Monday, March 6, 2017

Promises, Promises


 Joan Carroll Cruz was an author and "conservative" member of the Vatican II sect. Most of what she wrote is reverent and edifying. She writes about popular devotional topics, typically saints, relics, Eucharistic miracles and the like. She passed in 2012 at the age of 81. I have a copy of her popular little booklet entitled Prayers and Heavenly Promises (compiled from approved sources). The "approval" of some promises comes from the Vatican II sect, which is no approval at all. Traditionalists must be careful when it comes to belief in promises attached to some prayer or devotion. There is a three-fold danger: (1) promises which claim approval and are not, (2) promises which have been condemned or censured, and (3) misunderstandings of authentic promises which can lead to a loss of Faith, or even jeopardize one's soul. This post will examine true and false promises from Heaven as well as the Church's teaching on interpreting such promises.


Church Teaching on Devotions 

 On May 26, 1937, The Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office published the following decree with full approval of His Holiness Pope Pius XI:

  "Long ago the Sacred Council of Trent, after declaring that the worship of the saints and the use of their images to obtain favors from God is legitimate, solemnly warned the Bishops that, if they found that any abuses were creeping in or had crept into these holy and salutary practices, they must take great care to eradicate them, so that no images that are theologically false and might be an occasion of dangerous error to the unlearned be set up; that all superstition in the invocation of saints and in the use of sacred images be removed; that all profit seeking be eliminated; and finally that nothing inordinate, nothing distorted or hasty, nothing profane, nothing unworthy be observed.

Faithful to these prescriptions, the Roman Pontiffs have been diligent in calling them to mind upon various occasions and in demanding that they be fully observed. In particular, Pius IX of holy memory, through a decree of the Holy Office dated January 13, 1875, by his supreme authority decreed: “that writers who exercise their talents upon subjects savoring of novelty, and who under the guise of piety try to promote unaccustomed forms of devotion even through papers and magazines, be warned to cease from these activities and to consider the danger which they incur of drawing the faithful into error even regarding the dogmas of the Faith, and of giving to those who hate religion the opportunity to disparage the purity of Catholic doctrine and of true devotion.” These same provisions have lately been confirmed by being introduced, almost in the same words, into the Code of Canon Law, especially in canons 1259, 1261, and 1279.

Unfortunately, however, so many grave warnings and injunctions of the Supreme ecclesiastical Authority have thus far failed to obtain full obedience. In fact, as everyone knows, these new forms of worship and devotion, often enough ridiculous, usually useless imitations or corruptions of similar ones which are already legitimately established, are in many places, especially in these recent days, being daily multiplied and propagated among the faithful, giving occasion to great astonishment and to bitter aspersion on the part of non-Catholics.

Again and again therefore, this Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, which is charged with the guardianship of the purity and integrity of faith and morals, by express mandate of His Holiness, by Divine Providence Pope, Pius XI, earnestly appeals to the zeal and pastoral solicitude of the Bishops who have the care of souls throughout the Catholic world, and charges them in conscience to urge at last the strictest observance of the aforesaid admonitions and injunctions, by firmly abolishing abuses which have already arisen, and taking the most diligent precautions lest any new ones come into vogue.

Approved and confirmed in every respect, and ordered to be published, by His Holiness, in the audience of May 20, 1937. Given at Rome, from the Palace of the Holy Office, May 26, 1937." 

One must also keep in mind what the Church dogmatically teaches regarding salvation. In the Decree on  Justification,  The Council of Trent teaches:

"No one, moreover, so long as he is in this mortal life, ought so far to presume as regards the secret mystery of divine predestination, as to determine for certain that he is assuredly in the number of the predestinate; as if it were true, that he that is justified, either cannot sin any more, or, if he do sin, that he ought to promise himself an assured repentance; for except by special revelation, it cannot be known whom God hath chosen unto Himself."

"So also as regards the gift of perseverance, of which it is written, He that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved: which gift cannot be derived from any other but Him, who is able to establish him who standeth that he stand perseveringly, and to restore him who falleth: let no one herein promise himself any thing as certain with an absolute certainty; though all ought to place and repose a most firm hope in God's help."

"For even as no pious person ought to doubt of the mercy of God, of the merit of Christ, and of the virtue and efficacy of the sacraments, even so each one, when he regards himself, and his own weakness and indisposition, may have fear and apprehension touching his own grace; seeing that no one can know with a certainty of faith, which cannot be subject to error, that he has obtained the grace of God."

From Trent we learn that it is of Faith that: (1) no one can know for certain he will be saved except by special revelation from God, such as in the case of the Good Thief. "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more now in my absence,) with fear and trembling work out your salvation." (See Philippians 2: 12); (2) The greatest gift of Final Perseverance comes from God and we should pray and  do good works for it unceasingly. This gift cannot be merited so as God "must save us," however, if you continue with prayer and good works until your last breath, you can place firm hope that God will save you. (3) No one can have absolute certainty they are in the state of grace at any given moment. Only moral certainty is possible.

Hence, any promise which gives you a "guarantee of salvation" for saying certain prayers, doing certain pious acts cannot be true. For God can neither deceive nor be deceived. He cannot contradict the dogmatic teachings of His One True Church.

Unapproved and Censured Promises

The Two Divine Promises. In Mrs. Cruz' booklet, on pg. 12. Briefly stated, the "Two Divine Promises" ensure the salvation of any priest (and one person selected by that priest) who offers Mass for 30 consecutive days and prays the Stations of the Cross daily during that time.  In addition, anyone who worthily receives Holy Communion for 30 consecutive days and prays one Pater and one Ave for the welfare of the Catholic Church will be saved along with one other person of his choosing. This promise was allegedly made to a"Polish soul" by Our Lord. Who could "approve" something directly opposed to divine and Catholic Faith? To my knowledge, these promises were never approved (at least prior to Vatican II).

The Magnificent Promises. St. Bridget of Sweden allegedly received these fifteen (15) promises from Christ for any person who recites the fifteen (15) prayers in honor of the (alleged) 5,480 blows He received during His Holy Passion. The prayers are not heretical, and are edifying, but the promises stand censured. The second promise purports to have "Fifteen souls of his (the person who says the prayers) lineage... confirmed and preserved in grace." This means assurance of salvation for him and fifteen (15) people in his lineage. In 1954 the Holy Office decreed:

 "In certain places a booklet has appeared with the title 'The Secret of Happiness: Fifteen Prayers Revealed by Our Lord to Saint Brigid in the Church of Saint Paul in Rome,' published in various languages at Nice (and elsewhere).Since it is asserted in this booklet that certain promises were made by God to Saint Brigid, and it is by no means certain that these promises were of supernatural origin, Ordinaries of places [bishops of dioceses] must avoid giving permission to publish or to reprint works or writings which contain the aforesaid promises. Given at Rome, from the Holy Office, 28 January, 1954" 

 Prayer of St. Gertrude, Drops of Blood Prayer, Shoulder Wound Prayer. These three prayers were ascribed as releasing a certain number of souls from Purgatory whenever recited. It was alleged that 1,000 souls would be released from Purgatory each time the St. Gertrude Prayer was recited. On May 26, 1898, the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences and Holy Relics under Pope Leo XIII decreed, "The leaflets and booklets which promise the faithful that they will free one or more souls from Purgatory by the recitation of some prayer or another are to be rejected : and the Indulgences which are wont to be attached to the said promise are to be held as apocryphal."

Divine Mercy. Now celebrated in the Vatican II sect with much fanfare the Sunday after Easter (Low Sunday on the Traditionalist Calendar), the works of "St." Faustina Kowalska were placed on the Index of Prohibited Books by His Holiness Pope Pius XII. The Holy Office in 1959, under Cardinal Ottaviani, (Roncalli was only "pope" a very short time, and the Cardinals of the Congregation all enjoyed true jurisdiction) forbade "images and writings that promote devotion to Divine Mercy in the forms proposed by Sister Faustina." The image is a pallid imitation of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the devotion is to be recited on the Rosary--supplanting the greatest devotion in the Church! There is no evidence of supernatural character, but all was "rehabilitated" under John Paul the Great Apostate. 

Don't Some True Devotions Promise Salvation?

 Some people mistakenly think that true devotions and promises such as the Nine First Fridays in honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Five First Saturdays in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Brown Scapular promise us salvation. This is simply false. The 12th Promise of those devoted to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus states, "I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment." How is this different from the Two Divine Promises, or the other unapproved promises? 

First, the supernatural origin is beyond doubt. Second, no one can have absolute certainty they carried out the request with the correct disposition--remember that no one can know if they are in the state of grace, so you have only moral certainty. Third, to persevere in the love of Christ's Heart so long is thereby engaging in prayers and works to obtain salvation. Fourth, anyone who performs the Nine First Fridays with the intention that they will sin with impunity thereafter, or not need to worry about getting to Heaven, does not have the proper disposition to gain the promise in the first place! Likewise, the scapular promise, "Whosoever dies clothed in this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire" was always understood by the Church as meaning Mary will help to salvation those devoted to her and who work out their salvation battling the devil, the flesh and the world. It is not a license to wear the Scapular, live like a heathen committing mortal sins, and you can die entering Heaven because you're wearing a Scapular. 

Conclusion
Avoid any new devotions and the promises connected to them. We have no one to authorize anything in this time of near universal apostasy. Remain true to those devotions propagated time and again by Holy Mother Church, and remember that the promises are not guarantees.  They can help us get to Heaven, but they are not "golden tickets" nor a free pass to sin. Be careful, too, that prayers that promise to grant you some favor are always conditioned on what God knows is best for us. He will not grant something we want if He knows it will end up damning us. People often forget that and, when some petition is not granted, they lose faith. 

 God has given us some wonderful promises. However, in order to obtain them, we must promise to always work out our salvation in fear and trembling, and remember that God will not grant anything He knows will hurt us. 

49 comments:

  1. I always thought it was odd that my prayer could release 1,ooo souls from Purgatory.
    Seems like we would be taking the place of the great Judge.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm new to the SSPV, so please excuse my ignorance. This past All Souls' Day, 3 Masses were said in succession for the Poor Souls. During these Masses, many, many people constantly got up, left, went outside, then returned. Over, and over, and over again. I didn't know if people were sick, or what! It seemed ridiculous. Later, I was told that they were doing prayers to release 1000 souls at a time, and they had to actually get up and leave then walk back in for it to count.
    I assumed it was nonsense. Your post clarifies that it was!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The 1,000 souls part is nonsense. You're referring to what the Church calls Toties Quoties--"as often as it is done." It is described as follows:
      For November 1 and November 2 there is a special plenary indulgence when one fulfills the "Toties Quoties" Prayers. From noon on All Saints Day through midnight of All Souls Day the Catholic faithful, as often as they visit a church to pray for the dead, reciting six times during each visit the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the intentions of Holy Mother Church may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the souls in Purgatory, under the usual conditions of making a good Confession within a week before or after, worthily receiving Holy Communion within the week and having the right intention of heart. This is called the Toties Quoties Indulgence."

      It is an abuse to leave during Mass. Only one plenary indulgence is gained each time. Before the Great Apostasy, people would travel to different Churches to gain the Indulgences. Now, with so few Churches, you leave and then re-enter. However, when I see people walk out and step right back inside within 2 seconds and do this repeatedly, I question its validity. I love the SSPV, but they need to curb the abuse and inform the people much better on this point. Toties quoties is legitimate as I quoted above. How it's applied today is another matter.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  3. Regarding the Divine Mercy by Faustina, I read part of it and it was nauseating. In my opinion this woman was an egomaniac in a delusion of her own grandeur. How anyone after reading the Divine Mercy thinks this woman was a saint is beyond me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're correct Joann. Anyone who investigates the alleged apparitions and its seer will see they are inauthentic. It's a phony devotion and a phony Saint given by a phony "pope-Saint" John Paul the Great Apostate.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    2. Hi, Joann,

      I have never read about Divine Mercy and "Saint" Faustina into depth. Could you explain what is wrong in them? (I know it is wrong; just curious about what is the problem.)

      Delete
    3. My opinion is that False Pope John Paul elevated the Divine Mercy because of the following statement by Faustina: " Poland will project the spark that will light the world and prepare it for my second coming". John Paul evidently contributed himself to being the "spark". The whole Divine Mercy mess should have stayed on the List of Prohibited Books as Pope Pius XII instituted. The Novus Ordo has become infested with the Divine Mercy and the majority of the people just go along with it without ever reading or researching it.

      Delete
    4. William -
      Below are a list of a few quotes from Faustina's Divine Mercy: (Jesus is supposedly talking to her).
      "You are a sweet grape and a chosen cluster; I want others to have a share in the juice that is flowing within you."
      "You are a living Host."
      "For your sake I will bless the world."
      "I am uniting myself with you so intimately as with no other creature."
      Faustina was an egomaniac and delusional in my opinion. Her writings make me nauseated. No wonder her works were put on the Index of Prohibited Books by Pope Pius XII.

      Delete
    5. William,
      I second Joann's comments. She is right on. Moreover, how is this devotion different from the Most Sacred Heart? Isn't the Sacred Heart the True "abyss of Mercy"? This devotion is just exaggerated "mercy" in many ways. It also detracts from Our Lady's Rosary as I explained in my post. The whole thing is a sham.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    6. Here is a prayer someone wanted me to pray that comes with unbelievable promises:

      http://www.jesusmariasite.org/Salvation/pdf/12PrayersStBrigit.pdf

      Among the promises is that you will not spend any time in purgatory, no one in your family will go to hell for four generations and God will reveal to you the moment of your death one month in advance. Because the promises seemed so unbelievable I declined to say the prayer.

      Delete
    7. You were wise to do so. These promises are contrary to Faith.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    8. I understand that our guardian angel is from the lowest rank of the nine choirs of the angels.

      The Seraphim are the highest and holiest rank, who stand before the Throne of God and say the Sanctus without ceasing.

      Apparently, Sr Faustina's guardian angel was one of the Seraphim, so we are told.

      Delete
    9. At times she seems (blasphemously) akin to the Most Holy Mother of God!

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    10. I used to think ill of Sister Faustina UNTIL I had a polish valid Catholic priest as pastor and spiritual advisor.
      His grandparents were from same exact village as S.Faustina.
      S.Faustina was literally barely literate,the dialect of Polish that area spoke was a severe minority compared with rest of Poland.
      Everyone in that area of Poland old enough to remember is convinced the diary is a complete forgery and fraud.(the woman could barely read and write)
      Also,the original Divine Mercy image is NOTHING like the 1978 New Age novus ordo image.
      (Google original)
      S.Faustina's priest was very young,conservative,and very guarded with Faustina and her message while he was alive.
      Neither of them nor their Bishop wanted a big production nor did they want the spotlight.
      Isn't it odd JP2 wheeled out the "Divine Mercy" 4 decades after S.Faustina died?

      Delete
    11. Very odd indeed! What you're saying could very well be the case. Machinations at the Modernist Vatican making a humble nun into something she never was to advance their heretical cause!

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    12. Our priest said
      "Anyone who knew Faustina (which were a few nuns and 1 priest who spoke a rare dialect of Polish) were dead in 1978.
      No one could challenge JP2's narrative.

      Delete
    13. Didn't Faustina die in 1938? Wasn't her writings on the List of Forbitten Books before Vatican II?

      Delete
    14. Yes to both questions. The priest's grandparents related the info as I understand the comment.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    15. The below cited source was taken from Wikipedia regarding Faustina and the Divine Mercy:
      "On 3/6/59, the Holy Office issued a notification...that forbade circulation of images and writings that promote devotion to Divine Mercy...The negative judgement of the Holy Office was based on...theological difficulties such as the claim that Jesus had promised complete remission of sin for certain devotional acts without specifying the forgiveness would be obtained directly or through undertaking reception of the Sacraments, and what may have been thought to be excessive concentration on Faustina herself."
      As regarding Faustina being illiterate, I read that she had 4 yrs education, but can't remember the source.

      Delete
    16. My polish priest wasn't encouraging the devotion.
      Re-read my commemts and remember them next time you hear about Sr.Faustina.
      Pray for her soul we won't know the truth until heaven.

      Delete
    17. That's what I understood and I agree with you we won't know if she was the pawn of the Modernists or something bad of her own accord until we leave this world.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    18. 4 years of education could mean many different things.
      She wasn't advanced enough in literacy to write an extensive diary.(this is what I was told by a valid sedevacantist polish priest)
      Add that they spoke a rare unique dialect of Polish
      How in the world was it translated into so many languages?
      You see what he was getting at?The entire episode is bizarre.The more I learned I felt bad that I thought ill of Faustina
      She may have been a simple village woman in an intense situation and didn't have the grace or wits to understand.
      We will never know,pray for her soul.

      Delete
    19. I agree. Thank you for your comments.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  4. Did not John XXIII, yes, John XXIII, condemn the Divine Mercy diary and image, not once, but twice?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Roncalli did indeed! It took a fellow Polish person, Wotyla, who fancied himself as part of the fulfillment of Divine Mercy that he "rehabilitated" it!

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  5. Introibo, if the 12th Promise of The Sacred Heart isn't true as you claim it has been the duty of The Catholic Church to condemn the 12th Promise and with it the whole Devotion to The Sacred Heart. But it hasn't been done and never will.

    Therefore, disbelieving the 12th Promise of The Sacred Heart is disbelieving and offending of The Sacred Heart Itself and disbelieving and offending of The Catholic Church Who approved of the 12th Promise and is therefore gravely sinful. You ought to repent and retract your very grave error.

    Anyone who has read any Catholic booklet about Devotion to The Sacred Heart or any other devotion which promises salvation and was approved by The Catholic Church knows how it works: man believes and does exactly that to what God has promised eternal salvation. Without very great grace of God no one can either believe devotion's promise or faithfully do what devotion requires.

    St. Alphons Mary Liguori and St. Leonard of Port Maurice both spread and gave to penitents as satisfaction for their sins the Three Hail Marys devotion which promises salvation to ANYONE who says three Hail Marys daily. Many atheists, liberals, "free-thinkers" etc. were supernaturally converted and saved at the last moment because they were saying three Hail Marys daily, and it was acceptable to God even when they were doing it without faith and without ardor.

    If a man wears scapular all the time and sins badly he can nevertheless somehow die without scapular as punishment for his sins and perish. It's no small grace of God to wear scapular when it's most important: at the moment of death.

    When men have life vests why wouldn't God offer men eternal-life vests? Life vests are made for those who fall into water, that is, sin. Is God less good than men? Just follow what The Catholic Church has approved and the saints have recommended and sin not against them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You believe in the error opposite to the Protestants---Justification by A Work Alone. You must understand the promises as the Church does. If the Council of Trent dogmatically defined that no one--without special revelation from God --- can know if they are among those who will be saved. The 12th promise or the Scapular is NOT such a revelation. The Good Theif is an example of such. So just recite the Three Hail Marys everyday? I do that already. So now I have a pass to steal, lie, cheat, commit adultery, etc and I will be saved! Who thought Catholicism could be so easy?

      Doesn't work that way. As you said, follow what the Church has approved (and taught)-- not your own distorted interpretation.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    2. And for the record, I do NOT say the 12th promise of the Sacred Heart isn't true, only that it isn't interpreted correctly by many. You need to believe it as the Church does.

      The 11th promise of those who recite the Rosary is "You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary" If what you claim is true, then pray for a million dollars. Pray for world peace, the conversion of all to the One True Church, and the end of all disease, and it will happen. This is not Traditionalist Catholicism. It is superstitious and contrary to Church teaching as well as the authentic interpretation, namely, you receive all that God knows will not ultimately harm your salvation.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    3. I could ask for a million dollars, but I probably wouldn't be granted it because it would probably. harm my salvation.

      Delete
  6. Can a person who honestly prays his or her Rosary daily not be converted eventually? Too continue to sin grievously while meditating on the effects of sin daily seems impossible. I know that the saints have written of sinners who did so, but I wonder if these sinners mentioned were praying devoutly? or just mumbled through the beads?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure they prayed with at least SOME intent of pleasing God and Our Lady. Yes, that person will be converted, but the more devout, the more graces will be given. It comports with Church teaching.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  7. It would become mentally painful too do both daily.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Is it grevious mortal sin to miss holy mass during Lent?
    Had severe disagreement with our priest last Sunday & there is no sede Catholic chapel within 135 miles from home.(other than 1 I was faithfully attending)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a mortal sin to miss Mass ANY Sunday or Holyday of Obligation without an excusing factor. Such factors include, but are not limited to, personal illness, infirmities, inability to travel far, etc. This is the standard teaching of all pre-Vatican 2 moral theologians such as Prummer and Jone. If you'd like an exact citation, please let me know.

      God bless,

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    2. No its fine but am I obligated to travel 270 miles round trip for holy mass?

      Delete
    3. No, you are not. Long distances are an excusing cause (See theologian Jone, "Moral Theology," pg. 125)

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  9. "there is no sede Catholic chapel within 135 miles from home.(other than 1 I was faithfully attending)"

    My friend, if you have a chapel within 135 miles of your home, then that's your chapel, disagreement or not.

    I have never read any catechism book or work of moral theology that said a disagreement with a priest was a justifying reason to miss Mass. The obligation remains.

    I say this out of concern because I have known a lot of people over the years who stopped attending Mass because of a personal disagreement with their priest, and most of them eventually fell away from the Faith.

    Priests are human beings too and can be rude, arrogant, annoying, and many other things that are much, much worse. God knew this when He commanded us to attend Mass every Sunday, and yet He didn't make an exception for anyone who had a difficult priest.

    Bottom line: You don't have to send your priest a Christmas card this year if you don't want to, but you still have to fulfill your Sunday obligation. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have no idea or clue what's going on in this situation
      I said "severe disagreement" to be nice and avoid scandal.
      Have a nice day.

      Delete
    2. Moral theologians do list long distances ALONE as an excusing cause for Mass Obligation. Add to this the serious problem (not a mere "disagreement"), and there is no sin involved in missing Mass.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    3. This has been an interesting exchange. May I quote from Fr. Jone? He lists various

      "Excuses from assisting at Mass. Any moderately grave reason suffices to excuse one from assistance at Holy Mass, such as considerable hardship or corporal or spiritual harm either to onself or another.

      "Therefore, the following are excused: the sick, convalescents, persons who cannot endure the air in church (e.g., certain neurotic persons and sometimes pregnant women in the first or last months of pregnancy); those that have a long way to church, people hindered by the duties of their state (e.g, shepherds, watchmen, policemen on duty, cooks, and those working in mills that may not shut down over Sunday); women or children who would incur the grave displeasure of their husbands or parents by attending Mass; [...] those that care for the sick, rescue workers in time of fire or flood; and those who have reason to think that by staying home they can hinder sin; or who would suffer injury to their good name or possessions by going to Church. (Thus: unmarried women who are pregnant, may remain at home if by doing so they can avoid disgrace; similarly, those who lack clothing becoming to their social standing; those on a journey; those who would suffer the loss of extraordinary gain by attending Mass). One may miss Mass for the sake of a pleasure trip once or twice if he has no other opportunity during the year ..."

      So, to the anonymous who posed this question, I would suggest you review that list or the complete list in the original and see if your reason fits into any of those categories. If so, then you're good to go! If not, you are obliged to go.

      Since this seems to be a delicate matter, I would strongly recommend you seek the advice of a wise priest. A decision to stay away from Mass is not something to take lightly. I know an old man who was a schoolboy in the 1940's, who got into a severe disagreement with a priest who was one of his teachers in high school. On this account he considered himself dispensed from attending Mass for many decades. A few years ago he briefly returned to the practice of religion, but relapsed again and has now refused the offer of several good traditional priests to give him the consolations of religion, not even allowing them into his home. He is rapidly approaching the end of his life with all the external signs of final impenitence.

      Delete
    4. You correctly cite to Jone. A 135 mile trip (one way) is an excusing cause, i. e., "those that have a long way to Church..." He is thereby excused. However, I think you give sage advice regarding consulting a priest regarding the particulars of this serious disagreement and see what options are available.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    5. Question: How would the above pertain to the "Home Aloners" who subscribe to the belief that in this time of great apostacy there is nowhere to attend Mass? (I am not a "Home Aloner", just wondering).

      Delete
    6. If there were no priests, the duty would (of necessity) cease to bind. However, the Home Aloners are completely wrong. Objectively, they are doing something wrong, but subjectively God may not impute the sin if they are convinced of the position in good faith. It is very dangerous to stay away from Mass and the sacraments. I agree with the commenter above that it can lead to sin and loss of Faith. Gerry Matatics still spouts this nonsense. He recently had a friend die who adopted his position and apparently left this world without the Last Rites. Matatics took it upon himself (!) to conduct the funeral. How sad.

      ---Introibo

      Delete
    7. Hi Introibo,

      Interesting posts and articles! I am trying to learn on the matter you posted. However, I want to ask you:

      Which one is better attending LiveStreaming Tridentine Mass presided by a Sedevacantist priest or attending an offline SSPX Latin Mass? Assuming the SSPX priest is a validly ordained priest. On the contrary, if the ordination of the SSPX priest is invalid, can anyone still go to his chapel?

      Many thanks

      God bless you!

      Delete
    8. Robertus,
      A True Mass with a valid SSPX priest is better in my opinion. If the SSPX priest is invalid, no one should go, as the Mass would be invalid and you'd worship an ordinary piece of bread.

      God Bless,

      ---Introibo

      Delete
  10. Once again I will reiterate that no one knows what's going on in my situation.
    To avoid gossip & scandal I will simply say,again,there was a severe disagreement.
    Thank you God bless you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I admire your integrity. You do not sin by not going to that Chapel. I do, however, hope you can find another True Mass to attend.

      God bless,
      ---Introibo

      Delete
    2. You asked a question, and then when you did not like the answer, you said we did not have enough information to provide you with an answer. Why did you ask a question and not provide enough information to receive a correct response?

      The canonists McHugh and Callan specifically say that to stay away from Mass because one dislikes the priest is to miss Mass for a frivolous reason.

      Delete
    3. The individual was clear he wants to avoid scandal (admirable). He now knows distance, in and of itself, excuses. Let us hope he finds another Traditionalist Chapel or a Traditionalist priest who comes at least once a month someplace closer to him.

      ---Introibo

      Delete