I was dismayed when I learned of the blasphemous display on the Apple TV show Your Friends and Neighbors. The characters in this show, a couple in a romantic relationship, break into a church, open the tabernacle and desecrate the Sacred Species, mocking the beliefs that we all hold as the core of our Faith. This was a direct attack on the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. In this time of Eucharistic Revival, when this most foundational aspect of our Faith is on the rebound, a company which provides entertainment has decided to insult a major group of their customers, defying all business logic. Why is this? Why is it always open season on Christianity and especially Catholicism, while other faiths are rarely offended in the media? The answer is the truth which lies in Catholicism. Pontius Pilate looked at Jesus and asked, “What is truth?” while looking directly at Truth. The writers and actors in this series become modern day Pilates when they look at Truth and deny it. They say “crucify Him” by these actions.

I have travelled the world and visited many religious sites of other faiths. Although I do not share their beliefs, at least fully, I have respected their customs. At a Shinto temple in Japan, I followed the ceremonial requirement and washed my hands; at a Mosque I took off my shoes; at a Jewish temple I wore a yarmulke. I would never think of insulting my hosts when I am a guest in their home. Why is it that our Faith is always the target?  The answer is apparent: we hold the Truth. Our Lord said, “If they hated me, they will hate you.” My late friend Fr. Andrew Apostoli CFR would often put it best, “The devil doesn’t shoot at decoys,” he would say.

Outrages, Sacrilege, and Indifference

There are now stories of demonic groups shadowing the Eucharistic Procession, which is a continuation of the Eucharistic Revival the Church embarked on in 2022. They are looking to disrupt the piety of the events. Ironically, the devil has a stronger belief in the sanctity of the Eucharist than many of us, knowing that we have access to something denied the demons.  The Eucharist is the foundation of our creed. Denial of this has been to the detriment of humans since Our Lord first presented this at Capernaum. He lost many followers that day because they would not take the next step of believing the Word, even if they did not fully understand it. Like Peter, we as people of the New Testament go forth in faith and respond, “Lord, to whom can we go. You have the words of eternal life.”

Anger is an emotion that we instinctively turn to when our beliefs are attacked. I am not an exception to that type of response.  Is boycotting of a company that generates contempt for us appropriate? Certainly, it is, because we do not want to support such actions. But the stronger emotion should be to pray for those who either out of spite or ignorance act as they do. Contempt for those who instigate such blasphemies is not the answer. From the Cross our Lord pleaded: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”  We must also forgive as we have been given the great gift of Faith. Pray for those who have not.

Praying for the conversion of sinners is the call of the Fatima message. Bringing our world back into a holier orbit is our task, and it is one that we are winning. Certainly, we must push back and not support such indignities. Our Catholic duty calls for that, but most importantly it calls us help those who do not understand fully the seriousness of their actions. The Fatima Pardon prayer was prayed three times by the Angel of Peace “My God I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love thee, and I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love Thee.” Let us pause and say this prayer.

God bless you and Mary keep you in her Immaculate Heart

David M. Carollo  

If you would like to contact me, please do so at [email protected].

David M. Carollo is the Executive Director of the World Apostolate of Fatima USA/National Blue Army Shrine.

If you would like to comment on this post, please contact him at [email protected].