Tradicat

+ JMJ Much has happened since I was forced by a very busy schedule to go on hiatus.  Michael Voris et al completed their "attack ads" against the SSPX.  I found it amusing that (if I read correctly) all of the 'witnesses' interviewed concluded that the SSPX is not in a formal state of schism.  Funny that.  I'm going to pull together some of the highlights in a series on the ' Arrested Development ' of CMTV as 'Traditional' Catholics.

+ JMJ Rorate has posted a piece by Dr. Lamont worth reading here  about active participation in the liturgy. This is one of the cultural divides between the Pre/Post conciliar cultures - participating in the liturgy. Some would think (erroneously) that it means that laity should share more of the roles and responsibilities of the Priest (ie usurp). Answer: Wrong. Dr. Lamont provides insight to this phenom and a perspective that is needed in the Church today! P^3

+ JMJ Ok so the Synod looms large on our radar screens (ok but not CMTV's - they've turned their targeting radar on the SSPX). What to do? Watch and pray lest you to enter into temptation. I would also advocate studying the faith and keeping up with your spiritual reading.  Without these elements the risk of falling onto either side of the pinnacle of virtue is great. Simple words, simple solution. Implement them and practice the virtues and you will be safe.  I quickly reviewed my list of the virtues and identified the ones that (at first glance) I believe are critical to remaining faithful in this crisis.   See this link for the complete series on virtues. P^3

+ JMJ Music reflects the values and culture of the composer and it is obvious that the Tridentine Mass had a profound influence on the composers to create beautiful settings for the Sacrifice of the Mass. I received a copy of this advertisement from a friend in Winnipeg and encourage all Catholics in the area to attend what, I am certain, will be a wonderful experience. P^3

+ JMJ As a remedy for the vitriol emanating from MV/CMTV et al, perhaps we should understand the SSPX as their founder understood them ... P^3 Source: traditionalcatholicisminnigeria.blogspot.ca “The savage and unjust struggle, undertaken against the Society (of St. Pius X) by those who are trying to contaminate the Church’s sources of sanctification, merely confirms the Society’s authenticity. These persons are the successors of Cain, who wish anew to rid themselves of Abel, whose prayers God finds so agreeable. “Today,…one of the most painful phenomena of our age is desecration—the desecration pursued by Freemasonry through secularization, atheism, rationalism, and now, tragically, aided by the clergy themselves. With God, and all that reminds us of God, being gradually eliminated and replaced by a denatured man, Society thus becomes a hell.  Living within the atmosphere of such a world, the Society of St. Pius X, in resurrecting the true spirit of the Church, s...

+ JMJ At least the SSPX didn't let Mr. Voris' tirade distract them from what is important. P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.org

+ JMJ So now Michael Voris' week long tribute the SSPX has concluded. As I write this ( September 15, 2015), the fest still rages on, but I came across one Harvard lesson that I read today that I think bears repeating here before I examine Mr. Voris' potential motivations for spending a whole week on the SSPX, when the Synod is just around the corner. Even if an opponents actions make no sense to you , they apparently make sense to him ! Something to keep in mind as we examine what I suspect will be the same old arguments against the SSPX: Schism.

+ JMJ Mundabor has a good article here that presents the classical precedent for this crisis: St Athanasius. Athanasius was excommunicated. He continued his job, uncaring. More than that – and something I seldom read about – he and St. Eusebius started appointing bishops of their own, again ignoring the Pope. The bishops they appointed – and I read about that seldom, too – were not bishop without territorial jurisdiction, like the SSPX one. They were bishops in charge of a diocese all right. Nor can it be said that in that world of difficult communications the Pope might not have had control of certain territories.  So what will happen in the end?  Following the Stockdale Paradox , I am confident that we (ie Faithful Catholics) will prevail, but it is going to be very nasty. P^3

+ JMJ CMTV has posted its thoughts on schism here .  I decided to reply - we'll see if they post my comments. Just in case ... here's what I wrote. I understand that recently a CMTV moderator stated that the SSPX is formally in schism and that they are all in a state of mortal sin. Wow, talk about hubris and a lack of catechesis. P^3

+ JMJ It is not lost on me that the opponents of the SSPX (CMTV, Mirus, et al) state that the SSPX doesn't have jurisdiction ergo their confessions and marriages are invalid. This is a half truth. Yes the SSPX does not claim to have ordinary jurisdiction, otherwise they would be schismatic. As we've seen, having ordinary jurisdiction is strictly speaking the ordinary or regular way in which the Church grants jurisdiction.  Extraordinarily the Church also grants jurisdiction on a case by case basis in cases of necessity. From my perspective, there is a grave case of necessity in the Church at this point in time. Of course, some others will say 'what necessity, this is the new springtime' or 'there is a dire crisis in the Church but it does not amount to a case of necessity because the Pope said it isn't so ...'. Ok - enough with the delusions. Objectively (pick any measure) the Church is in crisis and souls are in jeopardy. P^3 Cour...

+ JMJ Given the reaction to Pope Francis'  letter concerning the SSPX's confessions during the Holy Year, I thought it apropos that these two articles be reposted! P^3 Courtesy of the Remnant: Validity of SSPX confessions Part 1

+ JMJ It is interesting how Cardinal Mueller (sp) has, apparently, been transformed into the defender of orthodoxy. P^3 ht: Angelqueen

+ JMJ Pope Francis definitely wants to make a mess. I agree with Hilary White, and the Church needed a Pope like this in order to get the illness to manifest itself openly!!! Early on it was claimed that the Church must raze the bastions (V2 razed Doctrine, Consilium razed the liturgy, the Synod and Pope Francis are razing Catholic Morality while deftly undermining Catholic Dogma further). I pity the pain that will be caused in order to clean up this mess. P^3 Courtesy of sspx.org: Get your annulment quick! Pope Francis has just announced a new and streamlined annulment procedure, but is it open to abuse? A revised procedure for granting annulments was published on September 8th during a press conference at the Vatican. Published under the title of  Mitis Judex Dominus Jesus  (“The Gentle Judge, the Lord Jesus”),[1] Pope Francis states that his “ concern for the salvation of souls ”[2] motivated him to enact these changes. What ...

+JMJ+ Bishop Morlino has apologized for some aspects of his letter concerning the sspx. ( see remnant video courtesy of the remnant).

+ JMJ Well there has been the usual amount of turmoil over the SSPX since Pope Francis' September 1st letter that dealt with an aspect of the SSPX.  There is a whole spectrum of opinion concerning its import for the SSPX and the Church. Christoper Ferrara has (as usual) a good perspective! P^3 Courtesy of The Remnant

+ JMJ Music reflects the values and culture of the composer and it is obvious that the Tridentine Mass had a profound influence on the composers to create beautiful settings for the Sacrifice of the Mass. I received a copy of this advertisement from a friend in Winnipeg and encourage all Catholics in the area to attend what, I am certain, will be a wonderful experience. P^3

+ JMJ What is the official position of the Church on the sacraments that normally require jurisdiction to be valid (ie Matrimony and Penance). Up to today - nothing. As of today - not what most people think ... "A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X. This Jubilee Year of Mercy excludes no one. From various quarters, several Brother Bishops have told me of their good faith and sacramental practice, combined however with an uneasy situation from the pastoral standpoint . I trust that in the near future solutions may be found to recover full communion with the priests and superiors of the Fraternity. In the meantime, motivated by the need to respond to the good of these faithful, through my own disposition, I establish that those who during the Holy Year of Mercy approach these priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconcilia...

+ JMJ In prep for yet another attack on Catholic Dogma, Doctrine and Morals, I'd like to point out an excellent article posted on Rorate earlier this year:  "Theology of the Body" explained - a Traditional Catholic view - Rorate Caeli . To date my only real reaction the 'Theology of the Body' has been that what little I read doesn't 'feel right'.  The more specific term for this sensation is Cognitive Dissonance or Cultural Dissonance. In short, what I read of the basic tenets of 'Theology of the Body' seemed to contradict I believed about the Catholic Church's teaching on the purpose of marriage.  The explanations that I received from 'modern' Catholics, didn't do anything to allay my concerns. This article goes to the heart of why it didn't feel right.