In You, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In Your justice rescue me and deliver me. Ps. 30:2.

In all the adversity we face in these present days, in the darkness and confusion, in the open battle, as we strive to revive the life of virtues, as Christians, following Christ Who is the exemplar of virtue, we should moment after moment recite in our hearts the above psalm.

I had an interesting experience this morning at St. Peter’s Basilica which was a microcosmic display of the state of things in the Church. My priest friend and I, desiring to celebrate the Mass of Quinquagesima at the station Church, were confronted with the tyrannical hysteria which is the modus operandi of so many in the hierarchy. It flows from the effeminacy and narcissism striving to secure power and position in the Church. The law of the individual is placed above the Church’s law, and even God’s law, as we have seen with the display of all these abuses and scandals.

My friend and I discussed the matter after hand and pointed to the huge reality of oppression in the city of Rome. When this is unchecked, one’s whole life loses the essential reference we all need towards Christ, and even more so should this be for the priest who stands in persona Christus capitis. I don’t say any of this for confirmation bias or to make any reader justified in any misplaced or rash anger and disappointment. Rather, I pray this encourages you to increase your love.

Let’s listen to St. Paul:

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.