This is very troubling. It looks to me like we have moved several big steps closer to Schism. Much to pray about here. I suppose the biggest thing is not to loose our peace or go off the deep and pray and study on all this. I find it hard as a very ordinary lay Catholic hard to get my head around all this. I have to say though in initial examination it appears that these Bishops are correct and that there is indeed serious Heresy involved here. What is more I have the very highest respect for Bishop Strickland and Bishop Schneider these are very Holy indeed saintly men indeed. They are not hot heads. What is more I suspect other Bishops and Cardinals will be agreeing with them in public in the near future. What difficult times! Time for much prayer and reflection. I wish Padre Pio was alive, I'd so have loved to hear what he thought about all this. But it will be interesting to hear what the Papal Posse over at EWTN say also of course Cardinal Burke and others..
Yes, Padraig, the key quote of Francis is as follows: 5. The world still does not know it, but everyone is invited to the supper of the wedding of the Lamb (Re 19:9). To be admitted to the feast all that is required is the wedding garment of faith which comes from the hearing of his Word (cf. Ro 10:17). The Church has also consistently taught that we must also approach to receive Holy Communion only when not in a state of mortal sin. Pure and simple.
Yes, Mario. Thank you for standing up for the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church! The statement that "all that is required is the wedding garment of faith" is one example of the Protestant heresy, the error that "faith alone" will save us. Why do you think that "the bishop in white" would say that? If we read all of St. Paul's letters, there is no way that we can support the idea that "all that is required" is "faith." But most importantly for Catholics, every Catechism teaches that faith and works are both necessary for our eternal salvation. So our "works" do matter. Only those who "walk the walk," those who "keep the commandments" will be admitted to the "wedding of the Lamb." Those who break the Commandments, must be "washed in the blood of the Lamb" which comes, ordinarily for Catholics, either through the Sacrament of Baptism or through the Sacrament of Penance. And after receiving the Sacrament of Penance, we must make "satisfaction" for the temporal punishment for our sins by doing penance or receiving an indulgence. Only after all of those steps, will the stains of sin be removed from our "wedding garment." If any stains remain, we will not be admitted to the heavenly wedding supper. That is why Our Lady, in all of her authentic apparitions, says "Penance, Penance, Penance." Here are more Scriptural supports for what I am saying: St. Paul 1 Corinthians, chapter 6: 9 Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers: 10 Nor the effeminate nor liers with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God. St. James in his Epistle, chapter 2: 14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him? 15 And if a brother or sister be naked and want daily food: 16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit? 17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself. 18 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works. Shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith. 19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? St. John in the Apocalypse, chapter 22: 14 Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb: that they may have a right to the tree of life and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15 Without are dogs and sorcerers and unchaste and murderers and servers of idols and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.
Looking at this a second time, I suppose Pope Francis might respond that all might come to Holy Mass and that was the intent of what he was encouraging. I personally have at times participated at Holy Mass while in a state of mortal sin without receiving Holy Communion. In other words, one can distinguish between the Holy Sacrifice and reception of Holy Communion. However, by focusing on the terms supper and feast, Pope Francis indirectly points to the reception of Holy Communion as a given. Never a dull moment.
Cardinal Burke said many years ago that, if a pope fell into heresy, he would ipso facto fall from the pontificate. That was years ago around the time of the dubia. No cardinal has the courage to really apply this position, where we see heresy and apostasy every day. Or if they do apply it privately, nobody publicly talks about it.
Yes. The Dubia was ignored. Two of the clergy who wrote it and submitted it are now dead. No follow up on either side.
I find it troubling, too, that this is all occurring around the time of Nancy Pelosi's visit to the Pope in Rome, and beyond that time frame. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone is her bishop and he has banned her from receiving Holy Communion because of her public stance on abortion as a Catholic and as a legislator. So she travels to Rome and receives at Mass there. Very troubling. Politics.
We pray for the conversion of the Pope. If he lives he will experience the warning like the rest of us. It will give him a chance repent and make reparation for his errors.
Thank you for this important reminder. That is basically all the Lord wants from us, true contrition for our sins and a firm desire of amendment, in Confession, of course. He will not despise a contrite heart.
Somethings take legs of their own and run by themselves. A Reigning Pope who is a Heretic and Preaches Open Formal Heresy to the Faithful will take legs of it's own and run. Actions have consequences both in Heaven and here below on Earth. In Heaven for instance this will outrage the Holy Angels and Saints who stand in the Presence of God. They will demand Justice for this. Also the Queen of Heaven may not Hold the Arm of the Just God in such a grave circumstance. I sense that we are only at the start of all this... Actions have consequences.
Heaven may just have sent us a Sign from heaven on this matter, perhaps the first of many: https://www.latimes.com/world-natio...nian-farmer-rare-ancient-treasure-mosaic-gaza A Mosaic of the Mother of God just uncovered in Gaza. Romans 5:20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
It all reminds me of the time Jesus was on the boat sleeping on the Sea of Galilee and a storm blew up. Matthew 8:23-27 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” You can sense through the passage that the poor old disciples were kind of outraged that Jesus was sleeping through all this, when they appeared to be in great danger. But Jesus rebukes them for their lack of Faith. We are going through a huge storm in the Church and Jesus appears to be out of it. Snoring away. But Jesus knows what is going down even better than we do. He knows all the Wicked secret plans and and the Evil Counsels better than we do. If and when He wants to wake up and fix things, fix things He will. Meanwhile we must maintain our peace and trust. If God wants to snooze, let Him snooze.
Certainly can't be too upset that conditions are being created where many/most shepherds are feeling free to express their true thoughts about the faith. It may be the only way to expose those that do not possess true supernatural faith or believe in Christ's teachings. How painful is this going to get? I can only imagine, especially when 40 of 56 German bishops want the church to ok "homosexual acts". 70%!! Think about the ramifications if in confession a repentant sinner tries to confess a sin and is told it's not a sin and doesn't get absolution for it. Or that you don't have to partake in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, confession or marriage but get to partake in communion without question. The confusion could tear the foundation of the church apart. Buckle up and pray.
