Last week, Bishop Mark Beckman of the Diocese of Knoxville (TN) asked that all prayers before and after Mass be discontinued. He specifically targeted the Prayer to Saint Michael. That prayer is one that Pope Leo XIII specifically mandated after his vision that warned of an upcoming onslaught against Holy Mother Church. Only a blind fool and/or outright liar can deny that such an onslaught is raging around us. Even more insidiously it rages within the hierarchy of the Church, apparently championed by the pope and too many clergy; the current Amoris Laetitia synod is just the latest manifestation.
He set forth his case against prayers before, during and after Mass. No one can doubt that additional prayers should be banned from the Mass proper, but before and after Mass? Is he that worried that parishioners won't feel "welcomed" if the sanctuary doesn't become a de facto gab-fest hall before and after Mass? And by the way, if all chit-chat pandemonium does break out after Mass, what's to stop some Mass attendees from spontaneously praying the St Michael prayer (Hint!)? How about the Rosary before Mass, as is often the custom at various parishes?
The bishop's phrase "noble simplicity" hearkens back to the post Vatican II document Inter Oecumenici, that gave directives on implementing the so-called "spirit of Vatican II" into the liturgy. While it suppressed the set of prayers mandated by Pope Leo XIII, it never banned any and all prayer before and after Mass. Mind you, it did other damage; it turned the altar around to diminish the obfuscate the sacrificial nature and purpose of the Mass and removed the Latin language, but it never forbade prayers before and after Mass. It certainly didn't jettison the prayers mandated by Pope Leo XIII himself.
In other related news (yes, it is related), the Archdiocese of Denver Archbishop James Golka ordered Father Ripperget to cease all public ministry for one year, starting immediately. Anyone who has heard Father Ripperger speak understands that Father is solidly orthodox. Father is also an exorcist. Listen to the interview in the second video on the LifeSite page. Might this be an indication of the motive behind the silencing? We know that many of the bishops sexually prey upon boys and young men. Many of that type are also involved in occult activities; might Catholic clergy be among that number?
Consider together the two situations that I mention in this post. What is the common denominator? On the one hand, we are seeing a prayer removed that Pope Leo XIII mandated for protection from demonic activity. On the other hand, we see a priest silenced who is both an exorcist and who speaks the truth regarding spiritual warfare. It sure sounds like there is an effort afoot to clear the playing field so that satanic forces can have a heyday.
Oddly enough, there are some who might otherwise be called sensible who are trying to downplay the serious ramifications regarding the silencing of Father Ripperger. I have seen some internet posts (and I refuse to link to them) making light of serious concerns, basically saying, "Oh, pish-posh! The silencing of Father isn't so catastrophic! After all, he could use a break and this will probably be for Father's own good!"
Father's own good? Really now? I strongly suspect that "Father's own good" was a driving motive behind silencing him. I simply refuse to wear those rose-colored glasses. "Father's own good" does not excuse the action nor does it mitigate the harm that will occur to the Church at large.
I'd suggest two things, in addition to your daily Rosaries: 1) Keep an eye on this situation. Somehow, I think there will be attempts to surreptitiously elongate that one-year span of silence, if not outright canceling him. 2) Faithful Catholics in the Archdiocese of Denver should cease any and all donation to their diocese. It seems that money (or lack thereof) is the only language to which they will pay attention.
Bye the bye, during the same time period, the Restore Tradition Women's Conference happened in Littleton CO. Rachael Mastrogiacomo was slated to give a talk. She commence her talk, criticizing the Novus Ordo Mass, Pachamama, and the hierarchy. In the middle of her talk, the microphone was cut off and very soon after, found her presence rubbed from the conference schedule. The local bishop, the one mentioned at the top who tossed the prayers to St Michael, was reportedly influential in that decision. Fortunately Anthony Stine and Chris Jackson expsosed this.
