His involvement, before during and after Vatican II is well known and Pope Benedict’s Hermeneutic of Continuity was quite contrary to the radically liberal and neo-Modernist Papacy of Paul Vi. This I believe is true but this is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the same as being a Pope in communion and in continuity with those who went before Paul VI. A big question I have is this: Is Pope Benedict able in good conscience to take the Anti-Modernist Oath as he did prior to his ordination? Also, when he took it, then, was he in good faith? Did he believe what he was swearing?
I do appreciate and value his ‘Christo-centric and Patristic orientations’, as people call them but I do believe they go with the territory of being a Christian, no less than with being a Priest and of course his desire to confirm again and again that Christ is Love and Charity and that without that there can be no Christ and no Church but is it not equally and essentially true that there can be no Christ and no Church without the Cross? Fine feelings and ‘joy’ are grand but without a clear and consistent acknowledgement of our sinful and rebellious nature and our absolute and abiding need of Grace we flounder.
The ‘joy’ that Pope Benedict so often evokes can come only after Christ’s saving redemption of each of us and that after our sacramental confession of our sins – individual sins and not simply our sinful nature – our intention and hope by Christ’s Grace to turn around our lives and after we receive Sacramental Absolution. Who would deny that this – and this alone – is the sole and exclusive means that we, on earth, can truly experience the joy that comes with being a disciple. To be one with Christ we must be one with his mystical body, the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church that goes back to the Apostles and to Christ’s own institution.
To be Vicar of Christ on earth and to be assured of all the Graces of State, the Pope must be in communion with all the Popes in Heaven and all the holy and dogmatic Councils that formulated and defined the Catholic Faith over the centuries. Does Pope Benedict believe he truly is? Pope Paul VI clearly was not, evidentially.
There is far too much in Vatican II that tends to run contrary to the Faith, as defined by those, preceding Councils. The impact of the ‘renewal of the Liturgy’ has been and will continue to be a sinful disaster. The ‘Mass of Paul VI’ tends toward a neo-protestant understanding of the Eucharist, easily verified every Sunday by relatrively empty Churches, ‘Catholics’ who do not believe in the Real Presence and who, in many cases, subscribe to that type of indifferentism and syncretism that says ‘we all worship the same God’, Muslims included! That is the fruit of Vatican II and the legacy of Pope Benedict.
“There is far too much in Vatican II that tends to run contrary to the Faith…”
That Vatican II has been hijacked by ecumenist wannabees may be true – I think so – but to say that VII “tends to run contrary to the Faith…” is untrue. Can you cite VII pronouncements that support your view? I must also add that for you to say that Pope Paul VI “clearly was not” in communion is pretty low.
..the only sinful disaster are your comments which descend upon this blog like a murder of crows content on picking the meat of charity from the bones of the works of a good man pope benedict…and detracting from his Holy character… 🙂
…another thing – I belong to a Novus Ordo parish. I have no choice, since canon law states that I must attend the church closest to me (does it not?) and I can see mine from my bedroom window. Our parish church is by no means empty. It is a large one, physically, and it is full at all 4 Sunday masses, and fairly well attended at weekday masses. Best not to tar many observant Catholics as indifferent syncretists.
Interesting to read JH above , from I believe, Canada.
The situation where I live in Spain is sadly different.
We were told yesterday, that there will be no Mass today, as our priest Don Santiago has siatica.
He, like the rest of us here, is getting on and there is no replacement in sight.
So, for the first time since we moved here eight years ago, no Mass.
The Mass here is, I gather, very Novus Ordo. But I doubt if any of the regular 20 or so attendees really minds what form it takes. As long as it takes some form or other.
Maybe this should go in “Prayer Intentions.” Bit odd, from Toad, though.
Didn’t know about being obliged to attend the nearest church. Although, in the Middle Ages, the faithful, which was everyone, were forbidden to attend Mass in any other parish than their own.
“….that type of indifferentism and syncretism that says ‘we all worship the same God’, Muslims included!”
What seems to have escaped our brother Johnrathowen is that, had he been born in Dubai rather than Dublin, he’d be a Muslim himself.
That my birth was in what used to be a Christian country was a blessing, I do not doubt and it has not escaped me, at all. To be born in “the darkness of Islam” is, doubtless, a great misfortune compared to being born into a Christian society, wherever these days that may be. We do not worship the same God – Christ is God, is He not? Neither Muslims nor Jews worship Christ so to pretend and propose that we worship the same Deity is scandalously sinful.
Dear johnhenrycn, I do not mean to tar observant Catholics as syncretists. I accuse some prelates of effectively preaching/promoting syncretism and indifferentism – see the Assisi shenanigans. Catholics are more sinned against than sinning. It is Some of their Pastors that mislead, misdirect and misguide them.
Dear Johnkonnor72, Pray for me as I will for thee – one of us will consequently see the light, but do not, I pray you, write in sonorous tones redolent of a non-conformist preacher because they impress me but a little less than not at all. Pax et Bonum.
You tell those Johns, John!
(CP&S begins to sound like a house of ill fame. But there the resemblence certainly ends.)
The semi-serious point behind my comment, John, was that geographical “blessings of birth” often seem oddly random, and almost haphazard, don’t they?
Zapped at birth by a zip code.
A sort of celestial lottery, perhaps?
A ticket to Heaven via Tipperary? A ticket to Hell via Tripoli?
Surely God doesn’t have favourite, chosen, nations?
These days, at least?
Doesn’t do to dwell on the past…
In this video Fr Barron frequently uses the phrase “affirmative orthodoxy”. It strikes me that those of us who have grouped together on the Damian Thompson blog, some of us influential in the setting up of this blog and later in the creation of the (non-public) DT Catholics blog, have been very affirmative in orthodoxy. The rather loaded word “traditionalist” carries a number of associations which perhaps skew the nature of our position sometimes.
The other thing that Fr Barron seems to emphasise in this video, reflecting on the addresses he heard given by Benedict XVI, is the frequent mention of “joy” that runs through this Pope’s teaching. Again, there has been a certain joy in the way in which those people who have contributed to affirmative orthodoxy on this blog – and the “other place” – have communicated the faith. Humour has always been a dominant means of communication. Perhaps the best expression of thaqt is Eccles’ blog, lately recognised by none other than Fr Finigan, the affirmative orthodox Catholic blogger par excellence.
In my case the get into heaven free voucher would have come from Queen Charlotte’s in London but could as easily have been from St Vincent’s, Dublin. I agree, it does seem some sort of celestial lottery and my fervent hope is that we all see the Light before we appear before God. Myself, I have more than enough metanoia to achieve and I reckon or hope that Heaven is full of all sorts of supposedly unlikely souls, most of them more deserving of their place than I. I suppose I will never get over the unreconstructed practice of praying for the dead…and of seeing it all as part of the Communion of Saints (wherever they were born or brought up). God is great….
I think it’s rather in Canon Law, Frere Rabit, which seems to say these days that attendance at one’s parish church isn’t obligatory but very strongly encouraged, the norm:
It is the Priest celebrant’s responsibility to minister Communion, perhaps assisted by other Priests or Deacons . . . only when there is a necessity may extraordinary ministers assist the Priest.
..in regards the Muslims..’together with us they adore the one, merciful God'(Catechism 841). …they may not adore him in his totality ..i suppose John R is calling the church a liar…the church set up by Christ to lead us from harm is indeed according to John R. leading us into harm through error….on one hand he espouse the Goodness of God however he knocks down God’s prelates with the other…your comments like a chine of hyenas seem to be intent on devouring the unity of the church with God’s creation… 🙂
Catholicism Pure & Simple 
His involvement, before during and after Vatican II is well known and Pope Benedict’s Hermeneutic of Continuity was quite contrary to the radically liberal and neo-Modernist Papacy of Paul Vi. This I believe is true but this is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the same as being a Pope in communion and in continuity with those who went before Paul VI. A big question I have is this: Is Pope Benedict able in good conscience to take the Anti-Modernist Oath as he did prior to his ordination? Also, when he took it, then, was he in good faith? Did he believe what he was swearing?
I do appreciate and value his ‘Christo-centric and Patristic orientations’, as people call them but I do believe they go with the territory of being a Christian, no less than with being a Priest and of course his desire to confirm again and again that Christ is Love and Charity and that without that there can be no Christ and no Church but is it not equally and essentially true that there can be no Christ and no Church without the Cross? Fine feelings and ‘joy’ are grand but without a clear and consistent acknowledgement of our sinful and rebellious nature and our absolute and abiding need of Grace we flounder.
The ‘joy’ that Pope Benedict so often evokes can come only after Christ’s saving redemption of each of us and that after our sacramental confession of our sins – individual sins and not simply our sinful nature – our intention and hope by Christ’s Grace to turn around our lives and after we receive Sacramental Absolution. Who would deny that this – and this alone – is the sole and exclusive means that we, on earth, can truly experience the joy that comes with being a disciple. To be one with Christ we must be one with his mystical body, the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church that goes back to the Apostles and to Christ’s own institution.
To be Vicar of Christ on earth and to be assured of all the Graces of State, the Pope must be in communion with all the Popes in Heaven and all the holy and dogmatic Councils that formulated and defined the Catholic Faith over the centuries. Does Pope Benedict believe he truly is? Pope Paul VI clearly was not, evidentially.
There is far too much in Vatican II that tends to run contrary to the Faith, as defined by those, preceding Councils. The impact of the ‘renewal of the Liturgy’ has been and will continue to be a sinful disaster. The ‘Mass of Paul VI’ tends toward a neo-protestant understanding of the Eucharist, easily verified every Sunday by relatrively empty Churches, ‘Catholics’ who do not believe in the Real Presence and who, in many cases, subscribe to that type of indifferentism and syncretism that says ‘we all worship the same God’, Muslims included! That is the fruit of Vatican II and the legacy of Pope Benedict.
I find it sad and not at all joyous..
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“There is far too much in Vatican II that tends to run contrary to the Faith…”
That Vatican II has been hijacked by ecumenist wannabees may be true – I think so – but to say that VII “tends to run contrary to the Faith…” is untrue. Can you cite VII pronouncements that support your view? I must also add that for you to say that Pope Paul VI “clearly was not” in communion is pretty low.
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..the only sinful disaster are your comments which descend upon this blog like a murder of crows content on picking the meat of charity from the bones of the works of a good man pope benedict…and detracting from his Holy character… 🙂
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…another thing – I belong to a Novus Ordo parish. I have no choice, since canon law states that I must attend the church closest to me (does it not?) and I can see mine from my bedroom window. Our parish church is by no means empty. It is a large one, physically, and it is full at all 4 Sunday masses, and fairly well attended at weekday masses. Best not to tar many observant Catholics as indifferent syncretists.
LikeLike
Interesting to read JH above , from I believe, Canada.
The situation where I live in Spain is sadly different.
We were told yesterday, that there will be no Mass today, as our priest Don Santiago has siatica.
He, like the rest of us here, is getting on and there is no replacement in sight.
So, for the first time since we moved here eight years ago, no Mass.
The Mass here is, I gather, very Novus Ordo. But I doubt if any of the regular 20 or so attendees really minds what form it takes. As long as it takes some form or other.
Maybe this should go in “Prayer Intentions.” Bit odd, from Toad, though.
Didn’t know about being obliged to attend the nearest church. Although, in the Middle Ages, the faithful, which was everyone, were forbidden to attend Mass in any other parish than their own.
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“….that type of indifferentism and syncretism that says ‘we all worship the same God’, Muslims included!”
What seems to have escaped our brother Johnrathowen is that, had he been born in Dubai rather than Dublin, he’d be a Muslim himself.
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Dear Toad
That my birth was in what used to be a Christian country was a blessing, I do not doubt and it has not escaped me, at all. To be born in “the darkness of Islam” is, doubtless, a great misfortune compared to being born into a Christian society, wherever these days that may be. We do not worship the same God – Christ is God, is He not? Neither Muslims nor Jews worship Christ so to pretend and propose that we worship the same Deity is scandalously sinful.
Dear johnhenrycn, I do not mean to tar observant Catholics as syncretists. I accuse some prelates of effectively preaching/promoting syncretism and indifferentism – see the Assisi shenanigans. Catholics are more sinned against than sinning. It is Some of their Pastors that mislead, misdirect and misguide them.
Dear Johnkonnor72, Pray for me as I will for thee – one of us will consequently see the light, but do not, I pray you, write in sonorous tones redolent of a non-conformist preacher because they impress me but a little less than not at all. Pax et Bonum.
JR
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You tell those Johns, John!
(CP&S begins to sound like a house of ill fame. But there the resemblence certainly ends.)
The semi-serious point behind my comment, John, was that geographical “blessings of birth” often seem oddly random, and almost haphazard, don’t they?
Zapped at birth by a zip code.
A sort of celestial lottery, perhaps?
A ticket to Heaven via Tipperary? A ticket to Hell via Tripoli?
Surely God doesn’t have favourite, chosen, nations?
These days, at least?
Doesn’t do to dwell on the past…
LikeLike
Doh.
Spelled “resemblance” wrongly.
Eccles will tear me a new anal orifice.
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In this video Fr Barron frequently uses the phrase “affirmative orthodoxy”. It strikes me that those of us who have grouped together on the Damian Thompson blog, some of us influential in the setting up of this blog and later in the creation of the (non-public) DT Catholics blog, have been very affirmative in orthodoxy. The rather loaded word “traditionalist” carries a number of associations which perhaps skew the nature of our position sometimes.
The other thing that Fr Barron seems to emphasise in this video, reflecting on the addresses he heard given by Benedict XVI, is the frequent mention of “joy” that runs through this Pope’s teaching. Again, there has been a certain joy in the way in which those people who have contributed to affirmative orthodoxy on this blog – and the “other place” – have communicated the faith. Humour has always been a dominant means of communication. Perhaps the best expression of thaqt is Eccles’ blog, lately recognised by none other than Fr Finigan, the affirmative orthodox Catholic blogger par excellence.
LikeLike
In my case the get into heaven free voucher would have come from Queen Charlotte’s in London but could as easily have been from St Vincent’s, Dublin. I agree, it does seem some sort of celestial lottery and my fervent hope is that we all see the Light before we appear before God. Myself, I have more than enough metanoia to achieve and I reckon or hope that Heaven is full of all sorts of supposedly unlikely souls, most of them more deserving of their place than I. I suppose I will never get over the unreconstructed practice of praying for the dead…and of seeing it all as part of the Communion of Saints (wherever they were born or brought up). God is great….
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The rule about attending the Mass in your local parish is set out in Redemptionis Sacramentum.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html#Chapter V
Lapin
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I think it’s rather in Canon Law, Frere Rabit, which seems to say these days that attendance at one’s parish church isn’t obligatory but very strongly encouraged, the norm:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur158.htm
Like that document you linked:
It is the Priest celebrant’s responsibility to minister Communion, perhaps assisted by other Priests or Deacons . . . only when there is a necessity may extraordinary ministers assist the Priest.
How shockingly priest-centred!
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..in regards the Muslims..’together with us they adore the one, merciful God'(Catechism 841). …they may not adore him in his totality ..i suppose John R is calling the church a liar…the church set up by Christ to lead us from harm is indeed according to John R. leading us into harm through error….on one hand he espouse the Goodness of God however he knocks down God’s prelates with the other…your comments like a chine of hyenas seem to be intent on devouring the unity of the church with God’s creation… 🙂
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