February18,2018 FirstSundayofLent(1)

Vol. 15 No. 07

PROCESSIONALFortydaysandfortynightsThouwerefastinginthewild;FortydaysandfortynightsTempted,andyetunde iled.

ShallnotweThysorrowshareAndfromworldlyjoysabstain,Fastingwithunceasingprayer,StrongwithTheetosufferpain?

ThenifSatanonuspress,Fleshorspirittoassail,Victorinthewilderness,Grantthatwenotfaintnorfail!

Keep,Okeepus,Saviordear,EverconstantbyThyside,ThatwithTheewemay

ProperoftheFirstSundayofLentIntroit(Ps.90:15-16)

Heshallcalluponme,andIwillanswerhim;Iwilldeliverhimandglorifyhim;withlengthofdaysIwillgratifyhim.(Ps.90:1)V.HewhodwellsintheshelteroftheMostHigh,shallabideintheshadowoftheAlmighty.GlorybetotheFather.Heshallcall…

CollectPrayerOGod,eachyearThoupurifytheChurchthroughtheLentenobservance.MaythegoodworksofThyChurchobtainforusthegraceweaskforthroughourself-denial.ThroughJesusChrist…AMEN.

EpistleAReadingfromthe2ndEpistleofblessedPaultheApostletotheCorinthians(2Cor.6:1-10)Brethren:Webegyou,asyourfellowworkers,nottoreceivethefavorofGodinvain.Forhesays:“InafavorabletimeIheardyou,andonadayofsalvationIhelpedyou.”Nowisthefavorabletime;nowisthedayofsalvation.Weavoidgivinganyoneoccasionfortakingoffenseinanything,inorderthattheministrymaynotbeblamed.Onthecontrary,ineverythingwestrivetoshowourselvesasministersofGod,withgreatfortitudeintrials,distress,dif iculties,inbeatings,imprisonments,riots;with hardwork, sleepless nights and fastings;with innocence,knowledge, patience andkindness;withaholyspirit,withsincerelove;withthemessageoftruthandthepowerofGod;wieldingtheweaponsofjusticewithrighthandandleft;whetherhonoredordishonored;whetherspokenofwellorill.Wearecalledimposters,andyetwearetruthful;nobodies,andwearewell

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known;dead,andherewearealive;punished,andwehavenotyetbeenputtodeath;sorrowful,andwearealwaysrejoicing;poor,andweareenrichingmany;wearesaidtohavenothing,andyetwepossesseverything.DEOGRATIAS.

Gradual(Ps.90:11-12)TohisangelsGodhasgivencommandaboutyou,thattheyguardyouinallyourways.V.Upontheirhandstheyshallbearyouup,lestyoudashyourfootagainstastone.

Tract(Ps.90:1-7;11-16)HewhodwellsintheshelteroftheMostHigh,shallabideintheshadowoftheAlmighty.V.SaytotheLord,“Myrefugeandmyfortress,myGod,inwhomItrust.”V.Forhewillrescueyoufromthesnareofthefowler,fromthedestroyingpestilence.V.Withhispinionshewillcoveryou,andunderhiswingsyoushalltakerefuge.V.Hisfaithfulnessisabucklerandashield;youshallnotfeartheterrorofthenight.V.Northearrowthat liesbyday;northepestilencethatroamsindarkness;northedevastatingplagueatnoon.V.Thoughathousandfallatyourside,tenthousandatyourrightside,nearyouitshallnotcome.V.Fortohisangelshehasgivencommandaboutyou,thattheymayguardyouinallyourways.V.Upontheirhandstheyshallbearyouup,lestyoudashyourfootagainstastone.V.Youshalltreadupontheaspandtheviper;youshalltrampledownthelionandthedragon.V.Becauseheclingstome,Iwilldeliverhim;Iwillsethimonhighbecauseheacknowledgesmyname.V.Heshallcalluponme,andIwillanswerhim;Iwillbewithhimindistress.V.Iwilldeliverhimandglorifyhim;withlengthofdaysIwillgratifyhimandwillshowhimmysalvation.

GospelAReadingfromtheholyGospelaccordingtoSt.Matthew(Mt.4:1-11)Atthattime,JesuswasledintothedesertbytheSpirittobetemptedbythedevil.Hefastedfortydaysandfortynights,andafterwardshewashungry.Thenthetempterapproachedandsaidtohim,“IfyouareGod’sSon,commandthesestonestoturnintobread.”Buthereplied,“Scripturehasit,‘Notonbreadaloneismantolive,butoneverycommandthatissuesfromthemouthofGod.’”Nextthedeviltookhimtotheholycity.HesethimuponthehighestpointintheTemplearea,saying,“IfyouareGod’sSon,throwyourselfdown.Scripturehasit,‘Hewillbidhisangelslookafteryou;withtheirhandstheywillsupportyou,thatyoumayneverevenstumbleoverastone.’”Jesusansweredhim,“Scripturealsohasit,‘YoushallnotmaketrialoftheLordyourGod.’”Again,thedeviltookhimalongtoaloftymountainpeak,anddisplayedbeforehimallthekingdomsoftheworldintheirmagni icence,promising,“AllthiswillIbestowuponyou,ifyouwillprostrateyourselfinhomagebeforeme.”ThenJesussaidtohim,“Awaywithyou,Satan!Scripturehasit,‘YoushalldohomagetotheLordyourGod:himaloneshallyouadore.’”Atthatthedevillefthim,andallatonceangelscameandwaitedonhim.LAUSTIBICHRISTE.(CREDOafterthesermon)

OffertoryAntiphon(Ps.90:4-5)WithhispinionstheLordwillcoveryou,andunderhiswingsyoushalltakerefuge;hisfaithfulnessisabucklerandashield.

PrayerinsecretovertheGiftsOLord,wesolemnlyofferTheeoursacri iceatthebeginningofLent,andpraythatbyobservingabstinencewemayalsolearntoavoidsinfulpleasures.ThroughJesusChrist…Amen.

PrefaceofLentIt is truly rightand just,properandhelpful towardsalvation, thatwealwaysandeverywheregivethankstoThee,OLord,holyFather,almightyandeternalGod,forusingourbodilyfastingtocurbourvices,toelevateourminds,andtobestowuponusvirtueanditsreward,throughChristourLord.ThroughthesameChristtheAngelsacclaimThymajesty,theDominationsadoreThee,andthePowersworshipinawe.ThroughhimalsotheheavensandtheVirtuesofheavenjointheblessedSeraphiminonegrandchorusof joyouspraise.WebegThee,letourvoicesblendwiththeirs,asinhumblepraisewesay:

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CommunionAntiphon(Ps.90:4-5)WithhispinionstheLordwillcoveryou,andunderhiswingsyoushalltakerefuge;hisfaithfulnessisabucklerandashield.

PrayerafterCommunionMaytheworthyreceptionoftheBlessedSacramentgiveusnewstrength,OLord.MayitcleanseusfromouroldselvesandbringusintothefellowshipofThysavingmysteries.ThroughJesusChrist…AMEN.

RECESSIONAL

AveReginacaelorumAveDominaangelorumSalveradix,salveportaExquamundoluxestorta;GaudeVirgogloriosaSuperomnesspecioseVale,ovaldedecoraEtpronobis,Christumexora.

I’llsingahymntoMary,TheMotherofmyGod,TheVirginofallvirgins,OfDavid’sroyalblood.Oteachme,holyMary,Alovingsongtoframe,Whenwickedmenblasphemethee,Toloveandblessthyname.

OLilyoftheValley,OMysticRose,whattree,Or lower,e’enthefairest,Ishalfsofairasthee?Oletme,tho’solowlyRecitemyMother’sfame.Whenwickedmenblasphemethee,I’llloveandblessthyname.

OnobleTowerofDavid,Ofgoldandivory.TheArkofGod’sownpromise,ThegateofHeav’ntome.ToliveandnottolovetheeWould illmysoulwithshame;Whenwickedmenblasphemethee,I’llloveandblessthyname.

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tidbits

Dearfaithfulandfriends,

InthisFirstSundayofLent,wearegiventhemodelforourspiritualbattleofLent.OurLordJesusChristwastemptedbythedevil,sothatbyHistemptations,Heobtainedforusallthegracestoovercomeallourtemptations.Forsure,Hewouldnotallowustobetemptedmorethanwecanbear.Infact,Heallowedustobetemptedsothatwemayberootedintruehumilityorbeperfectedinpatience.Yet,HewillalwaysproportionHisgracetotheintensityofourtemptation.Thus,wemustpersevereinaskingHishelpbefore,duringandaftereachtemptation.

But, irst, for somePRACTICALREMARKS, theMasses thisweekareasusual – 7.15AMand6.30PMLowMass.StartingTuesday,20FebruaryuntilThursday22February,wewillhaveourannualPriests’Meeting.So,weneedserversforthe3setsofMassesstarting5.30AM.ThiscomingWednesdayandFridayaretheEmberDaysofLent.Traditionally,theyaredaysoffastingandabstinence.So,westronglyencourageallofyoutojoinusindoingpenanceforoursinsandtobegGodmorepriestlyandreligiousvocations.ThursdayisthefeastoftheChairofSt.PeterwhileonSaturday,thefeastofMatthiastakesprecedenceovertheEmberSaturdayofLent.

AsaSPIRITUALREFLECTION,letusbrie lyexaminetoday’sliturgy.ItisveryRomaninstructureand in content; relatively short, yet doctrinally dense. In fact, it is one of the earliest MassformulariesofourRomanMissal.St.LeotheGreat inhissermondeliveredtodayaroundtheyear450ADalreadycommentedonthesamereadings.Imaginewhattreasurewaslost fortheChurchwhentheNovusOrdowasintroducedwithits3-yearcycleofreadingswhichdonotevenhaveanylogicalconnectionwitheachother!Inancienttimes,theMasswasnotcelebratedeveryday.Infact,eventoday,insomeOrientalCatholicRites(e.g.UkrainianRiteandMaroniteRite),theyonlyhavetheMassofthePre-Sancti iedduringweekdays.But,intheRomanLiturgy,MasswascelebratedeverydayduringLentanditsreadingsaretheChurch’sof icialcatecheticalinstructionforthosewhowouldbebaptizedonEasterVigil.So,today’sEntranceAntiphonisstressesourdispositionasweenterLent–courageandcon idence.Yes,wewillhavedif iculties;yes,wewillbetempted!But,OurLordreassuredus:“Heshallcalluponme,andIwillanswerhim;Iwilldeliverhimandglorifyhim.”ItisalreadyaforetasteoftheEastervictoryasJesusdeclaredduringtheLastSupper:“Intheworldyouhavetribulation;butbeofgoodcheer,Ihaveovercometheworld.”(John16:33)

However,Christian life isnotahappy-clappy, “PraisetheLord”affair!That isamodernistandcharismaticillusion.Afterthefourgospels,themostancientChristianwritingwastheDidacheortheTeachingsofthe12Apostles.Inthisbook,thetruespiritoftheChurchisportrayed,notbycompromisingwiththespiritoftheworldlikeinVaticanII’s“GaudiumetSpes”,butoftheTwoWays–thewayofJesusChristthatleadstoeternallife,andthewayoftheDevilthatleadstoeternaldeath.IfwefollowOurLordseriously,thenwemust ightthedevil.Makenoillusion;Catholiclifeisaspiritualbattle!“DonotthinkthatIhavecometobringpeaceonearth;Ihavenotcometobringpeace,butasword.ForIhavecometosetamanagainsthisfather,andadaughteragainsthermother,andadaughter-in-lawagainsthermother-in-law;andaman’sfoeswillbethoseofhisownhousehold.”(Mat10:34-36)Thatiswhyintoday’sCollect,wepray:“OGod…purifytheChurch through theLentenobservance…MaythegoodworksofThyChurchobtain forusthegraceweaskforthroughourself-denial….”Lentispuri icationthroughself-denial.

Forthatreason,St.Paulurgedusintoday’sEpistlenottowasteourtimeandthegracesthattheGoodLordisgivingus:“Nowisthefavorabletime;nowisthedayofsalvation…avoidgivinganyoneoccasionfortakingoffenseinanything,inorderthatourministrymaynotbeblamed.”So,whenwearetempted,discouragedorsulkingwithourcross,thenGodHimselftaughtushowto

T idb i t s f r om yo urPARISH PRIEST

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prayerintoday’sGradual,Psalm90.Unfortunately,thedevil,liketoday’sBiblebashers,quotedthisPsalmoutsideitscontextsoastotemptChrist.HeuseditthatJesusmight jumpoffthepinnacleoftheTemple,outofpresumption.ButOurLorddidnotbitehisbate!So,forourpart,letususethisPsalmtotakecourageintheLord:“Myrefugeandmyfortress,myGod,inwhomItrust.”OurGospelhighlightedOurLord’stripletemptation.Probably,St.Matthewgroupedthemtogether,although theymight have happened at different times.Yet, if Jesuswas temptedbySatan,thenweshouldexpecttobetemptedusaswell.

Temptation is a relentless spiritual battle. Itwill only end3minutes afterwedie. In itself,temptationisnotyetasin.But,temptationcanonlymakesenseifwearereallycommittedanddeterminedtofollowJesus,servingGodintheCatholicChurchwhichHefounded.Oncewemadethischoice,thedevilwillusetheweaknessofour leshandthepompoftheworldtomakeuswaverinourdetermination.LikeOurLordwhoisnotonlysinless,butalsoimpeccable,Satanwillnotsuggesttousplainandoutrightsin.No,thedevilwillpresentuswithdodgyoptions,easysolutionsthatavoidthecross.Jesuswashungry,Heshouldchangethestonesintobread.HewantsallmentofollowHim,then,Hemightaswellshow-offHimselflikesuperman loatingontheair.Hewantstoconquerallthekingdomsoftheworld;well,HemustpayhomagetothePrinceofthisWorld.Therearenotamillionsolutionstothisdilemma.Weonlyhavetwooptions,eitherweheroicallycarryourcrossanddieinitsembraceasJesusdid,orwecompromisewiththedevilbyfollowinghissuggestions.CompromiseisneveraCatholicsolution.“Hewhoisnotwithmeisagainstme,andhewhodoesnotgatherwithmescatters.”(Mat12:30)

TheOffertoryverseisarefrainofcon idenceandareminderofourinherentweakness:“Underhiswingsyoushalltakerefuge;hisfaithfulnessisabucklerandashield.”Unlessweareconvincedofthis, thatwithoutChristwecandonothing,wewouldcontinueinourspiritualanemiaandhabitualfaults.Hemustincreasewhilethe‘ego’mustdecrease!ThePrayerinSecretpointsoutthedirectrelationshipbetweenover-eatinganddrinkingtosinning:“Wepraythatbyobservingabstinence we may also learn to avoid sinful pleasures.” The Preface of Lent is a liturgicalmonument.“Lexorandi,lexcredendi…thelawofprayeristhelawoffaith.”TheessenceofLentinsummarizedhere:“forusingourbodilyfastingtocurbourvices,toelevateourminds,andtobestowuponusvirtueanditsreward....”Simplicity,beauty,doctrinalpurityandconciseness–allthatiscapturedinthesefewwords!LiketheOffertoryverse,theCommunionverse isagainarefraintoenterthebattleofLentwithgreatcourageandcon idenceinGod’sfaithfulness.Finally,thePost-communionisaformidableprayer.Inafewwords,alltheeffectsofHolyCommunionareoutlined:“giveusnewstrength,OLord…cleanseusfromouroldselvesandbringusintothefellowshipofThysavingmysteries.”Weoftenforgetaboutthis.Anysacramentworthilyreceivedhavethreefoldeffect–tothepast(cleanseouroldselves),tothepresent(giveusnewstrength)andeventothefuture(bringusintofellowship).Therefore,our1962RomanMissalisagreattreasure; it is the textbookof trueCatholic doctrine and piety all in one! That is why theProtestantsandtheModernistshateit.

ForourMATERIALNEEDS,wearelookingforaworkertodoourlaundryandironing,preferablyamaleperson,honestanddiscrete.Thisweek,wehave11priestsattendingourAnnualPriests’Meeting. Concerning our projects, we received last Thursday the quotation from the otherEngineer.WehavesubmittedtoourSuperiors2quotationsforthevariousrepairsneededforourChurch.Oncewehavetheirapproval,wewillearnestlybegintheserepairs,sothatbybeforeHolyWeekoursacristieswillbefunctionalandbeforetherainymonths,ourceilingsarerepairedaswell.Inthemeantime,pleasecontinueyourprayersandgenerosity.Presently,ourfundsarealmosthalfofthetotalexpenses.However,moreexpensesmightbecomingsoon.Inanycase,maytheSacredHeartofJesusblessyouallforyourcontinuedtrustandkindness!

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ExclusiveInterviewofFr.FaustoBuzzi,SSPXAssitantDistrictSuperiorofItalywithFrancescoBoezioftheItaliandaily,IlGiornale

Atranslationfromremnantnewspaper.com·14February2018

IlGiornale:WhatstillseparatestheSaintPiusXcommunityfromtheCatholicChurch?

DonFaustoBuzzi:ItisnecessarytopointoutthattheSocietyofSaintPiusXisinnowayseparatefromtheCatholicChurch.Weareunited to theCatholicChurchandwenever separated fromHer, despite divergenceswith the authorities of the Church.We are not responsible for thesedivergences.ArchbishopLefebvrealwaysusedtosaythathewascondemnedbecauseofthoseverythingsforwhichthepopes(particularlyPopePiusXII)usedtopraisehim.Romewastheonewhochangedand,withVaticanII,shedistancedherselffromthecenturies-oldTraditionoftheChurch.

IG:Aparishpriestoncesaidtome:“Alotofpeople talkofschism,but theydon’thave thetheologicalcompetenceofaMarcelLefebvre”.Isthatthecase?

FB: A lot of people criticize or condemn the Society of Saint Pius X without knowing it andwithoutunderstandingtheseriousreasonswhichplaceitinahostilesituationinrelationtotheecclesiasticalauthorities.Today,manypeople,priestsandlayalike,arebeginningtowonderwhatisgoingonintheChurchandareopeningtheireyestothefactthatthosewhowerecategorizedasschismaticsformanyyearsareperhapsthosewhohaveremainedthemostfaithfultotheCatholicChurchand,paradoxically,themostfaithfultothepapacy.Inourseminaries,ArchbishopLefebvrewantedustostudytheSummaTheologicaofSaintThomasAquinasandtheotherclassicalworksof theology. I assureyou that itwas agreat grace forus to receivesucha profound and solidformation.

IG:WhatisyouropinionofPopeFrancis?

FB:Forus,PopeFrancis isneitherworsenorbetterthan theotherConciliarorPost-ConciliarPopes.HelaborsinthesameworkshopsetupbyJohnXXIII, thatoftheauto-demolitionoftheCatholicChurchinordertobuildanother–onewhichisinconformitywiththeliberalspiritoftheworld.Iwouldgoevenfurther:thecurrentPopeisnotasresponsibleasPopePaulVI.ThelattermadetheCouncil,concludedit,andbroughtaboutallthereforms.AndallofthisisnowthecauseoftheverygravecrisiswhichweseeintheChurch.Ofcourse,theactionsandwordsofPopeFrancisseemmoreseriousthanthoseofhispredecessors.Butthisisnotthecase.Today’smediahastheeffectofamplifyingthingsmuchmorethaninthepast.Insubstance,however,theactsofPaulVIaremuchmoreseriousthanthoseofFrancis.

IG:However,Bergoglioseemstohavemadestepstowardsyou,doesn’the?

FB: He certainly hasn’t made any doctrinal steps towards us. However, he considers us asa “peripheral”reality.Assuch,weare theobjectofhisbenevolence.WhenhewasCardinal inBuenosAires,oneofourpriestsgavehimabookabout thelifeofourfounder.Heread itandremainedseriouslyimpressedbyit.Perhapsthisalsocontributedtohisbenevolencetowardsus.ManywonderwhyhewasnotsobenevolenttowardstheFranciscansoftheImmaculatewhoweretrulyintheprocessofembracingCatholicTradition.Onthecontrary,inthiscase,disregardingmercy,hetreatedthemharshlyandwithextremeseverity.

Traditional Trivia

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IG:Manyconsideryoutobe“extremists”oftheFaith...

FB:Faithisatheologicalvirtue,andatheologicalvirtuecanincreasein initelybecauseitsobjectisGodHimself.Therefore,therearenolimitstoFaith.Inthissense,beinganextremistwouldbevirtuous.Thatsaid,IcouldquoteyouthewordsofOurLordwhenHesaid,forexample:“WhoisnotwithMeisagainstMe”.OrthewordsofSaintPeter:“ThereisnootherName[JesusChrist]underHeavenbywhichwemaybesaved”.Tellmeiftheseare“extremist”words.Then, ifyouthinkofthemartyrswhodiedratherthanbetraytheirFaith,howdowejudgethem?Weretheyextremists?ItseemstomethatwearelosingthesenseoftheFaith.

IG:WhatdoyouthinkofthedoctrinaldebatesurroundingAmorisLaetitia?

FB:Yousee,thisquestionforcesmetorepeatwhatIhavealreadysaid.EventhoughalltheinitiativeswhichaimtocorrectthisdocumentandtodefendtheindissolubleCatholicfamilysancti iedbyaSacramentarepraiseworthy,thetrueproblemisneverthelesstobefoundelsewhere.DoyouknowwhereAmorisLaetitiaisrooted?InoneoftheCouncil’sdocuments,GaudiumetSpes.Therefore,asIwassayingtoyouearlier,thehorrendouscrisisintheChurchisduetoVaticanII.VaticanIIistheDNAofthiscrisis.DoyouthinkthatwewouldhavehadthecatastrophicAmorisLaetitiatodayif,insteadofGaudiumetSpes,PiusXI’sencyclicalCastiConubiihadbeenpublished?Idon’tthinkso.

IG:AndwhatabouttherehabilitationofLuther?

FB:What can I say?To rehabilitate the greatest heretic of historywho secularized the entireChristianreligion,whocausedtheChurchtohaemorrhageentirepeoples,isbothdoctrinalsuicideandanhistoricalfalsehood.TherehabilitationofLutherbelongstotheecumenicalutopiaofthepast iftyyears,autopiawhichisleadingCatholicstoanapostasywhichisnolongersilent,butdeafening.IrecommendyoureadanewbookonLutherwhichcameoutrecently,TheTrueFaceofLuther.Itiswrittenbyoneofourpriests,ProfessorofEcclesiologyattheSeminaryofEcone.Whenyoureadthisbookyouunderstandtheabsurdityofthissupposedrehabilitation.

IG:Doyouseedoctrinalreuni icationbetweenyourselvesandtheVaticanaspossibleinthefuture?

FB:Iamnotaprophet.Wehopethatthiswillhappen,especiallyforthesalvationofsomanysoulswhoriskbeinglostforalleternity.But,ifyouallowme,IwouldliketotellyouwhatwecandotodayinordertocontributetothetriumphofTraditionintheChurch.Allofus–eachCatholic,Bishop, faithfulpriest–allofusmust return to theCatholicTraditionofall time.Andno-oneshouldfearhavingtheimpressionofbeingagainsttheauthoritiesoftheChurch.Because,infact,itisnotgoingagainstthem,butonthecontraryitisthemosteffectivemeansofhelpingthemunderstandthatwemustreturntoTradition,whichisthesoleanduniquefutureofHolyChurch.

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AstheBetrayalofChineseCatholicsProceeds,thisIsNoTimeforFalseObedience

By:ChristopherA.Ferrara·fatimaperspectives.com·14February2018

Noonehassaid itbetter thanHelenRaleigh,anAsian-Americancommentator,writingin ‘TheFederalist’: “On this particularAshWednesday,millionsof Catholic faithful inmainlandChinahaveanextrareason topray forGod’smercy: theirearthly leader,PopeFrancis,hasbetrayed

them.”

Andnowthebetrayalisabouttobecon irmed.GuoXijin,59,oneofthetwolegitimateCatholicbishopsofthe“underground”ChurchinChinathattheVaticanhasaskedtostepdowninfavorof illicitlyconsecratedpuppetbishopsofthecommunist-createdCatholicPatrioticAssociation(CPA),hasjustdeclaredthathewillobeytheordertoabandonhis lock.AsreportedbytheNewYorkTimes:“Speakinginhis irstinterviewsincenewsofthedealbrokelastmonth,BishopGuosaidthat ifhewaspresentedwithanveri iablyauthenticdocumentfromtheVatican,‘thenwemustobeyRome’sdecision.’”

AspartofthisselloutoftheBrideofChristtocommunistgangsters,sevenexcommunicatedCPA“bishops”willberecognizedbyRome.AsRaleighnoteswithdisgust:“Twoofthosesevenmenareallegedtohavegirlfriendsandfatheredchildren.Mostimportantly,allsevenmenputtheirloyaltytoChina’scommunistgovernmentbeforetheirfaithinGod.”

But,accordingtoBishopGuo,“wemustobey.”Intruth,theBishopmustnotobey.ForthePopehasnopowertocommandwhatisimmoralanddestructiveoftheChurch,andwhenaPopeattemptstodosohemustberesisted.AsSaintRobertBellarmine,aDoctoroftheChurch,teaches:

“Therefore,justasitislawfultoresistaPontiffinvadingabody,soitislawfultoresisthiminvadingsoulsordisturbingastate,andmuchmoreifheshouldendeavortodestroytheChurch.Isaythatitislawfultoresisthim,bynotdoingwhathecommandsandbyblockinghimlestheshouldcarryouthiswill…[DeControversiis:OntheRomanPontiff,trans.RyanGrant(MediatrixPress:2015),BookII,Chapter29,p.303.]”

AsPopeBenedictXVIdeclaredinhishomilyofMay7,2005:“ThePopeisnotanabsolutemonarchwhose thoughts and desires are law. On the contrary: the Pope’s ministry is a guarantee ofobediencetoChristandtohisWord.”

AhistoricalexampleofwhatBishopGuoshoulddo,oneoftencitedbyFatherGruner,isthatofBishopRobertGrosseteste(1175-1253),themedievalEnglishprelatewhostooduptonumerousabusesofpowercommittedbyoronbehalfofPopeInnocent IV, including Innocent’sdemandthathisyouthfulandutterlyincompetentnephewbemadeabishop.ThiswasacomparativelyminoraffaircomparedwiththebetrayalnowtakingplaceinChina,wherePopeFrancisispoisedtodemand,not thatoneofhis relatives,but rather illicitlyconsecrated,communist-controlledpuppetsbeinstalledasbishopsinplaceoflegitimatesuccessorsoftheApostles.ButGrosseteste’sprincipledresistanceisnonethelessillustrativeofthejustlimitsofpapalpower.

As the Catholic Encyclopedia rightly observes, Bishop Grosseteste “never denied the pope’sauthorityasVicarofChristandHeadoftheChurch.WhathedidmaintainwasthatthepoweroftheHolySeewas‘foredi icationandnotfordestruction’[2Cor.10:8],thatthecommandsofthepopecouldnevertransgressthelimitslaiddownbythelawofGod,andthatitwashisduty,asbishop,toresistanorderthatwas‘formanifestdestruction’.Insuchacase‘outof ilialreverenceandobedienceIdisobey,resist,andrebel.’”

WhatFrancisisapparentlyabouttoorderinChinaispreciselythe“manifestdestruction”ofthevisibleChurch inthatnationand,mostironically,amanifestdestructionofhisownlegitimatepowerovertheChurchthere.AsRaleighputsit:

“PopeFrancisseemstohavenoproblemsubordinatinghisauthoritytoarepressivecommunist

government….It’sclearthatPopeFrancisisnoPopeJohnPaulII.WhilePopeJohnPaulIIjoinedMargaret Thatcher and President Reagan todefeat Communism, Pope Francis iswilling tocapitulate tooppressiveauthoritarianregimeslikeCubaandChinainthenameof ‘openness.’By doing so, he only lends legitimacy andextendsalifelinetothoseregimeswhilefailingto offer relief to the people oppressed underthoseregimes.HowcanaCatholicchurchundertheleadershipofPopeFrancisstillclaimit’sthechampionoftheoppressed?”

This is no time for false obedience. Trueobedience to the Pope, indeed the defense ofhisveryof iceagainstencroachmentbyworldlypowers, demands that the legitimate Catholicbishops ofChina just say ‘NO’ to theVatican’sbargainwiththedevil.

The plague of false obedience to unjustcommands — or the false appearance ofcommands, such as the imaginary “banning”ofthetraditionalLatinMassbyPaulVI—hasled to the devastation of the Church by oneruinous novelty after another over the pastiftyyears.Nowit islikelythatthedictate“wemust obey”—nomatterwhat—will prevailinChinaaswell,thusbringingusclosertothedivinechastisementthatincreasinglyseemstobe theonlyway thismadnesswillbe broughttoanend.

ArchconfraternityofSt.StephenAltarServers

18February2018MC:KerwinFerrerThurifer:RyanValleAC1:LeanderJoshuaRegnerAC2:VicenteSantosCB:JoshIgmen

25February2018MC:JohnleryPugaoThurifer:RonaldFrioAC1:JohnLloydRoleaAC2:GabrielPeraltaCB:JoseMiguelManingas

February19,Monday:FeriaintimeofLent(3class)7:15a.m.LowMass6:30p.m.LowMass

February20,Tuesday:FeriaintimeofLent(3class)7:15a.m.LowMass6:30p.m.LowMass

February21,Wednesday:EmberWednesdayintimeofLent(2class)7:15a.m.LowMass6:30p.m.LowMass

February22,Thursday:ChairofSt.Peter(2class),Comm.ofSt.Paul,FeriaofLent(comm)7:15a.m.LowMass6:30p.m.LowMass

February23,Friday:EmberFridayintimeofLent(3class),St.PeterDamian(comm)7:15a.m.LowMass5:50p.m.StationsoftheCross6:30p.m.LowMass

February24,Saturday:St.Matthias(2class),EmberSaturdayofLent(comm)7:15a.m.LowMass6:30p.m.LowMass

February25Sunday:SecondSundayofLent(1class)9.00a.m.SungMass6.00p.m.LowMass

Weekly Mass Schedule

Fr.ThomasOnodaMobile:0917-585-2976(globe)[onlythis]e-mail:fr.thomas.onoda@gmail.com

Residentpriestsandsisters:Fr.ThomasOnoda(Prior)Fr.CarloMagnoSaa(ParishPriest)Fr.AlbertGhela(Priest-in-chargeofMissioninLeyte)Fr.PeterFortin(PrincipaloftheSchool)Br.PascualBr.StephenSr.MariaCarmela

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