Catholics are having meltdowns over Fiducia Supplicans. My understanding is that it is a response to the German bishops who have been divided over the blessing of same-sex unions. The Vatican document upholds the sacrament of matrimony being between one man and one woman while maintaining that same-sex couples may not receive a blessing similar to a nuptial blessing. But they can receive a generic blessing such as a priest gives everyone, saints, sinners, baptized, unbaptized, such as at the end of Mass. Which has always been the case. But, people are confused, and the subversive element in the Church is proclaiming that the Pope gave permission to bless same-sex couples, which he did not. And keeping in mind that the Pope does NOT have the authority to change the laws of God or of nature. But like everything since Vatican II, such as when Latin was upheld as the official language of the liturgy in Sacrosanctum Concilium, but then disappeared from most parishes for half a century, never to return at all in some places, what the document says, and how it is actually carried out, noticeably diverge. In the words of Fr. Longnecker:
So first of all, in analyzing the text from the Vatican we should be clear about what a blessing is and is not. By all means offer prayers for support and guidance to sinners and follow up on your good words of support and guidance by supporting and guiding them to the confessional. However, if you are a priest or deacon and you are giving a blessing, then it should be a formal, liturgical blessing by which you, through your apostolic power, impart God’s blessing on that person or object. To say a blessing should not be liturgical cheapens the blessing to not much more than a cheerful wave and greeting, “God Bless You!” a comment after someone sneezes or a condescending remark from a Southerner… ” Bless her heart….Aww, Bless.”
To be clear what I mean by blessing I should compare it to a curse. If you curse someone or something, by your willful subjection of that thing or person to Satan you consecrate that person or thing for damnation. Those who work in the ministry of deliverance will testify to the fact that curses and maledictions DO something. They put that person under a cloud of spiritual malevolence. The object cursed for use in occult ceremonies can carry evil into a person’s life. That’s why when a person is delivered from occult bondage they must burn their tarot cards, ouija boards, occult books and all other paraphernalia associated with the dark side.
A blessing is the opposite of a curse. It is a real invocation of God’s power, protection, providence and prosperity for that person. It is a little exorcism if you like–consecrating that person, that object, that food, that drink for the goodness, light, life and love of God. To bless a person in this respect it would be most appropriate to do so after they have been to confession and received absolution. This is comparable to the blessing a priest gives at the end of Mass. At that point the people have been forgiven and made their communion so they are in a state of grace to actually receive God’s blessing most abundantly.
This is what a blessing is. It is not just praying for God to help someone. It is not a pat on the head saying, “I like you. I think you’re grand and God does too.!” It is not simply a smile and a nod approving a person’s lifestyle because you want to be kind. If people think that is what a blessing is, they’ve got it mixed up with a greeting card.
[...]
In that sense, at the parish level, it’s business as usual. However, I can see that Fiducia Supplicans will have other effects in other places. Firstly, although the document states, “From a strictly liturgical point of view, a blessing requires that what is blessed be conformed to God’s will, as expressed in the teachings of the Church” it is unavoidable to conclude that the blessing of “a couple in an irregular relationship” implies approval of that relationship. Also, the document says that blessings of same sex couples should not be liturgical or cause confusion with marriage ceremonies. From my experience in the Anglican Church, this is a piece of naivety on a monumental level. (Read more.)
So we can assume that the whole thing is going to be abused by people who place their own evil agenda ahead of the law of God. However, while I was reading and processing it yesterday and encouraging people to read the document before criticizing it, I had people condemning me and saying that I was trying to justify evil. The reaction of many Catholics to the document verges on despair. I have never seen so much hatred, rage and anger in my life. Such hatred, such wrath towards other human beings, is not of God. So I had to draw some boundaries. Anyone who comes on my social media and starts lecturing and accusing me and my friends of being sinful or heretical or *whatever* is going to be hidden, blocked or deleted. I know many do not care. Fine. I do not care any more either to maintain relationships with raging fanatics. Fanaticism is not faith.
I have never seen such a lack of the virtue of hope manifested by Catholics. Despair is a sin! And during Advent it is especially pitiable to be so full of despair! What happened to faith and confidence in God? Even if the Antichrist were to begin rounding us all up it is not a reason for despair. Thanks be to God we still have the freedom to openly worship God. That may end someday. God put each of us here IN THIS TIME OF HISTORY for a reason, and despair has no part in it. It is not like we are suddenly confronted by corrupt priests and bishops. I have lived through the clergy abuse scandals which was a definite low point, if not the low point.
Everyone should read True Devotion by St. Louis de Montfort about how the saints of the Last Times will shine with great light through consecration to Mary. I really wonder if those who rage against the pope pray the rosary. Do you people even pray the rosary? Or the Office? Read the Bible? If people do not pray they WILL be lost, no matter what the pope is doing or not doing.
I found the exact quote from St. Louis de Montfort about the Children of Mary in the Last Times:
“But what will they be like, these servants, these slaves, these children of Mary? They will be ministers of the Lord who, like a flaming fire, will enkindle everywhere the fires of divine love. They will become, in Mary’s powerful hands, like sharp arrows, with which she will transfix her enemies”.
“They will be true apostles of the latter times to whom the Lord of Hosts will give eloquence and strength to work wonders and carry off glorious spoils from his enemies”.
“…They will be true disciples of Jesus Christ, imitating his poverty, his humility, his contempt of the world and his love. They will point out the narrow way to God in pure truth according to the holy Gospel, and not according to the maxims of the world”. (Read more.)
This is what we are called to be.
