The Pictures On The Doors At Our Lady Of Lourdes - Their Disgusting Roots

Two months ago, I reported on seeing blasphemous pictures of Jesus Christ on the doors of Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda, MD.  I haven't been there in a while, but I believe they still remain on the doors, despite good Catholics asking Father for their removal.

One of those good Catholics directed me to a blog where Christianity is mocked in general.  The particular post in question is https://thehardtimes.net/blog/not-a-good-sign-jesus-is-back-and-hes-wearing-a-face-mask/     You can read this piece for yourself and understand the mocking, sneering tone of it.  You will also notice that the picture of the "masked Jesus" is the exact same one that is on the doors of the OLOL church.  Coincidence?  I think not!

Please notice the date of that post: March 6, 2020.  Now bear in mind when Msgr Filardi left Lourdes and Father Walsh arrived there; that transfer was effective July 8, 2020, per the Catholic Standard.  In plain English, that post and picture were on the internet well before Father Walsh's arrival.  It is within the realm of probabilities that Father Walsh obtained that blasphemous picture from the hardtimes post, and if so, he had to have known the utter disrespect that Dan Rice (author of the post) has for Our Lord.

The rest of that hardtimes site is pure trash.  If such sites are the inspiration for "priestly humor" and probably the thinking of some priests in general, the people whom they pastor are being cheated of the pastoral care that is their right as Catholics.

Must The Progressives Pollute Everything Of Beauty?

 Remember this trash from five years ago?  That was plopped upon us by Pope Francis' Pontifical Council for Culture.  Well, I guess that is their idea of culture.  Then there's this from a few weeks ago, when Fr Robert Walsh dared to poke fun at the Holy Face of Jesus.

While that last stunt was the literal denigration of Jesus in favor of the covid idol, the "black lives matter" idol also received worship at the expense of Our Lord.  The now-misnamed Pontifical Academy for Life profaned a replica of Michelangelo's  Pieta statue by slathering black paint over the image of Jesus. These so-called "social justice warriors" are showing their true colors by blaspheming our Lord to further their warped goals.

Therefore, the short answer to the question in this post's title is "yes".  They must because that is the fruit of their depraved ideologies.  Forsaking Jesus, who is the Way, Truth and Life, they also forsake Him who is the source and inspiration of truly beautiful art, music, culture.  They mock and hate our Lord so they must totally trash anything of truth and beauty that gives Him glory.  They take the pristine and render it putrid.  They take the inspirational and render it insipid.  They take truth and mutilate it into trash.  Lovely music becomes lurid.

I regret to opine that while this cabal, headed by the pope, runs the Vatican, we can only expect to see more eyesores and outrages.

Our Lord Jesus Christ - A Teeny-Bopper?

 Recall this blasphemy from the current pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes.  It seems that is not his only episode at belittling the Person of Jesus Christ who is God Incarnate.

At the 7:30 am Mass on Sunday July 26, Father Walsh remarked during his homily as he commented on the Gospel, that up to that point recorded in the Gospel, Jesus had been talking "like a teen-aged girl".

Whatever else he may have said in that homily, be it good or bad, is irrelevant.  He dared to speak irreverently of Our Lord, in whose name Father was ostensibly ordained.  By the way, his quip also betrays a rather condescending opinion of teen-aged girls, if he's using their demographic grouping as a tool for mockery.

Again, I'd suggest that parishioners contact him with concerns.  You may wish to consider redirecting your contributions elsewhere.  One of the Six Precepts of the Church is to "support the work of the Church".  Since when is it the "work of the Church" to make Our Lord the butt of tasteless, irreverent jokes?

Blasphemous Pictures On Doors Of Our Lady Of Lourdes In Bethesda - With An Important Correction

This past Saturday I attended Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes in Bethesda and saw this picture on several of the entrances.

It is not my purpose in this post to discuss the inherent merits or demerits of masks (for another post).  In fact, I will uphold the private property rights of owners and/or custodians to determine what attire must be worn to gain admittance to the premises.  Indeed, it would be a delightful thing if pastors insisted upon a modicum of decency in attire - for both men and women - as people approach Our Lord.

The issue is this.  Jesus, as a Person, is Divine.  He always has been.  He has two natures, but is Divine.  It is blasphemy to depict Him as one who can get sick and/or spread disease, and that is precisely what this picture is doing.  It is not cute, it is not humorous, it is not harmless.  Fifty years ago, no sane person would dare have been so flippant with His image.  The same thing holds with pictures of Our Lady.  We are seeing her similarly mocked.  Recall that she was conceived without original sin and its effects.  Pictures of her masked fly in the face of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

I do not mean to impugn the motives of the parish staff.  I've been told they simply wanted to introduce "lightness" in the face of the pandemic situation.  Be the motives ever so benign, they don't mitigate the damage done by the blasphemy.  What heresy does this communicate to children and to those poorly catechized?

From what I'm hearing, Lourdes is not the only parish so blighted.  These pictures, and pictures of a masked Blessed Mother, are being found in several parishes.  Truth be told, I don't see that much difference between these masked pictures and some of the vandalism that is running rampant.  The motives might be different, but the outcomes are still the same.- defaced and mutilated images of Our Lord and Our Lady.

CORRECTION - There is at least one other crucial difference between the vandalism and this blasphemy.  Many of the vandals profess no religion at all.  I think we can safely assume that none of them are ordained priests.  The blasphemy at Lourdes is being committed by an ordained priest of the Roman Catholic Church.  As such, he is an "alter Christus".  More's the disgrace - and possibly sacrilege against the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Here is contact information for Our Lady of Lourdes.  Please email Father Walsh, being both respectful and direct.  Tell him that there are other ways to properly communicate the masking policies of the parish without joining Antifa and Black Lives Matter in disrespecting Our Lord.

Fighting For True Marriage - March On April 25th

A week or two ago I announced a talk given yesterday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Bethesda and sponsored by CanaVox.  I attended and I'm happy to report that it was very well attended.  They were going to have it in a class room but realized they had to have it in the Church itself (they did repose the Blessed Sacrament properly).  It was recorded; when the video is available I'll post it.

In the Lourdes bulletin announcing this event, mention was made of Dolce and Gabanna.  They are well-known fashion designers who also happen to be a gay couple.  However, they had the clarity - and courage - to publicly acknowledge the necessity of true marriage.  They caught a lot of flack from the gay community for their stance.  Elton John has called for a boycott.  I'd like to point out that this is the same Elton John who enthused over Pope Francis, calling for his immediate canonization.  When that happened, many who wear rose-colored glasses waxed giddy about it, sighing that the pope was "reaching their hearts".  Now I hope that at least in this regard, the rose-colored glasses are flung from their faces.  I refer you now to the Lourdes bulletin as it describes the D&G-versus-John situation quite accurately; I think Ayatollah Elton is quite suitable.  (By the way, dear ADW chancery!  If this bulletin should "disappear", I'll just repost it with yet another blog post about any censorship.  So please don't bother!)

At the talk yesterday was announced the next March for Marriage on April 25th.  Please note that this is a Saturday; most of us who work should be able to make this one.  Here are the details as they appear on the NOM site.  Please be there.  We must speak up for true marriage and the children who suffer because they lack one of their parents.  Please spread the word through social media, email contacts, conversations, etc. So much is at stake.

Kudus to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish!

It is no secret that most couples undergoing marriage preparation in Catholic parishes these days are living together.  That is to say, they are committing the mortal sin of fornication - quite openly - while ostensibly preparing for a Catholic marriage.  Yet those who conduct these sessions, by and large, say nothing of the proverbial "elephants in the living room" that sit before them.

Studies show that cohabitation before marriage is prejudicial to the success of that marriage.  "But wait a minute!", one might say.  "They're seeking God's grace!"  Are they?  By continuing in disobedience to His Commandments?  Let's speak of grace in general.  We know that when one is in mortal sin, he or she can receive no sacramental grace from reception of any of the sacraments - with the obvious exception of the Sacrament of Penance.  Thus, a fornicating couple receiving the sacrament of matrimony can expect no grace or the attendant benefits until they end the sinful situation and go to Confession.

Yet by and large, those conducting the marriage prep courses turn a blind eye, failing miserably to do what would arguably be the most important work in helping truly Catholic marriages to come about and to succeed.

That's why I was pleasantly surprised to read this announcement in a recent weekly bulletin from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Bethesda MD.  It reads: (begin announcement)
Sacrament of Matrimony In accord with the regulations of the Arcdiocese of Washington, couples must contact a priest and begin preparation at least six months prior to a wedding.  Parish registration and active participation for a minimum of three months is required before preparation may begin.  Living together before marriage is sinful and harmful to the future marriage.  Couples who are living together will be asked to live separately during the preparation time.  (end announcement)

While I might have added that couples living together should go to Confession, this is indeed much more than I've seen in any other bulletin.  God bless those of Our Lady of Lourdes who are conducting this course.