Monday, November 30, 2015

Soldiers Of Christ No More


 The news is increasingly more disturbing to read. Conflict after conflict is all we read and see. From the Mohammedan infidels attacking France, to Turkey shooting down a Russian plane, the world is in a constant state of struggle. However, we must not forget that the greatest battle we wage is the one for our immortal souls. "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places." (Ephesians 6:12)

 In pointing out what was wrong with the Vatican II "sacraments," I thought I would dedicate a post to the sacrament of Confirmation. This great sacrament is defined in The Baltimore Catechism thus:

 "Q. 670. What is Confirmation?
A. Confirmation is a Sacrament through which we receive the Holy Ghost to make us strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ."
"Q. 673. Why are we called soldiers of Jesus Christ?
A. We are called soldiers of Jesus Christ to indicate how we must resist the attacks of our spiritual enemies and secure our victory over them by following and obeying Our Lord."

According to the Vatican II sect's "Catechism of the Catholic (sic) Church" :
"ARTICLE 2
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

1285 Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the sacraments of Christian initiation, whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace. For by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."

The whole idea of being at a war against "the devil, the flesh, and the world," has been excised. It is now more "initiation" into the "People of God" (notice they always like to use the appellation "Christian" in place of "Catholic") which includes non-Catholics who are not "in full communion" with the "Church of Christ"--which is present in its fullness in the Catholic Church, but also present in false sects by different "degrees of participation" measured according to how many "elements of truth and sanctification" each sect possesses.  Also missing is the traditional emphasis on "resisting the attacks of our spiritual enemies" to be replaced by a call to "spread and defend the faith by word and deed." Although "Pope" Francis will remind you, "Proselytism is nonsense."

 What, therefore, is the True teaching on Confirmation, and how has the Vatican II sect invalidated it? I will answer in two parts.

THE TRADITIONALIST CATHOLIC TEACHING ON CONFIRMATION

The Holy and Ecumenical Council of Trent infallibly defined: "If any one saith, that the Confirmation of those who have been baptized is an idle ceremony, and not rather a true and proper sacrament; or that of old it was nothing more than a kind of catechism, whereby they who were near adolescence gave an account of their faith in the face of the Church; let him be anathema."

The Church has always taught that Confirmation is not necessary unto salvation, but it is an indispensable aid in helping a person fight for the Faith and the salvation of their soul; even to the point of sacrificing life itself to obtain eternal life in Heaven. The Apostles experienced miraculous gifts when the Holy Ghost descended upon them at Pentecost. While those miraculous gifts are not manifested today (healing others, speaking in tongues, etc.) the strength of character is manifested. Just as there have been reports of people performing extraordinary feats of strength under duress, likewise, the Gifts of the Holy Ghost will manifest to help us, provided we are in the State of Grace. 

St. Therese of Lisieux prepared diligently for this sacrament, and wrote, "On that day [she made her  Confirmation]I received the strength to suffer, a strength which I much needed, for the martyrdom of my soul was soon to begin." It is of Divine and Catholic Faith that Confirmation is one of three sacraments (the other two being Baptism and Holy Orders) which leaves an indelible mark, or 'character,' on the soul, and can therefore never be repeated without committing a grave sin of sacrilege. Pope Clement XIV approved a decree in 1774 which stated, "...this Sacrament cannot be refused or neglected without incurring the guilt of mortal sin, if there be an opportune occasion of receiving it."

CONFIRMATION VS. DEFORMATION (VATICAN II)

 The requirements for valid reception of Confirmation are not as clearly defined as the other sacraments, but the Vatican II sect has heaped so much doubt upon doubt as almost assuredly render it null and void. Let's examine the minister, the matter, the form, and the intention of the sacrament and what has happened to each.


The Minister of the Sacrament

The ordinary minister of the sacrament is the bishop, and the extraordinary minister is the priest.

 In 1968, the new Pauline rite of episcopal consecration and priestly ordination were introduced. They are null and void. Hence, unless the minister is (at least) validly ordained a priest prior to 1968, Confirmation is unquestionably invalid.

The Matter of the Sacrament

The remote matter is Holy Chrism which is made from olive oil and balsam which is then consecrated by a bishop on Maundy Thursday.

The Vatican II sect's Congregation of Divine Worship issued a decree in 1971 permitting the use of of other oils from other plants and seeds (e.g., coconut or vegetable oil) in the place of olive oil for Confirmation. This novelty has no basis in Church teaching and/or practice. (See Documents on the Liturgy, no. 3864)

The proximate matter is considered by most theologians to be both the anointing with Holy Chrism and the individual imposition of the hands by the bishop. (See theologian Pohle, Dogmatic Theology, B. Herder Book Co., 1923, 12:292-293)

The imposition of hands for each individual has been suppressed. Montini ("Pope" Paul VI) issued his "Apostolic Constitution" Divinae Consortium Naturae promulgated August 15, 1971, making the new rite mandatory effective January 1, 1973. He responded to a query (See Documents on the Liturgy, no. 306) stating that the anointing with chrism without the imposition of hands "sufficiently expresses the laying on of hands." Hence, most "bishops" do not impose the hands on the individual.

The use of other oils than olive oil in the Chrism, the lack (in almost all cases) of a valid bishop (or authorized priest as in the Eastern Rites) to consecrate it, and the suppression of the individual imposition of hands, renders the sacrament highly doubtful on these grounds alone.

The Form of the Sacrament

The traditional form in the Latin Rite is: "I sign thee with the sign of the cross, and I confirm thee with the Chrism of salvation. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost." The traditional form (pre-Vatican II) in the Eastern Rites was: "The sign of the Gift of the Holy Ghost."  

The new rite of Paul VI states: "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" shall be the new form of the Sacrament. Montini lies in Divinae Consortium Naturae, claiming, "The Sacrament of Confirmation is conferred through the anointing with chrism on the forehead, which is done by the laying on of the hand, and through the words: 'Accipe Signaculum Doni Spiritus Sancti.'" Just a few paragraphs before he had written (correctly): "In the East, in the fourth and fifth centuries there appear in the rite of anointing the first indications of the words 'signaculum doni Spiritus Sancti'" This is translated as "The sign of the Gift of the Holy Ghost." However, Montini renders it: "Accept the sign of the Gift of the Holy Ghost" and incorrectly translated in English to "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit" as I wrote above. It has been changed from the active giving of the character and gifts of the Holy Ghost to some passive request for the person to accept something. This ties in nicely with ecumenism, so as not to offend our "separated brethren" who detest the idea of an ordained clergy with powers to effectuate a sacrament "ex opere operato" (i.e., by the very performance of the sacramental sign).

Changing the sense of the words of the form renders Confirmation highly doubtful on this point alone.

The Intention

The bishop imparts the Character on the soul of the candidate to receive the Holy Ghost and His Seven Gifts to make the recipient a "soldier of Christ."

The faulty form gives the idea that instead of getting an indelible mark on the soul, you are merely passively receiving something. Montini stated, " in a certain way [Confirmation] perpetuates the grace of Pentecost in the Church." (See  Divinae Consortium Naturae). It is ambiguous at best. The Church once again bestows the grace of Pentecost, really and actively, not "in a certain (passive) way" of recalling an event in the past and accepting a gift from God. Any minister who would positively intend to do that, may have a defective intention invalidating the sacrament.

Once more, the Modernists of the Vatican II sect have destroyed something sacred. If you have not been confirmed by a Traditionalist Bishop in the traditional rite of the Church, please try and do so as soon as practicable. In these tough times, we need to be soldiers for Christ, not cowardly Modernists who have raised the white flag of surrender to the devil, the flesh, and the world.  


21 comments:

  1. Thank you for commenting on my blog. Hopefully I will have better recording equipment in the future.. Do you belong to a traditional society of some kind or are you a "loner?"
    It would be easier to navigate on your blog if you added a "search this blog" tool and added some "labels." If not, you have to search through your entire archive to get an overview, and only people with a lot of time on their hands, and a special interest will do that.
    Cincerely
    Sunniva

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    1. I am not, nor shall I ever be a "Home Aloner" if that's what you mean by a "loner." I attend Mass mostly with the Society of St. Pius V, but also at the Ave Maria Chapel where my spiritual father, Fr. Gommar A. DePauw was pastor until his holy passing in 2005. It is currently run by Fr. Evangelista (ordained pre-V2).

      Your suggestions for my blog are noteworthy and I shall look into them!
      God Bless,
      ---Introibo

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  2. I am praying to find a traditional Bishop to confirm me.Its very difficult if you don't live near a major city on the east coast.

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    1. I don't know where, exactly, you live but in California there are CMRI chapels where Bp. Pivarunas can confirm, and In Montana there is the SSPV where Bp. Santay confirms. In a pinch, see if you can locate an SSPX chapel where Confirmation is given.
      You're in my prayers! Good luck and God Bless,
      ---Introibo

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  3. Introibo, I am wondering if you would consider writing something to help some of us out who are isolated and have no real Catholic friends. It gets very depressing and discouraging. We are an older couple who sit home on Sundays now. I read the Mass propers and pray my Rosary and other prayers.

    But it is very hard in the face of an increasingly evil society that seems to be getting even more evil at a rapid rate. Do you see and feel it too?

    It makes it harder when you are older and remember a much saner society along with a Church that was actually Catholic (which wouldn't take much compared to what we have today - FrancisChurch makes the pre-VII Church look like something out of Aesop's Fables).

    Thank you and God bless you - say a prayer for me please.

    "L"

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    1. "L": Just so you know you are not alone, I am in the same situation as you are. Alone in the true faith and not able to attend a true Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I refuse to be discouraged or depressed because I consider my "outcast" status a blessing because God has given me the grace to believe the Truth while so many others have been deceived.

      Keep praying the Rosary daily and keep the true faith. Pray for all those who are still blind and deaf that God will also get through to them.

      "E"

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    2. Dear L,
      My heart goes out to you. I often remind Traditionalists in the NYC area how lucky we are to be near Long Island, the "home" of Traditionalist Catholicism started here by Fr. DePauw back in 1964---(yes, 1964!). We have three chapels and one Church where the True Mass and Sacraments can be found.

      There are many like you (and dear E who wrote in response to you) without a Traditionalist Church or Chapel near them. "E" has a great outlook, and I agree that by offering up your sufferings and longings for the Mass and Sacraments, God will reward you. However, there are things you can do, and yes, in the coming weeks I'll write a post about it.

      I feel the evil and craziness and I thank God he has given us the greatest Gift one can ever receive---the Integral Catholic Faith without which you cannot please God or be saved. You and your spouse have each other, and I consider all my Traditionalist readers to be part of my family of Faith. (See Galations 6:10). I don't remember pre-Vatican II days, having just turned 50. Nevertheless, Christ showed me the Truth and I became a Traditionalist in 1981. I wish I could've lived in a time with a real pope and a saner world as you did.

      "L" and "E" please consider me your friend in the Faith. Be assured of my special prayers for you at every Mass I attend. I'll have more to write about all this soon.

      May the love of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph console you and your families this Advent and Christmas.

      In Deo,
      ---Introibo

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    3. Aves for all who keep the faith in exile.

      "Now the apostates are these: Arius, Achilles, Anthales, Carpones, another Arius, and Samartes, sometime Presbyters; Euzoius, Lucius, Julius, Menas, Helladius, and Gaius, sometime Deacons: and with them Secundus and Theonas, sometime called Bishops. And the novelties they have invented and put forth contrary to the scriptures are these following….[The Saint goes on to lay-out in detail the falsehoods of the wolves in question.]” Historical Tracts of St. Athanasius, John Henry Newman, Editor."

      The apostates are easy to see. And God bless those who do not pretend and look away.

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    4. Introibo: Thank you for considering me a part of your family and a friend. And thank you for praying for me and "L".

      I was fortunate to experience pre-Vatican II days for a few short years and so the Great Apostasy has been extremely difficult for me. I used to be able to walk to Mass until the church was taken over by the apostates. I can only offer up my suffering in reparation for my own sins and those of the world and continue to pray that I will persevere in my faith. At least there are some wonderful websites such as yours that I can visit and can at least listen to some orthodox sermons, which were not available (at least to me) in the late 1960's and forward.

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  4. "E" you have the right outlook, and thank you for reminding me. Discouragement and depression can only come from one source. I will try to remember this and offer my isolation and feeling of abandonment up in reparation for my sins and the sins of the world.

    Keep me in your prayers please.

    "L"

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    1. "L": I will keep praying for you and for the conversion to the one, true faith of those who have lost it or never believed.

      'E"

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  5. Introibo, you are very kind. Thank you for your thoughtful and lengthy response. Most especially, thank you for your prayers.

    "L"

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  6. Regarding the SSPV and the CMRI I have to say that the people at the Most Holy Family Monastery are right. There are issues with the Salvation dogma and the baptism of desire heresy that can not be ignored..
    http://www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/catholicchurch/society-of-st-pius-v/#.VmMDE3u6s7A

    And is it not amazing how many children the Saints raised from the dead in order to baptize them? Something to think about. TAN books has a great reading called "Saints who raised the dead-400 resurrection miracles"

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    1. Sorry, Sunniva, but I must disagree with you. Check out my posts of 7/17/14, 7/22/14, 8/6/14, 8/10/14 regarding Feeneyism and the Dimond "Brothers." You can also check out the comments section in my post of 11/2/15, wherein I engage a Vatican II Fenneyite named Lionel Andrades, who believes that Feeneyism and Vatican II must be true since we can't "see the dead." (I kid you not)

      A friend of mine observed that all Fenneyites have a certain "sickness of soul." I agree with him. Baptism of Desire (BOD) and Baptism of Blood (BOB)are so firmly taught as part of the Divine and Catholic Faith that to deny them would make that person a heretic.

      While the Dimonds have brought attention to the apostasy of Vatican II, they are wrong and contradictory on so much else, they have lost any right to claim the title "Traditionalist Catholic." I own 2 copies of the book "Raised from The Dead" by TAN books.

      The resurrection miracles were not to deny BOD and BOB , but to stress the importance of the sacrament of Baptism with water. Remember, BOD requires perfect contrition, whereas the Sacrament only requires attrition. Perfect contrition is a hard disposition to achieve, unlike attrition, so the Sacrament worthily received ensures salvation. God wants everyone to receive Baptism (the sacrament) as the ORDINARY means of salvation. BOD and BOB are EXTRAORDINARY means to enter the Church just before death, and are miracles of God. We don't want to depend on such for our salvation or that of other people. That's why those miracles were performed.
      ---Introibo

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  7. Pius XII worship is my current beef.Pius XII was a human wrecking ball from 1951-1958 destroying some of the oldest traditions in the church.The website Tradition In Action.Org (I hold sedevacantist position so I disagree with TIA recognize & resist position)has very good detailed articles about how drastic & unpopular these changes were in the 50's.Thanks be to G-d our priest observes the after midnight fast and pre-1951 Holy Week..Pius XII destroyed that too by allowing 3 hour fast.Yes he "encouraged" observing after midnight fast but that to me was a fake move to make him look "traditional." Human beings will always take the easy way out and he knew that.I'm sure I will be blasted as nothing upsets traditional catholics more than simply pointing out the 50's were the test run for the novus ordo and Pius XII,by his ACTIONS, was the first Novus Ordo Pope.

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    1. I don't totally disagree with you. You make valid points. I agree with the position of the SSPV and various independents that the "reforms" of 1951-1958 paved the way for thinking "anything goes." They therefore became evil, so the law ceased to bind. They are not evil per se. The 1954 Missal (minus the 1951 Easter Vigil) should be preferred over all other editions.

      Was Pope Pius XII as strong as he could/should have been? He was not St. Pius X, but he's no Montini!! He held the Catholic Faith and trusted wolves in sheep's clothing. He was also sick with stomach cancer when some liturgical legislation was passed, so we must wonder if his mind was clear.

      I do disagree about the modified Eucharistic Fast of 3/25/1957. Yes, people take the easy way out, but remember also, that as the workforce was requiring people to spend more time at work, evening Masses were introduced. On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, I will be attending the Most Holy Sacrifice at 8pm. Under the old rule, that means I would be fasting about 21 hours before Communion after working all day. I see no problem with the modified fast.
      ---Introibo

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  8. Out of curiousity,why don't you prefer the pre-1951 easter vigil?
    Our priest celebrates the pre-1951 holy week,including the Easter vigil.

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    1. I do prefer the pre-1951 Easter Vigil, as celebrated by the SSPV. That's what I meant by the "1954 Missal minus the 1951 Easter Missal" in my comment above.
      ---Introibo

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    2. OK sorry I misunderstood.Glad to hear it,Catholics like us are hard to find these days!

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  9. Hello Introibo. Is a sponsor/proxy (?) necessary for confirmation (to touch you in the confirmation)?

    I have no friend/family member who's also a sedevacantist.

    Or.. if I pick just anyone, they can't fulfill the duties.

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    1. King Pius,
      According to Theologian Halligan the requirement of a sponsor is “grave” outside the danger of death. What the SSPV does is to pick a devout member of the congregation where you will be confirmed to act as Sponsor. You get to know him and exchange information beforehand and to stay in touch afterwards. I’m sure the CMRI probably does the same.

      —-Introibo

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