paul writes to the Philippians from prison, unsure of how his life would end, but refusing to succumb to discouragement, regrets, or self-pity. Forgetting himself, he focuses instead on his Christian brethren to encourage them in their own sacrifices for Christ. Phil 4:4-9 shows us a way to focus on the Lord in the midst of countless thoughts that distract us in prayer.

First of all, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” This calls us to rejoice in the Lord’s loving presence in our lives. Most of the time our distractions are an indication of the people and things that we tend to find our greatest source of joy in e.g. respect, wealth, comfort, success, etc. We must ask, “What am I rejoicing in today? Am I rejoicing in the Lord and His presence in my life or in something else?” We might even find ourselves rejoicing in our success at prayer! Remember the words of Jesus, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” (Mt 6:21) To check distractions, we must ask ourselves if Jesus is indeed the sole treasure of our hearts.

We also open the door to distractions when we tend to rejoice in the Lord only when our life conditions are favorable. Our prayer becomes more distracted when we do not accept the realities of our life condition. Unlike St. Paul, we do not rejoice in the Lord always because we are far from accepting the truth of our situation. No matter the worries, we must enter into prayer first with gratitude to God above all for His loving presence in our lives without worrying about the solutions to our problems or worries. In all circumstances, we must echo Mary’s words in her Magnificat, “My soul rejoices in God, my Savior.”

Secondly, “Your kindness should be known to all.” This calls us to examine those distractions that are rooted in sour relationships with others in our lives. Have we let resentments into our hearts and are we trying to pray while nurturing these resentful thoughts in our hearts? Jesus reminds us that resentments jeopardize our prayer life, “If you bring your gifts to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gifts at the altar and go; first be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift.”(Mt 5:23-24) An act of kindness towards those who have hurt us, even if it is something as simple as praying for them, gives us power over many distractions in our prayer.

Thirdly, “The Lord is near.” This is a reminder to us that in Jesus Christ, God has drawn near to us, dwelling in our hearts by faith. We usually begin our prayer by becoming aware of the presence of God. But do we go to prayer with that certainty that we are in the presence of the God who is ever present to us in His unconditional love for us and not because we are good. We must come to prayer as people reconciled with God, without any shame, regrets, guilt or pretense, knowing that we have been reconciled with God through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Our pretensions and defenses only multiply and intensify our distractions.

In addition, our distractions may also point to areas of needed conversion or growth in holiness. True prayer leads to our purification and God will surely shed light on sinful areas of our lives for the sake of healing, setting us free and drawing us closer to Him. Since living with the certainty of being reconciled with God blocks many of our distractions in prayer, frequent reception of the sacrament of reconciliation greatly enhances our prayer life and minimizes our distractions.

Fourthly, “Have no anxiety at all.” How can we surrender all anxiety in our lives? One thing that can help is to enter into prayer with a sense of being in the presence of the one who is closer to us than those nagging thoughts and to know that we are not condemned to a life of perpetual fixation on our worries. Our anxieties increase and intensify when God appears distant from us or completely uncaring. The same God that was with St. Paul in prison is with us in all our circumstances too. This is the truth that liberates us from endless worries and anxieties.

Fifthly, “Whatever is true, what is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious…, think of these things.” Our anxieties are compounded by our unguarded imagination. This is a call to examine our self-talk and notice where the negative thoughts and feelings are coming from. Are these thoughts rooted in truth? Speaking to Jesus honestly about the deepest thoughts and desires of our hearts, no matter how embarrassing they may be for us, opens them to the light of truth and lets us see things more the way that He sees them.

Lastly, “In everything, by prayer and petition, make your requests known to God.” We do not make our requests known to God so that He fulfills them for us. But we “make our requests known to God,” so that He may conform them to His holy will which is to bring us deeper into relationship with Him no matter what we are experiencing in life. Our refusal or reluctance to submit to God’s will in prayer only exasperates our distractions in prayer.

Like Mary in the wedding at Cana we must make all our requests known to God with humble faith, “They have no wine.” But we must also be ready to do His will with love as she counsels us, “Do whatever He tells you.” Prayer is not about getting God to do our will but to bring us to submit to His will in all conditions and situations of our lives, especially in those situations that distract us in prayer. Submission to God’s will in all things focuses our attention on God and not on us and our problems and leaves us with that hope and peace that St. Paul speaks of, “Let the peace of God that surpasses all understand to guard your hearts and minds in Christ.”

Distractions will always be a part of our life of prayer as long as we are in this world. We cannot just ignore all of these distractions because they may be God’s invitations to look deeper into our hearts and learn something about Him, ourselves, and others. This is how we develop that self-knowledge that is indispensable for a deeper intimacy with God in life and in prayer. So, rather than letting this distractions hinder our prayer life, let our hope be rooted in the truth that the God who has given us this desire to pray and to be in a relationship with Him also permits us in His mysterious providence to have these nagging distractions in prayer.

The sufferings of the incarcerated St. Paul and his uncertain future did not take his focus away from Christ but spurred him on to encourage others to rejoice always in the Lord alone. Our distractions in prayer too cannot take away our focus from God if we begin today to face these distractions with that attitude of Mary that St. Paul calls us to, that attitude that says in all things, good or bad, success or failure, light or darkness, “My soul rejoices in God, my Savior…alone.”

Glory to Jesus!!! Honor to Mary!!!

Source: http://catholicexchange.com/st-paul-distra..._eid=6396f20ec0

Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 342



Reading 1 (Sir 2:1-11)

My son, when you come to serve the LORD,
stand in justice and fear,
prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast,
incline your ear and receive the word of understanding,
undisturbed in time of adversity.
Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not;
thus will you be wise in all your ways.
Accept whatever befalls you,
when sorrowful, be steadfast,
and in crushing misfortune be patient;
For in fire gold and silver are tested,
and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.
Trust God and God will help you;
trust in him, and he will direct your way;
keep his fear and grow old therein.

You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy,
turn not away lest you fall.
You who fear the LORD, trust him,
and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the LORD, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
You who fear the LORD, love him,
and your hearts will be enlightened.
Study the generations long past and understand;
has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?
Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken?
has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?
Compassionate and merciful is the LORD;
he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble
and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40)

R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart's requests.
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;
their inheritance lasts forever.
They are not put to shame in an evil time;
in days of famine they have plenty.
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

Alleluia (Gal 6:14)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
May I never boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mk 9:30-37)

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,
but he did not wish anyone to know about it.
He was teaching his disciples and telling them,
"The Son of Man is to be handed over to men
and they will kill him,
and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise."
But they did not understand the saying,
and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,
he began to ask them,
"What were you arguing about on the way?"
But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves on the way
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
"If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."
Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me."



REFLECTION

Discussing among themselves… Who was the greatest. The Gospel is the second prediction of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. It follows the same pattern as the first one (Mk 8:27-33; cf Gospel and reflection for February 16).

The evangelist presents the disciples as totally lacking in understanding. While Jesus is talking about his coming passion and death, the disciples are discussing among themselves who is the greatest.

Jesus patiently instructs the Twelve on true greatness: one who wishes to be first must be the last of all and the servant of all. He then takes a child, presenting this non-person in Jewish society as the embodiment of greatness in God’s Kingdom. The childlike qualities of simplicity and welcoming attitude identify a great disciple.

True greatness is manifested in one’s willingness to serve the helpless and the marginalized.

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

When Life Disappoints You
Alan Scott

Sometimes, life just smacks you a good sucker-punch right to the noggin. And often that blow nearly takes your breath away.

Someone you love dies, you lose a job, someone you care about gets sick, you lose a pet, etc. And then, out of the blue, hopelessness and grief show up for an uninvited, lengthy stay.

And what do we do when the world around us feels as if it’s collapsing and we can’t seem to find a way out?

As it turns out, it’s during these times when things are falling apart that we are given some pretty good opportunities — to show compassion, patience, trust in God and often to demonstrate the difficult ability to simply persevere.

Get Back on the Horse

It’s during these times when the world is crumbling around us that we are provided with not just our most challenging times, but also life-changing times, that, seen later in retrospect, give us those “a-ha” epiphany moments, not to be understood at the time the immense challenges are happening.

My mother suffered a stroke in late December, and my life since then has been about trying to help her. Help her through her long hospital stay. Help with getting her situated into a rehab center. Help with her recovery. And finally help with bringing her home to continue to care for her.

I have honestly never prayed for someone so much in my life. And although this experience has been a very tough one, it has brought much closer to God, than ever before.

But since she had her stroke in December, often I have felt paralyzed. It’s honestly the only way I can describe it. For the most part, I have felt an inability to focus on or do anything else unrelated to her recovery. Everything else in my life has not only taken a back seat, it’s probably somewhere in the trunk…buried under the spare tire.

I have felt an inability to devote any time to getting the new design firm I partnered with two colleagues, off the ground.

My book, “The Quest for Virtue” which is ready to be released…is collecting more dust than Miss Havisham’s house.

And although I need to continue helping my mother remain on the road to recovery, I’m tired of feeling paralyzed. It’s time to get back on the horse. Even if the horse does feel like it’s a Clydesdale, with a penchant for tossing its rider off and snickering afterwards.

So many times in life I have learned that when we carry our cross willingly, and patiently, we will find greater strength from carrying that cross. But when we bear it unwillingly, we only make our burdens greater than they already are – yet we still have to bear them. And one who runs away from the cross is only running toward another cross, perhaps even a heavier one.

That has been my life these past six weeks.

Although I fully realize God is calling me to care for my mom, and to be joyful for all that she regains, and accept all that she does not…I have been mentally suffering, wondering how I will do it. How I will bear it. And this has only created more crosses.

And these extra (and weighty) crosses have been constructed from a desire to “run”. Run from the new and more difficult responsibilities of taking care of my mother. Run from what I have been viewing as a burden.

Someone once said – Do not always look to be on the other side of the suffering – as if that is the only place you will find peace and find God again. No. God is to be found in the suffering itself, because that is where He is trying to heal you.

Healing. That is what I need. That’s what we all need.

So, I have decided to put down all the other crosses that I have self-constructed and to trust in God to help me carry the one cross that He gave me.

And the way this works is like this:

Stay with the pain and the struggles. Don’t run from them, don’t try to do anything to avoid them, but face them with courage.

Stay with all of the emotions and sadness. Have the courage to just be with it like you would with a friend who’s suffering. Don’t dwell on it, but don’t run from it either.

Do it in small doses, and with patience. We don’t need to drown in the sadness.

Pray and give everything to God: your concerns, your heartache, even your helplessness. Give it to God through your prayer, and then let it go.

Just Do the Best That You Can Do

Eventually, you will overcome the feelings of sadness and despair, and realize that, with God’s help, you will be given the strength and the courage to deal with them and the world won’t end.

When we try to solve our daily problems and remedy our troubles on our own, without prayer and trust in God, it will usually only end in a deep frustration.

Trust me.

I am going to start living this more, so that I can remove myself from despair and feeling paralyzed…so that I may get back on the horse, and continue living my life as God intended for me, and for everyone.

It’s time for me dust off some areas of my life that have long been neglected, and put God back in the driver’s seat.

Source: http://catholicexchange.com/when-life-disappoints-you

Good to hear. I hope that is sincerity. Coz most people won't even think of doing it due to taboo, not open-minded, etc.

Taboo is basically superstition, a sin against the First Commandment.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle
Lectionary: 535



Reading 1 (1 Pt 5:1-4)

Beloved:
I exhort the presbyters among you,
as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ
and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.
Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6)

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Alleluia (Mt 16:18)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church;
the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 16:13-19)

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."



REFLECTION

Upon this rock I will build my church. Rock, petros in Greek and kephas in Aramaic, symbolizes sturdiness and strength. Since the Church is founded on rock, the jaws of death shall not prevail against it.

Jesus commissions Simon Peter as the rock, the firm foundation of the Church, after he has confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. It is Simon Peter’s faith in Jesus that makes him a fitting foundation for the community of believers.

The forces of evil are symbolized as the “gates of the netherworld.” The antidote to these evil forces is faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, who brings glad tidings to the poor, proclaims liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and release to prisoners (cf Lk 4:18).

“The just one who is righteous because of faith shall live” (Hb 2:4).

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.)
http://www.ssp.ph/

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18: 19-20)

Freemason Service at England’s Mother Church on Same Day as Consecration to Our Lady
Deacon Nick Donnelly

Justin Welby, the Church of England’s Archbishop of Canterbury, is allowing a full Masonic service to be conducted in Canterbury cathedral on the same day that Cardinal Nichols reconsecrates England and Wales to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Westminster cathedral on the18th February 2017.

Canterbury cathedral was the Mother-Church of All England from 597 till the death of the last Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal Pole, in 1558. It was the heart of the Catholic Church in England and one of the major shrines of Christendom because it housed the shrine of St Thomas a Becket.

The Masonic service in Canterbury cathedral marks the 300th anniversary of the foundation of Freemasonry with the establishment of the first Grand Lodge in London. It is reported that the Masonic service will last three hours, but the published order of service appears much shorter. It remains unclear whether Justin Welby has given his permission for the Masons to participate in full regalia in Canterbury cathedral. The Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, the Very Reverend Robert Willis, will preside at the Masonic Service. The Duke of Kent, who is the Grand Master of the Freemasons, will also be in attendance along with other High Rulers in the Craft.

Virtue online: The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism reports that Justin Welby made his controversial decision to allow the Masonic service in Canterbury cathedral because of a large donation, “Canterbury Cathedral agreed to hold the service of thanksgiving to celebrate 300 years of Freemasonry after receiving a donation of £300,000 ($374,520) from the Masons for the restoration of the North-West Transept in the Cathedral.”

Justin Welby’s and Canterbury Cathedrals decision to allow a Masonic service is controversial among certain groups of Anglicans in light of the 1987 summary of the deliberations by the General Synod of the Church of England, Freemasonry and Christianity: Are they compatible?:

It was “clear that some Christians have found the impact of Masonic rituals disturbing and a few perceive them as positively evil.” Some believed that Masonic rituals were “blasphemous” because God’s name “must not be taken in vain, nor can it be replaced by an amalgam of the names of pagan deities.” It noted that Christians had withdrawn from Masonic lodges “precisely because they perceive their membership of it as being in conflict with their Christian witness and belief. The Synod’s primary theological objection centred upon Freemasonry’s use of the word “Jahbulon,” which is the name used for the Supreme Being in Masonic rituals, and is an amalgamation of Semitic, Hebrew and Egyptian titles for God.”

Comment

Cardinal Nichols’ reconsecration of England and Wales to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Westminster cathedral on the 18th of February 2017 inaugurates the celebrations of the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. The Mass at Westminster cathedral includes the crowning of a specially commissioned statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

There is a violent history of Masonic hostility to Our Lady of Fatima since the original apparitions in 1917 in Portugal. Father John de Marchi’s account of the miraculous events at Fatima, personally verified by Sr. Lucia, recounts the hostility of local freemasons towards Our Lady and the three visionaries at Fatima. Arthur Santos, the mayor of Vila Nova de Ourem who persecuted and psychologically tortured the three children, was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Leiria, and founded a new lodge in his native Vila Nova de Ourem. The Masonic Lodge at Santarem, a neighbouring town to Fatima, became the rallying point to atheistic opposition to Our Lady of Fatima. In September 1917, men from Santarem joined up with men from Vila Nova de Ourem to attack the makeshift shrine at the site of the apparitions.

In view of this history of masonic anti-Catholicism, is it more than an unhappy coincidence that a major Masonic service is being conducted in the ancient mother Church of the Catholic faith in these lands on the very same day that England is reconsecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in honour of Our Lady of Fatima? Even if it is coincidence, it is a conjunction of events that is profoundly significant and meaningful.

Originally published at EWTN Great Britain. Reprinted with permission.

http://www.onepeterfive.com/freemason-serv...secration-lady/