Know Thy Enemy

 The Vatican II sect is a man-made religion created in the wake of the death of Pope Pius XII. It is founded on the heresy of Modernism, which is so evil, Pope St. Pius X called it the "synthesis of all heresies." While many people rightly "know it when they see it," there is no shortage of those who don't fully understand what it is, how it developed, and the remedies against it. Pope St. Pius X wrote two very strong Magisterial documents against Modernism: The encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1907), and a syllabus of Modernist errors, Lamentabili Sane (1907). These decrees are a perfect dissection of the problem, however, they are written for those well-versed in both philosophy and theology. Luckily, in 1907, a very holy and learned priest, Father J.B. Lemius, wrote a 155 page booklet entitled A Catechism of Modernism. His goal was to make the teaching of Pascendi accessible to all people in a "question and answer" catechism-type of format.

 The booklet was endorsed by no less than Raphael Cardinal Merry del Val, the staunch Anti-Modernist theologian and saintly adviser to Pope St. Pius X. Fr. Lemius' work was reprinted by TAN Books in 1981. In this week's post, I will seek to condense the Anti-Modernist catechism so that all may better understand the greatest enemy of humanity, the Modernist Vatican II sect, which apes the One True Church and leads millions to their eternal damnation. I take no credit for what is written. It was all put together by Pope St. Pius X, and masterfully broken down into a more reader-friendly format by Fr. Lemius. I merely try to make an even more truncated version, with the hope of not sacrificing too much material for the sake of brevity. The section on "Modernism and the Vatican II sect," contains but a few of countless examples, culled by me from various sources, which demonstrate the Modernist doctrine that fuels the sect.

What is Modernism?

•  It is an amalgamation of errors. It begins with agnosticism.  According to this teaching, human reason is confined entirely within the field of phenomena, which means things that appear to the senses, and it has no power to overstep these limits. Since we cannot know (or even infer) to the existence of things outside the scope of phenomena, the human intellect is incapable of knowing the existence of God.

• As a result, Modernism denies the supernatural as an object of certain knowledge. The Modernists who challenge all rational proof of the existence of God as the First Cause of everything in existence, both material and spiritual, fall victims to a "scientific agnosticism." For these, God is something which comes forth from man's subconscious. Religion is therefore essentially about feelings, specifically what makes you feel good; if Christianity, or any other religion, is what makes you feel good and more in touch with the Divine, then it is true for you. Religion has never consisted of creeds or objective truth but of feelings. This doctrine is known as vital immanence. Religion is a feeling or sentiment that comes from a subconscious need for the Divine.

• Modernists regard Divine Revelation as a purely natural emergence of religious knowledge from a natural sense known as the "religious sense." There is no "One True Church" and no Deposit of Revelation that needs to be guarded.  

•  The Modernist God is not transcendent; He is not "out there" but "totally within." As St. Pius X explained in Pascendi, the Modernist God was no more than a symbol and that "the personality of God will become a matter of doubt and the gate will be opened to pantheism." Do you notice how much of the Vatican II sect is infested with Eastern religion and philosophy, such as yoga and reiki? Have you seen in Nostra Aetate, how the Second Vatican (Robber) Council acknowledged "the good" that is in Hinduism and Buddhism? It comes from this erroneous idea of a "God within us all."

• Since God is unknowable (as are miracles), the Bible cannot be held as historically accurate. We cannot consider Christ as God, or give credence to miracles. 

• Dogmas are taught to be subject to evolution from one meaning to another. As man's religious feelings evolve, so must dogma.  Dogma evolves into whatever accommodates the needs of the current culture. 

• "Same name, different meaning." When Modernists talk about Traditional doctrine, they affirm it with a different meaning so they sound orthodox while remaining heretics. When they profess, for example, "Our faith is based upon the Resurrection of Jesus Christ;" it could mean His physical and historical Resurrection as the Church teaches, or simply a symbolic story which was invented by the first Christians to promote faith in Christ who rose only in the mind of His believers.

• Catholic dogma is but a common consciousness of the believers. Thus, prompted by this "common consciousness," the believers came together in a society [Church] to formulate and systematize its beliefs. This (according to the Modernists) is how the Magisterium of the Church began.

How Did Modernism Originate?

•  It has its roots in the Protestant Revolt ("Reformation"). It made people the sole arbiter of Truth through private interpretation of Scripture. Protestants jettisoned the need for a Magisterium. 

• It continued through the exaltation of the individual during the so-called "Enlightenment." It exalted the individual and skepticism. 

• Infected with these false notions, through curiosity and pride (curious to know what is condemned and prideful that they are not like others--they know better than the Church), some theologians began trying to undermine the Church from within. "I hate arrogance and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue." - Proverbs 8:13.

• These theologians (e.g. Loisy and Tyrrell) had their teachings condemned and were excommunicated. Many others were censured over the years (e.g., Kung, Rahner, Roncalli, etc.). As hard as he tried, Pope St. Pius X drove the Modernists underground, but never extirpated them. 

Remedies Against Modernism

• Study Scholastic philosophy, especially the principles of St. Thomas Aquinas. All seminarians must be given a sound formation in philosophy, and the approved theologians. Prayer and mortification are necessary. 

• Exclude from positions of power anyone who does not demonstrate a love of Aquinas and a hatred of novelty. Those sympathetic to Modernism, even if not Modernists themselves, must be purged. 

• Books and writings that are sympathetic or supportive of Modernism must be banned and refuted.

• Those suspect of Modernism must be investigated, and if guilty, removed from all authority. 

Modernism and the Vatican II sect

• Worship. "Mass" is a four letter word not to be used. The "liturgy" or "celebration of the Eucharist (sic)" is not about the worship of God, but the entertainment of the people. The "assembly" must do everything, because there is no supernatural priestly order. Hold hands around a table, sing profane, banal songs, and have a touchy-feely "homily" about how "God loves us no matter what we do." Transubstantiation is a myth. The people stand (usually dressed like slobs or immodestly), while a layman or laywoman ("laytransgenders" can't be far behind) holds up the cracker and says "The Body of Christ." The recipient says "Amen" because it only becomes a symbol of Christ for us by consent of the assembly who memorialize Jesus. The more or less blessed cracker is then placed in unconsecrated hands to be chewed like cud and the tabernacle has been replaced by a hole in the wall.

• The Sacraments. The sacraments are not visible signs of invisible graces instituted by the historical God-Man, Jesus Christ, but mere "expressions of faith" instituted by the "Christian community." In almost all cases, the primary and secondary effects of the sacraments have been inverted. Baptism is not about the remission of Original Sin and infusion of sanctifying grace. It is about "welcoming someone into the community of the People of God." The Eucharist is a memorial meal, not part of an Unbloody Sacrifice, and not the actual Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. Penance or Confession is now "Reconciliation,"where you get counseled by a glorified social worker ("priest") about being more "giving to the community" since offences against God are non-existent. Holy Matrimony is about the happiness of the couple first above all, and procreation is merely secondary (if considered at all). Holy Orders makes a man a "President of the Assembly." He is not in any way special or endowed with supernatural authority and power. Confirmation is having a "mature faith," not being a soldier for Christ. Extreme Unction is no longer to prepare the soul for Judgement (or restore bodily health, should God Will it), it's "Anointing of the Sick" for those who gather in the church with colds, headaches, and other maladies both mental and physical (the spiritual doesn't exist). 

• Morality. All morality is subjective. If God cannot be proven, and if Revelation is not possible, all moral actions are relative to the community in general, and can be overridden in almost all cases by the "conscience of the individual." Your personal happiness comes first, and whatever you "feel" is permissible is moral. In matters of sexuality, as long as "all parties consent," and "no one gets hurt," everything is allowed. Evils such as (but not limited to) birth control, euthanasia, divorce and remarriage, abortion, and homosexuality can all be condoned by a false notion of  "conscience." Dostoevsky said, "If God does not exist, everything is permitted." The same holds true if you hold to agnosticism and eschew the supernatural order. Morality "evolves." Soon, they will adopt Satanist Aleister Crowley's maxim, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law." 

• The Church. All paths lead to God. There is no One True Church, since all religions are the subconscious need for the Divine manifested in various ways. No religion is more true or better than any other.Vatican II teaches, "Human nature, by the very fact that it was assumed, not absorbed, in him [Christ], has been raised in us to a dignity beyond compare. For, by his incarnation, he, the Son of God, has in a certain way united himself with each man." (See Gaudium et Spes, para. #22; Emphasis mine). Wojtyla (John Paul II) builds on this heresy, "What we have just said must also be applied-although in another way and with the due differences-to activity for coming closer together with the representatives of the non-Christian religions, an activity expressed through dialogue, contacts, prayer in common, investigation of the treasures of human spirituality, in which, as we know well, the members of these religions also are not lacking." (See Redemptor Hominis, para. #6; Emphasis mine). This means that Christ is somehow truly "within" all people regardless of whether or not they belong to the Catholic Church. How can anyone be damned if they are "in a certain way" united to Christ? Answer: They can't because Hell and Purgatory do not exist.  Dogmas can and must change with the times. God is within, so we are all connected to Him in some pantheistic way, building even more on the heretical teaching of Vatican II. Eastern philosophy and religions are embraced and extolled. Do yoga, transcendental meditation, and reiki. One can be "absorbed by the Divine," and perhaps even be reincarnated.  

 Conclusion

Without exaggeration, Modernism is the cause of all the major problems in our sick world today. With the Church driven underground, morality and truth have been obscured to a degree not seen since the days of Noah. Atheism is the logical and final outcome of Modernism. Atheism is on the rise like never before; and the "New Atheists" are denigrating religion and making disciples. Even the Vatican II sect rag, The National Catholic Register, admits: "Surveys show that atheism is growing at an alarming rate across the globe. In a very short time, countries such as France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia will lose their Christian majorities to those who consider themselves atheists or 'religiously unaffiliated." (See http://www.ncregister.com/blog/guest-blogger/dawkins-is-wrong-the-fastest-growing-religion-is-atheism). 

The total rebellion against God is nearly complete. As Fr. Lemius states on page 119 of his Catechism:

"Q: Describe the gradual descent of the human mind to the denial of all religion?

A. The first step in this direction was taken by Protestantism; the second is made by Modernism; the next will plunge headlong into atheism."