Devout Life

Today, I would like to talk about the devout life. Throughout his life St. Francis De Sales worked to instruct his friends and followers in the devout life. He left us a great testimony to his life's work in his book the "Introduction to the Devout Life."

As we try to practice the devout life we learn that it is composed of two elements: First, a struggle against our lower life or nature, Second, the union of our wills with God. In other words, Penance and Love. The end to which we are aiming is a life of loving, simple, generous and constant fidelity to the will of God. The means of achieving this is Jesus himself, whom we have to keep before our eyes at all times. We should study our Lord Jesus Christ and try to live our lives and actions, just as he did. The devout life is nothing less than the giving of yourself totally to Jesus in this life, so as to hopefully hear Him say to you at the end, "Well done good and faithful servant."

My dear friends and fellow Catholics, I encourage you to seek for a more devout life by studying your faith, and by taking some time out of your busy life to pray and meditate on the life of Jesus and Mary.

When we came together as a group to study and pray I was asked, "What do you want out of this group as you read and pray The Introduction to the Devout Life?" My answer to this must be, to grow in the devout life, to love Jesus with all my heart and soul, and to increase my desire to be in the arms of my God in heaven. I would hope that all Catholics have this goal in their lives, as they battle against the evils of this world. Nothing is more important to me than this. So my dear Catholic brothers and sisters, please keep me in your prayers.

In thanksgiving let us pray:
Now therefore, your King is here, whom you have chosen and desired.

JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!

Thou hast come to me in the sacrament of thy love. Thou hast been pleased to make my poor heart thy sanctuary. Welcome Jesus Welcome! Thou art the God of my Heart, and the God that is my portion forever. I praise and bless thee for thy goodness and mercy. "Let all thy works O lord praise thee! And let thy Saints bless thee.

Islam and the Christian West: The problem is us, not them

It is not news that over the past couple of decades an Islamism derived from the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood and similar groups has made major strides in nominally Christian countries. Stories abound in Canada, the United States, and to an even greater degree in various European nations about conflict between the host peoples and the new immigrants. Tragic cases are heard of in Sweden, Britain about rape of young women... tales echo of ghettos remaining isolated by design and circumstance - again from the indigenous population. Troubles occur in the Netherlands, Belgium -- and yes, here in Canada. Female genital mutilation is rampant in Islamic communities in the UK.  

In Toronto, the Deer Valley Park Public School with its mosque is representative of the paradigm shift. The recent Toronto-based street preacher, who proposed the application of Sharia law for women's dress is another case in point. Can it be denied that the West has pornogrified and vulgarized her women to such an extent that even "main stream" media sees nothing wrong; but is even laudatory. The eccentric street preacher's rejection of femininity is not answered by the degradation of femininity. It is not answered by the foolishness of the Sun Network's trotting out images of burka-clad women from the villages of Somalia or Pakistan; nor a number of its journalists dressing up in soi-dissant burka to play to its audience. The Sun and the Taliban notwithstanding, Muslim women do not all wear sacks. But neither is it answered by the buffoonery of the CBC/Toronto Star with their fawning and winking at the advance of Islamism. Journalist Tarek Fatah has on many occasions pointed out the inability of "left-wing" journalism to admit and face Islamic extremism. A problem remains if not dealt with: an incorrect analysis, ignoring its existence leaves the problem to fester. 

"Western" women glorying in being sluts 

Yet, all of these strange happenings and reactions are not the fault of Islam, sharia-advocates, etc. The fault lies with us. That is, if anyone is to blame it is the indigenous population. The world has, and always will be ruled by spiritual values - they may be true or false, but the world is ruled by ideas. Since, roughly, the French Revolution, nation after nation has thrown off any connection with Christianity; divinizing man and humanizing God. The once Christian West then indulged in a number of grotesque fratricidal wars, and topped all of that off with sexual hedonism/promiscuity, materialism, and a growing culture of death (abortion and contraception).  

Arabic woman modeling an Abaya

Is it the fault of Islam that we no longer wish to live? Is it the fault of Islam that we have rejected God, turned His moral law on its head; believe that two men may confect wedlock? Is it the fault of Islam that we have come to believe that two plus two is five? Is it the fault of Islam that western nations have betrayed Christian communities in the Middle East into the hands of terrorists? We have become barbarians (apologies to Freyr, and my maternal grandmother's side of the family), we have chosen this path. It has not been forced on us by Islam. Islam is showing itself as a superior spiritual force to the decadent ideology of the Enlightenment. 

Arabic woman without burka

Within Islam there is a struggle - yes, Islamism is brutal, primitive and evil (but no less so than the proliferation of abortion amongst "Catholic" women). Recalling Archbishop Sheen - there are a number of "notes" of truth that Islam strikes on the "piano" of religion. It is with these notes that the Church must begin to fashion melodies, that our true Islamic friends can sing with us. Pope John Paul II forged an alliance with segments of Islam in the 90s to combat the culture of death.  As to the primitive villages of Pakistan, Afghanistan etc.  that nurture the dark-age Islamist: these people are the enemies of humanity; but they are no more the enemies of humanity than the agents of death who come in the guise of an eminently "Christian" name. The latter, having tasted truth are, in fact, far worse. The "problem" of Islam is really the "problem" of Christianity. We have ceased being Christian - that is the problem. 

On Televangelists

I've had Humani Generis Redemptionem sitting on my desktop for a while now and it's time I did something with it. Although it was promulgated by Benedict XV in 1917, it is quite topical and could easily apply to the current generation of televangelists. Speaking of the failure of modern preaching he says

If that weapon does not everywhere produce its effect, the blame certainly must be laid on those ministers of the Gospel who do not handle it as they should. For no one can maintain that the Apostles were living in better times than ours, that they found minds more readily disposed towards the Gospel or that they met with less opposition to the law of God.

The first thing he does is set out the office of bishop as the successor to the apostles and the source of preaching and teaching. The bishop sends forth preachers, they are not self appointed.

Let this then be the first law laid down: that no one on his own responsibility undertake the office of preaching. In order to fulfill that duty everyone must have a lawful mission, and that mission can be conferred by the Bishop alone.

The lecture circuit in the early 20th century served much the same purpose as modern mass media does today. A search of such names as Chautauqua or  Lyceum will yield some background on this. Apparently itinerant preachers were a particular problem as was the vulnerability of  some churches to unauthorized preaching.

For the man who owing to his peculiar bent of mind, or any other cause, should choose to undertake the ministry of the Word, finds easy access to the pulpits of our churches as to a drill-ground where any one may practice at will. Therefore, Venerable Brethren, it is your duty to see that such a grave abuse should disappear, and since you will have to render to God and to His Church an account of the manner in which you feed your flock, allow no one to creep unbidden into the sheepfold and to feed the sheep of Christ according to his fancy. Therefore let no one henceforth preach in your dioceses except on your summons and with your approval.

He makes the point that some gospel truths are difficult to hear and that there are preachers who avoid these unpopular topics in favor of the cause celebre of the day.

What efforts do such men make to acquire reputation by their sermons from the size and wealth of the cities and splendor of the great churches in which they preach? But since among the truths revealed by God there are some which frighten the weakness of our corrupt nature, and which therefore are not calculated to attract the multitude, they carefully avoid them, and treat themes, in which, the place accepted, there is nothing sacred. Not seldom it happens that in the very midst of a discourse upon the things of eternity, they turn to politics, particularly if any questions of this kind just then deeply engross the minds of their hearers. They seem to have only one aim, to please their hearers and curry favor with those whom St. Paul describes as "having itching ears." 

Those having itchy ears can be found around us today. How many are devoted to this preacher or that celebrity because they hear what they want to hear.  These devotees become prey to more unscrupulous preachers whose main interest seems to be soliciting donations.

Forgetting the saying of Gregory: "The priest does not preach that he may eat, but should eat that he may preach," [In I Regum, lib. iii], there are not a few who, because they think that they are unsuited for other labors by which they might be decently supported, take to preaching, not that they may worthily exercise the sacred ministry, but to make money.

I strongly recommend reading the entire encyclical which can be found along with all the others at the link on the right. No, I'm not going to link to it here... go look. The website is worth a browse.

Rome-SSPX: "They've got to get rid of Bishop Fellay" - Richard Williamson calls for open revolt

The sad tragedy of Bishop Richard Williamson continues with his call to "get rid of Bishop Fellay". Williamson said his comments within the context of his hopes for the General Chapter of the SSPX; that there would be a revolt and consequent removal of Bishop Fellay. 

To view the video, click here 

Pope Paul on the priesthood: 1967

83. Now, with fatherly love and affection, Our heart turns anxiously and with deep sorrow to those unfortunate priests who always remain Our dearly beloved brothers and whose absence We keenly regret. We speak of those who, retaining the sacred character conferred by their priestly ordination, have nonetheless been sadly unfaithful to the obligations they accepted when ordained. Their sad state and its consequences to priests and to others move some to wonder if celibacy is not in some way responsible for such dramatic occurrences and for the scandals they inflict on God's People. In fact, the responsibility falls not on consecrated celibacy in itself but on a judgment of the fitness of the candidate of the priesthood which was not always adequate or prudent at the proper time, or else it falls on the way in which sacred ministers live their life of total consecration... 86. If these priests knew how much sorrow, dishonor and unrest they bring to the holy Church of God, if they reflected on the seriousness and beauty of their obligations and on the dangers to which they are exposed in this life and in the next, there would be greater care and reflection in their decisions; they would pray more assiduously and show greater courage and logic in forestalling the causes of their spiritual and moral collapse... 88. There are some whose priesthood cannot be saved, but whose serious dispositions nevertheless give promise of their being able to live as good Christian lay people. To these the Holy See, having studied all the circumstances with their bishops or with their religious superiors, sometimes grants a dispensation, thus letting love conquer sorrow. In order, however, that her unhappy but always dear son may have a salutary sign of her maternal grief and a keener remembrance of the universal need of God's mercy, in these cases she imposes some works of piety and reparation. 89. Inspiring this discipline, which is at once severe and merciful, are justice and truth, prudence and reserve. It is without doubt a discipline which will confirm good priests in their determination to live lives of purity and holiness. At the same time it will be a warning to those aspiring to the priesthood. Guided by the wisdom of those who educate them, they will approach their priesthood fully aware of its obligations and entirely forgetfully of self, responding generously to divine grace and the will of Christ and His Church.  Sacerdotalis Caelibatus, Paul VI

Why is a convicted child molester on the directory of St. Joseph's Parish in Ottawa?

Though the wicked spring up like grass and all who do evil thrive, they are doomed to be eternally destroyed.
But you, Lord, are eternally on high. See how your enemies perish; all doers of evil are scattered. (Psalm 92)

Vox Cantoris has evidence to some grave evils transpiring at St. Joseph's parish in Ottawa, Ontario. If you think it is only atrocious liturgy, think again. How about the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) keeping on the parish directory a convicted pedophile, Ed MacNeil, OMI? In 2012 the archdiocese removed this man's faculties - good, a first step... The retention of such a man by the Oblates tells us all we need to know about this parish and this order. A review of an OMI website discovers numerous references, and even photos (see below) of this child molester. Really, this is a grotesque insult to Our Blessed Lord, the Church and the victims (yes, never, ever forget about the victims!!). This is monstrous and an abomination. I ask: would they list a Nazi? Any further commentary would be superfluous...

"Fr". Ed MacNeil, OMI - from INFO Lacombe, Vol. 7 (16), May 21, 2010

Rome-SSPX: Internal Letter of July 18 on General Chapter

We provide the link to the leaked document for those who read French. The substance of the letter recalls the recent meetings in Rome; the new changes suggested by some in the Curia during the June meetings, Bishop Fellay's response to hold back and take a summary view at the General Chapter, and finally a few absolute points that the SSPX feel must be enshrined in any canonical deal with Rome. 

From my perspective, there is nothing new here (e.g. maintaining liturgical practice according to the older rites). Gratifying is the emphasis of the Society to maintain its structure and activities directly under the Pope, by-passing interference from the local Ordinary. Obviously, the activities of the Society would be contained within the local church or chapel - but the key would be that the Society would continue as is, under the Pope. 

Point 1, could be the only difficult point for some; whereby it focuses on Vatican II. This could be explained in a number of ways, as has been proposed by scholars such as Msgr. Bux. In essence, it would be to "agree to disagree" on a number of points (as written about by Fr. Lamont) discussed during the Council that had different points of emphasis prior to the Council. 

Practice your French, pray for a resolution...

Rome-SSPX: The Society's Declaration

The Society of St. Pius X has published the General Chapter's "Common Declaration". Key passages pertaining to negotiations are below. The second paragraph is disturbing, as it a priori  judges the Magisterium of yesterday and today. No doubt, there is a frightful crisis, as the Holy Father has pointed out time and again. However, "waiting for the day when an open and serious debate will be possible" is also an a priori judgment. 

For this reason it seems opportune that we reaffirm our faith in the Roman Catholic Church, the unique Church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ, outside of which there is no salvation nor possibility to find the means leading to salvation; our faith in its monarchical constitution, desired by Our Lord himself, by which the supreme power of government over the universal Church belongs only to the Pope, Vicar of Christ on earth; our faith in the universal Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of both the natural and the supernatural orders, to Whom every man and every society must submit.

The Society continues to uphold the declarations and the teachings of the constant Magisterium of the Church in regard to all the novelties of the Second Vatican Council which remain tainted with errors, and also in regard to the reforms issued from it. We find our sure guide in this uninterrupted Magisterium which, by its teaching authority, transmits the revealed Deposit of Faith in perfect harmony with the truths that the entire Church has professed, always and everywhere.

The Society finds its guide as well in the constant Tradition of the Church, which transmits and will transmit until the end of times the teachings required to preserve the Faith and the salvation of souls, while waiting for the day when an open and serious debate will be possible which may allow the return to Tradition of the ecclesiastical authorities.

The full text may be read here.