Emergence

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JMJ

e·mer·gence

əˈmərjəns/

noun

1. 1.

   the process of coming into view or becoming exposed after being concealed.

   "I misjudged the timing of my emergence"

   synonyms:

   appearance, arrival, coming, materialization; More
2. 2.

   the process of coming into being, or of becoming important or prominent.

   "the emergence of the environmental movement"

   synonyms:

   appearance, arrival, coming, materialization; More

I've written before that eventually the Catholic Church will emerge from this crisis. 

My read of the acceleration under Pope Francis is we are in the death throes of this particular crisis. 

This pontificate is unraveling and I suspect we'll see even more erratic and extreme behaviour in the near future.

Can we 'trads' do anything?

Absolutely!

Practice virtue and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.  I would emphasize that all of the spiritual works of mercy are needed more than ever.

The corporal works of mercy is as follows:

• To feed the hungry;

• To give drink to the thirsty;

• To clothe the naked;

• To harbour the harbourless;

• To visit the sick;

• To ransom the captive;

• To bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are:

• To instruct the ignorant;Trads are typically better educated in the Faith and spiritual life - we need to pass this on to our fellow Catholics.

• To counsel the doubtful; there are lots of Catholics out there who are doubting the Faith. We need to bolster them.

• To admonish sinners; obviously with charity.

• To bear wrongs patiently; because we are authentic in our Catholicism we will be targeted by those enemies within and without the Catholic Church. Your patience will do far more than your screaming.

• To forgive offences willingly; the Pope gives offense daily to faithful Catholics, forgive him.

• To comfort the afflicted; 

• To pray for the living and the dead.

These are the true Catholic works of mercy - real mercy.

One last thing, I've encountered a number of Trads who seek vindication for all of the abuse.

I think we need to practice the works of mercy and remember this beatitude:

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. 

Hunger and thirst for justice, not vindication, not revenge, but justice - the rendering or giving of everyone what they deserve.

We need to let go and forgive all the insults and injuries. We need to work to help the 'modern' Catholics to rediscover the Catholic culture that awaits them.

We need to let God give to everyone what they deserve.

It will be done and it will be just.

Pray for those in positions of authority, much has been given to them and much will we expected of them.


P^3