Cardinal Collins' recent sermons are peppered with references to martyrdom and the falsities of modern man and society. Once again, this very morning at his Sunday Mass, the Cardinal spoke of martyrdom, the persecutions of "wicked" Henry VIII, of St. Thomas More and the "bishop-martyr" St. John Fisher. Again, the Cardinal spoke of the waywardness, the obsession with false reality by modern man, and the emptiness of modern society. Several times he referenced the nothingness of this life. He even presented a copy of the "Imitation of Christ" to us to follow. And yet, and yet...it is not what the bishops says, it is what he DOES. The sermon in the video below begins at 13:05.
When a man continues to return to certain ideas, to dwell upon them, indeed to such an extent as to continue to reiterate them publicly, it means that they are consuming him. How many times has the Cardinal brought up the English martyrs who stood up before the tyrannical "wicked" (the Cardinal's own word) Henry VIII and his violent persecution of Christ's Church? The parallels are obvious: the Cardinal in his conscience knows that there is something very wrong in Canada. He himself is on record as stating that the churches in Toronto were, and are not the cause of community spread of "a little virus" (to use the Cardinal's own words). Yet regarding the tyrannical closing down of public worship under the pretext of protecting human life (all the while allowing abortion "clinics" to operate unfettered) the question must be asked:
WHY ARE THE CHURCHES CLOSED?
We have the answer to that question from the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Health who have told us on multiple occasions: they are "UNESSENTIAL". When decreeing so, TPH has de facto set itself up as the supreme spiritual authority.
Cardinal Collins, what would Bishop-Martyr St. John Fisher do, when told Mass was unessential?
When told how to conduct Her religious rites?
When told ALL the Sacraments would be banned if the Church did not obey the Absolutist State?
When told he could not have more than 10 people present at Holy Mass?
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is indicative of the fact he needs more prayers.
Collins keeps bringing up More and Fisher. He has chosen these two, in these times. There is a reason. We need to discern the sign of the times as to why. When a man dwells on something at a given time, it means it has importance to him. When a man dwells on martyrs during a persecution of the Church by the State it means he is at minimum drawing some sort of comparison of his times with that of the martyrs. Collins is no fool and he is well aware of what is taking place. There are three possibilities: 1) it is mere accident; 2) it is a malevolent deception, and 3) he is a man in spiritual crisis.
ReplyDeleteI take the third option given that the evidence strongly suggests this. We must remember that Collins is a liberal, and liberals maintain their dream. His liberal dream was again expressed on the Feast of St Agatha and today. This is why we see a man of contradiction, a man torn. This explains how he can flirt with godless - even notoriously anti-Catholic - politicians at his Banquet and then write letters to the Board chastising it. The liberal dream is very seductive and it is extremely hard to break from. For example, Collins still claimed in his sermon that modern man will “respect” those who present the truth. No, modern man will not do so! This is an example of this dream. The Catholic knows and understands that modern man is corrupt and does not “respect” the truth. But Collins contradicted himself when he admitted to shunning and shaming. We do not shun and shame that which we respect.
It should be noted we saw this same liberalism in Paul VI. Now moving against heresy, now placating it. Now issuing his Credo, now weeping that he was betrayed by heretics and innovators. The tragedy of Paul was that though liberal, he could only go so far; once he issued Humanae Vitae and the Credo, he was effectively paralyzed by the corrupt curia. The 1970s descended into years of a timid, cowed Pope, besieged, yet never understanding (or far more accurately), or being able to concede that there just are plain wicked, evil men; and that liberalism is a dream - very nice in theory - but in reality, it turns into a nightmare. This is not to single out this particular Pope. ALL the post-conciliar popes were liberal. Indeed, even Benedict XV, and Pus XI and XII flirted with liberalism. To his credit, Pius XI refuted liberalism after he saw the damage he created by rejecting the Christeros. the fact is we have not had a truly, integrally anti-liberal pope, since the great Pius X. And I do not think God will be any time soon blessing the Church with an anti-liberal Pope, given that most Catholics are into the liberal Dream, big time. And that includes far, far too many "traditional" Catholics, addicted to "fiftiesism", or "Bing Crosby, going my way" Catholicism. No, Catholics must cease following these foolish liberal Dreams, and start going Christ's Way.
"Going Christ's Way."
ReplyDeleteYes. Focusing on the world - in other words, not the Way of Christ - only brings us grief.
It would be wise to turn our full-time focus away from the world at large and focus on those who have gone before us, and how they lived in Christ and advanced in virtue.
Unless a homily addresses the serious issues of the day it is just empty sounds and not much more. Faith must be central to life. Fisher would challenge the authorities of the day and remind them that there is a higher power than the government called God. God is the one we should follow not Caesar. Did the Canadian martyrs give their lives so the churches could remain closed and the bishops silent during a pandemic? Can you remember a homily you heard that helped to change your spiritual life? Probably not. And that's the problem with so much preaching that ends up being just language on a holiday.
ReplyDeleteThese Saints are on his mind for a reason. There have been many priest and bishops that are examples as to how to handle actual pandemics, St. Charles Borremeo, St. Damian of Molokai, Bl. Michael McGiveny come to mind.
ReplyDeleteThere is good news for Cardinal Collins though, the Lord's forgiveness is endless. Turn around, open the churches and celebrate the mass with all. Oppose the tyranny from the government, the Lord will be with you.