DARKNESS AND THE WORLD

“MORNING STAR”*

[…] the Deposit of Faith has always been undermined by the devil, but it is also attacked by the pride of men. It seems incredible, in fact, see how much and what pride there is, eg, in many theories "theological" fashion which unfortunately often are successful in some "men of the Church".

Author

John T. Baptists

One of the many churches torched by Islamic fundamentalists

We live in difficult times, also in the ecclesial sphere. Many believers do not know more than the basics of their Catholic Faith, not be more passionate about the things of God. We practice, by many believers, a form of religious individualism - and that even educated people and prepared - which leads to neglect the fundamental spiritual works of mercy, works that have always been part of the DNA Christian and Catholic, works that contribute, as no, the moral rectitude, spiritual edification and salvation of souls.

Distracted by the siren worldly, flattered by the success and pleasures that the world has to offer, often men of our time choose a religion "do it yourself", easy, comfortable, who can go hand in hand with the demands of contemporary society materialistic and hedonistic and often, Unfortunately, become the prey of a biased form of sentimentality that runs from Revelation and therefore the true and living God.

During the course of the ancient councils we know that markets, struggled, Competence with and holy enthusiasm, about the nature of Christ, we reasoned that for altissimas causas and saw things under the form of eternity. Today, in the company's "well-being", in society "evolved", the Deposit of Credit guarded for centuries by the Church of God, A, Santa, Catholic and Apostolic Church is a well overlooked by most, well that would instead be preserved, to grow, by Comprender always better, to live. St. Paul the Apostle exhorted the disciple he consecrated bishop: O Timothy, guard the deposit " [1TM 6,20]. In fact, the Deposit of Faith, well really sublime, yes it is, of always, undermined by the devil, but it is also attacked by the pride of men. It seems incredible, in fact, see how much and what pride there is, eg, in many theories "theological" fashion which unfortunately often are successful in some "men of the Church".

Painting of the eighteenth century representing the Bishop Athanasius crushing the heretic Arius

It is amazing to note also that these "new theories" are actually, in most cases - as for years they point to the most careful theologians such as the Dominican John Cavalcoli - the revival, in contemporary salsa, heresies old as the hills, heresies condemned over and over again, moreover, by various councils, succedutosi by the Magisterium throughout the centuries. Apparently this unfortunate situation gives rise to an ecclesial malaise that winds and restless good - Cardinal Raymond Burke Leonard spoke in this regard of "seasickness" - because the evil inside knows to be more subtle and insidious attacks from outside, attacks that although there are a large amount, attacks while they are painful and help to make, in turn, suffering the Mystical Body of Christ and civil society. Many suffer in silent prayer. The confusion is great and sometimes seems to have the upper hand.

Before his abdication from the throne holy Pope Benedict XVI had placed a statue of the Archangel Michael slaying the devil, with the writing in evidence … not praevalebunt and the text below: “Protector of the Vatican City”. With that said, more or less all …

The Lord, however,, through His infinite mercy, has always placed on the bumpy road of our life Baluardi, of Bright Stars, Brigade of the Sentinels , Champions of Faith operating, with their doctrine, with their works, by their example, with their wisdom, their inspiration, with their brilliant insight, with respect to the perennial Magisterium, with the sanctity of life, to the service of God and His Immaculate Bride, who work tirelessly on behalf of the true Faith, society and souls.
For this we are grateful to God who gives us, amid all the difficulties that we all face, Although trto the storms that often, as for the Holy Apostles, seem to overwhelm the Barque of Peter, true shepherds who know how to lead us to Christ who is the Truth, Christ Jesus calming the waves and supports His Church. And the Lord gives us as well, if we ask with trusting prayer, discernment that makes us distinguish good teachers and pastors toutentici by the many false prophets and bad teachers raging, Nowadays, May not eat forse.

The Lord preserves. The good Lord keeps His Church. We know that the Lord's promise is true. We are deeply aware that evil will never win, that Portae hell not praevalebunt. Heavenly Father never abandons us. Mary the Blessed Pope Paul VI, at the end of the Second Vatican Council, proclaimed "Mother of the Church", enlighten the darkness of our world as the "Morning Star". You and that '"our hope", gives us the confidence to repeat again: "Protect me O God, in thee I shelter " [Shall 16,1].

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* This short: written, with a small addition, appeared already in Truth of the Faith, what to believe and who, by John T. Baptists editions of Leonardo da Vinci Rome 2014 [see who].

Click below to listen to a song popular traditional Marian

Conservatism and progressivism:

TWO CATEGORIES JOURNALISM, NOT THE

MAGISTERIUM OF THE CHURCH

The skipper of the boat is sleeping. No need to wake, not to feel criticized for having little faith. He knows when and how to intervene. It's up to him to wake up, if anything,. About noi, continuiamo the remare, as our action seems ineffective. If the boat really run the risk of sinking, He will think to calm the waters.

Author
John Cavalcoli OP

Liberals and conservatives, two categories never endorsed by the ecclesiastical language

What the purpose of these two categories journalistic, that held the bank for fifty years in the big media, never appropriated the language of the Magisterium of the Church? They reflect a very rough surface and of the moral and doctrinal, confusing the debate and the problem with church disputes and conflicting opinions as ephemeral currents and the political. As I will demonstrate in this article, they are totally inadequate and misleading with respect to the issue of doctrine that the Church today has very serious. I'm kind of hypocritical smokescreen or, as they say, Of “bait and switch”, that for fifty years the modernists and the enemies of the Church, open or hidden, been able to impose the public with a powerful propaganda, conniving weakness or impudence of the ecclesiastical, to spread with impunity their mistakes and moral vices in the Church.

it is time to remove the mask …

That's why it's time to say enough is enough and to unmask once and for all impostors recovering the wisdom, the Onesti, the seriousness, the accuracy and clarity of the language of the Church, certificate in the history of two thousand years of Christianity based on the same common sense, who feels the need to distinguish fundamental, the vital issues, not so much the preserve of the progress, Things certainly respectable but not decisive, but rather the true from the false, right from wrong, justice by sin. AND permissible in the language, when the subject or the opportunity it imposes, a certain style undetermined, diplomatic or gradient; you can not always do a hatchet, even at the risk of being offensive (1), this is true, but also the costume now widespread systematic ambiguity, disloyalty usual, to say and what not to say that ironically called the Void polically correct, What is repugnant and a source of infinite evils.

ll late Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, lent itself as a benchmark critical of Pope Benedict XVI and the leader of a progressive and liberal theology.

E’ true that these categories misleading, though in themselves not illegal, are favored by very powerful in the world today that wing and Catholic theology, strutting narcissistically title “progressive” marginalizing condescendingly, haughty condescension and barely concealed impatience with those in the Church who do not share his modernism, by Lefebvre and sedevacantists up to Catholics purest, upright and faithful, and even the progressives to Maritain or Congar. But this progressive for them is still not enough, since they are so far advanced towards the Church of the future, who consider the Second Vatican Council and the subsequent reign as passed and still tied to the remnants of the past. Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, few months before his death, he stated on the BBC that the Church Ratzinger has been back two centuries [see who].

The Holy Father Francis

Francis Pope in his recent speech to the synod condemned the “Progressives”, [see who] but it is clear that he was referring to the modernist, which for fifty years have so far been able to survive by parasites of the Church, appear as the top of the class, and to reap success by hiding under the honorable title of “Progressives”. In fact, there is no doubt that the council has had a progressive character, as it has furthered the advance of Christian piety, of ecclesiology, of theology, of morality, dialogue with the world and the spiritual life. The other part, We can understand why the Popes have not yet spoken only on very rare occasions “modernism”; because we all still remember the dramatic modernism of the time of St. Pius X, who defined the phenomenon as the “sum of all heresies”. but yet, fifty years, prominent scholars and authoritative pastors of the Church, as were Jacques Maritain (2), Dietrich from Hildebrand (3), Cornelius the carpenter (4), Cardinal Giuseppe Siri (5), Cardinal Pietro Parente (6) and Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, prophetically signaled the return of a modernism that occurred since the immediate post-conciliar. It is true that there was also Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, which however, unfortunately, falling into a serious misunderstanding of modernism accused the Council itself. That is certainly the word “modernism” scare. but yet, to a careful analysis of the situation of the Church and theology today, the way things are. Of course we should not say that this disease of the mind affects all patients at the maximum degree; However, we know that to speak of malignancy is not necessary that the body is in metastasis, but it is sufficient that an initial presence, thanks to an emergency, can also be eliminated. Thus one may use the name of “modernist” for subjects in which there are only traces of this serious disease of the spirit.

Painting by Ruben

The important thing is not to be confused with the progressive modernism. Progressivism, as I said, is an entirely normal and healthy Christian life I would say mandatory. “The charity, St. Augustine says, if not progredisce, is not charity”. And St. Paul urges us all to strive with all our strength and to advance continuously towards perfection. The church, for its part, assisted by the Holy Spirit, moves continuously through history towards the fullness of truth. Modernism is instead a false progressivism; it is a deceptive and wrong attempt that, fraudulently claiming to refer to the Council, wants to modernize the Christian life through uncritical assumption of modernity, which, instead of being judged by the Gospel, claims itself to judge. Progressivism legitimate, therefore, can be an expression of a healthy appetite for the new, effect of a free choice or preference quite normal of certain faithful within the Church, more affected than others to the dynamic element, evolutionary and propulsive. Nothing wrong with that, rather it is a lot of good. A valuable service, certainly not without risks, worth to run in order to suggest new ways, research projects and implementation, in order to promote the advancement of the Church in history towards eschatological fullness.

The splendor of the liturgy is a legacy of faith that can not be lost or to be lost

Essential and vital, in the Church and in theology, is also a certain element or office storage or tradition, as it is to deepen, clarify, make explicit, develop, improve, to grow and develop a legacy, we could say a divine treasure, incorruptible, incorruptible and unchangeable values ​​of theoretical and moral, “non-negotiable”, universal and absolute, revealed, operated and founded by Christ and entrusted by him to the apostles. In this light, St. Paul commands Timothy: "Guard the deposit" [The Tm 6,20]. Obviously this is not to cling to use, institutions, Things, doctrines of the past, having exhausted their function, mostratesi or harmful, they are no longer needed, they have nothing left to give and even become dangerous: here is the “traditionalism” condemned by the Pope in the aforementioned speech. This “traditionalism” would not have loyalty, but backwardness and impediment to progress, as they say, “a ball and chain” or even a poison, as it would for example consume expired food or “muzzle the ox while it is treading” [The Cor 9,9].

Dom Notker Wolf, abbot primate of the Benedictine confederation, during a rock concert

Progressivism and healthy conservatism refer to each other, as well as a body needs at a time to grow and maintain their identity. A rigid fixity and closed, without movement and adaptation, or conversely the disorderly movement of its dissolution of a body deprived of their identity are not the phenomena of life, but death. The conservative, as the lefevriano, which opposes the liberal or progressive modernist, waste that are both conservative extremists that ruin the Church and lead out the truth. It is urgent, therefore, to make some changes to a certain way of speaking about these issues. For instance, Recent events in the great debate about the story and the conclusions of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, you have to make some clarifications. The great modernist print and Masonic has been pleased to present the current Cardinal Walter Kasper as “progressive” vicina and the Pope, while the power of the now famous five cardinals including Cardinal Ludwig Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has been slanderously or at least improperly touted as “conservative” and contrary to the Pope “progressive”. This means, as they say, change the cards on the table so mean and unfair. We then things right. The five cardinal, they did not do anything but remember the core values ​​and dogmatic of marriage and the family are not “Conservatives”, but perfect Catholics. Cardinal Kasper and friends, to talk, with their assumptions malcelatamente relativistic and historicist, should not be called “Progressives”, but rather modernist.

Blessed Pope Paul VI

Father Al poi, obviously super parts thanks to the charisma of Peter and as a teacher of the faith, if we want to give a qualification, we assign at most that of progressive, ma non all Rahner all Kasper o o All Royal, but in the Pope Paul VI, to Maritain or Congar, not sure, so, a modernist, pace of the modernists that if you would like to buy up. Even a Pope is free to choose a given current theological or express its cultural line staff, that has nothing to do with his office of infallible Universal Doctor of the Church, beyond all possible opinions or theological tendencies. Therefore, if there is one on the Pope, teacher of the faith, beyond its heralded and unreliable statements represent the Pope, this is just Kasper; and if there is a teacher of the faith with the Pope, these will be just the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Do not be so to tell the stories. Journalists improvised theologians, before you write nonsense, who do you teach theology if it means a little’ more of them.

One final thought on this topic, and it is this. The problem of modernism in itself is much more serious than that of conservatism or lefevrismo. Except that the former is much more difficult to solve than the second, because while Lefebvre and the like are a very small minority, thus very little power, the modernists, After a tireless work to climb to the top, that has lasted fifty years, are now able to win in the Church and in the same hierarchy enormous power. So we understand how, while it is easy to take action against Lefebvre, of conservatives and traditionalists, is much more difficult to remove modernism, since it is precisely those impelagate authorities should intervene. AND, said humorously as a good journalist, how to keep mice to the cheese. Thus there is an obvious injustice that is taking place today. These are called “two weights and two measures”. Striking examples and paradigms are on one hand the ongoing persecution against the Franciscans of the Immaculate and the other impunity and the continuation of the huge success of which still enjoys the rahnerismo, still ongoing after fifty years, despite the opposition and reports of distinguished theologians. There is in fact to be considered that, on the one hand lefevriani have at least compared to the immutability of dogma and reject the dogmatic progress, modernists are much worse, because of their dogmatic relativism and evolutionism, which leads them to destroy all the dogma and undermine the foundations of the faith (7) leading souls to apostasy and immorality, beyond all their mock Catholicism.

Cardinal Raymond Burke Leonard at March for Life, to his left Prof. Roberto de Mattei, who for years it was the main organizer

The remedy, or at least an important remedy in this climate of falsehood and injustice, for which, according to the effective expression of Cardinal Raymond Burke Leonard, we feel the “seasickness” in the boat of the Church that seems without coxswain in the storm, seems to be a strong part of the Magisterium, wise and courageous recovery of authentic and genuine language of doctrinal and pastoral, that has always distinguished the great leaders of the Church, the great reformers and saints pastors and teachers, the pedagogical knowledge, catechetical, therapeutic, healing and evangelization of the Church, inspired by the Word of God, Guided by the Spirit, wisdom teacher who excels on every other school of theology, of spirituality, and moral perfection and virtue of mankind. In particular, it is necessary that the Church back to talk about the distinction of heresy by the dogma, orthodox heterodoxy, that is, in essence, the true from the false in the field of faith, as it is normal for the doctor to talk about health and disease. What is the doctor who does not dare to tell the patient that is sick? There is too much care in the authorities and among the pastors to speak frankly error, as if to do so would offend the wanderer. Of course you must learn to talk, but talking about is actually to the benefit dell'errante and those who are deceived by him. Today there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Catholics or other people deceived by heretics.

The Holy Father Benedict XVI

There is no use to pretend not to see or be limited to convictions or complaints are vague and general, which do not disturb any, if not worsen the situation of wandering and end up giving a free hand to impostors. It seems that the Magisterium of time is taken by an excessive regard for the erring, which then reverses to their own detriment. You should not be afraid to touch famous theologians or pastors or cry, although close to the Holy See or of the same Roman Curia or in the papal Faculty. The frankness with which the Cardinals faithful have criticized, in defense of the Church's magisterium, the brothers who make mistakes, is exemplary and comforting. It's about time that the good cardinal to come out of the closet. Of course, the modernists complain that Rome is too severe. But we understand this very well and we should not take any account of. The allegation of error just serves to correct the errant, while an excessive regard, an imprecise language and generic, too soft and forgiving mercy is not, but in the end connivance with error, with obvious damage dell'errante.

helm

A language shy, stuttering and tergiversante shows a lack of conviction, want to praise and does not generate any respect, you do not need to moderate the arrogant and even raises only rice or compassion. Things have to be called by their name. I would be cautious to qualify a proposition as heretical; but if we find out for sure that it is heretical, it must be said that it is heretical. It should certainly sometimes, indeed usually, be mild and gentle in action, be patient and learn to wait. But to shake a sleeping consciousness or bold, energy is needed and severity. The expressions suggestive and euphemistic, circumlocutions, the paraphrase or circumlocution, sistema se living in a, are totally ineffective to show the evils and to correct the customs and misconceptions, as shown for the sake of completeness the experience of those dedicated to education, the formation of the next or guide of souls.

The skipper of the boat is sleeping. No need to wake, not to feel criticized for having little faith. He knows when and how to intervene. It's up to him to wake up, if anything,. About noi, continuiamo the remare, as our action seems ineffective. If the boat really run the risk of sinking, He will think to calm the waters.

Fontanellato, 3 November 2014

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NOTE

(1) Cf The peasant of the Garonne. An old layman questions about the present time, Desclee de Brouwer, Paris 1966.
(2) Cf The peasant of the Garonne. An old layman questions about the present time, Desclee de Brouwer, Paris 1966.
(3) Cf The Trojan Horse in the City of God, John Fox Edition, Rome 1969.
(4) Cf The adventure of progressive theology, Rusconi Editore, Milan 1974.
(5) Cf Getsemani. Reflections on the Contemporary Theological Movement, Editions of the Fraternity of the Virgin Mary, Rome 1980.
(6) Cf The crisis of truth and the Second Vatican Council, Po Institute of Graphic Arts, I rovigo 1983.
(7) A “faith”, for instance, as that preached by card.Martini, which is intrinsic to atheism, or the one advocated by card.Ravasi, which would in itself the question, or faith “athematics” Rahner or faith not as a doctrine but as “meeting” O “experience” that faith is?

ECUMENISM? Provided that DONE IN TRUTH AND THE TRUTH: THE SUCCESS OF LUTHER

The success of Luther is largely due to the fact that he picked up and developed heretical bodies already existed in the history of the Church, such as those more immediately preceding Hus and Wycliffe, as well as the Waldensians, of Manichaean, of the Cathars, Ockham and Cusano, although it is true that every heretic always gives a special character to the doctrines that invents, and this clearly allows to distinguish the heresies of Luther from those of other heretics. On the other hand, it must also find in Luther trace of genuine instances of reform, that already characterized the great reformers like medieval Saint Bruno, San Pier Damiani, St. Romuald, Saint Bernard, St. John Gualberto, St. Francis, and St. Catherine of Siena.

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Author
Giovanni Cavalcoli, ON

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With all the news of the case, while you are approaching the celebration of 500 years of “reform” heresiarch Luther, the editors of’Patmos Island proposes an article published two years ago by Father John Cavalcoli, ON

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preaching of Martin Luther, Press the sixteenth century

Now more than ever, in the era of ecumenism, we ask what is the meaning or the meaning of Lutheranism. And on this point continue the discussions and conflicting interpretations, despite the steps taken by ecumenism. What are the origins and causes of Lutheranism? What are your intentions, its instances, its essential themes? What are your results? How is it that five centuries later, after the convictions of the Church, it is still alive, enough to influence the Catholic theology today? What determines the power of his seduction? How is it that attracts great minds and men of valor? And what could be done to bring the separated brethren to fellowship with the Church of Rome?

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Luther affix his 95 thesis on the portal of the cathedral

A misconception that has spread in the Catholic world because of a false ecumenism, is that, after all, Lutheranism was a choice like any other, within Christianity or the Church, as were, for example, religious families founded by St. Benedict or St. Francis or St. Dominic. Lutheranism would not be a false interpretation of Christianity and the Church, but it would be just a different choice. For other, then, Luther was a great reformer of the Church, a great religious genius thirsting for Christ and his righteousness, a whirlwind prophetic, a scourge of scandal, Abuse, vices and heresies, which would become aware of the Church of Rome and their doctrinal and moral deviations medieval and would lead them with energy and intransigence to the rediscovery of the true Gospel and the true saving relationship with Christ, rejecting many concepts and practices spurious, well as the traditions of men, that had accumulated in the past, such as debris covering a monument in time hiding the genuine beauty.

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the “bishop” Elizabeth Eaton president of the Lutheran bishops of the United States.

Modern followers of Luther, considering the ecumenical climate, no longer own the violence of the attacks of the "reformer" against the Pope, Catholic doctrine and morals, and yet, if legitimize the existence of the Roman Church, see it with some sufficiently, a tolerant and benevolent compassion, as a respectable surplus of the past, why would not dream of considering the guidance of the Church, role, this, jealously reserving only to themselves, that fifty years from now they are embellished with the title of “Progressives” and are revered and proclaimed these.

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the “bishop” Elizabeth Eaton

Others, believing then to operate in such a way to Christian unity, there has been the idea that Catholics and Protestants represent equal, albeit in a different and mutually complementary, two large fragments of the Church, divisasi at the time of Luther because of mutual wrongs and misunderstandings and thus to faults on both sides. To which the solution or the remedy of this split, break up, fracture, or division or whatever you want to call it, would not be in the fact, how to order and hopes the Council document on ecumenism (1) that the separated brethren, giving up their mistakes, are “fully incorporated” in the Catholic Church, in which alone is the fullness of truth, but they can easily maintain their positions. The important thing is that there is dialogue and mutual cooperation. At the same time continues to “pray for L'Unità”. But I wonder if in this condition of mind and mentality that prayer becomes a hypocrisy.

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Bishop of Ragusa Paul Urso with the Lutheran pastor Gisela Salomon and a group of Pentecostals during an ecumenical prayer

Like this, to recover the unity, reaccommodate and the broken vase, each party should give up what the opposing side, proposed as Karl Rahner in his book Union of Churches real possibility (2). In practice, he suggested that the Catholic Church should ask all, Catholics and Protestants, adherence to dogmas that we have all shared, while it should make “Optional” for all and especially for Protestants those dogmas they not allowed.

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We must say clearly which it is actually wrong to conceive the unity discovery by comparing the operation to that of an orthopedic that reassembles the fracture of a broken femur. The marine biotoxins right here instead gives him to Christ: heretics are branches that have fallen off or almost detached from the vine, that the Roman Church; whereby, while the Church as the Church (not as individual Catholics!) no wrongs or errors to be repaired, but only to preach the whole gospel to the whole world dispelling the darkness of error, vice versa separated brethren are saved only if, correct their mistakes, come into full communion with Rome, communion which, however,, known as the Council, it is now completely absent, but only partial, imperfect and incomplete, which does not exclude the possibility of a Lutheran in good faith to be saved.

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Catholic bishops and “bishop” Methodist, archive photos of L'Osservatore Romano

The Church itself is essentially one and indivisible. No force can split or divide the broken up and put one side against the other inside or outside. There can be and there are divisions among Christians, but not in the Church, much less the Church. The heretics and schismatics do not divide the Church, but split from the Church; are not a part of the Church, but are separated from the Church, which is essentially a whole and. So this is not to reunite the Church, but that heretics and schismatics come back in the Church. It will be difficult for the Church, as they would like, go on their side. True Catholics are back, as Catholics, not as sinners, all joined together in the Church, which of course does not mean that there are clashes or disagreements between them, which do not affect their fundamental communion in the Church and members of the Church. And it is supremely the Pope define, procure, guard, protect and enhance the unity of the Church by promoting assembly or meeting of Christians, harmony and reconciliation between the opposing parties - for example, modernist Lefebvre - and the discovery of the lost sheep. The mission of the Pope schismatics and heretics do not understand it completely. They believe that the Pope is the principle of division because it requires, to be true Christians, condition that they do not want to admit. So there are fools who believe that ecumenism would be better, if it were not for the Pope.

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Dominican Dutch Prof. Edward Schillebeeckx

Reverend Prof. Hans Kung

In this search for distant, then this call to unity with Rome - the “center” - Francis Pope refers when he speaks of the need for the Church “bait” and go “in the suburbs”; not so much of the slums, but rather of the areas most human undernourished in terms of spiritual. The suburbs can also be the pastor or Sunday school teacher who do not live in full communion with the Church. Still others, as Hans Küng (3) and Edward Schillebeeckx (4), pushing hard syncretism indifferentist, and misinterpreting the famous thesis of the Council, that "the Church of Christ subsists" (stops) "The Catholic Church" (5), come to envisage a “Church of Christ” or a “Christianity” resulting from the synthesis of all religions concerned about human rights, justice and peace in humanity, where the Catholic dogmas are not denied but, deprived of their universal and compulsory, are integrated by the doctrines of other religions, evident Enlightenment secularization of Christianity that excludes the supernatural, considered myth, fanaticism and superstition, according to the well-known form of Freemasonry. Of course such a thing would have liked not even Luther, attached in the end, though in his own way, the essential content of faith of the Gospel (6). But Luther did not realize that once destroyed the Magisterium of the Church, the sheer refer to Scripture private, despite the conviction to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit and without difficulty admitting the clarity of many passages of Scripture itself, is by no means sufficient to ensure with certainty and precision the content of the faith. But above all, does not correspond to the will of Christ expressed in the Gospel.

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Luther's Bible, edition of 1534

In this regard we must remember that the Church and the doctrine of the faith are created and protected organisms from the infinite divine wisdom, such so as to resist, If well kept, every attack of the enemy, but at the same time, as creatures, are the result of a harmonious set of elements and factors, “joints and links” [With the 2,8], where the links do not all have the same strength, but some are less firm than others, for which they can be more easily broken by a desire malignant. Like this, for instance, in the human body, which is also a wonderful work of God, some structures are more vulnerable than others: if one puts the wrong foot, easy to take a wrong; if it keeps your teeth clean, easily take caries and so on. The Word of God does indeed united “joints and marrow,” [EB 4,12]; but if the soul does not take away from the snare of the devil lies, these delicate ties can be broken. This is the case in the heresy. This is what happened to Luther, who, although it has had its own strong personality able to influence others, I have not completely made up his heresies, Jupiter brings forth Minerva by her boss, fully armed. Instead he went to undermine fragile points or joints of the ecclesial, sometimes plunged into a crisis in the history of the Church, as are, for example, the relationship Pope-Church or Scripture or Church-grace-grace-sin or free will or faith and reason or faith-works.

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Assizes of the Council of Trent, stampa vintage

The other part, we can no longer see in Luther's heresy only, but in some ways it is more important to highlight its positive instances of reform, that have contributed to its success and, duly purified and inserted into the Catholic context, found some satisfaction in the doctrines and pastoral care of the Second Vatican Council. The same phenomenon of modernism of the time of St. Pius X, was largely an unsuccessful attempt to operate this recovery, instead it was done by the council with all the authority that belongs to an Ecumenical Council.

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the philosopher Romano Amerio

As to the question of reform, we must say that the essence of the Church is immutable in itself, but this does not mean that it has periodically need of reform: The Church must always be reformed, says an old adage. The fear of Romano Amerio that the Second Vatican Council “changed” the essence of the Church has no foundation, and he tends to confuse the true ecclesiology of the Council with the interpretations Give a few Modernists.
To operate but real reform, that what is beneficial and conformed to Christ her Founder, need to know what the Church can change and what you can not change without thereby destroying itself, corrupt or impair the essence of the Church. To tell the truth, The Church is in itself indestructible (portae hell not praevalebunt). The trouble is that its essence can corrupt the minds of false reformers, which they believe to reform, but actually build a false church, which is contrary to the will of Christ. Therefore necessary to distinguish from deformation reform. The reform periodically necessary and requested by the same human essence and history of the Church, has the task of finding, maintain and enhance the shape blurred by arbitrary additions or subtractions, spurie purely umane.

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Instead a reform that purported to change the essence of the Church or conceive this essence as changing course, according to the modernist form, instead of renewing, purify it and improve it, destroy it. In the work of Luther are both aspects, it is supremely necessary, under the guidance of the Magisterium of the Church, make this distinction to accommodate the positive and reject the negative.

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Luther, too heard the reasons of himself

The success of Luther It is so largely due to the fact that he picked up and developed already existed heretical instances in the history of the Church, such as those more immediately preceding Hus and Wycliffe, as well as the Waldensians, of Manichaean, of the Cathars, Ockham and Cusano, although it is true that every heretic always gives a special character to the doctrines that invents, and this clearly allows to distinguish the heresies of Luther from those of other heretics.
The other part, as I said, you also find in Luther trace of genuine instances of reform, that already characterized the great reformers like medieval Saint Bruno, San Pier Damiani, St. Romuald, Saint Bernard, St. John Gualberto, St. Francis, and St. Catherine of Siena.

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meeting between Dominicans and Franciscans

One of the reasons why it did not catch on Lutheranism in some countries such as Italy, was that even before Luther certain religious orders, as for example the Dominicans, had promoted a reform against the pagan influences of the nascent humanism, as it was for the school Catherinian of Blessed Raymond of Capua, Blessed John Dominici, St. Anthony of Florence and of Girolamo Savonarola.
The Eras, for its part, always attack some weaknesses, some difficult passage, breaks any connection or relationship fragile, where many may fall, and this has happened, although there may be so absurd heresies, who always find the blockhead who makes his eagerly, species to the present day.
A delicate point of the Catholic faith is that of the Petrine. To deny this all heretics in different ways the authority of the Pope. And you know how violence Luther rejected the charism of Peter. In fact, about the mission of the Pope, There are in principle two difficulties, where you easily play the spirit of lies.

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the chair of the Roman Pontiff in the Basilica of St. John Lateran

The first is that the Pope must distinguish two things: the infallibility of his ministry as a teacher of the faith and the frailty of his humanity of the son of Adam, which can also commit unjust actions, indiscretions or sins on the floor, as well as personal, Also the government or ministry. The usual tactic of heretics, which does not escape even Luther, is to start from criticism or even just claims about the pastoral or moral conduct of the Pope, to attack him as a teacher of the faith and guide to salvation.

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The second challenge is to understand and appreciate the relationship between the Pope and the Church. That the Church is guided by Christ, heretics generally admit. What they should not be is that it is led by the Pope in the interpretation of Scripture and Tradition, in essence, the truth of faith and divine revelation.

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Saint Peter the Apostle

According to them it is sufficient to Christ or the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And in principle, This may be true. If God had willed, could have found a community of salvation from Him directly driven, unmediated literary, magisterial, catechetics, Hierarchical, liturgical and sacramental, priestly or papal. God has no problem to be known directly in their own conscience, and command him directly what to do and guide you through the grace of heaven.
Except that though God wanted to adjust things differently. And these are problems that only God can solve, such as those relating to salvation, it is logical that we must trust that He has a positive and historically wanted (“divine right”) through his apostles and especially Jesus Christ. The problem is not heresy to not believe in Christ; the problem is to accept everything that Christ taught and willed.

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statue of Giordano Bruno of Nola

The heretic may also speak of the Church, faithful, of charity, Posting, of Tradition, of Revelation, of sacraments, of the Holy Spirit, of grace, of virtue, of sin, of salvation, Mystique. Can you speak of the Holy Trinity, of Christ and of God. But it is to see one by one conceives as these values. We do not care to only words, heresy because they are emptied of their true meaning. For this reason, it is not always easy to expose the heresies, well disguised under the appearances of piety, interpretations of Scripture or Tradition, projects holiness, proclamations reformers, theological ideas of genius, apocalyptic prophecies, heavenly visions ...

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the Pope Leo X

In the case of Luther's rebellion to the Pope arises from the fact that he, in its tendentious readings of Paul, he was convinced he had found the peace of his soul and the essence of the Gospel according to Rome he had lost. Hence his rejection of the doctrine of the Magisterium of the Church. From there the opposition to many other tenets as enshrined in that infallibility papal he did not want to recognize.
The other part, as taught by St. Augustine, we come to believe in Christ by believing the testimony of the Church. It is from the Church and under the patronage of the Church that we receive the Bible, that is the truth of faith, and then we come to faith in Christ.

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A faith in Christ immediate, priori, athematics, preconceptual, given to all, come the intende Karl Rahner, without belonging either invisible or implied to the Church, does not exist. Not that you should believe in the infallibility of the Church just because it tells the Church. It would be a vicious circle. This leads instead to believe in the infallibility of the Church through the signs of credibility that the Church offers. But once you discover Christ in the Church, we must believe in the infallibility of the Church because, knowing that the Church is infallible, the Church itself teaches us to be infallible in the name of our faith in Christ.

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Luther: death mask and hand cast.

Luther, as one may suppose, Thanks to Catholic education received, was well come to believe in the Church, even if it became part of a religious order. Why then at some point repudiated the faith in the Church? Like Luther came to lose faith in the authority of the Pope? It was a vera fede? If it was vera stinks, why lose it? In the name of what? Under such pressure? Under what suggestion? It was really worried about his own safety or something else not so noble? He could not keep the true faith in Christ because he lost his faith in the Church.

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Christ raises Peter sinking in the waters

Believing he had found the true faith, Luther actually lost it when he lost his faith in the authority of the Pope doctrinal, under the pretense of interpreting Scripture better than him. He thought he find out the truth and fell into the illusion; and those who follow him are victims of the same delusion. What greater tragedy for a man to share the faith that is illusion? It's like exchanging Christ with Belial. And as much damage as you can make it to the next lead him out of the path of truth? What is the meaning of all the preaching of Luther? There are serious questions, which still, after five centuries of studies on Luther, is difficult to answer. One thing is certain. One lesson that comes from Luther this: take care to get a solid faith and authentic and always keep it in the cost of living.

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Fontanellato, 31 October 2014

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NOTE
(1) Reintegratio, 3.

(2) Morcelliana, Brescia 1986
(3) Cf Save the Church, Rizzoli, Milan 2011
(4) Cf Site. The story of God, Queriniana, Brescia 1992, pp. 218-223.
(5) The light, 8

(6) His tremendous persistence in heresy was just remain stuck his conviction of being in the true faith, while the second he was in Rome to have fallen into heresy.

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