Volume > Issue > Letter to the Editor: July-August 1998

July-August 1998

Almost Overwhelmed

I was almost overwhelmed by my tears as I read in your June issue about the failure of our bishops — in Brazil (editoriab| in England (article by Alberto Carosa), and in South Africa (guest column by Joanne Butler). What suffering our Holy Father must be enduring, as the Blessed Mother foretold at Fatima!

Your June editorial (entitled “Surprise!”) manifests a courage, a fortitude, that is a gift of the Holy Spirit. You encourage me to count on that gift as we “get down in the muddy trenches with Augustine [et al.].” You urge me on!

Our ultimate strength is knowing that “Christ enables us to live in Him all that He Himself lived…” (Catechism, #521). It seems that we orthodox Catholics are going through the awful experience of Calvary. As Christ lives out His life in us His members, there will likely be a time when we appear to be losing everything, as He appeared to be doing on the Cross. But we also know He will live out in us His Resurrection. That’s what you help me understand. I gladly enclose my small donation to your cause, and I promise my prayers.

Abraham L. Heck

Needham, Massachusetts

You May Also Enjoy

Do Historical Norms Alter Church Teachings? Should They?

Revelation was not designed primarily to explain how to make this world perfect, but to reveal how men in any time or place are to reach eternal life.

Some Ecumenical Straight-Talk

Ecumania is burning itself out. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church's bilateral ecumenical dialogues just go on and on.

In Turkey, the Church Officially Does Not Exist

Why did Murat Altun, after murdering a prominent archbishop, shout "Allah Akbar!" (God is great!) and boast of having killed "the great Satan"?