Author Topic: Ex-Sedevacantist Nuns Come Into Full Communion (Read 1042 times)

stevusmagnus · « **on:** February 11, 2010, 06:52:48 PM »

http://www.sistersofmarymotherofthechurch.org/7,cominghome

Video On EWTN...

http://www.sistersofmarymotherofthechurch.org/52

St Jude Thaddeus · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2010, 03:09:24 AM »

Article from the sisters' website on how/why they left the CMRI:

http://www.sistersofmarymotherofthechurch.org/67

Reading the article, it seems that they have swallowed the Novus Ordo package hook, line, and sinker.

How could this happen? I see two clues in the article:

The election of Pope Benedict XVI strengthened their doubts and moved them closer to Rome. Within the CMRI convent, many of the sisters began to meet privately to discuss what they were thinking. They asked each other: after 40 years and no pope, had they been severely misled by Francis Schuckardt and the CMRI leaders?

Some sedevacantists base their position on the supposition that the world will soon end. Like any millenarianist group, how long will they keep waiting after each predicted End of all Ends comes and goes?

Even the remaining CMRI sisters admit:

"We continue to pray for a true Holy Father. But we don't pretend to have in answer of how to resolve the question," says Mother Dominica.

So much sedevacantist theology and philosophy revolves around the Pope, or lack thereof. I don't think any Catholics in history have spent as much time talking and writing and thinking about the Pope as sedes do. Sometimes it seems to me that sedes' entire faith hinges on that one issue. Everything else takes a back seat to it.

The other reason could be here:

To a sister, they credit the witness of the Missionaries of Charity as their strongest motivation to return to Rome. They saw in the MC sisters "so much charity, so much love, so much goodness;" says Sister Kathryn Joseph. "They won us over with their prayer and charity."

Were these two elements lacking at the CMRI? Here is a warning for all of us. We certainly see among many traditionalists of all kinds, not only sedevacantists, an overemphasis on certain points of doctrine to the exclusion of other equally important points, and a falsely judgemental attitude towards others. Overcoming sin is a real struggle; if it were easy, we would all be saints already! No one is supposed to labor alone at that task. That's why Catholics, even those of religious vocation, live in communities. The desert hermit is the exception, not the rule. If we do not take care of each other, many of us will look for someone who will.

The world is seductive: if we trads don't supply each others' spiritual, emotional, and physical needs, some of us might turn to the world for these things. Our goal is to save souls, ours and others': just shrugging and saying "good riddance" to those who drop off the path from time to time is an act of uncharity that could backfire on us someday.

St Jude Thaddeus · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2010, 03:32:36 AM »

I actually had an experience with the above here in Houston. I came here about six years ago from a foreign country where I had been living for fifteen years. There was no traditionalist movement in that whole country at that time. While living there, through the Internet, I became aware of traditionalist groups that had continued with the TLM Mass, but I had no possibility to assist at one while I was there. When I arrived in Houston I immediately began attending a diocesan "indult" Latin Mass. There was no support or sense of community there at all. In fact, the first time I attended, I arrived very early and found a seat, and a man came and told me that I was sitting in his place and that I needed to move! I attended the indult mass for more than three years, and in that whole time I never spoke once to a single parishioner. Like everyone else, I arrived at the Mass ten minutes early, and five minutes after it was over I was out the door and headed home. After about a year I actually found myself backsliding and occasionally attending a Saturday afternoon N.O. at a nearby mostly Hispanic parish. Within a few visits I knew the people sitting around me and was even drafted to help at the church bazaar! Unfortunately during all this time my spiritual life did not advance much.

I was lucky to discover a small SSPX chapel not too far away and I have been N.O.-free for two years now. In that time I have felt that I have made, with God's help, significant spiritual progress. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and my patron, St. Jude, have been good to me.

Now, I know if CM were here he would tell me that I have been seduced by my feelings and emotions instead of thoroughly analyzing the doctrinal stance and making a decision based purely on my intellect. My point is that we are not just pure intellect; we have emotional needs too. Holy Mother Church has always striven to take care of both mind and heart. We neglect one at the peril of the other.

gladius_veritatis · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2010, 01:41:50 PM »

There is another thread with this info, but...

FWIW, there is no such distinction between "full" and "partial" communion.

Raoul76 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2010, 12:03:38 AM »

SJT said:

Quote

Now, I know if CM were here he would tell me that I have been seduced by my feelings and emotions instead of thoroughly analyzing the doctrinal stance and making a decision based purely on my intellect.

CM is here. And I'm insulted -- why do I not get any credit for telling you you are led by your feelings? I was the one who said that in the first place!

St Jude Thaddeus · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2010, 12:05:08 AM »

Quote from: Raoul76

SJT said:
Quote
Now, I know if CM were here he would tell me that I have been seduced by my feelings and emotions instead of thoroughly analyzing the doctrinal stance and making a decision based purely on my intellect.

CM is here. And I'm insulted -- why do I not get any credit for telling you you are led by your feelings? I was the one who said that in the first place!

Sorry! It was you and not CM, it's true. And what I meant was that CM was not participating on this particular thread.