Traditional Roman Catholic Thoughts

Traditional Roman Catholic Thoughts

Reintroducing Logic and Reason to the Age of Sentimentalism

My 2014 Predictions…How’d I Do?

With the year 2014 come and almost gone, it is time for me to review how well my predictions were for the year.

Confused Pope Francis

Here are my predictions from last year, with my comments in bold.

  1. Our Lady of Medjugorje will be denounced by Rome as being an invalid apparition, however, Rome will still declare that Medjugorje is a good pilgrimage site. (There was no denouncement from Rome in regards to Medjugorje, as we are still waiting for the results from their investigation. Seeing as the secondary prediction required the first, I rule this as not happening.) FAIL
  2. There will be a very public, and violent attack against Christians and faithful Catholics in the United States. (There was the beheading of the Christian woman by the Muslim in Oklahoma City back in September. There have also been a number of Satanic black masses and idols to go up this year. I’d say this one passes.) PASS
  3. Catholic employers will be arrested for refusing to provide contraception to their employees. (There have been zero arrests that I know of.) FAIL
  4. The Mainstream Media will turn on Pope Francis because he refuses to accept their false views on women’s ordination and homosexuality. (The Mainstream Media continues to love Pope Francis, and with the Synod of October, it appears he may be okay with homosexuality.) FAIL
  5. Because of this Pope Francis’ popularity will begin to become low. What will attribute to this is his already apparent disapproval of faithful Catholics. (Pope Francis still acts and appears to be a rock star.) FAIL
  6. Pope Francis will announce the canonization of Pope Paul VI, without the second needed miracle. (No announcement was made in regards to Pope Paul VI’s canonization, though he was beatified.) FAIL
  7. I will post more often than The Old Evangelization. (I did! Knowing him, he would argue quality is better than quantity, but I believe I’ve had some rather quality posts this year as well.) PASS
  8. I will finalize my Mortal Sin Series to better help you all understand what sins are mortal and why. (I wrote more on mortal sins, in fact I wrote a few posts in regards to the Fifth Commandment, though I only wrote those.) FAIL

Overall, I did about a 2/8 for a whopping 25%. Check back shortly for what I believe will happen in 2015, and trust me, these predictions will not be your typical ones.

UPDATE: January 1, 2015 3:22pm
I have released my predictions for 2015.

Jeff December 30, 2014 2 Comments Permalink

Pope Francis Clarifies In Recent Interview His Statements Are Clear and Part of His Magisterium

Many Catholics have argued when it comes to some of the odd statements Pope Francis has made over the last 21 months, it isn’t part of the Magisterium or Church teaching. They have also made arguments calling out the media for misrepresenting the Pope.

Pope Francis did another interview, this time with La Nacion, an Argentinian newspaper. Here is an excerpt (emphasis mine):

Q. As a Pope you are different because you speak with utmost clarity, you are completely straightforward, you don´t use euphemisms and don´t beat about the bush, the course of your papacy is extremely clear. Why do you think some sectors are disoriented, why do they say the ship is without a rudder, especially after the latest extraordinary synod of bishops on the challenges posed by the family?

A. Those expressions strike me as odd. I am not aware of anybody using them. The media quote them. However, until I can ask the people involved “have you said this?” I will have brotherly doubts. In general people don´t read about what is going on. Somebody did say to me once, “Of course, of course. Insight is so good for us but we need clearer things”. And I answered, “Look, I wrote an encyclical, true enough, it was a big job, and an Apostolic Exhortation, I´m permanently making statements, giving homilies; that´s teaching. That´s what I think, not what the media say that I think. Check it out, it´s very clear. Evangelii Gaudium is very clear”.

Confused Pope Francis

Pat Archbold, writing for the National Catholic Register, brings up a very excellent and valid point:

This interview makes clear that Pope Francis does intend that his statements and homilies are to be considered part of his personal magisterium. He also insists that this teaching is very clear.

Pope Francis has effectively denounced all of those who have argued two things.

1. The media is misrepresenting him. We hear it from Pope Francis himself, “that’s what I think, not what the media says I think. Check it out, it’s very clear.” Pope Francis knows what the media is saying about him, and agrees with it. These words he has spoke are what he said.

If you’ve been sitting around waiting for him to offer any further clarification, you shouldn’t. “It is very clear.” We can no longer use this excuse, nor any derivation of it. No more “translation issues”. No more “taken out of context”. The interviews, the news articles, the incorrect homilies are all what he said. Deal with it.

2. This isn’t part of the teaching of the Church. Pope Francis says he is constantly teaching and considers it part of his teachings and his magisterium. He is not offering his opinion, but what he thinks is actual teaching to be included in what he has to offer to the Church.

Pope Francis clarifies he is “permanently making statements, giving homilies; that’s teaching”. Everything he says, no matter how true or erroneous, is part of the teaching he wants to give to you. For those who have defended him using this excuse, you have done so in vain. You are incorrect, because Pope Francis says it is.

If Pope Francis truly believes his off-the-cuff statements are in fact teaching, then perhaps it is time we go back and reassess his entire papacy and every interview, homily, and off-the-cuff comment he has ever given. Let’s start calling a spade a spade.

Jeff December 15, 2014 2 Comments Permalink

A Small Catechism For Catholics a Must Have

I recently received a copy of “A Small Catechism For Catholics” originally written by St. Peter Canisius and translated from the original Latin by Ryan Grant. This is published by Mediatrix Press.

Small Catechism for Catholics

This is an absolutely fascinating translation of a fascinating Catechism. This Catechism is written with precision and clarity. In a question and answer format, it allows for simple questions to be answered quickly and concisely, and encourages memorization of its passages. It is a must have for every single Catholic. At 65 pages in length, it is a very quick read of no longer than an hour. It has not been tainted with modernism, thus we know it holds true to the teachings of the Church. St. Peter Canisius is also a Doctor of the Church.

I would suggest you purchase it. You can do so through Amazon. It appears the new version of the book includes a special Foreword by Fr. Chad Ripperger.

To demonstrate how this book is aligned with the traditions and teachings of the Church, I would like to include this excerpt which discusses who are outside of the Church and  who are heretics. (pgs 13-15)

Who are altogether foreign to the Church?

In the first place, Jews and all unbelievers and also apostates from the faith; thereafter heretics, those who, of course, were baptized, but pertinaciously uphold error against the Catholic faith. Besides these, schismatics, those who separate themselves from the peace and Catholic unity itself; and last of all, those who are legitimately excluded from the communion of Saints, from the participation of the Sacraments and the aid of the Church and from divine offices, throughout Ecclesiastical power, wherefore they are called “the excommunicated”.
All those who are separated and foreign to the body of Christ, which is the Church, and hence remain outside of the spiritual life and salvation, unless they should recover their senses, are guilty and merit eternal death, that is Satan. Moreover, while all these are to be avoided by Catholics, more particularly, heretics and schismatic should be detested and avoided no less than some deadly plague.

At length, what might be a simple, short and upright rule of faith, by which Catholics are distinguished from heretics?

It is this, they confess the faith of Christ and the full authority of the Church; and it behooves them to hold that as certain and fixed, which the Shepherds and Teachers of the Catholic Church have defined must be believed. The others, who do not listen to the Church, should be to you, as Christ himself said “As a heathen and a tax-collector.” (Matthew 18:17) Indeed he who refuses to have the Church as a mother, will not have God as Father.

Yes, this is 100% accurate and Catholic. If you’re Catechism doesn’t include this, it does not cut it.

Jeff December 10, 2014 Leave A Comment Permalink

Catholic Church Founded in 1963, Historians Find

Second Vatican Council

 

Vatican City – Historians uncovered shocking documentation Thursday of the Catholic Church’s founding being in 1963, rather than the year 33 as was once thought and believed.

This comes as wonderful news to some. Father Gregory O’Hannity, Pastor of Our Lady of the Small Pond Out Back said “If you think about it, there isn’t any documentation prior to 1963 which supports this claim. Once the Second Vatican Council was called to order, the Holy Spirit descended upon those holy men present and founded the Church upon their faith.”

Zechariah Smith, a Catholic who attends the neighboring FSSP parish argued, “This is outrageous! Another example of anti-Catholics trying to discredit Christ and His Church”. “The Church was founded by Christ in 33 A.D. upon St. Peter and there exists mountains of documents and doctrinal evidence prior to 1963 to prove it” he stated while holding up his copies of Denzinger and Ott.

Vatican Spokesman Fr. Frederico Lombardi, S.J. stated, “I really don’t know what to believe anymore. Just give us a couple of days and we’ll iron it all out.” He then rushed out of the press conference to the nearest bar. Barfly Tim O’Hannigan stated he was unsure of what Father had ordered but knew it was a double and to keep them coming.

This is satire.

Jeff December 10, 2014 4 Comments Permalink

Rorate Caeli Mass and Missa Cantata Evening Mass

This Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 7am, Father John Gallas will be offering a Rorate Caeli (Extraordinary Form) Mass at the parish of St. Thomas the Apostle in Corcoran, MN.

For those who do not know, the Rorate Caeli Mass is a special Mass in honor of our Mother, Mary. It is a candlelit Mass due to it being so early in the morning. For more information on the Rorate Caeli Mass, check out One Peter Five’s article.

Golden_Mass_pic_Small

Also, I was informed at 6pm on Saturday, December 13, Father John Paul Erickson will be offering a Missa Cantata (Extraordinay Form) at the St. John Vianney Seminary Chapel in St. Paul, MN.

If you can make one or the other, you will be in for a beautiful Mass.

Jeff December 8, 2014 1 Comment Permalink