Posted on 02/28/2007 6:28:51 PM PST by NYer
Preacher Draws On Work of V.S. Solovyov
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 28, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Antichrist is the reduction of Christianity to an ideology, instead of a personal encounter with the Savior, says the cardinal directing the retreat which Benedict XVI is attending.
Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, retired archbishop of Bologna, delivered that message during a meditation Tuesday, drawing on the work of Russian philosopher Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov.
The cardinal's meditation came during the weeklong Spiritual Exercises being attended by the Pope and members of the Roman Curia. The retreat ends this Saturday. The Holy Father suspended his usual meetings, including the general audience, in these days.
According to Vatican Radio's summary of his preaching, the cardinal explained that "the teaching that the great Russian philosopher left us is that Christianity cannot be reduced to a set of values. At the center of being a Christian is, in fact, the personal encounter with Jesus Christ."
Quoting the work "Three Dialogues on War, Progress and the End of History," Cardinal Biffi told his listeners that "the Antichrist presents himself as pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist."
"He will convoke an ecumenical council and will seek the consensus of all the Christian confessions, granting something to each one. The masses will follow him, with the exception of small groups of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants," he said.
The cardinal added that Solovyov says in that work: "Days will come in Christianity in which they will try to reduce the salvific event to a mere series of values."
No cross
In his "Tale of the Antichrist" Solovyov foresees that a small group of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants will resist and will say to the Antichrist: "You give us everything, except what interests us, Jesus Christ."
For Cardinal Biffi, this narrative is a warning: "Today, in fact, we run the risk of having a Christianity which puts aside Jesus with his cross and resurrection."
The 78-year-old cardinal said that if Christians "limited themselves to speaking of shared values they would be more accepted on television programs and in social groups. But in this way, they will have renounced Jesus, the overwhelming reality of the resurrection."
The cardinal said he believes that this is "the danger that Christians face in our days … the Son of God cannot be reduced to a series of good projects sanctioned by the prevailing worldly mentality."
However, "this does not mean a condemnation of values, but their careful discernment. There are absolute values, such as goodness, truth, beauty," Cardinal Biffi said. "Those who perceive and love them, also love Christ, even if they don't know it, because he is Truth, Beauty and Justice."
The preacher of the Spiritual Exercises added that "there are relative values, such as solidarity, love of peace and respect for nature. If these become absolute, uprooting or even opposing the proclamation of the event of salvation, then these values become an instigation to idolatry and obstacles on the way of salvation."
Cardinal Biffi affirmed that "if Christianity -- on opening itself to the world and dialoguing with all -- dilutes the salvific event, it closes itself to a personal relationship with Jesus and places itself on the side of the Antichrist."
I think we can all find things of great importance in the original doc. And thanks to you, we can get back to discussing them again.
For some reason, I've found myself thinking about this a lot today. Perhaps it's just that the weather is very turbulent and ominous looking, or that I've been working too hard (at my real job, not Freeping!), but I find that my mind keeps going back to some of the things that the preacher mentioned in his talks. Some times more than others, one does get the feeling of a gathering storm.
The man who acted as my "host" (I didn't stay with him, but he met me at the airport, spent a day taking me to a few places, and then took me back to the airport) didn't want to go to Beit-Lechem and have PLO rifles pointed at him. I didn't blame him.
I certainly understand your point. It's just that some of us were specifically invited to comment on the thread. I doubt I would have posted here if that hadn't been the case ("swarm" being the Reformed ping list.)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1793039/posts?page=8#8
Some times more than others, one does get the feeling of a gathering storm.
INDEED.
And more so with the passing months. The trend lines are not infinite. They have probable and finite upper limits in time.
Now is the time to walk closely with God. Order one's affairs and words arright as much as remotely workable, with God's help.
Thanks for your kind words.
Amen.
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." -- 2 Corinthians 4:6
Rorate Caeli posted today:
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Anti-Christ is among us
This is an interesting report about the retreat given by Cardinal Biffi. It reminds me of some sermons of John Henry Cardinal Newman. He thought that liberalism was a figure of Anti-Christ. ( He gave these sermons before his conversion to the catholic Church and it was in the XIX Century... what would he say today? )
Father Laurent Demets, FSSP
Pope's Retreat Preacher Speaks on Antichrist as a "pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist"
By John-Henry Westen VATICAN CITY, March 1, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) -
Papal watchers are wondering what message Pope Benedict XVI was giving when he selected retired Bologna archbishop Cardinal Giacomo Biffi to preach the annual Lenten retreat to the Pope and the top members of the Vatican. Rocco Palmo, expert Vatican reporter for The Tablet, the international Catholic weekly published in London England has noted the significance of the selection of the Lenten retreat preacher. "Since time immemorial -- or, at least, the retreat's heightened profile over the 20th century -- the selection of the preacher has become a closely-watched indicator of the prevailing winds in the papal apartment," said Palmo on his blog.
"The choice often falling to a voice the Pope might like to tout... and not just for a higher prominence on the preaching circuit." Palmo added weight to his remarks noting that "Before their respective elections to the papacy, both Joseph Ratzinger and Karol Wojtyla were tapped to lead the annual exercises."
This year's selection when it became known created a stir since Cardinal Biffi, while he is known for orthodox faith and frank words, is most well known, at least in the secular media, for his preaching on the Antichrist. In fact, the Times of London reported in 2004 that the Cardinal described the Antichrist as "walking among us".The Lenten retreat did not disappoint. Cardinal Biffi picked up on his oft repeated theme of the Antichrist, basing his remarks on the works of Vladimir Soloviev, a Russian theologian who has received praise from Pope Benedict prior to his elevation to the pontificate.Quoting Soloviev, the Cardinal said "the Antichrist presents himself as pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist." "He will convoke an ecumenical council and will seek the consensus of all the Christian confessions, granting something to each one. The masses will follow him, with the exception of small groups of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants," he said according to a Zenit translation of a Vatican Radio summary here:
http://www.radiovaticana.org/it1/Articolo.asp?c=120479
In his "Tale of the Antichrist" Solovyov foresees that a small group of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants will resist and will say to the Antichrist: "You give us everything, except what interests us, Jesus Christ". For Cardinal Biffi, this narrative is a warning: "Today, in fact, we run the risk of having a Christianity which puts aside Jesus with his cross and resurrection." The 78-year-old cardinal added that if Christians "limited themselves to speaking of shared values they would be more accepted on television programs and in social groups. But in this way, they will have renounced Jesus, the overwhelming reality of the resurrection." The cardinal said he believes that this is "the danger that Christians face in our days … the Son of God cannot be reduced to a series of good projects sanctioned by the prevailing worldly mentality."
The preacher of the Spiritual Exercises added that "there are relative values, such as solidarity, love of peace and respect for nature. If these become absolute, uprooting or even opposing the proclamation of the event of salvation, then these values become an instigation to idolatry and obstacles on the way of salvation." Cardinal Biffi affirmed that "if Christianity -- on opening itself to the world and dialoguing with all -- dilutes the salvific event, it closes itself to a personal relationship with Jesus and places itself on the side of the Antichrist."Cardinal Biffi's reflections, in fact, are very similar to remarks Pope Benedict made last Fall in a meeting with Swiss Bishops. While Pope Benedict did not speak of the Antichrist, he spoke of a new false or "substitute" religion, calling it also a "successor" of religion."Modern society is not simply without morality, but it has, so to speak, 'discovered' and professes a part of morality", the Pope told the Swiss bishops. "These are the great themes of peace, non-violence, justice for all, concern for the poor, and respect for creation."However, the Pope warned that these "great moral themes" have "become an ethical complex that, precisely as a political force, has great power and constitutes for many the substitute for religion, or its successor."
"It is only if human life is respected from conception to death that the ethics of peace is also possible and credible," concluded the Pope. "It is only then that non-violence can express itself in every direction; only then that we truly welcome creation, and only then that we can arrive at true justice."
posted by Father Demets
I think I understand something of your sensibilities. But I'm not sure being egged on is a sufficient justification.
For some reason, I also thought better of your perspective and criteria.
Thanks for your kind reply.
Check 86...neat!
I was speaking in terms of trying to find a system that's the culprit. The word "antichrists" would make that possible.
As opposed to the "son of perdition" which seems clearly to be speaking of a person, imo.
I'm not thrilled at all about mariology, but I don't think that Catholics deny the Father and the Son. They are historic trinitarians.
Well, the clouds are gathering. Walter Cronkite has decided, along with a lot of the MSM and not a few here on FR, that all religion needs to be banished from public life. Couple that with the full court press against Christianity in general that has been gathering steam for some time now, and it is understandable to be a bit worried.
But such things have come before, and we have been a lot "closer" before in regards to plagues, war, and famine. I was talking of this very thing last night with my bride, and she said something very simple.
"If that happens, then we get to be martyrs and go to Heaven to meet Jesus".
good stuff
Thanks for the post.
It is interesting that this seems to be a growing concern in circles that are normally very silent about this.
Those in authority who lead men astray and put stumblingblocks in the way of the Good News of Christ risen will have to answer for their errors.
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" -- 1 Corinthians 3:16
"If that happens, then we get to be martyrs and go to Heaven to meet Jesus".
= = =
INDEED. That will make everything real good alright.
I understand.
I think you understand my points.
Thanks.
I think another time, another thread would have been more fitting, more loving and wiser.
I have said for awhile now, when they come to get us for being Christian, I want there to be absolutely no confusion about where to put me. And I am leaving a big enough paper trail that that will be clear.
Thank you for your wisdom. I doubt anyone could function here on the FR without your guidance. I look forward to purchasing your book on humility and how you achieved it. :-)
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