Great reporting here (as always). Praying that the eyes of the protestors are opened to see and recognize Jesus, just like the disciples' eyes were on the road to Emmaus!
...former members have accused the church of being a “cult” and for brainwashing its members.
On its website, the group publishes blog posts on a variety of topics: atheism, psychology and Sodom and Gomorrah.
“They are trying to antagonize us, they are trying to bait a response,” Shanks said. “They are trying to get into a debate for YouTube, X, and Instagram. That's what they want from the Catholics,” Shanks said.
- Sounds like a pathetic clone of the Westboro Baptist group. Shanks is correct, but underplaying it. They are trying to provoke a response (physical or governmental) that they can use as fodder for a lawsuit. Add them to the list of those who desperately need our prayers. Just don't punch them in the mouth.
From what I've read, it seems like there's some kind of relationship between Wells and Westboro. But yeah, they're clearly trolls who seek to provoke people into getting themselves into trouble.
What a sad and frankly boring way of being religious. And sad to see them weaponizing children.
No. Jesus said this is My body. He said this is My blood. He was God so if He said it's Him it is. He is always honest. He is all powerful. So it is what He says it is. Argument courtesy of Martin Luther in the 1520s against those who claimed it was just a symbol.
That's fair. I'm painting with too broad a brush and don't mean to include our brothers and sisters in Christ who adhere to the protestant faiths of the original reformers. I do mean to include not people, but ideology that serves as a blinder to conversation/conversion. The truth is offensive to lies and is confounding to BS, is all I mean to say.
Wow, the Eucharistic Walking Pilgrimage got interesting. I hope many more people will make the effort to join it!
I just looked up "the Church of Wells" and they are a pretty appalling cult-like outfit. Dishonest strawman notions of what Catholics supposedly believe have long been a major doctrine of Protestantism and tool of anti-Catholic propaganda.
These chuckleheads accidentally strengthened my faith. Here's how.
I walked on the Tulsa leg of the pilgrimage on Friday night, 4 miles from TU's campus to Holy Family Cathedral, with pit stops along the way. The whole way, these fellas were yelling. As a former fundamentalist myself, I found their protestations cute at first, but the longer we walked, the less forgiving I became. Altar after altar, their antics aggravated me. All I wanted was respectful silence to adore the Lord, but there was no peace--save when the matachines' drummers stepped in to drown them out!
But I "metanoia'd" a little when we stopped outside the parish of Christ the King, halfway to our destination. Our friends on the fringe were right behind me, and I could barely hear the Gospels or the prayers. And in the middle of all that, a phrase from an old spiritual director came back to me: "the chattering voice of the enemy."
The pilgrimage is like the Christian life in miniature, that much is obvious. We were literally following Jesus, even when we couldn't see Him. And (drawing a merely analogous connection) the voice of those protestors was akin to the chattering voice of the Enemy, constantly repeating the same dumb ideas, trying to shake the believer's faith. After two or three miles, I was surprised to notice my mental barriers wearing down in the face of their insistence.
I realized then that there's only one appropriate response to the voice of the Enemy: to praise, worship, and adore Christ.
A spiritual director (different one) told me once to curse at the devil, which has never sounded like a good idea. The devil's end goal is my distraction from Christ, and the ends justify the means to him. Dialoguing with the chattering voice of the enemy, paying it any attention at all, is kind of stupid. Keep walking after Christ, keep talking with other pilgrims, keep smiling and waving at the curious, keep singing, keep believing, keep worshipping the Lord.
And ask your guardian angel to scream "VIVA CRISTO REY!" in the devil's face, I guess.
I have on my wall a number of 'cartoons' dating from when the Duke of Boots (Wellington) set Catholic's free in 1829. They are not very favourable to his Grace. It matters because people care, either side. That it matters is important. How we engage takes us a long way. By-the-by, my Monarch still can not be Catholic. I think we still have some way to go...
At risk of sounding overly pious... I had this thought the other day that might be pertinent to this story:
The first Mass was celebrated in ragged vestments, the celebrant was "facing the people," the music was probably horrid and disturbing, the crowds were mostly yelling and jeering, and there was no sacred silence.
Years ago we went to see Pope Benedict when he visited Washington, we couldn't get into the stadium, so we were standing outside with our kids trying to participate in the Mass which was on a large screen. There were "Christians" with megaphones shouting the same kind of slurs. We were completely surprised and horrified by this response from fellow "Christians". Things unfortunately got very heated between the two groups during the consecration as we tried to join in communion with the Mass.
The way these Eucharistic pilgrims are responding to this sacrilege with prayer, is so beautiful, and I know their witness will bear fruit.
Pillar readers in the area of this Eucharistic Pilgrimage please join in!
I attended the final leg of the Tulsa procession. Since I didn’t know about the non-engagement policy… I engaged. I had a friendly discussion with the father of the many children - mostly about John 6 (which, btw, he didn’t have a good response for - “it was metaphorical!” “Then why did he allow all those disciples to leave? Why didn’t he call out It’s metaphorical!”)
Anyway, what I did find out though was that he was baptized Catholic, confirmed, and considered being a priest. I’ve been praying for him and hope you all will too. I don’t know his name but I’m sure the Lord knows who we’re talking about!
When I have engaged someone in conversation outdoors - or been engaged by them - I have often enough found that they were raised and confirmed Catholic, whether they are now atheists passionately protesting Catholics who are praying for an end to abortion, or whether they are Jehovah's Witnesses who dispassionately deny the divinity of Christ (in literally the public square). No need to imagine someone is lying, especially in the case of an actual cult (I imagine it's like marrying a narcissist: a confusing romantic descent on a broad gentle path). From my perspective, one valid confession is all that they will need after a conversion of heart, so when people try to dishearten me by asserting that they have received the sacraments of initiation (and therefore "know" I am "wrong") I am just emboldened to ask God for this grace of repentance on their behalf. I know what it is like to make a break with a life of error and denial, and I know His persistence.
I was part of the OKC procession and it was definitely annoying to have someone shouting in your ear the whole way, but I just ignored them. What was really hard was trying to explain to my 3-year-old son why people were yelling at us. But he took it like a champ and I was proud of him. I didn't feel in physical danger, but there is something about "suffering" for your faith to kind of break you out of your bubble and experience solidarity with those being persecuted in much worse ways now and those who have given their lives.
Blessed Stanley Rother is also from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and reflecting on him giving his life in martyrdom and being from roughly the same area as myself was powerful.
God bless those that are walking with our Lord!
Great reporting here (as always). Praying that the eyes of the protestors are opened to see and recognize Jesus, just like the disciples' eyes were on the road to Emmaus!
...former members have accused the church of being a “cult” and for brainwashing its members.
On its website, the group publishes blog posts on a variety of topics: atheism, psychology and Sodom and Gomorrah.
“They are trying to antagonize us, they are trying to bait a response,” Shanks said. “They are trying to get into a debate for YouTube, X, and Instagram. That's what they want from the Catholics,” Shanks said.
- Sounds like a pathetic clone of the Westboro Baptist group. Shanks is correct, but underplaying it. They are trying to provoke a response (physical or governmental) that they can use as fodder for a lawsuit. Add them to the list of those who desperately need our prayers. Just don't punch them in the mouth.
From what I've read, it seems like there's some kind of relationship between Wells and Westboro. But yeah, they're clearly trolls who seek to provoke people into getting themselves into trouble.
What a sad and frankly boring way of being religious. And sad to see them weaponizing children.
If it's drawing protesters, that means it's working. The Eucharist OUGHT to be radically offensive to sola scriptura fundamentalism.
Yeah, groups like this aren't even just sola scriptura--they're somehow worse! They make a mockery even of fundamentalists in their modi operandi.
No. Jesus said this is My body. He said this is My blood. He was God so if He said it's Him it is. He is always honest. He is all powerful. So it is what He says it is. Argument courtesy of Martin Luther in the 1520s against those who claimed it was just a symbol.
That's fair. I'm painting with too broad a brush and don't mean to include our brothers and sisters in Christ who adhere to the protestant faiths of the original reformers. I do mean to include not people, but ideology that serves as a blinder to conversation/conversion. The truth is offensive to lies and is confounding to BS, is all I mean to say.
Wow, the Eucharistic Walking Pilgrimage got interesting. I hope many more people will make the effort to join it!
I just looked up "the Church of Wells" and they are a pretty appalling cult-like outfit. Dishonest strawman notions of what Catholics supposedly believe have long been a major doctrine of Protestantism and tool of anti-Catholic propaganda.
These chuckleheads accidentally strengthened my faith. Here's how.
I walked on the Tulsa leg of the pilgrimage on Friday night, 4 miles from TU's campus to Holy Family Cathedral, with pit stops along the way. The whole way, these fellas were yelling. As a former fundamentalist myself, I found their protestations cute at first, but the longer we walked, the less forgiving I became. Altar after altar, their antics aggravated me. All I wanted was respectful silence to adore the Lord, but there was no peace--save when the matachines' drummers stepped in to drown them out!
But I "metanoia'd" a little when we stopped outside the parish of Christ the King, halfway to our destination. Our friends on the fringe were right behind me, and I could barely hear the Gospels or the prayers. And in the middle of all that, a phrase from an old spiritual director came back to me: "the chattering voice of the enemy."
The pilgrimage is like the Christian life in miniature, that much is obvious. We were literally following Jesus, even when we couldn't see Him. And (drawing a merely analogous connection) the voice of those protestors was akin to the chattering voice of the Enemy, constantly repeating the same dumb ideas, trying to shake the believer's faith. After two or three miles, I was surprised to notice my mental barriers wearing down in the face of their insistence.
I realized then that there's only one appropriate response to the voice of the Enemy: to praise, worship, and adore Christ.
A spiritual director (different one) told me once to curse at the devil, which has never sounded like a good idea. The devil's end goal is my distraction from Christ, and the ends justify the means to him. Dialoguing with the chattering voice of the enemy, paying it any attention at all, is kind of stupid. Keep walking after Christ, keep talking with other pilgrims, keep smiling and waving at the curious, keep singing, keep believing, keep worshipping the Lord.
And ask your guardian angel to scream "VIVA CRISTO REY!" in the devil's face, I guess.
Bless you Kyle, both for sharing this and for walking the Tulsa leg of the pilgrimage.
Blessed are you.
I sure am. Pray for me, I need all the help I can get!
"VIVA CHRISTO REY," indeed!!!
I have on my wall a number of 'cartoons' dating from when the Duke of Boots (Wellington) set Catholic's free in 1829. They are not very favourable to his Grace. It matters because people care, either side. That it matters is important. How we engage takes us a long way. By-the-by, my Monarch still can not be Catholic. I think we still have some way to go...
At risk of sounding overly pious... I had this thought the other day that might be pertinent to this story:
The first Mass was celebrated in ragged vestments, the celebrant was "facing the people," the music was probably horrid and disturbing, the crowds were mostly yelling and jeering, and there was no sacred silence.
That's the nature of a Crucifixion.
Years ago we went to see Pope Benedict when he visited Washington, we couldn't get into the stadium, so we were standing outside with our kids trying to participate in the Mass which was on a large screen. There were "Christians" with megaphones shouting the same kind of slurs. We were completely surprised and horrified by this response from fellow "Christians". Things unfortunately got very heated between the two groups during the consecration as we tried to join in communion with the Mass.
The way these Eucharistic pilgrims are responding to this sacrilege with prayer, is so beautiful, and I know their witness will bear fruit.
Pillar readers in the area of this Eucharistic Pilgrimage please join in!
I attended the final leg of the Tulsa procession. Since I didn’t know about the non-engagement policy… I engaged. I had a friendly discussion with the father of the many children - mostly about John 6 (which, btw, he didn’t have a good response for - “it was metaphorical!” “Then why did he allow all those disciples to leave? Why didn’t he call out It’s metaphorical!”)
Anyway, what I did find out though was that he was baptized Catholic, confirmed, and considered being a priest. I’ve been praying for him and hope you all will too. I don’t know his name but I’m sure the Lord knows who we’re talking about!
I’ll join you in praying for him. And for a solution to whatever drove or led him away.
Not to be uncharitable, but he might be lying.
In which case he needs our prayers all the more.
When I have engaged someone in conversation outdoors - or been engaged by them - I have often enough found that they were raised and confirmed Catholic, whether they are now atheists passionately protesting Catholics who are praying for an end to abortion, or whether they are Jehovah's Witnesses who dispassionately deny the divinity of Christ (in literally the public square). No need to imagine someone is lying, especially in the case of an actual cult (I imagine it's like marrying a narcissist: a confusing romantic descent on a broad gentle path). From my perspective, one valid confession is all that they will need after a conversion of heart, so when people try to dishearten me by asserting that they have received the sacraments of initiation (and therefore "know" I am "wrong") I am just emboldened to ask God for this grace of repentance on their behalf. I know what it is like to make a break with a life of error and denial, and I know His persistence.
"Truth Himself speaks truly, or there's nothing true."
Jesús had clear instructions for these situations: rejoice and be glad! Blessed are you.
Of course this is a sign of the wounded body of Christ, and that is against the Lord’s will and a cause for sadness.
May the Lord bless those processing with courage and strength, and their enemies with conversion.
Any controversy about the Eucharist is welcome if it forces people to deal with its Reality. God be praised!
St. Tarcisus pray for us and for them. That we may be silent witnesses to the Glory, and that they may fall in wonder to their Savior.
I think of King David and Shimei (2 Samuel 16)
And then relatedly: the enemy tries to discourage us, but God uses it for His greater glory
So the protestors are... Protestants?
Nothing new under the sun.
I was part of the OKC procession and it was definitely annoying to have someone shouting in your ear the whole way, but I just ignored them. What was really hard was trying to explain to my 3-year-old son why people were yelling at us. But he took it like a champ and I was proud of him. I didn't feel in physical danger, but there is something about "suffering" for your faith to kind of break you out of your bubble and experience solidarity with those being persecuted in much worse ways now and those who have given their lives.
Blessed Stanley Rother is also from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and reflecting on him giving his life in martyrdom and being from roughly the same area as myself was powerful.
Still praying for those who are protesting!
How did you explain it to your 3-year-old? I think I would struggle with coming up with a true answer that an age like that would find satisfying.