Yesterday, the Cistercians commemorated the Feast of their Founders: St. Robert of Molesme, St. Alberic, and St. Stephen Harding; the latter being an Englishman who is reputed to have been born in Dorset.
In light of the indefatigable (and at times exhausting efforts) of this blog a scandal festering at the heart of the Cistercians — the duplicitous life of Dom Richard Purcell is no longer occult.
And, having being exposed, Dom Purcell, finally did the decent thing by presenting his resignation as the Abbot of Mount Melleray Abbey, which providentially was accepted by the Abbot General, Dom Eamon Fitzgerald, OCSO with the consent of his council.
The history of monasticism shows periods of great fervour and followed by periods of decline.
This is nothing new. But, there have always been men and women who have generously responded to the call of the Lord to follow the monastic life. And, this will continue well in the future when we are all dead and buried, however, it is not unreasonable to presume that in the future monastic communities will be smaller; but hopefully there will be more authentic.
And, for the avoidance of any and all doubt the synchronistic expression of monasticism to be found at Silverstream Priory is not an example of what I am referring to in this blog
Another perennial theme within monasticism has been sexual misconduct within monasteries.
But, this is not exclusive to the Roman Catholic expression of monasticism; it is also an issue within Orthodox monasticism. The monastic tradition within Buddhism has also seen its share of sexual misconduct and financial scandals.
However, these scandals tend to be covered-up and do not attract media coverage. This is not surprising due to the nature of sin, and the reality of the human condition. Monasticism only makes sense when it is informed by an eschatological reality. Otherwise, it is an exercise in futility.
Today, the Cistercians invite everyone to be spiritually united with them in prayer.
The Cistercians are rightly praying for an increase in vocations and the renewal of their way of life.
They have composed a beautiful prayer that expresses this profound sentiment. I invite all the readers of my blog to prayerfully offer it for the renewal of the Cistercians across the globe; for the successful consolidation of the Irish Cistercian houses at Mount Melleray Abbey, and for the renewal of monasticism more generally in the Church. Mount Melleray Abbey is a place very close to my heart. It was a place I visited when I was a seminarian in Waterford; it remains a place that is very close to my heart.
I also spent a lot of time as a seminarian and young priest in Mellifont Abbey at Collon in Louth.
Authentic Cistercians everywhere have my esteem and respect.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 
193 replies on “WILL THE CISTERCIANS BE GREAT AGAIN?”
There is also a pattern in monastic history of waxing and waning, so yes they will because it’s a perennial vocation. Just the corrupt sort has to die out first.
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Not in Europe as Catholicism, let alone monasticism is in freefall. It may die out / morph Into something new, as Mithraism did; you can see it desperately attempting to align itself with the green agenda and environmentalism to become palatable to modern sensitivities. Christianity will barely be recognisable in 100 years.
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You really could do with familiarizing yourself with history.
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1.10
The planet will barely be recognisable in 50 years. If it will still be there.
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So get off while you can, 11:23.
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Silverstream, is that who the blog is referring to?
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Whether intended or not the tonsure, as in the first picture, makes you instantly recognisable and may help a monk avoid gay bathhouses.
Just an idea.
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11.37
Alternatively gay people could wear a yellow star.
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Or perhaps a pink star?????
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Will the Roman Catholic Church be great again?
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@11:40: I suppose it depends on a definition of “great.”
In terms of “large”: No, it is already fading and will dwindle into insignificance.
In terms of “commendable ” No! Definitely not. Actually it never was. Perhaps the original “Jesus cult” of “early Christianity ” was when it was at its best, but following it’s development post Constantine, into a hierarchical organisation it became a repressive elitist bureaucracy moving ever further away from spirituality.
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Very good point
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Yes. I think the majority of the problems and corruption stem from the ‘were biggest, best and always right’ attitude.
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I would not agree. The organisation of the Church in Rome which distributed great amounts of charity via diakonia, Diarmuid McCulloch suggests this programme of care, rejection of abortion (most used for prostitutes) and exposure of infants brought a natural increase in the numbers of Christians. There was in fact a cult of the saints and martyrs. Early Christians offering Mass on their tombs were not proto-Protestants. Constantine had been cycling through forms of henotheism and monotheism, variously Apollo or the relatively new Sol Invictus. He saw how Christians organised great numbers of rich and poor who aided each other. A vision before the battle of Milvian Bridge only solidified a general sympathy inherited from his father who mostly avoided enforcing the Diocletianic persecutions. It later held together an Eastern Roman Empire which faced continual warfare, with plague and climatic disaster in the 530s.
It is a stereotype to talk of a ‘repressive elitist bureaucracy.’ Later bishops proved to be effective civic leaders in later Germanic age when public law, government regressed to its most basic form of a roving and semi predatory militarised aristocracy. St Gregory the Great not only consolidated a Mass recognisable until the 1960s, with what is called the Gregorian Sacramentary, but helped the people of Rome and beyond hold body and soul together in a hellish time which for some years was literally dark (perhaps from Krakatoa erupting).
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Symmachus, I have to say that none of your historical bumph is relevant to the question. Who are you trying to impress?
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5.34
Symmachus, more idle speculation from you about the history of the Mass. uncorroborated and unsubstantiated memes.
The so-called Gregorian Sacramentary dates from the 10th century. Gregory the Great died in 604.
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No. How can an organisation that has abused children ever be great again?
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It can’t, 1:03. And more particularly one where the whole leadership has been happy to cover up crime. What we see played out on this blog every day is the fact they simply refuse to see it.
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The organisation didn’t, but its sinful members did. It would be like saying you cannot trust social services because of Baby P and all the recent cases.
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+Pat, a lovely blog. We need to pray for the Church and all religious orders but the Cistercians are special.
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And where is Rawhide Barebacker Purcell licking his wounds these days ? Or has he moved on ? Or is he biding his time, to emerge as some reincarnated, converted monk who has rediscovered God after expensive therapy ? I guess it will be the latter. They all go off and do the therapy thing and then come back all converted and committed, except that they then carry on quietly and secretly with their usual ways, just a bit more carefully. Until they get caught out again, and begin the process anew. I hope someone has the sense to let him know that the best thing for him and everybody else is that he moves on and out and makes a new life for himself, where he can bareback to his heart’s content. I’ve no problem with that, just so long as it is done honestly and openly, and he is not trying to fool himself and us the he is something that he is not. He’s tried to fool us for too long. Enough is enough. So, be honest, dear ex-Abbot Purcell, and get a new life. Then we might have cause to respect you and trust you.
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12:10, the best apology is changed behaviour. One must be given the opportunity, depending on the situation. A judge gives people a warning and they avoid a prison sentence. Some people learn their lesson. Some people do not.
Pax.
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12.10
R. Purcell ows you nothing. Who do you think you are, calling someone out by name from the safety of anonymity?
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Purcell called himself out by name by virtue of his behaviour, which he denied for so long. He deserves to be named, given that he has led a shameful and duplicitous life and tried to fool us all. That takes a lot mending. So, please spare me any excuses for him. If he begins to live an honest and transparent life, without lies, then I wish him the very best for the future. But if he tries to pull the wool over our eyes again, I and + Pat and many others will out him again and make sure he is shamed. Why should we go easy on him, until such time as he has recognised his lies and has repented and is seen to have changed his ways ? My bet is that he has no intention of changing his ways and is just lying low until such time as he can reappear quietly and get on with living a lie of a life. Some of us will be watching carefully. Be sure of that. He’s an arrogant fu**er, who thinks he has a right to lie to us and take us for fools. Well, that’s not how it works any more for clergy. He, and others, need to get the message.
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5:12, I hope you enjoyed a good cry after writing all of that. The departed abbot is living rent free inside your head.
Pax.
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12.10: Get a grip on yourself. You ain’t a virgin I’m sure!!
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4.03
On second thoughts, you very well may be. Who would wish to get close to someone who pours forth such thoughts.
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Just occasionally, whenever the topic of politics crops up, people have asked me: “Why don’t you vote?” Or “You’re not really interested in politics, are you?” “Why’s that, then?”
For the answer to these questions: please watch the video, below…
“That” is a prime example of what, within politics, I find to be repugnant and a danger to the democracy of ordinary men and women. Especially the most vulnerable within our society.
.
https://videopress.com/v/RCMQG2JW
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Colm Holmes – We are Church International – published a press release of open letter to Pope Francis yesterday asking him to investigate clerical abuse.
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Without Googling him, I’m guessing that Colm Holmes is a boomer.
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He’s 24, 11:15.
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@11:15 The Dutch Catechism will explain the meaning of the word Catholic to you.
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24? You’re having a laugh.
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1.12pm
The Dutch Catechism? Only 5% of Dutch Catholics go to Mass, 55% of parishes have been closed and they haven’t seen the worst of it yet.
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2020/01/21/dutch-parishes-close-some-catholics-just-quit-going-church
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Asking Francis to investigate clerical abuse, from a sincere and genuine safeguarding perspective, is tantamount to Dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight.
–
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
And if I [Jesus] drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
— Matthew 12: 25-28
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Silence is Golden. !!!
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Unless they start to admit da gays there will be no revival.
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+ Pat, the procedure for the closure of a Cistercian monastery is set out within the Constitutions of the Order. They are worth quoting in full for readers of your blog.
C. 67 Suppression of a Monastery
1) When due to particular and long-standing circumstances a monastery no longer offers any basis for hope of growth, careful consideration should be given to whether it is to be closed. Only the General Chapter, by a two-thirds majority, can decide on the suppression of an autonomous monastery. A two-thirds majority vote of the conventual chapter is also necessary. A written report is required from the Father Immediate together with his consent, and the bishop of the place is to be consulted.
2) When the General Chapter decides on the suppression of a monastery it names a special commission composed of at least five persons to supervise the process of suppression. Great pastoral care is to be given to the monks of the suppressed house, especially regarding their right to stability in another community of the Order. Attention is to be paid to the rights and obligations of all persons and communities involved and to the rights of founders and donors. The civil law of the place will be observed with regard to the disposal of property.
A decision about the planned closure of any Cistercian Abbey in Ireland is probably under active consideration at the moment in consultation with the affected communities as the suppression of the house will need the approval of the General Chapter, which is scheduled to meet later this year. If this becomes a reality it is not unreasonable to presume the closures will take time, and the subsequent amalgamation into a single monastery will not occur until late 2023 at the earliest.
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Point 2 has already happened in one monastery.
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@12:10 am
I agree with everything you have written, however, I might not have expressed it in such expressive prose. Purportedly, if we are to believe his LinkedIn profile, Richard Purcell is still self-describing as a Cistercian monk. Why does a Cistercian monk need a LinkedIn profile? And, why did he have a Facebook Profile and Twitter account? It is a legitimate question, because Purcell was not promoting vocations to either Roscrea or Mount Melleray Abbey when he was active on social media.
https://ie.linkedin.com/in/richard-purcell-5075a331
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It still lists him as Abbot of Mount Melleray?
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Maybe the former abbot, whom you deposed, was the only one at the monastery who could update the website. All the other monks seem to be in advanced years and may not be internet savvy.
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11:24 Well given that we’re talking about the abbot’s own profile on an employment website you will be right that he is the only one who can update it.
‘LinkedIn is an American business- and employment-oriented online service that operates via websites and mobile apps. Launched on May 5, 2003, the platform is primarily used for professional networking and career development, and allows job seekers to post their CVs and employers to post jobs.’
You try to sidestep the question of why a monk would need this and instead vent your rage at Buckley for the abbot being ‘deposed’.
Is that you, Dick?
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The news seems to have stopped in April 2018, maybe six months after Dom Richard (Purcell) was inaugurated (https://mountmellerayabbey.org/news/story/inauguration-of-the-new-abbot). Perhaps a new website was in the works, perhaps it suggests a culture of secretiveness. One could stay in the guesthouse (https://mountmellerayabbey.org/guesthouse) but avoid bringing Boilerhouse originating guests.
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He was probably too busy kicking his legs his height at the Boilerhouse. Mind you, and I don’t blame him. It must have been so dull at the monastery.
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10.07 – several of the MIA’s around Ireland are still listed on Diocesan websites more than 12 months after issues came to light?
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“The further a Society drifts from the truth, the more it hates those who speak it”
George Orwell
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I am a great fan of Thomas Merton and in the 1950s even before Vatican 11, the Cistercians had massive problems. There will always be people drawn to contemplation but probably living on margins of the church. Unknown to anyone. Truly hidden sons of God.
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10.33
Don’t forget the daughters.
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Thomas Merton (and his nurse lover) was one of their problems.
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The RCC has gone too far into the abyss for any revival. Cathbots can deny it all they want, due to the fear that has been indoctrinated into them throughout the ages. The RCC will never bring salvation to anyone. It simply cannot. The church portrays itself as a pathway to Jesus but it is a pathway to hell on a handcart . Any church (and I suppose they all are) is riddled with hypocrisy. However the RCC has taken it to new depths. Christ has been replaced with the lure of money and power and debauchery and there is no sign that this will change even as the chickens are coming home to roost
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Pat in all your years of service did you ever know off a priest to have so blatant – a lady friend or a male friend?
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I knew a priest with both.
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11.31 Anon, What a stupid question to ask Bishop Pat.
It would be a lonely world if nobody had friends, be they male or female. However, this comment is once again, a target on the clerical profession so let me tell you this whoever you are. I am a “lady” friend to several Priests and other Religious in my Parish in the East and help them organize many church events. Will you wake up and think about the true meaning of friends. Not all individuals think like you so do like ET get on yer bike and fly far far away.
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3:00AM did u wake up in the middle of the night to savour the silence!
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Pat has readers in all world time zones.
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“Lord, you are truth and you are life: your ways always just.
You guide those who do what is right; you walk beside your little ones and keep them safe from the evil one.
You lead them on the straight path: the good path.
Your path is the smooth path.”
— Isaiah 26: 7
.https://youtu.be/yNQC-_srxH8
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12.53
You might have better luck if your Latin improved. Verus episcopus!
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Addressing someone as episcopus? Really?
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3.31
You make a mistake. Have a closer look at the punctuation and you’ll see the vocative is not intended. It’s not an address. It’s an ellipsis for ‘The correct form is verus episcopus.’
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4:42 Ah, I see. The fruits of learning Latin but not how to punctuate your own language 😟
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5.35
Wrong again. (Ellipsis for “You are wrong again.”)
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5.35
Are you talking about punctuation? Where’s the finite verb in what you have written after the first three words? It’s not a sentence, though you have punctuated it as if it were.
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Oh Pat. I’m going to recommend a modest grant to you at the next Episcopal Conference. As one commentator noted the other day, you provide a great outlet for the disgruntled, unhappy and miserable men in the priesthood. Here they can vent all their anger and spleen to their hearts content. It gives them a safety valve for anger that might otherwise prove highly destructive of themselves, their superiors and others.
The sizeable cohort of former clerics that seem to frequent your blog also have a safe place for all their hurts and woes. Pat, your service in truly invaluable.
Obviously, we can’t make a cash transfer from the Conference bank account to you. Please publish your bank details for an anonymous deposit. It will appear on your statement as from ‘Grati fratres’
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Why do you assume they are all former clerics? You sound as dismissive as Jacob Rees-Mogg towards Scottish Conservative politicians.
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Jacob Rees-Mogg is of course a Roman Catholic, which explains everything.
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1.07: it’s very obvious that many commenters are ex’s of a sort – the venom of their score settling is so blatant and some are actually recognisable by their poisonous venom. We should 😢😢😢😢😢 really feel sorry for the former fratres and seminarians..🤣🤣🤣🤣😅😅😅😣😣😣..
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Lily: Your comment suggests you are a cleric. I think that rather than, as you say, “We should really feel sorry for the former fratres and seminarians”, maybe the reverse applies more aptly: that they should feel sorry for the ever dwindling embattled clerical species.
But the facts are: they don’t!
“Slap it into yez” might be a more accurate summary.
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LIES more LIES and falsehoods!
The only time the bishops’ conference ever gave money to anyone not connected with themselves was to people who their priests illegally connected with and when forced by a court.
Nonetheless thank you, I have learned so much about the Catholic faith from your comments here.
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Industrial strength child abuse or child rape as I prefer to call it combined with concerted and global criminal cover up isn’t recoverable from – the brand isn’t just fatally wounded it’s dead in the water – the institutional denial will continue for a few generations to come but rather like the Hanged Man they will Repent and Believe the Gospel but not in several lifetimes.
The realisation that pedarests and active homosexual clergy rule and run the Catholic Church is a raw truth few can digest – smaller and persecuted and despised is also the path of renewal and change.
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Anon at 1.20pm
Yes at industrial strength as regards to child abuse with a mafia OMERTA. It has shades of an organised crime with financial embezzlement. I didn’t understand it when I was young re shady dealings that nuns and cbs had at that time.
Daisy chain and other incidents posted on this blog made me sick cos it went too far now.
Rcc holds a lot of asymmetrical information that we don’t know but still want us to give them our money without any fiscal or moral or legal responsibility.
If you give them too much deference, in my experience they will get away with it even criminal or financial malfeasance.
Trust is gone. How could you trust them again after what they did to us.
Priests/cardinal or bishops double lives were exposed on this blog as it really opened our eyes wider.
New bishop of tuam, I thought was too bland.
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As I gay man I actually hate other gay men they are repulsive
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No, dear. It’s not them you hate. And who can be surprised.
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12:53. surprising that given you are so happy in the priesthood of the Roman Catholic company that you read Pats blog to sneer. Thank God there is an outlet like this blog to highlight the deceit,lies and abuse of your company whilst it masquerades as a pathway to Christ. Somehow or other I think you are the sad and disgruntled one, trying (but failing miserably) to defend the indefensible .
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Today is Holocaust Memorial Day.
Last year I watched a very moving film called God on Trial, written for screen by Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
Films like these are a stark reminder that we should never forget — and that we should always keep a real sense of vigilance in how evil can easily eminate from where there are those who are willing to abuse their positions and powers. Especially those who crave status and attention in the halls, Echo Chambers, of the murky world of politics…
Given the context of my posting, I use the words Echo Chambers with the greatest of Love, humility and respect x
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Remember: evil creeps “up” and “in” — and it always wants the best seat in the House!
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Love Must, and will, conquer all x
I believe the film is available on the NetFlix. X
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https://www.facebook.com/100850002508218/posts/107065405220011/
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Saint Angela Merici feast day today Pat. Patron saint of the disabled and physically challenged.
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A lot of readers are physically challenged on here
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X
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One of my deceased relatives who got married in cisterican Church and late Fr A. O brien was my only link to the cisterican order. Mt Melleray was steeped in silence and prayer ad well.
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Should we treat people the same way as they treat us? Yes and no; we should always treat people the right way. And we can learn the right way from those who have been generous enough to extend such courtesies to us and others.
(
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were: any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.”
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3.08: Did not Jesus say: “Always treat others as you would like them to treat you…”. This imperative for Christ followers is lost on many in this blog who have betrayed its author in the fiercest of ways through innuendo, condemnation, hearsay and hardness of heart. There is a new gospel created by commenters – “Crush and destroy the enemy. Be merciless. Be nasty. Be venomous..” !!
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Yes @ 3.48. The Gospels refer to him saying this. But bear in mind that it is a saying much previous to Christ. It is found in other earlier historical texts, and colloquially referred to as the Golden Rule.
And the new religion of Christianity too incorporated many elements of pre-existent faith/religious beliefs concerning the coming of a “messianic saviour.”
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“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”
— Romans 16:20
“For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:25
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and magistrates, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
— Ephesians 6:11-12
Being a true follower of Christ is not easy, it requires a certain amount of courage and a willing to understand the importance of scriptural warnings regarding the evil one.
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All I know is that I can’t keep “Flame Out of Dorset” in stock. My last copy was a tattered paperback upon which I placed an absurdly high price. As soon as it was posted it flew out of here. The same with anything about S. Bernard. As to Cistercian breviaries two sets were on line for 600 smackers or so. I think that much for such dismal copies is a stretch since they’re not O. Carm breviaries after all.
Speaking of breviaries I do find Cistercian chant attractive. More so than the Solesmes chants which lack that certain je ne sais quoi. Years ago Peter Anson wrote that old Medicean (?) tones were more appreciated by folks, or something to that effect.
The monks at Casamari have chants that I understand can be downloaded. The ones I heard contain selections from Holy Week. Quite moving!
Please, dear Bishop Patrick, don’t go Trumpish on us. Perhaps humility is the goal. And not for the Cistercians only.
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3.37
There was a choir visit from Maynooth to Solesmes in the 80’s. Most kept the rugby rule!! Most…..Lol…Lol…Lol
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What is the rugby rule?
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4.47
July 1985 to be precise. Marvellous.
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Pat how many holidays do you go on a year? I can afford one decent one every summer and my salary is £80k
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Bloody always someone giving off on this blog everyday about priests and their holidays! They are entitled as much as anyone else
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4.03
” Entitled” is a much misunderstood word….
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Mulvihill when is your next holiday? You can holiday with me anytime 😉
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Holiday police out again
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Paddy McCaff is in Spain with a male friend and Martin Magill is in Portugal by himself. Eugene OHagan is down south with his sister.
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No doubt Paddy is all inclusive 🍺
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4.57
Presumptuous to ask me another question without answering mine ? I shall ask it again; is your surname Gosling by any chance ?
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I’m off to Cape Verde at end of February and I can not wait. We are all worthy of a break.
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Good for you; don’t come back
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Pat some Irish man has turned up to mass everyday and did mass so I presume our priest is on holiday again
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Latin is a dead language as the curia plus the Vatican insist that their lines of communication in Latin 🙈😉.
Ordinary folks or laity have no desire to learn that language. Centuries ago, they (rcc) wrote the Bible in English cos it was then foreign language that nobody could read it on(Dan brown movie – da vinci code) . That’s their intention not to give access to us re info. Whats nowadays that rcc won’t give us access to was their asymmetrical information in exchange for our monies.
Its a political and religious organisation with shades of criminal or apostasy intent except for at local level which is the parish.
Anyway back to Mt Melleray, relative who got married there, her children was born on 8th Sept, 25th Dec, 29th Sept, 12 th Dec so on. These were church important feast days that I didn’t notice it until this year when this blog went on the rage re RP and eamonn Fitzgerald.
I wonder what late fr o brien would say to them if he was alive then. He told me he was in 1946 or 1947 until his death. A great servant of the Lord. He was quite strict lecturing the American tourists re importance of kneeling before the altar rather taking pictures of the church in front of me. I didn’t realise it until very recent.
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Pat, you ask “authentic cistercians” to pray the litany as posted. I’m presuming you’re not praying it – though that would be personally good for your soul – as you are not an “authentic” Cistercian…whatever that means! A typical cynical comment from your mouth.
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That isn’t what he said you plonker! Read it again!
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Nice, kind reply to a mistake.
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3.44: Deaf Guy: what on earth are you rabbiting in about? Confusion reigns. Asymmetrical information…do you know what this means?
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Aristotle at 3.56pm
Brief explanation of ‘asymmetrical information’ is here :
Asymmetric information, also known as “information failure,” occurs when one party to an economic transaction possesses greater material knowledge than the other party. This typically manifests when the seller of a good or service possesses greater knowledge than the buyer;.
So in that case rcc has a lot of asymmetrical information that we didn’t have or don’t have at the mo such as bishop casey, fr cleary, brendan boland and fr Smyth, daisy chain in Scotland double lives of certain priests or abbot or bishops hidden until they were exposed in public. Nobody knew about them except for rcc bigwigs or the Vatican or the bishops.
Bishops all over the world holds a lot of asymmetrical information going back in decades that we don’t know even right now at this very moment.
Thats why bishops are unto law themselves unless the state force them to do the opposite instead of withholding valuable information that they sat on for decades, Bishop casey for some 20 years before it came into light, same can be said for fr M Cleary too, other sexually active bishops hidden right now in Scotland that we don’t know but only guess.
Thats an example of asymmetrical information 👆 but at the same time they want us to donate or give monies without changing their ways.
Do you get me? Do you re 👆😉
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Deaf guy, I think I love you. 💕
The perfect answer to the cathbot bullies and trolls that infest this blog.
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5.29
Spoken like a true Cathphobe!
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Robert Hourigan had a lot to answer for
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The Irish Church owes him and Bishop Pat a debt of gratitude.
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The Church is the body of Christ—that’s all members and followers of Christ Jesus. All denominations; Catholic, Protestant, Methodist… and even our Scottish Presbyterian friends, too, you know 😉 x
And all who work for the better good of the whole body, of which we are all members — our communities as well, don’t forget — are indeed owed a debt of gratitude.
Always choose good over evil; never be an instrument for evil to flourish. Do good unto others; give love and respect where dew x
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But not the Wee Frees.
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6:27, okay, the Protestants should thank Pat and Hourigan as well. 🎉
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4.14
Bishop Buckley, I had/have( not sure) a friend who had what I consider a pathological hatred of you and your Blog. I could not understand it, could make no sense of his intensity about it at all. I do now. My sixth class teacher in primary school was always telling us to “give every man his due” quoting he constantly told us from the adage to ‘ Tullamore Dew.’ I didnt understand him when I was in his class. At my age now, I only get what he was at…..They needn’t blame Robert Hourigan or Pat Buckley. The system is rotten to its very core…..putrid. Give every man his due……
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And I was born in Tullamore 😀
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Two great church people came from Tullamore. Sr Genevieve O’Farrell and Fr Patrick Buckley. The former went on to be known as Sr Genny and the latter is, of course, Bishop Pat Buckley. Both made their mark in the north of the country.
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4.42
I wish to correct myself…..it was Mc Glynn the principal who used to stand in who was given to saying such…..Mc Kenna who was 6th class teacher was not so wise.
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William, as you know, blaming the victim/whistleblower/etc is the usual resort of the church. The venom directed at Hourigan on here (presumably by clerics getting their end away) a while ago was breathtaking.
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Bengal Spice seems to be the go to restaurant for priests and their boyfriends, they must get special prices
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I wouldn’t know what to order in an Indian I much prefer a Mexican
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Richard Purcell has vanished
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He’s in a boiler house near you…..how are these institutions legal / sheer filth
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St Stephen Hardings feast day was yesterday and he would be turning in his grave with the actions of Purcell
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5pm I just know this documentary will fascinate you-
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h5nGUFji1Fo
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Pat do you know Fr Gerard Fox? The cutest priest in NI, I wonder why Treanor has him hooked up beside him in Lisbreen Palace?
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£32k on blinds!! Noel doesn’t mind spending parishioners cash at all, at least the queen brings in more than she takes
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Has he changed his blinds again? What the hell are they doing with them
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Gerard is a lovely young chap, I don’t blame bishop for keeping him in Lisbreen to look at, if I had a basement he would be in it
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Was he not down beside you for a while Pat? I thought he had chucked it in?
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I just saw a young woman slap the legs of a toddler and had it squealing, I spoke with her and told her that was unacceptable and she got in my face and told me to mind my own business “you fucking paedophile”. Is there any other profession that takes this sort of abuse and name calling?
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You are lucky she never slapped you by the sound of it just let her beat her kids in future
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Mind your own business then bloody nosey priest
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Consequences are painful things.
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You should have slapped the legs of her then
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Did you see the video on the news of two Jewish men being attacked by a teenager? It’s not safe out there you can’t trust anyone.
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Anti Semitic attacks are on the increase and it wasn’t the Jews who killed Jesus Christ it was the romans
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6.40 pm
Dreadful behaviour. What the hell is up with people.
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How can a teenager be anti Semitic? I blame the mother
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Can I ask you something re info.
Ex gay friend was telling me that he and his gay friend from UK had sex with a priest in a sauna not far from where whitefriar Church was, back in early 1990s.
The problem was that i couldn’t find it that sauna unless he was telling me porkies. I found it very hard to believe it back in early 1990s cos we thought that most or all priests were holy as they wouldn’t do that kind of thing 🙈🤷♂️😉
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Thomas Merton, Fr Louis lived out most of his vocation of c. 27 years in Gethsemani (https://www.gethsemanifarms.org/), Kentucky. This monastery has c. 40 brothers and priests. While Thomas Merton might be a factor, I would suggest efficient government of the house. Spiritual masters can provide graces after, but they cannot do the work of an effective abbot or prior or whatever title is given to the principal of a monastery. Perhaps too rotating of monks and priests between houses could be done more often to avoid spiritual and moral staleness. That was something which happened in monasteries on the eve of the Dissolution. It might now be associated with concealing crime, but it is a way of disrupting animosities, breaking tired routines.
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You’re not a monastic are you? 😉
The reason they don’t rotate is a major element of the Benedictine and Cistercian tradition which is called stability and is the exact opposite of what you suggest. Often monks and nuns get urges to run away for many different reasons and it is intended to combat that.
As you say it has the advantage that you can spot problematic monks. A classic example you will be aware of would be the English Benedictine Congregation used Fort Augustus Abbey to hide its paedophiles from other monasteries for many years. That was of course in addition to Fort Augustus’s own paedophiles.
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No indeed not, and that rotation in 16th century England was a sort of training for novices, but yes I know of stability as a primary value. It is a good thing in an unstable world. Fort Augustus is notorious is Ealing Abbey of Soper fame was (I hope the present tense isn’t needed) perhaps as bad. Yet in these times of fewer monks, perhaps rotation might stir things a little. Breaking useless patterns of life that are custom rather than based the Rule can help someone work out what is wrong. Sad thing is that so many places are so far gone that they cannot easily accept new entrants.
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May I please ask the following questions, someone surely has a darned good idea:
1). What does the spirit look like?
2). How does it leave the body?
3). Do they go to another world and stay there, if so what do they do?
4). Are they reborn on earth?
5). If they remain as spirits, why can’t we see them?
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It always surprises me that there are people who haven’t seen this or done it themselves.
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Anon. 5.23. C2H50H takes many different forms when mixed, but in essence, proverbially, it is a clear liquid. It leaves the body as urinary discharge, which, if on earth, reconstitutes organically into new life forms.
Slainte mo chara 😋
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Today we will honour the lay Cistercian and reflect on the poetry of silence
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Mate keep your silly poems to yourself
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I quite like them throw us one out
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Pat do you think it’s strange for universities with MIAs to suddenly dawn educational links with educational institutions back home?
Isn’t it odd? Are these educational institutions happy?
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Pat how do you think the drugs are being smuggled in to our prison system here? It’s obvious
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Visitors? Officers .
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It’s obvious you are high
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What has this got to do with the cistercians
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Does anyone know of any decent priests or are you all corrupt and morally inept?
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Bishop Buckley of course 😊
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Pat I’m genuinely interested in what you think or know about the following.
Based on your own long experiences good and bad. Do you ever think that perhaps it’s worth thinking about or does it challenge your own faith in the divine power too much?
The mass is essentially a human blood sacrifice, borrowed from the Mayan culture in the Americas.
The Vatican has proof positive that life exists in other parts of the galaxy.
Many ancient artefacts are not of human origin.
Why are flying vehicles depicted in many old paintings within the Vatican.
Is it possible that the man known as Jesus was an extra terrestrial with some super human powers.
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6:55, You watch too much YouTube, friend.
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Anon 6.55. It’s reality that there’s much we do not know or understand, despite all modern advances across the sciences. Our human minds are indeed very limited.
The RCC follows pre existing religions and others subsequent to Christianity by presenting a semblance of a complete “explanation ” in the form of a framework of beliefs framed from a scattering of facts, aspirations, moral admonitions and historical precedents.
Thus, as you’ve said, some of its core beliefs have historical precedents, blood sacrifices, messianic figureheads etc etc.
I doubt that Jesus was extra terrestrial, if indeed he existed or acted as portrayed in writings scripted by already convinced followers based on oral transmissions long after his alleged departure. Biblical scholars have lots to argue over.
MMM
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Fr Des Wilson
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Fr was a one off, loved by all and missed desperately
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I am in love for the first time in my life, I implore you all to leave your vocation and seek this as it is a wonderful feeling.
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There’s a wee gay thing runs around belfast hunting for priests, just be careful you lot, he will befriend you and then try and seduce you
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Don’t say that, they’ll all be in Belfast on their next day ‘off’ 😆
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Hes already reeled in one it will be interesting to see what happens when he dumps him
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More Lisburn than belfast I hear 👂
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He looks like Sinead OConnor
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He would need to be careful, last time I went with a priest I caught crabs!
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I’m sure his wife must be proud D
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If Our Lord arrived in human form today do you honestly think he’d be impressed by priests ‘doing this in honour or me’ on altars like in the Temples of old. Do you think he’d be impressed by priests wearing medieval garb in 2022. Do you think he’d be impressed by Orders wearing medieval garb. When he was on earth he wore the fashion of the day. I don’t require a history lecture about vestments and Romans and Greeks. I’m just making a point.
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It’s actually possible to do all of the above and be pleasing to our Lord. But yes, the inner disposition and works of mercy are what truly pleases him. Otherwise the beauty of the Church signifies nothing.
“If you wish to honor the Eucharistic Victim, offer your own soul for which the Victim was immolated. Make your own soul all of gold. If your soul remains viler than lead or clay, what good does it do to have a golden chalice? Do you wish to honor the Body of Christ? Then do not disdain Him when you see Him in rags. After having honored Him in Church with silken vestments, do not leave Him to die of cold outside for lack of clothing. For it is the same Jesus Who says, ‘This is My Body’ and Who says ‘I was hungry but you would not feed Me. Whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me.’ The Body of Christ in the Eucharist demands pure souls, not costly garments. But in the poor He demands all our care. Let us act wisely. Let us honor Christ as He Himself wishes to be honored; the most acceptable honor to one whom we would honor is the honor which He desired, not that which we ourselves imagine. Peter thought he was honoring his Master by not letting the Lord wash his feet; and yet it was just the opposite. Give Him the honor which He Himself has asked for, by giving your money to the poor. Once again what God wants is not so much golden chalices but golden souls.” — Saint John Chrysostom
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7.14: Jesus most assuredly would not be impressed by the politics, machinations, corruption or abuses of any kind in the Church. He would not be impressed by all the fanciful robes on parade. Nor would Jesus be happy with priests who are half hearted or simply hanging in there! But neither would he condemn anyone to the point of ignominious humiliation or public shaming. Isn’t that why he cared for the woman before the real sinners and hypocrites stoned her? Jesus would surely whip the chord in anger but would not use it to hurt or degrade any sinner or wrongdoer..Jesus always challenged people and made people realise their wrong doing in all kinds of ways. Yes, he would be disgusted that any person acting as his follower would engage in liturgical pomposity or abuse of authority or status or inflict pain on the innocent and vulnerable. Coincidentally, this same Jesus would challenge and question the many commenters on this blog who are sinners, abusers, corrupters and unfaithful to his gospel, despite their profession of faith in him!! I always recall the words of Jesus – “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone…” Only when we are clear in our conscience before God can any of us make (definitive) judgments, if at all, about others. Ti do this is to act as a ‘god’. Where egregious, horrible harm and abuse has occured, let civil law exact justice. It eventually does.
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Do you know of any upcoming changes to the dioceses I think it’s time to really shake it up and get people out of their comfort zones
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When are all the foreign priests coming over?
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Well Pat is here in Larne, and the Englishmen McBrearty, O’Neill, OHagans and delargy are also here already how many more do you want?
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Duchess of Hollywood is furious at being mentioned on this blog, his street cred took a dive with all the inmates
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It just struck me that basically the Irish Roman Catholic Church has turned into a John Waters movie (the outrageous gay filmmaker from Baltimore, Maryland, not the former boyfriend of Sinead O’Connor).
Waters could adapt Pat’s blog into a classic movie every bit as entertaining as “Pink Flamingos” or “Female Trouble”.
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Oh i would love our Pat to have his own tv chat show. He would put them politicians bang to right!
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Pat I’m not asking you to (if you do) reveal who you vote for, but do you?
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If you had your own chat show who would be a special guest for you to interview?
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Pat who would you want to play you? Younger version and up to date version?
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Pope Frankie can be the villain 🦹
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But 7:56, Pink Flamingos was described by a reviewer as like an explosion in a septic tank and so is more tasteful and decorous than the church.
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Why do the celibate priests put up with and do not call out their colleagues who they know are not celibate? Name and shame them FATHERS, arise from the kingdom and do your moral duty
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Pat never publishes the names we give him
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8:03 Because none of them is actually celibate. You didn’t think they were, did you?
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Sure they are all protected by their daisy chain loyalty
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11.25
To be honest, I think the Church would be a much healthier, holier, and safer place if all gay priests and religious had to show some external sign of sexual orientation. The don’t-ask-don’t-tell culture is toxic and is killing the Church.
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If they ordained / they are gay – simples
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I agree, revealing to anyone you are going to become a priest is as much as coming out as gay
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Question is will God be great again. Answer that and rules of life and denominations will recover their souls
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Thould venom is dangerous to be sure. Stuff living rent free in the head Spot on I’ll use that one
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Bishop Pat, I see Dungannon is still at 2 priests.
To coin a lyric…
‘Where have all the good men gone?’
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Why is Noel Treanor protecting the lay by sucker? He was arrested last week!
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This blog is my best friend
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Interesting comments on priest shortages by a Raphoe priest.
https://donegalnews.com/2022/01/challenge-looming-for-church-as-priest-numbers-dwindle/
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