In Your Charity

Could you please pray for my spiritual director, a wise and good and holy man who is hospitalized with the coof, and whose outcome is uncertain? He can advocate for himself in the hospital, but you know the kinds of pressure they bring to bear in those places.

This Must Simply Be Defied

Cardinal Cupich in Chicago has issued a diktat that purports to prohibit the Traditional Mass throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago on the first Sunday of the Month, during Triduum, and at Christmas. He demands a scad of other restrictions on the Mass, sacraments, priests and faithful. Actual document here. Fr. Z analyzes it in a good post at his blog.

To all the dear readers out there who used to like to say that I am too likely to jump the gun on things that may never happen, can I assume that you see that, now, THIS IS IT. THIS IS HAPPENING. ONE OF THE WORST OF THE MANY HORRIBLE BISHOPS INFESTING THE CHURCH IS TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE CELEBRATION OF THE TRADITIONAL MASS FOR ABOUT 1/4 OF THE YEAR,, AND ALSO ON OUR HIGHEST HOLY DAYS. NOT TO MENTION AXING THE OTHER TRADITIONAL SACRAMENTAL FORMS.

There is only one Catholic way to respond to this anti-Catholic, anti-Christ, invalid and illegal “policy”.

DEFY THIS POLICY AT EVERY STEP AND RESIST HIM TO HIS FACE.

Let us reiterate our premises, so that one can clearly see the consequences of letting these people get away with outrage after outrage, hoping it will somehow all work out:

1. Pope St. Pius V in Quo Primum guaranteed the right of every priest in the Roman Rite to celebrate the TLM; he stated that nobody could force a priest to do otherwise. He guaranteed the faithful, therefore, the right to assist at this Mass, which he prohibited anyone from attempting to abrogate. Ever. He made Quo Primum perpetual.
2. The TLM cannot be abrogated due to its antiquity alone which, aside from more theological considerations best left to theologians, gives the priests and faithful the right to it by force of law.
3. The non-abrogation of the TLM was confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI in Summorum Pontificum and its accompanying instruction letter. Note he did not exercise any act of power to “resurrect” the TLM, he merely confirmed a preexisting fact.
4. If no Pope can abrogate the TLM, then no antipope can abrogate it, and no bishop or cardinal can do so either.
5. Moreover, even if a real pope could abrogate the TLM, no bishop or cardinal on his own could do it.
6. Furthermore, even if a real pope could abrogate the TLM, and even if a real pope issued Traditionis Custodes, the hate-ball that is Traditionis Custodes did not abrogate the TLM because of the incompetence of its writers, who failed to use the type of specific legal language necessary under canon law in order to take the extraordinary step of abrogating laws established via immemorial custom.

All of the above leads to the following conclusion regarding Cardinal Cupich’s new policy: IT IS COMPLETELY INVALID AND ILLEGAL. IT DOESN’T BIND. IT DOESN’T MATTER. IT MUST BE DEFIED.

There is no indication in the policy that it does not apply to Societies of Apostolic Life or other groups whose charter grants them the right to the TLM. In the policy document itself, it states that priests who request permission to celebrate the TLM in the Archdiocese of Chicago must include “a statement of agreement to abide by the norms set forth in this document” and also states that “in the churches oratories, or chapels” in which there are already groups celebrating the TLM, the priest ministering to these groups can request to continue this practice “except for the days noted”.

Oh, and by the way, all other traditional sacraments are out. Case-by-case exceptions can be requested, but not for ordinations or confirmations.

It is no coincidence that Bergoglio’s favorite toady in the U.S. is issuing this, and it is no coincidence that the U.S. headquarters of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is located in Chicago. How will they respond to this outrage to Christ the King? People have speculated for years about what would happen when the Ecclesia Dei communities were pushed over a line that could not be crossed, consistent with their charisms. We may soon find out.

As an aside, I don’t see how, without pointing to Quo Primum, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius (which celebrates both the TLM and N.O. in their beautiful church in Chicago) can celebrate the TLM on the proscribed days. Their reaction will be most interesting. I am not hopeful, but would be glad to post how wrong I was should they hold the line.

Finally, and this is only my opinion, but I believe this attack on the TLM and the Sacraments is an existential crisis for the TLM communities. A present crisis. Here, now, taking place in Chicago but affecting the whole, long before any Bergoglio thug comes to “visit”. If the faithful who desire the ancient Mass aren’t given it by one group, they will go elsewhere as long as there is an “elsewhere”. If there is no “elsewhere”, those who would be willing to assist at the N.O. would likely go to the closest halfway-decent parish near them. If these groups will not ordain their priests according to the traditional forms, then their vocations will likely also dry up. To put it mildly, it may be hard for a group without charism, priests, faithful, or money to exist.

Yes, Bergoglio and his cabal know this very well. If he is not stopped, these groups will cease to exist. Whether this occurs by unjust discipline and censures, or by the abandonment of their charism hardly matters.

Cardinal Burke has splendidly led by example in the wake of Traditionis Custodes by publicly celebrating the TLM. It sends a visible message that people will rally around. I pray His Eminence will continue to lead by ordaining priests in the traditional ritual. I think it only takes one Cardinal, or perhaps a few bishops, to render this attack a dead letter.

If any of the former Ecclesia Dei communities simply ignores the invalid orders of this anti-Catholic cabal and just– simply, resolutely– celebrates the Mass of the Ages as before, it would render this attack a dead letter.

Please, dear Catholic priests and bishops, stand!

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

Sorting through Fetid Garbage for the Half-eaten Eclair [Update: It Ain’t There]

By now you have no doubt heard of the excrement-on-paper from the Bergoglian mockery of the Congregaation for Divine Worship that attempts to kill the traditional Sacraments. I wrote on the useful response to such a poo-flinging here.

Well, like George Costanza finding something edible in the trash can, one thing worth noting, assuming we all pretend this document has any authority whatsoever (HINT: IT DOESNT):

These dubia responses (oh, the irony!) issued by the CDW do not apply to the traditional societies or personal parishes. [UPDATE: Well, it does in part. In my eagerness to deplore the execrable document, I failed in my legal training to read carefully. The sacraments in the Pontificale Romanum are putatively not allowed to be celebrated, but one ones in the Rituale are. In short, confirmation and ordination are putatively unavailable. But, as said before, this document and the other fecally loaded missive of Bergoglio himself are both illegal and invalid and must be resisted. We are allowed and required to resist them under Natural Law, canon law, and by the love we owe to Christ’s indefectible Church and to His Vicar on earth. The time to stand is now. So armageddon awaits yet another day. But let’s not kid ourselves, Bergoglio’s diabolical pansy cabal will come for us soon enough.

And when they do they will have just as much authority as they do now.

If You Read This…

You probably already read Barnhardt’s latest. But if you haven’t, read Barnhardt’s latest.

Why We Love the Mass of the Ages

A beautiful video, lots of familiar faces. Strange times we live in where we beg Catholic bishops to let Catholics go to Catholic Mass. But still. A worthy effort worth watching.

As a bonus, seemingly out of nowhere, I will also leave you with this entry from the Catechism of St. Pius X on the Church:

The Church in Particular

149. (8) What is the Catholic Church?

A. The Catholic Church is the Union or Congregation of all the baptised who, still living on earth, profess the same Faith and the same Law of Jesus Christ, participate in the same Sacraments, and obey their lawful Pastors, particularly the Roman Pontiff.

150. (9) State distinctly what is necessary to be a member of the Church?

A. To be a member of the Church it is necessary to be baptised, to believe and profess the teaching of Jesus Christ, to participate in the same Sacraments, and to acknowledge the Pope and the other lawful pastors of the Church.

151. (10) Who are the lawful pastors of the Church?

A. The lawful pastors of the Church are the Roman Pontiff, that is, the Pope, who is Supreme Pastor, and the Bishops. Other priests, also, and especially Parish Priests, have a share in the pastoral office, subject to the Bishop and the Pope.

152. (11) Why do you say that the Roman Pontiff is supreme Pastor of the Church?

A. Because Jesus Christ said to St. Peter, the first Pope: “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and I will give to thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound also in Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed also in Heaven.” And again: “Feed My lambs, feed My sheep.”

153. (12) The many societies of persons who are baptised but who do not acknowledge the Roman Pontiff as their Head do not, then, belong to the Church of Jesus Christ?

A. No, those who do not acknowledge the Roman Pontiff as their Head do not belong to the Church of Jesus Christ.

154. (13) How can the Church of Jesus Christ be distinguished from the numerous societies or sects founded by men, and calling themselves Christian?

A. From the numerous societies or sects founded by men and calling themselves Christian, the Church of Jesus Christ is easily distinguished by four marks: She is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.

155. (14) Why is the Church called One?

A. The true Church is called One, because her children of all ages and places are united together in the same faith, in the same worship, in the same law; and in participation of the same Sacraments, under the same visible Head, the Roman Pontiff.

156. (15) Can there not be several Churches?

A. No, there cannot be more than one Church; for as there is but one God, one Faith and one Baptism, there is and can be but one true Church.

157. (16) But are not the faithful of a whole Nation or Diocese also called a Church?

A. The faithful of a whole Nation or Diocese are also called a Church, but they ever remain mere parts of the Universal Church and form but one Church with her.

158. (17) Why is the true Church called Holy?

A. The true church is called Holy because holy is her Invisible Head, Jesus Christ; holy are many of her members; holy are her faith, her laws, her Sacraments; and outside of her there is not and cannot be true holiness.

159. (18) Why is the Church called Catholic?

A. The true Church is called Catholic, or Universal, because she embraces the faithful of all times, of all places, of all ages and conditions; and all peoples are called to belong to her.

160. (19) Why is the Church also called Apostolic?

A. The true Church is also called Apostolic because she goes back without a break to the Apostles; because she believes and teaches all that the Apostles believed and taught; and because she is guided and governed by their lawful successors.

161. (20) And why is the true Church called Roman?

A. The true Church is called Roman, because the four marks of Unity, Sanctity, Catholicity and Apostolicity are found in that Church alone which acknowledges as Head the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of St. Peter.

162. (21) What is the constitution of the Church of Jesus Christ?

A. The Church of Jesus Christ has been constituted as a true and perfect Society; and in her we can distinguish a soul and a body.

163. (22) In what does the Soul of the Church consist?

A. The Soul of the Church consists in her internal and spiritual endowments, that is, faith, hope, charity, the gifts of grace and of the Holy Ghost, together with all the heavenly treasures which are hers through the merits of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and of the Saints.

164. (23) In what does the Body of the Church consist?

A. The Body of the Church consists in her external and visible aspect, that is, in the association of her members, in her worship, in her teaching-power and in her external rule and government.

165. (24) To be saved, is it enough to be any sort of member of the Catholic Church?

A. No, to be saved it is not enough to be any sort of member of the Catholic Church; it is necessary to be a living member.

166. (25) Who are the living members of the Church?

A. The living members of the Church are the just, and the just alone, that is, those who are actually in the grace of God.

167. (26) And who are the dead members?

A. The dead members of the Church are the faithful in mortal sin.

168. (27) Can one be saved outside the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church?

A. No, no one can be saved outside the Catholic, Apostolic Roman Church, just as no one could be saved from the flood outside the Ark of Noah, which was a figure of the Church.

169. (28) How, then, were the Patriarchs of old, the Prophets, and the other just men of the Old Testament, saved?

A. The just of the Old Testament were saved in virtue of the faith they had in Christ to come, by means of which they spiritually belonged to the Church.

170. (29) But if a man through no fault of his own is outside the Church, can he be saved?

A. If he is outside the Church through no fault of his, that is, if he is in good faith, and if he has received Baptism, or at least has the implicit desire of Baptism; and if, moreover, he sincerely seeks the truth and does God’s will as best he can such a man is indeed separated from the body of the Church, but is united to the soul of the Church and consequently is on the way of salvation

171. (30) Suppose that a man is a member of the Catholic Church, but does not put her teaching into practice, will he be saved?

A. He who is a member of the Catholic Church and does not put her teaching into practice is a dead member, and hence will not be saved; for towards the salvation of an adult not only Baptism and faith are required, but, furthermore, works in keeping with faith.

172. (31) Are we obliged to believe all the truths the Church teaches us?

A. Yes, we are obliged to believe all the truths the Church teaches us, and Jesus Christ declares that he who does not believe is already condemned.

173. (32) Are we also obliged to do all that the Church commands?

A. Yes, we are obliged to do all that the Church commands, for Jesus Christ has said to the Pastors of the Church: “He who hears you, hears Me, and he who despises you, despises Me.”

174. (33) Can the Church err in what she proposes for our belief?

A. No, the Church cannot err in what she proposes for our belief, since according to the promise of Jesus Christ she is unfailingly assisted by the Holy Ghost.

175. (34) Is the Catholic Church infallible, then?

A. Yes, the Catholic Church is infallible, and hence those who reject her definitions lose the faith and become heretics.

176. (35) Can the Catholic Church be destroyed or perish?

A. No; the Catholic Church may be persecuted, but she can never be destroyed or perish. She will last till the end of the world, because Jesus Christ, as He promised, will be with her till the end of time.

177. (36) Why is the Catholic Church so persecuted?

A. The Catholic Church is so persecuted because even her Divine Founder, Jesus Christ, was thus persecuted, and because she reproves vice, combats the passions, and condemns all acts of injustice and all error.

178. (37) Has a Catholic any other duties towards the Church?

A. Every Catholic ought to have a boundless love for the Church, ought to consider himself infinitely honoured and happy in belonging to her, and ought to labour for her glory and advancement by every means in his power.

E

Prayers Needed for Canon Fragelli

I can’t say it better than Ann Barnhardt does, except to add that Sts. Benedict, Thomas Aquinas, and Therese are also Institute patrons, so I will repost her in full:

Action Item: Stricken Priest of the Institute of Christ the King on Life Support over in Italy. Prayers for a miraculous healing needed NOW.

Canon Henrique Fragelli is not merely on a ventilator, he is on full life support.

He fell ill at the ICK’s mission in Gabon, Africa and was medivacked to Italy a week ago. He has gone downhill and is now on life support.

A recent pic of Canon Fragelli (R) in Gabon

We’re into full Miracle territory here. Miracles are real, and happen – IF WE ASK FOR THEM.

So. Time to ask.

Let’s enjoin the patrons of the ICK, St. Francis de Sales and St. Philip Neri, and let’s enjoin Saints Cosmas and Damian, the twin brother physicians and martyrs, who are, I am reliably informed, the patrons of the hospital where Canon Fragelli is currently being treated.

For the full healing and recovery of Canon Henrique Fragelli, let us pray to the Lord, the Sovereign and All-powerful Trinity.

Sts. Cosmas and Damian, pray for us!

Sts. Francis de Sales and Philip Neri, pray for us!

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us!

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!

Just some minor orthopaedic work…

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Hello Ann,

I’m just a reader and stranger..

But I have said a Rosary for the stricken priest. The Joyful Mysteries, because – the fruit of the Second Joyful Mystery, charity towards our neighbor. And I appealed to the saints you mentioned.

God bless,

G

Thoughts from the Oratory Confession Line

And as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark, And they knew not till the flood came, and took them all away; so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. Then two shall be in the field: one shall be taken, and one shall be left.

Two women shall be grinding at the mill: one shall be taken, and one shall be left. Watch ye therefore, because ye know not what hour your Lord will come.

Matthew 24: 37-42

Feast of St. Benedict

Though for most, falling as it does on Passion Sunday, the feast of the father of Western monasticism is an uncelebrated memorial, for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest it is celebrated on March 22 as a first class feast.

Three years ago, my wife and I were privileged to celebrate our patronal feast at the Institute’s motherhouse and seminary in Gricigliano, Italy.

Thankful for that and for all other graces granted by Our loving Father, I wish all of you, particularly those members of the Institute who read this, a blessed Feast day tomorrow.

St. Benedict of Nursia, pray for us!