Pope Turns 80 Editor, The Remnant: Today, in an increasingly tense and fear-ridden Vatican, Pope Francis celebrated his 80th birthday. Eighty years ago today, Saint Faustina Kowalska, recipient of the Divine Mercy messages from our Lord and Saviour, wrote in her diary on 17 December 1936 that she had suffered terrible anguish that day – more than ever before. She knew not why. Well, on that day in far-off Argentina, an infant was born who was destined to become our present Bishop of Rome. Mere coincidence? I was prompted to recall St. Faustina’s mysterious suffering this morning, while celebrating in the Traditional Latin Rite the Mass for Ember Saturday of Advent, 17 December 2016. For the Epistle was II Thessalonians 2: 1-8. This text is a prophecy that foretells how, prior to the coming of the final Antichrist, whom Jesus will destroy in his Second Coming (v. 8), a forerunner will appear at the time of the final apostasy: “ the man of sin” will be revealed, “ the son of perdition, who opposeth and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God” (vv. 3-4). Could it be that this prophecy is to be fulfilled by one sitting in the temple of God dedicated to St. Peter who (although prevented by the Holy Spirit from using binding, ex cathedra language) utters contradictions of God’s law as it has been expounded by all his predecessors and the Council of Trent? Presuming to contradict divine teaching - e.g., about divorce, adultery and access to Communion, inventing “exceptions” to God’s law, blasphemously ascribing sin to the Son of God (cf. homily of 27/12/15, Feast of the Holy Family) and much more - might arguably be seen as “opposing and lifting [himself] up” above God and “shewing himself as if he were God”. At any rate, a chill shot up my spine while reading this Epistle at Mass, when I remembered today’s date, whose landmark (80th) birthday it was, and Sister Faustina’s deeply troubled spirit on the day when, unbeknown to her, he came into the world. Father Brian Harris
Thank you. This is a very informative piece by the highly respected priest Fr. Harrison. Much food for thought; in the present time, that just are no coincidences.
There is occurring something which frightens me and it is being lived out here on the Forum. There is a hardening of opposing positions among faithful Catholics. Consider this parable of Jesus: Matthew 13:24 Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the householder came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?' 28 He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29 But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'" Obviously, threads such as Silence Gives Consent:Four Cardinals Challenge Francis began in earnest with the event of the Dubia. Still, I considered the discussion was among brothers and sisters, or shall I say, among the wheat. And all of us wheat love the Papacy. But now with Padraig's declaration of Pope Francis' "heresy," we begin to see threads such as this one which inherently consider Francis as evil. There is a growing divide and two camps which are falling into a chasm of intransigence. If this hardening continues then each camp will look at the other no longer as wheat, but as weeds. Padraig, you have allowed a can of worms to be opened. Consider a period similar to this one: the 4th century: The rise of the Donatist Schism in the 4th century finds its roots in the persecution initiated by the Roman emperor, Diocletion, in the years 303-311 A.D. The focus of this particular persecution was the attempt to undermine worship on the Lord’s Day. Churches, Scriptures, and sacred vessels were destroyed. Martyrdoms and tortures were numerous, especially in the eastern part of the Empire, though North Africa was not spared. Church leaders who reportedly assisted in any way became known as traditors, meaning those who had handed over. It is where we derive our English word, traitor. Consequently, certain African bishops disapproved of the ordination of a certain Caecilian in 311 because he had been ordained by an accused traditor named Felix. After two appeals by these questioning bishops, the Council of Alers in 314 decisively concluded that Caecilian was validly ordained. The rebellious bishops refused to capitulate and, along with their leader, Donatus Magnus, went into schism. Thus, they became known as Donatists. This schismatic group became well entrenched in North Africa, especially in the area around Carthage, and so opposing bishoprics from the two churches became common. Tensions were often high. In the second half of the 4th century, a violent group of radical Donatists called Circumcellions inflicted torture and, at times, death on Catholics. They believed themselves to be the true wheat, and branded Catholics as mere chaff, worthy to be grounded under foot. The Donatists presented theological arguments to justify their schism. They argued that traditors were apostates who could no longer celebrate valid sacraments. In fact, according to Donatists, any catechumen baptized by a traditor would have to be re-baptized. They upheld a pure and undefiled Church. The Catholic position was persuasively presented by St. Augustine at the end of the 4th century. Utilizing the Latin phrase, ex opere operato, meaning “by the work worked”, he stated that the moral state of the minister fails to invalidate a sacrament. For instance, a priest might be in the state of mortal sin, yet this would not negatively affect the transubstantiation of the bread and wine at Holy Mass. In summary, Donatists were rigorists who emphasized a Church of the Elect; The Catholic Church saw herself on pilgrimage, with saints and sinners co-existing within. Augustine’s view of mercy, love and unity prevailed in the end. In his correspondence, Augustine pleaded with the Donatists: Nor ought we to separate ourselves from the Catholic communion if anything should perhaps happen when we were unwilling or even opposed to it, if we were able, since we learned peaceful toleration from the lips of the apostle, Bear with one another in love; strive to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:2-3)… those who produced the schism did not have his toleration and peace... In no way am I claiming that either side on the Forum are the "Donatists." I am simply presenting an historical example of opposing ideas leading to an irreversible split. May our opposing convictions here on MOG not build up to a similar consequence. May the unity of the Spirit prevail among all of us wheat. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you! Safe in the Barque of Peter!
Thank you Mario for yet another informative and well thought out post. I think the message here is of utmost importance. Whether someone likes Pope Francis or not. He is still Pope. The Vicar of Christ on Earth. It is one thing to critique the something the Holy Father does with all charity and reverence towards the Papacy. It is another to hate him. If anyone is going to critique the Pope (and I am not encouraging that) I think it would be wise to use such men as Cardinal Burke as a role model. You will never see him spewing hate or disgust. God has allowed Pope Francis to ascend the Papacy. One might not understand why, but one must accept that with humility. God's ways are not our ways.
If/when God is speaking through his Church we will know so from whether it is within the deposit of unchanging faith/morals or not. Truth [doctrine] can develop, but it can never change. This is at the heart if the question that Cardinal Burke and others have asked clarification on. Truth is not subjective. Its that simple for a person to know where he stands.
Cardinal Burke has offered ample proof from Scripture, Church law and Church history (Tradition) that what he is calmly, obediently and serenely doing is wholly appropriate and neither schismatic nor heretical. You can no longer arbitrarily throw out the baseless charge that he is being schismatic or heretical on MOG without proving your assertion by use of Scripture, Tradition, and Church history. It will simply be deleted in the future. This is your only warning.
Spiritual pride is an ugly thing and we all fight against it. Our Lord Jesus was harassed, condemned and crucified in the name of the scriptures and the law by the most learned of His day. For myself, I barely read many of these posts and try not to think much about it. I just try to be a little child hidden under her Mother's mantle. I beg her to lead me, guide me and protect me from this ugliness. I pray for all of our salvation because it can be lost easily even when you sit in the front pew at church. In the wise words of Crewdog, may God save all those here.
....& KS, I'll say again!! We have much more to worry about "These Days" than Vatican or DC ... or Far-Away whatever!! Time to spending more time on Kith & Kin & Basics of LIFE .. food, H20, shelter & protection. The Planet, human and nature, is more "Mad" hourly now! Prayer & Prep! GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!
Yes, I believe Fr. Brain is doing a disservice to those who read him. How he got that bad feeling Sr. Faustian had to the birth of Pope Francis is way beyond being sensible. This Pope will be shown in history as a Christlike man who was attacked by those who are too conservative for their own good I believe. Yet, Fr. Brian has the right to his opinion, which is what it is, an opinion. Peace Mark
Fr. Brian simply put into writing what many Catholics have been wondering out loud for several years. Bravo to him for having the courage to put in black and white a question many have been asking. There are no such things as coincidences. And defending the faith is NOT attacking the pope.
You can no longer arbitrarily throw out the baseless charge that Cardinal Burke is being schismatic or heretical on MOG without proving your assertion by use of Scripture, Tradition, and Church history. Take it elsewhere.
Well that would shock the boots of me and it is something that I have never seen before, I am pretty sure that this forum does not support any type of hard line superiority,I always presumed that we debated very well here, could you enlighten me on your thoughts, I have had a look at all the deletions over the past month and they are either spam,double posts or mistakes ??? for the record a moderators job on the forum is to step in when arguments get heated,to delete spam,to delete inappropriate content/language and help users with any request's.. they do not have the power to ban someone unless Padraig says so...
I believe it was Brian who posted that posts would be deleted and that was a warning. I found it to be a strange post and hopefully not where this forum is trending.
These kinds of posts, denigrating the good and holy men who authored the Dubia, falsely and baselessly accusing them of schism and heresy, are not welcome here.
