The readings during Passiontide are accusatory of those who held positions of authority in the time of Christ. Over the years there have been allegations that these were attacks against the Jewish people. More accurately these statements are aimed at those who held positions of religious authority in that time. The Gospel’s words are not anti-anyone nor is it about stigmatizing any group. Instead, it interrogates our human nature and how we respond when we fear that we will lose our special position. It calls out the denial of truth and the reality. Even though we follow the ultimate Truth, we must also be vigilant about assuming that only we are the chosen ones in this day. Christ said that He would be with us until the end of time, specifically in the Eucharist, but the question to ask is this: will we remain with Him? Assuming that we are superior because we have been given the gift of Faith is taking a detour from the path Christ sent the disciples on, the same path that as baptized Catholics all of us are commanded to follow. Each of the apostles faced persecution and violence for his beliefs. Indeed, most of the first popes died as martyrs, happy to give their lives for the Faith.
As Catholics we have been given the Truth in its fullness. Unfortunately, we are living in a time when many cradle Catholics feel disconnected from the Church, even while conversions to the Faith are on the rise especially in the United States. It can be tempting to blame recent scandals and the disillusionment that results from these violations of our trust. This, however, is no excuse to remove oneself from the moral law and behave in ways that are contrary to the teachings of the Church. At the same time, many right-thinking non- Catholic adults find themselves drawn to the beauty of the Faith. This is seen most prevalently in the pro-life movement, through which many strong Protestant leaders have found their way into the bosom of the Church. Catholicism is still a shining light in the darkness of today. True thinkers find their way home.
We attended the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC on March 19th, the Feast of St. Joseph. The theme of the event was Catholicism in the United States at the 250th year of our existence as a nation. Michael Knowles, the well-known author/podcaster and revert to the Faith, spoke of how the current trend of conversions is an extension of some of the earliest philosophical thought of the Western World, suggesting that in time the citizens of this country will naturally gravitate towards Catholicism and the absolutes of the Church’s teachings. We welcome the newcomers and pray that those who have left the Church will find their way back. Only our continued prayers can bring this about.
I want to take this opportunity to greet you during this most solemn and holy week of the year. The Passion and Death of our Lord, followed by His glorious Resurrection define our Faith. Everything that we do as an apostolate looks forward to this time. The joy of the Christmas season soon leads us to the piety of Lent, which leads us on to the glory of Easter.
On Ash Wednesday our pastor stated that if after receiving ashes we do not make a true effort to become better people by Good Friday all we have accomplished is to walk around with dirt on our foreheads for the better part of one day. Wearing this mark of humility must be an outward sign of inward repentance. On this Good Friday I ask you to look into yourself and truly ponder if you are a better person than you were 44 days earlier. Don’t count how many Rosaries were prayed or how many visits to church were made. Look instead at how we have been transformed spiritually through these actions. As we look forward to the joy of Easter, we must always keep in our hearts the reality that what Christ earned for us on Good Friday cannot be fully understood or appreciated unless we have true repentance in our hearts. The message of Fatima is one of repentance and joy found in the hope that we are doing the will of God. God does not want us to be melancholy but joyful in our redemption; we must also have gratitude for this gift.
On behalf of the Blue Army/World Apostolate of Fatima I want to wish you a blessed and glorious Easter.
Please follow our initiatives during this Extraordinary Marian Jubilee year at bluearmy.com. The National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima has been designated by the Vatican as a place of pilgrimage during this time. A plenary indulgence can be attained during a visit here. Please note as well that Holy Saturday falls on the first Saturday of April and no regular masses are permitted, therefore we will be holding our usual First Saturday devotions on the following Saturday, April 11.
God bless you and Mary keep you in her Immaculate Heart.
David M. Carollo
Executive Director
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. He wrote this for his Voice of Fatima column.
If you would like to comment on this post, please contact him at [email protected].
