The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest (Matthew 9:37)
Posted on 11/06/2013 2:15:58 PM PST by NYer
As I wrote when His Excellency Most Reverend Leonard Blair was translated from Toledo to Hartford: “Bishops are not being penalized for involvement in the doctrinal assessment of the LCWR. They are being promoted.” The Fishwrappers had a spittle-flecked nutty. Micken’s of The Bitter Pill had a melt-down.
Now Bp. Salvatore Matano has been moved from Burlington, Vermont to Rochester in New York… where he replaces one of the most liberal and loooooong-ruling bishops ehvur.
I wrote about Bp. Matano HERE. He celebrated a Pontifical Mass in the older, traditional form of the Roman Rite in the jammed co-Cathedral of Burlington. At that time he said: “If this is what it takes to fill our churches, then so be it,” he said. “I will do whatever I can to fill our churches.”
Stop and say a prayer for Bp. Matano as he begins his ministry in long-troubled Rochester. Stop and say a prayer for Archbishop Viganò, who is guiding these appointments.
Prayers wafting heavenward that Albany will be sent a similar bishop.
Like supporting Immigration Reform?
Bishop Salvatore has a good reputation, but I don’t think he has been able to do very much about the mess in Vermont left by previous bishops.
I hope they find someone really good to take his place, because things have really been going down hill, at least at the church in Montpelier where I go to Mass.
Our current priest is better than his predecessors, but we’ve shrunk from three priests when I came in 2000 to one priest now. One of the assistant priests was excellent, but they had to send him down to Rutland when there were problems there. The music has gotten awful, and the choir has shrunk to practically no one.
I don’t know how hard Bishop Salvatore was trying to change things, but I must say he didn’t make much of a dent in our parish. Unless we get someone really good in his place, God knows what will happen.
I hadn’t heard he was leaving until I just read this.
I can just imagine the cringe when Jesus hears this...
1Pe_2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and (Most Excellent, Most Reverend) Bishop of your souls.
This guy's title makes Jesus sound like an altar boy...
OMGosh. Finally, a new Bishop. Praise God.
The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest (Matthew 9:37)
The Pope appoints the new Bishops.
Both Gregory the Great and Augustine write that we get better bishops than we deserve, and that the bishop’s deficiencies may be laid at the feet of the people-—not that the people per se cause the deficiencies, but seemingly that if the people were better not only would they get better bishops (probably coming from better priests and seminarians) but they would intercede more effectively for the bishop in overcoming the defects that he brought with him to his ministry. There is a reason that we are asked to pray for our ordinary in every single Mass—how much effort do we put into this, and how effective are our prayers?
Because he does it through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity.
So we thank God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
My prayers are certainly a part of it, and, along with the prayer reflected in my life, the only portion that I have much control over, so if I want to do something effective rather than grousing, that is where to focus my efforts. Admittedly, with my fallen nature, I often find grousing more immediately satisfying.
Really holy people can make a huge difference. If someone really wants to make a huge difference, cooperate with God and become really holy. If they don’t want to make a huge difference, then they shouldn’t be that vocal in complaining.
I can see the mud is being flung all over the place today.
God allows some things because the outcome is better.
“...Where was this “guidance” during the Holocaust?”
For a start, rent the movie “The Scarlet and the Black” about Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty and his work to rescue Jews during the holocaust. There were many many religious like him who risked their lives for the Jewish people - Also the Sisters in convents hid Jews.
It is a great movie.
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