Posted on 05/05/2010 10:48:55 AM PDT by markomalley
"Fatima is a particularly significant place for this Pope," said Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi on Tuesday, noting that it was also a destination for two former Popes. The Holy Father has a thorough knowledge of the history of the Marian sanctuary, he added.
Fr. Lombardi held a press conference at the Vatican to prepare the media for the Pope's next trip out of the Vatican. He will be visiting Portugal from May 11-14.
The spokesman referred to the Pope's stop in Fatima on May 13 as the highlight and "heart" of the upcoming four-day trip to Portugal, according to Vatican Radio. But, he pointed out, Benedict XVI will not be the first Pope to visit the Marian shrine.
Two other Pontiffs have been to Fatima. In 1967, the sanctuary hosted Paul VI, and John Paul II visited in 1982, 1991 and 2000, at which time the visionaries Jacinta and Francesco were beatified.
The Portuguese shrine is not unfamiliar to Pope Benedict, since as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger extensively studied the message of Fatima. Fr. Lombardi said on Tuesday that the Pope has been involved with history of the Marian sanctuary in a "very deep, personal way."
It was him, for example, who was called upon to give a theological perspective when the third secret of Fatima was made public in 2000.
The Vatican spokesman said that the Holy Father will also deliver an intense message during his Fatima visit. Upon his arrival at the sanctuary on May 12, he will remember John Paul II and the 29th anniversary of the assassination attempt that nearly took his life on May 13, 1981.
This visit marks the Holy Father's 15th Apostolic Journey abroad in his five years and is his first to Portugal as Pope.
During today's general audience, the Holy Father greeted the people of Portugal in their language, telling them that he will be there this coming weekend at the invitation of the president of the nation and the episcopal conference.
He said he was "happy to be able to visit the 'land of Holy Mary'" on the 10th anniversary of the beatification of the shepherd children.
According to Portuguese press reports, local police are planning for a cumulative total of 450,000 people at the celebrations in Lisbon, Fatima and Portugal during the four-day visit.
One thing I've never heard considered is the age of the witnesses at the time of the Fatima apparition (all were ten or younger). Perhaps the revelation of Fatima was more a warning about (ahem) how not to go blind when they eventually would hit puberty!
Maybe the whole "secret of Fatima" thing wasn't a secret, so much as it was something the kids just didn't want to talk about. Everyone knows how embarrassing it is when you get "the talk" from your mother.
in the Catholic Church.
= = =
NOPE. Certainly not exclusively.
In some congregations, it would likely be a big miracle if it occurred at all.
I hope not, but I want to start from the best point possible!
Sure.
Have been over this before.
I believe in all the standard orthodox Biblical doctrines of the faith.
Then you know His Sacred Heart was perfectly pure, and innocent, and pierced by a lance, and from His Heart flowed Blood and Water.
Sexual morality is true liberation, and teaching others how to be freed from the bondage of sin is one of the great joys of life.
I guess we’ll just have to stay tuned, it’s such a cliffhanger. Apparitions, secrets and Onanism. Sounds like an episode of Springer to me, but hey, people watch the stuff.
You do realize that for the anti-Catholics to acknowledge this they would have to accept the moral superiority of priestly celibacy. Don't hold your breath or even expect an honest discussion.
Most honest Protestants accept the plain meaning of Scripture (regarding Christ and St. Paul), but say it is impossible, citing the cases of public immorality among clergy (a low percentage of all the priests and religious).
The cliffhanger here is will Alex answer the question.
It appears your church should have heeded it's own counsel over the past four or five decades regarding sexually immoral priests engaging in sex acts with minors, rather than defending them, reassigning them and sheltering them.
How do you square this reality with the ideals you espouse? It doesn't square. The church has been corrupted. It's been notably corrupted numerous times over recorded history.
The cognitive dissonance must be quite jarring.
Which question was that?
#722, from out of the blue: I’d be more than happy to discuss your thoughts on Onanism.
#726: Comment #726 Removed by Moderator
#734: Perhaps you could clarify if you think masturbation is forbidden under the moral law.
#752: Are you preaching sexual immorality?...Is this why you attack the Catholic Church?
I much prefer the question in post #743:
Why is yet another Catholic going off-subject, and redirecting the focus onto genitalia?
But if, as you say, She (instead of her members) were to become corrupt, it would not disprove the teaching on sexual morality, but the teaching on the incorruptible nature of the Church.
And what alternatives would there be? Who else is there in the world today who continues to teach the uncorrupted teaching of the Christian Church on sexual morality?
There is no cognitive dissonance because the teaching of the Catholic Church is incorrupt, whereas the teaching of the other churches has become corrupt.
#734, and while we’re at it, 752. Pretty much the same question.
I gave you the links. Try using them.
and while we’re at it, 752. Pretty much the same question.
Show me the posts where I am. If you're going to make an inference, I expect you to back it up, or shut it up.
Perhaps the counter-question should be addressed - Is someone feeling sexually frustrated? Is that why they introduced the off-topic question of masturbation?
Where you are what?
I think it's a simple matter for you to refer to the numbers in your own post, and answer the questions you yourself cited.
Why are you not answering the question about your beliefs?
Do you think it isn't a moral question?
Is that the reason you introduced the off topic question of child sexual abuse?
That is a false statement. Furthermore, you have dragged it here from another thread.
Interesting. This poster introduces that same off-topic issue on numerous Catholic threads.
Still no clarification. It’s shocking how some people have no problem attacking other people’s religions but they refuse to discuss their own beliefs.
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