Giselle, RC is not my life and ExLC are all discussing an alleged incident reported by one of Giselle's readers:
NEWSFLASH: The women in a certain [formerly thriving] section were just visited by their new priest. In addition to the other introductory information he passed along, he praised them for their fidelity, sadly noting that much of the RC leadership had defected out of sheer pride. They were there when everything was good, when the accolades were rolling in, when the limelight was on them. Once the road got a little rocky, they threw in the towel -- since they don't know how to deal with crosses.
Now I haven't had time to check sources, and I find the reported incident a little strange given Fr. Scott Reilly, LC's following recent assurance to U.S. RC:
Understandably, in the midst of the present circumstances there have been a few of our members who have felt that they can serve God better by separating themselves from the Legion and Regnum Christi; others have opted temporarily to step aside to see and evaluate, waiting also to see the outcome of the Visitation. The vast majority has opted to continue doing as much good as they can from where they are, knowing that our time here on earth is limited, and trusting that with the guidance of the Church whatever needs to be corrected in time, and whatever is good will be confirmed. Each one has made his or her choice before God, moved by their love for him and their desire to serve him to the best of their ability, and for no other consideration. Let us have great Christian understanding and respect for all. Each of us must presume the best and purest intention in the other, pray for each other, and recognize that each one of us suffers and recovers in different ways and at different times.
But for the sake of making a point, let's assume there are witnesses to corroborate the alleged incident. Pride can be a good thing. It depends upon the context and how the word is being used.
Growing up in the French Catholic school system, one of the first lessons a young student learns is that romantic-based languages often have two words for one English counterpart. This is because the English word contains both meanings. To understand which meaning is being used, one has to look at the context.
Law is an example I deal with every day. In French the word law can translate into loi (or lex in Latin). Each of the Ten commandments is an example of loi. Or the word law can translate as droit (ius in Latin), meaning a system of jurisprudence or law in the broader sense. The American legal system is an example of droit.
The same is true of pride. Depending upon the context, pride translates into French as either orgueil or fierté. Orgueil is the type of pride that denotes arrogance. For example, refusing to apologize for having slandered victims of sexual abuse is an example of pride that translates into French as orgueil. This type of pride is one of the seven deadly sins warned against in the Bible.
In contrast, fierté is a type of pride through which one identifies with the goodness of something. I suspect it may be related to the French word foi, which means "faith". A couple examples of fierté come to mind. "Displaying the same pride in his Catholic faith that had been instilled in him during his Marine Corps training, the pro-life priest went on national television and defended Catholic teaching on contraception." Or "A proud Catholic mother, Mary resigned from her apostolate to devote more time to her children's needs."
There is nothing wrong with this type of pride. In fact God loves this type of pride, as we read in Psalm 47:4 ("[The Lord] chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.") Like any good father, Jacob took pride in his descendants, the Jewish people, whom God chose as His own. Far be it for me to accuse Our Lord and this venerated Old Testament Patriarch of a deadly sin. I'm not that proud. I am, however, proud of our Old Testament heritage as Catholics. Hence the difference between orgueil or fierté.
So faced with this type of situation, I would guess that a certain amount of fierté would motivate a person to leave. After all, not apologizing to one's victims for having unjustly tarnished their reputation is an example of orgueil that few Catholics wish to identify with.
Invitation to Join a Rosary Novena - 3rd year in a row
Many great things have been said of the Holy Rosary by saints, popes, theologians and even devils. Padre Pio used to call it "the weapon." Pope Pius IX said: "I could conquer the world if I had any army to say the Rosary" (Legion of Mary Handbook, ch 14). Pope Pius XI adds: "The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin... It serves admirably to overcome the enemies of God and of religion" We need a powerful weapon right now. I believe with all my heart that God would like this spiritual battle with the LC to go down in Church history as having been won through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.
Now is the time to pull out our biggest gun!
For those of you who frequented exlegionaries.com you might remember that at this time 2 years ago all who were interested prayed a rosary novena for many different intentions associated with MM/LC/RC. Last year some of us prayed the 54 day rosary novena (see below). We are getting ready to begin another rosary novena and I am inviting anyone who is interested to join us. Please spread the word.
I have seen so much happen these past 2 years that has curbed the recruitment efforts of LC/RC and I firmly believe that it is due to the mercy of God Who has used our prayers, sacrifices and testimonies as channels of His grace.
I am proposing the following:
54 Day Rosary Novena
The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated physicians. On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favoured her with an apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary. The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments. They were accomp anied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."
Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, Whoever desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."
The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on the fourth day meditate on the Luminous mysteries; and so on throughout the fifty-four days.
A laborious Novena, but a Novena of Love. You who are sincere will not find it too difficult, if you really wish to obtain your request.
More Information on this Novena is availabe here: http://www.theholyrosary.org/54novena.html
The novena will begin on Friday, September 11 and the 27 days of petition will end on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, October 7. The 27 days of thanksgiving will take us through the entire month of October, the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, and will end on November 3. If you are interested in uniting with us, the novena will consist of praying the rosary along with the following prayer. If you cannot pray the entire rosary please pray one decade or even one Hail Mary. For those of you who do not wish to join us in praying the rosary please join us with your own personal prayer or your best wishes.
Our Lady Of The Holy Rosary Novena Prayer
My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet. Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart, and for this special favor which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: (Mention your request).
I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son. If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused. I know, dearest Mother, that you want me to seek God’s holy Will concerning my request. If what I ask for should not be granted, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.
I offer you this spiritual Bouquet of Roses” because I love you. I put all my confidence in you, since your prayers before God are most powerful. For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus, your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.
"The Virgin is weaving a network of her spiritual sons and daughters in order to launch a strong offensive against the deadly forces and to prepare for the final victory of her divine son Jesus Christ." The weapons are "conversion of heart, a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist, daily recitation of the rosary, constant prayer without hypocrisy, and accepting sufferings for the salvation of the world," he affirmed. "The final victory will be God's."
Compare:
"Each of us must presume the best and purest intention in the other, pray for each other, and recognize that each one of us suffers and recovers in different ways and at different times".
to:
"They were there when everything was good, when the accolades were rolling in, when the limelight was on them. Once the road got a little rocky, they threw in the towel -- since they don't know how to deal with crosses."
Will the real message please stand up? Or is this yet another example of the LC talking out of both sides of it's mouth again, sending a general message of goodwill to all but giving it's devoted troops "the real story"?
Couldn't pride in Psalm 47:4 ("[The Lord] chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.") also refer to a family as in a pride of lions?
In Gen 49:9, Jacob's blessing includes a reference to the tribe of Judah being like a lion.