tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6954744499324022632024-03-13T10:07:33.262-07:00PolarprefectureTraditional Catholicism in the Nordic RegionSunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-79340537577659544852021-02-27T04:15:00.008-08:002021-02-27T04:53:15.818-08:00The freemasonic problem.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dd2s0EbfiWU/YDogC88Ar6I/AAAAAAAAASs/EC4PxC9Yxm04HtCEQNqR1JpVJ9uynwNdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/pope-francis-devil-horned-hand-signal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dd2s0EbfiWU/YDogC88Ar6I/AAAAAAAAASs/EC4PxC9Yxm04HtCEQNqR1JpVJ9uynwNdwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/pope-francis-devil-horned-hand-signal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>For people who still do not understand that these last "popes" who have been deceiving the world during and after the Second Vatican council, obviously have deviated from the Faith long before they couped the Vatican and abolished the daily Sacrifice of the altar, I'd like to share a few quotes from <b>Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) on Secret Societies:</b></p><p><b style="font-family: sans-serif;"><i>Pope Leo XIII's Encyclical "Humanum genus," April 20th 1884:</i></b></p><p><i>Let no one think that for any reason whatsoever he is permitted to join the Masonic sect, if his </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SKm71hx49E/YDos3vC_gfI/AAAAAAAAAS0/mEc53_duW7QSl8xo-9JdpNoriLgk18HZACLcBGAsYHQ/s308/Cardinal%252BBergoglio%252B%2528Pope%252BFrancis%252BI%2529%252BDoing%252Bthe%252BHidden%252BHand%252BGesture.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="308" data-original-width="304" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7SKm71hx49E/YDos3vC_gfI/AAAAAAAAAS0/mEc53_duW7QSl8xo-9JdpNoriLgk18HZACLcBGAsYHQ/w197-h200/Cardinal%252BBergoglio%252B%2528Pope%252BFrancis%252BI%2529%252BDoing%252Bthe%252BHidden%252BHand%252BGesture.jpg" width="197" /></a></i></div><i><br />profession of Catholicism and his salvation is a worth as much to him as it aught to be. Let no pretended probity deceive one; for it can seem to some that the Freemasons demand nothing which is openly contrary to the sanctity of religion and morals, but since the entire reasoning and aim of the sect rest in viciousness and shame, it is not proper to permit association with them, or to assist them in any way.</i><p></p><p><i><span face="sans-serif"> </span><b style="font-family: sans-serif;">Pope Leo XIII, from the Instruction of the Holy Office, May 10th 1884:</b></i></p><p><i>Lest there be any place for error when decision will have to be made as to what the opinions of these pernicious sects are, which are under such prohibition, it is especially certain that Freemasonry and other sects of this kind which <u>plot against the Church and lawful powers, whether they do it secretly or openly,</u> whether or not they exact from their followers an oath to preserve secrecy, are condemned by AUTOMATIC EXCOMMUNICATION.</i></p><p><i>Besides these, there are also other sects which are prohibited and must be avoided under pain of </i></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CwvG6gILpM4/YDoxT70marI/AAAAAAAAAS8/kBX0ElYZVcwpFhYPsjSOkkcLk-NnBZ3cwCLcBGAsYHQ/s720/5498d068e5ebc595387da2795bf6242b.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="720" height="113" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CwvG6gILpM4/YDoxT70marI/AAAAAAAAAS8/kBX0ElYZVcwpFhYPsjSOkkcLk-NnBZ3cwCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h113/5498d068e5ebc595387da2795bf6242b.jpg" width="200" /></a><i></i></div></blockquote></blockquote><i><br />grave sin, among which are to be reckoned aspecially all those who bind their followers under oath to a secret to be divulged to no one, and exact absolute obedience to be offered to secret leaders. It is to be noted, furthermore, that there are some societies which, although it cannot be determined with certainty whether or not they belong to these which we have mentioned, are nevertheless doubtful and full of danger not only because of the doctrines which they profess, but also because <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2_TtZD1Vnc/YDoxsF4eAQI/AAAAAAAAATI/8wG5_pzEZBkTnYFKa9noomxsaBS-344vwCPcBGAYYCw/s678/upsidedowncrosscolorsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="397" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2_TtZD1Vnc/YDoxsF4eAQI/AAAAAAAAATI/8wG5_pzEZBkTnYFKa9noomxsaBS-344vwCPcBGAYYCw/w118-h200/upsidedowncrosscolorsmall.jpg" width="118" /></a></div>of the philosophy of action which those follow under whose leadership they have developed and governed. </i><p></p><p>(Denzinger, "The sources of Catholic dogma".)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>There should be no doubt in any Catholics mind that these last "popes" have been automatically</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--XIewkJ_I2k/YDoyCOK6iiI/AAAAAAAAATU/vquKby8dzwQZIU9Eahq71HzG1f65Lc96gCPcBGAYYCw/s639/Captureephod.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="639" height="130" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--XIewkJ_I2k/YDoyCOK6iiI/AAAAAAAAATU/vquKby8dzwQZIU9Eahq71HzG1f65Lc96gCPcBGAYYCw/w200-h130/Captureephod.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">excommunicated long before they were unlawfully elected to sit in the Chair of Peter, for as Pope Leo XIII said in his long prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel after he had his vision that the devil would be allowed to attack the Church: ..</div></span></div><p></p><p><i>"Even in the holy place where the See of Blessed Peter and the chair of truth was set up to enlighten the world, they have raised the abominable throne of their impiety with the iniquitous hope that the Shepherd may be stricken and the flock scattered abroad."</i></p><p><i>The Raccolta</i></p><p>It shouldn't suprise anyone that the first thing the freemasonic "pope" did when taking over, was to make sure the decision of Pope Leo XIII to have everyone recite this long prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel after every Mass, was quickly replaced by a shorter, and very un-informative version.</p><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: white;">The short version of the prayer goes like this:</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: white;"><i>Saint Michael the archangel defend us in battle. Be our protector against the wickedness and </i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07Jlf38hHdE/YDoyMDHh_HI/AAAAAAAAATY/vSqP2fDSotcvy2vpmmQ1irrNW2XYpiLHgCPcBGAYYCw/s650/johnshinto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="376" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07Jlf38hHdE/YDoyMDHh_HI/AAAAAAAAATY/vSqP2fDSotcvy2vpmmQ1irrNW2XYpiLHgCPcBGAYYCw/w116-h200/johnshinto.jpg" width="116" /></a></i></span></div><span style="color: white;"><i>snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do Thou o Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, by the power of God thrust down to hell satan and all the other spirits that are prowling about the world to the great peril of the human race and the loss of souls. Amen</i>.</span><p></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: white;">The longer, original prayer by Pope Leo XIII is found in its entirety below:</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="color: white;">Original – Prayer to St. Michael</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">“O Glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of Satan.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the spouse of the immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions. In the Holy Place itself, where the See of Holy Peter and the Chair of Truth has been set up as the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate thee as their protector and patron; in thee holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude. Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and vanquishing the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">V. Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered ye hostile powers. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">R. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered the root of David.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">V. Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">R. As we have hoped in Thee.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">V. O Lord, hear my prayer. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">R. And let my cry come unto Thee. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: "PT Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: none; vertical-align: top;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.24px;"><span style="color: white;">Let us pray. O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as supplicants, we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious St. Michael the Archangel, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all the other unclean spirits who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.”</span></span></p>Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-64389636176401078852021-02-27T01:37:00.006-08:002021-02-27T01:50:26.416-08:00Movie script to applaud for!<p> I don't often recommend movies, but I was very impressed with the very thought through plot of the movie "Pagan" by <a href="https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCx-e0fWMbtd4XMHQAuKtvfA">Optio Productions</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="326" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wMUnLkwAnbU" width="440" youtube-src-id="wMUnLkwAnbU"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This movie has a very interesting plot and an even more impressive dialogue, demonstrating a depth of thought that is rare to find in modern day movies. It is obviously a low budget movie, and it makes the quality of the production even more impressive. "Pagan" is a movie well worth your time. As a Norwegian I also found it very amusing that one of the main characters were from Trondheim.</div><br /><p><br /></p>Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-16895476317595583572017-08-12T23:52:00.004-07:002017-08-15T12:49:38.228-07:00Why I do not go to validly ordained heretics for Sacraments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There is a book published in 2008 called "Communicatio in Sacris", by William J. DeTucci (It can be purchased at <a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/communicatio-in-sacris/4818965?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1">lulu.com</a>), that I strongly recommend all Catholics to get. The book is quite unique of its kind, and is a great eye-opener to why it would be wrong to go to validly ordained heretics for confession or other Sacraments. DeTucci has gathered numerous quotes from Popes, Saints and Church Councils on the above-mentioned subject, and may best be summed up in the authors own, strong<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nij2NoSXc9E/WY_y6KxvQWI/AAAAAAAAANA/ia2J7Vb0eu88ERYVSM4Q1llyhv0OOGycwCLcBGAs/s1600/product_thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nij2NoSXc9E/WY_y6KxvQWI/AAAAAAAAANA/ia2J7Vb0eu88ERYVSM4Q1llyhv0OOGycwCLcBGAs/s1600/product_thumbnail.jpg" /></a></div>
words: <br />
"The CMRI, SSPX, SBC, Dimond Brothers (MHFM) and any other so-called Traditional Catholic Sects, are no different than the Heretical-Intercommunion of Vatican II (1962-1965). Since, these so-called Traditionalists lament the fact that Vatican II has permitted, allowed or encouraged "Intercommunion" with non-Catholics. Nevertheless, they are just as guilty (if not even more) since the Sacraments of the aforesaid so-called Traditionalists appear Valid, while the Vatican II Sect's Sacraments are dubious and highly questionable. The pseudo-Traditionalists throw boulders at the Vatican II Sect, yet they commit the most grievous of Sins and Heresies with their so-called Traditionalist-Ecumenism! Anathema to those that Intercommunicate with the Heterodox! Shame on the CMRI, SSPX, SBC, Dimond Brothers (MHFM) and any other that "appear" to profess Roman Catholicism, but are really sharers in Heretical-Communion among so-called Traditionalists!"<br />
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<br />
I would say that the most powerful quote of the entire book, is one by the Cardinal Saint Bonaventure, explaining how being validly ordained is not enough to actually give you absolution for your sins, when it is provided outside of the Church Unity:<br />
<br />
"Once these conditions [intentions of orders] are present, the sacraments may be conferred by either the good or the wicked, the faithful or the heretical, within the Church or outside it: but within the Church, they are conferred both in <i><b>fact</b></i> and in <b><i>effect</i></b>, while outside it, although conferred in fact, they are<b><i><u> not effective.</u></i></b>"<br />
(Saint Bonaventure, The Breviloquium II, part VI, chapter 5, Article 1)<br />
<br />
In this way you don't actually reap the fruits of the Sacrament, you are not absolved of your sins. Pope Leo XIII is quoted on the same subject-matter:<br />
<br />
Letter Exima Nos laetitia, July 19, 1893, by Pope Leo XIII:<br />
"From this is follows also that they cannot promise themselves any of the graces and fruits of the perpetual sacrifice and of the sacraments, which, although they are sacrilegiously administered, are nonetheless valid and serve in some measure that form and appearance of piety which St. Paul mentions (1:Cor. 13:3.) and which St. Augustine speaks of at greater length: 'The form of the branch,' says the latter with great precision, 'may still be visible, even apart from the vine, but the invisible life of the root can be preserved only in union with the stock. That is why the corporal sacraments, which some keep and use outside the unity of Christ, can preserve the appearance of piety. But the invisible and spiritual virtue of true piety cannot abide there any more than feeling can remain in an amputated member,' (Serm. LXXI, in Matt.,32)<br />
<br />
The Papal Encyclical Graves Ac Diuturnae, March 23, 1875, Art 4, by Pope Pius IX, concerning the schismatic and heretical so called Old Catholics:<br />
" They [the faithful] should totally shun their [the Old Catholics] religious celebrations, their buildings, and their chairs of pestilence which they have with impunity established to transmit the sacred teachings.<br />
They should shun their writings and all contact with them. They should not have any dealings or meetings with usurping priests and apostates from the faith who dare to exercise the duties of an ecclesiastical minister without possessing a legitimate mission or any jurisdiction."<br />
<br />
In England, during the reign of Henry VIII, some Catholics would still go to the validly ordained priests and bishops who had fallen into the Anglican heresy. The Pope refused Catholics to join these in prayers and rites, not due to their effect in validity. On the contrary, the Pope refused as well because their rites were indeed, if not most, very valid but most illicit and unfruitful at the hands of heretics and schismatics. Furthermore, His Holiness, had such a horror of Heresy, that he even stated: "Even if my own father was a heretic, I would gather the wood to burn him!"<br />
Quoting Pope Paul IV:<br />
"We are forced to admonish and conjure you, that on no account you go to the churches of heretics, or hear their sermons, or join in their rites, lest he incure the wrath of God; for it is not lawful for you to do such things, without dishonoring God, and hurting your own souls." (Communicatio in Sacris, p.149)<br />
<br />
In the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas he quotes, "The Canon says (Dist. 32) 'But when the Arian bishop arrived, God's devoted servant rebuked him, as was right for him to do.' I answer that, As was said above, heretical, schismatical, excommunicate, or even sinful priests, although they have the power to consecrate the Eucharist, yet they do not make a proper use of it; on the contrary, they sin by using it. But whoever communicates with another who is in sin, becomes a sharer in his sin. Hence we read in John's Second Canonical Epistle (11)-(10) that 'He that saith unto him, God speed you, communicateth with his wicked works.'<br />
Consequently, it is not lawful to receive Communion from them, or to assist at their mass. Still, there is a difference among them above, because heretics, schismatics, and excommunicates, have been forbidden by the Church's sentence, to perform the Eucharistic rite. And therefore whoever hears their mass or receives the sacraments from them, commits sin. But not all who are sinners are debarred by the Church's sentence from using this power..."<br />
<br />
Summa Theologica, Pt.III, Q.82, Art.9: "By refusing to hear the masses of such priests, or to receive Communion from them, we are not shunning God's sacraments; on the contrary, by so doing we are giving them honor..."<br />
<br />
"Let a bishop, presbyter, or deacon, who has only prayed with heretics, be excommunicated: but if he has permitted them to perform any clerical office, let him be deposed." (Canon 44/or XLV; Canones Apostolorum, Mansi, Tom. I, col. 39).<br />
<br />
The Fourth Council of Carthage (398 A.D.) presided over by St. Augustine:<br />
"One must neither pray nor sing psalms with heretics, and whosoever shall communicate with those who are cut off from the communion of the Church, whether clergy or layman, let him be excommunicated." (Mansi, Tom. III, col. 957, Canons 72 and 73).<br />
<br />
It is my hope that this small selection of quotes from "Communicatio in Sacris" will help Catholics to make the right decisions and carry their Crosses, even if they should feel like the "last man standing."<br />
Remember, God can do anything. He is able to save you, and He is a Sovereign God, not depending upon anything or anyone to do whatever He pleases. Only God can save you. Have Faith in Him.<br />
<br />
<br />
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Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-3005073198650179742016-04-16T20:31:00.000-07:002016-04-16T22:57:33.551-07:00Great reading for the suffering!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://m5.paperblog.com/i/38/381402/creativity-turn-suffering-into-creative-inspi-L-t_IurH.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://m5.paperblog.com/i/38/381402/creativity-turn-suffering-into-creative-inspi-L-t_IurH.jpeg" height="320" width="251" /></a></div>
This is a small section from a book I would like to promote, a book that made a vast impact on the spiritual life of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. The book is called <i>"The end of the present world and the mysteries of the life to come" and was </i>written in 1881 by Charles Marie Antoine Arminjon and translated from French into English in 2010 by <a href="http://www.tradibooks.com/" target="_blank">tradibooks.</a><br />
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<u>MYSTERY OF SUFFERING, part III, page 248: </u><br />
<u><br /></u>
<i><u>Let us, then, rejoice in our tribulations, </u></i><br />
<i><u>and let us measure our future greatness </u></i><br />
<i><u>by our present affliction and by the severity of our trial. </u></i><br />
<i><u><br /></u></i>
In order to mitigate our ills and lessen our trials in this vale of sorrow and misery, the merciful <span id="goog_1329461958"></span><span id="goog_1329461959"></span>Saviour desired to give us a sure pledge of His tenderness, and to offer us a guarantee of the heavenly bliss which He is preparing for us. This guarantee, this real testimony of the Beatific Vision, which made the souls of the saints sigh with joy, is not the brilliant successes of this world, or temporal glory or happiness, but trials and sufferings.<br />
The saints did not aspire to any other goods, and wanted no other wages for their labours. If they met one of their friends they would say: "Come, brother; our dwelling-place is in the hollow of rocks, where we sleep on wet ground and where there is no bed, we feed on wild herbs, and for our refreshment we have but the water of the springs; around our dwellings we hear the roars of wild beasts, which are however, less fearsome than inhuman tyrants and barbarians, whose hatred and implacable ferocity pursue us unremittingly; but come without fear, there are indiscribable joys and consolations, for there is indescribable suffering."<br />
At first sight, language of this kind does violence to reason, and throws all our human judgements into confusion.<br />
Yet the saints, living on these lofty heights of faith, saw the events of the present world and the destinies of mankind from a different vantage and perspective. They judged the things of time by their relationship with those of eternity and they understood the profound meaning of one of the most sublime sayings of Scripture: Trial worketh hope. (Romans 5:3,4) Without trial there is no hope.. <br />
<u><br /></u>
For further reading<br />
<u>these pages (248-257) can be read online in a preview if you click </u><a href="https://books.google.se/books?id=uwAJlsQMwCQC&pg=PA248&lpg=PA248&dq=IN+order+to+mitigate+our+ills+and+lessen+our+trials+in+this+vale+of+sorrows&source=bl&ots=ACDY9-uhry&sig=8rzWFy6EV4yaVqbbCDIxYra3ueo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiSo-mv4ZTMAhXmE5oKHa9tAO8Q6AEIGzAA">here.</a><u> </u><br />
(If you only get the first page in the preview, you can google the first line: "IN order to mitigate our ills and lessen our trials in this vale of sorrows", then click on the first top-link <cite class="_Rm">https://books.google.se/books?isbn=2952916217 and press "x" on the clear search to get all the pages.) </cite><br />
<br />
Because page 254 is missing in the preview, I have transcribed it for you below:<br />
This pain, by crushing us in its grip, wrenches us away from love from present things; it is the sword which cuts through the clouds, and half-opens other prospects for us, by raising us up to higher hopes. In the fire of tribulation, all the wealth and all the goods for which we yearned so ardently appear as they really are, and become in our eyes mere smoke and empty shadows. Human life seems to us nothing more than a "moment" in the words of St. Paul. But that moment is a fruitful bud: watered by our tears, it will unfold into an immeasurable weight of glory. (2 Corinthians 4:17)<br />
Oh, let us, in short, cease to accuse the Creator of harshness and injustice. If God puts us to the test and removes what we hold dear, if He makes the bitter dregs of dissappointments and every heart-rending pain cascade down upon us, it is by no means in order to rob us, <i>eo quo nolumus expoliari</i>, the Apostle emphasizes, but in order the sooner and the more strikingly to reclothe us in immortality, as in an outer garment: <i>sed supervestiri. </i>(2 Corinthians 5:2)<br />
<i> </i>Let us take the case of a great artist who wants to make a statue. Beneath his hand he has a piece of coarse, shapeless marble; he takes up his chisel, strikes vigorously and mercilessly and chips away the fragments of stone until the idea which inspires him is reflected in the lines of the statue and pours out that grace and majesty which will be the admiration of the world.<br />
<i> </i>God does the same: holding in His paternal hand the chisel of mortification, He cuts into the quick of our affections. He lets Himself be moved neither by our groans nor by our cries. Mercilessly, He sunders those links, those friends, the health or reputation, which were as living parts of ourselves. In the fire of pain, He absorbs the attachments, the secret and invisible links which draw us into love of perishable , earthly things. He melts them down, violently eliminating all that remains in us of dross, human alloy and sensual affections, in order that our souls, thus spiritualized, may become like a well-prepared canvas, on which the rays of divine goodness will one day succeed in leaving their imprint; <i>ut absorbeatur quod mortale est a vita -</i> that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.<i> </i> </div>
Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-39409148995864122302015-12-29T11:59:00.000-08:002015-12-29T11:59:48.608-08:00How to convert a pagan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: medium;">As you may have noticed, paganism is on the rise in many places of the world, and the Nordic region is no exception. Channels like RedIceRadio are trying to discredit Christianity by using un-cronological wikipedia- and google searches to claim that paganism came before monotheism, when our Faith clearly teaches us that paganism is a degeneration that took place after the world separated from their Creator. When Christianity came to Scandinavia, it was only reclaiming what had always belonged to the One True Universal God. Modern paganism is still not like the religious believes of ancient times. One point I have to make, is that there are no ancient sources for Nordic pagan cults. The best information we can find is from the 10th Century, with claims of oral tradition from the 8th Century. The most detailed information we have of Nordic paganism is from Christian sources. A second point, is that modern pagans are not very religious. They believe that their pagan believes are merely an expression of the folk souls, what the people of the area have in common, which naturally evolves into customs and practices. But they don't really believe that Odin is a real god in the true sense of the word. So if they "sacrifice" beverages on old grave sites, it's just for cultural purposes. As a religious Catholic, on the other hand, I do believe that many of these pagan gods existed and communicated with people. They are real demons, and they still exist. I find this letter, written to Saint Boniface in the 8th Century A.D. very helpful, when communicating with pagans, and wanted to share it with anyone interested:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"> <u><b><br /></b></u></span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Bishop Daniel of
Winchester advises Boniface on the method of conversion (723-724)</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">To the venerable and
beloved prelate Boniface, Daniel, servant of the people of God.</span></div>
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<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l0ZlPGQ4gQs/VoLl2Ss6jpI/AAAAAAAAAMA/J4xLFlN2LOY/s1600/saint_boniface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l0ZlPGQ4gQs/VoLl2Ss6jpI/AAAAAAAAAMA/J4xLFlN2LOY/s1600/saint_boniface.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I rejoice, beloved brother
and fellow priest, that you are deserving of the highest prize of
virtue. You have approached the hitherto stony and barren hearts of
the pagans, trusting in the plentitude of your faith, and have
labored untiringly with the plowshare of Gospel preaching, striving
by your daily toil to change them into fertile fields. To you may
well be applied the Gospel saying: ”The voice of one crying in the
wilderness,” etc. Yet a part of the second prize shall be given,
not unfittingly, to those who support so pious and useful a work with
what help they can give and supplement the poverty of those laborers
with means sufficient to carry on zealously the work of preaching
which has already been begun and to raise up new sons to Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And so I have
with affectionate good will taken pains to suggest to Your Prudence a
few things that may show you how, according to my ideas, you may most
readily overcome the resistance of those uncivilized people. Do not
begin by arguing with them about the origin of their gods, false as
those are, but let them affirm that some of them were begotten by
others through the intercourse of male with female, so that you may
at least prove that gods and goddesses born after the manner of men
are men and not gods and, since they did not exist before, must have
had a beginning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Then, when they
have been compelled to learn that their gods had a beginning since
some where begotten by others, they must be asked in the same way
whether they believe that the world had a beginning or was always in
existence without beginning. If it had a beginning, who created it?
Certainly they can find no place where begotten gods could dwell
before the universe was made. I mean by ”universe” not merely
this visible earth and sky, but the whole vast extent of space, and
this the heathen too can imagine in their thoughts. But if they argue
that the world always existed without beginning, you should strive to
refute this and to convince them by many documents and arguments. Ask
your opponents who governed the world before the gods were born, who
was the ruler? How could they bring under their dominion or subject
to their law a universe that had always existed before them? And
whence, or from whom or when, was the first god or goddess set up or
begotten? Now, do they imagine that gods and goddesses still go on
begetting others? Or, if they are no longer begetting, when or why
did they cease from intercourse and births? And if they are still
producing offspring, then the number of gods must already be
infinite. Among so many and different gods, mortal men cannot know
which is the most powerful, and one should be extremely careful not
to offend that most powerful one. </span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Do they think
the gods are to be worshiped for the sake of temporal and immediate
good or for future eternal blessedness? If for temporal things, let
them tell in what respect the heathen are better off than Christians.
What gain do the heathen suppose accrues to their gods from their
sacrifices, since the gods already possess everything? Or why do the
gods leave it in the power of their subjects to say what kind of
tribute shall be paid? If they are lacking in such things, why do
they not themselves choose more valuable ones? If they have plenty,
then there is no need to suppose that the gods can be pleased with
such offerings of victims. </span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">These and many
similar things which it would take long to enumerate you ought to put
before them, not offensively or so as to anger them, but calmly and
with great moderation. At intervals you should compare their
superstitions with our Christian doctrines, touching upon them from
the flank, as it were, so that the pagans, thrown into confusion
rather than angered, may be ashamed of their absurd ideas and may
understand that their infamous ceremonies and fables are well known
to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This point is
also to be made: if the gods are all-powerful, beneficent, and just,
they not only reward their worshipers but punish those who reject
them. If, then, they do this in temporal matters, how is it that they
spare us Christians who are turning almost the whole earth away from
their worship and overthrowing their idols? And while these, that is,
the Christians, possess lands rich in oil and wine and abounding in
other resources, they have left to those, that is, the pagans, lands
stiff with cold, where their gods, driven out of the world, are
falsely supposed to rule. They are also frequently to be reminded of
the supremacy of the Christian world, in comparison with which they
themselves, very few in number, are still involved in their ancient
errors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If they boast
that the rule of the gods over those peoples has been, as it were,
lawful from the beginning, show them that the whole world was once
given over to idol-worship, until by the grace of Christ and through
the knowledge of one God, its Almighty Founder and Ruler, it was
enlightened, brought to life, and reconciled to God. For what is the
daily baptism of the children of believing Christians but
purification of each one from the uncleanness and guilt in which the
whole world was once involved?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have been glad
to call these matters to your attention, my brother, out of my
affection for you, though I suffer from bodily infirmities so that I
may well say with the Psalmist: ”I know, O Lord, that Thy
judgements are right and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted
me.” Wherefore I earnestly pray Your Reverence and all those who
serve Christ in spirit to make supplication for me that the Lord who
gave me to drink of the wine of remorse, may be swift in mercy, that
He who was just in condemnation may graciously pardon, and by His
mercy enable me to sing in gratitude the words of the Prophet: ”In
the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I pray for your
welfare in Christ, my very dear colleague, and beg you to bear me in
mind. </span>
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Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-32272373228821281162015-12-04T06:48:00.000-08:002015-12-04T06:49:12.140-08:00A miraculous Salve Regina!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When Blessed Sadoc and his companions were martyred in1260 at the Dominican convent in Sandomir, Poland, a unique wonder occurred. Before the massacre, letters of gold appeared in the Divine Office book at the beginning of the martyrology passage that was to be read at the conclution of matins and lauds. The inexplicable entry was: <span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><u><i>"At Sandomir, the passion of 49 martyres."</i></u></span></span><br />
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Of course, "passion" signified suffering and death. The prior, Blessed Sadoc, counted his friars- 49 in all! He interpreted the miraculous appearance of these words as warning of death from the barbarous Tartars who were camped nearby. As the friars sang compline the following evening, a band of the Tartars, traitorously let in to the city by some Russians, cut 48 of them to peaces.<br />
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One friar fled to the belfry; there he heard a wonderful sound. The mangled bodies of his 48 brethren, though dead, were chanting the sweet melody of the Salve Regina. From the midst of the bloody corpses of those ever-devoted children of Mary, those preachers of her Holy Rosary, rose those dear words: "Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope..." which are sung at eventide in monasteries and religious houses throughout the world.<br />
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Who can imagine the emotions of the 49th friar in the belfry as he heard the 48 dead martyrs chanting to their Blessed Mother! Already they were heroes and saints, welcomed into their reward in another and far more glorious world, even as their voices rose from bodies dead on the field of spiritual combat. Overwhelmed with that beauty, that heroism, and that message, the last friar regained his courage. He descended from the belfry and submitted to the swords of the barbarians; then there were 49 voices raised in singing the Salve Regina to the Mother of God. From this miraculous event began the Dominicans' custom of singing the Salve Regina at the deathbed of each of the Order's bembers.<br />
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(From the book "Saints who raised the dead, true stories of 400 resurrection miracles", by Father Albert J. Hebert)<br />
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<span style="color: #ffe599;"><b>Salve, Regina: English and Latin</b></span><br />
This is one of four Marian antiphons, with following versicles and prayers,
traditionally said or sung after night prayer, immediately before going to sleep. It is
said from the end of Eastertide until the beginning of Advent. (That is, from the day
after Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter (or from the following Sunday, if
Pentecost is celebrated with octave), through the Friday before the fourth Sunday before
Christmas).<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #ffe599;"><b>Hail, holy Queen</b></span><br />
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we
cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee to we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping
in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward
us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O
clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.<br />
<br />
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.<br />
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.<br />
<br />
Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, Who by the working of the Holy Spirit didst
prepare both body and soul of the glorious Virgin Mother, Mary, that she might deserve to
be made a worthy dwelling for Thy Son, grant that we who rejoice in her memory, may, by
her loving intercession, be delivered from present evils and from lasting death, through
the same Christ our Lord. Amen.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #ffe599;"><b>Salve, Regina</b></span><br />
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;<br />
vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve.<br />
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae.<br />
Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes<br />
in hac lacrimarum valle. <br />
Eia ergo, advocata nostra, <br />
illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. <br />
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, <br />
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. <br />
O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.<br />
<br />
V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix. <br />
R. Ut digni efficamur promissionibus Christi.<br />
<br />
Oremus. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui gloriosae Virginis Matris Mariae corpus et
animam, ut dignum Filii tui habitaculum effici mereretur, Spiritu Sancto cooperante,
praeparasti, da, ut cuius commemoratione laetamur; eius pia intercessione, ab instantibus
malis et a morte perpetua liberemur. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.<br />
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Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-43188442872001439202015-11-30T05:17:00.000-08:002015-12-05T06:27:01.740-08:00There shall not be left here a stone upon a stone!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We can read in the Holy Scriptures how the Lord Jesus proclaimed the fate of the temple in Jerusalem: <br /><i>And Jesus being come out of the temple went away. And his disciples came to shew him the buildings of the temple. And he answering, said to them: Do you see all these things? Amen, I say to you, there shall not be left here a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down. St Matthew Chap 24, 1-2</i><br /><br /><br />
It was really interesting to read in a commentary on these verses, in Haydock Bible commentary from 1859, an historical account from 363 A.D., when Julian the Apostate together with the Jews tried to rebuild the temple, going against the words of Christ. A remarkable event took place:<br /><br />
<u>
Haydock Bible Commentary on St Matthew Chap 24, verse 2:</u><br />Julian the apostate, wishing to falsify the predictions of Daniel and of Jesus Christ, attempted to rebuild the temple. For this purpose, he assembled the chief among the Jews, and asking them why they neglected the prescribed sacrifices, was answered, that they could not offer any where else but in the temple of Jerusalem. Upon this he ordered them to repair to Jerusalem, to rebuild their temple, and restore their ancient worship, promising them his concurrence in carrying on the work. This filled the Jews with inexpressible joy. Hence flocking to Jerusalem, they began with scorn and triumph to insult over the Christians. Contributions came in from all parts. The Jewish women stripped themselves of their most costly ornaments. The emperor opened his treasures to furnish every thing necessary for the building. The most able workmen were convened from all parts; persons of the greatest distinction were appointed to direct the work; and the emperor's friend, Alipius, was set over the whole, with orders to carry on the work without ceasing, and to spare no expense. All materials were laid in to an immense quantity. The Jews of both sexes bore a share in the labour; the women helping to dig the ground, and carry away the rubbish in their aprons and gowns. It is even said that the Jews appointed some pick-axes, spades, and baskets, to be made of silver, for the honour of the work. Till this time the foundations and some ruins of the walls had remained, as appears from St. Cyril, in his catechism xv. n. 15, and Eusebius, Dem. Evang. lib. viii. p. 406. These ruins the Jews first demolished with their own hands, thus concurring to the accomplishment of our Saviour's prediction. They next began to dig a new foundation, in which many thousands were employed. But what they had thrown up in the day, was, by repeated earthquakes, the night following cast back again into the trench. When Alipius the next day was earnestly pressing on the work, with the assistance of the governor of the province, there issued, says Ammianus Marcellinus, such horrible balls of fire out of the earth near the foundations, as to render the place inaccessible from time to time to the scorched workmen. And the victorious element continuing in this manner obstinately bent, as it were, to drive them to a distance, Alipius, thought proper to abandon, though reluctantly, the enterprise. This great event happened in the beginning of the year 363, and with many very astonishing circumstances is recorded both by Jews and Christians. See the proofs and a much fuller account of this astonishing event, which all the ancient fathers describe as indubitable, in Alban Butler's life of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, March 18th. Thus they so completely destroyed whatever remained of the ancient temple, that there was not left one stone upon another; nor were they permitted by heaven even to begin the new one. (Maldonatus)<br /></div>
Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-20580528028138338802015-10-16T11:00:00.000-07:002015-12-05T07:00:02.950-08:00Just another mind-blowing part of creation!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This bird can actually duplicate sounds like a camera lens shutter, a chain-saw and a car alarm!</div>
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Evolutionists really have no answers, only questions. Becomes clear 2 min and 50 sec into the video. Evolution does not include the purpose of beauty or humor.<br />
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Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-82801330223939474792013-12-24T12:58:00.000-08:002013-12-26T09:20:31.358-08:00Catholic Christmas Song<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So I made a<span style="color: red;"> <b><a href="https://sunniva.opendrive.com/files?NV8yNTU0NzQ1M19McExkUQ" target="_blank">Christmas song</a> </b></span>(click on the link)<br />
It's called<br />
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<b><u>God sent His Son down from Heaven</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
God sent His Son down from Heaven<br />
His Messiah born in Bethlehem<br />
as a light to the Jews and the nations<br />
Came to shine in the valley of shadow of death<br />
<br />
It was God<br />
God Incarnated<br />
God made man<br />
<br />
God sent His Son down from Heaven<br />
<br />
His Messiah born in Bethlehem<br />
as a light to the Jews and the nations<br />
Came to shine in the valley of shadow of death<br />
<br />
He came down, walked around,<br />
healed the sick, raised the dead, preached the Kingdom of God<br />
He gave up everything<br />
just to die for our sins, although He was a King<br />
<br />
Your mercy endures, Your mercy endures<br />
What a mess we confess in that valley of death<br />
But You are the light that shines<br />
and You light up the darkness, give sight to the blind<br />
<br />
Praise You God, praise You God<br />
for this hope to be saved, though we were born as slaves<br />
Praise You God, praise You God<br />
That You're calling on me, there's no reason to see but Your love<br />
But Your love<br />
<br />
Glory to God in the Highest<br />
<br />
I was there, but You care<br />
I was there in the valley of shadow of death<br />
But You are the light that shines<br />
and You light up the darkness, give sight to the blind<br />
<br />
<br />
Praise You God, praise You God<br />
for this hope to be saved, though I was born a slave<br />
Praise You God, praise You God<br />
And why You're calling on me, there's no reason to see but Your love<br />
But Your love, but Your love<br />
<br />
Glory to God in the highest<br />
<br />
God sent His Son down from Heaven<br />
His Messiah born in Bethlehem<br />
as a light to the Jews and the nations<br />
Came to shine in the valley of shadow of death<br />
<br /></div>
Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-17733412295682290772013-11-08T07:11:00.000-08:002013-11-08T07:11:04.813-08:00The dangers of cartoons!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is a Ukrainian movie about the agendas behind children's cartoons, and how many of the most popular shows damage the children's physical and mental health. Gradually the morals of society are being altered and your children are being brainwashed and manipulated in the worst thinkable ways.<br />
I highly recommend all parents to watch this documentary, and to protect their children from the "devilvision".<br />
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Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-77222124855871481702013-11-08T06:59:00.001-08:002013-11-08T07:11:58.878-08:00Movie about the terror of the juvenile justice system!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This Ukrainian movie shows how the family as an institution is loosing more and more of its rights.<br />
Children no longer belong to their parents, but are considered a property of the state! A special section about Norway comes after 16 min. and 50 sec.<br />
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Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-9743300534884145362013-10-19T07:32:00.001-07:002013-11-08T07:00:19.196-08:00Some thoughts around the expression "sedevacantist"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I frequently use the term <em>sedevacantist </em>in my blog, and sometimes I wonder if I should use it at all. <br />
I am a traditional Catholic, and I never want to be anything but Catholic. I live my life trying to adhere to the Catholic Faith in every way, agreeing with Her doctrines, Her Traditions and Her authority, because I truly believe in the office of the papacy and would gladly submit to a true pope. And then I believe that it is likely that the Church is in a state of sedevacantism, meaning that there is no pope at the moment. For all I know, there might be a true pope out there, maybe in hiding or in exile somewhere. But to my knowledge there is not. And so I have to assume that we have sedevacancy. So do not let terminology confuse you and make you think that this is not a Traditional Catholic website. And if you find all of this very confusing, I strongly recommend that you look into the precept of <em>ipso facto, </em>in simple terms an <em>automatic excommunication</em>.<em> </em>If you understand what that is, you have come a long way. And learn to recognize <em>modernism, </em>which is a world view condemned by the Catholic Church. Read the Catholic <em>Oath against Modernism</em>, that all Catholic Priests are supposed to confess and believe. If you are still under the heretical impression that truth evolves, than you will never se the problem with a so called <em>pope </em>going against, and redefining what previous popes have spoken ex cathedra. This is basic Catholic teaching. Revealed truth never changes. The doctrines of the Catholic Faith are of Divine origin and this is why they always stay the same. It is not the same thing when a pope goes out and changes a Catholic custom. He may for example lighten the burden of fasting during Lent under a time of famine. But He can never change a revealed doctrine by for example adding a fourth person to the Holy Trinity. Or by saying that we now no longer find salvation only within the Catholic Church, but can also be saved through ignorance or in any religion. That would be public, manifest heresy. Learn to recognize true Catholicism from modernism and other heresies. Learn the Faith.</div>
Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-54174761708389432162013-08-04T20:06:00.000-07:002013-11-08T07:41:26.906-08:00Cannibalism!This is yet another reason for shopping locally and organic!
Warning for half naked women in the first 2 min and 15 sec of the movie.
This is the part about how aborted human babies are being used in skin lotions under the "ingredient" PSP.
And how PEPSI Company are using aborted human babies in their laboratories to improve the taste of their products.. Look also for the term Hek (Human embryonic kidney) on your ingredients list when you shop.
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Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-88995074715977169942012-12-14T05:22:00.001-08:002012-12-14T08:28:00.010-08:00A holy Norwegian priest!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I recently discovered a Norwegian Catholic priest who lived a very saintly life and died in Belgium in 1907. He was a convert from the Lutheran heresy, and one of his prayers for the conversion of the Scandinavian peoples, were actually given an indulgence of 300 days by Pope Leo XIII. The priest's name was Karl-Halfdan Schilling, and I have a link here to read his life-story. <br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/35533494/A-Priest-from-Norway-Fr-Karl-M-Schilling-by-Sigrid-Undset" target="_blank">http://www.scribd.com/doc/35533494/A-Priest-from-Norway-Fr-Karl-M-Schilling-by-Sigrid-Undset</a><br />
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And this is Father Schillings' prayer for Scandinavia, with an indulgence attached to it of 300 days, decreed by Pope Leo XIII:<br />
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"Good Jesus, I humbly fall at Your feet and pray You by Your Holy Wounds and by the Precious Blood which You have shed for the whole world, to look in mercy on the Scandinavian peoples. Led astray hundreds of years ago, they are now separated from Your Church and denied the inestimable benefit of the Sacrament of Your Body and Blood, and also the many other means of grace which You have instituted for the consolation of the faithful in life and in death. Remember, O Saviour of the world, that for these souls also You have shed Your Precious Blood and have endured untold sufferings. Good Shepherd, lead these Your sheep back to the wholesome pastures of Your Church, so that they may be one flock together with us under Your Vicar here on earth - the Bishop of Rome, who in the person of the Holy Apostle Peter was commissioned by You to care both for the lambs and for the sheep. Hear, o merciful Jesus, these our petitions, which we make to You with full trust in the love of Your Sacred Heart towards us, and to Your Holy Name be glory, honor and praise for all eternity."</div>
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PRAYER:</div>
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O merciful and eternal God, Who on calling to the True Faith Your Venerable Karl M. Schilling, have made him a model of Christian virtues and an apostle of good, we supplicate You to deign to glorify him on earth by granting us the grace... which we ardently implore, through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. </div>
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Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-28733264103392757772012-11-22T05:41:00.001-08:002012-12-14T05:25:05.216-08:00Short on Tradition!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Protestants have a tendency to quote Colossians 2:8 as a proof that Christian Tradition really is a tradition of men. This is how the verse goes:<br />
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<em>Col 2:8.. Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.</em><br />
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It's very typical, to pull something out of context, while completely ignoring all verses that speak about being faithful to Tradition. If I wanted to do the same thing, I could easily use the same verse, and say to protestants..well, it says here that men can cheat you by vain philosophy and deceit, and because protestantism is a vain philosophy, and the tradition of a man, either a Luther, a Melanchton or a Calvin, it is not according to Christ. Now, this statement would be a true one, but I think I would still need more proof than just this one verse. I would also need to proove that the tradition of Luther or Calvin, who claimed that the Bible alone was our guide to salvation was contrary to the teachings of Christ. But protestants may not feel the need to prove anything, after all, they think that they are infallible when they read their "bibles." No one disagrees in protestantism, so they have no need of tradition, right?<br />
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Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-29739810956760995602012-11-20T05:02:00.002-08:002012-12-14T05:24:09.251-08:00Baptism of desire<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This man has a great youtube channel called "400constantine". This is one of his postings on baptism of desire. <br />
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I would also add that the errors of baptism of desire and invincible ignorance really comes down to limiting God and saying that God can not know or do all things. It is not do defend ignorant people, it is to call Almighty God ignorant! It is to say that God is not able to preach to all people, as if He was dependant on anyone else to save people. It is to say that not everyone get's a fair chance to know the Gospel. It is to say that God is not able to preserve and baptize anyone anywhere on earth. It is to say that God commands something that is not possible to do through His grace. Again, it is to call the Lord ignorant and it is blasphemy!<br />
I was just reading about Christopher Columbus, who came to Queen Isabella in today's Spain and claimed that God had told him to travel over the ocean. There, on the other side, he would find land and plenty of people who would become Catholics. All Isabella needed to do, was to pay for it and provide ships etc. Columbus was ridiculed by many, he was kept in waiting and rejection, first even by Isabella herself, and people called him a dreamer and a lyar. But God's will was done, and Columbus reached America in the 15th Century. And was not also 8 million indians converted to Christianity through the Lady of Guadalupe? Did not God reveal himself to Abram when he rejected his fathers idols? Or to Moses in the burning brumble? Or to Saint Paul on his way to Damascus? Or to the Ethiopian unic walking down from Jerusalem? Stop lying about God and ask Him to give you Faith in Him!</div>
Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-81682958402175100582012-05-29T18:52:00.001-07:002012-12-14T05:24:39.596-08:00A few reasons for rejecting the SSPX<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The SSPX is not a Catholic organization. The most important thing about being a Catholic, is to keep the Catholic Faith. We know that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.. All Catholics have one Faith and those who keep that Faith are Catholics, those who do not, are not Catholics. It is not whether or not you have a Mass to go to that makes you a Catholic. For example, in Japan, after Christian missionaries had been to the country and many became Catholic, after a while, there were no Priests in Japan for SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS! This means no Mass and no confessions to a Priest. They only had baptism, because anyone can baptize, even a midwife. For example, the midwife or a family member will baptize babies when the newborn baby looks like it is going to die. But the Japanese also had the Sacrament of Marriage, because the Church teaches that if there is no priest, a couple can exchange their wedding vows in front of some witnesses, and they will be legally married, because this Sacrament is exchanged between the man and the woman, not BY the PRIEST. And they lived like this in Japan for hundreds of years. But they were still Catholics, because they kept the Catholic Faith. Why am I speaking to you about this example from Japan? To prove that other Christians have lived without the Mass before. It is not something unique, looking at Church history, that many are living without the possibility of attending a Mass. <br />
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I hope that you believe that the Novus Ordo (the Second Vatican Council "Church") are not Catholics. Why? Because they do not keep the Catholic Faith. For example, they believe that you can save your soul in any religion, like Islam or Protestantism. As long as you follow your own conscience, you will be saved. This is not the teachings of the Catholic Church. It has always taught that there IS NO SALVATION OUTSIDE the Catholic Church. If a Priest, or a Pope, teaches that you can be saved in other religions, they fall into HERESY and are no longer Catholics. There is a teaching of the Church called IPSO FACTO. It means that if you start accepting a heresy, like the false teaching that you can be saved outside the Catholic Church, or any other heresy, you automatically stop being Catholic. The normal procedure is that someone above you in the Church excommunicates heretics (they kick you out of the Church), but if the heresy is manifested (i.e. public) then you are kicked out of the Church automatically or IPSO FACTO. How? Because Gods' Divine Law kicks you out. This is what has happened to the "Pope" -and I like to call him the anti-pope. He does not believe in Catholic Teachings, and more importantly, he does not TEACH Catholic teachings publicly. And so everyone who knows Catholic teaching can see that he is not a Catholic. You do not become the Pope just because you get to wear the Papal hat. <br />
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Sedevacantists, like myself, say; okay, the Novus Ordo teaches that you can be saved in other religions (and many other heresies), therefore they are not keeping the Catholic Faith and they are not the Catholic Church/Catholic Religion. Therefore, I would have nothing more to do with them, than I would with Muslims or Protestants or Hindus. I will not listen to them about their religious believes (unless I am trying to convert them), pray together with them, celebrate Mass with them or believe that they can be saved in their religion. There is no pope at the moment, but the Church still exists as long as there are people who believe the teachings of the Catholic Church. I do not know how God will give us a new pope or when or if, but, just like the Catholics in Japan, I am just waiting and living my Catholic life. I accept that God has punished us for our sins by taking away the Pope and most of the priests for a while, and He will also fix the problem when the time is right. Maybe in my lifetime, maybe after I die. God can still save me by giving me perfect sorrow (contrition) for my sins when I confess them to him in my bedroom every night. Because God can do anything. <br />
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The SSPX has a different view. They say that having to live under the conditions that the Japanese did for such a long time is not possible, that there has to be priests available. They also think that there has to be a pope, we need the Mass, we have to have priests. It does not matter that the "pope" believes people can be saved in other religions and other heresies. Maybe he is just a bad pope.. So they actually believe that you can teach that there is salvation in other religions and still be a Catholic. And not only be a Catholic, but even Christ’s vicar on earth, the one person on earth who is supposed to protect and guide the Catholic believers, can teach whatever he wants and still be the pope… They don't believe that the "pope" can be kicked out of the Church automatically (ipso facto), even though it is a church teaching that it is possible. <br />
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And then there is another problem. If Ratzinger is the pope, then we also need to obey him. You know, do what he says and teaches. But the SSPX does not. They ordain their own bishops and priests, even though Ratzinger said NO! They celebrate their own Masses in stead of going to the New Mass or the Latin one that the Novus Ordo arranges from time to time. Some SSPX priests, maybe all, will pray "una cum" for Ratzinger during Mass. This means that they pray for and together with him as if he was the head of the Church. But at the same time they will not celebrate Mass with him or believe what he believes or teach what he teaches. Do you see a problem here? This is called SCHISM. You say that someone is Catholic but you will not be together with them in Church. And you will not obey their authority. In this way the SSPX has one leg in the Novus Ordo, and the other leg in tradition. But this is not Catholic teaching. You are not a little bit saved and a little bit not saved. A little bit Catholic and a little bit not Catholic. You are EITHER CATHOLIC or NOT CATHOLIC. And you have to choose sides, not join the Novus Ordo "just a little bit." If they are the Catholic Church, you go with them. If they are not, you stay away. There is only ONE FAITH in the Catholic Church. Anything else is no more than Protestantism, where you can pick and choose what to accept. The SSPX are therefore heretics, their priests are not obeying their "pope" (anti-pope), they are in schism with other people they believe to be Catholic, and they think that the Latin Mass is more important than keeping the Catholic Faith. Do you see the problem here?<br />
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If you ask a SSPX “priest” about his believes he will probably answer that "there is no salvation outside the Church". BUT, he will either define Church as both Catholics and those who are ignorant of the Catholic Faith, or he will say that there are also invisible members of the Church, but this is a novus ordo modern invention. In Tradition you do not have a visible and an invisible church. The Church has always been visible. <br />
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My hope is that people will have the strength and courage to look into this, so that they will not loose their souls. It is a very important topic. I also have some Church documents published on this blog, just look for the Latin titles. </div>
Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-60866745038073960462012-01-10T10:08:00.000-08:002012-01-10T10:13:47.954-08:00The best time to be alive!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aFNq8Ttkq8s/Twx-a--HqPI/AAAAAAAAAHo/KE1gfLnTrHg/s1600/Lydiamarsapril+262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" kba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aFNq8Ttkq8s/Twx-a--HqPI/AAAAAAAAAHo/KE1gfLnTrHg/s320/Lydiamarsapril+262.jpg" width="240px" /></a>Of course all generations face challenges, and to be Catholic in a time when many, most of the time, don't even have a Mass to go to, is certainly a great punishment for our sins. A generation who has not been found worthy to celebrate the great Sacrifice, to go to Confession on a regular basis, to have the last Sacrament in time of death.. I keep reminding myself that God put me on earth during this time, at this place on earth because it is the very best time for me to live, serve and be saved from the fires of hell. Why this is the best time for me, I do not know, but it is the same for every soul. You have been given times and borders for a reason. God knows why, and that is all that is important. And so I need to remind myself that this is my God-given time. Thank you God! Help me to use it well, to be the best that I can be through Your Grace and to never give up, compromise or despair. Remember, when God called Joshua He commanded him to "be strong and of good courage, to not be afraid nor dismayed!" I decided that the following words deserved a blogpost on their own: From the publishers introduction to the book "The Catholic Controversy", by St. Francis de Sales..</div><br />
Salesian tradition tells us that when St. Francis de Sales as a young priest arrived at Chablais, France in 1594, only 27 persons out of 72 000 were still Catholic (The rest were Calvinist), but after 4 years of his efforts, the figure was exactly reversed, there remaining only 27 Calvinists: 72 000 souls had returned to the True Faith. It is one of the most remarkable conversion stories in all Catholic history. People were afraid to listen to him preach, and so he dedicated himself to writing pamphlets to slide under the doors. He kept in mind a warning of Vincent of Lerins: <br />
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<strong><em>"Teach, however, what thou hast learnt; that whilst thou sayest things in a new way thou say not new things."</em></strong><br />
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St. Francis begins his argument with an examination of mission from God, showing that the Catholic Church possesses this mission and the Protestant sects do not. He also delineates eight Rules of Faith- Holy Scripture, the Apostolic Traditions, the authority of the Church, the authority of Councils, the authority of the ancient Fathers of the Church, the authority of the Pope, miracles, and the harmony between faith and reason- showing how all point to the Catholic Faith as the divinely given religion. He states: "Ultimately, however, the sole and true Rule of right-believing is the Word of God preached by the Church of God." But why, he asks, should anyone bow to the supposed authority of a Luther or a Calvin?<br />
Our admiration of St. Francis´ technique must not blind us to the fact that his weapons were first of all spiritual. He had planned to take Geneva by love- "Love will shake the walls of Geneva." "Ardent prayer must break down the walls of Geneva and brotherly love charge them.." "But the way to this is the propitiation of Almighty God by our penances." A huge mural in the Visitation Monastery of Thonon in the Chablais gives us another clue to the Saint's success: It pictures him and his cousin Louis invoking the Guardian Angel of the diocese as they approached the region for the first time. And it will be recalled that in his youth St. Francis had promised Our Lady to pray the Rosary daily.<br />
There were also miracles. A baby, the child of a Protestant mother, had died without baptism. St. Francis had gone to speak to the mother about Catholic doctrine, and prayed that the child would be restored to life long enough to receive Baptism. His prayer was granted and the whole family became Catholic.<br />
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Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Blessed art Thou among women</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">and Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb Jesus.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Holy Mary, Mother of God,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Amen</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div>Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-74988929806437769512011-08-07T08:10:00.000-07:002011-08-07T08:10:34.192-07:00Brittish press-conference after the Oslo-attacks!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h5CZ_AVyRzg" width="425"></iframe><br />
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Brittish muslims proclaim that "Islam is coming like a sunami-wave over Europe". They want to impose islamic laws (shari`ah) upon all European capitals, including Oslo, in a new kingdom that they call "Eurabia.."</div>Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-81044862390479191402011-07-27T05:41:00.000-07:002011-07-27T05:41:31.074-07:00A fast for Norway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2oDvSfOvS-s/TjAFCnljmwI/AAAAAAAAAHg/vL6PBmcIiPo/s1600/St-olav-kiste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2oDvSfOvS-s/TjAFCnljmwI/AAAAAAAAAHg/vL6PBmcIiPo/s1600/St-olav-kiste.jpg" /></a></div>In these days after the Utøya-killings, Norway is a nation under-going change. In a country with a population just below 5 million, not one is left unaffected in one way or another by the last week's events. People focus on the fact that lives were lost, but no one mentiones the fact that souls were lost. I hope that there are people who will humble themselves and turn to God and His Catholic Church with repentance and sincerity. This up-coming Friday, the 29th of July, we celebrate Norways Patron Saint, Saint Olav, king and martyr. I hope that Catholics around the world will have pitty on my country and offer up some prayers to our beloved Patron Saint Olav for the conversion of my people. There is also traditionally held a vigil in his honor the night before. We don't need flowers, we need that you fast and pray for us. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jGzb_6umtgY/TjAHcQBsXxI/AAAAAAAAAHk/YIZTbKQdq-s/s1600/olso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jGzb_6umtgY/TjAHcQBsXxI/AAAAAAAAAHk/YIZTbKQdq-s/s320/olso.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-18890654824534593522011-07-19T09:18:00.000-07:002011-07-29T07:17:02.554-07:00The evil "revelation" of Angelica Zambrano<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UEVvepVo1yY/TiWuNfMPBPI/AAAAAAAAAHc/rPqzejRn1EM/s1600/Angelica+Zambrano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UEVvepVo1yY/TiWuNfMPBPI/AAAAAAAAAHc/rPqzejRn1EM/s1600/Angelica+Zambrano.jpg" /></a></div>I usually don't pay much attention to these private "revelations" that pop up from time to time. As a former protestant I did, and it was usually a waste of time. But I noticed a "testimony" that was becoming increasingly popular online, and I even found it published on a more traditional Catholic site, because this 18 year old Ecuadorian girl claimes to have seen John Paul II burning in hell because of his idolatry, while she was apparently dead for 23 hours. And so it is tempting for sedevacantists to publish her youtube-testimony to get the word going. And I must say; this girl is very convincing in many ways, and it only makes her testimony more dangerous. So I suffered through the whole thing, trying to find the agenda behind her revelation of Heaven and hell. <br />
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The first thing that comes to mind, is that she- and her mother, who testifies of her death, are not dressed very modestly at all (Just look at how the children of Fatima were dressed). The mother makes it clear that they are not members of a traditional Catholic Church, but of some kind of charismatic movement, although it is hard to know if it is a protestant or some kind of Novus Ordo branch.. So they are fasting and praying, and the daughter receives "supernatural" knowledge of her soon-coming death, and although she tells no one but God, this is also confirmed by a visiting "servant of God." Before this, the daughter admits that she has strayed away into a sinful life, and so she could easily have been exposed to demons, and they could still be with her if she has not confessed her sins sacramentally. Demons could have heard her talking to God, and they could also have put ideas into her mind of what signs to ask for, as well as into the mind of the visiting "servant of God."<br />
The vision itself sounds very conservative and convincing, but there are things that "give her away." For example, she uses a very protestant term when she claimes that Jesus, while showing hell to her, starts crying because He "loves the sinner but hates the sin." This is not Catholic doctrine at all. God would never throw someone He loves into hell, you can not separate the two things. The Bible is clear in many places that <u>God hates the sinner as well, not just the sin.</u> This does not contradict the fact that He loved the world so much that He gave His life for sinners. God loves a contrite heart, but not an obstinate sinner. <br />
A nother thing that contradicts generosity, is the fact that the girl, before dying, decides to give away all her things. But..she tells her friends that if she comes back, she want's them to give it all back to her. This does not sound like an act of charity, and it just makes her testimony less believable. Also, her mother and other laymen are annointing her with oil before she dies. It does not seem like a good thing to do, instead of having a priest give her the last sacraments. Her testimony on youtube goes on for an hour and a half, and she describes how people are suffering in hell for all kinds of sins. There are demons, worms, blasphemies, flames, sulfer, JP II, Michael Jackson and some other singer..even children condemned to hell for disobeying their parents. It all sounds very traditional and scary. And you keep wondering what the agenda really is, if this is of satan. But then, in the end, the heresies build up.<br />
The worst heresy is when she comes to Heaven and Mary, the Mother of God is being shown to her. "Jesus" explains to the girl how "Mary, as well as the other Saints, are completely without knowledge about what's going on down on earth. And the people who venerate them and turn to them for help are IDOLATORS.." She also mentiones the "rapture" very breefly, and claimes that babies in their mothers wombs are being rushed up to heaven, leaving the mothers with empty bellies. This is a terrible rejection of original sin and the necessity of waterbaptism for salvation. This kind of rapture is also a protestant idea, not based on Tradition. She concludes by saying that there will be a time on earth when the Holy Spirit will not be present on earth at all. This also goes against Jesus promises to the Church that His Spirit will guide the Church, and that this Church will stand against the gates of hell unto the end of time. This is not possible for the Church if there is no Holy Spirit around to help. So this revelation is very evil. It should not be used as evidence for sedevacantism and it should not be published on Traditional websites. A revelation that leads people away from the Mother of God is the last thing that the Church needs in these evil times. It just shows how evil and deceiving the devil is, and that even the elect could be deceived. Watch and pray.<br />
</div>Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-69742288544356168112011-07-18T18:55:00.000-07:002011-07-19T04:14:24.699-07:00The UN and the Vatican makes blasphemy a "human right"!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mNgDCxuOvQM/TiTjVafmpYI/AAAAAAAAAHY/h7B5OvWp4MQ/s1600/big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mNgDCxuOvQM/TiTjVafmpYI/AAAAAAAAAHY/h7B5OvWp4MQ/s1600/big.jpg" /></a></div>The <span style="font-family: Verdana;">UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 1618 passed in March 2011. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">What this generally means, is that in the name of "freedom of speech" it has become a human right to blaspheme. </span>The implementing of this same resolution was signed in Istanbul on the 15th of July 2011.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Among those who signed the resolution were </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Foreign Ministers from the EU, Members of the Arab League , <u><strong>REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VATICAN</strong></u>, US Secretary Clinton and the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The new law focuses on the "protection" of individuals rather than religions.</span>
(Note: The obligation to defend the true faith is being replaced by the right of an individual to criticize and blaspheme the same.) <span style="font-family: Verdana;">Under this resolution, the international community is taking a strong stand for freedom of expression and worship, and against discrimination and violence based upon religion or belief.</span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The document goes on to explain how "these are fundamental freedoms that belong to all people in all places, and they are certainly essential to democracy."</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Participants are encouraged to consider to provide updates, as part of ongoing reporting to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on steps taken at the national level on the implementation of Resolution 16/18, building also on related measures in the other resolutions adopted by consensus on freedom of religion or belief and on the <strong><u>ELIMINATION OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE</u></strong> and discrimination.</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">And now the time has come for them to move to implementation. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The resolution calls upon states to protect freedom of religion, to counter offensive expression through education, INTERFAITH DIALOGUE, and public debate, and to prohibit discrimination, profiling, and hate crimes, but not to criminalize speech unless there is an incitement to imminent violence. They will be looking to all countries to hold themselves accountable and to join them in reporting to the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights on their progress in taking these steps.</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Quote: "In Europe, we are seeing communities coming together to address both the old scourge of anti-Semitism and the new strains of anti-Muslim bias that continue to undermine the continent’s democratic ideals. Across the Middle East and Asia, we look to both people and leaders to resist the incitement of extremists who seek to inflame sectarian tensions, and reject the persecution of religious minorities such as the Copts or Ahmadis or Baha’is." </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Note how there is NOTHING about anti-Catholicism mentioned. It's the one (true) faith that no one needs to address I guess.. And so the Vatican, with a true Novus Ordo spirit continues to laugh at God's commandments by making a transgression of the First and Second Commandment a HUMAN RIGHT.. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">To read more about it I recommend these two links:</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<a href="http://www.oic-oci.org/topic_detail.asp?t_id=5503">http://www.oic-oci.org/topic_detail.asp?t_id=5503</a>
<a href="http://grendelreport.posterous.com/is-the-istanbul-declaration-really-pushback-a">http://grendelreport.posterous.com/is-the-istanbul-declaration-really-pushback-a</a></span></span></span></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-75613410507773176822011-07-11T07:04:00.000-07:002011-07-11T07:38:33.990-07:00Pope Leo XIII "Satis Cognitum"<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: SV;">Are you confused about the state of the Vatican today? Are they following true Catholic life, faith and doctrine? This is a great document for you to read. It speaks about many important issues concerning the UNITY OF THE CHURCH. It explains how all heretics and schismatics are outside of the Church. It explains that those who are outside of the Church do not have salvation. It explains how the Church is a visible- not an unvisible union or body. It shows that even if you should deny only ONE of the teachings of the Church, you are a heretic. It shows how revealed truth never changes or "develop" in new directions. It shows the importance of being in unity with the Roman pontiff (that is- a true Roman pontiff, not an anti-pope who professes heresies.) It is my hope that you, after reading this document, will have the tools and knowledge to realize that the Vatican II Council contradicts all traditional Catholic teaching, that the men behind this council and its supporterts/members are in fact not Catholics but heretics. Why? Because they deny the above-mentioned truths, because they believe that the Church not only include Catholics but also heretics and schismatics (Jews, Muslims, Eastern "Orthodox" and people of "invisible ignorance".) Remember; it is YOUR RESPONSABILITY to learn the Catholic faith, so that you can recognize a heretic when you meet one, and practise Catholic life and save your soul.</span><br />
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ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII <br />
ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: SV;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Our Venerable Brethren, the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Venerable Brethren, Health, and Benediction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is sufficiently well known unto you that no small share of Our thoughts and of Our care is devoted to Our endeavour to bring back to the fold, placed under the guardianship of Jesus Christ, the Chief Pastor of souls, sheep that have strayed. Bent upon this, We have thought it most conducive to this salutary end and purpose to describe the exemplar and, as it were, the lineaments of the Church. Amongst these the most worthy of Our chief consideration is Unity. This the Divine Author impressed on it as a lasting sign of truth and of unconquerable strength. The essential beauty and comeliness of the Church ought greatly to influence the minds of those who consider it. Nor is it improbable that ignorance may be dispelled by the consideration; that false ideas and prejudices may be dissipated from the minds chiefly of those who find themselves in error without fault of theirs; and that even a love for the Church may be stirred up in the souls of men, like unto that charity wherewith Christ loved and united himself to that spouse redeemedby His precious blood. "Christ loved the Church, and delivered Himself up for it" (Eph. v., 25). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If those about to come back to their most loving Mother (not yet fully known, or culpably abandoned) should perceive that their return involves, not indeed the shedding of their blood (at which price nevertheless the Church was bought by Jesus Christ), but some lesser trouble and labour, let them clearly understand that this burden has been laid on them not by the will of man but by the will and command of God. They may thus, by the help of heavenly grace, realize and feel the truth of the divine saying, "My yoke is sweet and my burden light" (Matt. xi., 30). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wherefore, having put all Our hope in the "Father of lights," from whom "cometh every best gift and every perfect gift" (Ep. James i., 17) - from Him, namely, who alone "gives the increase" (I Cor. iii., 6) - We earnestly pray that He will graciously grant Us the power of bringing conviction home to the minds of men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Human Co-operation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. Although God can do by His own power all that is effected by created natures, nevertheless in the counsels of His loving Providence He has preferred to help men by the instrumentality of men. And, as in the natural order He does not usually give full perfection except by means of man's work and action, so also He makes use of human aid for that which lies beyond the limits of nature, that is to say, for the sanctification and salvation of souls. But it is obvious that nothing can be communicated amongst men save by means of external things which the senses can perceive. For this reason the Son of God assumed human nature-"who being in the form of God.... emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of man" (Philipp. ii., 6,7)-and thus living on earth He taught his doctrine and gave His laws, conversing with men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Church Always Visible<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. And, since it was necessary that His divine mission should be perpetuated to the end of rime, He took to Himself Disciples, trained by himself, and made them partakers of His own authority. And, when He had invoked upon them from Heaven the Spirit of Truth, He bade them go through the whole world and faithfully preach to all nations, what He had taught and what He had commanded, so that by the profession of His doctrine, and the observance of His laws, the human race might attain to holiness on earth and never-ending happiness in Heaven. In this wise, and on this principle, the Church was begotten. If we consider the chief end of His Church and the proximate efficient causes of salvation, it is undoubtedly spiritual; but in regard to those who constitute it, and to the things which lead to these spiritual gifts, it is external and necessarily visible. The Apostles received a mission to teach by visible and audible signs, and they discharged their mission only by words and acts which certainly appealed to the senses. So that their voices falling upon the ears of those who heard them begot faith in souls-"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the words of Christ" (Rom. x., 17). And faith itself - that is assent given to the first and supreme truth - though residing essentially in the intellect, must be manifested by outward profession-"For with the heart we believe unto justice, but with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. x., 10). In the same way in man, nothing is more internal than heavenly grace which begets sanctity, but the ordinary and chief means of obtaining grace are external: that is to say, the sacraments which are administered by men specially chosen for that purpose, by means of certain ordinances. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus Christ commanded His Apostles and their successors to the end of time to teach and rule the nations. He ordered the nations to accept their teaching and obey their authority. But his correlation of rights and duties in the Christian commonwealth not only could not have been made permanent, but could not even have been initiated except through the senses, which are of all things the messengers and interpreters. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For this reason the Church is so often called in Holy Writ a body, and even the body of Christ - "Now you are the body of Christ" (I Cor. xii., 27)-and precisely because it is a body is the Church visible: and because it is the body of Christ is it living and energizing, because by the infusion of His power Christ guards and sustains it, just as the vine gives nourishment and renders fruitful the branches united to it. And as in animals the vital principle is unseen and invisible, and is evidenced and manifested by the movements and action of the members, so the principle of supernatural life in the Church is clearly shown in that which is done by it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From this it follows that those who arbitrarily conjure up and picture to themselves a hidden and invisible Church are in grievous and pernicious error: as also are those who regard the Church as a human institution which claims a certain obedience in discipline and external duties, but which is without the perennial communication of the gifts of divine grace, and without all that which testifies by constant and undoubted signs to the existence of that life which is drawn from God. It is assuredly as impossible that the Church of Jesus Christ can be the one or the other, as that man should be a body alone or a soul alone. The connection and union of both elements is as absolutely necessary to the true Church as the intimate union of the soul and body is to human nature. The Church is not something dead: it is the body of Christ endowed with supernatural life. As Christ, the Head and Exemplar, is not wholly in His visible human nature, which Photinians and Nestorians assert, nor wholly in the invisible divine nature, as the Monophysites hold, but is one, from and in both natures, visible and invisible; so the mystical body of Christ is the true Church, only because its visible parts draw life and power from the supernatural gifts and other things whence spring their very nature and essence. But since the Church is such by divine will and constitution, such it must uniformly remain to the end of time. If it did not, then it would not have been founded as perpetual, and the end set before it would have been limited to some certain place and to some certain period of time; both of which are contrary to the truth. The union consequently of visible and invisible elements because it harmonizes with the natural order and by God's will belongs to the very essence of the Church, must necessarily remain so long as the Church itself shall endure. Wherefore Chrysostom writes: "Secede not from the Church: for nothing is stronger than the Church. Thy hope is the Church; thy salvation is the Church; thy refuge is the Church. It is higher than the heavens and wider than the earth. It never grows old, but is ever full of vigour. Wherefore Holy Writ pointing to its strength and stability calls it a mountain" (Hom. De capto Eutropio, n. 6). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also Augustine says: "Unbelievers think that the Christian religion will last for a certain period in the world and will then disappear. But it will remain as long as the sun - as long as the sun rises and sets: that is, as long as the ages of time shall roll, the Church of God - the true body of Christ on earth - will not disappear" (In Psalm. lxx., n. 8). And in another place: "The Church will totter if its foundation shakes; but how can Christ be moved?...Christ remaining immovable, it (the Church), shall never be shaken. Where are they that say that the Church has disappeared from the world, when it cannot even be shaken?" (Enarratio in Psalm. ciii., sermo ii., n. 5).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He who seeks the truth must be guided by these fundamental principles. That is to say, that Christ the Lord instituted and formed the Church: wherefore when we are asked what its nature is, the main thing is to see what Christ wished and what in fact He did. Judged by such a criterion it is the unity of the Church which must be principally considered; and of this, for the general good, it has seemed useful to speak in this Encyclical. ,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How Christ Made His Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. It is so evident from the clear and frequent testimonies of Holy Writ that the true Church of Jesus Christ is one, that no Christian can dare to deny it. But in judging and determining the nature of this unity many have erred in various ways. Not the foundation of the Church alone, but its whole constitution, belongs to the class of things effected by Christ's free choice. For this reason the entire case must be judged by what was actually done. We must consequently investigate not how the Church may possibly be one, but how He, who founded it, willed that it should be one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But when we consider what was actually done we find that Jesus Christ did not, in point of fact, institute a Church to embrace several communities similar in nature, but in themselves distinct, and lacking those bonds which render the Church unique and indivisible after that manner in which in the symbol of our faith we profess: "I believe in one Church."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"The Church in respect of its unity belongs to the category of things indivisible by nature, though heretics try to divide it into many parts...We say, therefore, that the Catholic Church is unique in its essence, in its doctrine, in its origin, and in its excellence...Furthermore, the eminence of the Church arises from its unity, as the principle of its constitution - a unity surpassing all else, and having nothing like unto it or equal to it" (S. Clemens Alexandrinus, Stronmatum lib. viii., c. 17). For this reason Christ, speaking of the mystical edifice, mentions only one Church, which he calls His own-"I will build my church;" any other Church except this one, since it has not been founded by Christ, cannot be the true Church. This becomes even more evident when the purpose of the Divine Founder is considered. For what did Christ, the Lord, ask? What did He wish in regard to the Church founded, or about to be founded? This: to transmit to it the same mission and the same mandate which He had received from the Father, that they should be perpetuated. This He clearly resolved to do: this He actually did. "As the Father hath sent me, I also send you" (John xx., 21). "As thou hast sent Me into the world I also have sent them into the world" (John xvii., 18).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the mission of Christ is to save that which had perished: that is to say, not some nations or peoples, but the whole human race, without distinction of time or place. "The Son of Man came that the world might be saved by Him" (John iii., 17). "For there is no other name under Heaven given to men whereby we must be saved" (Acts iv., 12). The Church, therefore, is bound to communicate without stint to all men, and to transmit through all ages, the salvation effected by Jesus Christ, and the blessings flowing there from. Wherefore, by the will of its Founder, it is necessary that this Church should be one in all lands and at all times. to justify the existence of more than one Church it would be necessary to go outside this world, and to create a new and unheard-of race of men.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That the one Church should embrace all men everywhere and at all times was seen and foretold by Isaiah, when looking into the future he saw the appearance of a mountain conspicuous by its all surpassing altitude, which set forth the image of "The House of the Lord" - that is, of the Church, "And in the last days the mountain of the House of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of the mountains" (Isa. ii., 2). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But this mountain which towers over all other mountains is one; and the House of the Lord to which all nations shall come to seek the rule of living is also one. "And all nations shall flow into it. And many people shall go, and say: Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths" (Ibid., ii., 2-3).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Explaining this passage, Optatus of Milevis says: "It is written in the prophet Isaiah: 'from Sion the law shall go forth and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.' For it is not on Mount Sion that Isaiah sees the valley, but on the holy mountain, that is, the Church, which has raised itself conspicuously throughout the entire Roman world under the whole heavens....The Church is, therefore, the spiritual Sion in which Christ has been constituted King by God the Father, and which exists throughout the entire earth, on which there is but one Catholic Church" (De Schism. Donatist., lib. iii., n. 2). And Augustine says: "What can be so manifest as a mountain, or so well known? There are, it is true, mountains which are unknown because they are situated in some remote part of the earth.....But this mountain is not unknown; for it has filled the whole face of the world, and about this it is said that it is prepared on the summit of the mountains" (In Ep. Joan., tract i., n. 13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christ the Head of the Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. Furthermore, the Son of God decreed that the Church should be His mystical body, with which He should be united as the Head, after the manner of the human body which He assumed, to which the natural head is physiologically united. As He took to Himself a mortal body, which He gave to suffering and death in order to pay the price of man's redemption, so also He has one mystical body in which and through which He renders men partakers of holiness and of eternal salvation. God "hath made Him (Christ) head over all the Church, which is His body" (Eph. i., 22-23). Scattered and separated members cannot possibly cohere with the head so as to make one body. But St. Paul says: "All members of the body, whereas they are many, yet are one body, so also is Christ" (I Cor. xii., 12). Wherefore this mystical body, he declares, is "compacted and fitly jointed together. The head, Christ: from whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly jointed together, by what every joint supplieth according to the operation in the measure of every part" (Eph. iv., 15-16). And so dispersed members, separated one from the other, cannot be united with one and the same head. "There is one God, and one Christ; and His Church is one and the faith is one; and one the people, joined together in the solid unity of the body in the bond of concord. This unity cannot be broken, nor the one body divided by the separation of its constituent parts" (S. Cyprianus, De Cath. Eccl. Unitate, n. 23). And to set forth more clearly the unity of the Church, he makes use of the illustration of a living body, the members of which cannot possibly live unless united to the head and drawing from it their vital force. Separated from the head they must of necessity die. "The Church," he says, "cannot be divided into parts by the separation and cutting asunder of its members. What is cut away from the mother cannot live or breathe apart" (Ibid.). What similarity is there between a dead and a living body? "For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the Church: because we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones" (Eph. v., 29-30). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another head like to Christ must be invented - that is, another Christ - if besides the one Church, which is His body, men wish to set up another. "See what you must beware of - see what you must avoid - see what you must dread. It happens that, as in the human body, some member may be cut off - a hand, a finger, a foot. Does the soul follow the amputated member? As long as it was in the body, it lived; separated, it forfeits its life. So the Christian is a Catholic as long as he lives in the body: cut off from it he becomes a heretic - the life of the spirit follows not the amputated member" (S. Augustinus, Sermo cclxvii., n. 4). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Church of Christ, therefore, is one and the same for ever; those who leave it depart from the will and command of Christ, the Lord - leaving the path of salvation they enter on that of perdition. "Whosoever is separated from the Church is united to an adulteress. He has cut himself off from the promises of the Church, and he who leaves the Church of Christ cannot arrive at the rewards of Christ....He who observes not this unity observes not the law of God, holds not the faith of the Father and the Son, clings not to life and salvation" (S. Cyprianus, De Cath. Eccl. Unitate, n. 6).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unity in Faith<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6. But He, indeed, Who made this one Church, also gave it unity, that is, He made it such that all who are to belong to it must be united by the closest bonds, so as to form one society, one kingdom, one body - "one body and one spirit as you are called in one hope of your calling (Eph. iv., 4). Jesus Christ, when His death was nigh at hand, declared His will in this matter, and solemnly offered it up, thus addressing His Father: "Not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in Me...that they also may be one in Us...that they may be made perfect in one" (John xvii., 20-21 23). Yea, He commanded that this unity should be so closely knit and so perfect amongst His followers that it might, in some measure, shadow forth the union between Himself and His Father: "I pray that they all may be one as Thou Father in Me and I in Thee" (Ibid. 21).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Agreement and union of minds is the necessary foundation of this perfect concord amongst men, from which concurrence of wills and similarity of action are the natural results. Wherefore, in His divine wisdom, He ordained in His Church Unity of Faith; a virtue which is the first of those bonds which unite man to God, and whence we receive the name of the faithful - "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Eph. iv., 5). That is, as there is one Lord and one baptism, so should all Christians, without exception, have but one faith. And so the Apostle St. Paul not merely begs, but entreats and implores Christians to be all of the same mind, and to avoid difference of opinions: "I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no schisms amongst you, and that you be perfect in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Cor. i., 10). Such passages certainly need no interpreter; they speak clearly enough for themselves. Besides, all who profess Christianity allow that there can be but one faith. It is of the greatest importance and indeed of absolute necessity, as to which many are deceived, that the nature and character of this unity should be recognized. And, as We have already stated, this is not to be ascertained by conjecture, but by the certain knowledge of what was done; that is by seeking for and ascertaining what kind of unity in faith has been commanded by Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Kind of Unity in Faith Commanded by Christ<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7. The heavenly doctrine of Christ, althoughfor the most part committed to writing by divine inspiration, could not unite the minds of men if left to the human intellect alone. It would, for this very reason, be subject to various and contradictory interpretations. This is so, not only because of the nature of the doctrine itself and of the mysteries it involves, but also because of the divergencies of the human mind and of the disturbing element of conflicting passions. From a variety of interpretations a variety of beliefs is necessarily begotten; hence come controversies, dissensions and wranglings such as have arisen in the past, even in the first ages of the Church. Irenaeus writes of heretics as follows: "Admitting the sacred Scriptures they distort the interpretations" (Lib. iii., cap. 12, n. 12). And Augustine: "Heresies have arisen, and certain perverse views ensnaring souls and precipitating them into the abyss only when the Scriptures, good in themselves, are not properly understood" (In Evang. Joan., tract xviii., cap. 5, n. I). Besides Holy Writ it was absolutely necessary to insure this union of men's minds - to effect and preserve unity of ideas - that there should be another principle. This the wisdom of God requires: for He could not have willed that the faith should be one if He did not provide means sufficient for the preservation of this unity; and this Holy Writ clearly sets forth as We shall presently point out. Assuredly the infinite power of God is not bound by anything, all things obey it as so many passive instruments. In regard to this external principle, therefore, we must inquire which one of all the means in His power Christ did actually adopt. For this purpose it is necessary to recall in thought the institution of Christianity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Magisterium (or Teaching Authority) of the Church to be Perpetual<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8. We are mindful only of what is witnessed to by Holy Writ and what is otherwise well known. Christ proves His own divinity and the divine origin of His mission by miracles; He teaches the multitudes heavenly doctrine by word of mouth; and He absolutely commands that the assent of faith should be given to His teaching, promising eternal rewards to those who believe and eternal punishment to those who do not. "If I do not the works of my Father, believe Me not" (John x., 37). "If I had not done among them the works than no other man had done, they would not have sin" (Ibid. xv., 24). "But if I do (the works) though you will not believe Me, believe the works" (Ibid. x., 38). Whatsoever He commands, He commands by the same authority. He requires the assent of the mind to all truths without exception. It was thus the duty of all who heard Jesus Christ, if they wished for eternal salvation, not merely to accept His doctrine as a whole, but to assent with their entire mind to all and every point of it, since it is unlawful to withhold faith from God even in regard to one single point. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When about to ascend into heaven He sends His Apostles in virtue of the same power by which He had been sent from the Father; and he charges them to spread abroad and propagate His teaching. "All power is given to Me in Heaven and in earth. Going therefore teach all nations....teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matt. xxviii., 18-19-20). So that those obeying the Apostles might be saved, and those disobeying should perish. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believed not shall be condemned" (Mark xvi., 16). But since it is obviously most in harmony with God's providence that no one should have confided to him a great and important mission unless he were furnished with the means of properly carrying it out, for this reason Christ promised that He would send the Spirit of Truth to His Disciples to remain with them for ever. "But if I go I will send Him (the Paraclete) to you....But when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will teach you all truth" (John xvi., 7-13). "And I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever, the Spirit of 'Truth" (Ibid. xiv., 16-17). "He shall give testimony of Me, and you shall give testimony" (Ibid. xv., 26-27). Hence He commands that the teaching of the Apostles should be religiously accepted and piously kept as if it were His own - "He who hears you hears Me, he who despises you despises Me" (Luke x., 16). Wherefore the Apostles are ambassadors of Christ as He is the ambassador of the Father. "As the Father sent Me so also I send you" (John xx., 21). Hence as the Apostles and Disciples were bound to obey Christ, so also those whom the Apostles taught were, by God's command, bound to obey them. And, therefore, it was no more allowable to repudiate one iota of the Apostles' teaching than it was to reject any point of the doctrine of Christ Himself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Truly the voice of the Apostles, when the Holy Ghost had come down upon them, resounded throughout the world. Wherever they went they proclaimed themselves the ambassadors of Christ Himself. "By whom (Jesus Christ) we have received grace and Apostleship for obedience to the faith in all nations for His name" (Rom. i., 5). And God makes known their divine mission by numerous miracles. "But they going forth preached everywhere: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed" (Mark xvi., 20). But what is this word? That which comprehends all things, that which they had learnt from their Master; because they openly and publicly declare that they cannot help speaking of what they had seen and heard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But, as we have already said, the Apostolic mission was not destined to die with the Apostles themselves, or to come to an end in the course of time, since it was intended for the people at large and instituted for the salvation of the human race. For Christ commanded His Apostles to preach the "Gospel to every creature, to carry His name to nations and kings, and to be witnesses to him to the ends of the earth." He further promised to assist them in the fulfilment of their high mission, and that, not for a few years or centuries only, but for all time - "even to the consummation of the world." Upon which St. Jerome says: "He who promises to remain with His Disciples to the end of the world declares that they will be for ever victorious, and that He will never depart from those who believe in Him" (In Matt., lib. iv., cap. 28, v. 20). But how could all this be realized in the Apostles alone, placed as they were under the universal law of dissolution by death? It was consequently provided by God that the Magisterium instituted by Jesus Christ should not end with the life of the Apostles, but that it should be perpetuated. We see it in truth propagated, and, as it were, delivered from hand to hand. For the Apostles consecrated bishops, and each one appointed those who were to succeed them immediately "in the ministry of the word." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nay more: they likewise required their successors to choose fitting men, to endow them with like authority, and to confide to them the office and mission of teaching. "Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus: and the things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same command to faithful men, who shall be fit to teach others also" (2 Tim. ii., I-2). Wherefore, as Christ was sent by God and the Apostles by Christ, so the Bishops and those who succeeded them were sent by the Apostles. "The Apostles were appointed by Christ to preach the Gospel to us. Jesus Christ was sent by God. Christ is therefore from God, and the Apostles from Christ, and both according to the will of God....Preaching therefore the word through the countries and cities, when they had proved in the Spirit the first-fruits of their teaching they appointed bishops and deacons for the faithful....They appointed them and then ordained them, so that when they themselves had passed away other tried men should carry on their ministry" (S. Clemens Rom. Epist. I ad Corinth. capp. 42, 44). On the one hand, therefore, it is necessary that the mission of teaching whatever Christ had taught should remain perpetual and immutable, and on the other that the duty of accepting and professing all their doctrine should likewise be perpetual and immutable. "Our Lord Jesus Christ, when in His Gospel He testifies that those who not are with Him are His enemies, does not designate any special form of heresy, but declares that all heretics who are not with Him and do not gather with Him, scatter His flock and are His adversaries: He that is not with Me is against Me, and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth" (S. Cyprianus, Ep. lxix., ad Magnum, n. I).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every Revealed Truth, without Exception, Must be Accepted<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9. The Church, founded on these principles and mindful of her office, has done nothing with greater zeal and endeavour than she has displayed in guarding the integrity of the faith. Hence she regarded as rebels and expelled from the ranks of her children all who held beliefs on any point of doctrine different from her own. The Arians, the Montanists, the Novatians, the Quartodecimans, the Eutychians, did not certainly reject all Catholic doctrine: they abandoned only a tertian portion of it. Still who does not know that they were declared heretics and banished from the bosom of the Church? In like manner were condemned all authors of heretical tenets who followed them in subsequent ages. "There can be nothing more dangerous than those heretics who admit nearly the whole cycle of doctrine, and yet by one word, as with a drop of poison, infect the real and simple faith taught by our Lord and handed down by Apostolic tradition" (Auctor Tract. de Fide Orthodoxa contra Arianos).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The practice of the Church has always been the same, as is shown by the unanimous teaching of the Fathers, who were wont to hold as outside Catholic communion, and alien to the Church, whoever would recede in the least degree from any point of doctrine proposed by her authoritative Magisterium. Epiphanius, Augustine, Theodoret, drew up a long list of the heresies of their times. St. Augustine notes that other heresies may spring up, to a single one of which, should any one give his assent, he is by the very fact cut off from Catholic unity. "No one who merely disbelieves in all (these heresies) can for that reason regard himself as a Catholic or call himself one. For there may be or may arise some other heresies, which are not set out in this work of ours, and, if any one holds to one single one of these he is not a Catholic" (S. Augustinus, De Haeresibus, n. 88). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The need of this divinely instituted means for the preservation of unity, about which we speak is urged by St. Paul in his epistle to the Ephesians. In this he first admonishes them to preserve with every care concord of minds: "Solicitous to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. iv., 3, et seq.). And as souls cannot be perfectly united in charity unless minds agree in faith, he wishes all to hold the same faith: "One Lord, one faith," and this so perfectly one as to prevent all danger of error: "that henceforth we be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive" (Eph. iv., 14): and this he teaches is to be observed, not for a time only-"but until we all meet in the unity of faith...unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ" (13). But, in what has Christ placed the primary principle, and the means of preserving this unity? In that-"He gave some Apostles-and other some pastors and doctors, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (11-12). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wherefore, from the very earliest times the fathers and doctors of the Church have been accustomed to follow and, with one accord to defend this rule. Origen writes: "As often as the heretics allege the possession of the canonical scriptures, to which all Christians give unanimous assent, they seem to say: `Behold the word of truth is in the houses.' But we should believe them not and abandon not the primary and ecclesiastical tradition. We should believe not otherwise than has been handed down by the tradition of the Church of God" (Vetus Interpretatio Commentariorum in Matt. n. 46). Irenaeus too says: "The doctrine of the Apostles is the true faith...which is known to us through the Episcopal succession...which has reached even unto our age by the very fact that the Scriptures have been zealously guarded and fully interpreted" (Contra Haereses, lib. iv., cap. 33, n. 8). And Tertullian: "It is therefore clear that all doctrine which agrees with that of the Apostolic churches - the matrices and original centres of the faith, must be looked upon as the truth, holding without hesitation that the Church received it from the Apostles, the Apostles from Christ and Christ from God....We are in communion with the Apostolic churches, and by the very fact that they agree amongst themselves we have a testimony of the truth" (De Praescrip., cap. xxxi). And so Hilary: "Christ teaching from the ship signifies that those who are outside the Church can never grasp the divine teaching; for the ship typifies the Church where the word of life is deposited and preached.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those who are outside are like sterile and worthless sand: they cannot comprehend" (Comment. in Matt. xiii., n. I). Rufinus praises Gregory of Nazianzum and Basil because "they studied the text of Holy Scripture alone, and took the interpretation of its meaning not from their own inner consciousness, but from the writings and on the authority of the ancients, who in their turn, as it is clear, took their rule for understanding the meaning from the Apostolic succession" (Hist. Eccl., lib. ii., cap. 9). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wherefore, as appears from what has been said, Christ instituted in the Church a living, authoritative and permanent Magisterium, which by His own power He strengthened, by the Spirit of truth He taught, and by miracles confirmed. He willed and ordered, under the gravest penalties, that its teachings should be received as if they were His own. As often, therefore, as it is declared on the authority of this teaching that this or that is contained in the deposit of divine revelation, it must be believed by every one as true. If it could in any way be false, an evident contradiction follows; for then God Himself would be the author of error in man. "Lord, if we be in error, we are being deceived by Thee" (Richardus de S. Victore, De Trin., lib. i., cap. 2). In this wise, all cause for doubting being removed, can it be lawful for anyone to reject any one of those truths without by the very fact falling into heresy?-without separating himself from the Church?-without repudiating in one sweeping act the whole of Christian teaching? For such is the nature of faith that nothing can be more absurd than to accept some things and reject others. Faith, as the Church teaches, is "that supernatural virtue by which, through the help of God and through the assistance of His grace, we believe what he has revealed to be true, not on account of the intrinsic truth perceived by the natural light of reason, but because of the authority of God Himself, the Revealer, who can neither deceive nor be deceived" (Conc. Vat., Sess. iii., cap. 3). If then it be certain that anything is revealed by God, and this is not believed, then nothing whatever is believed by divine Faith: for what the Apostle St. James judges to be the effect of a moral deliquency, the same is to be said of an erroneous opinion in the matter of faith. "Whosoever shall offend in one point, is become guilty of all" (Ep. James ii., 10). Nay, it applies with greater force to an erroneous opinion. For it can be said with less truth that every law is violated by one who commits a single sin, since it may be that he only virtually despises the majesty of God the Legislator. But he who dissents even in one point from divinely revealed truth absolutely rejects all faith, since he thereby refuses to honour God as the supreme truth and the formal motive of faith. "In many things they are with me, in a few things not with me; but in those few things in which they are not with me the many things in which they are will not profit them" (S. Augustinus in Psal. liv., n. 19). And this indeed most deservedly; for they, who take from Christian doctrine what they please, lean on their own judgments, not on faith; and not "bringing into captivity every understanding unto the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. x., 5), they more truly obey themselves than God. "You, who believe what you like, believe yourselves rather than the gospel" (S. Augustinus, lib. xvii., Contra Faustum Manichaeum, cap. 3).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For this reason the Fathers of the Vatican Council laid down nothing new, but followed divine revelation and the acknowledged and invariable teaching of the Church as to the very nature of faith, when they decreed as follows: "All those things are to be believed by divine and Catholic faith which are contained in the written or unwritten word of God, and which are proposed by the Church as divinely revealed, either by a solemn definition or in the exercise of its ordinary and universal Magisterium" (Sess. iii., cap. 3). Hence, as it is clear that God absolutely willed that there should be unity in His Church, and as it is evident what kind of unity He willed, and by means of what principle He ordained that this unity should be maintained, we may address the following words of St. Augustine to all who have not deliberately closed their minds to the truth: "When we see the great help of God, such manifest progress and such abundant fruit, shall we hesitate to take refuge in the bosom of that Church, which, as is evident to all, possesses the supreme authority of the Apostolic See through the Episcopal succession? In vain do heretics rage round it; they are condemned partly by the judgment of the people themselves, partly by the weight of councils, partly by the splendid evidence of miracles. To refuse to the Church the primacy is most impious and above measure arrogant. And if all learning, no matter how easy and common it may be, in order to be fully understood requires a teacher and master, what can be greater evidence of pride and rashness than to be unwilling to learn about the books of the divine mysteries from the proper interpreter, and to wish to condemn them unknown?" (De Unitate Credendi, cap. xvii., n. 35). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is then undoubtedly the office of the church to guard Christian doctrine and to propagate it in its integrity and purity. But this is not all: the object for which the Church has been instituted is not wholly attained by the performance of this duty. For, since Jesus Christ delivered Himself up for the salvation of the human race, and to this end directed all His teaching and commands, so He ordered the Church to strive, by the truth of its doctrine, to sanctify and to save mankind. But faith alone cannot compass so great, excellent, and important an end. There must needs be also the fitting and devout worship of God, which is to be found chiefly in the divine Sacrifice and in the dispensation of the Sacraments, as well as salutary laws and discipline. All these must be found in the Church, since it continues the mission of the Saviour for ever. The Church alone offers to the human race that religion-that state of absolute perfection - which He wished, as it were, to be incorporated in it. And it alone supplies those means of salvation which accord with the ordinary counsels of Providence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Church a Divine Society<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10. But as this heavenly doctrine was never left to the arbitrary judgment of private individuals, but, in the beginning delivered by Jesus Christ, was afterwards committed by Him exclusively to the Magisterium already named, so the power of performing and administering the divine mysteries, together with the authority of ruling and governing, was not bestowed by God on all Christians indiscriminately, but on certain chosen persons. For to the Apostles and their legitimate successors alone these words have reference: "Going into the whole world preach the Gospel." "Baptizing them." "Do this in commemoration of Me." "Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven them." And in like manner He ordered the Apostles only and those who should lawfully succeed them to feed - that is to govern with authority - all Christian souls. Whence it also follows that it is necessarily the duty of Christians to be subject and to obey. And these duties of the Apostolic office are, in general, all included in the words of St. Paul: "Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God" (I Cor. iv., I). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wherefore Jesus Christ bade all men, present and future, follow Him as their leader and Saviour; and this, not merely as individuals, but as forming a society, organized and united in mind. In this way a duly constituted society should exist, formed out of the divided multitude of peoples, one in faith, one in end, one in the participation of the means adapted to the attainment of the end, and one as subject to one and the same authority. To this end He established in the Church all principles which necessarily tend to make organized human societies, and through which they attain the perfection proper to each. That is, in it (the Church), all who wished to be the sons of God by adoption might attain to the perfection demanded by their high calling, and might obtain salvation. The Church, therefore, as we have said, is man's guide to whatever pertains to Heaven. This is the office appointed unto it by God: that it may watch over and may order all that concerns religion, and may, without let or hindrance, exercise, according to its judgment, its charge over Christianity. Wherefore they who pretend that the Church has any wish to interfere in Civil matters, or to infringe upon the rights of the State, know it not, or wickedly calumniate it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God indeed even made the Church a society far more perfect than any other. For the end for which the Church exists is as much higher than the end of other societies as divine grace is above nature, as immortal blessings are above the transitory things on the earth. Therefore the Church is a society divine in its origin, supernatural in its end and in means proximately adapted to the attainment of that end; but it is a human community inasmuch as it is composed of men. For this reason we find it called in Holy Writ by names indicating a perfect society. It is spoken of as the House of God, the city placed upon the mountain to which all nations must come. But it is also the fold presided over by one Shepherd, and into which all Christ's sheep must betake themselves. Yea, it is called the kingdom which God has raised up and which will stand for ever. Finally it is the body of Christ - that is, of course, His mystical body, but a body living and duly organized and composed of many members; members indeed which have not all the same functions, but which, united one to the other, are kept bound together by the guidance and authority of the head. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Indeed no true and perfect human society can be conceived which is not governed by some supreme authority. Christ therefore must have given to His Church a supreme authority to which all Christians must render obedience. For this reason, as the unity of the faith is of necessity required for the unity of the church, inasmuch as it is the body of the faithful, so also for this same unity, inasmuch as the Church is a divinely constituted society, unity of government, which effects and involves unity of communion, is necessary jure divino. "The unity of the Church is manifested in the mutual connection or communication of its members, and likewise in the relation of all the members of the Church to one head" (St. Thomas, 2a 2ae, 9, xxxix., a. I). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From this it is easy to see that men can fall away from the unity of the Church by schism, as well as by heresy. "We think that this difference exists between heresy and schism" (writes St. Jerome): "heresy has no perfect dogmatic teaching, whereas schism, through some Episcopal dissent, also separates from the Church" (S. Hieronymus, Comment. in Epist. ad Titum, cap. iii., v. 10-11). In which judgment St. John Chrysostom concurs: "I say and protest (he writes) that it is as wrong to divide the Church as to fall into heresy" (Hom. xi., in Epist. ad Ephes., n. 5). Wherefore as no heresy can ever be justifiable, so in like manner there can be no justification for schism. "There is nothing more grievous than the sacrilege of schism....there can be no just necessity for destroying the unity of the Church" (S. Augustinus, Contra Epistolam Parmeniani, lib. ii., cap. ii., n. 25).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Supreme Authority Founded by Christ<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11. The nature of this supreme authority, which all Christians are bound to obey, can be ascertained only by finding out what was the evident and positive will of Christ. Certainly Christ is a King for ever; and though invisible, He continues unto the end of time to govern and guard His church from Heaven. But since He willed that His kingdom should be visible He was obliged, when He ascended into Heaven, to designate a vice-gerent on earth. "Should anyone say that Christ is the one head and the one shepherd, the one spouse of the one Church, he does not give an adequate reply. It is clear, indeed, that Christ is the author of grace in the Sacraments of the Church; it is Christ Himself who baptizes; it is He who forgives sins; it is He who is the true priest who bath offered Himself upon the altar of the cross, and it is by His power that His body is daily consecrated upon the altar; and still, because He was not to be visibly present to all the faithful, He made choice of ministers through whom the aforesaid Sacraments should be dispensed to the faithful as said above" (cap. 74). "For the same reason, therefore, because He was about to withdraw His visible presence from the Church, it was necessary that He should appoint someone in His place, to have the charge of the Universal Church. Hence before His Ascension He said to Peter: 'Feed my sheep' " (St. Thomas, Contra Gentiles, lib. iv., cap. 76).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus Christ, therefore, appointed Peter to be that head of the Church; and He also determined that the authority instituted in perpetuity for the salvation of all should be inherited by His successors, in whom the same permanent authority of Peter himself should continue. And so He made that remarkable promise to Peter and to no one else: "Thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. xvi., 18). "To Peter the Lord spoke: to one, therefore, that He might establish unity upon one" (S. Pacianus ad Sempronium, Ep. iii., n. 11). "Without any prelude He mentions St. Peter's name and that of his father (Blessed art thou Simon, son of John) and He does not wish Him to be called any more Simon; claiming him for Himself according to His divine authority He aptly names him Peter, from petra the rock, since upon him He was about to found His Church" (S. Cyrillus Alexandrinus, In Evang. Joan., lib. ii., in cap. i., v. 42).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Universal Jurisdiction of St. Peter<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12. From this text it is clear that by the will and command of God the Church rests upon St. Peter, just as a building rests on its foundation. Now the proper nature of a foundation is to be a principle of cohesion for the various parts of the building. It must be the necessary condition of stability and strength. Remove it and the whole building falls. It is consequently the office of St. Peter to support the Church, and to guard it in all its strength and indestructible unity. How could he fulfil this office without the power of commanding, forbidding, and judging, which is properly called jurisdiction? It is only by this power of jurisdiction that nations and commonwealths are held together. A primacy of honour and the shadowy right of giving advice and admonition, which is called direction, could never secure to any society of men unity or strength. The words - and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it - proclaim and establish the authority of which we speak. "What is the it?" (writes Origen). "Is it the rock upon which Christ builds the Church or the Church? The expression indeed is ambiguous, as if the rock and the Church were one and the same. I indeed think that this is so, and that neither against the rock upon which Christ builds His Church nor against the Church shall the gates of Hell prevail" (Origenes, Comment. in Matt., tom. xii., n. ii). The meaning of this divine utterance is, that, notwithstanding the wiles and intrigues which they bring to bear against the Church, it can never be that the church committed to the care of Peter shall succumb or in any wise fail. "For the Church, as the edifice of Christ who has wisely built 'His house upon a rock,' cannot be conquered by the gates of Hell, which may prevail over any man who shall be off the rock and outside the Church, but shall be powerless against it" (Ibid.). Therefore God confided His Church to Peter so that he might safely guard it with his unconquerable power. He invested him, therefore, with the needful authority; since the right to rule is absolutely required by him who has to guard human society really and effectively. This, furthermore, Christ gave: "To thee will I give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven." And He is clearly still speaking of the Church, which a short time before He had called His own, and which He declared He wished to build on Peter as a foundation. The Church is typified not only as an edifice but as a Kingdom, and every one knows that the keys constitute the usual sign of governing authority. Wherefore when Christ promised to give to Peter the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, he promised to give him power and authority over the Church. "The Son committed to Peter the office of spreading the knowledge of His Father and Himself over the whole world. He who increased the Church in all the earth, and proclaimed it to be stronger than the heavens, gave to a mortal man all power in Heaven when He handed him the Keys" (S. Johannes Chrysostomus, Hom. liv., in Matt. v., 2). In this same sense He says: "Whatsoever thou shall bind upon earth it shall be bound also in Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth it shall be loosed also in Heaven." This metaphorical expression of binding and loosing indicates the power of making laws, of judging and of punishing; and the power is said to be of such amplitude and force that God will ratify whatever is decreed by it. Thus it is supreme and absolutely independent, so that, having no other power on earth as its superior, it embraces the whole Church and all things committed to the Church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The promise is carried out when Christ the Lord after His Resurrection, having thrice asked Peter whether he loved Him more than the rest, lays on him the injunction: "Feed my lambs - feed my sheep." That is He confides to him, without exception, all those who were to belong to His fold. "The Lord does not hesitate. He interrogates, not to learn but to teach. When He was about to ascend into Heaven He left us, as it were, a vice-gerent of His love....and so because Peter alone of all others professes his love he is preferred to all-that being the most perfect he should govern the more perfect" (S. Ambrosius, Exposit. in Evang. secundum Lucam, lib. x., nn. 175-176). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These, then, are the duties of a shepherd: to place himself as leader at the head of his flock, to provide proper food for it, to ward off dangers, to guard against insidious foes, to defend it against violence: in a word to rule and govern it. Since therefore Peter has been placed as shepherd of the Christian flock he has received the power of governing all men for whose salvation Jesus Christ shed His blood. "Why has He shed His blood? To buy the sheep which He handed over to Peter and his successors" (S. Joannes Chrysostomus, De Sacerdotio, lib. ii). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And since all Christians must be closely united in the communion of one immutable faith, Christ the Lord, in virtue of His prayers, obtained for Peter that in the fulfilment of his office he should never fall away from the faith. "But I have asked for thee that thy faith fail not" (Luke xxii., 32), and He furthermore commanded him to impart light and strength to his brethren as often as the need should arise: "Confirm thy brethren" (Ibid.). He willed then that he whom He had designated as the foundation of the Church should be the defence of its faith. "Could not Christ who confided to him the Kingdom by His own authority have strengthened the faith of one whom He designated a rock to show the foundation of the Church?" (S. Ambrosius, De Fide, lib. iv., n. 56). For this reason Jesus Christ willed that Peter should participate in certain names, signs of great things which properly belong to Himself alone: in order that identity of titles should show identity of power. So He who is Himself "the chief corner-stone in whom all the building being framed together, groweth up in a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. ii., 21), placed Peter as it were a stone to support the Church. "When he heard `thou art a rock,' he was ennobled by the announcement. Although he is a rock, not as Christ is a rock, but as Peter is a rock. For Christ is by His very being an immovable rock; Peter only through this rock. Christ imparts His gifts, and is not exhausted....He is a priest, and makes priests. He is a rock, and constitutes a rock" (Hom. de Poenitentia, n. 4 in Appendice opp. S. Basilii). He who is the King of His Church, "Who bath the key of David, who openeth and no man shutteth, who shutteth and no man openeth (Apoc. iii., 7), having delivered the keys to Peter declared him Prince of the Christian commonwealth. So, too, He, the Great Shepherd, who calls Himself "the Good Shepherd," constitued Peter the pastor "of His lambs and sheep. Feed My lambs, feed My Sheep." Wherefore Chrysostom says: "He was preeminent among the Apostles: He was the mouthpiece of the Apostles and the head of the Apostolic College....at the same time showing him that henceforth he ought to have confidence, and as it were blotting out his denial, He commits to him the government of his brethren....He saith to him: 'If thou lovest Me, be over my brethren.' Finally He who confirms in "every good work and word" (2 Thess. ii., 16) commands Peter "to confirm his brethren." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rightly, therefore, does St. Leo the Great say: "From the whole world Peter alone is chosen to take the lead in calling all nations, to be the head of all the Apostles and of all the Fathers of the Church. So that, although in the people of God there are many priests and many pastors Peter should by right rule all of those over whom Christ Himself is the chief ruler" (Sermo iv., cap. 2). And so St. Gregory the great, writing to the Emperor Maurice Augustus, says: "It is evident to all who know the gospel that the charge of the whole Church was committed to St. Peter, the Apostle and Prince of all the Apostles, by the word of the Lord....Behold! he hath received the keys of the heavenly kingdom-the power of binding and loosing is conferred upon him: the care of the whole government of the Church is confided to him" (Epist. lib. v., Epist. xx).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Roman Pontiffs Possess Supreme Power in the Church Jure Divino<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13. It was necessary that a government of this kind, since it belongs to the constitution and formation of the Church, as its principal element - that is as the principle of unity and the foundation of lasting stability - should in no wise come to an end with St. Peter, but should pass to his successors from one to another. "There remains, therefore, the ordinance of truth, and St. Peter, persevering in the strength of the rock which he had received, hath not abandoned the government of the Church which had been confided to him" (S. Leo M. sermo iii., cap. 3). For this reason the Pontiffs who succeed Peter in the Roman Episcopate receive the supreme power in the church, jure divino. "We define" (declare the Fathers of the Council of Florence) "that the Holy and Apostolic See and the Roman Pontiff hold the primacy of the Church throughout the whole world: and that the same Roman Pontiff is the successor of St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, and the true Vicar of Christ, the head of the whole Church, and the father and teacher of all Christians; and that full power was given to him, in Blessed Peter, by our Lord Jesus Christ to feed, to rule, and to govern the universal Church, as is also contained in the acts of oecumenical councils and in the sacred canons" (Conc. Florentinum). Similarly the Fourth Council of Lateran declares: "The Roman Church, as the mother and mistress of all the faithful, by the will of Christ obtains primacy of jurisdiction over all other Churches." These declarations were preceded by the consent of antiquity which ever acknowledged, without the slightest doubt or hesitation, the Bishops of Rome, and revered them, as the legitimate successors of St. Peter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who is unaware of the many and evident testimonies of the holy Fathers which exist to this effect? Most remarkable is that of St. Irenaeus who, referring to the Roman Church, says: "With this Church, on account of its preeminent authority, it is necessary that every Church should be in concord" (Contra Haereses, lib. iii., cap. 3, n. 2); and St. Cyprian also says of the Roman Church, that "it is the root and mother of the Catholic Church, the chair of Peter, and the principal Church whence sacerdotal unity has its source" (Ep. xlviii., ad Cornelium, n. 3. and Ep. liac., ad eundem, n. 14). He calls it the chair of Peter because it is occupied by the successor of Peter: he calls it the principal Church, on account of the primacy conferred on Peter himself and his legitimate successors; and the source of unity, because the Roman Church is the efficient cause of unity in the Christian commonwealth. For this reason Jerome addresses Damasus thus: "My words are spoken to the successor of the Fisherman, to the disciple of the Cross....I communicate with none save your Blessedness, that is with the chair of Peter. For this I know is the rock on which the Church is built" (Ep. xv., ad Damasum, n. 2). Union with the Roman See of Peter is to him always the public criterion of a Catholic. "I acknowledge everyone who is united with the See of Peter" (Ep. xvi., ad Damasum, n. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2). And for a like reason St. Augustine publicly attests that, "the primacy of the Apostolic chair always existed in the Roman Church" (Ep. xliii., n. 7); and he denies that anyone who dissents from the Roman faith can be a Catholic. "You are not to be looked upon as holding the true Catholic faith if you do not teach that the faith of Rome is to be held" (Sermo cxx., n. 13). So, too, St. Cyprian: "To be in communion with Cornelius is to be in communion with the Catholic Church" (Ep. lv., n. 1). In the same way Maximus the Abbot teaches that obedience to the Roman Pontiff is the proof of the true faith and of legitimate communion. Therefore if a man does not want to be, or to be called, a heretic, let him not strive to please this or that man...but let him hasten before all things to be in communion with the Roman See. If he be in communion with it, he should be acknowledged by all and everywhere as faithful and orthodox. He speaks in vain who tries to persuade me of the orthodoxy of those who, like himself, refuse obedience to his Holiness the Pope of the most holy Church of Rome: that is to the Apostolic See." The reason and motive of this he explains to be that "the Apostolic See has received and hath government, authority, and power of binding and loosing from the Incarnate Word Himself; and, according to all holy synods, sacred canons and decrees, in all things and through all things, in respect of all the holy churches of God throughout the whole world, since the Word in Heaven who rules the Heavenly powers binds and loosens there" (Defloratio ex Epistola ad Petrum illustrem). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wherefore what was acknowledged and observed as Christian faith, not by one nation only nor in one age, but by the East and by the West, and through all ages, this Philip, the priest, the Pontifical legate at the Council of Ephesus, no voice being raised in dissent, recalls: "No one can doubt, yea, it is known unto all ages, that St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, the pillar of the faith and the ground of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the Kingdom from Our Lord Jesus Christ. That is: the power of forgiving and retaining sins was given to him who, up to the present time, lives and exercises judgment in the persons of his successors" (Actio iii.). The pronouncement of the Council of Chalcedon on the same matter is present to the minds of all: "Peter has spoken through Leo" (Actio ii.), to which the voice of the Third Council of Constantinople responds as an echo: "The chief Prince of the Apostles was fighting on our side: for we have had as our ally his follower and the successor to his see: and the paper and the ink were seen, and Peter spoke through Agatho" (Actio xviii.). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the formula of Catholic faith drawn up and proposed by Hormisdas, which was subscribed at the beginning of the sixth century in the great Eighth Council by the Emperor Justinian, by Epiphanius, John and Menna, the Patriarchs, this same is declared with great weight and solemnity. "For the pronouncement of Our Lord Jesus Christ saying: 'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church,' &c., cannot be passed over. What is said is proved by the result, because Catholic faith has always been preserved without stain in the Apostolic See" (Post Epistolam, xxvi., ad omnes Episc. Hispan., n. 4). We have no wish to quote every available declaration; but it is well to recall the formula of faith which Michael Paleologus professed in the Second Council of Lyons: "The same holy Roman Church possesses the sovereign and plenary primacy and authority over the whole Catholic Church, which, truly and humbly, it acknowledges to have received together with the plenitude of power from the Lord Himself, in the person of St. Peter, the Prince or Head of the Apostles, of whom the Roman Pontiff is the successor. And as it is bound to defend the truth of faith beyond all others, so also if any question should arise concerning the faith it must be determined by its judgment" (Actin iv.).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bishops Belong to the Essential Constitution of the Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14. But if the authority of Peter and his successors is plenary and supreme, it is not to be regarded as the sole authority. For He who made Peter the foundation of the Church also "chose, twelve, whom He called apostles" (Luke vi., 13); and just as it is necessary that the authority of Peter should be perpetuated in the Roman Pontiff, so, by the fact that the bishops succeed the Apostles, they inherit their ordinary power, and thus the episcopal order necessarily belongs to the essential constitution of the Church. Although they do not receive plenary, or universal, or supreme authority, they are not to be looked as vicars of the Roman Pontiffs; because they exercise a power really their own, and are most truly called the ordinary pastors of the peoples over whom they rule. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But since the successor of Peter is one, and those of the Apostles are many, it is necessary to examine into the relations which exist between him and them according to the divine constitution of the Church. Above all things the need of union between the bishops and the successors of Peter is clear and undeniable. This bond once broken, Christians would be separated and scattered, and would in no wise form one body and one flock. "The safety of the Church depends on the dignity of the chief priest, to whom if an extraordinary and supreme power is not given, there are as many schisms to be expected in the Church as there are priests" (S. Hieronymus, Dialog, contra Luciferianos, n. 9). It is necessary, therefore, to bear this in mind, viz., that nothing was conferred on the apostles apart from Peter, but that several things were conferred upon Peter apart from the Apostles. St. John Chrysostom in explaining the words of Christ asks: "Why, passing over the others, does He speak to Peter about these things?" And he replies unhesitatingly and at once, "Because he was pre-eminent among the Apostles, the mouthpiece of the Disciples, and the head of the college" (Hom. lxxxviii. in Joan., n. I). He alone was designated as the foundation of the Church. To him He gave the power of binding and loosing; to him alone was given the power of feeding. On the other hand, whatever authority and office the Apostles received, they received in conjunction with Peter. "If the divine benignity willed anything to be in common between him and the other princes, whatever He did not deny to the others He gave only through him. So that whereas Peter alone received many things, He conferred nothing on any of the rest without Peter participating in it" (S. Leo M. sermo iv., cap. 2).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bishops Separated from Peter and His Successors, Lose All Jurisdiction<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15. From this it must be clearly understood that Bishops are deprived of the right and power of ruling, if they deliberately secede from Peter and his successors; because, by this secession, they are separated from the foundation on which the whole edifice must rest. They are therefore outside the edifice itself; and for this very reason they are separated from the fold, whose leader is the Chief Pastor; they are exiled from the Kingdom, the keys of which were given by Christ to Peter alone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These things enable us to see the heavenly ideal, and the divine exemplar, of the constitution of the Christian commonwealth, namely: When the Divine founder decreed that the Church should be one in faith, in government, and in communion, He chose Peter and his successors as the principle and centre, as it were, of this unity. Wherefore St. Cyprian says: "The following is a short and easy proof of the faith. The Lord saith to Peter: 'I say to thee thou art Peter'; on him alone He buildeth His Church; and although after His Resurrection He gives a similar power to all the Apostles and says: 'As the Father hath sent me,' &c., still in order to make the necessary unity clear, by His own authority He laid down the source of that unity as beginning from one" (De Unit. Eccl., n. 4). And Optatus of Milevis says: "You cannot deny that you know that in the city of Rome the Episcopal chair was first conferred on Peter. In this Peter, the head of all the Apostles (hence his name Cephas), has sat; in which chair alone unity was to be preserved for all, lest any of the other apostles should claim anything as exclusively his own. So much so, that he who would place another chair against that one chair, would be a schismatic and a sinner" (De Schism. Donat., lib. ii). Hence the teaching of Cyprian, that heresy and schism arise and are begotten from the fact that due obedience is refused to the supreme authority. "Heresies and schisms have no other origin than that obedience is refused to the priest of God, and that men lose sight of the fact that there is one judge in the place of Christ in this world" (Epist. xii. ad Cornelium, n. 5). No one, therefore, unless in communion with Peter can share in his authority, since it is absurd to imagine that he who is outside can command in the Church. Wherefore Optatus of Milevis blamed the Donatists for this reason: "Against which ages (of hell) we read that Peter received the saving keys, that is to say, our prince, to whom it was said by Christ: `To thee will I give the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the gates of Hell shall not conquer them.' Whence is it therefore that you strive to obtain for yourselves the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven-you who fight against the chair of Peter?" (Lib. ii., n. 4-5). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the Epsicopal order is rightly judged to be in communion with Peter, as Christ commanded, if it be subject to and obeys Peter; otherwise it necessarily becomes a lawless and disorderly crowd. It is not sufficient for the due preservation of the unity of the faith that the head should merely have been charged with the office of superintendent, or should have been invested solely with a power of direction. But it is absolutely necessary that he should have received real and sovereign authority which the whole community is bound to obey. What had the Son of God in view when he promised the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter alone? Biblical usage and the unanimous teaching of the Fathers clearly show that supreme authority is designated in the passage by the word keys. Nor is it lawful to interpret in a different sense what was given to Peter alone, and what was given to the other Apostles conjointly with him. If the power of binding, loosening, and feeding confers upon each and every one of the Bishops the successors of the Apostles a real authority to rule the people committed to him, certainly the same power must have the same effect in his case to whom the duty of feeding the lambs and sheep has been assigned by God. "Christ constituted [Peter] not only pastor, but pastor of pastors; Peter therefore feeds the lambs and feeds the sheep, feeds the children and feeds the mothers, governs the subjects and rules the prelates, because the lambs and the sheep form the whole of the Church" (S. Brunonis Episcopi Signiensis Comment. in Joan., part iii., cap. 21, n. 55). Hence those remarkable expressions of the ancients concerning St. Peter, which most clearly set forth the fact that he was placed in the highest degree of dignity and authority. They frequently call him "the Prince of the College of the Disciples; the Prince of the holy Apostles; the leader of that choir; the mouthpiece of all the Apostles; the head of that family; the ruler of the whole world; the first of the Apostles; the safeguard of the Church." In this sense St. Bernard writes as follows to Pope Eugenius: "Who art thou? The great priest - the high priest. Thou art the Prince of Bishops and the heir of the Apostles. . . . Thou art he to whom the keys were given. There are, it is true, other gatekeepers of heaven and to pastors of flocks, but thou are so much the more glorious as thou hast inherited adifferent and more glorious name than all the rest. They have flocks consigned to them, one to each; to thee all the flocks are confided as one flock to one shepherd, and not alone the sheep, but the shepherds. You ask how I prove this? From the words of the Lord. To which - I do not say - of the Bishops, but even of the Apostles have all the sheep been so absolutely and unreservedly committed? If thou lovest me, Peter, feed my sheep. Which sheep? Of this or that country, or kingdom? My sheep, He says: to whom therefore is it not evident that he does not designate some, but all? We can make no exception where no distinction is made" (De Consideratione, lib. ii., cap. 8).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But it is opposed to the truth, and in evident contradiction with the divine constitution of the Church, to hold that while each Bishop is individually bound to obey the authority of the Roman Pontiffs, taken collectively the Bishops are not so bound. For it is the nature and object of a foundation to support the unity of the whole edifice and to give stability to it, rather than to each component part; and in the present case this is much more applicable, since Christ the Lord wished that by the strength and solidity of the foundation the gates of hell should be prevented from prevailing against the Church. All are agreed that the divine promise must be understood of the Church as a whole, and not of any certain portions of it. These can indeed be overcome by the assaults of the powers of hell, as in point of fact has befallen some of them. Moreover, he who is set over the whole flock must have authority, not only over the sheep dispersed throughout the Church, but also when they are assembled together. Do the sheep when they are all assembled together rule and guide the shepherd? Do the successors of the Apostles assembled together constitute the foundation on which the successor of St. Peter rests in order to derive therefrom strength and stability? Surely jurisdicton and authority belong to him in whose power have been placed the keys of the Kingdom taken collectively. And as the Bishops, each in his own district, command with real power not only individuals but the whole community, so the Roman pontiffs, whose jurisdiction extends to the whole Christian commonwealth, must have all its parts, even taken collectively, subject and obedient to their authority. Christ the Lord, as we have quite sufficiently shown, made Peter and his successors His vicars, to exercise for ever in the Church the power which He exercised during His mortal life. Can the Apostolic College be said to have been above its master in authority? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This power over the Episcopal College to which we refer, and which is clearly set forth in Holy Writ, has ever been acknowledged and attested by the Church, as is clear from the teaching of General Councils. "We read that the Roman Pontiff has pronounced judgments on the prelates of all the churches; we do not read that anybody has pronounced sentence on him" (Hadrianus ii., in Allocutione iii., ad Synodum Romanum an. 869, Cf. Actionem vii., Conc. Constantinopolitani iv). The reason for which is stated thus: "there is no authority greater than that of the Apostolic See" (Nicholaus in Epist. lxxxvi. ad Michael. Imperat.) wherefore Gelasius on the decrees of Councils says: "That which the First See has not approved of cannot stand; but what it has thought well to decree has been received by the whole Church" (Epist. xxvi., ad Episcopos Dardaniae, n. 5). It has ever been unquestionably the office of the Roman Pontiffs to ratify or to reject the decrees of Councils. Leo the great rescinded the acts of the Conciliabulum of Ephesus. Damasus rejected those of Rimini, and Hadrian I. those of Constantinople. The 28th Canon of the Council of Chalcedon, by the very fact that it lacks the assent and approval of the Apostolic See, is admitted by all to be worthless. Rightly, therefore, has Leo X. laid down in the 5th council of Lateran "that the Roman Pontiff alone, as having authority over all Councils, has full jurisdiction and power to summon, to transfer, to dissolve Councils, as is clear, not only from the testimony of Holy Writ, from the teaching of the Fathers and of the Roman Pontiffs, and from the decrees of the sacred canons, but from the teaching of the very Councils themselves." Indeed, Holy Writ attests that the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven were given to Peter alone, and that the power of binding and loosening was granted to the Apostles and to Peter; but there is nothing to show that the Apostles received supreme power without Peter, and against Peter. Such power they certainly did not receive from Jesus Christ. Wherefore, in the decree of the Vatican Council as to the nature and authority of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff, no newly conceived opinion is set forth, but the venerable and constant belief of every age (Sess. iv., cap. 3). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nor does it beget any confusion in the administration that Christians are bound to obey a twofold authority. We are prohibited in the first place by Divine Wisdom from entertaining any such thought, since this form of government was constituted by the counsel of God Himself. In the second place we must note that the due order of things and their mutual relations are disturbed if there be a twofold magistracy of the same rank set over a people, neither of which is amenable to the other. But the authority of the Roman Pontiff is supreme, universal, independent; that of the bishops limited, and dependent. "It is not congruous that two superiors with equal authority should be placed over the same flock; but that two, one of whom is higher than the other, should be placed over the same people is not incongruous. Thus the parish priest, the bishop, and the Pope, are placed immediately over the same people" (St. Thomas in iv Sent, dist. xvii., a. 4, ad q. 4, ad 3). So the Roman Pontiffs, mindful of their duty, wish above all things, that the divine constitution of the Church should be preserved. Therefore, as they defend with all necessary care and vigilance their own authority, so they have always laboured, and will continue to labour, that the authority of the bishops may be upheld. Yea, they look up whatever honour or obedience is given to the bishops as paid to themselves. "My honour is the honour of the Universal Church. My honour is the strength and stability of my brethren. Then am I honoured when due honour is given to everyone" (S. Gregorius M. Epistolarum, lib viii., ep. xxx., ad Eulogium).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Appeal to Sheep Not of the Fold<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">16. In what has been said we have faithfully described the exemplar and form of the Church as divinely constituted. We have treated at length of its unity: we have explained sufficiently its nature, and pointed out the way in which the Divine Founder of the Church willed that it should be preserved. There is no reason to doubt that all those, who by Divine Grace and mercy have had the happiness to have been born, as it were, in the bosom of the Catholic Church, and to have lived in it, will listen to Our Apostolic Voice: "My sheep hear my voice" (John x., 27), and that they will derive from Our words fuller instruction and a more perfect disposition to keep united with their respective pastors, and through them with the Supreme Pastor, so that they may remain more securely within the one fold, and may derive therefrom a greater abundance of salutary fruit. But We, who, notwithstanding our unfitness for this great dignity and office, govern by virtue of the authority conferred on us by Jesus Christ, as we "look on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. xii., 2) feel Our heart fired by His charity. What Christ has said of Himself We may truly repeat of Ourselves: "Other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice" (John x., 16). Let all those, therefore, who detest the wide-spread irreligion of our times, and acknowledge and confess Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and the Saviour of the human race, but who have wandered away from the Spouse, listen to Our voice. Let them not refuse to obey Our paternal charity. Those who acknowledge Christ must acknowledge Him wholly and entirely. "The Head and the body are Christ wholly and entirely. The Head is the only-begotten son of God, the body is His Church; the bridegroom and the bride, two in one flesh. All who dissent from the Scriptures concerning Christ, although they may be found in all places in which the Church is found, are not in the Church; and again all those who agree with the Scriptures concerning the Head, and do not communicate in the unity of the Church, are not in the Church" (S. Augustinus, Contra Donatistas Epistola, sive De Unit. Eccl., cap. iv., n. 7). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And with the same yearning Our soul goes out to those whom the foul breath of irreligion has not entirely corrupted, and who at least seek to have the true God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, as their Father. Let such as these take counsel with themselves, and realize that they can in no wise be counted among the children of God, unless they take Christ Jesus as their Brother, and at the same time the Church as their mother. We lovingly address to all the words of St. Augustine: "Let us love the Lord our God; let us love His Church; the Lord as our Father, the Church as our Mother. Let no one say, I go indeed to idols, I consult fortune-tellers and soothsayers; but I leave not the Church of God: I am a Catholic. Clinging to thy Mother, thou offendest thy Father. Another, too, says: 'Far be it from me; I do not consult fortune - telling, I seek not soothsaying, I seek not profane divinations, I go not to the worship of devils, I serve not stones: but I am on the side of Donatus.' What doth it profit thee not to offend the Father, who avenges an offence against the Mother? What doth it profit to confess the Lord, to honour God, to preachHim, to acknowledge His Son, and to confess that He sits on the right hand of the Father, if you blaspheme His Church? . . . If you had a beneficent friend, whom you honoured daily - and even once calumniated his spouse, would you ever enter his house? Hold fast, therefore, O dearly beloved, hold fast altogether God as your Father, and the Church as your Mother" (Enarratio in Psal. lxxxviii., sermo ii., n. 14). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Above all things, trusting in the mercy of God, who is able to move the hearts of men and to incline them as and when He pleases, We most earnestly commend to His loving kindness all those of whom We have spoken. As a pledge of Divine grace, and as a token of Our affection, We lovingly impart to you, in the Lord, Venerable Brethren, to your clergy and people, Our Apostolic Blessing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Given at St. Peter's, Rome, the 29th day of June, in the year 1896, and the nineteenth of our Pontificate.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LEO XIII <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">© Copyright 1896 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana <o:p></o:p></span></span>Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-88752277824590278562011-07-09T04:41:00.000-07:002011-07-09T04:41:39.937-07:00Pope Paul IV "Cum ex Apostolatus Officio"<div class="Section1"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">This is a well known document for most sedevacantists today, and I wanted to publish it on my blog to show to people that the Church indeed have spoken about these important matters: The document will show how it is possible for a pope to loose his office when he falls into heresy. The document also shows that a heretic can not become the leader of God's Church on earth and that even the pope himself can loose his office AUTOMATICALLY when he falls into public heresy. This last point is extremely important when it comes to the pope, because no one on earth is over him to excommunicate him. But the DIVINE LAW is still over him, and this is the law that will condemn him to loose his office automatically. A layman does not excommunicate the pope, he just accepts a Catholic dogma and keeps away from all heretics, including an anti-pope. </span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-65Y1aaiJUgM/Thg-Rty0o-I/AAAAAAAAAHM/MDF7jZGcbbM/s1600/pope_paul_iv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-65Y1aaiJUgM/Thg-Rty0o-I/AAAAAAAAAHM/MDF7jZGcbbM/s1600/pope_paul_iv.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 18pt;">Apostolic Constitution of Pope Paul IV, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua"; font-size: 18pt;">"Cum ex Apostolatus Officio"<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">15th February 1559<br />
(Roman Bullarium Vol. IV. Sec. I, pp. 354-357)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua";">By virtue of the Apostolic office which, despite our unworthiness, has been entrusted to Us by God, We are responsible for the general care of the flock of the Lord. Because of this, in order that the flock may be faithfully guarded and beneficially directed, We are bound to be diligently watchful after the manner of a vigilant Shepherd and to ensure most carefully that certain people who consider the study of the truth beneath them should be driven out of the sheepfold of Christ and no longer continue to disseminate error from positions of authority. We refer in particular to those who in this age, impelled by their sinfulness and supported by their cunning, are attacking with unusual learning and malice the discipline of the orthodox Faith, and who, moreover, by perverting the import of Holy Scripture, are striving to rend the unity of the Catholic Church and the seamless tunic of the Lord.<br />
<br />
1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In assessing Our duty and the situation now prevailing, We have been weighed upon by the thought that a matter of this kind [i.e. error in respect of the Faith] is so grave and so dangerous that the Roman Pontiff,who is the representative upon earth of God and our God and Lord Jesus Christ, who holds the fulness of power over peoples and kingdoms, who may judge all and be judged by none in this world, may nonetheless be contradicted if he be found to have deviated from the Faith. Remembering also that, where danger is greater, it must more fully and more diligently be counteracted, We have been concerned lest false prophets or others, even if they have only secular jurisdiction, should wretchedly ensnare the souls of the simple, and drag with them into perdition, destruction and damnation countless peoples committed to their care and rule, either in spiritual or in temporal matters; and We have been concerned also lest it may befall Us to see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by the prophet Daniel, in the holy place. In view of this, Our desire has been to fulfill our Pastoral duty, insofar as, with the help of God, We are able, so as to arrest the foxes who are occupying themselves in the destruction of the vineyard of the Lord and to keep the wolves from the sheepfolds, lest We seem to be dumb watchdogs that cannot bark and lest We perish with the wicked husbandman and be compared with the hireling.<br />
<br />
2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, concerning these matters, We have held mature deliberation with our venerable brothers the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church; and, upon their advice and with their unanimous agreement, we now enact as follows:-<br />
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In respect of each and every sentence of excommunication, suspension, interdict and privation and any other sentences, censures and penalties against heretics or schismatics, enforced and promulgated in any way whatsoever by any of Our predecessors the Roman Pontiffs, or by any who were held to be such (even by their "litterae extravagantes" i.e. private letters), or by the sacred Councils received by the Church of God, or by decrees of the Holy Fathers and the statutes, or by the sacred Canons and the Constitutions and Apostolic Ordinations - all these measures, by Apostolic authority, We approve and renew, that they may and must be observed in perpetuity and, if perchance they be no longer in lively observance, that they be restored to it.<br />
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Thus We will and decree that the aforementioned sentences, censures and penalties be incurred without exception by all members of the following categories:<br />
<br />
(i) Anysoever who, before this date, shall have been detected to have deviated from the Catholic Faith, or fallen into any heresy, or incurred schism, or provoked or committed either or both of these, or who have confessed to have done any of these things, or who have been convicted of having done any of these things.<br />
<br />
(ii) Anysoever who (which may God, in His clemency and goodness to all, deign to avert) shall in the future so deviate or fall into heresy, or incur schism, or shall provoke or commit either or both of these.<br />
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(iii) Anysoever who shall be detected to have so deviated, fallen, incurred, provoked or committed, or who shall confess to have done any of these things, or who shall be convicted of having done any of these things.<br />
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These sanctions, moreover, shall be incurred by all members of these categories, of whatever status, grace, order, condition and pre-eminence they may be, even if they be endowed with the Episcopal, Archiepiscopal, Patriarchal, Primatial or some other greater Ecclesiastical dignity, or with the honour of the Cardinalate and of the Universal Apostolic See by the office of Legate, whether temporary or permanent, or if they be endowed with even worldly authority or excellence, as Count, Baron, Marquis, Duke, King or Emperor.<br />
<br />
All this We will and decree.<br />
<br />
3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, We also consider it proper that those who do not abandon evil deeds through love of virtue should be deterred therefrom by fear of punishment; and We are aware that Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates, Cardinals and Legates, Counts, Barons, Marquises, Dukes, Kings and Emperors (who ought to teach others and offer them a good example in order to preserve them in the Catholic Faith), by failing in their duty sin more gravely than others; since they not only damn themselves, but also drag with them into perdition and into the pit of death countless other people entrusted to their care or rule, or otherwise subject to them, by their like counsel and agreement.<br />
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Hence, by this Our Constitution which is to remain valid in perpetuity, in abomination of so great a crime (than which none in the Church of God can be greater or more pernicious) by the fulness of our Apostolic Power, We enact, determine, decree and define (since the aforesaid sentences, censures and penalties are to remain in efficacious force and strike all those whom they are intended to strike) that:-<br />
<br />
(i) each and every member of the following categories - Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates, Cardinals, Legates, Counts, Barons, Marquises, Dukes, Kings and Emperors - who:<br />
<br />
(a) hitherto (as We have already said) have been detected, or have confessed to have, or have been convicted of having, deviated [i.e. from the Catholic Faith], or fallen into heresy or incurred schism or provoked or committed either or both of these;<br />
<br />
(b) in the future also shall [so] deviate, or fall into heresy, or incur schism, or provoke or commit either or both of these, or shall be detected or shall confess to have, or shall be convicted of having [so] deviated, or fallen into heresy, or incurred schism, or provoked or committed either or both of these;<br />
<br />
(since in this they are rendered more inexcusable than the rest) in addition to the aforementioned sentences, censures and penalties, shall also automatically, without any exercise of law or application of fact, be thoroughly, entirely and perpetually deprived of:- their Orders and Cathedrals, even Metropolitan, Patriarchal and Primatial Churches, the honour of the Cardinalate and the office of any embassy whatsoever, not to mention both active and passive voting rights, all authority, Monasteries, benefices and Ecclesiastical offices, be they functional or sinecures, secular or religious of whatsoever Order, which they may have obtained by any concessions whatsoever, or by Apostolic Dispensations to title, charge and administration or otherwise howsoever, and in which or to which they may have any right whatsoever, likewise any whatsoever fruits, returns or annual revenues from like fruits, returns and revenues reserved for and assigned to them, as well as Countships, Baronies, Marquisates, Dukedoms, Kingships and Imperial Power;<br />
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(ii) that, moreover, they shall be unfit and incapable in respect of these things and that they shall be held to be backsliders and subverted in every way, just as if they had previously abjured heresy of this kind in public trial; that they shall never at any time be able to be restored, returned, reinstated or rehabilitated to their former status or Cathedral, Metropolitan, Patriarchal and Primatial Churches, or the Cardinalate, or other honour, any other dignity, greater or lesser, any right to vote, active or passive, or authority, or Monasteries and benefices, or Countships, Baronies, Marquisates, Dukedoms, Kingships and positions of Imperial power; but rather that they shall be abandoned to the judgement of the secular power to be punished after due consideration, unless there should appear in them signs of true penitence and the fruits of worthy repentance, and, by the kindness and clemency of the See itself, they shall have been sentenced to sequestration in any Monastery or other religious house in order to perform perpetual penance upon the bread of sorrow and the water of affliction;<br />
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(iii) that all such individuals also shall be held, treated and reputed as such by everyone, of whatsoever status, grade, order, condition or pre-eminence he may be and whatsoever excellence may be his, even Episcopal, Archiepiscopal, Patriarchal and Primatial or other greater Ecclesiastical dignity and even the honour of the Cardinalate, or secular, even the authority of Count, Baron, Marquis, Duke, King or Emperor, and as such must be avoided and must be deprived of the sympathy of all natural kindess.<br />
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4. [By this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity, We] further enact, determine, decree and define:-]<br />
<br />
that those who shall have claimed to have the right of patronage or of nominating suitable persons to Cathedral, Metropolitan, Patriarchal and Primatial Churches, or to Monasteries or other Ecclesiastical benefices which may be vacant by privation of this kind (in order that those which shall have been vacant for a long time may not be exposed to the unfit, but, having been rescued from enslavement to heretics, may be granted to suitable persons who would faithfully direct their people in the paths of justice), shall be bound to present other persons suitable to Churches, Monasteries and benefices of this kind, to Us, or to the Roman Pontiff at that time existing, within the time determined by law, or by their concordats, or by compacts entered into with the said See; and that, if they shall not have done so when the said period shall have elapsed, the full and free disposition of the aforesaid Churches, Monasteries and benefices shall by the fulness of the law itself devolve upon Us or upon the aforesaid Roman Pontiff.<br />
<br />
5. [By this Our Constitution,] moreover, [which is to remain valid in perpetuity, We] also [enact, determine, decree and define:-]<br />
<br />
as follows concerning those who shall have presumed in any way knowingly to receive, defend, favour, believe or teach the teaching of those so apprehended, confessed or convicted:<br />
(i) they shall automatically incur sentence of excommunication;<br />
(ii) they shall be rendered infamous;<br />
(iii) they shall be excluded on pain of invalidity from any public or private office, deliberation, Synod, general or provincial Council and any conclave of Cardinals or other congregation of the faithful, and from any election or function of witness, so that they cannot take part in any of these by vote, in person, by writings, representative or by any agent;<br />
(iv) they shall be incapable of making a will;<br />
(v) they shall not accede to the succession of heredity;<br />
(vi) no one shall be forced to respond to them concerning any business;<br />
(vii) if perchance they shall have been Judges, their judgements shall have no force, nor shall any cases be brought to their hearing.;<br />
(viii) if they shall have been Advocates, their pleading shall nowise be received;<br />
(ix) if they shall have been Notaries, documents drafted by them shall be entirely without strength or weight;<br />
(x) clerics shall be automatically deprived of each and every Church, even Cathedral, Metropolitan, Patriarchal, Primatial, and likewise of dignities, Monasteries, benefices and Ecclesiastical offices, and even, as has been already mentioned, of qualifications, howsoever obtained by them;<br />
(xi) laymen, moreover, in the same way - even if they be qualified, as already described, or endowed with the aforesaid dignities or anysoever Kingdoms, Duchies, Dominions, Fiefs and temporal goods possessed by them;<br />
(xii) finally, all Kingdoms, Duchies, Dominions, Fiefs and goods of this kind shall be confiscated, made public and shall remain so, and shall be made the rightful property of those who shall first occupy them if these shall be sincere in faith, in the unity of the Holy Roman Church and under obedience to Us and to Our successors the Roman Pontiffs canonically entering office.<br />
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6. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In addition, [by this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity We enact, determine, decree and define:-] <u>that if ever at any time it shall appear that any Bishop, even if he be acting as an Archbishop, Patriarch or Primate; or any Cardinal of the aforesaid Roman Church, or, as has already been mentioned, any legate, or even the Roman Pontiff, prior to his promotion or his elevation as Cardinal or Roman Pontiff, has deviated from the Catholic Faith or fallen into some heresy:<br />
<br />
(i) the promotion or elevation, even if it shall have been uncontested and by the unanimous assent of all the Cardinals, shall be null, void and worthless</u>;</b>(ii) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>it shall not be possible for it to acquire validity (nor for it to be said that it has thus acquired validity) through the acceptance of the office, of consecration, of subsequent authority, nor through possession of administration, nor through the putative enthronement of a Roman Pontiff, or Veneration, or obedience accorded to such by all, nor through the lapse of any period of time in the foregoing situation;<br />
(iii) it shall not be held as partially legitimate in any way</u>;</b>(iv) to any so promoted to be Bishops, or Archbishops, or Patriarchs, or Primates or elevated as Cardinals, or as Roman Pontiff, no authority shall have been granted, nor shall it be considered to have been so granted either in the spiritual or the temporal domain;<br />
(v) each and all of their words, deeds, actions and enactments, howsoever made, and anything whatsoever to which these may give rise, shall be without force and shall grant no stability whatsoever nor any right to anyone;<br />
(vi) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>those thus promoted or elevated shall be deprived automatically, and without need for any further declaration, of all dignity, position, honour, title, authority, office and power</u>.<br />
<br />
7. Finally, [by this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity, We] also [enact, determine, define and decree]:- that any and all persons who would have been subject to those thus promoted or elevated if they had not previously deviated from the Faith, become heretics, incurred schism or provoked or committed any or all of these, be they members of anysoever of the following categories:</b>(i) the clergy, secular and religious;<br />
(ii) the laity;<br />
(iii) the Cardinals, even those who shall have taken part in the election of this very Pontiff previously deviating from the Faith or heretical or schismatical, or shall otherwise have consented and vouchsafed obedience to him and shall have venerated him;<br />
(iv) Castellans, Prefects, Captains and Officials, even of Our Beloved City and of the entire Ecclesiastical State, even if they shall be obliged and beholden to those thus promoted or elevated by homage, oath or security; shall be permitted at any time to withdraw with impunity from obedience and devotion to those thus promoted or elevated and to avoid them as warlocks, heathens, publicans, and heresiarchs (the same subject persons, nevertheless, remaining bound by the duty of fidelity and obedience to any future Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates, Cardinals and Roman Pontiff canonically entering).<br />
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To the greater confusion, moreover, of those thus promoted or elevated, if these shall have wished to prolong their government and authority, they shall be permitted to request the assistance of the secular arm against these same individuals thus promoted or elevated; nor shall those who withdraw on this account, in the aforementioned circumstances, from fidelity and obedience to those thus promoted and elevated, be subject, as are those who tear the tunic of the Lord, to the retribution of any censures or penalties.<br />
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8. [The provisions of this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity are to take effect] notwithstanding any Constitutions, Apostolic Ordinations, privileges, indults or Apostolic Letters, whether they be to these same Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Primates and Cardinals or to any others, and whatsoever may be their import and form, and with whatsoever sub-clauses or decrees they may have been granted, even "motu proprio" and by certain knowledge, from the fulness of the Apostolic power or even consistorially or otherwise howsoever; and even if they have been repeatedly approved and renewed,have been included in the corpus of the Law or strengthened by any capital conclaves whatsoever (even by oath) or by Apostolic confirmation or by anysoever other endorsements or if they were legislated by ourself. By this present document instead of by express mention, We specially and expressly derogate the provisions of all these by appropriate deletion and word-for-word substitution, so that these may otherwise remain in force.<br />
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9. In order, however, that this document may be brought to the notice of all whom it concerns, We wish it or a transcription of it (to which, when made by the hand of the undersigned Public Notary and fortified by the seal of any person established in ecclesiastical dignity, We decree that complete trust must be accorded) to be published and affixed in the Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles in this City and on the doors of the Apostolic Chancery and in the pavilion of the Campus Florae by some of our couriers; [we] will [further] that a quantity of copies affixed in this place should be distributed, and that publication and affixing of this kind should suffice and be held as right, solemn and legitimate, and that no other publication should be required or awaited.<br />
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10. No one at all, therefore, may infringe this document of our approbation, re-introduction, sanction, statute and derogation of wills and decrees, or by rash presumption contradict it. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>If anyone, however, should presume to attempt this, let him know that he is destined to incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul</u>.</b><br />
Given in Rome at Saint Peter's in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1559, 15th February, in the fourth year of our Pontificate.<br />
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+ I, Paul, Bishop of the Catholic Church… </span></div></div><div align="center"><script async="true" src="http://www.google-analytics.com/ga.js" type="text/javascript">
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</script> <img border="0" src="http://visit.webhosting.yahoo.com/visit.gif?&r=http%3A//www.google.se/url%3Fsa%3Dt%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D2%26ved%3D0CCEQhgIwAQ%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.mostholyfamilymonastery.com%252Fcum_ex.html%26rct%3Dj%26q%3DPope%2520Paul%2520IV%2520%2522Cum%2520ex%2520apostolatio%2520officio%2522%26ei%3DCzEYTtnjG4rJswbF7KynDw%26usg%3DAFQjCNG5qHMebxnUmDMenbTQ-O8zGhclxA&b=Microsoft%20Internet%20Explorer%205.0%20%28compatible%3B%20MSIE%209.0%3B%20Windows%20NT%206.1%3B%20WOW64%3B%20Trident/5.0%3B%20SLCC2%3B%20.NET%20CLR%202.0.50727%3B%20.NET%20CLR%203.5.30729%3B%20.NET%20CLR%203.0.30729%3B%20Media%20Center%20PC%206.0%3B%20InfoPath.3%3B%20.NET4.0C%29&s=1536x864&o=Win32&c=32&j=true&v=1.2" style="display: none;" /> <noscript></noscript>Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-695474449932402263.post-46048961706876121572011-03-18T11:17:00.000-07:002011-03-18T11:21:56.092-07:00The Little Number of Those Who Are Saved! By St. Leonard of Port Maurice (1676-1751)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mmS5m_tsUpM/TYOgiQL3IHI/AAAAAAAAAHA/-q3WQAy1RLA/s1600/immaculate-heart-fatima-hell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mmS5m_tsUpM/TYOgiQL3IHI/AAAAAAAAAHA/-q3WQAy1RLA/s1600/immaculate-heart-fatima-hell.jpg" /></a></div>Saint Leonard of Port Maurice was a most holy Franciscan friar who lived at the monastery of Saint Bonaventure in Rome. He was one of the greatest missioners in the history of the Church. He used to preach to thousands in the open square of every city and town where the churches could not hold his listeners. So brilliant and holy was his eloquence that once when he gave a two weeks' mission in Rome, the Pope and College of Cardinals came to hear him. The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the veneration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus were his crusades. He was in no small way responsible for the definition of the Immaculate Conception made a little more than a hundred years after his death. He also gave us the Divine Praises, which are said at the end of Benediction. But Saint Leonard's most famous work was his devotion to the Stations of the Cross. He died a most holy death in his seventy-fifth year, after twenty-four years of uninterrupted preaching. One of Saint Leonard of Port Maurice's most famous sermons was "The Little Number of Those Who Are Saved." It was the one he relied on for the conversion of great sinners. This sermon, like his other writings, was submitted to canonical examination during the process of canonization. In it he reviews the various states of life of Christians and concludes with the little number of those who are saved, in relation to the totality of men. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The reader who meditates on this remarkable text will grasp the soundness of its argumentation, which has earned it the approbation of the Church. Here is the great missionary's vibrant and moving sermon. </div><br />
<u>Introduction</u><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thanks be to God, the number of the Redeemer's disciples is not so small that the wickedness of the Scribes and Pharisees is able to triumph over them. Although they strove to calumniate innocence and to deceive the crowd with their treacherous sophistries by discrediting the doctrine and character of Our Lord, finding spots even in the sun, many still recognized Him as the true Messiah, and, unafraid of either chastisements or threats, openly joined His cause. Did all those who followed Christ follow Him even unto glory? Oh, this is where I revere the profound mystery and silently adore the abysses of the divine decrees, rather than rashly deciding on such a great point! The subject I will be treating today is a very grave one; it has caused even the pillars of the Church to tremble, filled the greatest Saints with terror and populated the deserts with anchorites. The point of this instruction is to decide whether the number of Christians who are saved is greater or less than the number of Christians who are damned; it will, I hope, produce in you a salutary fear of the judgments of God.<br />
</div>Brothers, because of the love I have for you, I wish I were able to reassure you with the prospect of eternal happiness by saying to each of you: You are certain to go to paradise; the greater number of Christians is saved, so you also will be saved. But how can I give you this sweet assurance if you revolt against God's decrees as though you were your own worst enemies? I observe in God a sincere desire to save you, but I find in you a decided inclination to be damned. So what will I be doing today if I speak clearly? I will be displeasing to you. But if I do not speak, I will be displeasing to God.<br />
Therefore, I will divide this subject into two points. In the first one, to fill you with dread, I will let the theologians and Fathers of the Church decide on the matter and declare that the greater number of Christian adults are damned; and, in silent adoration of that terrible mystery, I will keep my own sentiments to myself. In the second point I will attempt to defend the goodness of God versus the godless, by proving to you that those who are damned are damned by their own malice, because they wanted to be damned. So then, here are two very important truths. If the first truth frightens you, do not hold it against me, as though I wanted to make the road of heaven narrower for you, for I want to be neutral in this matter; rather, hold it against the theologians and Fathers of the Church who will engrave this truth in your heart by the force of reason. If you are disillusioned by the second truth, give thanks to God over it, for He wants only one thing: that you give your hearts totally to Him. Finally, if you oblige me to tell you clearly what I think, I will do so for your consolation.<br />
<br />
<u>The Teaching of the Fathers of the Church</u><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It is not vain curiosity but salutary precaution to proclaim from the height of the pulpit certain truths which serve wonderfully to contain the indolence of libertines, who are always talking about the mercy of God and about how easy it is to convert, who live plunged in all sorts of sins and are soundly sleeping on the road to hell. To disillusion them and waken them from their torpor, today let us examine this great question: Is the number of Christians who are saved greater than the number of Christians who are damned?<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Pious souls, you may leave; this sermon is not for you. Its sole purpose is to contain the pride of libertines who cast the holy fear of God out of their heart and join forces with the devil who, according to the sentiment of Eusebius, damns souls by reassuring them. To resolve this doubt, let us put the Fathers of the Church, both Greek and Latin, on one side; on the other, the most learned theologians and erudite historians; and let us put the Bible in the middle for all to see. Now listen not to what I will say to you – for I have already told you that I do not want to speak for myself or decide on the matter – but listen to what these great minds have to tell you, they who are beacons in the Church of God to give light to others so that they will not miss the road to heaven. In this manner, guided by the triple light of faith, authority and reason, we will be able to resolve this grave matter with certainty.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Note well that there is no question here of the human race taken as a whole, nor of all Catholics taken without distinction, but only of Catholic adults, who have free choice and are thus capable of cooperating in the great matter of their salvation. First let us consult the theologians recognized as examining things most carefully and as not exaggerating in their teaching: let us listen to two learned cardinals, Cajetan and Bellarmine. They teach that the greater number of Christian adults are damned, and if I had the time to point out the reasons upon which they base themselves, you would be convinced of it yourselves. But I will limit myself here to quoting Suarez. After consulting all the theologians and making a diligent study of the matter, he wrote, "The most common sentiment which is held is that, among Christians, there are more damned souls than predestined souls."<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Add the authority of the Greek and Latin Fathers to that of the theologians, and you will find that almost all of them say the same thing. This is the sentiment of Saint Theodore, Saint Basil, Saint Ephrem, and Saint John Chrysostom. What is more, according to Baronius it was a common opinion among the Greek Fathers that this truth was expressly revealed to Saint Simeon Stylites and that after this revelation, it was to secure his salvation that he decided to live standing on top of a pillar for forty years, exposed to the weather, a model of penance and holiness for everyone. Now let us consult the Latin Fathers. You will hear Saint Gregory saying clearly, "Many attain to faith, but few to the heavenly kingdom." Saint Anselm declares, "There are few who are saved." Saint Augustine states even more clearly, "Therefore, few are saved in comparison to those who are damned." The most terrifying, however, is Saint Jerome. At the end of his life, in the presence of his disciples, he spoke these dreadful words: "Out of one hundred thousand people whose lives have always been bad, you will find barely one who is worthy of indulgence."</div><br />
<u>The Words of Holy Scripture</u><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q0qvcZBog-o/TYOgsnSqceI/AAAAAAAAAHI/DJBxkI3qncE/s1600/heaven-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q0qvcZBog-o/TYOgsnSqceI/AAAAAAAAAHI/DJBxkI3qncE/s320/heaven-sign.jpg" width="320" /></a>But why seek out the opinions of the Fathers and theologians, when Holy Scripture settles the question so clearly? Look in to the Old and New Testaments, and you will find a multitude of figures, symbols and words that clearly point out this truth: very few are saved. In the time of Noah, the entire human race was submerged by the Deluge, and only eight people were saved in the Ark. Saint Peter says, "This ark was the figure of the Church," while Saint Augustine adds, "And these eight people who were saved signify that very few Christians are saved, because there are very few who sincerely renounce the world, and those who renounce it only in words do not belong to the mystery represented by that ark." The Bible also tells us that only two Hebrews out of two million entered the Promised Land after going out of Egypt, and that only four escaped the fire of Sodom and the other burning cities that perished with it. All of this means that the number of the damned who will be cast into fire like straw is far greater than that of the saved, whom the heavenly Father will one day gather into His barns like precious wheat. <br />
</div>I would not finish if I had to point out all the figures by which Holy Scripture confirms this truth; let us content ourselves with listening to the living oracle of Incarnate Wisdom. What did Our Lord answer the curious man in the Gospel who asked Him, "Lord, is it only a few to be saved?" Did He keep silence? Did He answer haltingly? Did He conceal His thought for fear of frightening the crowd? No. Questioned by only one, He addresses all of those present. He says to them: "You ask Me if there are only few who are saved?" Here is My answer: "Strive to enter by the narrow gate; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Who is speaking here? It is the Son of God, Eternal Truth, who on another occasion says even more clearly, "Many are called, but few are chosen." He does not say that all are called and that out of all men, few are chosen, but that many are called; which means, as Saint Gregory explains, that out of all men, many are called to the True Faith, but out of them few are saved. Brothers, these are the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Are they clear? They are true. Tell me now if it is possible for you to have faith in your heart and not tremble.<br />
<br />
<u>Salvation in the Various States of Life</u><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But oh, I see that by speaking in this manner of all in general, I am missing my point. So let us apply this truth to various states, and you will understand that you must either throw away reason, experience and the common sense of the faithful, or confess that the greater number of Catholics is damned. Is there any state in the world more favorable to innocence in which salvation seems easier and of which people have a higher idea than that of priests, the lieutenants of God? At first glance, who would not think that most of them are not only good but even perfect; yet I am horror-struck when I hear Saint Jerome declaring that although the world is full of priests, barely one in a hundred is living in a manner in conformity with state; when I hear a servant of God attesting that he has learned by revelation that the number of priests who fall into hell each day is so great that it seemed impossible to him that there be any left on earth; when I hear Saint Chrysostom exclaiming with tears in his eyes, "I do not believe that many priests are saved; I believe the contrary, that the number of those who are damned is greater."<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Look higher still, and see the prelates of the Holy Church, pastors who have the charge of souls. Is the number of those who are saved among them greater than the number of those who are damned? Listen to Cantimpre; he will relate an event to you, and you may draw the conclusions. There was a synod being held in Paris, and a great number of prelates and pastors who had the charge of souls were in attendance; the king and princes also came to add luster to that assembly by their presence. A famous preacher was invited to preach. While he was preparing his sermon, a horrible demon appeared to him and said, "Lay your books aside. If you want to give a sermon that will be useful to these princes and prelates, content yourself with telling them on our part, 'We the princes of darkness thank you, princes, prelates, and pastors of souls, that due to your negligence, the greater number of the faithful are damned; also, we are saving a reward for you for this favor, when you shall be with us in Hell.'"<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Woe to you who command others! If so many are damned by your fault, what will happen to you? If few out of those who are first in the Church of God are saved, what will happen to you? Take all states, both sexes, every condition: husbands, wives, widows, young women, young men, soldiers, merchants, craftsmen, rich and poor, noble and plebian. What are we to say about all these people who are living so badly? The following narrative from Saint Vincent Ferrer will show you what you may think about it. He relates that an archdeacon in Lyons gave up his charge and retreated into a desert place to do penance, and that he died the same day and hour as Saint Bernard. After his death, he appeared to his bishop and said to him, "Know, Monsignor, that at the very hour I passed away, thirty-three thousand people also died. Out of this number, Bernard and myself went up to heaven without delay, three went to purgatory, and all the others fell into Hell."<br />
</div>Our chronicles relate an even more dreadful happening. One of our brothers, well-known for his doctrine and holiness, was preaching in Germany. He represented the ugliness of the sin of impurity so forceful that a woman fell dead of sorrow in front of everyone. Then, coming back to life, she said, "When I was presented before the Tribunal of God, sixty thousand people arrived at the same time from all parts of the world; out of that number, three were saved by going to Purgatory, and all the rest were damned." <br />
O abyss of the judgments of God! Out of thirty thousand, only five were saved! And out of sixty thousand, only three went to heaven! You sinners who are listening to me, in what category will you be numbered?... What do you say?... What do you think?...<br />
<br />
I see almost all of you lowering your heads, filled with astonishment and horror. But let us lay our stupor aside, and instead of flattering ourselves, let us try to draw some profit from our fear. Is it not true that there are two roads which lead to heaven: innocence and repentance? Now, if I show you that very few take either one of these two roads, as rational people you will conclude that very few are saved. And to mention proofs: in what age, employment or condition will you find that the number of the wicked is not a hundred times greater than that of the good, and about which one might say, "The good are so rare and the wicked are so great in number"? We could say of our times what Salvianus said of his: it is easier to find a countless multitude of sinners immersed in all sorts of iniquities than a few innocent men. How many servants are totally honest and faithful in their duties? How many merchants are fair and equitable in their commerce; how many craftsmen exact and truthful; how many salesmen disinterested and sincere? How many men of law do not forsake equity? How many soldiers do not tread upon innocence; how many masters do not unjustly withhold the salary of those who serve them, or do not seek to dominate their inferiors? Everywhere, the good are rare and the wicked great in number. Who does not know that today there is so much libertinage among mature men, liberty among young girls, vanity among women, licentiousness in the nobility, corruption in the middle class, dissolution in the people, impudence among the poor, that one could say what David said of his times: "All alike have gone astray... there is not even one who does good, not even one."<br />
<br />
Go into street and square, into palace and house, into city and countryside, into tribunal and court of law, and even into the temple of God. Where will you find virtue? "Alas!" cries Salvianus, "except for a very little number who flee evil, what is the assembly of Christians if not a sink of vice?" All that we can find everywhere is selfishness, ambition, gluttony, and luxury. Is not the greater portion of men defiled by the vice of impurity, and is not Saint John right in saying, "The whole world – if something so foul may be called – "is seated in wickedness?" I am not the one who is telling you; reason obliges you to believe that out of those who are living so badly, very few are saved.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But you will say: Can penance not profitably repair the loss of innocence? That is true, I admit. But I also know that penance is so difficult in practice, we have lost the habit so completely, and it is so badly abused by sinners, that this alone should suffice to convince you that very few are saved by that path. Oh, how steep, narrow, thorny, horrible to behold and hard to climb it is! Everywhere we look, we see traces of blood and things that recall sad memories. Many weaken at the very sight of it. Many retreat at the very start. Many fall from weariness in the middle, and many give up wretchedly at the end. And how few are they who persevere in it till death! Saint Ambrose says it is easier to find men who have kept their innocence than to find any who have done fitting penance.<br />
</div>If you consider the sacrament of penance, there are so many distorted confessions, so many studied excuses, so many deceitful repentances, so many false promises, so many ineffective resolutions, so many invalid absolutions! Would you regard as valid the confession of someone who accuses himself of sins of impurity and still holds to the occasion of them? Or someone who accuses himself of obvious injustices with no intention of making any reparation whatsoever for them? Or someone who falls again into the same iniquities right after going to confession? Oh, horrible abuses of such a great sacrament! One confesses to avoid excommunication, another to make a reputation as a penitent. One rids himself of his sins to calm his remorse, another conceals them out of shame. One accuses them imperfectly out of malice, another discloses them out of habit. One does not have the true end of the sacrament in mind, another is lacking the necessary sorrow, and still another firm purpose. Poor confessors, what efforts you make to bring the greater number of penitents to these resolutions and acts, without which confession is a sacrilege, absolution a condemnation and penance an illusion?<br />
<br />
Where are they now, those who believe that the number of the saved among Christians is greater than that of the damned and who, to authorize their opinion, reason thus: the greater portion of Catholic adults die in their beds armed with the sacraments of the Church, therefore most adult Catholics are saved? Oh, what fine reasoning! You must say exactly the opposite. Most Catholic adults confess badly at death, therefore most of them are damned. I say "all the more certain," because a dying person who has not confessed well when he was in good health will have an even harder time doing so when he is in bed with a heavy heart, an unsteady head, a muddled mind; when he is opposed in many ways by still-living objects, by still-fresh occasions, by adopted habits, and above all by devils who are seeking every means to cast him into hell. Now, if you add to all these false penitents all the other sinners who die unexpectedly in sin, due to the doctors' ignorance or by their relatives' fault, who die from poisoning or from being buried in earthquakes, or from a stroke, or from a fall, or on the battlefield, in a fight, caught in a trap, struck by lightning, burned or drowned, are you not obliged to conclude that most Christian adults are damned? That is the reasoning of Saint Chrysostom. This Saint says that most Christians are walking on the road to hell throughout their life. Why, then, are you so surprised that the greater number goes to hell? To come to a door, you must take the road that leads there. What have you to answer such a powerful reason?<br />
The answer, you will tell me, is that the mercy of God is great. Yes, for those who fear Him, says the Prophet; but great is His justice for the one who does not fear Him, and it condemns all obstinate sinners.<br />
So you will say to me: Well then, who is Paradise for, if not for Christians? It is for Christians, of course, but for those who do not dishonor their character and who live as Christians. Moreover, if to the number of Christian adults who die in the grace of God, you add the countless host of children who die after baptism and before reaching the age of reason, you will not be surprised that Saint John the Apostle, speaking of those who are saved, says, "I saw a great multitude which no man could number."<br />
<br />
And this is what deceives those who pretend that the number of the saved among Catholics is greater than that of the damned... If to that number, you add the adults who have kept the robe of innocence, or who after having defiled it, have washed it in the tears of penance, it is certain that the greater number is saved; and that explains the words of Saint John, "I saw a great multitude," and these other words of Our Lord, "Many will come from the east and from the west, and will feast with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven," and the other figures usually cited in favor of that opinion. But if you are talking about Christian adults, experience, reason, authority, propriety and Scripture all agree in proving that the greater number is damned. Do not believe that because of this, paradise is empty; on the contrary, it is a very populous kingdom. And if the damned are "as numerous as the sand in the sea," the saved are "as numerous at the stars of heaven," that is, both the one and the other are countless, although in very different proportions.<br />
<br />
One day Saint John Chrysostom, preaching in the cathedral in Constantinople and considering these proportions, could not help but shudder in horror and ask, "Out of this great number of people, how many do you think will be saved?" And, not waiting for an answer, he added, "Among so many thousands of people, we would not find a hundred who are saved, and I even doubt for the one hundred." What a dreadful thing! The great Saint believed that out of so many people, barely one hundred would be saved; and even then, he was not sure of that number. What will happen to you who are listening to me? Great God, I cannot think of it without shuddering! Brothers, the problem of salvation is a very difficult thing; for according to the maxims of the theologians, when an end demands great efforts, few only attain it.<br />
That is why Saint Thomas, the Angelic Doctor, after weighing all the reasons pro and con in his immense erudition, finally concludes that the greater number of Catholic adults are damned. He says, "Because eternal beatitude surpasses the natural state, especially since it has been deprived of original grace, it is the little number that are saved."<br />
<br />
So then, remove the blindfold from your eyes that is blinding you with self-love, that is keeping you from believing such an obvious truth by giving you very false ideas concerning the justice of God, "Just Father, the world has not known Thee," said Our Lord Jesus Christ. He does not say "Almighty Father, most good and merciful Father." He says "just Father," so we may understand that out of all the attributes of God, none is less known than His justice, because men refuse to believe what they are afraid to undergo. Therefore, remove the blindfold that is covering your eyes and say tearfully: Alas! The greater number of Catholics, the greater number of those who live here, perhaps even those who are in this assembly, will be damned! What subject could be more deserving of your tears?<br />
<br />
King Xerxes, standing on a hill looking at his army of one hundred thousand soldiers in battle array, and considering that out of all of them there would be not one man alive in a hundred years, was unable to hold back his tears. Have we not more reason to weep upon thinking that out of so many Catholics, the greater number will be damned? Should this thought not make our eyes pour forth rivers of tears, or at least produce in our heart the sentiment of compassion felt by an Augustinian Brother, Ven. Marcellus of St. Dominic? One day as he was meditating on the eternal pains, the Lord showed him how many souls were going to hell at that moment and had him see a very broad road on which twenty-two thousand reprobates were running toward the abyss, colliding into one another. The servant of God was stupefied at the sight and exclaimed, "Oh, what a number! What a number! And still more are coming. O Jesus! O Jesus! What madness!" Let me repeat with Jeremiah, "Who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my eyes? And I will weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people."<br />
<br />
Poor souls! How can you run so hastily toward hell? For mercy's sake, stop and listen to me for a moment! Either you understand what it means to be saved and to be damned for all eternity, or you do not. If you understand and in spite of that, you do not decide to change your life today, make a good confession and trample upon the world, in a word, make your every effort to be counted among the littler number of those who are saved, I say that you do not have the faith. You are more excusable if you do not understand it, for then one must say that you are out of your mind. To be saved for all eternity, to be damned for all eternity, and to not make your every effort to avoid the one and make sure of the other, is something inconceivable.<br />
<br />
<u>The Goodness of God</u><br />
<br />
Perhaps you do not yet believe the terrible truths I have just taught you. But it is the most highly-considered theologians, the most illustrious Fathers who have spoken to you through me. So then, how can you resist reasons supported by so many examples and words of Scripture? If you still hesitate in spite of that, and if your mind is inclined to the opposite opinion, does that very consideration not suffice to make you tremble? Oh, it shows that you do not care very much for your salvation! In this important matter, a sensible man is struck more strongly by the slightest doubt of the risk he runs than by the evidence of total ruin in other affairs in which the soul is not involved. One of our brothers, Blessed Giles, was in the habit of saying that if only one man were going to be damned, he would do all he could to make sure he was not that man.<br />
<br />
So what must we do, we who know that the greater number is going to be damned, and not only out of all Catholics? What must we do? Take the resolution to belong to the little number of those who are saved. You say: If Christ wanted to damn me, then why did He create me? Silence, rash tongue! God did not create anyone to damn him; but whoever is damned, is damned because he wants to be. Therefore, I will now strive to defend the goodness of my God and acquit it of all blame: that will be the subject of the second point.<br />
<br />
Before going on, let us gather on one side all the books and all the heresies of Luther and Calvin, and on the other side the books and heresies of the Pelagians and Semi-Pelagians, and let us burn them. Some destroy grace, others freedom, and all are filled with errors; so let us cast them into the fire. All the damned bear upon their brow the oracle of the Prophet Osee, "Thy damnation comes from thee," so that they may understand that whoever is damned, is damned by his own malice and because he wants to be damned.<br />
<br />
First let us take these two undeniable truths as a basis: "God wants all men to be saved," "All are in need of the grace of God." Now, if I show you that God wants to save all men, and that for this purpose He gives all of them His grace and all the other necessary means of obtaining that sublime end, you will be obliged to agree that whoever is damned must impute it to his own malice, and that if the greater number of Christians are damned, it is because they want to be. "Thy damnation comes from thee; thy help is only in Me."<br />
<br />
<u>God Desires All Men to be Saved</u><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In a hundred places in Holy Scripture, God tells us that it is truly His desire to save all men. "Is it My will that a sinner should die, and not that he should be converted from his ways and live?... I live, saith the Lord God. I desire not the death of the sinner. Be converted and live." When someone wants something very much, it is said that he is dying with desire; it is a hyperbole. But God has wanted and still wants our salvation so much that He died of desire, and He suffered death to give us life. This will to save all men is therefore not an affected, superficial and apparent will in God; it is a real, effective, and beneficial will; for He provides us with all the means most proper for us to be saved. He does not give them to us so they will not obtain it; He gives them to us with a sincere will, with the intention that they may obtain their effect. And if they do not obtain it, He shows Himself afflicted and offended over it. He commands even the damned to use them in order to be saved; He exhorts them to it; He obliges them to it; and if they do not do it, they sin. Therefore, they may do it and thus be saved.<br />
</div>Far more, because God sees that we could not even make use of His grace without His help, He gives us other aids; and if they sometimes remain ineffective, it is our fault; for with these same aids, one may abuse them and be damned with them, and another may do right and be saved; he might even be saved with less powerful aids. Yes, it can happen that we abuse a greater grace and are damned, whereas another cooperates with a lesser grace and is saved.<br />
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Saint Augustine exclaims, "If, therefore, someone turns aside from justice, he is carried by his free will, led by his concupiscence, deceived by his own persuasion." But for those who do not understand theology, here is what I have to say to them: God is so good that when He sees a sinner running to his ruin, He runs after him, calls him, entreats and accompanies him even to the gates of hell; what will He not do to convert him? He sends him good inspirations and holy thoughts, and if he does not profit from them, He becomes angry and indignant, He pursues him. Will He strike him? No. He beats at the air and forgives him. But the sinner is not converted yet. God sends him a mortal illness. It is certainly all over for him. No, brothers, God heals him; the sinner becomes obstinate in evil, and God in His mercy looks for another way; He gives him another year, and when that year is over, He grants him yet another. <br />
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But if the sinner still wants to cast himself into hell in spite of all that, what does God do? Does He abandon him? No. He takes him by the hand; and while he has one foot in hell and the other outside, He still preaches to him, He implored him not to abuse His graces. Now I ask you, if that man is damned, is it not true that he is damned against the Will of God and because he wants to be damned? Come and ask me now: If God wanted to damn me, then why did He create me?<br />
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Ungrateful sinner, learn today that if you are damned, it is not God who is to blame, but you and your self-will. To persuade yourself of this, go down even to the depths of the abyss, and there I will bring you one of those wretched damned souls burning in hell, so that he may explain this truth to you. Here is one now: "Tell me, who are you?" "I am a poor idolater, born in an unknown land; I never heard of heaven or hell, nor of what I am suffering now." "Poor wretch! Go away, you are not the one I am looking for." Another one is coming; there he is. "Who are you?" "I am a schismatic from the ends of Tartary; I always lived in an uncivilized state, barely knowing that there is a God." "You are not the one I want; return to hell." Here is another. "And who are you?" "I am a poor heretic from the North. I was born under the Pole and never saw either the light of the sun or the light of faith." "It is not you that I am looking for either, return to Hell." Brothers, my heart is broken upon seeing these wretches who never even knew the True Faith among the damned. Even so, know that the sentence of condemnation was pronounced against them and they were told, "Thy damnation comes from thee." They were damned because they wanted to be. They received so many aids from God to be saved! We do not know what they were, but they know them well, and now they cry out, "O Lord, Thou art just... and Thy judgments are equitable."<br />
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Brothers, you must know that the most ancient belief is the Law of God, and that we all bear it written in our hearts; that it can be learned without any teacher, and that it suffices to have the light of reason in order to know all the precepts of that Law. That is why even the barbarians hid when they committed sin, because they knew they were doing wrong; and they are damned for not having observed the natural law written in their heart: for had they observed it, God would have made a miracle rather than let them be damned; He would have sent them someone to teach them and would have given them other aids, of which they made themselves unworthy by not living in conformity with the inspirations of their own conscience, which never failed to warn them of the good they should do and the evil they should avoid. So it is their conscience that accused them at the Tribunal of God, and it tells them constantly in hell, "Thy damnation comes from thee." They do not know what to answer and are obliged to confess that they are deserving of their fate. Now if these infidels have no excuse, will there be any for a Catholic who had so many sacraments, so many sermons, so many aids at his disposal? How will he dare to say, "If God was going to damn me, then why did He create me?" How will he dare to speak in this manner, when God gives him so many aids to be saved? So let us finish confounding him.<br />
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You who are suffering in the abyss, answer me! Are there any Catholics among you? "There certainly are!" How many? Let one of them come here! "That is impossible, they are too far down, and to have them come up would turn all of hell upside down; it would be easier to stop one of them as he is falling in." So then, I am speaking to you who live in the habit of mortal sin, in hatred, in the mire of the vice of impurity, and who are getting closer to hell each day. Stop, and turn around; it is Jesus who calls you and who, with His wounds, as with so many eloquent voices, cries to you, "My son, if you are damned, you have only yourself to blame: 'Thy damnation comes from thee.' Lift up your eyes and see all the graces with which I have enriched you to insure your eternal salvation. I could have had you born in a forest in Barbary; that is what I did to many others, but I had you born in the Catholic Faith; I had you raised by such a good father, such an excellent mother, with the purest instructions and teachings. If you are damned in spite of that, whose fault will it be? Your own, My son, your own: 'Thy damnation comes from thee.' <br />
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"I could have cast you into hell after the first mortal sin you committed, without waiting for the second: I did it to so many others, but I was patient with you, I waited for you for many long years. I am still waiting for you today in penance. If you are damned in spite of all that, whose fault is it? Your own, My son, your own: "Thy damnation comes from thee." You know how many have died before your very eyes and were damned: that was a warning for you. You know how many others I set back on the right path to give you the good example. Do you remember what that excellent confessor told you? I am the one who had him say it. Did he not enjoin you to change your life, to make a good confession? I am the One who inspired him. Remember that sermon that touched your heart? I am the One who led you there. And what has happened between you and Me in the secret of your heart, ...that you can never forget.<br />
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"Those interior inspirations, that clear knowledge, that constant remorse of conscience, would you dare to deny them? All of these were so many aids of My grace, because I wanted to save you. I refused to give them to many others, and I gave them to you because I loved you tenderly. My son, My son, if I spoke to them as tenderly as I am speaking to you today, how many others souls return to the right path! And you... you turn your back on Me. Listen to what I am going to tell you, for these are My last words: You have cost Me My blood; if you want to be damned in spite of the blood I shed for you, do not blame Me, you have only yourself to accuse; and throughout all eternity, do not forget that if you are damned in spite of Me, you are damned because you want to be damned: 'Thy damnation comes from thee.' "<br />
O my good Jesus, the very stones would split on hearing such sweet words, such tender expressions. Is there anyone here who wants to be damned, with so many graces and aids? If there is one, let him listen to me, and then let him resist if he can.<br />
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Baronius relates that after Julian the Apostate's infamous apostasy, he conceived such great hatred against Holy Baptism that day and night, he sought a way in which he might erase his own. To that purpose he had a bath of goat's blood prepared and placed himself in it, wanting this impure blood of a victim consecrated to Venus to erase the sacred character of Baptism from his soul. Such behavior seems abominable to you, but if Julian's plan had been able to succeed, it is certain that he would be suffering much less in hell.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sinners, the advice I want to give you will no doubt seem strange to you; but if you understand it well, it is, on the contrary, inspired by tender compassion toward you. I implore you on my knees, by the blood of Christ and by the Heart of Mary, change your life, come back to the road that leads to heaven, and do all you can to belong to the little number of those who are saved. If, instead of this, you want to continue walking on the road that leads to hell, at least find a way to erase your baptism. Woe to you if you take the Holy Name of Jesus Christ and the sacred character of the Christian engraved upon your soul into hell! Your chastisement will be all the greater. So do what I advise you to do: if you do not want to convert, go this very day and ask your pastor to erase your name from the baptismal register, so that there may not remain any remembrance of your ever having been a Christian; implore your Guardian Angel to erase from his book of graces the inspirations and aids he has given you on orders from God, for woe to you if he recalls them! Tell Our Lord to take back His faith, His baptism, His sacraments.</div>You are horror-struck at such a thought? Well then, cast yourself at the feet of Jesus Christ and say to Him, with tearful eyes and contrite heart: "Lord, I confess that up till now I have not lived as a Christian. I am not worthy to be numbered among Your elect. I recognize that I deserve to be damned; but Your mercy is great and, full of confidence in Your grace, I say to You that I want to save my soul, even if I have to sacrifice my fortune, my honor, my very life, as long as I am saved. If I have been unfaithful up to now, I repent, I deplore, I detest my infidelity, I ask You humbly to forgive me for it. Forgive me, good Jesus, and strengthen me also, that I may be saved. I ask You not for wealth, honor or prosperity; I ask you for one thing only, to save my soul."<br />
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And You, O Jesus! What do You say? O Good Shepherd, see the stray sheep who returns to You; embrace this repentant sinner, bless his sighs and tears, or rather bless these people who are so well disposed and who want nothing but their salvation. Brothers, at the feet of Our Lord, let us protest that we want to save our soul, cost what it may. Let us all say to Him with tearful eyes, "Good Jesus, I want to save my soul," O blessed tears, O blessed sighs!<br />
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<u>Conclusion</u><br />
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Brothers, I want to send all of you away comforted today. So if you ask me my sentiment on the number of those who are saved, here it is: Whether there are many or few that are saved, I say that whoever wants to be saved, will be saved; and that no one can be damned if he does not want to be. And if it is true that few are saved, it is because there are few who live well. As for the rest, compare these two opinions: the first one states that the greater number of Catholics are condemned; the second one, on the contrary, pretends that the greater number of Catholics are saved. Imagine an Angel sent by God to confirm the first opinion, coming to tell you that not only are most Catholics damned, but that of all this assembly present here, one alone will be saved. If you obey the Commandments of God, if you detest the corruption of this world, if you embrace the Cross of Jesus Christ in a spirit of penance, you will be that one alone who is saved.<br />
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Now imagine the same Angel returning to you and confirming the second opinion. He tells you that not only are the greater portion of Catholics saved, but that out of all this gathering, one alone will be damned and all the others saved. If after that, you continue your usuries, your vengeances, your criminal deeds, your impurities, then you will be that one alone who is damned.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RWOm8zY-Biw/TYOgqh71prI/AAAAAAAAAHE/Op2ARvkfHE4/s1600/heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RWOm8zY-Biw/TYOgqh71prI/AAAAAAAAAHE/Op2ARvkfHE4/s1600/heaven.jpg" /></a>What is the use of knowing whether few or many are saved? Saint Peter says to us, "Strive by good works to make your election sure." When Saint Thomas Aquinas's sister asked him what she must do to go to heaven, he said, "You will be saved if you want to be." I say the same thing to you, and here is proof of my declaration. No one is damned unless he commits mortal sin: that is of faith. And no one commits mortal sin unless he wants to: that is an undeniable theological proposition. Therefore, no one goes to hell unless he wants to; the consequence is obvious. Does that not suffice to comfort you? Weep over past sins, make a good confession, sin no more in the future, and you will all be saved. Why torment yourself so? For it is certain that you have to commit mortal sin to go to hell, and that to commit mortal sin you must want to, and that consequently no one goes to hell unless he wants to. That is not just an opinion, it is an undeniable and very comforting truth; may God give you to understand it, and may He bless you. Amen. </div></div>Sunnivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269455484970005172noreply@blogger.com0