As Cardinal Mercier said : "When prudence is everywhere, courage is nowhere."                                                                                  From Cardinal Sarah : "In order to avoid hearing God's music, we have chosen to use all the devices of this world. But heaven's instruments will not stop playing just because some people are deaf."                                                                                              Saint John-Paul II wrote: "The fact that one can die for the faith shows that other demands of the faith can also be met."                                                 Cardinal Müller says, “For the real danger to today’s humanity is the greenhouse gases of sin and the global warming of unbelief and the decay of morality when no one knows and teaches the difference between good and evil.”                                                  St Catherine of Siena said, “We've had enough exhortations to be silent. Cry out with a thousand tongues - I see the world is rotten because of silence.”                                                  Chesterton said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”                                                Brethren, Wake up!

"HE MUST INCREASE AND I MUST DECREASE"

... thus spake our Holy Patron.
The Baptist, Geertgen van Haarlem
"Those who truly believe do not attribute too much importance to the struggle for reform of ecclesiastical structures. ... For the Church is most present, not where organising, reforming, and governing are going on, but in those who simply believe and receive from her the gift of faith that is life to them." (Joseph Ratzinger, Introduction to Christianity)

"Hence true "reform" does not mean to take great pains to erect new façades (contrary to what certain ecclesiologies think). Real "reform" is to strive to let what is ours disappear as much as possible so that what belongs to Christ may become more visible. It is a truth well known to the saints. Saints, in fact, reformed the Church in depth, not by working up plans for new structures, but by reforming themselves. What the Church needs in order to respond to the needs of man is every age is holiness, not management." (Joseph Ratzinger, The Ratzinger Report)

Every member of our ancient and noble Order is able to do this, however frustrated they may feel in the face of endless structural manoeuvrings.  Theirs will be the true reform.  And the true reward.

Blessed John the Baptist, pray for us.
Posted on Tuesday, February 04, 2020
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