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FATHER TIM

Virgin Mary was in Ireland, but Irish Catholic Church was missing in action

By
Father TIm

Published Saturday, October 31, 2009, 3:31 PM
Updated Sunday, November 1, 2009, 5:21 PM

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Virgin Mary was in Ireland, but Irish Catholic Church was missing in action | IrishCentral




Virgin Mary: Faithful flock to Knock shrine amid claims that Mary 'will make a major statement'
Our Lady of Knock

Somewhere in Ireland right now, there are some sadly misguided Irish Catholic priests who are probably just plain dee-lighted that thousands of the faithful went home in disappointment from the Knock Shrine without having seen the Blessed Virgin Mary appear.

"I told ya so!" they'll crow — hopefully to themselves — that they have the last laugh at all those dupes who flocked to the County Mayo shrine in hopes of seeing an apparition of Mary.

Doing his best to destroy faith before the "scheduled" event, Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary said: "Such events are to be regretted rather than encouraged.

"It is not healthy, does not give glory to God and certainly is not good witness to the faith to be looking for extraordinary phenomena," he said.

Referring to the acknowledged apparition of 1879, Neary said that miraculous event "was neither sought nor expected by the humble, honest people who were its astonished witnesses. Their faith reveals the patience and humility that characterizes true belief. The Shrine of Knock is living witness to that faith

"Unfortunately, recent events at the shrine obscure this essential message — they risk misleading God's people and undermining faith."

What utter nonsense! And what a shocking — though these days, sadly typical — display of foolish arrogance by the Irish Catholic Church hierarchy. Practice does seem to make perfect for them in this regard, as their closing parishes and emptying pews can attest.

Telling the faithful that hope — including the hope of a miraculous event — is EVER inappropriate, "unhealthy" and "to be regretted" is as un-Christian a pronouncement as can be imagined. Neary may believe that the great hope that such an event triggered — if and when it did not happen — would cause a loss of faith, but this is idiotic. Should people stop praying lest their prayers are not instantly answered? Of course not!

Neary correctly recalls that the witnesses to the events of 1879 were "humble, honest people" who did not expect to see a miracle. But what does that make the people who flocked to Knock today — arrogant, dishonest people? That they believed — or wanted to believe — a self-styled "clairvoyant" whose prediction of an apparition drew throngs to the Basilica is no reason to impugn their faith and certainly not their humility and honesty.

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Virgin Mary was in Ireland, but Irish Catholic Church was missing in action | IrishCentral


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Posted by notohp2002 on November 7,2009 | 04:18AM
Why does the Virgin Mary appear as she does. Jesus said he would come again, but did not say his mother would appear. However we have all been told when we pray, to ask and you shall receive. When so many devote Catholics say the rosary God is answering this prayer by permitting the Virgin Mary to appear, thereby giving us hope and peace. There are some in the USA that say the Virgin Mary's intervention saved the USA, it was not Ronald Reagen that saved us. And just once when we are permitted to see these heavenly visions, instead of agruments from the Bishop, would he just follow his children and kneel down at the site and lead the rosary.
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Posted by JolyJoly on November 6,2009 | 08:56PM
I think it would be a mistake to wash the entire Catholic church with this dye, but appreciate your commenting on the prejudiced, rather silly, and somewhat misleading rhetoric emanating from that Bishop and picked up by the media. It is insulting to people whose search for God and faith in possiblity does not merit mockery.
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Posted by Portia777 on November 6,2009 | 09:14AM
it is only natural that the Patriarchy will try to label the people crazy for expecting Mary to appear- after all she is female and the Patriarchs only serve the male on the fluffy cloud- how many times has he appeared?






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