Tradicat

 + JMJ  Protestants believe that we are saved by Faith Alone (Sola Fides), even though the 'alone' part was added by Luther. What do Catholics believe? I had heard Steve Wood of Family Life International mention ( https://www.dads.org ), in response to Protestants,  that we are saved by Grace and I realized that I didn't know enough about this topic. So I dusted of my electronic copy of  Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma writtne by Ludwig Ott and dove into a study. All quotes are from Ott's discussion on the Salvation So I can now report that, yes the correct Catholic answer is that we are saved by Grace and the core seems to be the following: The source of the Subjective Redemption is the Triune God.     Since however, the communication of grace is a work of the Divine Love, it is “appropriated" to the Holy Ghost, i.e., to the Personal Divine Love.     Nevertheless it is effected by the Three Persons in common.     The Subje...

 + JMJ  It has now been over 35 years since the consecrations of the SSPX bishops. That event is definitely a lightning rod that repeatedly draws criticism. Whether or not Archbishop Lefebvre was right in making the consecrations is, at this point in time, no longer the relevant question.  The deed was done and, aside from the notable issues with ex-SSPX Bishop Williamson, it has borne the foreseen fruit.  The SSPX still exists. Who would have foreseen a Pope Francis within a generation of the consecrations?  But there we are, as Pope Francis continues to widen the gap between the Traditionalist and Liberal Catholics, we have to wonder what will come next.  The answer is simple: Only God knows! What is really important is whether or not the act of consecrating a bishop in 1988 without Pontifical Mandate is a schismatic act? Here are some points to consider ... The canonical warning to Archbishop Lefebvre did not cite the canon's related to schism (link). ht...

 + JMJ  In the past I've posted articles on the Gratitude that Traditional Catholics should have and how true Gratitude will lead to bitterness of spirit. Today it was mentioned in the sermon by our SSPX priest and he was quoting Pope St. Pius X's encyclical:  E Supremi On the Restoration of All things in Christ (link) .   Here's the key passage that he quoted verbatim:  But in order that the desired fruit [Tradicat: Of the aposolate] may be derived from this apostolate and this zeal for teaching, and that Christ may be formed in all, be it remembered, Venerable Brethren, that no means is more efficacious than charity. “For the Lord is not in the earthquake” (III Kings xix., II) — it is vain to hope to attract souls to God by a bitter zeal. On the contrary, harm is done more often than good by taunting men harshly with their faults, and reproving their vices with asperity. True the Apostle exhorted Timothy: “Accuse, beseech, rebuke,” but he took ca...