But Lisa, don't tell me you try to stick your faith right into your kid's birthday party?...what a killjoy. Well, I do...and I'm not (and quite frankly I'm insulted you even thought that ;-)
Here we are doing 'how we do' every Sunday evening, that is, praying a family rosary. Last night we were blessed to had a very special guest lead us in prayer-Fr. Torres. He is a warrior and works endlessly every day in leading and guiding his flock to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He has been spreading the message of Divine Mercy for years- something I urge you to become familiar with especially in this Jubilee Year of Mercy. The graces from participating in it are the greatest we've been afforded- ever in history! Read up on it here: http://www.thedivinemercy.org/
The Rosary is a simple prayer, but it is difficult to get through especially if you are new to it...but the graces afforded to those who recite it are bountiful and priceless! Look here to see some of the graces promised:
http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/prayer/15promise.htm
...And for those who are hesitant to say the Rosary for fear that it is not scriptural- fear not, it is ALL scriptural! https://www.renewalministries.net/files/freeliterature/SCRIPTURES%20IN%20ROSARY.pdf
We should all have the utmost respect for all of our priests. We should also realize that priests are human and will fall just like us, some more gravely than others. We should acknowledge that without our priests we cannot have the Holy Eucharist and we should be forever indebted to all our priests for giving us that gift. We should pray daily for our priests and be aware of some of the many pressures facing them. In today’s world priests are faced with tremendous disrespect from the general public- I pray God has mercy on those whose arrogance and ignorance spur that hideous attitude towards these most honorable men of God. Can you imagine what hatred priests face today? I am especially grateful for those priests who wear their roman collars in public despite the hate that comes their way because of it. Do you realize how many priests have been publicly mocked, laughed at, shout at, and even spit on? Do you realize the amount of courage it takes to walk alone through a public place with a collar on these days? Each time you see a priest, nun, or religious in public- you should thank them for answering the call. Someday I'll post about the sexual abuse scandal that sadly surrounded and included some of our priests, but that's for a different day as there is so much to say. For now I mention it because I don't think too many people realize that most of the men answering the call to the priesthood THESE days are doing so for the most noble and pure reasons as the prestige and respect that used to come with the priesthood is lost, except for, among the faithful.
There is also a huge misunderstanding regarding the church doctrine of infallibility...it doesn't mean priests (or popes) are sinless. Read up here on that awesomeness:
http://littlecatholicbubble.blogspot.com/2012/06/pope-fact-infallible-does-not-mean.html
With that being said, there have certainly been, are, and unfortunately, there will continue to be some corrupt priests and religious leaders. To them:
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock of my pasture.
Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds.b
I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have banished them and bring them back to their folds; there they shall be fruitful and multiply.c
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