Author Topic: How to Distinguish the True Faith from Heresy (Read 1613 times)

Cantarella · « **on:** March 08, 2014, 02:10:50 AM »

St. Vincent de Lerins

In the 5th century, St. Vincent of Lerins saw that the people were faced with various errors and heresies of Donatus, Arius, Photinus, Pelagius and others, and gave them this good advice on how they could know with security the true Catholic Faith. Even if it is taught by distinguished men or Prelates, the bad doctrine should not be accepted by Catholics, who should cling to Tradition and what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all [quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditum est]. Actually, he stated: "I have continually given the greatest pains and diligence to inquiring, from the greatest possible number of men outstanding in holiness and in doctrine, how I can secure a type of fixed and, as it were, general, guiding principle for distinguishing the true Catholic Faith from the degraded falsehoods of heresy.

"And the answer that I receive is always to this effect: That if I wish, or indeed if anyone wishes, to detect the deceits of heretics that arise and to avoid their snares and to keep healthy and sound in a robust faith, we ought, with the Lord's help, to fortify our faith in a twofold manner, first, that is, by the authority of God's Law, then, by the tradition of the Catholic Church.

"Here, it may be, someone will ask: ‘Since the canon of Scripture is complete, and is in itself abundantly sufficient, what need is there to join to it the interpretation of the Church?’ The answer is that because of the profundity itself of Scripture, all men do not place the same interpretation upon it. The statements of the same writer are explained by different men in different ways, so much so that it seems almost possible to extract from it as many opinions as there are men. Novatian expounds in one way, Sabellius in another, Donatus in another, Arius, Eunomius and Macedonius in another, Photinus, Apollinaris and Priscillian in another, Jovinian, Pelagius and Caelestius in another, and latterly Nestorius in another. Therefore, because of the intricacies of error, which is so multiform, there is great need for the laying down of a rule for the exposition of Prophets and Apostles in accordance with the standard of the interpretation of the Catholic Church.

"Now in the Catholic Church itself we take the greatest care to hold that which has been believed everywhere, always and by all. That is truly and properly 'Catholic,' as is shown by the very force and meaning of the word, which comprehends everything almost universally. We shall hold to this rule if we follow universality, antiquity, and consent. We shall follow universality if we acknowledge that one Faith to be true which the whole Church throughout the world confesses; antiquity if we in no wise depart from those interpretations which it is clear that our ancestors and fathers proclaimed; consent, if in antiquity itself, we keep following the definitions and opinions of all, or certainly nearly all, Bishops and Doctors alike.

"What then will the Catholic Christian do, if a small part of the Church has cut itself off from the communion of the universal Faith? The answer is sure. He will prefer the healthiness of the whole body to the morbid and corrupt limb.

"But what if some novel contagions try to infect the whole Church, and not merely a tiny part of it? Then he will take care to cleave to antiquity, which cannot now be led astray by any deceit of novelty.

"What if in antiquity itself two or three men, or it may be a city, or even a whole province be detected in error? Then he will take the greatest care to prefer the decrees of the ancient General Councils, if there are such, to the irresponsible ignorance of a few men.

"But what if some error arises regarding which nothing of this sort is to be found? Then he must do his best to compare the opinions of the Fathers and inquire their meaning, provided always that, though they belonged to diverse times and places, they yet continued in the faith and communion of the one Catholic Church; and let them be teachers approved and outstanding. And whatever he shall find to have been held, approved and taught, not by one or two only but by all equally and with one consent, openly, frequently, and persistently, let him take this as to be held by him without the slightest hesitation."

(The Vincentian Canon, in Commonitorium, chap IV, 434,
ed. Moxon, Cambridge Patristic Texts)

http://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/n026rp_Lerins_PreserveFaith.htm

Cantarella · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2014, 02:12:34 AM »

Belief that Non-Catholics can be saved is a novelty. Result of the unclean spirit of Vatican II and a means of devilish distraction from the only True Faith.

Frances · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2014, 06:57:29 AM »

:reading: :light-saber:
Discovering the correct doctrine is not enough. Once it is known, the Faith must be lived.
For an increasing number of faithful, this means living a Catholic life without the Mass, without the Sacraments, without benefit of sound Catholic teaching, while having to survive in the world among pagans and heretics. Any suggestions as to how this is done?
The Rosary comes at once to mind. 15 decades.
What else?

JPaul · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2014, 09:25:24 AM »

Quote from: Frances

:reading: :light-saber:
Discovering the correct doctrine is not enough. Once it is known, the Faith must be lived.
For an increasing number of faithful, this means living a Catholic life without the Mass, without the Sacraments, without benefit of sound Catholic teaching, while having to survive in the world among pagans and heretics. Any suggestions as to how this is done?
The Rosary comes at once to mind. 15 decades.
What else?

Yes, a very serious reality for many of us. But, I always think of more ancient times when some Christians would have had access to the Mass and the Sacraments perhaps only a few times in their lives but remained Faithful to Christ and died in the grace of His favor.

We can do it if we must. There are still many very old Catholic books and manuscripts available from the early part of this century as well as many of antiquity. I would suggest that the Brethren gather these into their homes and use them as a constant source of knowledge, teaching, and meditation.
Sharing when possible these sources of truth which are untouched by the modern corruptive influences.

The world today around us is almost entirely Judaized, Protestantized, and, and steeped in Naturalism. Therefore one must create an insulated environment and try to negotiate life with as little interaction with it as possible. Having recourse to the knowledge of what is truly Catholic and a constant rebuilding of that which the corruptions of society eats away is a necessary, useful and effective defense against a faithless world.

Rosary, prayer, meditation, Catholic reading, time spent in silence and meditative reading out of doors away from cities in the natural serenity of God's creation is most helpful in quieting the soul.

Frances · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2014, 02:46:15 PM »

Quote from: J.Paul

Quote from: Frances
:reading: :light-saber:
Discovering the correct doctrine is not enough. Once it is known, the Faith must be lived.
For an increasing number of faithful, this means living a Catholic life without the Mass, without the Sacraments, without benefit of sound Catholic teaching, while having to survive in the world among pagans and heretics. Any suggestions as to how this is done?
The Rosary comes at once to mind. 15 decades.
What else?

...one must create an insulated environment and try to negotiate life with as little interaction with it as possible. Having recourse to the knowledge of what is truly Catholic and a constant rebuilding of that which the corruptions of society eats away is a necessary, useful and effective defense against a faithless world.

Rosary, prayer, meditation, Catholic reading, time spent in silence and meditative reading out of doors away from cities in the natural serenity of God's creation is most helpful in quieting the soul.

Living in the woods as a hermit is ideal. My point is that the vast majority cannot do it. It requires access to land, having a source of material provision, and "brethren" for social support. What of those forced to earn their living out in the world in the city or those forced to live amongst heathen families?
Can someone name some specific saints? Devotions? Prayers?
Have any Popes addressed similar problems? (No, not the comment about youth unemployment and loneliness of the elderly! Those are whining complaints about self-created problems, no solutions offered!)

The Penny Catechism · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2014, 01:19:38 PM »

Quote from: Frances

:reading: :light-saber:
Discovering the correct doctrine is not enough. Once it is known, the Faith must be lived. For an increasing number of faithful, this means living a Catholic life without the Mass, without the Sacraments, without benefit of sound Catholic teaching, while having to survive in the world among pagans and heretics. Any suggestions as to how this is done? The Rosary comes at once to mind. 15 decades.What else?

Hi Francis: Sacred Heart Devotion to Jesus as a consideration...

Unfortunately the 'right' answer is context based towards a person's specific circuмstance and spiritual aptitude. Some of us cannot go to the local priest for specifics without feeling that we have been given the company line. Their answers ambiguous, not to the point, and ultimately leaving us concerned and wanting more detail but afraid to ask. Others may find they are beaten over the head with a feeling of 'you're not a Theologian!,' - a strategy to back us down from inquiring into contradictions to previous Church teachings.

Being unfamiliar with your background, it may be wise for you to employ prayer discernment to the Holy Ghost for what's congruent to your strength's and weaknesses and to your situation. Taking into account that you're squared up on doctrine; I'll go to some ideas over a couple of posts. I apologize beforehand if this is not helpful.

Holiness consists in active fidelity in accomplishing your duties imposed by the general laws of God, the Church, and the particular state of life you have chosen. Not only active, but passive fidelity into loving acceptance of the Crosses that God sends you at every moment without turning to sin (Caussade, 5). Then looking at your earthly career as a time of trial, a time of merit for your soul, and a time of mercy on the part of God. After death is justice and judgment based on your thoughts, words, works, and omissions (TPC, 11).

Enticing your mind that the Will of God is important to your life and to be docile to It, when manifested in the ordinary events of life- the whole essence of the spiritual life. Make or break here is having an open mind to God's will when disguised and veiled to the senses as 'the storms of life.' Nothing more than a description of supernatural faith. However, without it, actions will not have God as it's end. For example, you leave for work, somebody cuts you off in traffic... supernatural faith sees this as an opportunity to unite your cross to the merits of Jesus and Mary in the Mystical Body for graces to be given somewhere in the world, for reparation for sin...for the love of God. Foundational is the daily practice or rather the art & science of accepting and bearing your daily crosses without turning to sin or excuses to medicate the pain; which will minimize self-deception when acquiring virtue and eliminating vice... a particular struggle for those who are spiritually or emotionally broken.

Unfortunately, many writings from both Popes and Theologians lack editorial and writing brevity to get directly to the point of topics unambiguously to remove misinterpretation. Those who have been salient or curt have been ignored by many (Boniface, Eugene) or downplayed (Scupoli, Caussade). Also unfortunate are those theologians who write with an air of religious liberty swaying away from congruence to previous Church teachings. Without internal checks and balances (either in seminary schools or index of forbidden books) applied to assess for apostolic congruence; the last several hundred years have led to an ever growing 'interpretative' theology - encouraging every flavor of explanation to any variety of moral or theological issues from both lay and Theologians alike.

All one has to do is read threads here, pitting one copied and pasted theologian against another theologian... or council or even against another Pope. If the context is erroneous then absurdity can quickly set in, leading into uncharitable debate with no resolution or practical solution to issues. Leaving an uninformed reader distracted from acquiring virtue and eliminating vice. Hence, as it is fire and not the 'philosophy of scientific knowledge of fire' that warms us, it is loving God and doing His Will that will produce sanctity in our souls rather than the intellectual speculation about 'this or that principle' and its effects (Caussade, 9). If we wish to quench our thirst, we must lay aside books which explain thirst and take a drink. Hence, the connection to the Sacred Heart Devotion, more specifically, the love of God that incorporates the art and science of vice elimination and virtue acquirement. (assuming basic doctrinal matters have been squared away...and/ or those preferring not to get involved in technical theological issues).

The Penny Catechism · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2014, 01:50:51 PM »

As traditional Catholics we are constantly having our attitudes and mindsets manipulated and socially engineered to conform through fear and to a false peace solution via any seductive cult doctrine of the day; but not adequately prepared for what confronts us in the real world. All we are told is to pray the 15 decades and...to the Holy Father. This gives no specific solutions to the battles we all face in our everyday lives including the moms at home, the fathers at work, or singles -- whether it comes in the form of that unexpected 'stab in the back' from a family relative or colleague, including those who are supposedly 'on our side,' and who play the 'team game' outwardly but inside are proactively sabotaging our moves behind the scenes. Might be people here on this forum, or perhaps in-laws, friends, or co-workers. Today they are for us; tomorrow against us. The end summation of these daily battles is what will be the determining factor of what will decide for many, whether they go to heaven or hell (the eternal scales weighing one's scattered virtues vs. a lifelong entangled seduction by the 7 deadly sins and willful deliberate error exposed at their particular judgment). To expect some magical pass into Heaven would be gratuitous at best; and that thinking would likely have an undercurrent influenced by modernist subterfuge over the last 200 years.

Pragmatically, a strategy is the practice of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a lifestyle that makes it a priority that He is involved in everything you do. The error in thinking is to believe it suffice for said devotion as an am/pm set of rehearsed prayers alone. Especially post V-II. About making Him (Jesus Christ) your constant Companion in life so that you know Him and He knows you by involving Him via prayer and turning to Him as the source for strength to face the greatest challenges in life - loving our enemies, fighing our habitual sins, and the strength to do His Will. Maybe that's why He choose that moniker rather than 'the Sacred Mind' of Jesus. In congruence, it fulfills the requirements of the first law of loving God for Himself alone and then creatures for love of Him. Most known for this devotion are St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Mechtilde, St. Gertrude, St. John Eudes, etc. However, for me, I ended up using a book more exclusively from a nun named sister Josefa Menendez from the 1930's. I found the deep connection I was looking for to love Jesus - in particular, in dealing with my enemies... but also the embracement of the inadvertent bitter crosses of life that affect everyone (from believer to non-believer). The book is named "The Way of Divine Love." However for others, they may find Fr. Croiset's "The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus" or the "Imitation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus" a better fit.

This book doesn't go heavy into set prayers (like Fr. Croisets), but develops instead, the Sacred Heart of Jesus as an actual lifestyle to be lived, in all you do. Meaning that it is fluid and transitional to today, 2014. This allows for counter moves to life's ever changing situations with the goal to prevent sin and practice virtue. Learning to turn to Jesus under pressure rather than turning towards sin to 'medicate' situational pain in response to the disappointments of life. At the Heart of the devotion is the belief that you must ultimately love the Cross, do the right thing (do courage) over what feels good in the moment, and have fearless trust in God.

In the heat of the moment, you never quite know what to expect. When you're in the present, things might look bad or whatever, but if you are willing to live your life for God alone and make Him number 1# 'till the end, then stuff is going to come to you in a weird way. Opportunities are going to come to you and you're going to recognize them and exploit them. Can be hard to realize if you're depressed in the moment and you're feeling down about yourself or where you're at doctrinally. But, if you have a plan and are working towards it, you won't have to worry so much because you know that with Christ everything will be alright in the end. And if it doesn't 'appear' alright; then you know it's not yet the end.

The Penny Catechism · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2014, 02:53:22 PM »

I would caution that one needs to have familiarity with Catholic teaching before reading something like 'The Way of Divine Love.' It goes into mystical theology and reading without the basics can be counter-productive. It is somewhat 'dark' and in your face when it starts going into removing the veil from the natural into living a supernatural based life. Looking at the visible world as one reality. With another reality, the supernatural and preternatural as existing all around us. For a lack of a better word, it has a 'quantum' feel to it; and as such the practice really goes into this as a conscious state in connection to the Mystical Body of Christ. Going into 'non-local' influencing to other individual's realities outside the physical laws of linear time and space (speed of light). Unlike occult influencing to gain power, riches, or pleasures; here it is actually suffering, prayer, and resignation to God's Will when united to Christ's merits with a directed intention that creates the occasion for interacting between the two realities in time.... to convert a sinner somewhere across the world or free a particular soul in purgatory, offer reparation, or to interact with the saints in Heaven via invocation; etc. Considering that you will always have suffering in this world (for the just and unjust), that God has a purpose in this suffering; primarily in the supernatural order; hidden beneath the ordinary events of life's struggles. Jesus to Josefa -

Ex. 1 - "If you want to console Me, now is the time. Tonight, very near here, they are holding a meeting in which I shall be much insulted. Offer yourself as a victim in such a way as to make reparation for the outrages committed by these souls. Jesus joined her in her cell, where already in prayer, He gaver her His Cross and Himself guided her prayer: 'O' My Father! Whilst these sinners offend Thy Sovereign Majesty and furiously outrage the Blood of Thy Son, look upon this willing victim which united to My Heart suffers and makes reparation. Deign to receive her sufferings in union with My merits, O' Father of all goodness'... Then He added: Now let Me plunge your soul in the bitterness that is in My Heart. And He vanished, leaving me in unspeakable anguish under the Cross.." pg. 248

Ex. 2 - "Your self-conquest will obtain light for a sinner... your ready patience under provocation will heal the wounds he inflicted on Me, will repair for his offence and expiate his fault... a reproof accepted patiently and even with joy will obtain for a sinner blinded by pride the grace to let light penetrate his soul and the courage to beg pardon humbly." pg. 250

Ex. 3 - Our Lady to Josefa: "As you overcame your repugnance through love, heaven opened today to a soul whose salvation was in great peril. If you knew how many souls can be saved by those little acts." pg. 229.

Ex. 4 - "Many are willing to entertain Me when I visit them with consolation. Many receive Me with joy in Holy Communion, but few welcome Me when I visit them with My Cross. When a soul is stretched on the Cross, and is surrendered to My Will, that soul glorifies Me... and consoles Me, and is very close to Me." pg. 192

Ex. 5 - "Why are you afraid?... It is I who allow the souls I love to suffer. Suffering is necessary for it purifies them and I am thus able to use them to snatch many from hell fire."

Ex. 6 - On seeing Hell: "What I have seen gives me great courage to suffer, and makes me understand the value of the smallest sacrifices. Jesus gathers them up and uses them to save souls. It is blindness to avoid pain even in very small things, for not only is it of great worth to ourselves, but it serves to guard many from the torments of hell." pg. 145.

Ex. 7 - Priest detained in Purgatory: "How great is the mercy of God, when He deigns to make use of the sufferings of other souls to repair our infidelities;... what a degree of glory I might have acquired had my life been different. pg. 148

Ex. 8 -A Nun who, on her entrance into heaven (from Purgatory) confided to Josefa: "How different the things of earth appear when one passes into eternity. What are charges and offices in the sight of God? All He counts is the purity of our intention when exercising them, even in the smallest acts. How little is the earth and all it contains, and yet, how loved." pg. 148.

Ex. 9 - The Devil: "That same evening the devil, exasperated by the intervention of the saint (St. Madeleine Sophie),... 'Ah!' he roared, blaspheming, 'when I want to keep strong hold of a soul, I have only to incite her to pride... and if I want to bring about her ruin, I have only to let her follow the instincts of her pride. Pride is the source of my victories and I will not rest till the world if full of it. I myself was lost through pride, and I will not allow souls to save themselves through humility. There is no doubt about it,' he cried with a yell of rage, 'all those who reach highest sanctity have sunk deepest in humility.' pg. 231.

Ex. 10 - Our Lord on Pilate: "Pilate questioned Me shrewdly, hoping to discover a true cause for My condemnation, but finding none, his conscience soon told him of what a grave injustice he would be guilty; so to evade the responsibility he sent Me to Herod... Pilate's soul is typical of those who, tossed between the impulses of grace and the allurements of their own passions, blindly yield to human respect and excessive self-love; for if they gradually persuade themselves that there is no harm, no peril in it... they are wise enough to decide for themselves and have no need of advice. They are afraid of seeming ridiculous in the eyes of the world...they lack energy to overcome themselves, and not making use of grace they fall into one occasion of sin after another, until, like Pilate, they deliver Me up to Herod. When it is question of a religious, there is perhaps no intention of offending Me gravely. But to resist, a humiliation would have to be accepted, or some annoyance borne... and if, far from following the inspiration of grace, and honestly manifesting the temptation, this soul in self-terrogation decides that there is no reason to avoid this danger or to refuse herself this satisfaction, she will soon fall into graver peril... Like Pilate, she will be blinded and lose the courage to act with straightforwardness, and gradually, if not soon, she will come to delivering Me to Herod. To all Pilate's questions I answered nothing, but when he said Art Thou the King of the Jєωs? Then gravely I sayest I am King, but My Kingdom is not of this world. So when an occasion of conquering human respect and accepting bravely either humiliation or suffering (even if it could easily be avoided) presents itself, a soul should answer: 'my Kingdom is not of this world,' for that reason, I do not seek human favour; I go to my true fatherland, where rest and joy await me. Meanwhile, I will do my duty faithfully and make no account of the opinion of the world. If for this I must seek humiliation and suffering, I will not draw back; I will listen to the voice of grace and disregard that of nature. If I am unable to do this alone; I will ask for advice, for I know how often self-love and passion blind me and entice me into the paths of evil."... "Look at Pilate! See how afraid and disturbed he is; he is at wit's end in order to calm the fury of the people who demanded My death. He ordered Me to be scourged..."Such is the soul that has not the enough courage and generosity to break energitically with the world's demands, her nature or her passions. Instead of obeying conscience and making short work of temptation which she knows does not come from the good spirit, she yields to one fancy or another, to a slight satisfaction... if she overcomes herself on one point, she gives in on another, which would need greater effort; if she does some mortification, she hesitates about others which would ensure her fidelity to grace or the Rule, but would deprive her of some small pleasure. She allows herself half of what nature or passion demands and so soothes her conscience...pg. 275.

Frances · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2014, 03:26:57 PM »

Quote from: The Penny Catechism

Quote from: Frances
:reading: :light-saber:
Discovering the correct doctrine is not enough. Once it is known, the Faith must be lived. For an increasing number of faithful, this means living a Catholic life without the Mass, without the Sacraments, without benefit of sound Catholic teaching, while having to survive in the world among pagans and heretics. Any suggestions as to how this is done? The Rosary comes at once to mind. 15 decades.What else?

Quote from: The Penny Catechism
Hi Franc[e]s: Sacred Heart Devotion to Jesus as a consideration...

Hmmmm....:scratchchin: I'll take that as confirmation!

Quote from: The Penny Catechism
Unfortunately the 'right' answer is context based towards a person's specific circuмstance and spiritual aptitude. Some of us cannot go to the local priest for specifics without feeling that we have been given the company line.

As for my "local" priest, forget it! My local (geographic) parish priest is joining for Lenten "services" tonight at the Lutheran church two blocks north. Tonight's feature is a video about 'reconciliation' by a "Cheyenne Peace Chief."

Quote from: The Penny Catechism
Holiness consists in active fidelity in accomplishing your duties imposed by the general laws of God, the Church, and the particular state of life you have chosen. Not only active, but passive fidelity into loving acceptance of the Crosses that God sends you at every moment without turning to sin (Caussade, 5). Then looking at your earthly career as a time of trial, a time of merit for your soul, and a time of mercy on the part of God. After death is justice and judgment based on your thoughts, words, works, and omissions (TPC, 11).

Enticing your mind that the Will of God is important to your life and to be docile to It, when manifested in the ordinary events of life- the whole essence of the spiritual life. Make or break here is having an open mind to God's will when disguised and veiled to the senses as 'the storms of life.' Nothing more than a description of supernatural faith. However, without it, actions will not have God as it's end.

Quote from: The Penny Catechism
For example, you leave for work, somebody cuts you off in traffic...

:tinfoil:Do you drive a late-model bright red Hyundai with custom tags, "I-ROK"??? If so, thanks for the graces!

:applause:
Quote from: The Penny Catechism
... supernatural faith sees this as an opportunity to unite your cross to the merits of Jesus and Mary in the Mystical Body for graces to be given somewhere in the world, for reparation for sin...for the love of God. Foundational is the daily practice or rather the art & science of accepting and bearing your daily crosses without turning to sin or excuses to medicate the pain; which will minimize self-deception when acquiring virtue and eliminating vice... a particular struggle for those who are spiritually or emotionally broken.

Excellent!

Quote from: The Penny Catechism
Unfortunately, many writings from both Popes and Theologians lack editorial and writing brevity to get directly to the point of topics...all one has to do is read threads here, pitting one copied and pasted theologian against another theologian... or council or even against another Pope.

The αѕнкenαzι Jєωs did this in an orderly fashion and call it the тαℓмυd! тαℓмυdic 'scholarship' to them is far more important than Torah, leaving the Jєωs in great ignorance of the Scripture given by God himself to Moses and the prophets! Guilty of Deicide, they're left with a man-made religion hijacked by Satan! (Excuse my going off on a tangent. A topic for another thread? Traditional Catholics are in danger of writing their own de facto тαℓмυd for the very same reasons as the disposed Jєωs of Europe wrote theirs.)

Quote from: The Penny Catechism
...It is loving God and doing His Will that will produce sanctity in our souls rather than the intellectual speculation about 'this or that principle' and its effects (Caussade, 9). If we wish to quench our thirst, we must lay aside books which explain thirst and take a drink. Hence, the connection to the Sacred Heart Devotion...

:dancing-banana:
This is good advice for the present. Educate yourself and any in your charge on solid doctrine. First, know your Faith. Memorize the Catechism according to age/ability. I like Pius X, but children or those who don't read can use the Baltimore, or The Penny Catechism. Next, accept your "less-than-optimal-Catholic-situation" as THE ONE selected by God for your salvation. (If He'd wanted us born in the High Middle Ages, we wouldn't be communicating on computers, tablets, and iPhones!) Use each trial as a rung of a ladder leading to Heaven. Seek solace in Jesus' Sacred Heart and beneath Our Mother's Mantle through the Rosary. Mount each rung by means of whatever helps God provides. In these perilous, confusing days, keep the heart and mind open to the helps of the Holy Ghost. Normally, we think of Mass, the Sacraments. In abnormal times, these may have to be had outside the normal channels. Look for them and take advantage when and wherever they can be had. Accept that they may not be available. Think of Sacramentals and indulgenced devotions as daily vitamins. There are probably more Sacramentals available than in normal times. As the elderly devout die off and as Catholic institutions shut their doors and sell off properties, old missals, prayer books, medals, Rosaries, images, Holy Water founts, Stations of the Cross, you name it, end up in used stores, consignment shops, yard and estate sales, even in the trash! (I found a Hefty bag full of books and pictures in a dumpster beside a former parochial school in Brooklyn. In it was a Roman Missal, ©1923 for the Altar and a set of Altar Cards. They're presently in use again!)

Thank you, "Penny"!

Anyone have other ideas for shepherdless sheep?

:dancing-banana:Sorry, couldn't get quotation boxes to work!

Frances · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2014, 03:50:29 PM »

Quote from: The Penny Catechism

As traditional Catholics we are constantly having our attitudes and mindsets manipulated and socially engineered to conform through fear and to a false peace solution via any seductive cult doctrine of the day; but not adequately prepared for what confronts us in the real world. All we are told is to pray the 15 decades.........! This gives no specific solutions to the battles we all face in our everyday lives ..........? I ended up using a book more exclusively from a nun named sister Josefa Menendez from the 1930's. I found the deep connection I was looking for to love Jesus - in particular, in dealing with my enemies... but also the embracement of the inadvertent bitter crosses of life that affect everyone (from believer to non-believer). The book is named "The Way of Divine Love."

When you're in the present, things might look bad or whatever, but if you are willing to live your life for God alone and make Him number 1# 'till the end, then stuff is going to come to you in a weird way. Opportunities are going to come to you and you're going to recognize them and exploit them. Can be hard to realize if you're depressed in the moment and you're feeling down about yourself or where you're at doctrinally. But, if you have a plan and are working towards it, you won't have to worry so much because you know that with Christ everything will be alright in the end. And if it doesn't 'appear' alright; then you know it's not yet the end.

:dancing-banana: :reading: :pray:I used to have the book! Loaned it to????????? Is it still in print?

Frances · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2014, 04:24:35 PM »

:dancing-banana: :applause:

Quote from: The Penny Catechism

So when an occasion of conquering human respect and accepting bravely either humiliation or suffering (even if it could easily be avoided) presents itself, a soul should answer: 'my Kingdom is not of this world,' for that reason, I do not seek human favour; I go to my true fatherland, where rest and joy await me. Meanwhile, I will do my duty faithfully and make no account of the opinion of the world. If for this I must seek humiliation and suffering, I will not draw back; I will listen to the voice of grace and disregard that of nature. If I am unable to do this alone; I will ask for advice, for I know how often self-love and passion blind me and entice me into the paths of evil."... "Look at Pilate! See how afraid and disturbed he is; he is at wit's end in order to calm the fury of the people who demanded My death. He ordered Me to be scourged..."Such is the soul that has not the enough courage and generosity to break energitically with the world's demands, her nature or her passions. Instead of obeying conscience and making short work of temptation which she knows does not come from the good spirit, she yields to one fancy or another, to a slight satisfaction... if she overcomes herself on one point, she gives in on another, which would need greater effort; if she does some mortification, she hesitates about others which would ensure her fidelity to grace or the Rule, but would deprive her of some small pleasure. She allows herself half of what nature or passion demands and so soothes her conscience...[/i]pg. 275.

:pray:for me, please!

PerEvangelicaDicta · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2014, 04:32:17 PM »

An invaluable exchange between TPC and Frances. I am moved, greatly enlightened and changed.

The Penny Catechism · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2014, 09:23:35 AM »

Quote from: PerEvangelicaDicta

An invaluable exchange between TPC and Frances. I am moved, greatly enlightened and changed.

thank you so much, especially coming from you. please pray for me.
thanks tpc

The Penny Catechism · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2014, 10:42:06 AM »

1. Francis: As for my "local" priest, forget it! My local (geographic) parish priest is joining for Lenten "services" tonight at the Lutheran church two blocks north. Tonight's feature is a video about 'reconciliation' by a "Cheyenne Peace Chief."

TPC: Sorry to hear that. I'll pray an Ave, Gloria, and Pater for his soul.

2. Francis: Do you drive a late-model bright red Hyundai with custom tags, "I-ROK"??? If so, thanks for the graces!

TPC: No. I wish I was that humble.

3. Francis: The αѕнкenαzι Jєωs did this in an orderly fashion and call it the тαℓмυd! ....

TPC: Didn't know that. Creative perspective.

4. Francis: Ideas?

TPC: From yesterday, first qoute (A.) with tie in to (B) ....then to St. Gonzaga & St. de la Colombiere both listed in the Sacred Heart Devotion (Croiset)

A. "There is no doubt about it," he cried with a yell of rage, "all those
who reach highest sanctity have sunk deepest in humility." pg. 231
B. "descend as low as possible in humility, to observe religious
obedience, and to carry out with prudence all that it prescribes. - St.
Mag. de Pazzi's mother's words to her daughter before
departing to Heaven. pg. 347 Purgatory (F.X. Schouppe).

X. "St. Magdalen de Pazzi, being in one of these ecstasies which were customary to her, saw in Paradise the glory of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, and being amazed at what appeared to her most extraordinary, she began to speak slowly...Oh! How great is the glory of Aloysius, son of Ignatius! I could never have believed it if Our Lord had not shown it to me. It seems to me there can be no glory in Heaven equal to that of Aloysius. I repeat it! Aloysius is a great saint. We have saints in our Church [whose relics were in the monastery church] who have not received such glory as their reward. I wish I were able to go all through the world and proclaim that Aloysius, son of Ignatius, is a great saint;... in order that God might be glorified. He had been elevated to this high degree of glory because he lived an interior life." pg. 160 "The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus" (Fr. John Croiset, S.J.)
St. Aloysius Gonzaga wiki article. ... whose spiritual director was St. Robert Bellarmine
St. Robert Bellarmine (bottom 1/3 of page)

Y. "The Father (Venerable Fr. Claude de la Colombiere) had died at five o'clock in the morning. That same evening Blessed Margaret Mary had exclaimed: 'Cease to be afflicted; invoke him. Fear nothing. He is more powerful to aid us than ever." pg. 363 Purgatory (F.X. Schouppe).

5. Yes, the one I have has the white bkgd and purple color

6. for your intentions - 5 Pater's, 5 Ave's, and 5 Glorias

(don't forget to pray for me too! Thank you so much) - TPC