Holy plot twist
Sweet Jesus! And, oh brother who art thou?
I never believed in Satan. Until the fall of 2015, when I was catching up with a close friend.
When she blurted out, “He is the devil in human form, Maria. This is the great sorting of humanity. It’s a test. And so many Catholics are failing it.”
Sorry, what? In the moment, her assessment felt extreme. I mean, sure he’s the worst person on the planet. But for Donald Trump to be the Devil incarnate, the Devil would actually need to exist. And I had never really given thought to the Devil.
As I processed, she simply said, “Keep it in reflection, Maria.”
Did I mention to you that my friend is a nun?
A few weeks later, it hit me. A lightning bolt of mental clarity; nauseousness, chills head to toe. Sister was right. And ever since, it’s felt for me, like staring Satan straight in the eye.
So that year, I set out on a journey to put things in further context from friends in high places — wise women and men, the RSCJ, and the Jesuits.
Les Religieuses du Sacré-Coeur de Jesus (RSCJ)
I have been fortunate beyond words in the past ten years to immerse myself in the mission of Les Religieuses du Sacré-Coeur de Jesus (RSCJ). “Une congrégation apostolique. Parce que dieu est amour.” (Translation: “An apostolic congregation. Because God is love.”) Most of my conversations with these incredible women explore “who we are called to be.”
The Religious of the Sacred Heart is an order of nuns founded on November 21, 1800, in France, by Madeleine-Sophie Barat. Sacred Heart’s Network of schools now serves 41 countries around the world, its mission is rooted in the service of education, and it consists of 25 schools in the U.S. and Canada and over 150 schools worldwide.
In the early years, the RSCJ ran a boarding school (1820-1904) in Paris, where Madeleine-Sophie Barat housed her small charges just off Rue de Varenne in what is now, you know, The Rodin Museum (and one of my absolute favorite places on planet earth).
Just for the vibe, here please picture the children’s storybook Madeline.
“For Madeleine-Sophie Barat, education was never the end. The end was to rebuild the fractured world around her in hope; the means was forming young people to intelligent faith, compassionate action, and courageous hope.”
Lady Gaga, or Stefani Germanotta to her former teachers, is a Sacred Heart 91st Street graduate. During her time at Sacred Heart, she sang in Chapel services, performed in plays, and was admired for her work in art class.
The RSCJ educate to a very high academic standard while also forming a commitment in their students to — and over a lifetime — care for the poor, take care of sick, give voice the marginalized, and welcome the stranger (immigrants!!!) on a local and global scale.
So this U.S. Republican regime feels like a venal threat to the RSCJ’s mission.
The Sacred Heart Religious frequently cite the words of their founder Madeleine-Sophie Barat: “Courage and confidence must be our battle-cry”. They believe each one of us is called to speak up, stand up, and act with conviction when the moment finds us.
The moment has found us.
The Society of Jesus, aka “The Jesuits”
The Society of Jesus is a Roman Catholic order of priests and brothers founded a half millennium ago by soldier-turned-mystic Ignatius of Loyola, and many refer to this order of priests as “the Jesuits.” The late Pope Francis was a Jesuit.
In conversations with my Jesuit friends, I have asked for their thoughts on religious vs spiritual.
Especially in this moment, when the spirit of Christianity — Catholicism — feels under attack, and to some disturbing extent by its own members. Since in voting for this Republican regime, these same “conservative”, “devout” Catholics voted directly against what their church actually stands for. Because in November 2024 they voted to:
It’s all laid out in Project 2025, which the Republicans told us pre-election would literally be their playbook “after they won.” And, the Republican Party even re-enacted a 1939 Nazi rally, in Madison Square Garden, the week before the election, to signal what was else was coming.
Many “Christians” appear brainwashed by Fox News and other forms of conservative media. So they don’t even seem to recognize the absolute hypocrisy of going to 8:00am mass every day, and singing the words “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me” (lyrics in full here) in the morning. And then leaving church, to cast their vote with such conviction behind leaders who; separate families, put children in cages, abolish education, and destroy the American social safety net.
One Jesuit friend blew my mind when he noted that the Nazi party first developed in early 20th century in Munich Germany, whose population was largely Catholic. Since one third of German’s population in the 1930s was Catholic, this faction was an important building block.
Per Sister’s 2015 directive, I keep the above “in reflection.”
But wait, there’s more.
Last week, The Conclave announced that the new Pope is American. As I processed the shock of it all, I immediately worried this could be construed as a victory for MAGA, as somehow baptizing their twisted “America-first” agenda.
But when Robert Francis Prevost was declared Pope Leo XIV, named for the social justice warrior Pope XIII, I felt hopeful. And when I learned that he speaks five languages — and is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Peru — I felt relief.
An internationalist, thank God.
Stephanie Ruhle, the American broadcast journalist perfectly encapsulated things last week when she awarded her “MVP of the week” to…(drum roll please) “The Conclave.”
“At a time when the world has isolationist influences on the rise, in very short order, the Conclave has chosen a true global citizen,” Ruhle adds. “He is speaking out, at a time when we need it the most.”
Amen!
That the selection of this particular pope has so enraged this Republican regime now sets up a literal showdown.
Between two diametrically opposed forces.
Between good and evil.
Between the two most powerful people in the world.
Between two Americans.
Holy crap.
Per
this week:“The ascension of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to the Holy See feels like a brilliant celestial move by his predecessor Pope Francis to create not just a rival moral center from the U.S. to counteract Trump, but one who can draw even bigger crowds and command instant mega-headlines.
That will put Trump in an immediate quandary when, for instance, Pope Leo XIV uses his voice in defense of destitute migrants. Francis too was a champion of migrants, but somehow his fundamental foreignness could not agitate Trump in the same way as Rob from Chicago surely will.
Trump risks the wrath of 53 million American Catholics if he follows what will undoubtedly be his instincts and starts trashing and trolling the new pope. Will the supreme pontiff be unexpected spiritual rescue from the secular shit show of this venal, gifting presidency?”
Yet readers, somehow, there’s more.
And it illustrates that none among us is immune. We all suffer horrors inflicted by the Republican voters in our lives.
Per Tina Brown’s piece, Pope Leo’s brother Louis told CNN’s Kaitlin Collins that he had not managed to “get through yet” to his younger brother Robert (assumedly to congratulate him). In contrast, Pope Leo speaks daily with his other brother John.
continues:“The speed and immediacy of a papal choice means there is no time for a family background check. Too late now, habemus papum! Did anyone in the Vatican look at Louis’ own Facebook page? The Daily Beast did.
And sweet Jesus! It turns out Louis is a jeering MAGA blabbermouth who has posted rants such as “Back in the earlier days of our country, before the lefties took over and ruined our schools, all these lefty dems would’ve been tarred, feathered and rode out of town on a donkey, or worse, shot or strung up.”
Louis also has charming thoughts on U.S. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.
“These f—-ing liberals crying about tariffs is just unreal…” [Editor’s Note: the language in the rest of Louis’ thoughts on Nancy Pelosi is so shocking I will not repeat it. You can read it here. And the word he uses to describe Pelosi begins with a “c”].
So here we are, ten long years into this national nightmare. And the ascension of Pope Leo XIV will now require “conservative” Catholics to choose between opposing moral and political forces.
Will these “conservative” Catholics continue to double down on this Republican regime’s religion of white supremacy, he-man woman hating, and other mortal sins- in their pursuit of an imagined tax cut for themselves, and “their family”?
For those playing at home, it also begs the question: are these Fox News glued “conservative” Catholics even capable of comprehending that this is an existential moment for human decency? Or are they permanently persuaded that their present path secures their spot in Heaven?
Regardless, their earthly “spirit” will live on, after they are gone. In the stories that their friends and family share about them with future generations- God willing as a cautionary tale, of what kind of person not to be.
And in the re-telling, these same friends and family members might even assign said forebear an unfortunate nickname. Like, “Louis.”
What I’m reading this week:
Steve Schmidt: “A Good Day for America” This reformed Republican operative, and co-founder of The Lincoln Project, shares his own thoughts on the selection of Pope Leo XIV.
Michael McFaul: “To Advance American Interests, the U.S. Needs More Diplomats, Not Less”. Thoughts from the former U.S. Ambassador to Russia under President Obama.
The Bulwark: “The Bulwark at the Briefing: Don’t Call It a Kickback.” The Bulwark was founded to provide analysis and reporting in defense of America’s liberal democracy.
How to sad to learn about his brother's beliefs, whom I assume is also a Catholic. Far too many of "the faithful" share his views, as you so perfectly articulated. Great post, Maria!