Holy Redeemer Church- Warren issued the following announcement on Sept. 13.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time


To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony,

Some two millennia ago, St. Paul wrote these words to the Catholic community of Corinth: “We have not re-ceived the spirit of the world but the spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God (1 Cor 2:12).” And God has given us much, everything we need for a life of human freedom and fulfil-ment. But the “spirit of the world”  the spirit of evil and of all that is against God  seeks constantly to gain ac-cess to our hearts. We are indeed sorely tempted to open up the gates and allow that spirit in. This temptaEon is nothing new. It has been around since the Eme Eve first stretched out her hand to the Tree of Good and Evil. And so it is present in our day as well. Tellingly, and only 50 years or so ago, Pope St. Paul VI lamented that “the smoke of Satan” had entered even the Church itself. He was prescient. And there is a trail of wreckage and ruin to prove his point.

We are well aware of the sexual abuse scandal and the evils commiLed over the past decades. We know of financial scandals involving bishops and clergy. We know too that bishops and priests (myself included) some-Emes fail to live the lives of simplicity, service, and holiness that you rightly expect of us. But “the Church” is not just the clergy. It certainly seems that the infiltraEon of the “spirit of the world” is also widespread and perva-sive among the laity. T

his is especially true when it comes to adherence to Church teaching. St. Paul prophesied this occurrence in his Second LeLer to Timothy: “For the %me is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth (2 Tim 4:3
4).” What type of sound teaching  the Church’s teaching  is not being endured today?

We can look first at apathy regarding the Eucharist. Even before the pandemic struck, a majority of Catholics were regularly absenEng themselves from Sunday Mass. Others dismiss the Church’s ancient belief in the Real Presence. And that apathy extends to other sacraments such as Confession and Marriage. Many of the Church’s teaching on marriage and sexuality, are in fact, universally mocked and vilified. Think of how many scoff at the Church’s prohibiEon against contracepEon. Think of how the world rails against the Church’s teaching on same sex relaEons. And think of how the acceptance of gender theory (which Pope Francis has described as demonic) is part of the new secular orthodoxy.

There are more examples of the spirit of the world aLacking the teachings of the Church. AborEon  the preeminent moral evil  is accepted and promoted around most of the globe. The death penalty  despite years of papal teaching against  is defended and pracEced. SupporEve euthanasia laws are being enacted in increas-ing (and frightening) numbers. Pornography is a mulEbillion dollar industry, with many Catholics contribuEng to the coffers. Vulnerable persons, such as migrants and the homeless, too rarely receive the welcome which scrip-ture demands. And the list goes on and on. Secularism is the faith of countless people. And far too many Catho-lics accept the erroneous and immoral “teaching” of celebriEes, poliEcians, and social media influencers, while simultaneously rejecEng the true teachings of the Church, who is their mother and guide. No doubt, the aroma of the world’s spirit is enEcing and sweet, but its fruit is poison and its ulEmate effect is death.

Yet it doesn’t have to be this way. Sure, the road to heaven is narrow and difficult, but you and I are called to walk that road with Christ by our side. We are given every necessary grace to be holy and wise. The sacraments are available to strengthen and heal us. And lest we claim ignorance in knowing exactly what our faith teaches, the Catechism of the Catholic Church provides us with the understanding we need to think and act rightly. The Spirit of God is always greater than the spirit of the world! But we must do our part by closing the doors and windows of our hearts to the false teaching of our Emes and the faddish philosophies of our age. We cannot conEnue to let the smoke of Satan seep into our souls! What was true when St. Paul was alive remains true to-day: the spirit of the world is a menace and a threat. But aZer warning the people of Corinth to avoid this spir-it, Paul encouraged them to “put on the mind of Christ.” He knew that Christ is always our refuge and our strength! Paul knew that Jesus is the Way and the Truth. May each of us, too, then, put on the mind of Christ!
Mary, Mother of our Redeemer  Pray for us!
St. Anthony  Pray for us!God bless you all,
Fr. Steve

Original source can be found here.