Is It The Same Religion?

 

To My Readers: This week my guest poster, TradWarrior, exposes the Vatican II sect by asking "Is it the same religion?" Is the religion Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ founded in 33 AD and which taught the same truths through the last known true pope, Pope Pius XII, the same as the religion of Angelo Roncalli (John XXIII), Giovanni Montini (Paul VI), Albino Luciani (JPI), Karol Wojtyla (JPII), Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI), Jorge Bergoglio (Francis I), and now Robert Prevost (Leo XIV)? The answer he gives after laying out the facts is a resounding "NO"! 

Feel free to comment as usual. If anyone has a specific question or comment for me, I will answer as always, but it may take me a bit longer to do so this week.

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

Is It The Same Religion?

By TradWarrior

The purpose of this post will be to examine the differences after 1958 when Pope Pius XII died to everything that came before it. The quotations will be taken from The Catholic Church’s documents, especially the writings by popes. Sources for these quotes are the documents themselves. They were pulled from many different areas online, including several previous articles that Introibo wrote. This article is merely to demonstrate that we are looking at two very different religions in the article herein.---TradWarrior

For 1,925 years, the Catholic Church taught the same truth to all of mankind, century after century from 33-1958AD. When one looks at the Catholic Church between that time and after 1958, there is a stark difference that is extremely noticeable to anyone who honestly compares the teachings of the church before and after this time period. The question asked is: “What happened?” While there are many different answers to that question, one thing is certain; we are dealing with two very different religions here. When we compare the religion after 1958, especially in light of the Second Vatican Council documents, it is very clear that something has happened.

Religious Liberty

Religious liberty is one of the principles that came out of Vatican II. It had been condemned multiple times prior to the council taking shape.

According to Vatican II’s declaration on religious liberty: “This Vatican Council declares that the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits.

The council further declares that the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person as this dignity is known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed and thus it is to become a civil right.

It is in accordance with their dignity as persons-that is, beings endowed with reason and free will and therefore privileged to bear personal responsibility-that all men should be at once impelled by nature and also bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, especially religious truth. They are also bound to adhere to the truth, once it is known, and to order their whole lives in accord with the demands of truth. However, men cannot discharge these obligations in a manner in keeping with their own nature unless they enjoy immunity from external coercion as well as psychological freedom. Therefore the right to religious freedom has its foundation not in the subjective disposition of the person, but in his very nature. In consequence, the right to this immunity continues to exist even in those who do not live up to their obligation of seeking the truth and adhering to it and the exercise of this right is not to be impeded, provided that just public order be observed.” (‘Dignitatis Humanae’, para. #2).

Roncalli (aka John XXIII) stated in ‘Pacem in Terris’ the following: “Also among man’s rights is that of being able to worship God in accordance with the right dictates of his own conscience, and to profess his religion both in private and in public. (para. #14).

This needs to be compared to what the previous popes taught on this issue.

 Gregory XVI writing in 1832 had this to say, “This shameful font of indifferentism gives rise to that absurd and erroneous proposition which claims that liberty of conscience must be maintained for everyone. It spreads ruin in sacred and civil affairs, though some repeat over and over again with the greatest impudence that some advantage accrues to religion from it. “But the death of the soul is worse than freedom of error,” as Augustine was wont to say. When all restraints are removed by which men are kept on the narrow path of truth, their nature, which is already inclined to evil, propels them to ruin. Then truly “the bottomless pit” is open from which John saw smoke ascending which obscured the sun, and out of which locusts flew forth to devastate the earth. Thence comes transformation of minds, corruption of youths, contempt of sacred things and holy laws — in other words, a pestilence more deadly to the state than any other. Experience shows, even from earliest times, that cities renowned for wealth, dominion, and glory perished as a result of this single evil, namely immoderate freedom of opinion, license of free speech, and desire for novelty. (‘Mirari Vos’, para. #14) .

Pope Pius IX in ‘Quanta Cura’ said, “For you well know, venerable brethren, that at this time men are found not a few who, applying to civil society the impious and absurd principle of “naturalism,” as they call it, dare to teach that “the best constitution of public society and (also) civil progress altogether require that human society be conducted and governed without regard being had to religion any more than if it did not exist; or, at least, without any distinction being made between the true religion and false ones.” And, against the doctrine of Scripture, of the Church, and of the Holy Fathers, they do not hesitate to assert that “that is the best condition of civil society, in which no duty is recognized, as attached to the civil power, of restraining by enacted penalties, offenders against the Catholic religion, except so far as public peace may require.”

From which totally false idea of social government they do not fear to foster that erroneous opinion, most fatal in its effects on the Catholic Church and the salvation of souls, called by Our Predecessor, Gregory XVI, an “insanity,” that “liberty of conscience and worship is each man’s personal right, which ought to be legally proclaimed and asserted in every rightly constituted society; and that a right resides in the citizens to an absolute liberty, which should be restrained by no authority whether ecclesiastical or civil, whereby they may be able openly and publicly to manifest and declare any of their ideas whatever, either by word of mouth, by the press, or in any other way.” But, while they rashly affirm this, they do not think and consider that they are preaching “liberty of perdition;” and that “if human arguments are always allowed free room for discussion, there will never be wanting men who will dare to resist truth, and to trust in the flowing speech of human wisdom; whereas we know, from the very teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, how carefully Christian faith and wisdom should avoid this most injurious babbling.” (‘Quanta Cura’, para. #3).

Pope Pius IX rightly condemned this error in several parts of his famous ‘The Syllabus of Errors.’ (Dec. 8, 1864) These include:

#15:  Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true. — Allocution ‘Maxima Quidem,’ June 9, 1862; Damnatio ‘Multiplices inter,’ June 10, 1851.

#55: The Church ought to be separated from the State, and the State from the Church. — Allocution ‘Acerbissimum,’ Sept. 27, 1852.

#77: In the present day it is no longer expedient that the Catholic religion should be held as the only religion of the State, to the exclusion of all other forms of worship. — Allocution ‘Nemo Vestrum,’ July 26, 1855.

#79: Moreover, it is false that the civil liberty of every form of worship, and the full power, given to all, of overtly and publicly manifesting any opinions whatsoever and thoughts, conduce more easily to corrupt the morals and minds of the people, and to propagate the pest of indifferentism. — Allocution ‘Nunquam Fore,’ Dec. 15, 1856.

Pope Leo XIII said in ‘Libertas’ in 1888 the following:

“Civil society must acknowledge God as its Founder and Parent, and must obey and reverence His power and authority. Justice therefore forbids, and reason itself forbids, the State to be godless; or to adopt a line of action which would end in godlessness – namely, to treat the various religions (as they call them) alike, and to bestow upon them promiscuously equal rights and privileges.” (para. #21).

Pope Leo XIII in ‘Immortale Dei’ in 1885 said the following:

The authority of God is passed over in silence, just as if there were no God; or as if He cared nothing for human society; or as if men, whether in their individual capacity or bound together in social relations, owed nothing to God; or as if there could be a government of which the whole origin and power and authority did not reside in God Himself. Thus, as is evident, a State becomes nothing but a multitude which is its own master and ruler. And since the people is declared to contain within itself the spring-head of all rights and of all power, it follows that the State does not consider itself bound by any kind of duty toward God. Moreover, it believes that it is not obliged to make public profession of any religion; or to inquire which of the very many religions is the only one true; or to prefer one religion to all the rest; or to show to any form of religion special favour; but, on the contrary, is bound to grant equal rights to every creed, so that public order may not be disturbed by any particular form of religious belief.” (para. #25).

The separation of church and state is what has necessarily followed from this most grievous error.

Pope St. Pius X in ‘Vehementer Nos’ wrote the following in 1906:

“That the State must be separated from the Church is a thesis absolutely false, a most pernicious error. Based, as it is, on the principle that the State must not recognize any religious cult, it is in the first place guilty of a great injustice to God; for the Creator of man is also the Founder of human societies, and preserves their existence as He preserves our own. We owe Him, therefore, not only a private cult, but a public and social worship to honor Him. Besides, this thesis is an obvious negation of the supernatural order. It limits the action of the State to the pursuit of public prosperity during this life only, which is but the proximate object of political societies; and it occupies itself in no fashion (on the plea that this is foreign to it) with their ultimate object which is man's eternal happiness after this short life shall have run its course. But as the present order of things is temporary and subordinated to the conquest of man's supreme and absolute welfare, it follows that the civil power must not only place no obstacle in the way of this conquest, but must aid us in effecting it.” (para. #3).

What has transpired in the last several decades with Roncalli, Montini, Luciani, Wotyla, Ratzinger, Bergoglio, and Prevost is that they have prayed numerous times with members of false religions. This stems from their rejection of what the pre-conciliar popes clearly taught when it came to religious liberty. The State must be Catholic. If it is not, then man has a right to worship in any religion that he pleases and no religion is any more true than another. Catholicism is then on an equal playing field with Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism (regardless of the sect), Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Shinto, Taoism, Voodoo, and even Satanism. Atheism also has just as much of a right as Catholicism, if not more so, because no religion must be “forced upon society” as the true religion. This freemasonic principle has pervaded society, particularly the West, with disastrous effects!

The Social Kingship of Christ is a kingship that must reign over all of society. Man is to worship God in the way that He sees fit, not us. If mankind does this and the State mirrors the Catholic Church in its temporal laws, then society can experience a peace on Earth that, while not perfect in this fallen world, would nevertheless make this world a far better and peaceful place.

As Pope Pius XI said in ‘Quas Primas’ in 1925 on The Social Kingship of Christ:

“When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony.” (para. #19). 

Let’s compare this with some quotes from the Vatican II “popes”:

Paul VI, Address, July 9, 1969: “She [the Church] has also affirmed, during Her long history, at the cost of oppression and persecution, freedom for everyone to profess his own religion. No one, She says, is to be restrained from acting, no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs… As we said, the Council demanded a true and public religious freedom…”

Paul VI, Letter, July 25, 1975: “…the Holy See rejoices to see specifically emphasized the right of religious liberty.”

John Paul II, L'Osservatore Romano, 09/01/1980: “Liberty of conscience is a right of man.” 

John Paul II, ‘Path to Peace: A Contribution’, 09/01/1980: “All men have a human dignity of equal rights.” 

Ratzinger, prior to becoming “Benedict XVI” called ‘Gaudium et Spes’ a “counter syllabus”, in opposition to the Syllabus of Pius IX and the Syllabus of St. Pius X. (Principles of Catholic Theology, 1987, pgs. 381-382). As Benedict, he would pray with false religions all the time, just as his post-conciliar predecessors did.

Bergoglio as “Francis” followed his V2 predecessors. He loved religious liberty! His constant barrage against traditional Catholics and his praise of religious freedom made it very clear that he was heavily on board with this freemasonic principle. His famous quotes, “I believe in God, not in a Catholic God, there is no Catholic God…” and “Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense,” tell us all we need to know about the man.

What we have seen is one pope after another prior to Vatican II condemning religious liberty, the very principle that every pseudo “pope” from Roncalli onwards has embraced time after time. Cleary, we are talking about two different religions here.

Ecumenism

Ecumenism is another false doctrine that was championed at Vatican II.

One of the defining marks of the Catholic Church is its unity. It cannot be divided. Since the 1500’s for example, we have seen tens of thousands of Protestant sects that have split from the Catholic Church, and then each other. The post-conciliar “popes” tell us that we have to pray for unity with these “separated brethren”. No! The Catholic Church already possesses unity. It is not united until the separated brethren “come back into the fold,” as if it is missing something that it has to find. The Catholic Church is a perfect society as Pope Pius XII taught. The V2 “popes” reject the unity of the church and “sought after it” by constantly praying with false religions as if they were detectives in search of the Truth. The Catholic Church possesses the Truth already, and can never lose it. There is no future point of convergence that needs to be sought, for it already has ALL THAT IT NEEDS (emphasis added). The V2 “popes” desire a universal syncretism of all the religions of the world, into a future One World Religion, the very thing Pope St. Pius X warned about in ‘Notre Charge Apostolique.’

Consider the following quotes:

Pope Pius IX in 1868: “None [of the false sects], not even taken as a whole, constitutes in any way and are not that one, Catholic Church founded and made by Our Lord and which He wished to create. Further, one cannot say in any way that these societies are either members or parts of that same Church, because they are visibly separated from Catholic Unity.” (‘Iam Vos Omnes,’ para. #3). 

Pope Leo XIII in 1896: “Jesus Christ did not, in point of fact, institute a Church to embrace several communities similar in nature, but in themselves distinct, and lacking those bonds which render the Church unique and indivisible after that manner in which in the symbol of our faith we profess: ‘I believe in one Church.’” (‘Satis Cognitum’, para. #4). 

Pope Pius XI in 1928: “For since the mystical body of Christ, in the same manner as His physical body, is one, compacted and fitly joined together, it were foolish and out of place to say that the mystical body is made up of members which are disunited and scattered abroad: whosoever therefore is not united with the body is no member of it, neither is he in communion with Christ its head.” (‘Mortalium Animos’, para #10).

Pope Pius XII: “Also they must restrain that dangerous manner of speaking which generates false opinions and fallacious hopes incapable of realization; for example, to the effect that the teachings of the Encyclicals of the Roman Pontiffs on the return of dissidents to the Church, on the constitution of the Church, on the Mystical Body of Christ, should not be given too much importance seeing that they are not all matters of faith, or, what is worse, that in matters of dogma even the Catholic Church has not yet attained the fullness of Christ, but can still be perfected by other religions.” (Instruction "On the Ecumenical Movement" by the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, December 20, 1949). 

Compare these quotes to what the Vatican II “popes” had to say about (false) ecumenism.

Paul VI, General Audience, Nov. 8, 1972: “Ecumenism began in this way; as respect for non-Christian religions…”

Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation, Dec. 8, 1975: “The Church respects and esteems these non-Christian religions…”

Paul VI, Speech, Sept. 9, 1972: “We would also like you to know that the Church recognizes the riches of the Islamic faith – a faith that binds us to the one God.”

Paul VI, Address, Sept. 18, 1969: “…Moslems… along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind.”

Paul VI, Address, Dec. 14, 1976: “…very dear Brothers, sent by the venerable Church of Constantinople… we carried out the solemn and sacred ecclesial act of lifting the ancient anathemas, an act with which we wished to remove the memory of these events forever from the memory and the heart of the Church…”

Paul VI, Angelus Address, Jan. 17, 1971: “From polemical opposition among the various Christian denominations we have passed to mutual respect…”

John Paul II spoke about how The Catholic Church lacks unity. He said we need to pray with false religions for unity and that saints come from all religions (‘Ut Unum Sint’). Paragraphs #’s 7-10 in this document are especially telling as he quotes ‘Unitatis Redintegratio,' ‘Lumen Gentium,' and ‘Dignitatis Humanae," all Vatican II documents that heavily expound on this error.

Many other examples could be mentioned included Roncalli inviting the Orthodox at Vatican II, Montini allowing six Protestant ministers to have a huge role in the creation of the Novus Ordo Missae, Francis praying with all different religions, as his V2 predecessors all did, etc. The list of examples goes on and on.  

What we have seen is one pope after another prior to Vatican II condemning ecumenism, the very principle that every pseudo “pope” from Roncalli onwards has embraced time after time. Cleary, we are talking about two different religions here.

                             Collegiality

   ‘Lumen Gentium’, Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church reads the following in para. #22:

“The order of bishops, which succeeds to the college of apostles and gives this apostolic body continued existence, is also the subject of supreme and full power over the universal Church, provided we understand this body together with its head the Roman Pontiff and never without this head. This power can be exercised only with the consent of the Roman Pontiff. For our Lord placed Simon alone as the rock and the bearer of the keys of the Church, and made him shepherd of the whole flock; it is evident, however, that the power of binding and loosing, which was given to Peter, was granted also to the college of apostles, joining with their head.”

The 1983 Code of Canon Law reiterates this in Canon 336:

“The college of bishops, whose head is the Supreme Pontiff and whose members are bishops by virtue of sacramental consecration and hierarchical communion with the head and members of the college and in which the apostolic body continues, together with its head and never without this head, is also the subject of supreme and full power over the universal Church.”

This “synodal church” that Paul VI ushered in to democratize the Catholic Church has continued right through Leo XIV with its many synods of “bishops” and “cardinals” trying (through endless dialogue) to determine what “the real meaning of Vatican II was” and how to implement it. Over 60 years later with 7 heretical “pontiffs”, and none of them could ascertain what Vatican II really meant. Never did the church fathers at Nicaea I, or Florence, or Trent, or any of the other ecumenical councils of the church have to “determine what the council really meant.” No, it is just Vatican II that remains a mystery to this very day. Interesting!

Compare the post-conciliar teaching of collegiality with the true teaching of the church:

The pope alone possesses supreme authority in the Church. From the Vatican Council of 1870:

“Therefore, if anyone says that it is not by the institution of Christ the Lord Himself (that is to say, by divine law) that blessed Peter should have perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole Church; or that the Roman Pontiff is not the successor of blessed Peter in this primacy: let him be anathema.

So, then, if anyone says that the Roman Pontiff has merely an office of supervision and guidance, and not the full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole Church, and this not only in matters of faith and morals, but also in those which concern the discipline and government of the Church dispersed throughout the whole world; or that he has only the principal part, but not the absolute fullness, of this supreme power; or that this power of his is not ordinary and immediate both over all and each of the Churches and over all and each of the pastors and faithful: let him be anathema.”

All of the V2 “popes” have taught collegiality as the true Catholic position. This was part of the freemasonic plot to weaken the papacy, as outlined in The Alta Vendita. Eventually, the church would be filled with heretics who would appear to have authority in the church, when in actuality, they would not be clerics anymore. Sound familiar? Their plot would be to eventually have a “pope” of their own on the papal throne. Well so far, they have had 7 now. By pushing collegiality, they wanted to destroy the papacy and what better way than saying that the pope needs to be in agreement with all of the bishops around the world. It removes the power of the papacy.

Just like religious liberty and ecumenism, the amount of quotes by the pre-conciliar popes and the post-conciliar “popes” on collegiality could be cited here, but honestly, what is the point??? It is already clear that we are dealing with a false religion here.

                                         Conclusion                                                          

           So what is one to do? This is a difficult question because any mention by anyone saying that Vatican II was heretical and the last 7 “popes” were invalid is immediately going to raise eyebrows and make one scoffed at (if not worse).

         We must make use of the power that has been given to us by Heaven to win souls over to Christ. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are very powerful. We need to make use of these things. Those of us who have a traditional church near us need to make use of the sacraments frequently. The rosary is a very important prayer. Devotion to The Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Immaculate Heart of Mary are very helpful. Devotion to St. Joseph is very powerful. Invoking the angels and saints, especially St. Michael the Archangel and ones patron saint is very helpful, not to mention our own individual guardian angels. Sacramentals such as the brown scapular and the St. Benedict medal are useful too.

            All we can do is our individual parts. The Catholic faith must be embraced in its entirety and this means rejecting the false Vatican II sect which was spawned by the powers of hell. As Pope Benedict XV said in ‘Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum,' “Such is the nature of Catholicism that it does not admit of more or less, but must be held as a whole or as a whole rejected...” (para. #24).

           The Vatican II sect members firmly believe that they are in the Catholic Church. We should be reminded of what Pope Pius XII stated on church membership: “Actually only those are to be included as members of the Church who have been baptized and profess the true faith, and who have not been so unfortunate as to separate themselves from the unity of the Body, or been excluded by legitimate authority for grave faults committed.” (‘Mystici Corporis Christi’, para. #22). The V2 sect members do not profess the true faith (in most cases, through no fault of their own). 

        Still, we must do our best to show them the “errors of their ways.” Many will not change, but we must do our best to convert those to the True Faith while there is still time. We should also not get discouraged if we do not see the results that we wish for. God asks us to be faithful and to try our best. Many times, the results will not be what we hoped for, but as long as we remain faithful to Him, persevere in the One True Faith, and do our best to bring others into His Holy Catholic Church, then we have done all we can do and we leave the rest to Him. “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27).

Contending For The Faith---Part 49

 

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.

The Titles of the Blessed Mother

Christ's Mother is constantly under attack in the godless world and in the Counterfeit Catholicism of the Vatican II sect. On the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, Robert Prevost ("Pope" Leo XIV), signed the document Mater Populi Fidelis ("The Mother of the Faithful People of God"). It was a direct attack on the Mother of God's titles as Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix of All Grace. The lies of the Vatican II sect and the truth about the Blessed Mother's titles shall be the subject of this post. 

The Lies of the Vatican II Sect

Mater Populi Fidelis (MPF) has this to say about Mary's title as Co-Redemptrix:

The Second Vatican Council refrained from using the title for dogmatic, pastoral, and ecumenical reasons. Saint John Paul II referred to Mary as “Co-redemptrix” on at least seven occasions, particularly relating this title to the salvific value of our sufferings when they are offered together with the sufferings of Christ, to whom Mary is united especially at the Cross. (See para. #18; Emphasis mine).

On at least three occasions, Pope Francis expressed his clear opposition to using the title “Co-redemptrix,” arguing that Mary “never wished to appropriate anything of her Son for herself. She never presented herself as a co-Savior. No, a disciple.” Christ’s redemptive work was perfect and needs no addition; therefore, “Our Lady did not want to take away any title from Jesus… She did not ask for herself to be a quasi-redeemer or a co-redeemer: no. There is only one Redeemer, and this title cannot be duplicated.” Christ “is the only Redeemer; there are no co-redeemers with Christ.” For “the sacrifice of the Cross, offered in a spirit of love and obedience, presents the most abundant and infinite satisfaction.” While we are able to extend its effects in the world (cf. Col 1:24), neither the Church nor Mary can replace or perfect the redemptive work of the incarnate Son of God, which was perfect and needs no additions. (See para. #21). 

Given the necessity of explaining Mary’s subordinate role to Christ in the work of Redemption, it is always inappropriate to use the title “Co-redemptrix” to define Mary’s cooperation. (See para. #22). 

MFP has this to say about the venerable title "Mediatrix of All Grace:"

In 1921, Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Mechelen — with the scholarly collaboration of the Catholic University of Louvain and the support of the bishops, clergy, and laity of Belgium — petitioned Pope Benedict XV to issue a dogmatic definition of Mary’s universal mediation. However, the Holy Father did not grant this request; he only approved a feast with its own Mass and the Office of Mary Mediatrix. From then until 1950, theological research on this question continued to develop up to the preparatory phase of the Second Vatican Council. The Council did not enter into dogmatic declarations but preferred to present an extensive synthesis “of Catholic doctrine on the place to attribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mystery of Christ and the Church.” (See para. #23).

The Second Vatican Council’s terminology regarding mediation primarily refers to Christ; it sometimes also refers to Mary, but in a clearly subordinate manner. In fact, the Council preferred to use a different terminology for her: one centered on cooperLumen Gentiumation or maternal assistance. (See para. #27). 

The Elephant in the Room: Ecumenism

The "Dicastery for the Doctrine [Destruction] of the Faith" put out this document (and signed by Prevost) for one reason only: to denigrate the Mother of God in the name of ecumenism. The sect is founded on the false ecclesiology that the Church of Christ is distinct from the Roman Catholic Church. The Church of Christ resides there in its fullness because the Catholic Church has all the "elements" of the Church of Christ, however it can reside in other sects (more or less) according to how many "elements" they possess. To have all the elements is best, but to have only some is just as good and leads to salvation. (See Lumen Gentium, para. #8: This is the one Church of Christ which in the Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, which our Savior, after His Resurrection, commissioned Peter to shepherd, and him and the other apostles to extend and direct with authority, which He erected for all ages as "the pillar and mainstay of the truth." This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him, although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure.).

From a Protestant commenting on MPF:

While I am not Roman Catholic, in recent years I have held a growing conviction that Roman Catholicism is a great gift to the body of Christ. Wesleyans and Catholics share a theological confluence on sanctification that deserves more attention at popular and congregational levels than it receives. The Second Vatican Council's statement on sanctification in Lumen Gentium stands as one of modern theology's most profound and pastoral reflections on holiness. Surprisingly, Rome's new clarification on Mary offers Wesleyans an unexpected entry point for continuing conversation on holiness. This essay argues that while significant dogmatic differences remain, Mater Populi Fidelis articulates a Mariology that resonates with core Wesleyan theological commitments, particularly Wesley's understanding of cooperation with grace and the social nature of sanctification. (See https://firebrandmag.com/articles/mother-of-the-faithful-a-wesleyan-reading-of-mater-populi-fidelis).

Protestantism hasn't changed. If MPF "resonates with core Wesleyan [Methodist] theological commitments" especially cooperation with grace and the social nature of sanctification, than the Vatican II sect's document is heretical (no surprise there). 

Weighty Theological Arguments for "Co-Redemptrix"

While the title had theological opposition pre-Vatican II, MPF simply glosses over the compelling reasons advanced in favor of the title Co-Redemptrix:

(a) Redemption designates the sum total of meritorious and satisfactory acts performed by Christ while on Earth, offered to the Eternal Father in and through the Sacrifice of the Cross, in virtue of which the Eternal Father was moved (humanly speaking) to reinstate the human race into His former friendship. When we say Mary is Co-Redemptrix of humanity, we mean that together with Christ (although subordinately to Him and and in virtue of His power) She atoned or satisfied for our sins, merited every grace necessary for salvation, and offered Her Divine Son on Calvary to appease the wrath of God, and that as a result of this, God was pleased to cancel our debt and receive us into His former friendship. This co-redemptive role of Mary actually began when She accepted to become the Mother of God by her own free will. 

(b) Pope Benedict XV, in his Apostolic Letter Inter Sodalicia (March 22, 1918), wrote, "To such extent did she (Mary) suffer and almost die with her suffering and dying Son, and to such extent did she surrender her maternal rights over her Son for man's salvation, and immolated Him, insofar as she could, in order to appease the justice of God, that we may rightly say that she redeemed the human race together with Christ."

(c) Pope Pius XI called Our Lady Co-Redemptrix at least six (6) times. In the radio broadcast to the world at the solemn closing of the Jubilee Year which commemorated the Redemption of humanity (April 29, 1935) he prayed, "O Mother of piety and mercy who, when Thy most beloved Son was accomplishing the Redemption of the human race on the altar of the cross, didst stand there both suffering with Him and as a Co-Redemptrix; preserve us we beseech thee, and increase day by day, the precious fruit of His Redemption and of thy compassion."

(d) Pope Pius XII, in his encyclical Ad Coeli Reginam (October 11, 1954) distinguishes Mary's role in the Redemption from her role as Mediatrix of All Grace. 

(e) On November 26, 1951, the entire Cuban hierarchy petitioned Pope Pius XII for a dogmatic definition of Mary as Co-Redemptrix. An entire nation of bishops felt that it could and should be defined.

(f) Just as Adam alone brought sin in the world, yet had the cooperation of Eve, Mary is the Second Eve. Christ alone brought redemption to the world with the cooperation of Mary.

(g)   When the Church teaches Christ alone is our Redeemer, they are referring to the primary, universal, and self-sufficient causality of Christ in the redemptive process which does not exclude Mary's secondary and totally subordinate cooperation which drew all its efficacy from the superabundant merits of her Divine Son. 

(h) Mary was redeemed by Christ, so how could she both receive the effect of redemption and be the cause of it? Because Mary cooperated to redeem all others not herself. Mary was redeemed by God preemptively in the Immaculate Conception, then together with Her Divine Son, she cooperated to redeem all others.

(i) Christ's merits have infinite value, so how can Mary's cooperation add anything to the Passion? Mary did not add (and could not add) anything to Christ's merits. However, God was pleased to accept her satisfaction together with Christ as a fitting way of making her the Second Eve, even as Christ was the Second Adam.

(See theologian Carol's Mariology, [1956] pgs. 56-65)

Seems very Catholic, does it not? However, even more importantly, the title Mediatrix of All Grace was going to be defined by Pope Pius XII.

Mary is the Mediatrix of All Grace

During the days of the last true pope, His Holiness Pope Pius XII, the pontiff had requested some theologians to become part of a commission to survey the world's bishops regarding their opinion on a dogmatic definition of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Mediatrix of All Grace. Anticipating a positive outcome of the poll, the Holy Father also instructed them to prepare a draft of an Apostolic Constitution defining the dogma. Fr. DePauw knew at least two theologians appointed to that commission, and he too, believed that Mary's role as Mediatrix could (and should) be formally defined ex cathedra as a dogma of Divine and Catholic Faith.

Less than a year later, Pope Pius XII died, and Roncalli ("Pope" John XXIII) scrapped the entire project as being "offensive to Protestants." Then there was to be an entire document on the Mother of God at Vatican II. The orthodox theologians in the Preparatory Commission drew up the schemata to be named  DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, AND MOTHER OF MEN. Within it, Mary was defined as Mediatrix of All Grace and Co-Redemptrix. It, too, was relegated to the trash bin by a slim majority of  stalwart Modernist bishops. The final vote to retain the Constitution failed; 1,097  bishops voted to keep the Constitution on the Blessed Virgin Mary, and 1,114 bishops voted to completely eliminate the Constitution altogether. 

(N.B. Below, I have compiled and condensed the Mariology works of theologians Garrigou-Lagrange, Pohle, O'Connell, Neubert, and Carol. I take credit only for condensing the information from these sources. Furthermore, I have avoided, as much as possible, technical theological terminology that would need elaboration. In this way, I hope to make the explanations as easy to understand as possible for the average Traditionalist who has no advanced study in philosophy or theology.---Introibo). 

1.  The Meaning of the Prerogative

Mary is the one through whom all graces are bestowed upon humanity. Just as no one goes to the Father, except through Jesus Christ, so too, no one goes to Jesus except through His Immaculate Mother. By the term "all grace" it is meant just that: all sanctifying grace, actual grace, infused virtues, the Gifts of the Holy Ghost, and all favors in the natural order (insofar as they may help attain eternal life) come to us through Mary. Why do all graces come through Mary? Primarily, because she gave us the author of grace, the God-Man Jesus Christ through her virginal womb. Secondarily, through her participation in her Divine Son's Passion as Co-Redemptrix, she subordinately to Christ and in virtue of His power, cooperated in His redemptive work, and she should therefore have a certain right to cooperate with Him in the distribution of the graces He so merited. 

Protestants will object that the Bible teaches there is but one Mediator between God and humanity; Jesus Christ (See, e.g., 1 Timothy 2:5).  However, while this is true, Mary, as Mother of God and Mother of Men, serves as a bond between people and her Son. Her mediation, far from diminishing or replacing that of Christ, results from His mediation and seems to complete it: it is carried out under Christ and in union with Christ from Whom it receives all its efficacy. 

Mary, by her intersession, allows all graces to flow to humanity throughout all space and time. Those prior to Mary's Assumption received grace in view of the future merits of Our Lady, and since her Assumption, all receive grace through her intercession. This does not mean we must ask for God's grace in Mary's name, but rather, whether she is invoked or not, we get the graces through her intercession. 

2. Holy Scripture indicates this prerogative

In Genesis 3:15 we read, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel." Our Lady is shown as intimately united with Christ in the whole process of redemption. Since the actual dispensation of grace is but an aspect of that whole process, it follows that Mary should be part of it. Mary's intercessory power is seen at the first miracle of Christ wrought at Cana (St. John 2:1-11), and in the sanctification of St. John the Baptist while in the womb of St. Elizabeth (St. Luke 1:41). 

3. Sacred Tradition indicates this prerogative 

There is no exact explicit mention of Mary as the "Mediatrix" in the first few centuries. but the root of the teaching was definitely with the Church Fathers:

St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339-397) wrote:

Mary was alone when the Holy Spirit came upon her and overshadowed her. She was alone when she saved the world — operata est mundi salutem – and when she conceived the redemption of all — concepit redemptionem universorum.

St. Ephraem of Syria (c. 306-373) called Mary the “dispensatrix of all goods.”

St. Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444) wrote:

Hail, Mary, Mother of God, by whom all faithful souls are saved.

Mary, as Mediatrix of All Grace, is implicitly revealed in the different titles which Tradition gives Mary—that of Mother of God, most powerful in intercession with her Son, that of the new Eve intimately associated with the Redeemer, that of Mother of all men. Besides, it is a doctrine explicitly and formally affirmed by the morally unanimous consent of Fathers and Doctors of the Church, of preaching throughout the Church, and of the Liturgy. 

4. The Magisterium positively teaches the prerogative through papal pronouncements

We judge nothing more powerful and better for this purpose than by religion and devotion to deserve well of the great Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, who is the treasurer of our peace with God, and the mediatrix  of graces....(Pope Leo XIII, Supremi Apostolatus officio; Emphasis mine).

... it is right to say, that nothing at all of that very great treasury of all grace which the Lord brought us--for 'grace and truth came through Jesus Christ' (Jn 1.17)--nothing is imparted to us except through Mary, since God so wills, so that just as no one can come to the Father except through the Son, so in general, no one can come to Christ except through His Mother. (Pope Leo XIII,  Octobri mense; Emphasis mine).

Hence that never dissociated manner of life and labors of the Mother and the Son... . there stood by the Cross of Jesus His Mother, not merely occupied in looking at the dreadful sight, but even rejoicing that 'her only Son was being offered for the salvation of the human race; and so did she suffer, with Him, that if it had been possible, she would have much more gladly suffered herself all the torments that her Son underwent' (St. Bonaventure I. Sent. d, 48, ad Litt. dub. 4). Now from this common sharing of will and suffering between Christ and Mary, she 'merited to become most worthily the Reparatrix of the lost world' (Eadmer, De Excellentia Virginis Mariae, 9) and therefore Dispensatrix of all the gifts which Jesus gained for us by His Death and by His Blood.... But Mary as St. Bernard fittingly remarks (De Aquaeductu 4) is the 'channel' or, even, the neck, through which the body is joined to the head, and likewise through which the head exerts its power and strength on the body. 'For she is the neck of our Head, by which all spiritual gifts are communicated to His Mystical Body.' (Pope St. Pius X, Ad diem illum; Emphasis mine). 

For he [St. Dominic] knew well that Mary ... has such influence with her divine Son, that He confers whatever of graces He confers on humans, does so always with her as minister and decision-maker. (Pope Benedict XV, Fausto appetente die; Emphasis mine).

... we know also that all things are imparted to us from God the Greatest and Best, through the hands of the Mother of God. (Pope Pius XI, Ingravescentibus malis; Emphasis mine).

... having been associated, as Mother and Minister, with the King of martyrs in the ineffable work of human Redemption, she is always associated, with a practically measureless power, in the distribution of the graces that derive from the Redemption.... And her kingdom is as vast as that of her Son and God, since nothing is excluded from her dominion. (Pope Pius XII, Radio Address to Fatima, May 13, 1946; Emphasis mine). 

Objection: Sacramental graces are effectuated ex opere operato ("by the work worked [done]"). As long as the proper administer uses the correct matter and form, with the intention to do what the Church does, the sacrament will confer grace to any recipient who does not place an obstacle (obex) in the way. Therefore, Mary is not needed, and does not dispense sacramental graces.  

Reply: Mary mediates sacramental grace in two ways. Remotely, she gave us Christ, Who as True God and True Man instituted the sacraments; and sacramental grace was merited by her together with, and subordinately to, Jesus Christ as Co-Redemptrix.  Proximately, to have the very desire to receive the sacraments, and the proper dispositions to do so worthily, are the effects of actual graces which come about only through the intercession of Mary Immaculate. 

Did Vatican II Really Refrain from Using Mary's Titles?

Yes, but for pastoral/ecumenical reasons that were heretical, not for dogmatic reasons as falsely stated by MPF. What really gives the lie to all this Modernist claptrap is the original schema proposed by the orthodox theologians under Cardinal Ottavianni. 

From the schema on the Dogmatic Constitution on the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and Mother of Men (BVM)

a) The Blessed Virgin Mary is Co-Redmeptrix of the Human Race.

Para. #2: The Word of the eternal Father willed to receive his human nature from a woman so that as

death came from a woman so also life would arise for us from a woman and thus liberation would be accomplished by both sexes

He did not accomplish this, however, until the designated Mother, redeemed in a more sublime way by the foreseen merits of Christ, had given her free acceptance (see Lk 1:38) so that by the incarnation the Son of God would become her Son also and the new Adam and Savior of the world. By this consent Mary, the daughter of Adam, not only became the Mother of Jesus, the one divine Mediator and Redeemer, but with him and under him also joined her work in accomplishing the redemption of the human race. This salvific consent of the Mother of God and thus her participation in the work of redemption lasted from the time of the virginal conception of Jesus Christ until his death; it especially shone forth when, not without the divine plan, she stood by the cross (cf. Jn 19:25), when she powerfully shared her only Son’s, with him and through him with all her heart offered him as the price of our redemption, and when she was given to men as their Mother by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross (see Jn 19:26-27). Because, however, the mystery of human redemption was not completed until the Holy Ghost Christ had promised came on the day of Pentecost, we contemplate Mary in the Cenacle with the Apostles persevering in prayer (see Acts 1:14) imploring by her prayers too the outpouring of the Spirit.

b) The Blessed Virgin Mary is Mediatrix of All Grace.

Para. #3: This humble "handmaid of the Lord," for whom "he who is mighty has done great things" (see Lk 1:49), is called the Mediatrix of all graces because she was associated with Christ in acquiring these graces, and she is invoked by the Church as our advocate and Mother of Mercy, because even now she remains the associate of the glorious Christ in heaven and intercedes for all through Christ so that in the conferral of all graces to men there is present the maternal charity of the Blessed Virgin. But in no way is the mediation of our only Mediator--according to the absolute sense of the words of the Apostle (1 Tm 2:5): "There is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus"--obscured or diminished; indeed this mediation of Christ is extolled and honored. For it is in Christ that Mary is Mediatrix, and her mediation comes, not from any necessity, but from the divine pleasure and from the superabundance and virtue of the merits of Jesus; it rests on the mediation of Christ, entirely depends on it, and obtains its entire force from it.

Conclusion

The assault on the Mother of God continues unabated in both the world and especially in the Vatican II sect. What's most perverse is that Robert Prevost and his merry band of Modernists try to make her denigration look like "devotion" and "faithfulness to Scripture." I don't want to even contemplate what fate awaits them if they do not sincerely repent before death.

Singing For Satan--Special Edition

 

From August 2017 to August 2019, I ran a series of posts exposing the evil in rock, pop, and rap music, and I called the series of posts "Singing For Satan." Although that "first Monday of the month" series ended almost seven years ago, I reserved the right to bring up another post on the topic if I thought any artist(s) not previously covered needed to be exposed or if new developments with those I had covered took place. 

A friend of mine brought my attention to the so-called "27 Club," a group of famous musicians who all thought they would die young, and they all went to Judgement between their 27th and 28th birthdays. I knew of the so-called "club," but he told me something that really intrigued me; he said that all of them had made a pact with Satan for talent and success in return for their soul at an early age. The 27 club began with a man named Robert Johnson, of whom it had been said he couldn't play the guitar at all. He went missing for a couple of days, and he came back playing better than any professional guitarist. The alleged deal had been made.

Or had it? There has been much debunking written about the story of Johnson, and it seemed to show that he was a man looking for a gimmick, and he found one. That, combined with his talent (kept mostly hidden), made him famous. I started to research the lives of those in the club. All of them, yes, every single one, was deep into the occult and had actual references to Satan in their lives. Coincidence? You decide. ---Introibo

The Introduction to the original series of posts:

This week I continue my series of posts regarding an informal study I undertook in the early 1990s regarding rock and pop music. The purpose of my study (and the background to it) can be read in the first installment of August 7, 2017. If you have not read that post, I strongly encourage you to do so before reading this installment. I will only repeat here the seven (7) evil elements that pervade today's music:

1. Violence/Murder/Suicide

2. Nihilism/Despair

3. Drug and alcohol glorification

4. Adultery/ Fornication and sexual perversion

5. The occult

6. Rebellion against lawful superiors

7. Blasphemy against God, Jesus Christ in particular, and the Church

 The exposing of the bands/artists continues.

WARNING!! This post contains material that is vile and probes great evil. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

Was There an Actual Deal With the Devil? The "27 Club"

While there has been much written in the wake of the despicable rapper Bad Bunny (b. Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in 1994), and his performance at this year's Super Bowl, there is something more interesting that intrigued me. Was the inception of modern music (rock, rap, etc.) derived from an actual deal made with Satan? Even if not true, the information in this post will take you for a wild ride through the history of modern music. (N.B. The contents which follow were taken from many sources, both online and in print. I take no credit for the information herein. All I did was condense it into a terse and readable post.---Introibo).

Robert Johnson (May 8, 1911–August 16, 1938).

In Rosedale, Mississippi, where highways 61 and 49 intersect, stands a crossroads. Some claim that it is at this particular locale where the Delta Blues emerged as a manifest entity in the person and music of blues player Robert Johnson. Robert Johnson was a mediocre player at best—his mentor, Son House, said he “couldn’t play worth a da*n.” Then he vanished. When he returned, his fingers moved like lightning, his sound like fire. People didn’t believe what they heard. They said something had entered him—that he’d come back from that dark midnight meeting with more than music in his hands.

The legend goes that during the 1930s Johnson ventured to the Mississippi crossroads at midnight to make ask the devil to appear to him and strike a deal; Johnson’s eternal soul in exchange for unearthly guitar talents. He is hailed as one of the greatest blues guitarists in the world; and a precursor of rock and roll. There are many who claim (with good evidence) that it was just a gimmick and Johnson milked it for all it was worth. 

That he did. No less than three of Johnson's songs tell the story of the deal he made with Hell. His song Me and the Devil Blues has this to say:

Early this mornin'

When you knocked upon my door

Early this mornin', whoo

When you knocked upon my door

And I said, "Hello, Satan

I believe it's time to go"

Me and the Devil

Was walkin' side by side

Me and the Devil, whoo

Was walkin' side by side

I'm going to beat my woman

Until I get satisfied

She said you don't see why

That you would dog me round

Now baby, you know you ain't doin' me right, don'tcha?

She say you don't see why, whoo

That you would dog me round

It must-a be that old evil spirit

So deep down in the ground

You may bury my body

Down by the highway side

Baby, I don't care where you bury my body when I'm dead and gone

You may bury my body, whoo

Down by the highway side

So my old, evil spirit

Can get a Greyhound bus and ride

(Emphasis mine).

Johnson kept voodoo charms for protection—black cat bones, hot foot powder, conjure magic. He told people he wouldn’t live long. He died howling and with convulsions as he claimed frantically that he heard and saw ferrous huge dogs, hellhounds, coming for him before dying. There is no cause of death listed on Johnson's death certificate. It is believed he was poisoned by the husband of the woman with which he was committing adultery. He was 27 years old. Thus the so-called "27 Club" was born--a group of talented musicians who died aged 27. Whether or not Johnson had made an actual deal with the devil, one thing is certain; all members of the "club" were heavily into the occult. 

Brian Jones (February 28, 1942 – July 3, 1969

One of the founding members of the detestable rock group, The Rolling Stones, Jones was an occultist, as were the other band members. Whereas the glorification of sex by the band was well known, their glorification of Satan was not. Unlike bands such as AC/DC, or artists like Marilyn Manson, they somehow flew under the radar for promotion of Satanism. The 1968 album Beggars Banquet, produced one of the most horrid songs in history; Sympathy for the Devil. The song is listed by Rolling Stone magazine at #32 in its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time." (The magazine, founded in 1967, attributes its name to the group as well as the Muddy Water's song, and the aphorism "a rolling stone gathers no moss"). Originally, the song was to be titled Fallen Angels, and then changed to The Devil is My Name, before settling on the final nomenclature. It tells the story of history, including the Crucifixion of Our Lord, from Satan's point of view while he boasts of his role in history. 

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man (sic) of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul to waste
And I was 'round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt (sic) and pain
Made da*n sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his (sic) fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
I stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
I rode a tank
Held a general's rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made...

The song has been used (without objection) by Satan worshipers associated with Anton LaVey's  Church of Satan. Jones traveled to Morocco to record pagan trance music called The Rites of Pan—ancient rituals invoking the demon goat-god of chaos and lust. The same Pan that Satanist Aleister Crowley identified as Satan in his “Hymn to Pan.” Jones was found dead in his swimming pool at the age of 27, with the cause of death attributed to an enlarged liver and enlarged heart caused by years of heavy drinking and drug abuse.

Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards, later admitted he’d warned Brian: “You’ll never make thirty, man.” Brian nodded. “I know.” (See faroutmagazine.co.uk/rolling-stones-keith-richards-predicted-brian-jones-death). 

Jimi Hendricks (November 27, 1942–September 18, 1970)

Considered one of the greatest guitar players in rock and roll history, Jimi Hendrix held a keen interest in spiritism. Kwasi Dzidzornu, a conga player who often played with Hendrix, was from a village in Ghana, West Africa, where his father was a voodoo priest. Hendrix called himself the “Voodoo Child.” One of his hit songs Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) leaves no room for doubt:

Well, I stand up next to a mountain

And I chop it down with the edge of my hand

Yeah

Well, I stand up next to a mountain

And I chop it down with the edge of my hand

Well I pick up all pieces and make an island

Might even raise a little sand

Yeah

Cause I'm a Voodoo Child

Lord knows I'm a Voodoo Child baby...

Hendrix was heavily influenced by astrology, and on several occasions, claimed to be an extraterrestrial.

Tying together these assorted configurations in Jimi’s birth chart is Neptune, the planet of mysticism, escape, drugs and drink. Jimi was hardly alone in being swept away in a drug-induced miasma, but his sense of spirituality was unusually strong. He often described mystic episodes from his boyhood, and identified with the red Indian blood in his veins (even though he was only 1/16th Cherokee) that he felt brought him a shaman’s vision.

Predictably enough, Jimi himself was a devotee of astrology – at his 1970 concert in Hawaii he even invited the audience to divide according to their Sun signs. Listening to his cosmic voyages – to ‘as far away as Jupiter’s sulphur mines’, or to where mountains are chopped down ‘with the edge of my hand’ – one becomes aware of the multi-dimensional realm daily inhabited by Hendrix, with his passion for acid, numerology and space travel.

Yet Jimi remained careless about his earthly life. His horoscope shows no reasons why September 1970 should have spelt out his death. It was a foolish, avoidable accident. But, like he told us, Jimi, the brother from another planet, was only ever passing through. (See neilspencer.com/12-musician-sun-signs/sagittarius-jimi-hendrix/#:~:text=Tying%20together%20these%20assorted%20configurations,1).

The legendary guitar player’s long-term girlfriend Fayne Pridgon shared these worries:

He used to always talk about some devil, something was in him and he didn’t’ have any control over it. He didn’t know what made him act the way he acted and what made him say the things he said and songs and different things like that just come out of him… you know. It seems like to me he was so tormented and so torn apart and he really was He’d talk about us going down to Georgia and obsessed with something really evil. having some root lady drive this demon out of him. (Online recording; Emphasis mine).

Hendrix died at 27 on September 18, 1970, having choked to death on his own vomit while intoxicated with barbiturates.

Jim Morrison (December 8, 1943–July 3, 1971)

James Douglas Morrison (1943-1971) was born in Florida, and was a troubled person his entire life. He embodied the "hippie" counterculture movement of the 1960s. He was a "military brat," the son of a Rear Admiral, and had to relocate around the country. At the age of four, Morrison claims that there was a road accident wherein he witnessed a truck overturn, and there were bodies of Native Americans all over the road bleeding to death. He said the incident always stuck with him, and even influenced his songs. The veracity of the incident is challenged by his own parents and sister. In Morrison's biography No One Here Gets Out Alive, his father claimed they drove past some Native Americans who were in a vehicular accident, and one was crying, upsetting young Morrison. There was no mention of bleeding, dying Native Americans (or "Indians") along the road.  His sister is quoted as saying, "He enjoyed telling that story and exaggerating it. He said he saw a dead Indian [singular--Introibo] by the side of the road, and I don't even know if that's true." (See The Doors:The Illustrated History, [2012], pg. 12). I can't help but wonder if these were lies and exaggerations, or if perhaps young Morrison had a demonic encounter--a foreboding of when he would give himself over to Satan.

Morrison was a voracious reader, and took such notable atheists as Friedrich Nietzsche and Albert Camus as his literary and philosophical "heroes." He attended UCLA and graduated in 1965 with a bachelor's degree in cinematography. He lead a bohemian lifestyle, ingesting large amounts of LSD. Fancying himself a "poet," Morrison wrote many poems which would become the lyrics to his songs. He had a chance encounter with Ray Manzarek (d. 2013), a fellow student at UCLA who soon became a close friend. Manzarek was a keyboard player interested in forming a rock band, and he loved Morrison's poems, wanting them to be used as songs. Morrison went along with Manzarek, and the keyboard player also brought in guitarist Robert Kriege (b. 1946), and drummer John Paul Densmore (b. 1944).

The band got its name from the title of Aldous Huxley's book The Doors of Perception, and it was a reference to the "perceptions" opened up by the members' unceasing use of drugs. Morrison would write the lyrics and sing, and all of them (except for Morrison at the beginning) were into the teachings of the pagan guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (d. 2008). They got their break when they signed a record contract with Elektra Records, and released eight albums in five years. In 1967, the song Light My Fire, would become their first smash hit, selling over one million copies.

The band broke up in 1971 after the mysterious death of Morrison on July 3rd, at the age of 27. The cause of his death was never determined (no autopsy was performed) and lead to the urban legend that (like the late Elvis Presley) Morrison "faked his death." The legend was a powerful one for quite some time. In the 1980s, here in New York City, you would often see graffiti that proclaimed "Jim Morrison Lives."  The Doors sold over 100 million records to date and Rolling Stone magazine lists them as #41 on "The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time." They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Morrison never recanted his tale about the dead Indians (Native Americans). Did he perhaps see demons? I believe he did. According to Morrison himself, "The reaction I get now, thinking about it, looking back--is that the souls of the ghosts of those dead Indians...maybe one or two of 'em... were just running around freaking out, and just leaped into my soul. And they're still in there." (See lyrics of The Doors song Fragile Eggshell Mind). The biography Break on Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison[1991], has Doors producer Paul Rothchild quoted as saying, "...(the) spirit entered Jim's body. That was the pivotal event of his life. He always viewed himself as the shaman, having mystical powers..." (pg. 193; Emphasis mine). A shaman is a pagan "witch doctor" who uses drugs and forms of meditation designed to reach altered states of consciousness in order to perceive and interact with the "spirits" (i.e., demons). The shaman will then channel them to ostensibly help others, but ultimately lead these souls to perdition. Morrison and The Doors did this, not in some isolated part of Africa or Asia, but to the masses of Catholics; especially in Europe and America. 

This experience manifested itself in Morrison the singer during his shows when he would often "channel" a Native American shaman on stage, performing Indian dances and chanting. You can see him screaming and dancing like a shaman here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihn8ldJsfgQ. (You will also notice him sporting what appears to be a cross--what sacrilege!). The song The Soft Parade claims prayer to God is useless and you should "slay a few animals at the crossroads"--a reference to a Satanic ritual. 

When I was back there in seminary school
There was a person there
Who put forth the proposition
That you can petition the Lord with prayer
Petition the Lord with prayer
Petition the Lord with prayer
You cannot petition the lord with prayer...

You gotta meet me
Too late, baby
Slay a few animals
At the crossroads
Too late

The song Break On Through encourages the listener to "break on through to the other side." It has a double meaning. It encourages necromancy (condemned by the Church and in the Bible), and according to Morrison, "I like ideas about the breaking away or overthrowing of established order. I am interested in anything about revolt, disorder, chaos, especially activity that seems to have no meaning."

You know the day destroys the night
Night divides the day
Tried to run, tried to hide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Chased our plea here
Dug our trea there
Still recall, time we cried
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through, yeah
All right
Everybody loves my baby
Everybody loves my baby
She get
She get
She get
She get high

His demons made use of the other band members. According to Break On Through (cited above) Morrison's friend and keyboard player, Manzarak said, "Fifteen thousand people would be hushed, stopped, not even breathing. Man, when I was on stage with the guy (Morrison), I don't know who was playing the organ. Sure, it was my fingers, but..." (pg. 187; Emphasis mine). From No One Gets Out Alive (cited above) we read: "It was like Jim was an electric shaman, and we were the electric shaman's band, pounding away behind him. It would take him over...You could see every once in a while--twitch--I could hit a chord and make him twitch. And he'd go off again." (pgs. 159-160).

Janis Joplin (January 19, 1943-October 4, 1970)

Janis Joplin was a legendary American singer and a defining voice of 1960s psychedelic rock and blues, renowned for her raw, emotionally charged, and powerful vocals. She is sometimes referred to as the "first female rock star. Although raised in a Protestant household, her sister Laura remembered that in high school, Janis developed “an interest in the religion of voodoo,” passed to her by their family’s maid, Theresa. She would give herself over to the demonic.

Onstage, she became something more than a singer. Biographer Ann Angel called her “our shaman woman”—a performer whose sets felt like possession. She wrapped herself in voodoo amulets and feathers and branded her music the Kozmic Blues.  She consulted astrologers and was dubbed the Cosmic Witch—because audiences felt what she conjured: a voice like a spell, the presence of the demonic. (See Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing, [2010]). 

Just months before her death, she wrote home: “I managed to pass my—gasp—27th birthday.” 

(See pbs.org/newshour/arts/theres-more-to-janis-joplin-than-tragedy). 

On October 1, 1970, she recorded “Mercedes Benz.” The next song scheduled was titled “Buried Alive in the Blues.” She never made it to the microphone. Three days later, an alcoholic and drug addict, Joplin would die from a heroin overdose compounded by alcohol. Since her death, many occultists (including those who dabble in the occult) go to the hotel (Landmark Motor Hotel) where she died in an attempt to make contact with her. 

According to one source, at least one man believes he encountered "Janis Joplin:"

 Many fans, budding musicians, paranormal investigators and morbid curiosity seekers have stayed in the room, gotten drunk on Southern Comfort (Janis’ favorite liquor), set up altars, consulted Ouija boards, burned candles, composed songs, tried to record her ghostly voice (EVPs), attempted to photograph her reported materializations, and then written messages to her on the wall inside the walk-in closet. These messages, drawings, postings, etc. have been preserved as a sort of memorial to Janis, along with a plaque placed there by the hotel management.

I have stayed at the Highland Gardens many times since the early 80s and on one occasion, with my wife, asked to see room 105. Very spooky. We decided not to take the room.

Instead, we picked a room we had stayed in before on the second level of the courtyard overlooking the pool. Sometime after midnight, I went out onto the balcony to have a cigarette. When I opened the sliding glass door, I heard a sort of hollow singing echoing down below…just a half recognizable, raspy female voice…no instruments…it was not a radio or TV.

(See badwitch.es/janis-joplin-la-bruja-kosmica). 

Amy Winehouse (September 14, 1983--July 23, 2011

Winehouse was a Jewish singer and songwriter, who sang an eclectic mix of R&B and jazz. Winehouse was an alcoholic and deeply in the occult. In October 2008, a video captured Winehouse in a London studio ranting that the devil was making her take drugs. She was reportedly frustrated, broke her guitar, and was in a state of distress. 

(See upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/10/16/Winehouse-blames-drug-use-on-Satan/54291224169501/#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20Daily%20Telegraph%20article%2C%20Amy,a%20recording%20session%20for%20Winehouse's%20third%20album)

She often told friends and her mother, “I think I’m going to die young.” Her assistant said, “She knew she’d join the 27 Club.” She learned the occult from her grandmother who taught her to use Tarot cards. Winehouse was obsessed with her mortality. According to one source:

There was a less conventional dimension to the spell her grandmother cast on Amy: Cynthia was a keen Tarot card reader. Amy inherited her grandmother's belief in the power of Tarot: she was often seen with a pack of Tarot cards in her hand and when asked if she believed her grandmother could read the future, Amy nodded solemnly and said "Cynthia knew..."

Given the reckless, fatalistic way Amy began to behave in the aftermath of Cynthia's death, the question arises: had something she had read in the cards disturbed her? There are hints in the grave mood and lyrics of her second album to suggest that she believed she was doomed. In the titular Back To Black, Amy sang about her "odds being stacked" and in Love Is A Losing Game she lamented receiving a "losing hand".

Meanwhile, she became obsessed with her own mortality. The video for her single Back To Black featured her at a funeral. When television presenter Simon Amstell asked her what had happened to the more wholesome Amy of the Frank era, she replied: "She's dead". Friends and colleagues confirm that death became a subject of increased conversational interest to Amy.

(See https://theweek.com/people-news/amy-winehouse/1473/does-amys-grandmother-hold-key-her-death).

Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967---April 5, 1994)

Kurt Cobain and his group Nirvana are considered one of the most (if not the most) influential musicians of the 20th century. Nirvana has been called "The Beatles of the 90's," and Cobain "The John Lennon of the 90's." Just like The Beatles and Lennon, they are anti-Christian and spread an evil message. Cobain formed the band with high school friend Chris Novoselic (b. 1965) who played bass, and they recruited Dave Grohl (b. 1969) to play drums. The band was originally to be called Fecal Matter, but Cobain decided on "Nirvana," the pagan Hindu and Buddhist concept of a release from reincarnation, where your individuality is "blown out" like a candle. 

Around the age of 13, he became a frequent drug abuser, and became full fledged heroin addict by 1986. He penned songs full of despair and misery, echoing the state into which he had gotten himself. Cobain then turned to Satan worship as a way out and achieve respect and success. According to biographer Christopher Sandford, Cobain made it known publicly that his stated goal was to "get stoned and worship Satan" (See Kurt Cobain, Carroll & Graff Publishers, Inc., New York, 1997, pg. 42). 

Cobain was an admitted bisexual, and he would desecrate churches with Novoselic. According to Sandford, he spray-painted "GOD IS GAY" on the side of a Church and he would take song lyrics he was dissatisfied with and set them on "...fire and leave [them] burning on the porch of the Open Bible Church." Rolling Stone magazine reports he spray-painted "ABORT CHRIST" on the side of a church. In that same article, it is stated that "Cobain made a satanic-looking doll and hung it from a noose in his window." (April 16, 1992 issue). His biographer confirms that Cobain decorated his apartment with "baby dolls hanging by their necks with blood all over them," and he sported a most blasphemous decapitated statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Kurt Cobain, pgs. 54 & 89). 

That a man this depraved could be seen as a "hero" and the anniversary of his suicide "commemorated" demonstrates the depths to which our society has sunk. Unfortunately, Cobain's degeneracy doesn't stop with sick and sacrilegious acts. He became involved with witchcraft and began casting spells. He met occultist author William Burroughs, a whore-monger and bisexual pervert whose book Naked Lunch (1959) was so perverse that it went to court as it was considered a violation of the U.S. anti-sodomy laws. Burroughs "accidentally" killed his wife in Mexico while drunk and "playing William Tell" with a pistol in 1951. He was convicted of manslaughter and spent time in prison. Burroughs had such an influence on Cobain that, "William S. Burroughs received ‘special thanks’ on In Utero [Nirvana's third album] for being a cherished inspiration to Cobain."(See Chuck Chrisafulli, Teen Spirit, Simon & Schuster, pg. 6 [1996]). 

Cobain was obsessed with Church of Satan founder, and author of the Satanic Bible, Anton LeVay.  He wanted LeVay to play cello on Nirvana's first album, but for reasons unknown, it never happened. It was through his involvement with witchcraft leading to Satanism that Cobain's inspiration for songs came via "automatic writing." This is a process by which a person's hand moves without them consciously controlling it. Demons are thus channeled. According to the Rolling Stone interview, Cobain was "...stumbling on melodies by means he himself didn’t fully understand." 

On April 5, 1994, Cobain went home and shot himself in the head with a shotgun. His suicide note was addressed to his "invisible friend" named "Bodda." He complained that "his muse had gone south." Typically, Satan gives you power only to take it away and leave you in despair. Despite having a wife and child, his music was the only thing he really cared about and it made him want to live; now it was seemingly gone, and he took his life at age 27. He thought of the false idea of reincarnation, "If you die you’re completely happy and your soul somewhere lives on. I’m not afraid of dying. Total peace after death, becoming someone else is the best hope I’ve got." Having gone to judgement, Kurt Cobain knows the truth, and he's not someone else.

Conclusion

There are more people in the "27 Club," but these are the biggest names. ALL of the musicians in the so-called club were into the occult and some openly called on Satan. Robert Johnson claimed to have made a deal with the devil, and it is dismissed as a "legend" he used to help his career. Were his songs about a deal with Satan mere hype, or was it a confession? Could there be more than coincidence at work? You have the facts. I'll let you, my readers, decide for yourselves.