Pentecost is often called “the birthday of the Church,” and to the extent that we understand the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ present and active in this world, it most certainly is.
As such, I prefer to think of Pentecost as that moment in salvation history when the Apostles, emboldened by the power of the Holy Ghost, came out of hiding to reveal for all to see precisely what the mission of the Holy Catholic Church looks like in action.
So crucial is this timeless example of missionary zeal to the work of the Church that it was recorded in the pages of Sacred Scripture (Acts 2) under the inspiration of that same Holy Ghost for the instruction and edification of all who would follow.
In a particular way, this passage has ever been inspiration for those who would shepherd the flock in future generations, most especially the Successors of St. Peter; he who intrepidly issued the call to conversion to throngs of unbelievers, some of whom would have sooner seen him dead, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ!”
Over the last 50 or so years, however, the Petrine Office has been occupied by men cut from far weaker, and even threadbare, cloth; Pontiffs who dare not risk persecution after the manner of Our Blessed Lord by setting foot upon the narrow path traveled by their faithful predecessors.
For them it has seemed more expedient to treat the glorious events of Pentecost, the witness of the missionary Martyrs, and the magisterium of the pre-conciliar popes as if they were but distant memories of less-enlightened times; a source not of lasting inspiration, but of endless embarrassment.
Recent popes have thus undertaken to plot for themselves a more comfortable course; one that proposes to forgo passage on the embattled Barque of the Church Militant in exchange for a worldly pleasure cruise that boasts of a “new evangelization,” a crew of new saints and even a new rite.
At its very core is a new mission, the blueprint for which is drawn not from the inspired words of Sacred Scripture; but rather from the text of the Second Vatican Council, an event that the new regime has audaciously anointed as their “New Pentecost.”
This new mission is very clearly distinguishable from the one that was given to the Church by Christ as it relates their respective aims.
The latter, the authentic mission of the Church, is concerned above all else with man’s supernatural ends, and it is thus that the teaching of the pre-conciliar popes never failed to subordinate matters temporal to those primarily spiritual; always and everywhere with an eye toward effecting the conversion of the world to Christ and the one true Church that He Himself established.
The former, by contrast, shows forth a near singular focus on the things of this world, a mission wherein the new regime celebrates, and even encourages, religious pluralism as a means to achieving purely earthbound ends.
The offenses that have been heaped upon Our Blessed Lord and His Church in this age of the “New Pentecost” are well beyond measure and multiplying on a near daily basis.
From the moment he first set foot on the balcony of St. Peter’s dressed in papal whites, Jorge Bergoglio has given every indication of wishing to outdo his predecessors in treating the Great Commission as a dead letter, attacking at every turn those who dare think and feel and behave according to the mind of the Church as known with piercing clarity in the magisterium predating the conciliar revolt.
Most recently, Pope Francis has leveraged the abominations of Assisi I, II and III as precedent for staging, on the day that the Church celebrates the real Pentecost, no less, his very own so-called “Invocation for Peace” on the grounds of the Vatican along with Jews and Muslims.
As part of the event, the Jewish delegation – representatives of a people who in spite of any shared patrimony with Christians are chiefly identified in our day as having rejected their own Messiah, thereby rejecting Adonai who sent Him – read from the Book of Psalms; the Word of God that ultimately speaks of Jesus of Nazareth even if Jewish readers fail to know and accept it.
The Muslims, however, stole the show by offering “prayers” from the Qur’an; the blasphemous book of lies wherein “revelations” from the false god of Islam were recorded by the false prophet Muhammad; among them, the proclamation that Jesus was nothing more than a mere man.
To those who by grace alone have been spared the diabolical disorientation that appears to infect the overwhelming majority of Catholics in our day, both lay and ordained, this event clearly amounts to a public mockery of Our Lord at the hands of His very own. (Sound familiar? It should.)
Consider, for just a moment, what this “Invocation for Peace” entailed in a spiritual sense relative to the authentic meaning of Pentecost and the mission of the Church as given by Christ; i.e., viewing it while sentire cum ecclessia.
To the Vicar of Christ the King has been entrusted the Keys to the Kingdom, that which here on earth is nothing other than the House of God, the Catholic Church, for the purpose of reigning in His stead, teaching in His name, and converting the world to Him.
In spite of any good intentions, however dreadfully confused, Pope Francis chose to use the power of his exalted office to invite those who mock the Lord’s Kingship as a matter of “faith” to enter the Master’s own chambers, as it were, to chant from their unholy writ; an act that amounts to the veritable defilement of His beloved Bride before the eyes of the entire world.
And what does this shameful episode tell us about Pope Francis?
Absolutely nothing that wasn’t previously known. He is ever true to form.
What can be gleaned from this event, however, is additional insight into the character, priorities and relative backbone of those who claim to be champions for Christ.
I am reminded of the story of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, who was raped by the unbelieving prince of a neighboring land. When Jacob heard that his daughter had been violated, so intent was he on self-preservation that he simply “held his peace.”
Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, by contrast, were indignant upon learning that their sister had been treated as a harlot, and they took steps to avenge the offense against her, an act that incited the anger of their spineless father.
Though an imperfect analogy in its details, this Biblical account underscores an enduring truth:
When a family is under attack, the mettle of its individual members is plainly exposed. With apologies to my female friends of firm resolve, this seems to be particularly true of men.
Well, make no mistake about it, the Family of God is under attack in our day; not just from afar at the hands of unbelievers, but from within by the wiles of men in high places.
In the face of the egregious offense visited upon Our Holy Mother at the Vatican on Pentecost 2014, the most the neo-Catholic “conservative” castrati of today can muster is a handful of pathetic excuses; lobbing insult and invective at any who dare rock the boat with expressions of indignation on behalf of the Lord.
(Charity alone restrains me from naming names, but nearly everyone reading this text, including the pantywaist papal apologists themselves, knows precisely who they are.)
Unmasked in the process are the twisted priorities of those poseurs who will spare no effort in protecting their personal franchise while lifting nary a finger to defend the honor of Christ the King.
Had men such as these been among the sons of Jacob, one can well imagine that they would have sooner restrained their little sister than invite the displeasure of her attacker.
While the indiscretions of the present Vicar are a source of great heartache for the faithful indeed, one almost welcomes the “choose this day who you will serve” moments that have come to define his papacy as such may be necessary, as a matter of justice, in order to set the Church’s restoration in motion.
In any event, the choice at hand is becoming ever clearer with every passing day:
Are you more interested in membership in the cult of personality surrounding the current pope; receiving all of the worldly benefits that come with it, or are you more inclined to store up treasure in Heaven as a true soldier of Christ, placing Him first in all things, knowing perfectly well the persecution that doing so will invite?
Thanks to Pope Francis, having it both ways and “holding one’s peace” are no longer viable options.
Even our friends at Rorate Coeli seem to be completely unaware that this event even happened. And when will Michael Voris begin to acknowledge that Bergoglio is less than perfect? I would suggest that we all support Louie through our prayers and also consider donating.
“protecting their personal franchise” – sadly, you nailed it.
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The few professional Catholic apologists who have had the courage to follow Truth where it leads – to Tradition – discovered quite quickly how they were now going to be treated by The Establishment once they took that step.
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This isn’t to say that most or perhaps even all of them don’t “believe” what they preach, but – as always – the more relevant question is *why* they believe what they do.
Honestly, I’m just about ready to give up on religion all together. Jesus has been content to give the faithful snakes instead of fish for the last fifty years, and there’s no end in sight. Error and heresy permeate the ordinary universal magisterium. Baltimore Catechism No. 3 states, “It is unthinkable that an institution established by God for the salvation of souls could lead men into error and turn them away from God.” I totally agree, yet submission to the Roman Pontiff is necessary for salvation, but such submission entails accepting error and heresy. I’m exhausted by the mental gymnastics required to reconcile these conditions. My life has been paralyzed for the past year while I’ve tried to fit the square peg of what I thought was the Catholic faith into the round hole of the conciliar Magisterium. I’ve driven 100 miles one way to an FSSP parish on Sunday instead of going to my pentacatholic parish church seven minutes away. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on books that I thought would help me work through this. I hate to think how much time I’ve invested into reading blogs like this one in search of an answer. I spent hours in prayer and snuck into my church at all hours of the day and night to seek consolation from Jesus in the tabernacle. I’ve googled and googled and googled and googled until there was noting left to google. I don’t have time for this. I’ve got a family and a house to take care of. If Jesus wants to clear all of this up, He knows where to find me. I’m all ears. But the fact that you have to be Indiana Jones and/or have a licentiate in Theology to find the Catholic Faith these days, in my opinion, raises serious doubts about Christianity itself. If the Church can’t be trusted, then what’s the point? Why let yourself be fed to the Lions or slaughtered in the mission fields when a pope is going to apologize for your actions and magisterial documents are going to praise your persecutors. “[The Church] has a high regard for the manner of life and conduct, the precepts and teachings, which, although differing in many ways from her own teaching, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men.” Really? I’ll keep that in mind the next time somebody I work with insults Catholic moral teaching. [Insert “who am I to judge” reference here.] “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?” Good question. I used to think I knew the answer, but your guess is as good as mine.
Well, Oatmeal, Louie discovered the full, true Catholic faith. So did I. So can you.
I just watched the WORST piece by our local news called “The Francis Factor”. It touched on all the same nonsense. They interviewed typical lay heretics that said the Church needs to change it’s teachings on contraception, divorce, homosexuality, women Priests. It gave the impression that Francis would change all these and the apostate Catholics are all rushing back because rigid uncaring Benedict is gone and compassionate Francis is leading by example. Of course they touted the “who am I to judge”. It’s soooooooooooo cruel that a women who was divorced twice can’t receive communion. So she left for a mega church. In fact the claim was that scores of Catholics were pouring into mega churches because they were so much more fulfilling and compassionate. Of course, as pointed out, a large number of people believe it is unfair that women can’t be Priests. Or that Priests can’t marry. I never thought that I would hear some voice of sanity come from Archbishop Vigneron or Maida. As wishy washy as it was. Of course Dolan, who was featured a few time, played the politician…. attempting to please the world. Francis talked like Jesus, according to him. Which, I’m sure pleased the reporter who painted Francis like the man that could change all those annoying “rules”. It made me wanna PUKE!!!
I feel EXACTLY like you. It’s exhausting. And to boot… I find sedevacantism absolutely ridiculous. I see no fix for the Church. I just don’t know what to believe anymore. They say God punishes the Church by sending bad leaders. He must really be mad as it seems He has almost completely abandoned His Church. But what of those that WANT to be faithful???
Don’t watch “The News” – stay away from the MSM pretty much entirely. And certainly stay away from television.
brethren,
To those who state your severe doubts–
take the advice of A Catholic Thinker,
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If I may add, things to stay away from as follows:
{before you read my list, please know that I am a mother of many adult children, so take it as maternal and protective in nature, and please excuse if that offends}
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First, what to steer clear of:
Avoid novus ordo ” liturgies” and n.o. friends, family, clerics when feeling this way. The novus ordo destroys Catholicity & changes a man.{woman,} and the effect can be disastrous to you in a weak time.
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Stay away from Voris. With his productions etc. laced with unsound theology, added to the stance of not addressing problems with this Papacy, this self proclaimed former media man is poison for you who are not grounded. This, apart from any recent controversies.
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Exercise the self discipline required to stay away from live news completely. Get your news from print online sources. I glance at Reuters once a day only, but 3 times a week would probably be better.
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Do not attempt evangelization at this time. When His Majesty Jesus Christ has healed this doubt introduced by Satan into your soul, {it happens,} then you can return to your valiant efforts at such.
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Do not read the dynamic threesome neocath threesome of S, S and S.
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To the positive of what to do, continued:
brethren,
What to do in Faith crisis, As I said, it happens. Before I move on, may I offer that the Enemy only attacks those who are a threat.
{BTW, this is why our novus ordo and some “the Latin Mass is the answer” friends are walking along happily in la-la-land. They are no threat } No judgement made on their interior. As Catholics, we cannot do that.
So if you are in this frame of mind, know that you are a threat—– which means He sees in you that precious gem of Catholicity which he endeavors to destroy.
Henceforth resolve to not allow this. Here are just a few weapons. I know others here will offer more, and much better than I ever could.
Continued-
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What to do , cont’d.:
Revisit the FACT that our primary responsibility is to save our own souls. When we die, His Majesty will not ask us what we did about the problems in the Church. Write this on paper & also place a note of this on your computer screen for right now.
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Stay close to valid Sacramental Confession , valid Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Even if you have are poor & live in a humble abode, {I live in two tiny rooms and have recently come out of homelessness,} arrange to have an Enthronement of the Sacred Hearts of His Majesty Jesus Christ and Mary in your dwelling ASAP.
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Three Hail Mary’s upon arising and upon retiring daily.
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Whenever you sense the promptings of the Enemy in the form of doubt-state the following:
“Get the hence, Satan”–and at once REJECT all doubt, hiding yourself in the Wounds of Our Savior Jesus Christ. Begin the Devotion to the Sacred Wounds, using Traditional online sources.
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I offer these two to assist your healing :
http://www.montfort.org.uk/Writings/LEW.php
and this:
http://www.basilica.org/pages/ebooks/St.%20Alphonsus%20Liguori-The%20Practice%20of%20the%20Love%20of%20Jesus%20Christ.pdf
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Return here to Louie’s blog during this time often and continue expressing yourself to these sound and erudite, articulate grounded and faithful Traditional Catholic {not me} during your struggle.—-and let them know how your progress is going. And progress you will make, my friends, because THIS IS THE FAITH.
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May the Peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a Peace not of this world, be to you.
Embark on an Traditional Catholic Ignatian Retreat—which can be as short as a weekend and can be done at home. There are easy readables online to guide you. Visit SSPX online & make a search there for assistance also on this. Adhering to a paramount counsel found therein–in times of desolation , make zero changes & return inwardly to a soulfully healthier time etc.
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Purchase and embrace Louie’s catechetical materials on the right sidebar after your personal retreat.
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Hey Oatmeal and your sock puppet James the Lesser that was a good one! Ha Ha Ha! The jumbled caps and lower cases in your name were an especially nice macabre touch!
My guess is you are a conciliar true believer who fears that the witness provided by Mr. V and other brave souls here and elsewhere may shame other Catholics into finally confronting all the frauds up and down the ranks of the religious who are propping up the teetering counterfeit conciliar church! So come here and give people who might be perusing the comments for the first time the false impression that we are all down-in-the-mouth sad sacks who likely had little faith to lose if we had any faith at all.
No, we are not like that at all! We jump out of the bed in the morning and thank God we are one day closer to the restoration of His Holy Church! You know the One True Church that will finally and once and for all consign felt banners, girl altar boys, extraordinary eucharistic ministers, lay lectors, guitar masses, male communicants in sports jerseys, female communicants in flip flops, nuns in pant suits, the sign of peace, communion in the hand, tabernacles anywhere but on the altar and Taj Mahoney to the dustbin of history!
But we are not all about externals either. We pray Pray PRAY! for the day when obscure Church teachings like the divinity and social kingship of Christ, Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus, the Monarchical constitution of the Church, and Ecumenism of the Return are boldly and loudly proclaimed to every schismatic, heretic, mohammedan, hindu, buddhist and israelite throughout the world once a day every day and twice a day on the “holy days” of those false religions! We also pray Pray PRAY! for a Pope that takes the Great Commission so seriously he will apologize to future generations of heathens for the lackluster efforts by the Conciliar popes to convert their ancestors!
In all seriousness if you only had faith you could move mountains. I will pray this night that you be given such faith.
A couple of thoughts– It’s always tempting to blame God for the state of the Church today, but it’s sin and its tolerance that has produced so many unholy people in our society, which in turn is the source of vocations. God doesn’t “produce” holy priests for us by going against man’s free will, He calls them to holiness . So we are reaping the harvest of the “errors of Russia”. What did Jesus give you when you asked for Graces and made proper use of the sacraments? Nothing but treasures, I assure you. This suffering is deepening us all. How much more do we appreciate truth. How much are we longing for good Liturgy and trustworthy priests and religious, and Popes? Our Lady promised that after this time of chastisement, her Immaculate Heart IS going to triumph. She never lies. Neither does Jesus.
Don’t confuse the love of God with pleasant circumstances, or you are limiting the good He has planned for your life, which has to come from some amount of suffering. How else can He wipe away all our tears, unless we first have come to feel like crying? Trust me on this. If I told you how much I have suffered in this life, you would probably cry for me. If I told you I’d go through it all over again, to feel as much love as I do for God and Our Lady at this moment, you might think I’m crazy. You’d be wrong. It was the bridge I had to cross to get here. I am certain of it. Nothing in this world is more important than the relationship you are willing to let God form with you, to save your soul. And what we are all suffering, with what is going on in the Church right now, is part of God’s plan for our good. We share our concerns on websites like this one, and Louie, God Bless him, understands what I’m saying, as do many others.
You, my dear friend, are among fellow lovers of the Lord and Our Lady.
This is a blessed place to visit. Don’t let the negatives get you down too low, because people feel the need to vent a little–okay a lot. If we didn’t care so much about others coming to know the Lord as we do, we wouldn’t be so upset with the junk we have to deal with. But one thing we don’t do, is blame God for evil. That’s entirely Satan’s realm. And he’s hard at work. But skip to the end of the Good book–WE win by turning to God in Total Trust, and striving to be holy. So don’t ever give in to depression, and grow in faith with us.
God Bless you and your family, always.
Our family will pray for you. Please pray for us-starting now. Thank you.
Louie, I was so hoping you would address this most recent sacrilege. Actually, I knew you would. That’s why I’m here. Everyday. You are one of the last bastions of sanity I can find.
My pastor (FSSP parish) told me that this time in history is a time that will make great saints. And not to lose heart, although it is very difficult. When I feel disheartened, I remember his words.
I am not as well spoken as most of the posters here, but I learn a lot from all of you and am most grateful.
As far as I can tell, they only posted the text in English of the prayers to be said in the interreligious “Invocation for Peace” held at the Vatican. Putting the text without an accompanying comment describing the blasphemous nature of the event is astonishing to say the least. Personally, to me that is tantamout to being silent in the face of evil. I mean, at the very least, they could have asked for prayers of reparation to atone for the sacrilege!
Dear De Maria,
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To your kind motherly counsels I would add:
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PRAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY!!! This is one of the requests that Our Lady made at Fatima. The Holy Rosary, prayed with humility and attention, is that unbreakable chain that holds us fast to Tradition and to the Mystical Body of Christ.
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“The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.”
“The Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.”
“The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.”
“All who recite the Rosary are my sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters of my only Son Jesus Christ.”
“Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.”
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From the 15 promises made by Our Lady to those who pray the rosary revealed to St Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche
dear Edu,
I agree with you here 150%. I did not know how to articulate what you managed to do so well here. Objectively speaking, juxtaposed with the nature of the emergency, approval by means of silence. Sad.
Oatmeal,
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I agree completely with Indignus famulus. The fact that you feel scandalized witnesses to your love for the Church. Don’t give up. Pray the rosary daily. I especially recommend the novena to St. Joseph. His intercession saved my sanity and my soul.
Cyprian, you Jackass… How dare you question the sincerity of my Faith and struggles. Get off your high horse you pompous jerk. Thanks for zero help. In fact you did nothing but piss me off. At least others were kind enough to offer help to get through. Your laughable “look at me.. the tough guy Trad” front is an an insult. No, I’m not some “Novus Ordo Masonic” spy coming to make you look bad to my other conciliar pals. Moron.
God bless you. Welcome to the life of a Catholic.
I felt just like you. I would sit and watch exposes of the Illuminati, the Democrats, the Bilderbergs, the CFR, the modernists, etcetera, ad nauseum. The world was out of control and I had no idea what to do.
My country had deserted me. My values had deserted me. More important than all of that, my beloved Church had deserted me.
I prayed, not for enlightenment or solution, but for peace. Peace for me, not the peace trumpeted by the world. The peace of Christ.
The crisis in the Church is the crisis in the world. The problem is not homosexuals, and liberal women, Muslims, Jews, bankers, and errant popes, bishops, priests..
God, in His infinite mercy, has made it all very simple for His children.
The battle lines are drawn. God has blessed us with the gift of not having to discern sides, as the sides are visible to children. The line has been drawn between those who believe in Him, and those who reject Him.
God has given us this great gift. The gift of seeing, unclouded by the world, His Presence. He has allowed evil to be very evil, making it easy to see. He has made the choice between God and the world as simple as children.
For God to completely disclose His Presence would compromise His gift of free will. Without producing the definitive cataclysm to demonstrate is Power, He has made the choice evident. You are free to follow Him, or follow Lucifer the light of this world.
“I don’t have time for this. I’ve got a family and a house to take care of.”
You have time for little else than to stay close to Christ and keep your family close to Him.
God had made it crystal clear. Good or evil. White or black. Believe or reject.
This is His gift to us.
Dear Commentators,
Mr. V. ‘s blog provides valuable insight regarding Catholic issues during this time of horrendous crisis in the Church. It is disrespectful to taint this blog by reducing it to low level comments. The vast majority of comments reflect a genuine love of the Church as established by Christ Himself and your observations are certainly valuable to those you read them. May I suggest that antagonistic comments be ignored rather than resource to childish name calling. God bless all of you who contribute so wisely in defense of the true Catholic Church. Let us keep this blog at a level we can all be proud of. Mr. V deserves this.
@James the Lesser (your name is unintentionally pretty accurate isn’t it?) Your reaction reminds me of two weeks ago when for some reason I couldn’t bring myself to attend my usual afternoon TLM and I attended a NO service instead. And what did the deranged Dominican homilize about at the NO service? Well. in a sneaky way he started talking about how he had been the parochial vicar for marriages when he was much younger, and how it was a difficult task no one else wanted, and how it required a pastoral approach and much mercy. Wow, I said, this guy is softening up the unsuspecting faithful to accept a possible outcome of the October synod on the family when catholics in second marriages without the benefit of annulment may be admitted to communion. This priest usually does not proceed to the back of the church at the end of the service but this Sunday he did. So I went up to him, reminded him that Our Lord’s teaching on marriage is irreformable and that if the Pope commanded him to administer communion to public adulterers he was commanding him to commit mortal sin. What was the good priest’s reaction? You need an exorcism! He thought someone who defended the Church’s teaching on marriage for which many faithful Catholics were martyred must be possessed! Now, this didn’t bother me at all, since I was just defending Our Lord’s teaching, and who am I to complain that someone might insult me in the process? No big deal! So I left without getting into an argument.
Well, in any case, I seem to have gotten the same angry response out of you. Does that bother me? Not really, since you apparently have so little faith you didn’t recognize that Oatmeal blasphemed Our Lord and his Holy Church in the first couple of sentences of his scandalous and self-indulgent screed. Didn’t you recognize this when Oatmeal stated that Our Lord has been giving the faithful snakes instead of fish for the last fifty years, and that the ordinary universal magisterium was teaching error? That is Blasphemy, and I am sure Oatmeal well understood that. So, if you have so little discernment that you quickly agree with blasphemy I feel sorry for you. After all, you said you felt exactly the same as Oatmeal. I will conditionally pray for you too if you are actually a different person from Oatmeal.
I agree. And I apologize to all for my outburst. I come here to be reaffirmed in my Faith and to get some sanity. Heaven forbid someone airs their struggles, which seems par for the course in the chaos in which we live. Nothing irks me more than to be insulted with sanctimonious insults and being felt like I’m not worthy to be Catholic. If someone feels they are better than me, well then good on you. Take the high road. Exercise your superior humility and lift me up. Don’t beat me down and belittle me in front of your posse by labeling me with antagonist terms like “Novus Ordo” . You don’t know me from Adam or my personal struggles or hurdles.
Well said as usual to Louie, but I have to disagree about his conception of charity. Castrati names need to be named, and as publicly as possible, because these sycophant talking heads are just as disgraceful as Bergoglio, and are doing just as much harm to the Church. In fact, NOT naming them is a replication of the Michael Voris head-in-the-sand routine!
There you go again. You’re like that novus ordo person…blah blah blah…
I don’t agree with much of what Oatmeal said. And yeah I was insulted by some of his words. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as a man struggling with rampant chaos in a Church. Instead of helping you probably pushed him farther with your insult. Not correction. To claim I’m conspiring with him to make you look bad because you’re such a righteous guy and an example for all novus ordos was idiotic.
I was wrong wrong wrong to say I felt exactly like him. I meant I struggle with the chaos. I retract my comment. I should have reiterated that I will never abandon our Lord and Lady. But I can’t understand how such chaos can come from the top of a Church that claims to be guided and protected by the Holy Ghost. Forgive me…I got caught up in a moment by a few posts and my emotions overpowered my reason. I am a sinner.
I think the difference between Louis and Voris here is that whilst Voris pretends that there is NOT a problem with the papacy, and acts as though the problem does not ORIGINATE FROM the papacy, Louis freely admits that there ARE “Castrati” out there that ARE part of the problem but will not name them due to charity. I mean, I think we all know who these castrati are right? And if a castrato reads the article, they will surely know they are being referred to?
@James: In times like this where deceit and confusion are the norm, find out what the Church has always taught everywhere and at all times and hold fast to it, remembering that Our Lord said that he would be with us always, even unto the end of the age.
Now that you recognize the evil sentiments that Oatmeal’s comment elicited from you I hope you understand better that its clear purpose was to demoralize the unsuspecting faithful like you.
Cyprian, I truly apologize, with a sincere and contrite heart. Please forgive me and pray for me. I’m also sorry for distracting so many with my stupid posts. I seem to be very good at sticking my foot in my mouth. I will refrain from posting, as it seems to get me in trouble and steals my peace.
Any good you derived from our exchange came from Our Lord, not me, for I am sinner too.
Hello, James. One of the worst things possible is to feel helpless while evil is triumphing. To me the solution is simple: to oppose the poison known as Francis. Have you read at all at Mundabor’s blog?
There is no guarantee that a pope will be good, or even be an actual Christian. Francis is neither, he’s just a liberal politician.
From what I’ve read of your posts, your posts weren’t “stupid” at all. Dominus tecum.
James, I don’t think you have so much to apologize for, nor Oatmeal for that matter. Depending on human temperament and experience, some people are more sensitive (I mean that in a technical way—more sensitive and reactive neurons) that can cause very strong reactions. Yes, logic helps, but it can be a frequent battle. I think some of the advice given was very good for many people, and so it was good that the comments were made. De Maria gave great advice, as did Catholic Thinker (IMHO) that can broadly apply and give comfort perhaps to many readers.
It’s really not a bad thing to be human—God did make us! God bless, and prayers for all!
Hello, OaTmEaL. I’d read a phrase not too long ago: “Faith before obedience”.
Once a person abandons the idea that they must follow Francis, then most of your internal dissonance will go away. Francis is leading untold numbers astray, and he’s only just begun.
I watch/read the news as much as I can tolerate, in order to keep up on what the liberals are doing. Francis will eventually do the same that they do. Nothing that Francis does is original, he merely copies the well worn path that the world has been following for decades.
@Cyprian You don’t know me and you don’t know what it’s like to be me. Please stop being a “Rosetta Stone” for my comments because everything you’ve said about me up to this point couldn’t be more wrong.
Mary, thank you for your kind words. I admit that I am a sensitive person. Parts of the Mass, such as the Credo & Gloria touch me so deeply that I get choked up and can barely sing. I find baptisms get me emotional. Really, anything that is compassionate or loving really touches me. Seeing people get physically hurt also affects me. I am just wired that way. It also goes for injustice. I become fired up easily by people that are treated unfairly. Or people that bash our Faith. People questioning my love of the Lord will really set me off. Unfortunately, it can get me in trouble as well. And I find myself apologizing … a lot. Thanks again and God bless you.
OaTmEaL, whoever Cyprian is he speaks for no one but himself. Please don’t take it that anyone necessarily agrees with him. Many good Catholics will be coming online, filled with frustration and confusion, to find some solace because of what Francis is doing. Being greeted with pompous criticisms does no good to anyone and is the exactly wrong thing to have happened.
@Oatmeal: I prayed for you last night before I retired, and included an act of reparation for your blasphemy of Our Lord. I note that several of the commentators here are untroubled by that little detail of your comment and more concerned that you are troubled. With all due respect, I place Our Lord and his “feelings” first, and your feelings second. I suggest others do the same, and ask themselves why they missed the grievous nature of your comments. I also counsel you to make a perfect act of contrition now and make a good confession of those words you uttered against Our Lord and His Church.
And forthwith Jesus obliged his disciples to go up into the boat, and to go before him over the water, till he dismissed the people.
And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone.
But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary.
And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea.
And they seeing him walk upon the sea, were troubled, saying: It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear.
And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not.
And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters.
And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to Jesus.
But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said to him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?
And when they were come up into the boat, the wind ceased.
And they that were in the boat came and adored him, saying: Indeed thou art the Son of God!
Dear bigfred. You reminded me of something I read recently: “The highest law is the salvation of Souls” Pope Pius X
There is more here:
http://www.holyromancatholicchurch.org/rama/canon-law.html
Thanks for pointing that out, Michael.
Just wait until Francis pushes through the “unthinkable” and “unimaginable” changes to “update” the Church that he is pining for. All the while he claims that he is personally led by the Holy Spirit — which is the stratagem that he thinks will allow him to bypass ~2,000 years of Catholic teaching.
(That’s from his weird baptizing-Martians-homily. For the hopefully many new people who are online reading criticisms of Francis, here is a URL: http://www.catholic.org/news/international/europe/story.php?id=55368
For “Martians” just substitute “homosexuals” and then the seemingly nonsensical becomes clear: no one will be denied any sacrament.)
Oatmeal
First off, your rant is basically a carbon copy of what I have felt many, many times over the past few years. Not surprisingly, it wasn’t until I REALLY started to learn my Faith that I first began to feel this way. The closer you get to truly doing the right thing the more the devil is going to attack you.
Secondly: I’m sure that within the order there are good priests in the FSSP. However….and I say this because of PERSONAL experience….the order as a whole is not good. Certain priests from that order, with the blessing of the priest who is IN CHARGE of the entire North American region of the FSSP, did irreparable spiritual harm to my family over the course of the last two years. I wont get into details, but suffice it to say, I personally wish I had never heard of the FSSP. Yeah, the say TLM but when they really need to come through in a Catholic sense, they are nothing more than your common modernist priests.
Find an SSPX chapel and get away from the FSSP. Good luck and hang in there.
@rich Thanks.
Perhaps some guidance on clear thinking here may be provided by the following statement of the Catholic Encyclopedia on “Science and the Church”:
“In case of an apparent difference between faith and science…[w]hen a religious view is contradicted by a well-established scientific fact, then the sources of revelation have to be re-examined, and they will be found to leave the question open…. The conflict about the heliocentric system belonged, theoretically speaking, to [this] case”.
In other words, the raw data indicates that the sun and not the earth is at the center of the solar system. Catholics have to reconcile this with the Faith (if necessary) if we are to continue to be persons of sound mind.
In like manner, the raw data indicates that, as Bishop Fellay has observed, Jorge Bergoglio is “a genuine Modernist”, which would make him a heretic.
Catholics have to deal with this fact and reconcile it with the theology of the papacy. That is, if we are to continue to be persons of sound mind.
Nobody needs to have his faith shaken by this. Even I will happily say that no Catholic has to agree with the Holy Father’s actions here. It had nothing to do with teaching or the governance of the Church so Vatican I’s infallible teaching on the obedience due to the Pope doesn’t apply.
ANOTHER
NEW
FORT
Such names they call us
That’s not what we are
We are Roman Catholics
At the front of the war.
Some just go AWOL
Others defect
Copying our stance
Then say we’re a sect.
A lot like in England
Saint John Fisher’s day
When his brothers said, “yes”
This Saint replied, “nay”.
All alone in the Fort
St. John Fisher stood
Preserving, defending
For the whole all that’s good.
Not just for himself
Those attached to what’s old
Or reformers, reforming
Pretending they’re bold.
We’re simply preserving,
Once again the True Fort
While those with new orders
Relinquish support.
And with promises made
To men hungry for power
They mock, stand and point
At us in the tower
Hoping for all
Ecumenical democracy
When in fact their new fort
A catastrophic kleptocracy.
Why is it so hard to understand how much evil this man is doing? Is he going to affect MY faith with his heretical words and blasphemous actions? No. Is he going to affect the Faith of any TRUE Catholic? No. This is not the problem. It is how he is affecting the Catholic who doesn’t know his faith, how he is giving false hope to those outside of the Faith….THAT is the problem.
Yes, we all know he cant change Church dogma……WHO CARES???? He is destroying souls simply through his anti-Catholic mutterings. Do you honestly not think, even though he did not specificallysay homosexuality was OK, that he has given innumerable homosexuals the false idea that it IS ok to engage in that activity because, like he said, “who am I to judge”? Get your head out of the sand with this guy already. For as intelligent as you seem to be, you have absolutely ZERO common sense.
But what if Francis personally commanded you to be present at the intereligious event – nay, not only that, but to actively participate in some manner or other.
–
Would you comply?
Edu
Very good question. I would add one more. Does St. John’s inspired mandate in Scripture (2nd John 1:10-11) apply to a Pope who brings another doctrine or two or three?
“If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house, nor say to him, God speed you. For he that sayeth unto him God Speed you, communicateth with his wicked works.”
I have to agree with Mr. John Venari who said he wouldn’t let the Pope teach religion to his children.
While I respect the chair of Peter and the office of the Holy Father, we are all called to respect the will of God, above that of persons, are we not?
His Holiness is certainly NOT engaging in blasphemy or heresy or anything else you accuse him of. I think I understand him perfectly well and he HATES hypocrisy more than anything else. What percentage of the population is homosexual? Maybe 5-10 percent? Why do you think he should rail against that when we blithely allow free access to pornography to everyone with a computer? The Pope believes that everyone is a sinner and needs the mercy of Our Lord. And I agree with him.
Thanks for the post, Louie. The blanket apostasy being worshipped and vehemently defended as if their soul depended on it (bizarre since vii tells them that everyone already has a ticket to Beatitude Boulevard) by most professed novus ordos must never be allowed to go unchallenged.
–
“[Novus Ordoites] treating the Great Commission as a dead letter, attacking at every turn those who dare think and feel and behave according to the mind of the Church as known with piercing clarity in the magisterium predating the conciliar revolt.”
Gangli,
–
LOL Methinks you’ve been infected with the nonchalant attitude of Francis towards homosexuals and you don’t even realize it.
–
My previous question to you is still unanswered.
You are a lost soul just as Bergoglio is. My 19 year old son, my fourth oldest, is wise enough to see that bergoglio has no intention of being anything close to Catholic. Wake up……i know you are smarter then you are showing yourself to be.
Yes, everyone IS a sinner….and sinners go to hell without true absolution. When is your hero going to start telling people what is sinful and what is necessary for true absolution of those sins????????????? The next time he does it will be the FIRST time he does it. Then again, i wonder if your hero even believes that hell exists.
Why are you on this site? You obviously disagree with most of what everyone, including the guy who runs the blog, has to say. What is your overall point?
I’m sorry, but I do not know who all the castrati are, unless I see them referred to here, or on the Remnant site, or Mundabor’s site. So I will name the ones I know of: Voris, Phil Lawler (thanks to Louie), Jeff Mirus (thanks to Chris Ferrara), Mark Shea (thanks to the Remnant front page). Who else forms this sad company of sycophants? Or is it uncharitable to ask for names?
Not at all. Homosexual sodomy is a sin. Heterosexual sodomy is a sin. Which one is more pervasive in society? Which one do traditionalists want to talk about and which one do you NEVER hear them talk about. C’mon guys, at least be consistent!
Sorry but none of the Popes from at least the last 100 years felt it was their duty to go all fire and brimstone on people. Can you point to me a sermon or encyclical from say Pope Pius XI where he “told people what is sinful and what is necessary for true absolution of those sins.” I’ve read every encyclical of Pope Saint Pius X and he never ONCE mentions hell except for repeating Matthew 16:18. Was that a failing of Pope St Pius X? If not, why the double standard with Pope Francis especially because he HAS talked about hell. He warned the mafia they were heading there.
A great blog entry Louie. Righteous anger directed toward those in the church who decided that this “event” as a good idea, is more than justified.
The Moslems with their Teaching on Christ, amounts to the Ancient Heresy of Arianism. Yet in all this “Tea & Crumpets Dialogue”, Heresy is being confirmed to the Moslems by Papam Bergoglio, who seeks to be liked by both the Mohammedans & Novus Ordians Alike.