Novena for friends & family caught in LC/RC

Over the past year I have heard the stories of several good, orthodox Catholics stuck in LC/RC. Some were related to me by friends and family. Others by the individuals themselves. With the Feast of Divine Mercy past us for another year, I will be starting a novena on Monday, April 12 for those individuals who feel stuck in Maciel’s methodology. This novena will be to Our Lady of Good Remedy.

Forget to add water to those kool-aid crystals?

Bonum invited ex-Legionary Mortalitor to guest blog (click here). Here is one of the insights Mortalitor shared concerning his experience with the Legion:

Now if we remove all vestiges of Fr. MM, his works and writings, then you in essence have removed the spirituality of the Legion, that which makes the Legion the Legion, the identity which separates it from all the other orders and the diocese. This is true because the legion only uses its founder’s writings and the bible as their only source for spirituality. The legion would lose its identity and would have to find a new one. This finding of a new spiritual identity, as an order could be an exciting and wonderful experience, one that I wouldn’t mind being a part of. However, who is to lead this new spiritual journey? Certainly not the Legion’s current leadership.

To which an anonymous commentator responds:

Father Maciel claimed his innocence. Please note he never was tried in a civil or ecclesiatical court. The campaign against Father Maciel and the Legion of Christ is a smear campaign which roots are in pride and envy.

Hopefully this commentator is simply a troll on a drive-by, or represents an extreme minority within LC/RC. If he represents the majority of insiders, we may well have a schism on our hands. ‘Cause Pope Benedict shows no sign of relenting in his campaign to rid the Church of filth.

Danielle Bean and the Legion of Christ…

A reader asked me what I make of Danielle Bean’s commentary on the Legion of Christ over at the Faith & Family blog (click here). Erin Manning has posted an excellent response here, while Giselle breaks down Danielle’s argument as follows:

1. MM did some very bad things;
2. MM’s congregation gives us lots of money;
3. We do good things with that money;
4. We don’t account for his bad deeds, only our good works;
5. Therefore, don’t worry about the connexion; the pope will figure it out.

My own thoughts? I don’t doubt Danielle’s sincerity in pointing to – in her words – “the good things we do at Faith & Family, the dedicated men I know who are Legionary priests, and the many good men and women I know who are members of Regnum Christi.” However, in reflecting upon this argument, I am reminded of Our Lord’s encounter with the demoniac of Ger’asenes:

And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” (Mark 5:9)

Notice two things about this encounter:

  1. Although the Bible provides several names for Lucifer and his fallen angels, “Legion” is the only name in Holy Scripture that these evil spirits give themselves.
  2. The evil spirits boast of their great numbers.

As Christians we stand not upon great numbers. We stand upon Christ. We stand upon the truths of His teaching. This is clear from chapter 6 of John’s Gospel. Driven by personal need, a multitude witnessed and partook in the miracle of loaves and fishes. Only twelve remained after Jesus preached difficult truths. And one of the remainder was a devil, the evangelist reminds us.
But to quote Simon Peter in verse 68: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Day 9 – Divine Mercy Novena for LC/RC victims

Christ is risen! Alleluia! Truly He is risen!
Today is Easter Saturday, the ninth day of the Divine Mercy Novena. I would invite you to join me in praying this powerful novena for Aaron, Jose Barba, Juan Vaca, Bonum’s buddy in the hospital, and all other victims of LC/RC sexual abuse. If you did not make the first day, don’t worry about it. Join in anyway. God will honor your prayers for this intention.