Thursday, 7 November 2013
Post-Vatican II War Casualities
I have met many men and women who I call war causalities of the post-Vatican II Church. Some are broken because they could not find an orthodox or traditional order when they were of the age to enter to become nuns or priests.
Some were of the age where their parents trusted too much in so-called Catholic education and were taught Modernism.
Some were taught in colleges and universities for modernism-based theology and liturgical degrees, and because they lacked good grounding in the real deal of the Teaching Magisterium of the Church, they fell into error.
Some were taught post-modern philosophies in seminaries, and heresies of all sorts.
But, the ones which break my heart are the ones the Church did not address properly regarding those who went into other groups which were not in union with the Church, but came back and suffer the modernism of liturgy and teaching daily. These people exhibit heroic virtue.
Some of these men and women are not as strong as they would have been if the Tradition had not been broken.
I have met these types of men and women throughout Ireland, England, and Malta.
Now, we all can be healed of the past, and we all can come into the Truth by study, repentance, humility, and good counseling, as well as good friends.
But, for this to happen, one has to learn to trust the Church again in one's area.
I sympathize.
I say to these broken people, keep looking, keep praying, keep finding out what the real teaching of the Church is and, most importantly, surround yourself with good, solid, orthodox Catholic friends.
God bless you, the walking wounded.
On Fr. Ripperger's Book Again
Father Chad Ripperger writes that the break with Tradition involves serious sins perpetrated by the clergy at all levels.
He is clear that the lack of passing on tradition, including ruining churches in wreckovation is sinful, noting that it is a sin against our forefathers, a sin breaking the Fourth Commandment, as well as a sin against the Church, the saints, and God. I have felt this myself when I saw the ruining of wood carvings in Iowa which had been made lovingly by immigrants to a high standard of art.
You can read all about this in his book. But, I shall briefly highlight one section on sinning against Tradition.
He writes: "One of the effects of novelty or heresy is that is tends to confuse the faithful rather than to clarify what the Church has always believed. Authentic development of doctrine always provides a clearer understanding of the constant teaching of the Church. Novelty does not. But here we see that the lack of adherence to the tradition leads us to act against the intellectual virtues of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Understanding is the gift of the Holy Spirit by which we intuitively grasp the truths of the faith. When we reject the tradition which passes on the object of tradition which is the truth of revelation, we cannot have an intuitive grasp of those truths."
Father then goes on to write about sins against the gifts of knowledge and wisdom. I hope you all see, again, the necessity for the purification of the intellect but also the use of the intellect on the road to holiness.
I hope these few remarks make you want to get the book.
He is clear that the lack of passing on tradition, including ruining churches in wreckovation is sinful, noting that it is a sin against our forefathers, a sin breaking the Fourth Commandment, as well as a sin against the Church, the saints, and God. I have felt this myself when I saw the ruining of wood carvings in Iowa which had been made lovingly by immigrants to a high standard of art.
You can read all about this in his book. But, I shall briefly highlight one section on sinning against Tradition.
He writes: "One of the effects of novelty or heresy is that is tends to confuse the faithful rather than to clarify what the Church has always believed. Authentic development of doctrine always provides a clearer understanding of the constant teaching of the Church. Novelty does not. But here we see that the lack of adherence to the tradition leads us to act against the intellectual virtues of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Understanding is the gift of the Holy Spirit by which we intuitively grasp the truths of the faith. When we reject the tradition which passes on the object of tradition which is the truth of revelation, we cannot have an intuitive grasp of those truths."
Father then goes on to write about sins against the gifts of knowledge and wisdom. I hope you all see, again, the necessity for the purification of the intellect but also the use of the intellect on the road to holiness.
I hope these few remarks make you want to get the book.
Spinola Bay at Night Is Great
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God bless all the Maltese.
I cannot express how good this book is
Father Chad Ripperger's book The Binding Force of Tradition should be read by every Catholic over the age of 14. This important book would help all of those who are struggling with how to understand the teachings which have broken with Tradition and how to deal with Modernism in the Church.
I can only cover a few points, in summary, but will do so for the benefit of those who will not get the book. I hope it tempts you to do so.
Firstly, Fr. Ripperger, as I have, squarely puts the onus of responsibility for passing on the Faith on the parents, which is what I have been writing since 2007. Father states that there is a sin of negligence in not passing on the Faith by parents who assume that "the members of the Magisterium and clergy would" do so.
As he and many popes have said, "The parents are the first educators of their children, and even though they should be able to rely on the Hierarchy to provide the proper education of their children, it does not take away their obligation to ensure that it is in fact being passed on to their children."
The breaking away from the tradition of the Church and not passing it on either as teaching or in the Liturgy is a grave sin of negligence.
I want to quote a longish section here.
"....in passive tradition when one receives the tradition regularly, a set of habits is established in the children, among the faithful and even among ecclesiastics, resulting in a recognition that tradition is a good thing and it becomes a joy, regardless if part of what is received is a discipline that requires self-denial. Our current generation, however, is in the habit of novelty and that is why tradition is so difficult for many of them, because the tradition is not just a thing, but an action, i.e. it is a way of living. Novelty ultimately militates against virtue because it does not seek good habits but intellectual or appetitive delight in the new thing."
I have given talks in the past and written on this blog on the need for formation in children at a young age regarding virtues. Without a basis in the Tradition of the Church, the youth are lost.
To be continued....
I can only cover a few points, in summary, but will do so for the benefit of those who will not get the book. I hope it tempts you to do so.
Firstly, Fr. Ripperger, as I have, squarely puts the onus of responsibility for passing on the Faith on the parents, which is what I have been writing since 2007. Father states that there is a sin of negligence in not passing on the Faith by parents who assume that "the members of the Magisterium and clergy would" do so.
As he and many popes have said, "The parents are the first educators of their children, and even though they should be able to rely on the Hierarchy to provide the proper education of their children, it does not take away their obligation to ensure that it is in fact being passed on to their children."
The breaking away from the tradition of the Church and not passing it on either as teaching or in the Liturgy is a grave sin of negligence.
I want to quote a longish section here.
"....in passive tradition when one receives the tradition regularly, a set of habits is established in the children, among the faithful and even among ecclesiastics, resulting in a recognition that tradition is a good thing and it becomes a joy, regardless if part of what is received is a discipline that requires self-denial. Our current generation, however, is in the habit of novelty and that is why tradition is so difficult for many of them, because the tradition is not just a thing, but an action, i.e. it is a way of living. Novelty ultimately militates against virtue because it does not seek good habits but intellectual or appetitive delight in the new thing."
I have given talks in the past and written on this blog on the need for formation in children at a young age regarding virtues. Without a basis in the Tradition of the Church, the youth are lost.
To be continued....
Are you confused about what to believe or not believe?
I highly recommend Fr. Chad Ripperger's book, The Binding Force of Tradition, if you are confused about what and when to believe priests, bishops, cardinals and even popes on statements of doctrine.
This book will help all the faithful understand what is truth and what is not, how to judge levels of truth and revelation and how to apply the Tradition of the Church to various subjects.
Seriously, if all Catholics read this book, they would be no longer confused about media statements and various sermons.
Please get it and read it.
This book will give you great peace of mind.
The Real Survival Message-Learn to Hear The Voice of God
I have been talking and writing since 2008 about the very hard times to come for Catholics and others.
The signs of the times are what people have seen before, and the Christians in Rome faced similar serious difficulties. Too many Catholics are living in cloud-cuckoo-land. Many Catholics are not facing the signs of the times.
Everything is not alright and things are not going to get better. If you are still living in denial, let me warn you that you must stop hiding from reality.
The only way to deal with very difficult times, such as war or displacement, is to become a saint. St. Benedicta of the Cross did not become a saint overnight. She prepared through prayer and sacrifice for her ultimate sacrifice-martyrdom for her people.
Most of us are not making holiness a priority. How will you react when things get rough? Those saints who have gone before us learned to become mentally and spiritually tough. Such men and women at St. Margaret Ward, St. Edmund Campion, St. Oliver Plunkett were unfairly judged, tortured and put to death.
To face this and the death of dear family members, just as SS. Felicity and Perpetua had to watch those in their community and finally die together, one must allow God to do three things.
One, replace hatred, anger, sloth, and all the deadly sins with love and the other virtues. Without living a life of virtue, you and I shall not remain faithful to the end.
Second, teach your children and help older family members see the need for true holiness now and not wait. Help others prioritize their faith through prayers, adoration, Mass, frequent confession. Time is short for having the capacity to find and enjoy the sacraments locally.
Three, learn to hear the Voice of God and not other voices. God speaks through the truths of the Catholic Church, but you can also learn to hear His Still Small Voice and respond quickly.
If you knew there was going to be a hurricane, like Katrina, in your area, you would prepare.
So, why are you not preparing now?
Parents, why are you acting as though the future of your children will be the same as your lives have been. Why are you pretending that they can be raised like you were raised? Why are you not forming saints now? You are responsible for the souls of your children.
Since the summer of 2008, when it was becoming clear that we did not have much time, I have been trying to learn how to cooperate with grace more and more. I have tried to teach and to write the Truth of the Church and of Christ.
Even in 2008, I did not think we had this much time to prepare-five years.
A European perspective has shown me that things will not limp along into a semi-stage of loweriing standards of living.
No. We shall soon see chaos in the West. God has given us a time of mercy as told to us by Saint Faustiina.
Those who preach good times are false prophets. If you have not changed your easy lifestyle, do it now. Tomorrow, at the Feast of Duns Scotus, we shall see this mysterious reading from the Gospel about being prepared. Many of us do not understand what Christ is saying here.
Let me help unravel this. It seems as though Christ is referring to business and money deals.
He is not. He is speaking of our souls and our sinful states before God. The steward had charges brought against him. He did not feel sorry for himself, nor did he defend himself.
These charges may have been true or false. Those facts do not matter. But, if we see ourselves as the steward, we see that we are always guilty sin and, therefore, deserving punishment.
What do we do when faced with our sins? We go to the saints, we go to the Church, we go to the sacraments, and prepare for death, for judgement.
We do not waste time. Survival for us is eternal life in heaven with God.
All these survival videos and deals are temporary measures in a crisis. These are good and fathers can discern in families and in communities how to use these. But, the real survival video would be about the Gospel of Christ and the way of perfection.
Luke 16: 1 - 8
This is a passage on using your gifts and those of the Church, to be prepared for the near future.
1 He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.2 And he called him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'3 And the steward said to himself, `What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.4 I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their houses when I am put out of the stewardship.'5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, `How much do you owe my master?'6 He said, `A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, `Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'7 Then he said to another, `And how much do you owe?' He said, `A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill, and write eighty.'8 The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
The shrewdness to which Christ is referring is spiritual shrewdness. This steward made his survival a priority, using his wits and connections to live. We must do the same in the spiritual life.
Our connections are grace, the Church, the saints, the orthodox Catholic community.
Stop wasting time with football on television, or soccer games, or re-decorating the house yet again, or anything else which is material.
Stop.
Do not pretend you have much time to become a saint, and to help your family members become saints.
Stop pretending.
Why is it that other people besides Noah and his family did not hear God?
Why is it that they perished in their sins?
Because these people were not listening. People laughed at Noah. They will laugh at you and your family.
Listen. I know many people who are listening. Are you one of them?
Matthew 24:36-51
ET asked me to do a short exegesis today. This is it for him and for you.
The signs of the times are what people have seen before, and the Christians in Rome faced similar serious difficulties. Too many Catholics are living in cloud-cuckoo-land. Many Catholics are not facing the signs of the times.
Everything is not alright and things are not going to get better. If you are still living in denial, let me warn you that you must stop hiding from reality.
The only way to deal with very difficult times, such as war or displacement, is to become a saint. St. Benedicta of the Cross did not become a saint overnight. She prepared through prayer and sacrifice for her ultimate sacrifice-martyrdom for her people.
Most of us are not making holiness a priority. How will you react when things get rough? Those saints who have gone before us learned to become mentally and spiritually tough. Such men and women at St. Margaret Ward, St. Edmund Campion, St. Oliver Plunkett were unfairly judged, tortured and put to death.
To face this and the death of dear family members, just as SS. Felicity and Perpetua had to watch those in their community and finally die together, one must allow God to do three things.
One, replace hatred, anger, sloth, and all the deadly sins with love and the other virtues. Without living a life of virtue, you and I shall not remain faithful to the end.
Second, teach your children and help older family members see the need for true holiness now and not wait. Help others prioritize their faith through prayers, adoration, Mass, frequent confession. Time is short for having the capacity to find and enjoy the sacraments locally.
Three, learn to hear the Voice of God and not other voices. God speaks through the truths of the Catholic Church, but you can also learn to hear His Still Small Voice and respond quickly.
If you knew there was going to be a hurricane, like Katrina, in your area, you would prepare.
So, why are you not preparing now?
Parents, why are you acting as though the future of your children will be the same as your lives have been. Why are you pretending that they can be raised like you were raised? Why are you not forming saints now? You are responsible for the souls of your children.
Since the summer of 2008, when it was becoming clear that we did not have much time, I have been trying to learn how to cooperate with grace more and more. I have tried to teach and to write the Truth of the Church and of Christ.
Even in 2008, I did not think we had this much time to prepare-five years.
A European perspective has shown me that things will not limp along into a semi-stage of loweriing standards of living.
No. We shall soon see chaos in the West. God has given us a time of mercy as told to us by Saint Faustiina.
Those who preach good times are false prophets. If you have not changed your easy lifestyle, do it now. Tomorrow, at the Feast of Duns Scotus, we shall see this mysterious reading from the Gospel about being prepared. Many of us do not understand what Christ is saying here.
Let me help unravel this. It seems as though Christ is referring to business and money deals.
He is not. He is speaking of our souls and our sinful states before God. The steward had charges brought against him. He did not feel sorry for himself, nor did he defend himself.
These charges may have been true or false. Those facts do not matter. But, if we see ourselves as the steward, we see that we are always guilty sin and, therefore, deserving punishment.
What do we do when faced with our sins? We go to the saints, we go to the Church, we go to the sacraments, and prepare for death, for judgement.
We do not waste time. Survival for us is eternal life in heaven with God.
All these survival videos and deals are temporary measures in a crisis. These are good and fathers can discern in families and in communities how to use these. But, the real survival video would be about the Gospel of Christ and the way of perfection.
Luke 16: 1 - 8
This is a passage on using your gifts and those of the Church, to be prepared for the near future.
1 He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.2 And he called him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'3 And the steward said to himself, `What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.4 I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their houses when I am put out of the stewardship.'5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, `How much do you owe my master?'6 He said, `A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, `Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'7 Then he said to another, `And how much do you owe?' He said, `A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill, and write eighty.'8 The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
The shrewdness to which Christ is referring is spiritual shrewdness. This steward made his survival a priority, using his wits and connections to live. We must do the same in the spiritual life.
Our connections are grace, the Church, the saints, the orthodox Catholic community.
Stop wasting time with football on television, or soccer games, or re-decorating the house yet again, or anything else which is material.
Stop.
Do not pretend you have much time to become a saint, and to help your family members become saints.
Stop pretending.
Why is it that other people besides Noah and his family did not hear God?
Why is it that they perished in their sins?
Because these people were not listening. People laughed at Noah. They will laugh at you and your family.
Listen. I know many people who are listening. Are you one of them?
Matthew 24:36-51
36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
ET asked me to do a short exegesis today. This is it for him and for you.
"As long as you do not cause trouble...."
Religious peoples of all Christian denominations are becoming minorities in most European and even, perhaps, in North and South American countries. Many people who claim to be Christian and many who claim to be Catholic no longer practice through weekly worship or by following the Ten Commandments. Too many Christians disagree with traditional teachings on ssm, fornication, contraception and so on.
One of the things told to some of us Catholics is not to cause trouble. But, we do, not by what we say, (unless one is a prolific blogger), but by who we are.
The mark of our baptisms, if we live out our baptismal faith, will be seen in the world. We are different. We are "marked".
To pretend otherwise is to deny our baptismal promises and to deny the graces of confirmation.
We do not mean to cause trouble, but because we are following the command to "be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect", we shall increasingly clash with those who support the four sins which cry out to God for vengeance.
The middle ground of mediocrity is disappearing and the good will become better and the bad will become worse. Such is the nature of choices.
Pray for those still caught up in the lies that Society is more important than God.
Two quotes from Mrs. Merdle, the expert on Society:
‘Mrs Merdle,’ said Fanny. ‘My sister, ma’am.’
‘I am glad to see your sister, Miss Dorrit. I did not remember that you had a sister.’
‘I did not mention that I had,’ said Fanny.
‘Ah!’ Mrs Merdle curled the little finger of her left hand as who should say, ‘I have caught you. I know you didn’t!’ All her action was usually with her left hand because her hands were not a pair; and left being much the whiter and plumper of the two. Then she added: ‘Sit down,’ and composed herself voluptuously, in a nest of crimson and gold cushions, on an ottoman near the parrot.
‘Also professional?’ said Mrs Merdle, looking at Little Dorrit through an eye-glass.
Fanny answered No. ‘No,’ said Mrs Merdle, dropping her glass. ‘Has not a professional air. Very pleasant; but not professional.’
‘My sister, ma’am,’ said Fanny, in whom there was a singular mixture of deference and hardihood, ‘has been asking me to tell her, as between sisters, how I came to have the honour of knowing you. And as I had engaged to call upon you once more, I thought I might take the liberty of bringing her with me, when perhaps you would tell her. I wish her to know, and perhaps you will tell her?’ ‘Do you think, at your sister’s age —’ hinted Mrs Merdle.
‘She is much older than she looks,’ said Fanny; ‘almost as old as I am.’
‘Society,’ said Mrs Merdle, with another curve of her little finger, ‘is so difficult to explain to young persons (indeed is so difficult to explain to most persons), that I am glad to hear that.
I wish Society was not so arbitrary, I wish it was not so exacting — Bird, be quiet!’
The parrot had given a most piercing shriek, as if its name were Society and it asserted its right to its exactions.
‘But,’ resumed Mrs Merdle, ‘we must take it as we find it. We know it is hollow and conventional and worldly and very shocking, but unless we are Savages in the Tropical seas (I should have been charmed to be one myself — most delightful life and perfect climate, I am told), we must consult it. It is the common lot. Mr Merdle is a most extensive merchant, his transactions are on the vastest scale, his wealth and influence are very great, but even he — Bird, be quiet!’
'My dear, it is not to be disputed for a moment,' returned Mrs Merdle; 'because Society has made up its mind on the subject, and there is nothing more to be said. If we were in a more primitive state, if we lived under roofs of leaves, and kept cows and sheep and creatures instead of banker's accounts (which would be delicious; my dear, I am pastoral to a degree, by nature), well and good. But we don't live under leaves, and keep cows and sheep and creatures. I perfectly exhaust myself sometimes, in pointing out the distinction to Edmund Sparkler.'
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