Author Topic: SSPX "Faculties" Extended Indefinitely after Year of Mercy (Read 4760 times)

Ladislaus · « **on:** November 21, 2016, 09:33:41 AM »

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/11/21/now_is_a_time_of_mercy_pope_issues_new_apostolic_letter/1273725

Quote

The Holy Father also extended a number of initiatives already begun in the Holy Year, asking the Missionaries of Mercy to continue their ministry, and extending indefinitely the faculties of priests of the Society of St Pius X to hear confessions and grant absolution.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2016, 09:42:49 AM »

I just noticed the CNN headline for this:

"Pope: Abortion is forgivable."

Like that's some new innovative Catholic doctrine that abortion can be forgiven.

Matthew · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2016, 10:32:28 AM »

Quote from: Ladislaus

I just noticed the CNN headline for this:

"Pope: Abortion is forgivable."

Like that's some new innovative Catholic doctrine that abortion can be forgiven.

But pagans and non-Catholics will take that statement in a completely different way.

"Oh, she had an abortion, but it's forgivable." As in, we can "forgive" or "overlook" it, even if she is a die-hard, unapologetic feminist exercising her full "rights over her body".

In other words, many non-Catholics don't understand that to be forgiven in Confession one has to be CONTRITE, i.e., resolve not to do it again, repent of the sin for a supernatural reason, wholeheartedly take on some penance and/or restitution, etc.

Ascetik · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2016, 10:55:15 AM »

Very True Matthew,

You should always, always, always question the MSM, especially when it comes to their stories on the true faith, it will always be skewed and misinterpreted.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2016, 11:15:28 AM »

CNN just changed the headline to "Pope: Priests may forgive abortion". Probably some Catholic group complained.

Matthew · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2016, 11:20:27 AM »

The whole "year of mercy" is ridiculous to begin with.

AS IF the main problem, the besetting fault, of the world today is rigorism or being too strict.

It's ridiculous because the EXACT OPPOSITE is true. Excessive laxity and license are the besetting problem today. As +Williamson frequently preaches, most Catholics think of God like a lap-dog or a toy poodle that you keep on a leash, that you bring out for your own comfort and benefit (nice internal feelings) on Sundays. But you certainly don't let this lapdog interfere with your real life, or your life decisions!

The rights of God are being stepped on, in favor of the rights of Man.

We need to be reminded of God's JUSTICE rather than His mercy.

Croagh Patrick · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2016, 12:00:28 PM »

Ann Barnhardt has an excellent article on this "faux" mercy. Is it OK to quote her here? She does tend to be a tad irate most of the time. Still I find her articles interesting!!

hollingsworth · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2016, 01:31:32 PM »

Quote

The Holy Father also extended a number of initiatives already begun in the Holy Year, asking the Missionaries of Mercy to continue their ministry, and extending indefinitely the faculties of priests of the Society of St Pius X to hear confessions and grant absolution.

Did anyone on this forum honestly, truly believe that Francis was going to grant sspx a Personal Prelature, and that the matter would then be settled?

Don't we see that it is in the interests of both parties, ie. Francis (The Holy See) and +Fellay (the SSPX) to prolong any final clarification or decision on the matter? Surely most of us do.

It serves Francis to create the impression that the Vatican has not altogether abandoned its traditional Catholic roots. It may put to rest the suspicion among more conservatively oriented NO Catholics that the Conciliar church has gone completely off the rails. There are plenty of NO Catholics, I'm sure, who are not exactly comfortable with the direction in which the Church is headed, and who have noted her visible, statistical decline over the years.

From +Fellay's standpoint, and that of the "Menzingen mafia," extending the Year of Mercy puts their followers at ease, and allays any doubts some may have that their confessions are invalid. At the same time, It gives +Fellay & Co. more breathing room.

Had Francis granted a Prelature, to take effect immediately, the SG and his cronies would be confronted immediately with the prospect of having to deal with numbers of sspx priests and faithful, (including at least one of their bishops) who are utterly against the idea of making any deal with Rome.

No, stringing out this affair serves both these rascals well. Tying up all the loose ends does not. It is definitely not in the interests of either party to be too precise or definitive. Heck, maybe they can squeeze out another 40 years of Vatican/sspx tensions. It may mean dozens and dozens of future trips to Rome by sspx officials to discuss possible reconciliation. In that time, +Fellay may even be awarded a cardinalate.

Cantarella · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2016, 08:32:49 PM »

The modernist parody of "mercy" so appealing to the masses nowadays is quite contrasting to what real Catholicism teaches. Much is spoken of God's "mercy" in this world saturated by sin, but nothing of God's justice. This is what the many want to hear after all, as to justify their vices and iniquities.

However, the Bergolian parody is not Catholicism. The following extract by De Liguori is a good example of what the Church used to teach about God's mercy.

Quote from: St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Preparation for Death

The sinner exclaims, “But God is merciful!” This is the third delusion which is common to sinners, and through which so many are lost. A learned author observes, that the mercy of God sends more souls to hell than the justice of God; because these miserable ones, boldly trusting in His mercy, never cease to sin, and thus are they lost. God is very merciful. Who is there that can say He is not? But notwithstanding this, how many are there who are daily sent to hell? God is merciful — but He is also just, and for that reason He is obliged to punish those who offend Him. He uses mercy, but to whom? Even to those who fear Him. “So great is His mercy also toward them that fear Him So is the Lord merciful unto them that fear Him.” (Ps. ciii. 11-13.) But to those who despise Him, and abuse His mercy in order the more to despise Him, He executes His justice upon them. And very rightly. God pardons sin; but He cannot pardon the wish to sin. S. Augustine declares, that he who sins, thinking to repent after he has committed the sin, is not a penitent, but a mocker of God. And, on the other hand, the Apostle tells us, that God will not be mocked, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked.” (Gal. vi. 7.) It would be mocking God to offend Him as we please, and how we please, and afterwards to expect to reach heaven.

But, as during my past life God has shown so many mercies towards me, and has not punished me, therefore do I hope He will show mercy for the future [as in, “God never tires of forgiving” –N.O.W.]. This is the fourth delusion. Therefore, because God has had compassion upon thee, for this reason, He must ever show mercy to thee, and must never chastise thee? No, indeed, for the greater have been His mercies to thee, the more oughtest thou to tremble lest He should never pardon thee again, but should chastise thee if again thou dost offend Him. We are told not to say, “I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the Most High is a patient rewarder,” (Ecclus. v. 4,) for God endures, but will not do so for ever; when the mercies which He is willing to show towards a sinner come to an end, then does He punish the sinner for his sins altogether. And the longer He has waited for the sinner to repent, so much the more severe will be the sinner’s punishment; as S. Gregory observes, “Those whom He waits for the longer, He punishes the more severely.” If, therefore, my brother, thou feelest that thou hast offended God many times, and that God has not sent thee to hell, thou oughtest to say, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed.” (Lam. iii. 22.) Lord, I thank Thee that Thou hast not sent me to hell as I deserved. Think of the number who have been condemned for less sins than thine. And with this thought thou oughtest to seek as far as thou canst to atone for the offences thou hast committed against God, by repentance, prayer, and good works. The patience that God has shown towards thee ought to animate thee, not, indeed, to displease Him more, but to serve Him better and to love Him more; seeing that He has shown so many mercies to thee, which He has not shown to others.

poche · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2016, 11:41:41 PM »

Quote from: Ladislaus

I just noticed the CNN headline for this:

"Pope: Abortion is forgivable."

Like that's some new innovative Catholic doctrine that abortion can be forgiven.

If you are truly sorry then any sin can be forgiven.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2016, 09:16:05 AM »

Quote from: Matthew

The whole "year of mercy" is ridiculous to begin with.

AS IF the main problem, the besetting fault, of the world today is rigorism or being too strict.

It's ridiculous because the EXACT OPPOSITE is true. Excessive laxity and license are the besetting problem today. As +Williamson frequently preaches, most Catholics think of God like a lap-dog or a toy poodle that you keep on a leash, that you bring out for your own comfort and benefit (nice internal feelings) on Sundays. But you certainly don't let this lapdog interfere with your real life, or your life decisions!

The rights of God are being stepped on, in favor of the rights of Man.

We need to be reminded of God's JUSTICE rather than His mercy.

Yes, and this is also my issue with the whole "Divine Mercy" devotion. God usually reveals these devotions in order to correct some bad trend in Catholic spirituality. Thus, when He revealed the Sacred Heart devotion, Jansenism was running rampant. Last thing we need today is an excessive emphasis on Mercy, when in fact most people are prone to presumption. I believe that lots of people feel they can just say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy instead of changing their lives, doing penance, and going to Confession.

Nishant · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2016, 07:55:06 AM »

This is excellent. Pope Francis basically gives a unilateral, unconditional and indefinite extension of faculties to the SSPX priests and Bishops well beyond the end of the Holy Year of Mercy (for the rest of his pontificate?). While Pope Francis has been far from ideal in his governance of the Church, this step is nothing to frown at. Some are already saying this effectively grants the Society de facto canonical status within the Church. The crisis in the Church wasn't solved over 40 years ago when Archbishop Lefebvre, led by divine Providence, founded the SSPX. It hasn't been solved in this year of Our Lord 2016. We can continue to work for the restoration of Tradition in the Church cuм Petro et sub Petro subject to traditional priests and Bishops with fully regular faculties to absolve, excommunicate and perform every other function that pertains to ordinary jurisdiction, which by divine law comes only through the Pope.

Matthew · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2016, 08:52:53 AM »

Quote from: poche

Quote from: Ladislaus
I just noticed the CNN headline for this:

"Pope: Abortion is forgivable."

Like that's some new innovative Catholic doctrine that abortion can be forgiven.

If you are truly sorry then any sin can be forgiven.

That's not the point.

The point is that moderns forget about the "contrition" part.

As I said a few posts ago:

Quote from: Matthew

But pagans and non-Catholics will take that statement in a completely different way.

"Oh, she had an abortion, but it's forgivable." As in, we can "forgive" or "overlook" it, even if she is a die-hard, unapologetic feminist exercising her full "rights over her body".

In other words, many non-Catholics don't understand that to be forgiven in Confession one has to be CONTRITE, i.e., resolve not to do it again, repent of the sin for a supernatural reason, wholeheartedly take on some penance and/or restitution, etc.

You just don't say things that are prone to cause confusion and error -- especially on purpose!

What if I said, "Oh, how I love the cult of Mary!" nice and loud around a bunch of Proestants? Would they be edified? Of course not. Nevermind the fact that "cult" can be used in various ways, at least in the past -- including the meaning of "veneration". Today, "cult" evokes an image of adoring, worshiping or following some nutjob who leads the cult -- usually a con-man who is taking advantage of his followers.

I can also think of a Catholic hymn, "Daily Daily Sing to Mary" which mentions "worship" in reference to Our Lady -- our choir director crossed out that word and we sang the word "honor" instead. Again, it's to avoid scandalizing the innocent.

Maria Regina · « **Reply #13 on:** November 25, 2016, 03:51:20 PM »

Quote from: poche

Quote from: Ladislaus
I just noticed the CNN headline for this:

"Pope: Abortion is forgivable."

Like that's some new innovative Catholic doctrine that abortion can be forgiven.

If you are truly sorry then any sin can be forgiven.

For any sin to be forgiven, the penitent must receive the grace of God, respond in a contrite way, beg God for forgiveness, and then respond properly to those graces by (1) going to confession, (2) having true contrition; (3) resolving never to commit that sin or any sin in the future; and (4) resolving to fulfill the penance given.

Furthermore, the person who committed that sin cannot assume that he will be truly sorry after committing that sin. That would be manifesting a spirit of arrogance and pride. Instead of justifying the evil deed and thinking that the grace of true contrition and absolution would be automatically granted after committing such a foul deed, one should ardently pray and resist any temptations to commit any sins whatsoever whether venial or mortal.

St. Thomas Aquinas states somewhere that one in a state of continuous venial sins is left in a weakened state that could predispose him to commit a mortal sin. Therefore, it is imperative to resist all sins and to flee from all near occasions of sin.

In addition, we sinners must be willing to forgive others, for unless we forgive, we cannot be forgiven. To the measure that we are willing to forgive and love our enemies, to that degree will our sins be forgiven.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the Evil One.

Let us pray for each other that we may be saved.

Alexandria · « **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2016, 04:30:10 PM »

Quote from: Croagh Patrick

Ann Barnhardt has an excellent article on this "faux" mercy. Is it OK to quote her here? She does tend to be a tad irate most of the time. Still I find her articles interesting!!

I used to like her, but no more. She appears to me to be too taken with herself and her "de fide" opinions.