Posted on 10/09/2018 8:18:58 AM PDT by Salvation
In the first reading at daily Mass for Monday of the 27th Week, St. Paul warns of perhaps the most damaging evil facing the Church: dissension from within.
I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel (not that there is another). But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! (Galatians 1:6-8)
St. Paul says that such false teachers pervert the Gospel. They once received it but now distort it. Sadly, there are many today, clerics among them, who mislead people into thinking that what God calls sin is no big deal or is something to celebrate. They are false teachers, false prophets. Let’s ponder this troubling truth in three ways:
There are false prophets.
Here are some of the many passages in which Scripture warns that deceivers, scoffers, and false prophets would inevitably arise:
Of particular concern are false prophets who come from within.
There is a special subtlety in this kind of deceiver, especially if he wears a collar or priestly robes; even more if he is of the rank of bishop. Great harm has been inflicted by wayward clergy over the centuries. The grief is especially deep because the faithful have rightly been encouraged to love and listen to the clergy.
Both Jesus and St. Paul call them wolves because they devour and scatter the flock. St. Paul’s language also indicates an especially sharp pain caused by this sort of betrayal. Other scriptures affirm this deep pain:
Yes, there is a special grief when error and sin come from within the Church. That the world hates and derides us is difficult enough, but internal wounds are the most painful of all.
Our Lady spoke to St. Agnes Sasagawa in Akita, Japan (an approved apparition) and said with sadness,
The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres … churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord. The demon will be especially implacable against souls consecrated to God (Message of Oct 13, 1973).
What are the faithful to do?
First, from the Scriptures above, we must understand the warning that such things would happen. Indeed, they have happened throughout history. False prophets arise, even from within. The Lord says through His apostles, Remember that I have told these things would inevitably occur. Therefore, we ought not to be dismayed, but rather sober.
Catholics today must remember that the faith is not simply anything uttered by a clergyman of any rank. The magisterium is more than that! Everything we hear is to be squared with the consistent teaching of the Church, back through the centuries, as articulated in Scripture and in the doctrinal and dogmatic teachings of the Church. Stay close to the catechism, close to Scripture, close to the Fathers of the Church!
We began with St. Paul’s lament about savage wolves who seek to mislead and scatter the flock he labored so hard to build. Mysteriously, the Lord allows some degree of dissent, but He has left us with warnings. Our task is to heed these warnings and judge everything we hear by the deposit of the faith as articulated consistently in the Church down through the ages. Look to the most certain sources: Scripture, Catholic dogma, the Catechism, the Fathers of the Church, and St. Thomas Aquinas. These are bulwarks for us.
I look to the faithful in the land
that they may dwell with me.
He who walk in the way of perfection
shall be my friend (Psalm 101:6).
Also note the bulwarks mentioned.
Monsignor Pope Ping!
My fave deacon and I were talking about Judas priests in high places -— just yesterday. We agree these are troubling times.
We agree God put us here, right here, right now, for duch a time as this.
Wherever you are, Divine Providence has put you in position. Even sitting at the feet of Jesus (like Mary of Bethany) you are manning the battle station.
“Come out from among them and be holy, says the Lord.”
#justwalkawayfromrome
Unfortunately, a lot of those false teachers sprung up in the 15th and 16th centuries... and gained traction, fracturing the faith into tens of thousands of pieces.
#justwalkawayfromheretics
“#justwalkawayfromheretics
What I said.
Monsignor Pope is alway on key, but today he hit it out of the park!
Not adhering to the false doctrines espoused by these apparitions would be a good first step.
Has Rome dogmatically defined all of Scripture yet?
Which ECFs is the Roman Catholic to rely upon? The ones who agree with Rome or who disagree with Rome? What does the Roman Catholic do when the ECFs are in contradiction of Roman Catholic theology?
Yes, there are a lot of false prophets around us. All we have to do is look around.
The ecumenical councils of Florence (in the 15th century) and Trent (in the 16th) defined the canon of Scripture. Is that what you meant?
It would be impossible, and silly, and also very harmful to attempt to infallibly define all possible meanings of every passage in Scripture, the way some silly Protestant apologists try to take Rome to task for not doing. You know, or at least you should, that Scripture has many layers and nuances of meaning and nobody can exhaustively define all possible meanings, senses, typology, and implications of even one verse.
The ones who agree with Rome or who disagree with Rome?
The real problem is that after you take 100 Church fathers and then eliminate all of those who agreed with the "reformers" and taught recognizably Protestant doctrine ... you are still left with 100 Church fathers.
bookmark
The ecumenical councils of Florence (in the 15th century) and Trent (in the 16th) defined the canon of Scripture. Is that what you meant?
No.
It would be impossible, and silly, and also very harmful to attempt to infallibly define all possible meanings of every passage in Scripture, the way some silly Protestant apologists try to take Rome to task for not doing. You know, or at least you should, that Scripture has many layers and nuances of meaning and nobody can exhaustively define all possible meanings, senses, typology, and implications of even one verse.
Yet Rome has done just that with only a small number of verses. So to say it cannot be done is a dodge and an indictment on Roman Catholicism.
Without a clear understanding of the passages the lay Roman Catholic cannot read and understand the Scriptures on their own. They are dependent upon their priests for the correct interpretation.
< The real problem is that after you take 100 Church fathers and then eliminate all of those who agreed with the "reformers" and taught recognizably Protestant doctrine ... you are still left with 100 Church fathers.
Again....another dodge on your part.
So again, I ask....which ones do the Roman Catholic rely upon??
You guys are in a quandary. No defined definitions of the meaning of the texts....no defined listing of ECFs who are correct....no defined list of "traditions".
Flee as fast as you can, and don’t look back.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.