Bad Bishops and the Saints They Inspire

In Catholic blogdom there's always a lot of hand wringing over what this bishop said or what that cardinal did. I'm getting the feeling that in the 2000 year old Church that Jesus Christ founded (aka the Roman Catholic Church .. not to be confused with cheap imitators) that this is all part of the plan. Perhaps it is a test of faith. Maybe these bishops are like the lout uncle on the in-law's side. The guy maybe be a worthless reprobate or a just a jerk but he's family. He may deserve jail-time but he's still family.

A passage from the book which gave this blog it's name made me think of this. The book is called "True Devotion to Mary" and it was written by St. Louis de Montfort. I'm reading (for the second time) the version published by Tan books and translated by Fr. Frederick Faber. Buy it here.

St Louis de Montfort walked around 17th Century France preaching, hearing confession, starting schools and rebuilding church buildings. But he ran into great opposition by the Bishop of Poitiers who forbade him to preach there. That was a test for St. Louis. So, he walked to Rome, consulted with Pope Clement XI and kept on doing what he was doing with the blessing of Il Papa himself.

Let's pray for the repose of the soul of the former Bishop of Poitiers. I'm quite sure he's been forgotten and nobody is blogging his writings or reading his book 300 years after his death.

Rule Brittania

Who could not help but get swept up in the World Cup mania? Everyone knows he chances of the USA are a bit dim, I must reveal my longstanding and deep seated favoritism toward England. I liked soccer before soccer was cool. Go here to get the run down on who is playing whom and when. The World Cup is being held in Germany so most games start at noon E.S.T. but I'm sure there's going to be some tape delay action.

Just prior to the start of the games there went out word that a certain "Religion of Peace" would be quite offended if the Brits displayed their flag. (Not the union Jack, as that represents all of the United Kingdom, but a component of it: the Saint George cross. The Union Jack incorporates the crosses of St. George, St. Andrew, and St. Patrick.)

Islamic group al-Muhajiroun, in which the group said that the red cross in the England flag symbolizes the 'blood thirsty crusaders' and the occupation of Muslims, some of the largest companies in England have ordered their workers not to wave the flags.

Blood thirsty crusaders? Now you're talking! Here's a picture of one right now ... I bet he could drink quite a bit, too.