As I stated in a previous post, the modernist by definition is a cunning creature, a duplicitous sort who deals in nuance; deliberately moving about in the shadows, employing a vocabulary of familiar words but with an entirely different meaning.
And yet, the heart of the modernist is so swollen with pride, his ego so hungry for human acclaim, that he can resist the urge to brag of his grand designs in the full light of day for only so long. Given that the modernist, whether he knows it or not, is driven by the influence of the Evil One, this is to be expected.
We know that the Master Deceiver, he who once tempted Eve with sleight and subtlety, will one day, in the person of the Antichrist, offer to mankind a far more stark proposition, “It’s either me or the Lord, choose this day who you will serve.”
In other words, over time, Satan and his instruments, willing and otherwise, eventually grow bolder, bothering less and less to cloak their nefarious designs under the mantle of fidelity.
Enter once more Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga and his now infamous speech delivered at the University of Dallas on October 25th:
The Church could not continue posing as a reality facing the world, as a parallel “perfect society,” which pursued her own autonomous course, strengthening her walls against the errors and the influence of the world. This antithesis of centuries needed to be overcome.
And why did the traditional understanding of the Church as an autonomous perfect society, divinely endowed with truth and authority, need to be overcome? To make way for the church-of-man, of course.
The Ambassador of Newchurch continues:
The Church did not have a monopoly on truth anymore, nor could she pontificate on a thousand human matters, or hold stances denoting arrogance or superiority. Instead, she should go out into the common arena, plainly and humbly, and share in the common search for truth.
Dialogue should precede the mission, as a simple attitude of listening, to build on what is common, rather that to insist in what divides, and to count on the contribution of humanisms and of non-Christian religions, which will take us back to the foundation of any creed, any ideology. What is Christian has its substrata, first and foremost, in what is human.
There is no sugarcoating the plain fact that this man has lost the Faith, daring as he does to denounce “arrogance” even as he stands dressed as a Prince of Holy Church (speaking of posing) publicly professing his devotion to a movement dedicated to searching for “the truth” alongside humanists and other assorted practitioners of those false religions that reject Our Lord Jesus Christ!
The vision so boldly imparted here cannot but inspire in faithful Catholics the kind of righteous anger that moved Our Blessed Lord to take a whip of cords to the money changers. Even so, we should be grateful for the clarity of choice that lies before us.
Though for many readers of this blog it is hardly even necessary, juxtaposing the man made organization of which the pope’s emissary speaks against the Holy Catholic Church described by Pope Leo XIII lends additional focus.
This society [the Church] is made up of men, just as civil society is, and yet is supernatural and spiritual, on account of the end for which it was founded, and of the means by which it aims at attaining that end. Hence, it is distinguished and differs from civil society, and, what is of highest moment, it is a society chartered as of right divine, perfect in its nature and in its title, to possess in itself and by itself, through the will and loving kindness of its Founder, all needful provision for its maintenance and action. And just as the end at which the Church aims is by far the noblest of ends, so is its authority the most exalted of all authority, nor can it be looked upon as inferior to the civil power, or in any manner dependent upon it. (Immortale Dei 10)
If perhaps it wasn’t entirely clear amidst the confusion of the past fifty years, from 13 March 2013 onward this much is becoming ever more obvious with each passing day:
Barring a profound change of course, by Divine intervention or otherwise, those who call themselves Catholic – laity, religious and clergy alike – are barreling headlong toward a definite fork in the road.
On the one hand lies the trail well-traveled by the Saints, the solitary way for those who wish to remain in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, the only path to eternal salvation; on the other lies the via sinestra that leads directly to the church-of-man described by Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga.
While many can see that the fork just described is indeed fast approaching, others are as yet unable or unwilling. In time, their eyes too will be opened, and many among them will choose rightly, if and when the Lord allows push to come to shove.
Even so, others will most certainly choose wrongly; some with deliberate intent, others having been genuinely deceived. Mine is not to determine which is which, but simply to sound the alarm.
One thing I can say with absolute certainty, based upon unsolicited private correspondence received over the past few months, is that there are many members of the sacred hierarchy – men serving in parishes and dioceses all over the world – who also see precisely where we are heading, but who feel compelled at present to hold their tongues as a matter of prudence. Likewise with consecrated religious who have reached out in confidence as well.
For my part, I see no reason whatsoever to waste even another moment before declaring as loudly and clearly as I possibly can:
If the picture painted by the Bishop of Rome’s handpicked adviser accurately portrays the direction in which Pope Francis intends to lead, I WILL NOT FOLLOW!
“but who feel compelled at present hold their tongues as a matter of prudence.”
I read that “prudence” was the reason that many bishops and cardinals held their tongue although they were of the same opinion as Archbishop Lefebvre.
Being a Catholic for seven years I learned that prudence is often another word for cowardice.
Bumpy road ahead as we are challenged to save our souls through the Holy, Roman, Catholic Church. Buckle your seat belts we are on a bumpy, dangerous road…
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! As I read the cardinal’s words from this speech every hair on my body was sticking straight up with a chill bump at the base of each. It couldn’t be more blatant. This reads like something straight out of Lord of the World or Father Elijah. Humanism writ large. Mr. V, your analysis is spot-on….you are obviously a man of great and deep prayer….keep it up and increase it; your words are balm on an open gash in the Mystical Body of Christ. We are in dark waters indeed….Duc in Altum.
I too will no follow. I will not follow those who intend to lead me into hell
Bravo Mr. Verrecchio! Thank you sticking up for Our Lord with this! I am with you all the way. Such an intelligent article. Me too- I am not going with that lot – they have nothing to give…DEAD END…
My prayers , against all the odds and those tricky, sneaky modernists that are hijacking the Church….
I can manage some prayers for them too…yes, indeed – God has been super generous with me – once far from Him – and undeserving…
Honestly, Louie I don’t hear anything new in this particular quote from Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga. Haven’t all the recent popes endorsed the work of the humanist United Nations? But I trust your ability to understand better than I the messages from the modernists that are hidden from my ears. I’m reminded of the difference between the exoteric and esoteric message — where the esoteric message is intended for those who are part of the inner circle.
Meanwhile, Sandro Magister over at Chiesa is highlighting some of the repercussions of the statements issued by Francis in Italy, the US and Spain:
http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1350635?eng=y
Will we immediately begin to see an abrupt liberal shift in the leadership of the bishops conferences in these countries? For the US it’s hard to imagine it getting any more liberal. I think it is more a matter of now being openly liberal rather than just acting liberal while mouthing conservative words. At least it will be a “refreshing” change to have the bishops words and actions coincide. But it will be hard times for orthodox bishops and priests.
“I WILL NOT FOLLOW”…….such words, come only from the mouth of true Soldiers of Christ!
“THE CHURCH OF THE SAINTS IS THE MASTERPIECE WROUGHT BY THE INCARNATE WORD; BUT THIS INFERNAL CHURCH OF THE WICKED IS THE MASTERPIECE OF THE FALLEN ARCHANGEL’
(The Apostleship of Prayer).
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
Viva Cristo Rey!
I think many of us are prepared for what is to come. I don`t think it will be unrealistic to expect the demise of the TLM in diocesan parishes . I have read the apologetics of the SSPX and I believe they will be a refuge. I`m expecting to be rebuked from some for making this statement and that`s not a problem for me.
Dear Theresa,
Never fear to be rebuked for speaking ‘truth’.
I do attend SSPX Chapel every Sunday, and I thank God for this privilege. I spend too many years of my life, following the deceivers……..BLIND NO MORE!
Praised Be Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!………this is how in Poland you greet a priest (dressed in a habit)…….priests, that are not ashamed of preaching without speaking.
SSPX is a home, sweet home for those who wish to practice their faith without being ashamed of following in the footsteps of their KING!…..the ROYAL WAY OF THE CROSS!
A few observations.
After seeing what the Pope and others in the hierarchy have expressed since the start of the current papacy, I wonder how on an “anomaly” like Benedict XIV managed to get elected.
Seeing commentary on sites like this one and on “progressive” Catholic websites, I am amazed at the wide gulf separating those who view the Pope with fear and trepidation and those who view him as something wonderful and sorely needed. I notice this when reading comments at the CathNewsUSA website for example.
It really seems that the Fatima prophecy which Cardinal Ciappi described as “among other things, that the great apostasy in the Church will begin AT THE TOP, ” is actually coming to pass.
“This is the history…that Christ calls and wants all beneath His standard; and Lucifer, on the other hand, wants all under his….” –St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises.
Well, the warlocks (lit. oath-breaker; traitor) are really stirring the pot now. As for the satanic “should go out into the common arena, plainly and humbly, and share in the common search for truth.” Christ IS the Truth; Christ hasn’t hiddin Himself under a rock in an ancient pagan site. But those who try to take the crown and melt it down will find that “The brick wall that the world [to which the warlocks belong] are colliding into is the Reign of Christ the King. Whether we acknowledge His reign or not, He still reigns.” B. McCall.
“Revolution itself is a faith. It is faith in the inevitable progress of mankind towards a new order, a better world, to be achieved solely by human effort, without the intervention of God. It is faith in the possibility of realizing here on earth, by natural means, what cannot be realized except in eternity, by supernatural means.[17] Revolution is a “mystery of iniquity.” Satan is the father of all rebellions. “Non serviam!” The Revolution begun in Heaven is perpetuated in mankind under the action of Satan. The Fall introduced the spirit of pride and revolt, which is the principle of Revolution. The evil has grown, burrowing deeper in the hearts and minds of men and in the fabric of societies, from ancient heresies and medieval laicism to Humanism and Protestantism, to the Enlightenment and Rousseau, until it took institutional form in the French revolution. From hence, proceeding towards the heart of the Church, the end is in sight: “The French revolution is the precursor of a greater revolution, more solemn, which will be the last.”[18] The essence of Revolution is satanic; its goal is the destruction of the Kingdom of God on earth. Blessed Pius IX has said it clearly: “The Revolution is inspired by Satan himself. Its goal is the destruction of the building of Christianity, to reconstruct upon its ruins the social order of paganism.”[19] Revolution is, then, a religious mystery–anti-Catholicism. The children of the Revolution have made this equally clear: “Catholicism must fall! It is not a question of refuting Papism, but of extirpating it–not only to extirpate it, but to dishonor it–not only to dishonor it, but to smother it in the muck.”[20] The Church, enlightened by Christ and being thus alone in understanding the true character of the Revolution, has since the beginning been its natural enemy.”
Rev. Fr. Juan Carlos Iscara, FSSPX, Reflections on the Kingship of Christ. Angelus Press.
“Unus Dominus, una fides, unam baptisma–There is only one Lord, only one Faith, only one baptism” (Eph. 4:5).
“”The Church will preserve the Spirit of God only on condition of being at war against the contrary spirit, the Spirit of Man. Attacked, she must defend herself: it is her right and her duty. What was said to her Divine Spouse is also her history: Dominare in medio inimicorum. Always Queen, always threatened, on earth she has to be militant.” Cardinal Pie.
I am sad to have lived to see this. I had hoped that the chastisement of the last 50 years would end as the revolutionaries died out. I was naive. I pray our Lord will correct this before many souls follow the wrong path. I cannot see a good end in this for the majority of modern Catholics, weakly Catechized, and following along right over the cliff.
This is somewhat off topic, but I just discovered that as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio received acupuncture treatments from a Taoist monk. The monk, Liu Ming, was interviewed by an Argentinean magazine. I translated a portion of the article here:
http://publicvigil.blogspot.com/2013/11/bergoglios-new-age-doctor.html
The impression one gets from the article/interview is that if there was any attempt at conversion by either of the two, it was done more by the Taoist monk.
from the speech:
“The new wine of Evangelization cannot be poured into old wineskins, and that is why the first and foremost thing is pastoral conversion; in other words, the spiritual renewal of all the People of God. The New Evangelization entails pastoral conversion first, and pastoral conversion means returning to Jesus. [hmmm, but who’s Jesus, since now we are all allowed to have our own without recourse to Church tradition (of which the Canon is a result)] And to conclude, the Pope reminds us that the mission of the Church is the mission of Jesus Himself. And to do the right thing, and to become authentic.”
The first covenant with Israel was, correct me if I’m wrong, the Old wineskins, and now with the fulfillment of that Convenant – The Messiah, Emmauel – the New Convenant required ‘new wineskins’. So all this new evangilisation is one long sneeky redaction of the New Covenant, seems to me.
Thank God you’re deciphering this speech, Louie – like finding submerged stepping stones in a quagmire. This speech is sooooooo protestant and sooooooo like something Loyd Geering might have written (he was the ‘great’ deceiver of the already deceived Presbyterians.)
p.s. siince the Church is no longer raising Saints with the great gift of healing it makes pratical and pragmatic sense that Pope Francis would seek out a Taoist acupuncturist to deal with his dodgyness.
This sermon helped me:
http://www.audiosancto.org/sermon/20131020-Christ-is-the-Point.html
Dear Louie,
You are doing great work in spreading the truth amidst the current apostasy and confusion. Even some trads are blindful at the current state of affairs and the seriousness of the situation. I am a catholic inside what some people would call the “conciliar structures”, so I don’t see how I qualify as a sedevacantist. But the situation has reached such proportions of absurdity and scandal, that can one be blaimed for seriously suspecting that the chair of Peter is vacant due to the blatant heresies of “bishop of Rome” Bergoglio?? I mean, the very possibility of this happening has been considered for centuries by saints and theologians, couldn’t this be the time when we are indeed facing such a situation? I am afraid that long term we may be doing more harm to Holy Mother church by not confronting this issue head on – I think it is high time for the remaining Catholic hierarchy to speak out for the blatant heresies emanating out of the Vatican.
“For the rest, if God should permit that a Pope should become a notorious and contumacious heretic, he would cease to be Pope, and the pontificate would be vacant.”
–“Verita della Fede”, part 3, ch. 8, no. 10.
In: Opere dommatiche di S. Alfonso de Liguori (Torino, G. Marietti, 1848), p. 720. (Opere di S. Alfonso Maria de Liguori, v. 8)
If cardinal Maradiaga is the ambassador of “Newchurch” doesn’t it logically follow then that Bergoglio is the head of “Newchurch” and not the sovereign Pontiff of the holy Catholic church???
There is a starting point with man, but one the Cardinal would not like, for it is short and confronts “man” with a problem, namely the human condition. Ernest Becker in his “The Denial of Death” contends that anyone with a full awareness of the human condition (death) would literally become insane. Furthermore, we human continually seek to repress said fear or angst by vital lies wherewith we constructed ways of occupying us from the truth. The truth is the meaning of death, intensified by human sin, and an unconscious madness. The confrontation with the insanity of death and sin is the challenge and one not fulfilable in this world. Transcendence is entailed. The current pope and this cardinal lackey have directed their repression of death into worldily concerns. Yes, the loneliness of the old (and I am old) can be a problem. But at the root of the human condtion of the old is Becker’s mentioned madness. Either we conftront it, accept it, seek transcendent salvation (and this I experienced in the former Gregorian Church) or we lose ourself with worldly busy-bodiness, hoping that business in this world will let us forget the nonconquerable end, called death. I see the cardinal and his pope as do-gooder busybodies who are seekin an immanent liturgy to go with their orientation.
Amen Magdalene.
This is a wonderful sermon by an inspiring traditional priest. I found it to provide abundant food for thought (and the soul). I have listened to it several times and reflected on it.
I highly recommend this sermon and also the recent Audio Sancto sermon by this same priest titled “Spiritual Contraception”.
While I suspect most readers would be aware of this priest’s work (and some may even know him), for those who aren’t familiar with him, if his calls for a moderate approach to the current crisis lead you to doubt his zeal or passion for the true faith, I suggest you also listen to the audio of his 2003 homily: “The Kingship of Christ”.
These audio sermons are particularly essential reading for any followers of this blog who may be in despair due to the status of this crisis, this spiritual chastisement.
As Father exhorts us: don’t forget whose Church this is. It doesn’t belong to any “puny bunch of men” but to Gold Almighty! No one is in control but Him. Nothing can happen unless He wills it.
And Our Blessed Lord promised that He would be with us always – even until the end of time. “Be not afraid”. He will not leave us orphans.
Nor will our Blessed Mother, if we seek her protection.
I believe that Pope Francis choice of papal name was divinely inspired – as a call to the Faithful. Christ spoke to Saint Francis from His crucifix, “Rebuild My Church!” Christ marked His saint with the wounds of His own Passion. St. Francis once declared of a sinful priest: “I would receive the Blessed Host from his consecrated hands, and kiss the ground upon which he walked.” (paraphrased).
The message is:
1. Rebuild the Church!
2. Take up your cross, and bear the wounds that it will bring!
3. Do not be scandalized by unworthy pastors, but receive the Sacraments from their consecrated hands, and live your life in imitation of Our Lord!
So, we must work to spread the faith. If it is only us, we still shall follow the Divine Commission. We also must bear all the trials that come our way – including hirelings and wolves. And, we must be humble and obey in everything that is not sinful. Christ Himself was subservient to the religious and political authorities of his time. He observed the rubrics, payed His taxes, spoke His message, and allowed them to put Him to death. He submitted to His Father’s will without sinning. We must conform to that example.
May God grant us the grace of discernment in these coming days.
Roi,
I’m not sure who the readers from this blog who are in “despair” would be, but the “moderate” approach at this stage doesn’t seem appropriate at all. How “moderate” were the holy apostles and the martyrs of the Church throughout the centuries at preaching the one true Faith? Isn’t being “moderate” just another excuse for being tepid and a skillful way to excuse oneself from cowardice?
The fact that God IS in control of the current situation is NO excuse, in any way shape or form for inaction. That sounds to me like a father who does not provide for his children saying, “God will provide” without performing his duties as the head of the family.
The following quote is attributed to St Ignatius and I think it fits the current situation very well:
“Pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you.”
I see no despair in the contributors here. Rather, an appropriately heightened vigilance. I agree with Roi, and at the same time, I don’t think moderation is what this wonderful homilist is calling for, judging from his past sermons and his style. I think, and I could be off base here, that he is cautioning against panic.
I see also a huge commitment to charity from Mr. V. and readers. Vis a vie-the youth are at such risk and there’s a, yes, desperate desire to keep the Faith taught to them in its unadulterated {alright maybe I’m a dreamer,} fullness.
Vigilant to the maximum we must be, never forgetting the stealth characteristic in the Modernism heresy.
It’s easy to focus too much on the behavior of others, hierarchy or not, but our paths to sanctity in this crises are as clear now as they were 100 years ago: sanctify yourselves by sanctifying and fulfilling your daily duties according to your state in life, via the traditional Mass, sacraments, devotions, disciplines and teachings.
Remember Our Lord told Sr. Lucia of Fatima that the only penance He now requires is that we fulfill our daily duties according to our state in life.
Rosary, brown scapular, 5 First Saturdays, 9 First Fridays, daily meditation, spiritual reading…. KEEP YOUR POSITIONS! MAINTAIN THE LINE! IT’s going to get rough but Our Lord expects to find us where He told each of us to be – doing what He told us to do: Husband, wife, mother, father, child, student, laborer, homeschooling teacher.
May Christ find us at our post keeping watch when He returns.
To those who mention the SSPX:
SSPX offers a false solution to a real problem. Blindly ignoring the authority of the Pope and the Bishops is simply not traditional and not Catholic.
.
Obedience in ALL things except sin. I’ve had a very long talk w/ an SSPX Priest about this – how the proper Catholic response should be to obey the local Bishop in everything except for anything sinful. This is simply not being done by the SSPX, they just completely ignore him. Children must obey their drunkard father during moments of sobriety when he tells them to clean their rooms. It’s a legitimate command and for the children to simply disregard their father because he is usually drunk is to disregard the authority that Christ bestowed him and would entail sin.
.
The FSSP gets this right.
Once again, I’m not going to bother. …
@Cuff of Coppee:
How is the SSPX being rebellious – specifically?
The Pope and bishops want the salvation of souls, and so does the SSPX.
The Pope and bishops want the faithful to be strengthened by the sacraments, and so does the SSPX.
The Pope and bishops Catholic children to be educated in a genuinely Catholic manner, and so does the SSPX.
The Pope and bishops desire the laity to be fitted in order to combat the world, the flesh and the devil, and so does the SSPX.
Seems to me that we’re all on the same page.
So, again, how – specifically – is the SSPX ‘ignoring’ or working in a manner opposite to that of the hierarchy, who work and labor ONLY for the salvation of souls and the spreading of the Kingdom of Our Lord and Saviour?
I mean, is that not what the Pope and hierarchy are solely engaged in non-stop? And this is the work of the Society as well.
So how – precisely – are they not of one heart and mind?