Roses in March
Roman Catholicism in Western Europe: Present Day
Since October, 2012, I have been to Europe four times: three times to France (Paris, Lisieux, Nevers, Lourdes); twice to Rome (one Papal General audience), the last time in Italy for one month (September 2014); once to Portugal (Lisbon and Fatima). Yes I have seen the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette Soubirous and St. Catherine Laboure and they appear to be genuine. I say “appear” because there are many who think our Church is somehow “fooling” us, misrepresenting these incorrupt bodies. From my observation, this is not true.
Now: what is the difference between Roman Catholicism (in practice) in Western Europe and our practice here in the United States? It is large, and small, at the same time. Mass is quite different in Italy than it is here, but only in small matters; in France, the difference is more about faith than practice. In Portugal, the faith is enormous and that country is very blessed. It acknowledged this blessing by replicating the statue of Christ, as seen in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the harbor as a thanksgiving for God’s sparing the nation of Portugal during the Second World War. Portugal is a profoundly devout country. Italy and France…not so.
France has been totally secularized. Sacré-Cœur, Paris, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, has been promoted as a tourist attraction. The building adjacent is covered in graffiti. When you walk into this most sacred place, you are surrounded by people who have no faith; if you are fortunate enough to participate in a Mass, you find the remnants of the faithful. This is true of Notre Dame, as well, where I attended a high Mass said in Latin. France has apparently been secularized.
In Italy, depending upon where you are, this can be true or far from true; but the major cities have gone into secularism and attendance at Mass in the smaller churches (all ancient and beautiful) is sparse. In Florence I attended Mass at a “normal neighborhood” church; there were few people present.
The world has fallen away, as Jesus predicted. Luke 18:8: “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
In the United States, our Church seems to be going its own way, dependent upon the demands and agenda of its congregation. And so many of our priests have received so little Bible Scholarship in Seminary as to be unable to instruct us properly (this told to me by a priest). What are we to do?
Read the words of Jesus: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Read these Gospels over and over again until His words are engraved on our minds and hearts. KNOW Him. Once we KNOW Him, we can “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1: “ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”)
We are lambs being led to the slaughter and we need not be. He has instructed us. Our faith does not insure us against division, loss, sorrow, and even horror. Rather, our faith makes us more vulnerable to these things. Matthew 10:34: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
We cannot ever think of ourselves as somehow “special”, “protected”, “superior” or in any way more instructed in the ways of God than any others. Jesus opened His arms to the outcasts, not the self-satisfied, sanctimonious, or in any way so certain of their walk with God. The world is “winning” but we know this: John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Be of good cheer when you are able. No matter how hard the road, how heavy the Cross, keep carrying it and remember that even Jesus needed help to carry His Cross: Matthew 27:32: “Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross. As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.” Without Jesus, I could not carry mine. What about you?
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About the Author
I was born in Manhattan and raised in Greenwich Village. At age five, I had double pneumonia and (what was later, in my adulthood, diagnosed as pericarditis). I was too ill to be put into the hospital. At that time (1952-1953) there were no pediatric wards. One day I had a near death experience. I saw the Blessed Mother (I called her the Blessed Mommy as a young child and was quite devoted to her). She warned me about my life; she told me it would be quite difficult, that my heart would be “broken”, and that God would never abandon me. The experience is impossible to relate except to say this: there was a “glow” around her that was physical; her voice was not merely a voice, it was the single most soothing sound: ocean waves, symphonies, can’t even describe it. My earthly mother saw me in this condition and shook me violently. I remember this vividly. I opened my eyes and said to her, “Leave me alone. I want to stay with the lady.” She and I discussed this many times during my adult life. That vision, NDE, or whatever it was, changed my life. I knew something cataclysmic would occur in my lifetime; I always thought it would be a worldwide event. I was wrong: it was a personal event. Without the Blessed Mother’s assurance, I would not have survived that personal event.
At age nine, my father left. When I was 10 years of age, he died mysteriously. My earth mother then passed me on to my Aunt and Grandmother who lived on Sullivan Street in Little Italy (the west part of Little Italy). Across the street was the shrine church of Saint Anthony, who has become a lifelong friend and has done many amazing things in my life. I attended the St. Anthony school and then went on to parochial high school.
I have travelled a great deal in my lifetime. In the past two years, I have been to Europe four times: Papal General Audience 9/18/2013; Paris, sacred shrines (Nevers, Lisieux, etc.), Lourdes (three times), Fatima once. Last September I spent the entire month in Italy and stayed five days and nights in Lourdes because the mother of Jesus is also my mother.
I have had visions my entire life (no, I am not mentally ill; of this I am certain). I have seen things, been given information intended only for me, and have had miraculous occurrences that are almost impossible to believe.
I lost my only child, my daughter April, on March 2, 2011. The timing involved and the date itself, as well as her age at the time (23), corresponded with the number the Blessed Mother gave me at my age five: 23. I would like to share some of these remarkable events to help strengthen the faith of anyone who is in need. I thank you for the opportunity to do so.
I have recently a published book of poetry, "The Milky Way Streets"
