05/12/2022

Yesterday I was reading "Eschatology" by Pope Benedict. It was published in English in 1988.I have read it many times and am still bemused and in awe of the learning required to follow the history of the Church and her dogmas. Pope Benedict is still living and still has the ability to acquire knowledge and explain how the Church has come to believe what she teaches. 

As I read it, I could not help but think that all that knowledge and devotion has done nothing to preserve the institution that he is writing about. The Church was already in decline in 1988 and today 34 years later is in a worse state than she was then.

I have a great disappointment in and doubt for the Church. During the period the Pope was writing and praying with deep learning and sincerity, there were many of his priests denying their calling by their sinfulness and his fellow Bishops denied The Truth of God by pushing the abuse under the carpet.

We the people of God are being attacked by the Devil who has succeeded in tempting many to scoff in the face of God telling him that they know better than he the purpose of creation and that sexual satisfaction is the only good in life and should be acquired by any means even to the extent of surgically changing their natural bodies.

Dear Father in Heaven, help me to withstand the despair that is fueled by my awareness of the stupidities which surround life. Let your Holy Spirit stir up your Church to oppose the false teaching that is spread by all media even to the little children. We cannot help ourselves even though the Incarnate Son has won for us all the grace we need to live according to your will. May Mary who pondered in her heart the Glory of your being support us that we too see in our lifetimes "the strange things" that filled this morning's Gospel with awe.