The Four Last Things

 

My Dear Readers:

This week's post is written by my latest guest poster, Lee, who frequently comments here. I am grateful to Lee for being a guest poster because my time is worn so thin. I was contemplating cutting down on posts if I didn't get a break. Thankfully, I don't have to do that now. I hope A Simple Man and Joanna From Poland will also find time to guest post when they can. I pray that you will enjoy this post as much as I did, and please feel free to comment as usual. If anyone requests me to comment, I shall do so as always, but it may take me a day or so to respond this week. —-Introibo 

The Four Last Things

By Lee

With the days getting shorter, the leaves falling to the ground, and harvest time coming to an end, nature itself reminds us that nothing on this earth lasts forever. It's also close to the end of the liturgical calendar with the beginning of Advent approaching, giving us a "great reset" if you will. So where shall we begin when we know where the conclusions of this time of year will lead us? "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" Prov. 9-10 With many fearing the tyranny of the elites who control much of our governments, workplaces, and other aspects of daily life, there is something we should fear far greater than man; it is the One True God. Why? Because there are four things in this life which are certain and which we cannot escape: Death, Judgment, and Heaven or Hell.

Death

Pope St. Gregory teaches, "Christ's conflict with death represented our last conflict, teaching us that the agony of death is the keenest agony that man has ever felt or will ever feel. It is the will of God that man should suffer so intensely at the close of his life, in order that we may recognize and appreciate the magnitude of Christ's love for us, the inestimable benefit He has conferred on us by enduring death for our sakes. For it would have been impossible for man fully to know the infinite love of God, unless he too had drunk to some extent of the bitter chalice which Christ drank." So just as Christ was tempted and suffered in this life, so was His death filled with agony. If we wish to be worthy of Him we must take up our cross and follow Him daily as He has said and also bravely accept the death that He has willed for us without murmuring of its bitterness.

Although experiencing death is quite dreadful, what's worse is at our last hour, devils with all their power will assault us. The book of the Apocalypse says, "Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time." Apoc. 12:12  Pope St. Gregory continues: "Consider well how terrible is the hour of death, and how appalling the remembrance of our evil deeds will be at that time. For the spirits of darkness will recall all the harm they have done us, and remind us of the sins which we have committed at their instigation.

 They will not go to the deathbed of the godless only, but they will be present with the elect, striving to discover something sinful whereof to accuse them. Alas! how will it fare with us hapless mortals in that hour, and what can we say for ourselves, seeing how innumerable are the sins to be laid to our charge? What can we answer to our adversaries, when they place all our sins before us, with the object of reducing us to despair?" Much can be said of the craftiness and ruses which demons will come up with when approaching us at the hour death. What's worse is to their very sight. 

St. Cyril writing to St. Augustine says, that one of three men who were raised from the dead told him: "As the hour of my departure drew nigh, a multitude of devils, countless in number, came and stood about me. Their forms were more horrible than anything imagination can conceive. One would rather be burnt in the fire than be compelled to look upon them. These demons ranged themselves around me and reproached me with all the misdeeds I had ever done, thinking to drive me to despair. And in fact I should have given way before them, had not God in His mercy come to my succor."

What hope can we have in so far as securing a good death and fighting against the onslaughts of the devil? Praying the rosary, wearing the brown scapular and being devoted to the blessed Virgin Mary is a sure sign of predestination. For the sake of brevity I will post this link:

 https://thavmapub.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/secret-of-the-rosary.pdf  

I recommend reading the thirty third chapter (rose) which talks of who the devils fear the most (other than God) as coming from their own words when commanded by St. Dominic to give the answer. Indeed may our holy mother Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death, AMEN.

Judgment

There are two judgments. Our particular judgment and the general (final) judgment where Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. As far as our particular judgment, Fr. Martin Von Cochem gives us a description in his book, The Four Last Things from the examples of holy men who were concerned about their judgment, "We read also in the lives of the Fathers that the holy Abbot Agathon was overwhelmed with fear as his end drew near. His brethren said to him: 'Why shouldst thou be afraid, reverend Father, thou has led so pious a life?' But he answered them: 'The judgments of God are very different from the judgments of man.' The holy Abbot Elias used likewise to say: 'There are three things that I fear. First I dread the moment when my soul has to leave my body; secondly, the moment when I must stand before the tribunal of God; thirdly, the moment when the sentence is passed upon me.'

 No one can fail to concur in the saying of this saintly man, for indeed, beside the general judgment, there is nothing so much to be apprehended as these three things. All good and holy men have feared them, all do fear them. Those who do not fear them, prove that they know very little about them, or have meditated scarcely at all upon them... If it is so hateful to a criminal to be brought before an earthly magistrate, well may the poor soul quake with fear when she is introduced into the presence of God, the strict and omniscient Judge, and required to give the most accurate account of all the thoughts, words, deeds and omissions of her past life."

Then there is the last judgment where Christ will come to judge the living and the dead. St. Paul says, "We shall indeed all rise again, but we shall not all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall rise again incorruptible: and we shall be changed." 1 Cor. 15: 51-52 It will be a terrible day for all the evil spirits and the souls of the damned when it comes. Considering how rigorous God will be in His judgment of men, the just will still fear the appearance of Christ's tribunal. St. Augustine tells us, "When Our Lord says that the powers of heaven shall be moved, He alludes to the angels; for so terrible will judgment be, that the angels will not be exempt from fear; they too will tremble and be afraid. For just as when a judge sits in judgment his grave countenance not only strikes terror into the culprits before him, but over-awes the officials standing around, so when all mankind are brought to judgment the celestial ministers will share the universal horror and alarm." 

We can only imagine what it will be like for the sheep and the goats on that day when the souls of every person will reunite with its body. Von Cochem in the same book as mentioned above, paints a vivid picture of this, "The body of every good man will rest in the grave as if he were asleep; it will be blooming as a rose, fragrant as a lily, shining as a star, fair as an angel and perfect in every member. What will the soul say when she beholds the body appertaining to her lying before her in such beauty? She will say: Hail, blessed and beloved body, how I rejoice once more to rejoin thee! How lovely thou art, how glorious, how pleasing, how fragrant! Come to me, that I may be wedded to thee for all eternity... Then the holy guardian angels will congratulate these blessed beings and exult with them over their joyous resurrection."

 For the damned he says this, "Woe is me , woe is me to all eternity! Better were it for me a thousand times never to have been born, than to have come to this resurrection of misery!" Then the soul will rejoin: Thou accursed body, I have already for several hundred years had to endure the torments of hell, and how I must return with thee to the everlasting burning. Thou art to blame for all this misfortune; I gave thee good counsels, but thou would not follow them. Therefore thou art forever lost. Alas for me, unhappy soul that I am! Alas for me, now and forever more... And the body will answer the soul after this manner: O accursed soul, what right has thou to anathematize me, when thou art thyself the cause of all this wretchedness? Thou shouldst have ruled me more firmly and held me back from evil, for it was with this object that God united thee to me. Instead of associating thyself with me in works of penance, thou didst revel with me in sinful pleasures. It is for me, therefore, to curse thee to all eternity, because thou art the one who hast brought us both to everlasting perdition." 

Hell

"Every tree that that bring not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast in the fire." Matt 7:19 Instead of talking about what we generally understand hell to be I will share one story of an apparition of a damned soul according to what is related in the book Hell by Fr. F.X. Schouppe:

"In 1604, in the city of Brussels, there occurred the celebrated apparition of a damned soul, attested by Blessed Richard of St. Ann, of the Order of St. Francis, who suffered martyrdom at Nagasaki, in Japan, on September 10, 1622. Blessed Richard related the fact to a theologian of the Spanish Inquisition, Father Alphonsus of Andrada, of the Company of Jesus; he, in turn, communicated it to Adrian Lyroeus, who has inserted it in his Trisagium Marianum, Book III. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, who cites the same fact in his Glories of Mary, has made Blessed Richard one of the two actors in this frightful drama; he (Bl. Richard) was only a witness, like many others who were living at Brussels, but the impression he experienced was so lively that it became the determining cause of his entrance into the Seraphic order.

This is how the occurrence is related, after authentic documents in the Annals of Franciscan Missions, for the years 1866-67. It was not without a terrible, though merciful interposition of God's justice, that Blessed Richard was brought to demand the habit of St. Francis. It was in 1604. There were at Brussels, where Richard was at that time, two young students who, instead of applying themselves to study, thought only of how to live in pleasure and dissipation. One night, among others, when they had gone to indulge in sin in a house of ill-fame, one of the two left the place after some time, leaving his miserable companion behind him.

Having reached home, he was about to lie down in bed, when he remembered that he had not recited that day the few Hail Marys which he had the habit of saying every day in honor of the Holy Virgin. As he was overpowered by sleep, it was troublesome for him; however, he made an effort and said them, although without devotion; then he went to bed. In his first sleep he heard all of a sudden, a rude knocking at the door; and immediately afterward he saw before him his companion, disfigured and hideous.

"Who are you?" he said to him. "What? Don't you know me?" replied the unhappy youth. "But how are you so changed? You look like a devil?" "Ah, pity me; I am damned!" "How is that?" "Well, know that upon leaving that accursed house a devil sprang upon me and strangled me. My body has remained in the middle of the street, and my soul is in Hell. Know, moreover, that the same chastisement awaited you, but the Virgin preserved you from it, thanks to your practice of reciting every day a few Hail Marys in her honor. Happy are you if you know how to profit by this information, which the Mother of God gives you through me."

While finishing these words, the damned soul partly opened his garment, allowed the flames and serpents that were tormenting him to be seen, and vanished. Then the young man, melting into tears, threw himself on his face on the floor to thank the Holy Virgin Mary, his deliverer. Now, while he was praying in this manner and reflecting upon what he ought to do to change his life, he heard the Matins bell ring at the Franciscan Monastery.

That very moment he cried out, "There it is that God calls me to do penance." The next day indeed, at a very early hour, he went to the monastery and begged the Father Guardian to receive him. The Father, who was aware of his bad life, having presented difficulties at first, the young student, shedding a torrent of tears, related to him all that had taken place. And really, two religious, having repaired to the street indicated, found the corpse of the wretched youth, black as a coal. Then the postulant was admitted among the Brothers, whom he edified by a life altogether devoted to penance.

Such is the terrible fact which struck dismay and fright into many souls and which induced Blessed Richard also to consecrate himself entirely to God in the same Order into which the young student, so wonderfully protected by Mary, had just been received."

Heaven

"In my Father's house there are many mansions... Thomas saith to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me." Jn. 14: 2,5-6

Describing the beauty of heaven, St. Teresa writes, "The Blessed Mother of God gave me a jewel, and hung around my neck a superb golden chain, to which a cross of priceless value was attached. Both the gold and the precious stones thus given to me are so unlike those which we have here in this world that no comparison can be instituted between them. They are beautiful beyond anything that can be conceived, and the matter whereof they are composed is beyond our knowledge. For what we call gold and precious stones beside them appear dark and lusterless as charcoal."

In his Sunday Sermons, St. Alphonsus Liguori gives a one of the best descriptions of Heaven: "In Paradise, death and the fear of death are no more: in that place of bliss there are no sorrows, no infirmities, no poverty, no inconveniencies, no vicissitudes of day or night, of cold or of heat. In that kingdom there is a continual day, always serene, a continual spring, always blooming. In Paradise there are no persecutions, no envy; for all love each other with tenderness, and each rejoices at the happiness of the others, as if it were his own. 

There is no more fear of eternal perdition; for the soul confirmed in grace can neither sin nor lose God... But the delights of which we have spoken are the least of the blessings of Paradise. The glory of heaven consists in seeing and loving God face to face. ”Totum quod expectamus," says St. Augustine, ”duæ syllabæ sunt, Deus." The reward which God promises to us does not consist altogether in the beauty, the harmony, and other advantages of the city of Paradise. God himself, whom the saints are allowed to behold, is, according to the promises made to Abraham, the principal reward of the just in heaven. ”I am thy reward exceeding great." (Gen. xv. 1.) St. Augustine asserts, that, were God to show his face to the damned, ”Hell would be instantly changed into a Paradise of delights."

Conclusion

In an old My Military Missal by Fr. Joseph Stedman (1941), there is a poem which reminds us of the the four last things. It reads:

Life is short and death is sure.

The hour death remains obscure.

A soul you have, and only one,

If that be lost all hope is gone.

Waste not time, while time shall last;

For after death 'tis ever past.

All-seeing God, your Judge will be,

And heaven or hell your destiny.

All earthly things will speed away,

Eternity, alone, will stay.

Not Even Remotely Good: Occult "Remote Viewing"

 

A woman with whom I work was leaving work early and asked me if I could cover for her by handling a couple of minor legal matters involving her client. "Cathy" (not her real name---Introibo) was a hard worker, a good lawyer, and we also had a good working relationship. It was not like her to ever leave early or come in late unless it was something serious. "Is everything OK?" I asked. "Yes, all is fine. A friend of mine is having a party and she's having a psychic come over and tell us what the future holds. It's actually scientific; they call it 'Remote Viewing' and this person has developed his innate power. I want to find out what my future brings." I tried to warn Cathy that it was not scientific, and it could actually be dangerous to all involved. She thanked me for the warning, but it had no effect on her decision. She is a member of the Vatican II sect.

Cathy and her friends were walking head first into the occult. The more research I do and the more time goes by in my life, I see that occult influences are ubiquitous. The occult has always been around and influenced world events, but we are now living in an occult revival, the likes of which has never been seen. This is due to the advent of the Vatican II sect, and the Church being reduced to a small remnant. People are now throwing parties with so-called psychics who claim to have the power of "Remote Viewing." 

In this post, I will give a general definition of what "the occult" entails, and expose the manifold dangers of "Remote Viewing."

What Exactly is "The Occult"?

 The word occult comes from the Latin occultus, which means “concealed” or “hidden.” It involves mystic knowledge and "magick powers" received from the demons and dispensed for the benefit of devotees or directed destructively at enemies by those who have been initiated into its secrets. The masters of occult power are known as medicine men (or women), witch doctors, witches, psychics, sorcerers, astrologers, gurus, yogis, shamans, mediums, and psychic healers. (When spelled "magick," the word denotes the paranormal, as opposed to "magic" which is used to refer to sleight of hand parlor tricks). 

Those involved in occult practices attribute the efficacy of what they do to one of four causes: (a) various pagan deities, (b) a "force" that is inherent in nature, (c) natural powers that "lie within people" who need to develop them, and (d) blasphemously asserting they come from the True God of Christianity. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines occult as 1)-hidden; concealed: 2)-secret; esoteric: 3)-beyond human understanding, mysterious: 4) designating or of certain mystic arts or studies, such as magick, alchemy, astrology, etc. The number of people (knowingly or unknowingly) involved with the occult is astounding. 

To give but three examples, author Richard Bach (b. 1936) claims that his bestseller, Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1970), was all dictated by a spirit who appeared to him. (My unsuspecting father read that book to me at night when I was a child). Carl Jung (d. 1961), founder of analytical psychology was deeply into the occult. Jung’s mother became a medium who spoke in tongues, while Carl practiced astrology and tried to communicate with spirits like his mother. (See lifestyle.inquirer.net/294281/carl-jungs-fascination-occult). 

 J.K. Rowling claims to have received her inspiration for Harry Potter from an other worldly source. Rowling, during that train ride in 1990, has stated how the character of Potter came to her: "I was staring out the window and the idea of Harry Potter just came. He appeared in my mind's eye fully formed." (See Reuters, "Harry Potter Just Strolled into My Head" 7/17/00) She also alleges to hear in her head the conversations she writes:  "Dialogue just comes to me as if I'm overhearing a conversation."

(See januarymagazine.com/profiles/jkrowling.html). 

Logically, a belief in the occult could hardly have persisted for thousands of years unless enough people had convincing evidence that there was something to it. Of course, multitudes in primitive societies would vouch for that. The Bible condemns occult practices in both the Old and New Testament, and the Church recognizes them as sinful and evil.

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

Do not practice divination or sorcery. (Leviticus 19:26).

He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. (2 Chronicles 33:6).

Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds" (Jeremiah 14:14).

 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain girl, having a pythonical [telling the future] spirit, met us, who brought to her masters much gain by divining. This same following Paul and us, cried out, saying: "These men are the servants of the most high God, who preach unto you the way of salvation." And this she did many days. But Paul being grieved, turned, and said to the spirit: "I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out from her." And he went out the same hour. (Acts 16:16-18). 

According to theologian Jone, "Spiritism claims to be able to communicate with the spirit world and endeavors to establish such commerce with it. Although spiritism is for the most part fraud, still the intention alone to enter into communication with spirits is gravely sinful. Therefore, it is mortally sinful to conduct a spiritistic seance or to act as a medium." (See Moral Theology, [1961], pg. 100; Emphasis mine).

Remote Viewing

Remote Viewing is often defined as “seeing remote or hidden objects clairvoyantly with the inner eye, or in alleged out-of-body travel.” (See Harper’s Encyclopedia of Mystical and Paranormal Experience by Rosemary Ellen Guiley, [1994]). What makes Remote Viewing different from other forms of divination (i.e., foretelling the future) is the fact that there was a serious scientific study done by both the United States and Russia to see if Remote Viewing could be used for espionage. Yes, at least two governments funded the study of an occult practice.

During the Cold War years, the USA and Soviet Union are known to have been spying on each other using the services of psychic ‘remote viewers’, with the specific objective of gathering intelligence information of military significance. In simple terms ‘remote viewing’ is ‘the ability of human participants to acquire information about spatially (and temporally) remote geographical targets otherwise inaccessible by any known sensory means’.

There were two complementary components to the US Remote Viewing program:

(a) A research program on ‘Anomalous Cognition (AC)’ directed initially by physicists Hal Putoff and Russell Targ at the laboratories of Stanford Research International (SRI) at Menlo Park, California which was shifted in 1988 to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), under the direction of Edwin May. The findings of their early studies have been reported in prestigious scientific journals during the 1970s.

(b) Mission-oriented operational assignments overseen by various intelligence agencies of the US Government, code-named Project STARGATE.

Information regarding this top-secret program was partly declassified by the CIA in July 1995 following the thaw in the Cold War. Since then, several research articles and many books have been published by some of the persons who were closely associated with this program. These authors have, however, expressed regret that they had not been permitted to reveal much of the ‘sensitive’ details of the program. 

(See ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/sa/sa_jan02srm01.html). 

This program served as the basis of the 2009 movie, The Men Who Stare At Goats, staring George Clooney. The movie, in turn, was based on the non-fiction work of Jon Ronson of the same name published in 2004. The book explores the use of the occult in the military, which began circa 1975 and was defunded in 1995. The title refers to attempting to kill goats by staring at them and stopping their hearts using the "mental power" that also gave them Remote Viewing. Good to know where your tax dollars go. 

The source above is inaccurate in describing Putoff and Targ as "physicists." Targ (b. 1934) has a Bachelors Degree in physics and two years of graduate work in physics at Columbia University, New York, without ever completing a Masters or Doctorate. (See David Kaiser, How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival [2011], pg. 70). He was also fascinated by Theosophy, an esoteric, occult sect. Putoff (b. 1936) has a Doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University, and worked in physics related projects. He was also a member of the cult of Scientology. The Scientologists claim he has a Doctorate in physics, but I've seen no corroborating source. (See Hugh Urban, The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion, [2013], pg. 113).

Although in certain instances, government scientists could not explain the ability of some people to see things far removed and predict future events, there simply was not enough evidence for Remote Viewing to qualify as scientifically proven. (See An Evaluation of Remote Viewing: Research and Applications [1995], by Michael D. Mumford, PhD Andrew M. Rose, PhD, David A. Goslin, PhD; The American Institutes for Research). Hence, STARGATE was scrapped. However, that didn't stop people from claiming it to be true and scientific--and its popularity increased. 

Remote Viewers are convinced they can gather information of any kind whatsoever, wherever it is located in space and time—even in the future because time is nonexistent in the nonphysical universe, where the occult operates. Most Remote Viewers deny that they leave their bodies, even though they “see” remote locations. It is all mental. The mind is not physical, is not tied to the brain, and is therefore outside of space, time, and matter. It is only to be expected that science, which can only deal with the physical universe, has no explanation for Remote Viewing.

Some cases of Remote Viewing are false because the person thought they had a "gift" which they did not; some false cases are the work of charlatans, and some remain unexplained. It is those unexplained instances which will be examined next.

Differing Views

• Remote Viewing (RV) is an innate human ability that people can develop. There are a number of problems with this theory. If  Remote Viewing is a normal function of the human mind—and thus all knowledge on any subject, whether it has to do with the past, present, or future, is available to anyone—then the Bible presents a false picture. Biblical prophets were nothing special, they did not need to be “holy men of God,” and they were not inspired “by the Holy Ghost,” but were picking up information from the “collective unconscious” available to anyone, with or without faith in God. Furthermore, there is no proof that the mind can do this, which is why the government gave up on funding research regarding RV.

• RV is a special power that only certain people are born with an can use. Besides lack of any proof, it has theological problems. Vatican II sect "theologian" John J. Heaney claims Christ was one such "special person:" It seems to me that Jesus as a human being was blessed and gifted with incredible paranormal and psychokinetic powers. These powers he used at will. Others had such powers occasionally and in a limited way. Jesus seemed to be master over these powers...(See The Sacred and The Psychic: Parapsychology and Christian Theology, [1984], pg. 21).This is blasphemous and an implicit denial of Christ's Divinity. He performed miracles because He is God Incarnate.

• The power is occult and the work of demons. This explanation comports perfectly with the facts and Catholic theology. Demons are also, like the mind, not tied to matter and subject to scientific investigation. Interestingly, those who were most successful in Remote Viewing practiced Transcendental Meditation or other pagan forms of meditation that can open one up to diabolic possession 

The Power of Satan.

According to theologian Sagues, the signs of someone possessed are: (1) to speak a foreign language never studied or to understand someone speaking it; (2) to know things hidden far away; (3) to possess strength beyond one's age or natural condition. (See Sacrae Theologiae Summa, II B:221; these signs are also mentioned in the Rituale Romanum.).  According to theologian Ott, being fallen angels, Satan and his demons have a higher intellect than humans, and can discern the future with a high probability. However, angels cannot know the secrets of God (1 Corinthians 2:11), cannot know the thoughts of men (3 Kings 8, 39), and have no certain knowledge of the free actions of humans in the future (Isaiah 46, 9). 

(See Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma [1955], pg. 117).

Am I claiming that psychics are possessed? They are either possessed or under demonic influence that transmits to them the information. 

Conclusion

Remote Viewing’s connections to Eastern mysticism, and other non-Catholic sects reveals much. The ultimate root of these philosophies is the belief that man is god in a not-fully-evolved state and has a latent power that needs to be tapped to solve the world’s problems. Remote Viewing is seen as one of many potential abilities of the human mind. The Christian God is banished, and this is why the forces of Hell promote it. The future is for God to know with certainty, and we must not seek it out, but live one day at a time in faith. The only true source of power is God—not ourselves, not Satan, not occult practices. So if anyone invites you to a party with a "psychic" use your "remote control," and stay away. 

That All May Be Ecumenists

 

One of the most Modernist documents ever written came from the pen of "Pope" "St." John Paul the Great (Apostate).  On May 25, 1995, Karol Wojtyla promulgated his "encyclical" Ut Unum Sint ("That they may be one"), a masterful summation of the ecumenism which drives the Vatican II sect. The Roman Catholic Church, the One True Church of Jesus Christ, outside of which no one may be saved, is the solitary Ark of Salvation. She is anti-ecumenical by definition. The Vatican II sect is ecumenism manifested to the world. There are a great many problems for the "recognize and resist" (R&R) crowd, as well as for the Vatican II sect apologists--both of whom want to believe Bergoglio is pope, and the Vatican II sect is the Church. Having to accept the fruits of ecumenism is one of those myriad problems.

This post will demonstrate the practical consequences that come with "recognizing" the Modernist Vatican as Catholic. The teachings of the sect's "great" so-called pope and saint, Wojtyla (along with those of  the Robber Council itself, and the other false popes), mean that you must accept the dire practical results of ecumenism as coming from the Magisterium. 

Denying Christ in the Practical Order

Many Traditionalists focus on the doctrinal problems with ecumenism, and they should be lauded for so doing. However, many neglect to mention the practical problems posed by ecumenism, which are more than troubling on the doctrinal level as well.

• Ecumenism denies the sin of heresy.

The sin of heresy is reduced to a kind of mutual sin against charity and not against the faith. It holds the Church guilty of wrongdoing (not particular clerics, but the Spotless Bride of Christ) for "causing" the heretic to separate from the Church. In the Common Christological Declaration of 1994 between monophysite heretics and the Vatican II sect, Wojtyla states:

The Lord's Spirit permits us to understand better today that the divisions brought about in this way were due in large part to misunderstandings. (Emphasis mine). "Mutual misunderstandings" and not the sin of disbelief by refusal to submit to the Magisterium were the cause of the heretical monophysities. 

In Ut Unum Sint, para. #38, Wojtyla asserts that attacking heresy as the Church had always done is wrong because true doctrine and heresy are not really incompatible, but just two different ways of looking at reality:

Intolerant polemics and controversies have made incompatible assertions out of what was really the result of two different ways of looking at the same reality. (Emphasis mine). Furthermore, the Church failed to capture the fullness of reality in its dogmatic formulations. Nowadays we need to find the formula which, by capturing the reality in its entirety, will enable us to move beyond partial readings and eliminate false interpretations. (Ibid). 

Vatican II itself teaches that we must "appreciate" false teachings and practices of other "Communions."

From Unitatis Redintegratio, para. #4: In such [ecumenical] dialogue, everyone gains a truer knowledge and more just appreciation of the teaching and religious life of both Communions.

Wojtyla claims truth and falsehood "complement" each other: Communion is made fruitful by the exchange of gifts between the Churches (sic) insofar as they complement each other. (Ut Unum Sint, para. #57).

Ecumenism renders heresy little more than misunderstandings and failures perpetrated by both the heretic and the Church. This is, in itself, both heretical and blasphemous. It also contends that the Church should "appreciate" heresy. How does one appreciate sin and a denial of the Faith? Reality Check: The Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office decreed on December 20, 1949: It is false that heretics...on coming back to the Church [are giving] an essential element to Her that was missing until now.

• Ecumenism denigrates dogmas by holding some to be more worthy of belief than others

In his November 17, 1980 speech to the "Evangelic Church Council," Wojtyla said:

It is therefore more clearly before my eyes what matters our common profession of Jesus Christ, His word and his work in this world, and how we are driven by the urgency of the hour to overcome the differences that divide us and to bear witness to our growing union...Reflecting on the "Augsburg Confession," (!)  and through numerous contacts, we again realized that we believe and profess all this together. 

Reality Check:

Many think that these concessions should be made not only in regard to ways of living, but even in regard to doctrines which belong to the Deposit of the Faith. They contend that it would be opportune, in order to gain those who differ from us, to omit certain points of Her teaching which are of lesser importance, and to tone down the meaning which the Church has always attached to them. It does not need many words, beloved son, to prove the falsity of these ideas if the nature and origin of the doctrine which the Church proposes are recalled to mind. (Pope Leo XIII, Testem Benevolentiae; Emphasis mine). 

• Ecumenism changes Dogmatic Formulas

From Ut Unum Sint:

The faithful of the Catholic Church cannot forget that the ecumenical thrust of the Second Vatican Council is one consequence of all that the Church at that time committed herself to doing in order to re-examine herself in the light of the Gospel and the great Tradition. My Predecessor, Pope John XXIII, understood this clearly: in calling the Council, he refused to separate renewal from ecumenical openness. At the conclusion of the Council, Pope Paul VI solemnly sealed the Council's commitment to ecumenism, renewing the dialogue of charity with the Churches in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople, and joining the Patriarch in the concrete and profoundly significant gesture which "condemned to oblivion" and "removed from memory and from the midst of the Church" the excommunications of the past. It is worth recalling that the establishment of a special body for ecumenical matters coincided with the launching of preparations for the Second Vatican Council and that through this body the opinions and judgments of the other Christian Communities played a part in the great debates about Revelation, the Church, the nature of ecumenism and religious freedom... Taking up an idea expressed by Pope John XXIII at the opening of the Council, the Decree on Ecumenism mentions the way of formulating doctrine as one of the elements of a continuing reform. (para. #17-18; Emphasis mine).

This very idea was specifically CONDEMNED by the Church:

In theology some want to reduce to a minimum the meaning of dogmas; and to free dogma itself from terminology long established in the Church and from philosophical concepts held by Catholic teachers, to bring about a return in the explanation of Catholic doctrine to the way of speaking used in Holy Scripture and by the Fathers of the Church. They cherish the hope that when dogma is stripped of the elements which they hold to be extrinsic to divine revelation, it will compare advantageously with the dogmatic opinions of those who are separated from the unity of the Church and that in this way they will gradually arrive at a mutual assimilation of Catholic dogma with the tenets of the dissidents. (Pope Pius XII, Humani Generis, para. #14; Emphasis mine). 

• Ecumenism gives us false "martyrs"

Bergoglio speaks of a so-called “ecumenism of blood” whereby Catholics and heretics are spiritually united by being killed for professing allegiance to Christ. If true, then it would mean that the motive of the murderer can cause religious unity between Catholics and non-Catholics, despite contradictory beliefs. This is different from Baptism of Blood (BOB), whereby the person dies for the faith explicitly, or implicitly (with only external, and accidental belonging to a false sect) desires to be in the True Church. It is not someone attached to falsehood and dies for that falsehood, while "professing Christ," who then becomes an ersatz "martyr." 

According to Bergoglio:

Pope Francis on Monday denounced the murder of 21 Coptic Christians by ISIL militants in Libya. The Islamist terrorist organization released a video of the killings on Sunday.

Speaking in Spanish to an ecumenical delegation from the Church of Scotland, the Holy Father noted those killed only said “Jesus help me.”

“They were killed simply for the fact they were Christians,” Pope Francis said.

“The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out to be heard,” said the Pope. It makes no difference whether they be Catholics, Orthodox, Copts or Protestants. They are Christians! Their blood is one and the same. Their blood confesses Christ.”

Pope Francis said that in remembering these brothers and sisters who have been murdered simply for confessing Christ, Christians should encourage one another in the ecumenical goal, noting the “ecumenism of blood.”

“The martyrs belong to all Christians,” he said. (See http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2015/02/16/pope_francis_the_blood_of_murdered_copts_a_witness/en-1123688). 

Reality Check:

[The Council of Florence] firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart “into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels” [Matt. 25:41], unless before the end of life the same have been added to the flock; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings, almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church. (See Decree Cantate Domino). 

• Ecumenism does not require the conversion of heretics

Jorge Bergoglio:  Pope Francis told the tiny Catholic community in predominantly Muslim Morocco on Sunday that their mission was not to covert their neighbors but to live in brotherhood with other faiths. (See https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-morocco/conversion-is-not-your-mission-pope-tells-catholics-in-morocco-idUSKCN1RC0EI; Emphasis mine). 

Again: Proselytism is solemn nonsense; it makes no sense. We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and improve our knowledge of the world around us.

(See brainyquote.com/quotes/pope_francis_571227; Emphasis mine).

Reality Check: Fourth Lateran Council (1215):

One indeed is the universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved...

Pope Gregory XVI:

Finally some of these misguided people attempt to persuade themselves and others that men are not saved only in the Catholic religion, but that even heretics may attain eternal life. (Summo Iugiter Studio, para. #2; Emphasis mine).

• Ecumenism: Pick a Religion, Any Religion

Wojtyla in Ut Unum Sint writes:

It happens for example that, in the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount, Christians of one confession no longer consider other Christians as enemies or strangers but see them as brothers and sisters. Again, the very expression separated brethren tends to be replaced today by expressions which more readily evoke the deep communion — linked to the baptismal character — which the Spirit fosters in spite of historical and canonical divisions. Today we speak of "other Christians", "others who have received Baptism", and "Christians of other Communities." The Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism refers to the Communities to which these Christians belong as "Churches and Ecclesial Communities that are not in full communion with the Catholic Church."(para. #42; Emphasis mine).

Here we see that there is not "full communion" with the Church, which implies "partial communion." You cannot be "partially Catholic" any more than you can be "partially pregnant," or "partially dead." The heresy of Lumen Gentium, claiming the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church (rather than is the Catholic Church) is demonstrated here. It also explains why Vatican II's Unitatis Redintegratio states in paragraph #3,  For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them [false sects] as means of salvation...

Reality Check: Pope Pius IX, Syllabus of Errors (1864):

The following propositions were all solemnly CONDEMNED:

15. Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true.

16. Man may, in the observance of any religion whatever, find the way of eternal salvation, and arrive at eternal salvation.

17. Good hope at least is to be entertained of the eternal salvation of all those who are not at all in the true Church of Christ. 

Conclusion

The consequences of ecumenism are there for all to see. Consider these facts from a 2015 article: Since the 1960s, four American-born Catholics [Vatican II sect] have left the church for every one who has converted, according to a 2009 Pew study. In 2008 alone, Catholic membership declined by 400,000. More than 1,000 parishes have closed since 1995, and the number of priests has fallen from about 49,000 to 40,000 during that same period. Some 3,400 Catholic parishes in the U.S. now lack a resident priest. “Catholicism is in decline across America,” says sociologist David Carlin.(See theweek.com/articles/494879/catholics-crisis). 

The ecumenism of the Vatican II sect, and the results that follow, prove that Traditionalists are correct that the Robber Council taught heresy and brought about a new man-made religion. The practical consequences of the ecumenical Modernist doctrine adapted at Vatican II have taken hold. If heresy is just misunderstandings, if the Church is at fault for divisions, if not all dogmas are that important, if you can be saved in virtually any other religion---why become (or remain) "Catholic"?

If you're ever tempted to listen to the R&R or Vatican II sect apologists, re-read the above and remember the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ: By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. (St. Matthew 7:16-20; Emphasis mine). 

When Strangers Come Knocking---Part 26

 

This is the next installment of my series to be published the first Monday of each month.

There are members of false sects, like Jehovah's Witnesses, that come knocking door-to-door hoping to convert you. Instead of ignoring them, it is we who should try and convert them. In 1 Peter 3:16, our first Pope writes, "But in thy hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks thee to give the reason for the hope that thou hast. But do this with gentleness and respect,..." Before the Great Apostasy, the Church would send missionaries to the ends of the Earth to make as many converts as possible. 

Those in false religions don't always come (literally) knocking at your door. It may be a Hindu at work who wants you to try yoga. It could be a "Christian Scientist" who lives next door and invites you to come to their reading room. Each month, I will present a false sect. Unlike the Vatican II sect, I do not see them as a "means of salvation" or possessing "elements of truth" that lead to salvation. That is heresy. They lead to damnation, and the adherents of the various sects must be converted so they may be saved.

In each month's post, I will present one false sect and give an overview of: 

• The sect's history
• Their theology
• Tips on how to share the True Faith with them

"Jesus Only" Sects

"Have you been truly baptized?" the young man asked my colleague as he was sitting in Central Park a few years back. "Yes, I was," he replied. "Were you baptized in the name of Jesus?" My fellow attorney said, "Yes, and the Father and Holy Spirit." "So then you were not really baptized," said the young man who handed my colleague a pamphlet containing an invitation to come to his church. My co-worker promptly got up and walked away. The next day at work, he handed me the pamphlet and asked me if  I could explain it. I told him he was the target of attempted proselytism by a "Oneness Pentecostal." Also referred to as "Jesus Only" sects, these are anti-trinitarian Protestant offshoots that try very hard to convert others.

Generally speaking, they are much more sophisticated and deceptive than the anti-trinitarian Jehovah's Witnesses, and they confess the Divinity of Christ. So what, exactly, are "Jesus Only" sects, and how can they be corrected/converted? The answers to those questions will be explored in this post.

The Beginning of Rebuking the Trinity

(I wish to credit the history and teachings of Oneness primarily to Bernard, Brewer, and Buford, Meet the United Pentecostal Church International, [1983], and David K. Bernard, The Oneness of God, [1983]---Introibo). 

We can trace the Oneness Pentecostal Movement to April 1913 at a camp meeting in Los Angeles, California. R. E. McAlister, a popular Protestant teacher from Toronto, Canada, preached a sermon on Acts 2:38 where he argued that baptism must be done in the name of Jesus only and not the Trinitarian formula. He rejected the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity. The movement grew and attracted so-called "Charismatic" denominations including the Assembly of God sect. Eventually, just a couple of years later, in 1916, the Assemblies of God rejected the teachings of the newly dubbed Oneness Pentecostals and 156 clergy left the sect to form the Oneness sects. 

Oneness Pentecostals reject the dogma of the Trinity. The Church has always taught that there is one God who exists eternally in three separate and distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Oneness Pentecostal sects teach a heretical doctrine known as Modalism. Modalism asserts that there is one God who appears in three different forms, or three different modes. So, there’s only one Person in the Godhead and He takes on three different modes or three different appearances.

The appellation of Modalism derives its origin from the Greek playwrights. In Greek plays, there is only one actor who appeared in different characters. When he would change characters, he would change modes, change his voice, and change his mask. There is only one actor who had several masks who played all the parts in a particular play. Although he had different forms, different voices, it was still the same actor. That’s Modalism – that there’s one person in the God who takes on three different forms.

Historic Modalism taught that the Father appears in three different forms. This modern Modalism teaches that since the Incarnation, Jesus then appears in three different forms. At times, He appears as the Father, or at times as Jesus the Son, or at other times the Holy Ghost. Some Oneness Pentecostal sects teach that really there’s only Jesus who appears in the form of the Father or of the Son and that the Holy Ghost is not a Person but the impersonal "Spirit of God," in the same way the Jehovah's Witnesses denigrate the Third Person of the Most Blessed Trinity. 

Baptism in Jesus Only and Speaking in Tongues

Oneness sects teach that baptism is necessary to salvation (unlike Protestantism, properly so-called). However, baptism (1) must be by immersion only, (2) must be in the Name of Jesus and not the Trinitarian formula, (3) and must be immediately followed by glossolalia ("speaking in tongues").  For the assertion that baptism must be in the name of Jesus only, and followed by speaking in tongues, they appeal to Acts 2:38, "Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of thee, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of thy sins. And thou shalt receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." 

But what about the Great Commission, when Christ stated, "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (St. Matthew 28:19)? The typical response given is as follows:

Notice that Jesus did not say in the names plural but the name singular. Indicating that there is a single name believers should be baptized in. That name of course being the matchless name of Jesus Christ. The only name by which men must be saved. Jesus was not calling the church to baptize in three different names but the single name that shows the fullness of the Godhead. As scripture declares all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Christ. (See everydayapostolic.com/is-re-baptism-in-jesus-name-biblical). Like mainstream Protestants, Oneness sects believe in sola scriptura (the Bible alone as the rule of faith). 

Why is it necessary to speak in tongues? In Acts 2:1-4, we read:

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

To this the Oneness sects declare:

It also fell on other believers as they heard God’s word preached, had hands laid on them by other believers, and after being baptized in Jesus name. All with the sign of speaking in new tongues. Showing that receiving the Holy Spirit isn’t something to be assumed or guessed at but known with certainty. (Ibid). 

Questions to Make You Question Your Faith

To support their Modalistic heresy, members will often hit you with questions like:

1. Did Jesus have two fathers? The Father is the Father of the Son (1 John 1:3), yet the child born of Mary was conceived by the Holy Ghost (St. Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35). Which one is the true Father?

2. How many Spirits are there? God the Father is a Spirit (St. John 4:24), the Lord Jesus is a Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17), and the Holy Ghost is a Spirit by definition. Yet there is ONE Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13, Ephesians 4:4).

3. If Father and Son are coequal Persons, why did Jesus pray to the Father? (St. Matthew 11:25) Can God pray to God?

4. How can the Son not know as much as the Father? (St. Matthew 24:36; St. Mark 13:32).

These questions can be perplexing to those not well-versed in the Faith. 

The Teaching of the One True Church

1. The Dogma of the Trinity. In God there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Each of the Persons possesses the one (numerical) Divine Essence. (De Fide). (See theologian Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, [1955], pg. 52). 

Proof from The Bible:

God the Father is Truly God: 

St. John 5:18, "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him [Jesus], because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God."

God the Son (Jesus Christ) is Truly God:

St. John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

God the Holy Ghost is Truly God:

Acts 5:3-4, "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." 

Proof from Tradition:

The Didache (Teaching of the Apostles):

"After the foregoing instructions, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living [running] water. . . . If you have neither, pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Didache 7:1 [A.D. 70]).

St. Augustine:

“All the Catholic interpreters of the divine books of the Old and New Testaments whom I have been able to read, who wrote before me about the Trinity, which is God, intended to teach in accord with the Scriptures that the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are of one and the same substance constituting a divine unity with an inseparable equality; and therefore there are not three gods but one God, although the Father begot the Son, and therefore He who is the Son is not the Father; and the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son but only the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, Himself, too, coequal to the Father and to the Son and belonging to the unity of the Trinity” (The Trinity 1:4:7 [A.D. 408]).

Athanasian Creed:

"Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic faith. Which faith unless every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost." (Circa end of 5th century A.D.). 

Ecumenical Councils:

Nicea (325 A.D.):

The Nicene Creed decreed infallibly that there is one God and Three Persons: the Father, the Creator, in Greek Pantokrator, the Almighty; Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God; and the Holy Ghost, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. Jesus is not a creature made by the Father. Rather the Council used a Greek word, homoousios, today translated consubstantial, emanating from the Father’s substance, “begotten, not made.” The Father and the Son are “one in being,” coequal and coeternal.

Constantinople I (381 A.D.):

The Council reaffirmed and defined the Divinity of the Holy Ghost in response to the Macedonians who denied the divinity of the Holy Ghost. The Council also condemned Apollinarianism, a heretical belief that Jesus is Divine, not human, and that Jesus did not have a human soul.

Sabellius, a third century priest, taught the heresy of Modalism. Sabellius was excommunicated by Pope Callistus I (c. 220). Sabellianism was rejected by the Ecumenical Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople I, Ephesus, and Chalcedon. These Councils affirmed that God is one, but made the distinction between Person and Nature, teaching that the Son and the Holy Ghost are separate Persons Who share one Divine Nature with the Father.

2. Baptism is only valid with the Trinitarian formula. 

The Catechism of the Council of Trent teaches the following:

"If at any time the Apostles baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ only, we can be sure they did so by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, in order, in the infancy of the Church, to render their preaching more illustrious by the Name of Jesus Christ, and to proclaim more effectually His Divine and and infinite power." (pg. 168). The Catechism immediately declares this opinion doubtful, and cites Church Fathers (such as Sts. Ambrose and Basil) in support of the more probable opinion; that the formula of baptism was always Trinitarian. The phrase baptism in the Name of Jesus was meant to distinguish the Sacrament of baptism from the non-sacramental baptism of St. John the Baptist. Theologian Pohle teaches this as well; "in the Name of Jesus" means "by the authority of Jesus" who instituted the Sacrament. (See Dogmatic Theology [1923], 8:223-224). 

The invocation of the Trinity was defined by the Council of Florence:

 The matter of this sacrament is real and natural water; it makes no difference whether cold or warm. The form is: I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. 

And again at the Council of Trent, the fourth Canon on Baptism defines:

If any one saith, that the baptism which is even given by heretics in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the intention of doing what the Church doth, is not true baptism; let him be anathema.

As to the argument that in The Great Commission, Christ says "...baptizing them in the name.."which is singular and not plural, consider the following sentence: “Rain poured down, striking the head of my wife, my sister, and my brother.” Is this sentence correct? Yes. If I’d have written, “… striking the heads of my wife, my sister, and my brother,” I’d have been wrong unless I was claiming that my wife, my sister, and my brother each have multiple heads.

Here’s an example from Exodus 23:13:

"Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth." (Singular; Emphasis mine).

Exodus links the singular “name” with the plural “gods.” (See also Deuteronomy 18:20 and Joshua 23:7-8). 

3. Speaking in Tongues is not needed anymore.

The Apostles and extraordinary gifts. According to theologian Scheeben: The internal perfection [of the Apostles] arose from the fact of their being eye-witnesses and ear-witnesses of the whole Revelation, and of their being so filled with the Holy Ghost that each of them possessed a complete and infallible knowledge of revealed doctrine; while the external perfection was the gift of miracles, by which they were able to confirm the authenticity of their testimony...As soon as the original and fundamental promulgation of the Gospel was complete there was no longer any necessity for the extraordinary Apostolate. (See A Manual of Catholic Theology, [1890], 1:37-38; Emphasis mine). 

Theologian Van Noort teaches: Therefore, as apostles, each of them had (a) a direct divine mission to carry out both of the aforementioned tasks all over the world. Furthermore, (b) they enjoyed the charisms (1) of revelation, (2) of infallibility (in matters pertaining to their mission), and (3) of miracles. The apostolate was, to begin with, by its very nature an extraordinary gift, confided to these men alone. (See Dogmatic Theology, [1961], 1:39; First emphasis in original, second emphasis mine). In end-note #19, Van Noort references the work of heretical theologian Oscar Cullmann (d.1999). Cullmann, a member of the Lutheran sect, was an "observer" at Vatican II and a driving force behind the One World Church ecumenical movement. Cullmann advanced the heretical view that apostolic grace must perish with the Apostles or survive them in its entirety. Van Noort responds that the dilemma is resolved in Catholic theology by distinguishing between a mission of the Apostles which is an extraordinary, noncommunicable charism relating to the founding of the Church, and an ordinary communicable and non-miraculous charism relating to the preservation of the Church. It is only the latter that is carried down through the ages by the Apostolic Succession of Catholic bishops.

The charismata, or special gifts of the Holy Ghost, is therefore not in use after the founding of the Church. Yes, there have been certain saints in the Church that had various miraculous gifts, but this is not (as the Oneness sects and so-called "Charismatics" claim) true of all members of the Church. The vast majority are devoid of any miraculous deeds. 

The Oneness sects (as well as Charismatics---both Protestant and Vatican II sect) are heard "speaking in tongues" at their services. What, exactly, are they saying? In a word: Nothing. As far back as 1972, University of Toronto linguistics professor William Samarin had this to say:

There is no mystery about glossolalia. Tape recorded samples are easy to obtain and analyze. They always turn out to be the same thing: strings of syllables made up of sounds taken from among all those that the speaker knows, put together more or less haphazardly but which nevertheless emerge as word-like and sentence-like units because of realistic, language-like rhythm and melody. Glossolalia is indeed like language in some ways, but this is only because the speaker (unconsciously) wants it to be like language. Yet in spite of superficial similarities, glossolalia is fundamentally not a language. All specimens of glossolalia that have ever been studied have produced no features that would even suggest they reflect some kind of communicative system...Glossolalia is not a supernatural phenomenon...In fact, anybody can produce glossolalia if he is uninhibited and he discovers what the "trick" is... (See Tongues of Men and Angels, [1972], pgs. 227-228; Emphasis mine). 

Having been exposed as no known languages, how do Oneness members respond? They are told, "600 million Christians (sic) have received the Holy Spirit gift of their own spirit language." (See book description for 70 Reasons for Speaking in Tongues: Your Own Built-in Spiritual Dynamo [2010], by Bill Hamon; Emphasis mine). They point to 1 Corinthians 13:1, " If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." (Emphasis mine). Charismatics will claim that this verse "proves" there are "angelic languages" and that's why it sounds like gibberish and does not conform to any earthly language. The Biblical account of true glossolalia gives the lie to that contention. 

In Acts 2:1-4 we read, "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." The Scripture relates how Jews, gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost from around the world, had grown up speaking languages other than Aramaic, yet all could understand these uneducated Galileans. They were able to speak in many (and authentic) languages. 

This is confirmed by the great St. John Chrysostom who wrote, And as in the time of the building of the tower [of Babel] the one tongue was divided into many; so then, at Pentecost, the many tongues met in one man, and the same person used to discourse both in the Persian, and the Roman, and the Indian, and many other tongues, the Spirit sounding within him: and the gift was called the gift of tongues because he could all at once speak divers languages. (See Homilies on First Corinthians, 35.1; Emphasis mine).

Although some "speaking in tongues" is mass hysteria, some may well be caused by demonic activity. They open themselves to possible possession. Be very cautious, and always say a prayer to St. Joseph, Terror of demons, before conversing. 

4. Asked and Answered.

In response to the questions Oneness members ask, there are explanations when the dogma of the Trinity is correctly understood. The literature I've read from these sects show culpable ignorance of Trinitarian dogma.

1. Did Jesus have two fathers? The Father is the Father of the Son (1 John 1:3), yet the child born of Mary was conceived by the Holy Ghost (St. Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35). Which one is the true Father?

Answer: God the Father generated God the Son from all eternity. They are co-eternal. The Son proceeds from the Father from all eternity, and in this sense, God the Father has Fatherhood. The Holy Ghost created the Son's human nature, not from eternity, but in time. The Holy Ghost is therefore not the Father of Christ, but only He Who gave Him a human nature hypostatically united to His Divine Nature. 

2. How many Spirits are there? God the Father is a Spirit (St. John 4:24), the Lord Jesus is a Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17), and the Holy Ghost is a Spirit by definition. Yet there is ONE Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13, Ephesians 4:4).

Answer: There is only one Spirit (essence) but Three Persons. There may be three drops of water, but only one water (H2O) as they share the same substance.

3. If Father and Son are co-equal Persons, why did Jesus pray to the Father? (St. Matthew 11:25) Can God pray to God?

There is no problem with God the Son praying or talking to God the Father. They had an eternal relationship as distinct Persons before Christ became a Man. This relationship is depicted in the Gospels so we can see how the Son of God in His humanity carried out His Father’s will, and in doing so, purchased redemption for His children (See St. John 6:38). Christ’s continual submission to His heavenly Father was empowered and kept focused through His prayer life. Christ’s example of prayer is ours to follow.

4. How can the Son not know as much as the Father? (St. Matthew 24:36; St. Mark 13:32).

Answer: "But about that day or hour [i.e., the time of The Second Coming] no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (St. Matthew 24:36). What this means then is that “not knowing” refers to His not being sent to reveal the day and the hour in His human nature, leaving that office to the Father. It has always been understood that as God, Christ knows the day and the hour but that in his mission on Earth, He was not sent to reveal this; it is a broad mental reservation. The Son does not know (have the ability to reveal it) as part of His Divine Plan.

Proselytizing Oneness Sect Members

I suggest the following:

1. Ask them who interprets the Bible, and how do they know their interpretation is correct. They will respond, "The Holy Ghost has put it on my heart."

2. Tell them that other denominations (e.g., Charismatic Baptists) say the Holy Ghost taught them the about the Trinity, so who is right?  Subjective experiences can never be objective proofs.

3. Share all the Bible references to the Holy Trinity (the name "Trinity" is not in the Bible, but it names a doctrine clearly found therein). There are many Biblical references you can find online.

4. If they respond, "Pagan religions had three-headed demons and gods, so the Trinity is from paganism, " ask them if God created the universe. When the respond in the affirmative ask, "Pagans also believe that their gods created the universe; so isn't that also a pagan belief?" A belief held in common with pagans does not mean (without anything more) that it came from paganism. 

5. Pray for them and have Masses offered for their conversion. 

Conclusion

Oneness sect members deride the Most Holy Trinity in part because they feel God must be knowable to people. While God is knowable, not all things can be known; not even in Heaven. “For my thoughts are not thy thoughts, neither are thy ways My ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than thy ways and My thoughts than thy thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9). 

As God is infinite and we are finite, there are some "mysteries" (i.e., things above--- but not opposed to--- our reason), and the Most Holy Trinity is one such mystery. Those who deny mysteries inevitably wind up denigrating God (by brining Him down to our level), or exalting people to a status where they completely understand God.