Saint Paul--Bishop Galante
"When the ordinary of the diocese makes and persists in such a grievous mistake, we not only can oppose him, but must oppose him."
When Bishop Galante made his defense of his pastoral plan Tuesday night everything he said was in opposition to what a true spiritual plan is. He mentioned that he has responsibility for the whole diocese. This is not so. We all share in the Responsibility. But God is the only one who cares for the diocese, the Church, and the world. "Lest the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build. Lest the Lord guard the city, they watch in vain who guard" Ps. 126. Bishop Galante failed to place the love and primacy of that love in its proper position. The love of God is always first from the natural law, Divine law and the church law. Jesus tells us that if we heed His words in the Sermon on the Mount we are like the man who builds his house on Rock (Peter). When the rains and storms come that House (parish, diocese) stands. If we build our house (parish, diocese) on sand (money and sociology) that house (parish, diocese) falls--and what a fall it is. At St. Mary's we put first things first, as a best selling book of several years ago stressed. Not a passing reference to prayer, as Bishop Galante made, but the basis for our existence, expansion, and eternal life. When the ordinary of the diocese makes and persists in such a grievous mistake, we not only can oppose him, but must oppose him.
When St. Paul began his apostolate he did it with these words now addressed to us in Romans: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, separated unto the Gospel of God. Which he had promised before, by his prophets, in the Holy Scriptures. Concerning his son, who was made to him of the seed of David, according to the flesh." (Romans I, 1-3). The only basis of the apostolate, parish, or diocese is the Lord Jesus then and now. What sustains us against the onslaught of the enemy? It is this faith of ours!
"When the ordinary of the diocese makes and persists in such a grievous mistake, we not only can oppose him, but must oppose him."
When Bishop Galante made his defense of his pastoral plan Tuesday night everything he said was in opposition to what a true spiritual plan is. He mentioned that he has responsibility for the whole diocese. This is not so. We all share in the Responsibility. But God is the only one who cares for the diocese, the Church, and the world. "Lest the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build. Lest the Lord guard the city, they watch in vain who guard" Ps. 126. Bishop Galante failed to place the love and primacy of that love in its proper position. The love of God is always first from the natural law, Divine law and the church law. Jesus tells us that if we heed His words in the Sermon on the Mount we are like the man who builds his house on Rock (Peter). When the rains and storms come that House (parish, diocese) stands. If we build our house (parish, diocese) on sand (money and sociology) that house (parish, diocese) falls--and what a fall it is. At St. Mary's we put first things first, as a best selling book of several years ago stressed. Not a passing reference to prayer, as Bishop Galante made, but the basis for our existence, expansion, and eternal life. When the ordinary of the diocese makes and persists in such a grievous mistake, we not only can oppose him, but must oppose him.
When St. Paul began his apostolate he did it with these words now addressed to us in Romans: "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, separated unto the Gospel of God. Which he had promised before, by his prophets, in the Holy Scriptures. Concerning his son, who was made to him of the seed of David, according to the flesh." (Romans I, 1-3). The only basis of the apostolate, parish, or diocese is the Lord Jesus then and now. What sustains us against the onslaught of the enemy? It is this faith of ours!
Who then shall separate us (St. Mary's) from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? Or distress (which I experienced Tuesday night) or famine? Or nakedness, or danger? Or persecution? Or the sword? (As it is written: "For thy sake we are put to death all day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.") But in all these things we overcome, because of Him that hath loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8, 35-39)God bless Fr. Romanowski! He speaks the absolute Truth. It is God who must lead us unto all Truth. We must not fear! And we must be courageous in taking a stand against injustice and error--even when, unfortunately, it is our very bishop who is persevering in such error. Let us continue to pray for the bishop unceasingly and pray for the intercession of St. Catherine of Siena, who courageously stood up to a pope in error. Truly she took a risk. We are not Christians unless we are willing to do the same.