The Four Temperaments---Choleric (Part I)

 

To My Readers: I have received several requests for posts on the subject of The Four Temperaments. This week's post is the sixth installment to this most important and interesting topic. I will follow-up with other posts so that by sometime in 2025, I will have concluded the series, and hopefully do some justice to presenting the Four Temperaments. 

I want to acknowledge that I take no credit for the posts on this topic. My primary sources will be from theologian Schagemann and his work entitled Manual of Self-Knowledge and Christian Perfection (1913).  Also, the work of theologian Hock The Four Temperaments (1934) will be used throughout this series of posts, with various other sources. I take absolutely no credit whatsoever for the content of this post (or the ones on this topic to follow). All I did was condense the material of these theologians into a terse post that hopefully will be advantageous for  those looking for information, but without time to read an entire book or two from the pre-Vatican II era on the subject.

God bless you all, my dear readers---Introibo

The Characteristics of the Choleric Temperament

The choleric person is quickly and vehemently excited by any and every influence. Immediately the reaction sets in and the impression remains a long time. The choleric man is a man of enthusiasm; he is not satisfied with the ordinary, but aspires after great and lofty things. He craves for great success in temporal affairs; he seeks large fortunes, a vast business, an elegant home, a distinguished reputation or a predominant position. He aspires to the highest also in matters spiritual; he is swayed with a consuming fire for holiness; he is filled with a yearning desire to make great sacrifices for God and his neighbor, to lead many souls to heaven.

The natural virtue of the choleric is ambition; his desire to excel and succeed despises the little and vulgar, and aspires to the noble and heroic. In his aspiration for great things the choleric is supported by:

1. A keen intellect. The choleric person is not always, but usually endowed with considerable intelligence. He is a man of reason while his imagination and his emotions are poor and stunted. It is said that Julius Caesar was able to dictate different letters to several secretaries at the same time without losing the line of thought for each dictation.

2. A strong will. He is not frightened by difficulties, but in case of obstacles shows his energy so much the more and perseveres also under great difficulties until he has reached his goal. Pusillanimity or despondency the choleric does not know. Hamilcar of Carthage in North Africa took his son Hannibal to the altar of their god and made him swear eternal hatred for Rome, their implacable enemy. Later, Hannibal assembled a complete army and elephants and led them through Spain, over the Pyrenees, through Southern France and over the Alps into Italy, a feat never equaled before or after, and came very close to conquering and destroying Rome.

3. Strong passions. The choleric is very passionate. Whenever the choleric is bent upon carrying out his plans or finds opposition, he is filled with passionate excitement. All dictators, old and new, are proof of this statement.

4. An often times subconscious impulse to dominate others and make them subservient. The choleric is made to rule. He feels happy when he is in a position to command, to draw others to him, and to organize large groups. A very great impediment for the choleric in his yearning for great things is his imprudent haste. The choleric is immediately and totally absorbed by the aim he has in mind and rushes for his goal with great haste and impetuosity; he considers but too little whether he can really reach his goal.

A high Nazi official told a former chum, (later a priest): "We cannot back out; we have gone too

far."

He sees only one road, the one he in his impetuosity has taken without sufficient consideration, and he does not notice that by another road he could reach his goal more easily. If great obstacles meet him he, because of his pride, can hardly make up his mind to turn back, but instead he continues with great obstinacy on the original course. He dashes his head against the wall rather than take notice of the door which is right near and wide open. By this imprudence the choleric wastes a great deal of his energy which could be used to better advantage, and he disgusts his friends, so that finally he stands almost alone and is disliked by most people. He deprives himself of his best successes, even though he will not admit that he himself is the main cause of his failures. He shows the same imprudence in selecting the means for the pursuit of perfection, so that in spite of great efforts he does not acquire it. The choleric can safeguard himself from this danger only by willing and humble submission to a spiritual director.

The Dark Side of the Choleric Temperament

Pride which shows itself in the following instances:

a) The choleric is full of himself. He has a great opinion of his good qualities and his successful work and considers himself as something extraordinary and as one called upon to perform great feats. He considers even his very defects as being justified, nay, as something great and worthy of praise; for instance, his pride, his obstinacy, his anger. The Italian dictator Mussolini had himself called 'II Duce,' the Leader. Adolf Hitler followed his example by assuming the title: 'Der Fuehrer,' The Leader.

b) The choleric is very stubborn and opinionated. He thinks he is always right, wants to have the last word, tolerates no contradiction, and is never willing to give in. The Russian dictator Stalin brooked no opposition. A friend of his, during a drinking bout, voiced his disagreement with Stalin's opinion. Fearing for his safety some of his friends approached Stalin the next day to excuse their friend on the ground of having been drunk. Stalin coolly told them that their intervention came too late.

c) The choleric has a great deal of self-confidence. He relies too much upon his own knowledge and ability. He refuses the help of others and prefers to work alone, partly because he does not like to ask for help, partly because he believes that he is himself more capable than others and is sure to succeed without the help of others. Hitler relied on his 'hunches' in his war against Russia despite the advice of his generals, convinced that he knew better. He lost the war and everything. It is not easy to convince the choleric that he is in need of God's help even in little things. Therefore he dislikes to ask God's help and prefers to combat even strong temptations by his own strength. Because of this self-confidence in spiritual life the choleric often falls into many and grievous sins. This trait is one of the main reasons why so many cholerics do not acquire sanctityin spite of great efforts. They are infected to a great extent with the pride of Lucifer. They act as if perfection and Heaven were not in the first place due to grace but to their own efforts.

d) The choleric despises his fellow man. To his mind others are ignorant, weak, unskilled, slow, at least when compared with himself. He shows his contempt of his neighbor by despising, mocking, making belittling remarks about others and by his proud behavior toward those around him, especially toward his subjects. A Russian general, asked what he would do if his soldiers came to a mine field, responded that he would order a company of soldiers across it. The fact that he would sacrifice the lives of these soldiers meant nothing to him. (General Eisenhower).

e) The choleric is domineering and inordinately ambitious. He wants to hold the first place, to be admired by others, to subject others to himself. He belittles, combats, even persecutes by unfair means those who dare to oppose his ambition. Julius Caesar said that he would rather be the first in the smallest Alpine village than the second in Rome. Alexander the Great, considered one of the greatest generals of all time, was found by a friend of his one clear night looking at the stars and weeping. Asked why he wept he said: "See those thousands of stars in the sky to be conquered, and I cannot even conquer this world of ours."

f) The choleric feels deeply hurt when he is humiliated or put to shame. Even the recollection of his sins fills him with great displeasure because these sins give him a lower opinion of himself. In his disgust over his sins he may even defy God Himself.

2. Anger. The choleric is vehemently excited by contradiction, resistance, and personal offenses. This excitement manifests itself in harsh words which may seem very decent and polite as far as phrasing is concerned, but hurt to the core by the tone in which they are spoken. Nobody can hurt his fellow man with a few words more bitterly than a choleric person. Things are made even worse by the fact that the choleric in his angry impetuosity makes false and exaggerated reproaches, and may go so far in his passion, as to misconstrue the intentions and to pervert the words of those who irritated him, thus, blaming with the sharpest of expressions, faults which in reality were not committed at all. By such injustice, which the choleric inflicts in his anger upon his neighbor he can offend and alienate even his best friends.

The choleric may even indulge in furious outbursts of anger. His anger easily degenerates into hatred. Grievous offenses he cannot forget. In his anger and pride he permits himself to be drawn to actions which he knows will be very detrimental to himself and to others; for instance, ruin of his health, his work, his fortune, loss of his position, and complete rupture with intimate friends. By reason of his pride and anger he may totally ignore and cast aside the very plans for the realization of which he has worked for years. P. Schram says: "The choleric prefers to die rather than to humble himself."

3. Deceit, disguise and hypocrisy. As noble and magnanimous as the choleric is by nature, the tendency to pride and self-will may lead him to the lowest of vices, deceit and hypocrisy. He practices deceit, because he is in no way willing to concede that he succumbed to a weakness and suffered a defeat. He uses hypocrisy, deception, and even outright lies, if he realizes that he cannot carry out his plans by force. For the true Communist everything that will help his cause is right and just: he makes and breaks treaties and promises; robbery and lies and murder are considered justified if done for the Party and the Cause, without consideration of the cost in human suffering.

4. Lack of sympathy. The choleric, as said above, is a man of reason. He has two heads but no heart.

Wars, torture, concentration camps, the death of millions of people meant nothing to modern dictators like Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, and their like. This lack of human sentiment and sympathy is, in a way, of great advantage to him. He does not find it hard to be deprived of sensible consolations in prayer and to remain a long time in spiritual aridity. Effeminate, sentimental dispositions are repugnant to him; he hates the caresses and sentimentality which arise between intimate friends. False sympathy cannot influence him to neglect his duties or abandon his principles. On the other hand, this lack of sympathy has its great disadvantages. The choleric can be extremely hard, heartless, even cruel in regard to the sufferings of others. He can cold-bloodedly trample upon the welfare of others, if he cannot otherwise reach his goal. Choleric superiors should examine their conscience daily, to discover

whether they have not shown a lack of sympathy toward their subjects, especially if these are sickly, less talented, fatigued, or elderly.

Conclusion

This concludes the first part of understanding the choleric temperament according to the theologians.

 

The next installment will discuss the "bright side" of the choleric, and how those with such temperament should self-train for spiritual advancement. 

Contending For The Faith---Part 35

 

In St. Jude 1:3, we read, "Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." [Emphasis mine]. Contending For The Faith is a series of posts dedicated to apologetics (i.e.,  the intellectual defense of the truth of the Traditional Catholic Faith) to be published the first Monday of each month.  This is the next installment.

Sadly, in this time of Great Apostasy, the faith is under attack like never before, and many Traditionalists don't know their faith well enough to defend it. Remember the words of our first pope, "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." (1Peter 3:16). There are five (5) categories of attacks that will be dealt with in these posts. Attacks against:

• The existence and attributes of God
• The truth of the One True Church established by Christ for the salvation of all 
• The truth of a particular dogma or doctrine of the Church
• The truth of Catholic moral teaching
• The truth of the sedevacantist position as the only Catholic solution to what has happened since Vatican II 

In addition, controversial topics touching on the Faith will sometimes be featured, so that the problem and possible solutions may be better understood. If anyone had suggestions for topics that would fall into any of these categories, you may post them in the comments. I cannot guarantee a post on each one, but each will be carefully considered.

What You Need to Know About Dr. Jordan Peterson

This past April, a colleague of my wife gave her two tickets to see the enigmatic Dr. Jordan Peterson at Radio City Music Hall. Peterson's website has this to say:

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson is an author, psychologist, online educator, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto. The Jordan B Peterson podcast frequently tops the charts in the Education category. He has written three books, Maps of Meaning, an academic work, presenting a new scientifically-grounded theory of religious and political belief, and the bestselling 12 Rules for Life, and Beyond Order, which have sold more than seven million copies.

With his wife, Tammy, Dr. Peterson’s international lecture tours have sold out more than 400 venues, providing live insight into the structure of mythology and narrative to hundreds of thousands of people.

For twenty years, he taught some of the most highly regarded courses at Harvard and the University of Toronto, while publishing more than a hundred well-cited scientific papers with his students and co-authors.

Dr. Peterson’s online programs, selfauthoring.com and understandmyself.com have helped tens of thousands of people inquire deeply into the structure of their personalities, develop a vision for their future, and sort out the details of their pasts. He maintained an active clinical and consulting practice during this period, helping individuals across the full spectrum of ability and temperament deal with the complexities of their lives and situations.

In conjunction with the Daily Wire Plus, Dr. Peterson recently led and released a 17-part seminar on the biblical book of Exodus, as the continuation of his critically and publicly acclaimed lectures on Genesis.

Peterson, a top-tier academic, became famous nine years ago for his opposition to Canadian Bill C-16, which was passed in 2017. The bill was meant to give special protection to mentally disturbed "trans" people.  As a university professor, he was accused of  hate speech by a "trans student" as he repeatedly refused to use "preferred pronouns." He argues that the requirement to use “made up words” as pronouns is equivalent to “compelled speech.” He has also criticized the notion of the patriarchy, identity politics, white privilege, and the gender pay gap. This made him a darling of conservatives.

His wife developed a very rare form of cancer, and against all odds, she beat it. During her sickness she prayed the Rosary and converted to the Vatican II sect. Dr. Peterson does not commit to believing in any religion. He once stated, "I don't know if God exists, but I'm afraid He might." 

His speaking tour was a promotion for his book, We Who Wrestle With God, released on November 19, 2024. Here's what the publisher says about the book:

In We Who Wrestle with God, Dr. Peterson guides us through the ancient, foundational stories of the Western world. In riveting detail, he analyzes the Biblical accounts of rebellion, sacrifice, suffering, and triumph that stabilize, inspire, and unite us culturally and psychologically. Adam and Eve and the eternal fall of mankind; the resentful and ultimately murderous war of Cain and Abel; the cataclysmic flood of Noah; the spectacular collapse of the Tower of Babel; Abraham’s terrible adventure; and the epic of Moses and the Israelites.  What could such stories possibly mean? What force wrote and assembled them over the long centuries? How did they bring our spirits and the world together, and point us in the same direction?  

It is time for us to understand such things, scientifically and spiritually; to become conscious of the structure of our souls and our societies; and to see ourselves and others as if for the first time.   Join Elijah as he discovers the Voice of God in the dictates of his own conscience and Jonah confronting hell itself in the belly of the whale because he failed to listen and act. Set yourself straight in intent, aim, and purpose as you begin to more deeply understand the structure of your society and your soul. Journey with Dr. Peterson through the greatest stories ever told.  

Dare to wrestle with God.

My wife was fascinated by Peterson, and his brave stand against many of the WOKE issues. We went, and the seats were right up in front, close to where the doctor would be speaking.  I was amazed at the number of young men coming in, almost all of whom were wearing suits. Many of the women were wearing fashionable dresses one would expect to see at a formal dinner. Sitting over in the section next to us were three Vatican II sect "priests." (They were talking about "Pope" Francis as they were coming in, and about how Dr. Peterson inspired them). Two of them looked to be in their 40s and were wearing their clerical garb and Roman collars. One was in his 70s and was dressed like a slob. 

Dr. Peterson came out exactly on time. The stage had props to make it seem like you were hanging out with him in his living room. The doctor (b. 1962) was impeccably dressed and looks very distinguished in person. He paced back and forth in front of the stage and performed a ninety minute soliloquy about the ideas contained in the Bible. He used no notes, made direct eye contact with audience members, no teleprompter, and would often speak thinking with his eyes closed. He held the audiences attention the whole time before taking his bow, and leaving to a standing ovation. 

Peterson is one of the most gifted public speakers I have seen. Were he a lawyer, his oratorical prowess would put him in the top 1% of the profession. As I was listening to him (and after reading his 500 plus page book in late autumn) it becomes obvious that Dr. Jordan Peterson draws his ideas from two people: Paul Tillich, and Carl Jung. (N.B. I have culled much information about Peterson from many sources both online as well as books. In addition to reading his book and attending his tour, a great amount of my information comes from a plethora of sources, too numerous to mention. What follows is not my original work, but a compilation of sources that together will give a terse and concise exposition of the dangers inherent in Jordan Peterson's works. ---Introibo). 

Jordan Peterson: Ideas from Dangerous Ideologies

Peterson is commendable for standing strong against "trans-insanity" and the PC/Woke agenda. However, I wince when I see clergy going to his book tour and trying to learn "theological truths" from this man. It's another indication of the sorry state of affairs that is the Vatican II sect. To understand his "profound insights" as his fans call his ideas, you must understand from whence they originate.

Paul Tillich (1886-1965)

Paul Tillich was  a Lutheran minister and philosopher. His first wife committed adultery and bore a child fathered by her lover. She promptly divorced Tillich. He met Hannah Werner-Gottschow, a married woman who was pregnant, and convinced her to leave her husband and marry him in 1924. They had an "open marriage" whereby each could have lovers, but they remain living together. They stayed together this way. 

Tillich belongs to that liberal school of Protestantism that dissolves dogmas into vague religious experiences. Tillich is convinced that God is not discovered through rational reflection on the cosmos. Discursive reason for him never arrives at God. That is why natural theology is a sterile occupation. There is no dialectical ladder reaching from earth to Heaven, from man to God.

Rational, discursive, supernatural, historically accurate, object-like awareness of God is simply beyond man’s powers. Thus, for Tillich, belief in God is brought down from a level of superior knowledge by the light of faith to the natural level of normal knowledge by concern for moral seriousness. God and faith are the fruit of crisis situations.

Tillich calls God, "the ground of Being," whatever that means. He is a "death of God" theologian for which God is not personal. When you become aware of the ground of being in your personal experience, Tillich calls this the "New Being." Now, the New Being is attained in Jesus. However, Tillich places the true message of the New Being not in humanity's unquestioning acceptance of the New Testament as the historical Word of God but in Man’s acceptance of the symbolic meaning of the historical Jesus, who merely manifests in Himself, or is the occasion for, the manifestation of the New Being in other people. 

In de-supernaturalizing the New Testament and accommodating its message to man’s problematic, existential, modern situation, Tillich drained Christian mysteries of their divine substance, secularizing them all along the line. In his hands, belief in God and Christ, as handed down by thousands of years of Judeo-Christian written and living tradition, is evacuated of all historical, supernatural substance or content. Man’s fall is diluted to mean his creatureliness; sin, the mystery of iniquity, the offense against the infinitely good God is attenuated to mean merely existential estrangement.

All the classic, traditional truths — creation, the Fall, Reconciliation, Salvation, the Cross, the Resurrection, the Kingdom of God, the Trinity — all of them are mere symbols. They have permanent value, and Tillich would hate to part with them, but they must all undergo radical reinterpretation if they are to become acceptable to the modern world. (See Paul Tillich, Ultimate Concern, [1965]).

Carl Jung (1875-1961)

Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychoanalyst who abandoned the Lutheran sect of his parents for the occult. Jung’s entire life and work were motivated by his hatred of Catholicism, the Faith and Morals of which he considered to be the source of all the neuroses in the world.  Jung’s mentor was psychoanalyst Otto Gross (1877-1920). He was particularly drawn to Gross's ideas about the "life-enhancing value of eroticism" and his concept of "free love." Jung wrote with approval of Gross’s use of sex orgies to promote pagan spirituality, as he did when he wrote: "The existence of a phallic or orgiastic cult does not indicate eo ipso a particularly lascivious life any more than the ascetic symbolism of Christianity means an especially moral life." Jung, absorbed by eroticism and entranced by the occult, sought to provide a holy merger of the two, which is now popularly know as "Jungianism". In 1912, at the age of 37,  he declared that he could no longer be a Christian, and that only the "new" science of psychoanalysis—as he defined it through "Jungianism"—could offer personal and societal rebirth. 

 Many of the apostate clergy in the wake of Vatican II became disciples of Jung, and were eager to spread his errors. As a result, Jungianism has become a great money-maker in the Vatican II sect, by promoting books and seminars on such topics as "analysis of dreams," "archetypes," "Enneagram personality types," and "discovering the god within you."  God, for Jungians, must be both male and female--incorporating the Eastern pagan notion of "ying and yang." The Mass is a "communal celebration" (sound familiar?) and the Real Presence in the Eucharist is denied since we all have "god within," a form of pantheism. According to Robert Noll's book, The Jung Cult, "...for literally tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of individuals in our culture, Jung and his ideas are the basis of a personal religion that either supplants their participation in traditional organized Judeo-Christian religion or accompanies it."  

Jordan Peterson's Fake Christianity

Based on Tillich and Jung, you will be able to see how Peterson's ideas are far from "new," "conservative," or "Christian." 

Peterson: Jesus is an "Archetype" of a Hero

Jordan Peterson frequently describes Jesus as a powerful archetypal figure within the broader human story of meaning, struggle, and redemption. Drawing heavily from Carl Jung’s psychological theories and the concept of the hero’s journey, Peterson interprets Jesus as the ultimate example of an individual who faces suffering, confronts chaos, and emerges victorious. In this framework, Jesus’ life and death are seen as symbolic representations of the universal human experience of confronting one’s fears, accepting responsibility, and bearing the weight of existence. Peterson views the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as profound metaphors for the psychological processes of transformation and renewal. He argues that, just as Jesus takes up His cross and suffers for the sins of the world, individuals must also face their personal suffering, bear responsibility, and find meaning in the midst of chaos.

Jesus is a mere man in Peterson's philosophical theology.

Peterson: God is an "Archetype:"

In Peterson’s framework, God is often described as an archetype—a powerful symbolic representation of the highest human ideals and moral values. Drawing from the psychological theories of Carl Jung, Peterson views God as an image that represents order, meaning, and the ultimate good. In this sense, God is not necessarily a personal being or a transcendent Creator, but rather a conceptual framework that helps people organize their lives, find meaning in suffering, and strive for higher moral standards.

 Peterson frequently refers to biblical stories as archetypal narratives that convey profound psychological truths. For example, he interprets the story of Adam and Eve as a symbolic exploration of human consciousness and moral responsibility rather than a literal account of humanity’s origins. Similarly, he views the crucifixion of Christ as a powerful metaphor for the necessity of accepting suffering and taking responsibility in the face of chaos. While Peterson acknowledges the deep cultural and psychological significance of the biblical God, he stops short of affirming the Christian doctrine of God as a personal, omnipotent, and transcendent being who is actively involved in human history. For Peterson, God is more of a guiding principle—a symbolic representation of the highest possible good that individuals should strive to emulate.

Peterson: Morality as Pragmatism and leading to Relativism:

One of the key ethical errors in Peterson’s framework is his reliance on pragmatism as a basis for moral reasoning. Pragmatism emphasizes the outcomes of actions and how they help individuals or societies navigate life’s chaos. While practical considerations are certainly important, the problem arises when pragmatism becomes the primary or sole criterion for determining what is right or wrong. In Peterson’s framework, actions are often judged based on their utility—whether they help individuals assume responsibility, create order, or manage suffering—rather than on intrinsic moral principles.

Peterson often speaks about the psychological benefits of living truthfully, acting responsibly, and confronting challenges head-on. While these behaviors are undeniably valuable, his justification for them is often framed in pragmatic terms: they help the individual thrive, maintain stability, and avoid chaos. This approach risks reducing morality to a function of personal and societal well-being, with little regard for absolute moral truths or principles that transcend mere utility.

While pragmatism can guide practical decisions, it cannot serve as a sufficient foundation for ethics. Morality is about more than just what works or what achieves certain outcomes; it is also about what is intrinsically right or wrong, regardless of the consequences. A purely pragmatic ethic runs the risk of endorsing morally questionable behaviors if they yield desirable results, leading to moral relativism. This undermines the objective moral standards of God, and even leads to a complete rejection of the Ten Commandments.

Conclusion

Dr. Jordan Peterson is a dynamic speaker who writes well. He has taken morally correct stances against PC/Woke nonsense. Yet, many are taken in by him as some sort of "Christian guru." Peterson peddles the "God as symbolic" teachings of Paul Tillich, and the occultic psychobabble of Carl Jung with his "archetypes." 

Don't waste your time or money on Peterson's books. The next time your hear some Vatican II sect "priest" spouting nonsense about Christian truths being "metaphors of a truth we experience," he may very well have been reading Dr. Jordan Peterson.

Are Fatima And La Salette Of Demonic Origin?

 

Recently, a friend of mine sent me a letter that was published on a R&R website. The author of the letter contends that the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima and at La Salette were "works of the devil." I don't know if the accusations in the letter were ever answered, but I thought it would be prudent for me to reiterate the Church's teaching on apparitions, and where the author of the letter gets it all wrong. 

Any regular reader of my blog knows that I am someone who does not give apparitions undue credence in the spiritual life. The faith is taught to us by the Church and we should base what we believe on Her teachings as properly understood. Reading the approved theologians will do more for you to understand the Faith than trying to discern the alleged sayings of an approved apparition. 

Nevertheless, the letter was so blasphemous and fraught with errors, I felt compelled to make this response.

The Approved Apparitions of Mary

Only the following Marian apparitions have Church approval pre-Vatican II (there is currently no authority to pass judgement during the Great Apostasy), and notice how few there are; only ten (10):

1. Our Lady of Guadalupe (took place 1531; approved 1555)
2. Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (took place 1830; approved 1837)
3. Our Lady of LaSalette (took place 1846; approved 1851)
4. Our Lady of Lourdes (took place 1858; approved 1862)
5. Our Lady of Knock (took place 1879; approved 1879)
6. Our Lady of Fatima (took place 1917; approved 1930 by the local bishop and in 1940 by Pope Pius XII)
7. Our Lady of the Good Event aka Our Lady of Quito (took place 1594-1634; approved 1611 while still taking place)
8. Our Lady of Hope (took place 1871; approved 1872)
9. Our Lady of Beauraing (took place 1932-1933; approved 1949)
10. Our Lady of Banneux (took place 1933; approved 1949)

There are seven cases where the Holy See and local Ordinary have not pronounced directly on the supernatural character of the apparition, yet have implicitly attested to their veracity by approving the public religious activity inspired by the apparition and/or authorizing liturgical veneration:

1. Our Lady of the Pillar (took place 40 AD while Mary was still alive; considered the first Marian apparition wherein Our Blessed Mother assisted the Apostle St. James the Greater)
2. Our Lady of Walsingham (took place 1061)
3. Our Lady of Mount Carmel (took place 1251)
4. Our Lady of the Watch (took place 1490)
5. Our Lady of Siluva (took place 1608)
6. Our Lady of Pellevoisin (took place 1876)
7. Our Lady of Zion (took place 1842)

Holy Mother Church has only given approval to 17 apparitions out of the countless millions reported to the Vatican.  I have frequently wrote against those I label "Apparitionists:" They are people who exalt private revelations and apparitions whether approved by the Church (such as Our Lady of Fatima) or not (such as Our Lady of the Roses) over the teaching of the Church. They obsess over the alleged "true meanings" of messages (as if salvation depended on them), or even accept them to the exclusion of authentic Church doctrines in some area(s). The late "Fr." Gruner falls squarely in this category.

Personally, I don't think Traditionalists should concern themselves over private revelations. To make the terminology clear, "private revelation" has nothing to do with the number of persons that claim to have seen and/or experienced something. "Public Revelation" refers to the Divine Deposit of Revelation given to the Church for all human beings to believe, so that they may be saved. Public Revelation ended with the death of the last Apostle, St. John, in 100 AD. Private revelation refers to all communication by God (directly or indirectly) with humans after Public Revelation ended. I can't stress strongly enough that no private revelation, including those deemed "worthy of belief" by the Church, need to be accepted by Catholics. You can reject any or all of the above Marian apparitions and you would not be a heretic, nor would you commit a sin.

This does not mean that private revelations are "useless." Obviously, if the Church approves something as worthy of belief, we can believe it without fear of sinning against faith or morals. God communicates to us for a reason. However, I refuse to get drawn into arguments over what a particular apparition or a particular revelation "really means." Moreover, it is by studying the approved theologians that we can learn the One True Faith and make our Catholic way the best we can through these most difficult times. To be certain, I believe in approved apparitions without making them the focus point of faith. I have devotion to Our Lady of Hope and Our Lady of Fatima. I wear the Five-fold Scapular, pray the Rosary daily, insert the "Fatima Prayer" at the end of each Rosary decade, and try to attend Mass every First Saturday of the month. These are great Catholic devotions all Traditionalists should try to maintain. I do not view "Consecrating Russia" as some panacea to the Great Apostasy. Nor will I quibble over specific sayings Our Lady is supposed to have said.

 The Criteria of the Church When Discerning Private Revelations

As explained by theologian Volksen in detail (See  Visions, Revelations, and the Church [1961] by theologian Volken) and reproduced by me here in outline form, some of the pertinent criteria in discerning private revelations are:

1. Every revelation must be rejected a priori if its context is opposed to Church teaching. In places where the Scripture speaks most explicitly of the discernment of spirits and where it urges Christians to "try the spirits if they be of God," it gives only one criterion which is of a doctrinal nature. "By this the spirit of God is known:every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: and every spirit that dissolveth Jesus is not of God." (1 John 4: 2-3). That must be understood as teaching that every private revelation which does not confess Christ as God, and in anyway derogates ("dissolveth") Him by rejecting the teaching of His One True Church, is not of God and must be rejected.

2. A medical examination of all seers should be had to determine physical and psychological soundness. If the seers are healthy in mind and body, this constitutes support for a favorable judgement. If it can be established that the seer(s) showed all the symptoms of hysteria or other mental illness when receiving the revelations, a favorable judgement cannot be reached.

3. The seers should have deep humility (not seeking self-glorification), be obedient to proper ecclesiastical authority, and have fortitude. Fortitude is necessary, as the seer(s) will be pressured to recant and in many cases persecuted/threatened (e.g., St. Bernadette and the three children of Fatima). While they need not be saints, they should display innocence and piety.

4. The revelations must be of a serious nature and not frivolous or overly concerned with mundane things.

5. Any indication of natural explanations and/or fraud must be ruled out to allow for a supernatural character.

The Charges Leveled Against Fatima

 I will reproduce the letter exactly as it was sent to me, but in parts, so I may respond to the accusations. The letter will appear in red font. My response below it will be in black font. 

Holy Bible - Saint John 5:43 - I am come in the name of my Father, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.

Church approval of apparitions is not infallible.

Reply: The use of St. John 5:43 is disingenuous. The Blessed Mother never comes in her own name, and Fatima is not of Satanic origin. Sounding like Feeneyites,-- "It's not infallible!"-- the fact remains that Pope Pius XII, a true pope, approved Fatima as "worthy of belief" in 1940. Such approval is not ex cathedra and, as I stated above, no one is required to believe in any private revelation--even those with papal approval. You can deny Fatima without committing sin. However, to ascribe demonic origin to an apparition with papal approval is blasphemous.

If something comes from Satan, it must be (in whole or in part) heretical, evil, or both. The ultimate goal of the devil is to deceive the faithful and to lead souls to Hell.  If the pope says a private revelation is from God, it cannot be demonic in origin. Pope Leo XIII teaches:

" In defining the limits of the obedience owed to the pastors of souls, but most of all to the authority of the Roman Pontiff, it must not be supposed that it is only to be yielded in relation to dogmas of which the obstinate denial cannot be disjoined from the crime of heresy. Nay, further, it is not enough sincerely and firmly to assent to doctrines which, though not defined by any solemn pronouncement of the Church, are by her proposed to belief, as divinely revealed, in her common and universal teaching, and which the [1870] Vatican Council declared are to be believed “with Catholic and divine faith.” But this likewise must be reckoned amongst the duties of Christians, that they allow themselves to be ruled and directed by the authority and leadership of bishops, and, above all, of the Apostolic See."

(See Sapientiae Christianae, para. #24; Emphasis mine). 

In following the pope's approbation, one can be certain he is acting correctly without fear of evil or heresy. If the purpose of "demonic Fatima" is to damn souls (which can be the only goal for which the devil works), the Holy Ghost would prevent the Holy Father from approving it. Therefore, Fatima is NOT of demonic origin--and that is certain. That should end it, but the reasons advanced against Fatima need to be answered.

The false apparitions of the devil in in Fatima, Portugal.

1) An angel cannot administer Holy Communion.

From the Roman Catechism / Catechism of Pope St.Pius V:

PART II : THE SACRAMENTS.

The Ministers of the Sacraments.

But although God is the author and dispenser of the Sacraments, He nevertheless willed that they should be administered in His Church by men, not by Angels. To constitute a Sacrament, as the unbroken tradition of the Fathers testifies, matter and form are not more necessary than is the ministry of men.

Reply: Again, like the R&R and Feeneyites, a part of a Catechism is twisted out of context. As the writer is no doubt R&R (as he is sending his missive to an R&R website), most people in the R&R and Vatican II sect think of a "minister" of a sacrament as the local janitor who calls himself the "Eucharistic Minister" and hands out the Novus Bogus cracker. In the Roman Catechism (i.e., The Catechism of the Council of Trent), the "minister of the sacrament" is the one capable of confecting the sacrament. 

For any sacrament to be valid there must be (a) proper minister, (b) proper matter, (c) proper form, (d) proper intention of the minister, and (e) no obex (invalidating impediment) on the part of the recipient.

Right below the section the author cites, the Catechism makes clear, "Since the ministers of the sacraments represent in the discharge of their sacred functions, not their own, but the Person of Christ, be they good or bad, they validly perform and confer the Sacraments, provided they make use of the matter and form always observed in the Catholic Church according to the institution of Christ, and provided they intend to do what the Church does in their administration." (pg. 155)

Christ made men priests, not angels. Priests confect the Holy Eucharist, not angels. However, angels can bring the Eucharist to people in extraordinary circumstances. Many saints have had angels bring them Communion. Here's but one account correctly noted from a Vatican II sect website:

"St. Pascal Baylon was a Franciscan lay brother who lived in 16th century Spain.  As a young adolescent, he looked after his father’s sheep on the mountainside.  While there he could not attend Holy Mass, something he loved to do as he longed to receive Jesus in the Eucharist.  From where he was with the sheep he could hear the bell ring during Mass and this meant it was the time of the consecration of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus.  Pascal would then fall on his knees in adoration knowing that Jesus in the Sacred Host was being elevated for the congregation to adore. The young man had an ardent love of the Eucharist, and when he was able, he would spend hours on his knees before the tabernacle.  God was aware of the great love that Pascal had for Him.

During those times when his work prevented him from attending at Mass, the Lord sent an angel to give him Holy Communion." (See https://www.myfirstholycommunion.com/portfolio-view/angels/).

Therefore, there is nothing against the faith about the Fatima children receiving Holy Communion from an angel.  

2) Who gave the falsely claimed to be an angel a consecrated host and consecrated chalice?

No Angel can do a consecration.

Reply: In no account I've ever read is it claimed the angel CONSECRATED the Host. He adored a Host already consecrated (perhaps by a priest or by Christ Himself). 

3) Francisco and Jacinta had not received their first Holy Communion nor prepared for it.

The Parish Priest could not be bypassed.

Were they three in a state of sanctifying grace before receiving the false holy communion, which was without any notice? Did they need to go to Confession?

Reply: Who says, "the parish priest cannot be bypassed"? Like Home Aloners who feel every provision of every Canon must be observed even when impossible--this is mere discipline. God can certainly bypass a parish priest. "Did they need to go to Confession?" it is asked. If God allowed them  to receive Holy Communion, we can be sure they were not burdened by mortal sin. 

True apparitions are rare supernatural events, so why be surprised if they come with other supernatural acts by God?

 4) The fasting law of the Church before reception of Holy Communion was to fast from midnight before receiving Holy Communion under pain of mortal sin.

Did they not eat anything from midnight? Did their parents send them starving to do their work? On a previous occasion they ate in the morning and went out.

Reply: God is expected by the writer to be bound by His ecclesiastical law such that He can't make an exception to it. Pope Pius XII mitigated the Eucharistic Fast to three hours in 1957. When in danger of death, Holy Viaticum can be received without any fast. So God made an exception for the children of Fatima.

5) Holy Communion could only be administered in the form of bread and not in the form of wine because that is what was mandated by the Church.

Lucia received the falsely claimed to be holy communion in the form of bread. Francisco and Jacinta received the falsely claimed to be holy communion in the form of wine.

Reply: Merely disciplinary. Christ is received whole and entire under either Species. According to theologian Ott, "The Whole Christ is present under each of the two Species." (See Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, [1955], pg. 385). 

6) Francisco did not know what he received.

Only Francisco, not having heard the angel, had a question to ask. "Lucia," he said, "I know the angel gave you Holy Communion, but what was it that he gave to Jacinta and me? "That was Communion, too, Francisco. Didn't you see the blood that dropped into the chalice from the Host?"

Reply: In the Eastern Rites, babies receive baptism, first Communion, and Confirmation all at once. Confirmation is more commonly referred to as Chrismation. A golden spoon pours a couple of drops of the Precious Blood on the tongue of the newly baptized infant to swallow. He receives First Communion, even though he obviously doesn't know it and will not remember it. Why did God or the Blessed Mother not teach the children of Fatima about Holy Communion before they received It? Who knows? However, it doesn't go against faith or morals in the least.

7) To administer Holy Communion licitly in the Roman Rite the Rite to administer Holy Communion had to be used.

Only the Pope has the authority from GOD to create a new rite for the administering of Sacraments.

The Council of Trent, "Canon 13. If anyone says that the received and approved rites of the Catholic Church, accustomed to be used in the administration of the sacraments, may be despised or omitted by the ministers without sin and at their pleasure, or may be changed by any pastor of the churches to other new ones, let him be anathema."

Only these words could be said for the administering of Holy Communion:

Corpus Dómini nostri Iesu Christi custódiat ánimam tuam in vitam ætérnam. Amen.

The falsely claimed to be an angel said this before giving what was not Holy Communion: "Take and drink the body and blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Repair their crimes and console your God."

Reply: The Canon from Trent forbids the ministers (priests and bishops) to change Rites, not the pope who has authority from God. Yet, the writer would have us believe God Himself can't make an exception?

8) No Holy Communion Paten kept.

God protected Himself in the Eucharist from profanation, so no paten would be necessary in this case.

9) Father Manuel Marques Ferreira Parish Priest of Lucia after interrogations told Lucia that the visions were a deception from the devil and not Our Lady. Father Ferreira vehemently denied any possibility of the apparitions being true.

Reply: Father was a mere parish priest and the approval of Pope Pius XII overrules his judgement. 

10) Lucia was disobedient to her Parents and the Parish Priest.

GOD will never work through those who are disobedient. One of the biggest warning signs of a false apparition is if the purported visionaries are disobedient to the Church authorities.

Reply: This assertion has nothing to support it. These alleged instances are not enumerated and no details are given. Pope Pius XII had all the facts and did not find the children of Fatima to have been disobedient.

11) Our Lady who is GOD's most humblest child would never say that only she can help you. This is blasphemy to GOD. Saint John 2:5 His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.

Reply: That Mary has no power independent of God to save us, CONCEDED. God is telling us we must go through His Mother as the means He has chosen to save us. Her Rosary. Her scapular. All leading to God. 

12) This has to be confirmed:

De Almeida claimed to have witnessed the whole event, but Judah Ruah, standing next to him, said he saw nothing at all. When asked why, he replied, “because nothing strange happened to the sun. But when I saw all those people kneeling I understood something to be happening and so I photographed them instead.” – On October 13 1917.

Sun:

Spiritual beings may appear to do things miraculous in our eyes, is by what is called fascination or bewitching, which may be conceived possible in two different ways, either by making such impressions upon the organs of our senses, as if the real material object that naturally could make them were present and acting on them, or by taking upon themselves the outward appearances of the things which they wish to represent.

The devil can perform an appearance of a miracle. For example, in Exodus, Moses changes his staff into a snake before the Pharaoh and his court. Then the Pharaoh tells his priests to do the same. In the sight of all, the staff is changed into a snake by the pagan priest. How did this happen? It must be remembered that an angel can move at very high speed, faster than light itself, and so he can substitute, more quickly than our eyes can discern, one thing for something else. Consequently there was an appearance of a miracle done by the pagan priests, but not a true one.

Spiritual beings, both good and bad, have a very great power in acting upon our internal senses, by altering and moving the humours of the body, so as to raise many ideas in our imagination, and affections in our appetite, will not be called in question by any who profess the Christian religion.

Reply: Offering as "proof" something yet to be confirmed is far from "compelling." Pope Pius XII claimed to have seen the "Miracle of the Sun" no less than four times. According to the Fatima visionaries, Mary had said there would be a miracle October 13, 1917, so that people would come to believe. Thousands had gathered at the site of the visions, and the sun "danced," reportedly drying instantaneously the rain-soaked land and spectators. Pius XII wrote, "I have seen the 'miracle of the sun,' this is the pure truth." 

The papal note says that at 4 p.m. on Oct. 30, 1950, during his "habitual walk in the Vatican Gardens, reading and studying," having arrived to the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, "toward the top of the hill […] I was awestruck by a phenomenon that before now I had never seen."

"The sun, which was still quite high, looked like a pale, opaque sphere, entirely surrounded by a luminous circle,” he recounted. And one could look at the sun, "without the slightest bother. There was a very light little cloud in front of it."

The Holy Father’s note goes on to describe "the opaque sphere" that "moved outward slightly, either spinning, or moving from left to right and vice versa. But within the sphere, you could see marked movements with total clarity and without interruption." (See https://zenit.org/articles/pius-xii-saw-miracle-of-the-sun/)

As a priest, the future pope celebrated his First Mass on April 3, 1899, at the altar of the icon of The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title Salus Populi Romani in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Fr. Pacelli was consecrated a bishop the same day the Blessed Mother appeared at Fatima. As Pope, in 1940, he approved the Fatima apparitions as "worthy of belief," and in 1942, consecrated the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (I refuse to get bogged down in argumentation over the "true meanings" of private revelations, and therefore will not argue with those whom assert he should have specifically consecrated Russia, as was the hallmark of "Fr." Gruner). 

Divine revelation has already been given by GOD for His greater glory and the salvation of men. Nothing can be added nor taken away from it. GOD will not send any new "messages for the world".

'World "peace"' (false peace) is a freemasonic concept to bring in the Antichrist. Trying to make "peace", which is false peace, without being one with GOD through His Catholic Church.

1 Thessalonians 5

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord shall so come as a thief in the night.

3 For when they shall say: Peace and security; then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as the pains upon her that is with child, and they shall not escape.

6 Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do: but let us watch, and be sober.

GOD JESUS did not come to bring world peace.

Saint John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress. But have confidence. I have overcome the world.

Reply: That nothing can be added to the Divine Deposit of Revelation, CONCEDED. That God cannot communicate further with human beings to give them helps for salvation, DENIED. The Rosary and the Sacred Heart devotions are both products of private revelations. The message of Fatima is peace through Catholicism, not false "Bergoglian peace." 

The apparitions in La Salette were another work of the devil.

“She wept all the while she spoke to us,” said Maxim.

”How long have I suffered for you!”

This contradicts Divine Revelation.

Our Lady can never be sad. She can never cry nor suffer. She is one with GOD in Heaven in perfect happiness for eternity.

Apocalypse 21

3 And I heard a great voice from the throne, saying: Behold the tabernacle of God with men: and he will dwell with them. And they shall be his people: and God himself with them shall be their God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more. Nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away.

Reply: Mary was weeping, and seen in that state, to convey a powerful message. It is metaphorical not literal. Likewise, the Bible says of God how He had "regret" which is impossible for an omniscient and omnibenevolent Being; it implies wishing to have acted otherwise. 

It must be noted that the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office prohibited the so-called "Secret of La Salette" from being disseminated and discussed. It shows the vigilance of Holy Mother Church in protecting Her children. Here is the text of the Decree as published in 1915 with full approval of Pope Benedict XV:

"THE SUPREME SACRED CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY OFFICE DECREE CONCERNING THE COMMONLY CALLED "SECRET OF LA SALETTE."

It has come to the attention of this Supreme Congregation that certain ones are not lacking, even from among the ecclesiastic assemblage who, responses and decisions of this Holy Congregation itself having been disregarded, do proceed to discuss and examine through books, small works and articles edited in periodicals, whether signed or without a name, concerning the so-called Secret of La Salette, its diverse forms and its relevance to present and future times; and, this not only without permission of the Ordinaries, but, also against their ban. So that these abuses which oppose true piety and greatly wound ecclesiastical authority might be curbed, the same Sacred Congregation orders all the faithful of any region not to discuss or investigate under any pretext, neither through books, or little works or articles, whether signed or unsigned, or in any other way of any kind, about the mentioned subject. Whoever, indeed, violates this precept of the Holy Office, if they are priests, are deprived of all dignity and suspended by the local ordinary from hearing sacramental confessions and from offering Mass: and, if they are lay people, they are not permitted to the sacraments until they repent. Moreover, let people be subject to the sanctions given both by Pope Leo XIII through the Constitution of the offices and responsibilities against those who publish books dealing with religious things without legitimate permission of superiors and by Urban VIII through the decree "Sanctissimus Dominus Noster" given on 13th March 1625 against those who publish asserted revelations without the permission of ordinaries. However, this decree does not forbid devotion towards the Blessed Virgin under the title of Reconciliatrix commonly of La Salette. 

Given at Rome on 21st December, 1915. 

Aloisius Castellano, S. R. and U. I. Notary." 

From the Roman Catechism decreed by St. Pope Pius V:

Signs Of The General Judgment

• The Sacred Scriptures inform us that the general judgment will be preceded by these three principal signs: the preaching of the Gospel throughout the world, a falling away from the faith, and the coming of Antichrist.
• Gospel preached throughout the world. (St. Matthew 24:14)
• Apostasy (St. Luke 18:8) and Revolt (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
• Katechon taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7)
• Manifest reign of the Antichrist (Three and half years) (The False Prophet of the end times will be the main instrument of satan to bring in the Antichrist)
• Final Coming of GOD JESUS CHRIST who will kill the Antichrist, destroy the world by fire and conduct the General Judgment.
• The Kingdom of GOD in its full flight for eternity. The New Heaven and Earth, the Heavenly Jerusalem for the elect forever. The heavenly liturgy forever and ever. Greater than any liturgy on earth.

Eternal torments in the fires of hell for the reprobates forever and ever as long as GOD is GOD which is forever and ever and ever.

The Apostasy has been and is here and so is the revolt inside and outside of the Catholic Church. It has been and is there to see in plain sight. After the gospel going to the end of the world comes the only one apostasy. The gospel has gone to the ends of the world. The apostasy has been and continues to go on now. Sacrileges to the Most Holy Eucharist and all the other Sacraments are going on in a massive scale inside the Church. Most Catholics do not know the basic catechism. The revolt is here in plain sight to see. It is lawlessness inside and outside the Church to make way for the man of sin and lawlessness the Antichrist.

Reply: He doesn't see the Vatican II sect is not the Catholic Church. Not surprising after seeing his take on Fatima and La Salette. 

There is no earthly restoration after the apostasy in the end times. This is absolutely clear in Sacred Scripture and clearly taught by the Church through the Catechism of St. Pope Pius V. GOD JESUS CHRIST who is victory himself has kept the final victory that will take place personally for Him. His Final Coming is at hand. It is He who alone will restore His Kingdom which is His Catholic Church.

The false apparitions which so many are trapped in are contrary to Divine Revelation which is the only infallible source and are a huge deception which is to catch unawares of the coming of the Antichrist hoping for world “peace” for a period of time which is a false freemasonic concept.

Reply: That certain aspects of Fatima cannot be understood, CONCEDED. Yet, papal approval of an apparition does not mean every statement ascribed to it is true, or recorded accurately. I don't understand what "Portugal will always retain the dogma of faith" allegedly means. Portugal is just as pagan as all other formerly Catholic countries. Yet, simply because we don't understand all things ascribed to a private revelation, doesn't mean we can't learn from those parts that are clear: do penance, pray the rosary, wear the scapular, make the Five First Saturdays, venerate the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Can God permit a respite, or "period of peace" before things go even worse? I'm sure He could without violation of His Revelation. We don't know exactly what was meant, or if it was recorded accurately. 

St. Matthew 24: in 24 shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect.

St. Vincent Ferrer (In relation to the end times):

masters and teachers no longer care for study of the Bible, but prefer the study of the poets and other profane works.

Masses and attending such and administering and receiving sacraments without the permission of the Church is a grave sacrilege, a sin of grave matter. Done with full knowledge and free will it is a mortal sin. Anyone who dies in one unrepented mortal sin will be cast by GOD into the eternal fires of hell forever.

From the Roman Catechism decreed by St. Pope Pius V:

I know that on that rock is built the Church. Whoever will eat the lamb outside this house is profane; whoever is not in the ark of Noah shall perish in the flood.

There can be no circumstance where masses can be offered or sacraments can be administered without the permission of the Church no matter how evil, unjust and wicked a Pope may be. This is against Divine Ordinance. The solution is only in the legal structures of the Church.

Note: Protestants are never Christians.

Reply: Now who is doing the "work of the devil"?  He rips into approved apparitions in order to tell us that we are to remain in the Vatican II sect--the creation of Satan. Yes, a pope can be "evil, unjust, and wicked," but NEVER a heretic. 

According to Wernz-Vidal: "Those capable of being validly elected are all who are not prohibited by divine law or by an invalidating ecclesiastical law… Those who are barred as incapable of being validly elected are all women, children who have not reached the age of reason; also, those afflicted with habitual insanity, the unbaptized, heretics, schismatics…" (Jus Canonicum 1:415; Emphasis mine).

Doctor of the Church St Alphonsus Liguori: "If ever a pope, as a private person, should fall into heresy, he would at once fall from the pontificate."Oeuvres Completes 9:232.

Theologian Iragui: "...theologians commonly concede that the Roman Pontiff, if he should fall into manifest heresy, would no longer be a member of the Church, and therefore could neither be called its visible head."

(See Manuale Theologiae Dogmaticae. Madrid: Ediciones Studium [1959], pg. 371). 

Conclusion

I have frequently wrote against those I label "Apparitionists:" They are people who exalt private revelations and apparitions whether approved by the Church (such as Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Lourdes) or not (such as Our Lady of the Roses or Garabandal) over the teaching of the Church. It should be painfully apparent how placing these apparitions over doctrine will inevitably lead people into error (usually by being trapped in the falsehood of the Vatican II sect).  People also fail to learn the Faith because they want to know the "true meaning" of the "Third Secret," or how some alleged saying of the Blessed Mother squares with the Bible.

Now, we have the sorry example of another opposite error: claiming that approved apparitions are the work of the devil. If there is a true pope, when he approves an apparition as "worthy of belief," we cannot declare it the work of Satan. You can choose not to believe at all, but that's foolish. The pope is protected by the Holy Ghost from giving error and evil to the Church. Error and evil is all the devil works for, so that nothing that comes from the devil can ever have papal approval; the Holy Ghost would prohibit it. With such a hard line against Fatima and La Salette, isn't it interesting that the author of the letter doesn't go after Medjugorje? Bergoglio allows pilgrimages there. Enough said. 

Creation-Terminology Metaphors

 

To My Readers: This week my guest poster, Dominic Caggeso, examines terms used in Creation and their possible metaphorical interpretation.  Feel free to comment as usual. If you have a specific comment or question for me, I will respond as always, but it may take me a bit longer to do so this week. 

God bless you all, my dear readers---Introibo

Creation-Terminology Metaphors

By Dominic Caggeso

The Bible is filled with the use of creation-terminology such as earth, sea, sun, moon, starts, trees, etc. The book of Genesis, for obvious reasons, employs these specific words often. But if one were to pay close attention, they appear throughout the rest of the books of Sacred Scripture, often unnoticed.

St. Vincent Ferrer, known as the Angel of the Apocalypse, gives an analysis of these terms as they can be metaphorically applied to the New Testament. In his Sermon on the Last Judgment, he gives some explanation for the terms stars, sun, and heavens. He notes that, per the Gospel of St. Matthew chapter twenty-four, there will be signs in the sun, moon and stars that precede the end of the world. He says that the stars represent “Masters, Doctors, and Licentiates in Theology”. He says that these learned Catholic luminaries are signified to be stars in Daniel 12:3.

“But they that are learned shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all eternity.”

- Daniel 12:3

St. Vincent Ferrer goes on to comment on the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter twenty-four:

“And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved:”

-Matthew 24:29

Since the stars represent the learned in the Church, and since the stars fall at the end of the world, St. Vincent Ferrer concluded:

“Then stars, that is the learned, shall fall from heaven, that is, from the truth of the Catholic Faith.”

- (Sister Mary Catherine, Angel of the Judgement, Life of St. Vincent Ferrer pg. 110, Library of Congress Catalog Number: 54-5298, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame Indiana, 1954)

St. Vincent Ferrer is teaching us a metaphorical use for the creation-terminology in Sacred Scripture in which certain and specific terms from the natural creation represent concepts from the new, supernatural creation in Christ. There is not a science or a mathematical formula to apply in order to determine exactly what these creation terms represent. I would even argue that there are multiple ways to understand these terms.

The art or poetry involved in using creation-terminology as St. Vincent Ferrer applied it, is to observe what qualities these terms possess in the natural order, and then to apply those qualities, metaphorically, to the supernatural order. For instance, the stars are fixed in the sky and are, more or less, uniform in their appearance. However, some do shine more brightly than others. Navigators use the fixed nature of the stars to reach their destinations. Thus, based on these qualities, one could say that stars are like prelates in the Church, or perhaps also dogmas and doctrines. We depend on both bishops and dogmas to reach our destination of Heaven.

I would like to offer my ideas as to what these creation metaphors could represent in the context of the Catholic Church’s life and history. I am firmly convinced that there is not just one way to understand these terms. Depending on how one frames the idea, each of these terms could take on different meanings. For example, if one were to look no further than a local diocese, perhaps the bishop of that diocese would be represented by the sun, and his auxiliaries and priests could be seen as the stars. In a broader context, the metaphorical use of creation language could be framed around the universal Catholic Church.

In that context, it seems to me that the papacy is the sun. The natural sun is the source of light and warmth and without it, nothing on earth could live. The sun does not have phases like the moon, but instead, it radiates consistently and strongly. We can always depend on the sun to shine, no matter what. It may be obscured by clouds, but it is still shining nonetheless. The papacy is like this, because Christ promised that the papacy would never teach error when He said “He who hears you, hears Me”. Christ is the light of the world (like the sun) and because He speaks through the papacy, then the papacy is like the sun in the context of Catholic history. The papacy gives us the Truth, which is analogous to light. Consider the common expression “the light of Truth”.

At night, the moon can reflect the light of the sun. The sun is still shining, but its rays do not reach us. Thus, for instance, when there have been popes throughout history that have not been the best examples of Christian morality, or perhaps who have not given any teachings, this could be viewed as the night. However, the rest of the Catholic world (throughout Church history) reflected Catholic teaching to various degrees. Thus, like the moon, these Catholic kingdoms (or related organizations) would take the light of Truth given by the papacy and reflect it, either in whole or in part, just as the moon can be either full, partial, or new. These kingdoms would also wax and wane in terms of their fidelity to Church hierarchy and teaching, just like the moon does.

In this same vein of thought, we can also examine the terms earth and sea. Since they are related yet opposing terms, then understanding one would logically shed light on the other. There is an abundance of scriptural clues that give a basis for understanding the sea. These are not really clues, but direct metaphors. For instance, in the book of Daniel chapter seven, four beasts come out of the sea.  These four beasts are the four great pagan empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome that arose before the first coming of Christ. Their identities are given to us in the footnotes of the Douay-Rheims Bible, book of Daniel chapter seven. To the ancient Israelites, pagan nations that surrounded them were dangerous, wild, unpredictable and uninhabitable. The prophet Jeremias, in reference to Israel’s enemies, says the following:

“Their voice shall roar like the sea” 

- Jeremias 6:23

Therefore, in contrast to the sea, the earth is a symbol of stability, order, and God’s covenant with His people. The earth represented the Promised Land, the place where God’s people could dwell. Seen in this light, the biblical narratives from the Old Testament take on deeper meaning. For example, God parted the sea for the Israelites so they could leave Egypt. Egypt was a pagan nation, and as such, Egypt was the sea. Therefore, God separated the literal and metaphorical sea so they could walk to the Promised Land, which can be symbolized by the earth.

Armed with these potential meanings for creation-terminology, we can approach some of the mysterious language present in the Bible or in Catholic prophecy with a deeper understanding.

So often creation-terminology in prophecy, such as the terms earth and sea, are taken literally.  For instance, these terms are understood literally in the prophecy about Ireland being flooded by the sea at the end of the world, or perhaps when the Two-Horned Lamb causes the “whole earth” to worship the image of the beast “which had the wound by the sword, and lived”. Perhaps, in light of deeper meanings for earth and sea, (as demonstrated by St. Vincent Ferrer’s use of the term stars) it is possible to interpret these prophecies with a metaphorical context instead.

If the earth, in the Old Testament, could represent the land of the Israelites, then by parallel, the earth in the New Testament would represent the Catholic world. The sea, by contrast, could be the secular (or non-Catholic) world, which as we know, has a “voice that roars” (Luke 21:25).

The Prophecy of Ireland at the End of the World

There is a well known prophecy, attributed to St. Patrick, that Ireland will be flooded by the sea seven years before the end of the world. This prophecy can be found in the 7^th century writings of Tirechan in his untitled Memoirs of St. Patrick.

“before seven years previous to the day of judgment, because seven years before the judgment we shall be destroyed in the sea”

- Betham, William. Irish Antiquarian Researches. Vol. 2. Dublin: William Curry, Jun. and Co., 1827. p 348-402

This prophecy is understandably understood to mean a flood, tsunami or some other natural disaster will literally either cause Ireland to sink into the sea or be completely flooded seven years before the end of the world. However, imagine that tomorrow, we woke up to the news that overnight, Ireland had sunk into the sea. We would instantly know that the end of the world is only seven years away.

Instead, perhaps we can understand this prophecy using creation-terminology metaphors. If so, then we could interpret the sea to mean the pagan nations of the world. If you live in Ireland, follow Irish news or have Irish friends, then you are doubtless aware of the inundation of migrants that are pouring into Ireland. Could this be the fulfillment of St. Patrick’s prophecy transpiring in real time before our eyes? This flood of foreign migrants is without precedent in Ireland and will have profound consequences for the Emerald Isle going forward. It can also be viewed as a just temporal punishment for this once Catholic nation’s abandonment of the Faith.

The Darkening of the Sun in the Book of the Apocalypse

The Book of the Apocalypse is filled with the mysterious use of creation-terminology. One example is the darkening of the sun, the reddening of the moon and the falling of the stars. We already have an interpretation from St. Vincent Ferrer concerning the stars falling from Heaven.

And I saw, when he had opened the sixth seal, and behold there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair: and the whole moon became as blood: And the stars from heaven fell upon the earth, as the fig tree casteth its green figs when it is shaken by a great wind:

- Apocalypse 6: 12-13

As Traditional Catholics, we are already familiar with the metaphorical interpretation of this passage. If the sun can be seen as the papacy (or perhaps the Church), then we can see this darkening (or eclipse) of the sun as the eclipse of the Church or the papacy. The sedevacantist site, Novus Ordo Watch, uses this imagery as the banner for its homepage!

We can extend this system of metaphorical understanding to other passages in the Bible that use the terms earth, sea, stars, etc. Below I offer some possible ways to understand this poetic and prophetic language from Sacred Scripture.

Other Examples of Creation-Terminology in Sacred Scripture

For true and just are his judgments, who hath judged the great harlot which corrupted the earth with her fornication, and hath revenged the blood of his servants, at her hands.

- Apocalypse 19:2

If the word earth can be seen to represent the “land of Catholics” (as opposed to the sea which would conversely represent non-Catholic “lands”), then the Great Harlot would be accused of corrupting Catholic lands, institutions or structures, perhaps the diocesan system, church buildings, etc. There just so happens to be a Great Harlot that exists today in the Vatican that has corrupted these things with the poison of the Novus Ordo and Modernism.

Or what about this passage?

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth was gone, and the sea is now no more.

-Apocalypse 21:1

After God punishes the Great Harlot in the book of the Apocalypse, St. John sees the New Jerusalem come down from heaven. Per this passage, there will be a new heaven and earth, and for some reason, this new earth will have no sea. Are we to understand this literally? Perhaps. But in light of the metaphorical meaning of these terms, it would make sense that at the end of time and the beginning of eternity, the secular world will be “no more” because they will have been thrown in the pit of fire. In Heaven, there will only be Catholics, either anticipatory ones from the Old Testament who faithfully awaited Christ or those in the New Testament who faithfully belonged to His Church.

Conclusion

I am not claiming that my interpretations are correct or definitive. We can see, by the metaphorical use of these terms by St. Vincent Ferrer, that this idea is not novel or censured. It seems to me that this approach is more poetic instead of scientific or systematic. Nonetheless, I have found it to be very edifying and instructive. At the very least, it has given me a way to view the events in modern Church history in light of Biblical prophecy, particularly those found in the Book of the Apocalypse. I hope you find it enlightening and useful as well.

 

*This article is an adapted excerpt from my book, Vatican II and Antichrist, which can be purchased on my website:  www.gloriousheritagebooks.com