SAINT URBAN
 
There is not much known about our Saint for this month. He lived in the early 200’s during the persecution of the early Church and it was not until the reign of Constantine in the early 4th century that we were able to keep and preserve a more detailed historical ‘lives of the Saints’. We do know the he persevered until the end and preferred the shedding of his blood to worshipping idols.  While now we have to content ourselves with purported heads of the Church who, if they would die for anything, would die in order to have the right to worship in false religions!
 
On August 19th 2005 Father Ratzinger (Benedict 16) after being “elected” “Pope” worshipped in a Jєωιѕн ѕуηαgσgυє. During this gathering, in which Benedict was seated in a prominent place on the stage, he was seen clapping and bowing his head to the singing in the Jєωιѕн service. When Benedict rose to speak the entire audience stood up and applauded because of the obvious approval he was giving their religion. This is not only a strange occurrence but is the exact opposite of what a valid Pope would do.
 
10. So, Venerable Brethren, it is clear why this Apostolic See has never allowed its subjects to take part in the assemblies of non-Catholics: for the union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who are separated from it, for in the past they have unhappily left it. To the one true Church of Christ, we say, which is visible to all, and which is to remain, according to the will of its Author, exactly the same as He instituted it. During the lapse of centuries, the mystical Spouse of Christ has never been contaminated, nor can she ever in the future be contaminated, as Cyprian bears witness: "The Bride of Christ cannot be made false to her Spouse: she is incorrupt and modest. She knows but one dwelling, she guards the sanctity of the nuptial chamber chastely and modestly."[De Cath. Ecclesiae unitate, 6] The same holy Martyr with good reason marveled exceedingly that anyone could believe that "this unity in the Church which arises from a divine foundation, and which is knit together by heavenly sacraments, could be rent and torn asunder by the force of contrary wills."[Ibid] For since the mystical body of Christ, in the same manner as His physical body, is one, [I Cor. xii, 12] compacted and fitly joined together, [Eph. Iv, 16] it were foolish and out of place to say that the mystical body is made up of members which are disunited and scattered abroad: whosoever therefore is not united with the body is no member of it, neither is he in communion with Christ its head.[Cf. Eph. v, 30; 1, 22]  MORTALIUM ANIMOS by Pope Pius XI) http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius11/P11MORTA.HTM
 
I’m not sure if Father Ratzinger would be interested in what valid Popes or Saint Paul has to say, but for those willing to embrace the truth, I will share some of what Saint Paul wrote regarding the false religion of the Jєωs:
 
Hebrews 7:17-22: "For he testifieth: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech. There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof: For the law brought nothing to perfection: but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God. And inasmuch as it is not without an oath (for the others indeed were made priests without an oath: But this with an oath, by him that said unto him: The Lord hath sworn and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever). By so much is Jesus made a surety of a better testament." (You can also see Hebrews 8: 5-13 & 9: 1-28 for more on the topic)
 
Saint Paul is not afraid to share the truth with the Hebrews shortly after they had crucified Christ. Father Ratzinger worships with them. Father Ratzinger has never asked the Jєωs to convert. This means that he either does not believe it is necessary for them to convert or that he does not care if they go to Hell. Some who claim to be Catholic are scandalized by this, others are not concerned. Sedevacantists are not scandalized by this because we know he is not Pope. We are concerned; however, as souls are following this pied piper into the pit since taking part in the assemblies of non-Catholics is the religion of Ratzinger:
 
On December 1st 2006 he worshipped at a mosque.
 
Pope Benedict ended a sensitive, fence-mending visit to Turkey on Friday amid praise for visiting Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque and praying there facing toward Mecca "like Muslims". (...)

"Yesterday, Benedict did with the Muslims what John Paul did with the Jєωs."

TRIP BRINGS OUT THE DIPLOMAT

Benedict told Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler at the city's airport before leaving for Rome that his visit to the Blue Mosque and the nearby Aya Sofya museum, once a Christian church and then a mosque, had "left a lasting impression" on him.

"A part of my heart stays here in Istanbul," he said, describing the city as "profoundly European" and a bridge between Europe and Asia. "I hope (my visit) "has the effect of bringing structures and civilizations progressively closer."

The trip brought out the diplomat in the theologian who was expected to take a tougher stand on Islam than his more outgoing predecessor John Paul.

Benedict did press during the trip for more freedom of religion in Turkey and by extension in other mostly Muslim countries, but not in the confrontational way some Church officials expected after he was elected Pope in April 2005. http://www.reuters.com/article/2006/12/01/us-pope-turkey-idUSL2862679720061201
Tom Droleskey put it well when he wrote the following:
 
Instead, however, Benedict believes his overtures to the Mohammedans will win him their respect, that it is possible to find "paths to peace" as a press report on his violation of the First Commandment on the Feast of Saint Andrew noted:
 
As he [Benedict] left the mosque after about half an hour, visibly delighted, the 79-year-old pontiff said: "This visit will help us find together the means and paths to peace, for the good of humanity." (http://news.com.au/newspulse)
 
Some will protest that Benedict, like John Paul II before when he was "surprised" by the presentation of a copy of the Koran for him to venerate, acted "spontaneously" so as not to offend his hosts, that he "couldn't have known" he would have been asked to turn in the direction of Mecca or to cross his arms in the "posture of tranquility." Such delusional thinking is reminiscent of the line uttered by Burt Lancaster's Ernst Janning character in Judgment at Nuremburg. Protesting to Judge Dan Haywood, played by Spencer Tracy, that he, Janning, a German judge who sold out to the nαzιs and sentenced innocent people to death, said, "You've got to believe me, Judge. I didn't know it would come to this." Judge Haywood responded by saying: "Herr Janning, you knew it would come to this the first time you sentenced a man to death you knew to be innocent." The conciliar popes cannot plead ignorance or being victims of the "elements of surprise" then the very diabolical enterprise that they have embraced and institutionalized, ecuмenism, places them in situations where no legitimate Catholic pontiff would have ever placed himself voluntarily, acting in ways that the martyrs saw as opportunities to bear a heroic witness to the Faith, not as a means of "reaching out" to worshipers of false gods in order to find "paths to peace."
 
Benedict XVI committed, objectively speaking, a Mortal Sin by turning in the direction of Mecca so as a "gesture of fraternity" with his Mohammedan hosts in a place of false worship, a mosque. Even to enter a mosque or any other place of false worship has been considered by the Church from time immemorial to be scandalous and a sin against the First Commandment. Benedict compounded this by crossing his arms in the Mohammedan gesture known as the "posture of tranquility." Our Lord Himself would not enter a place of false worship save to convert those who were worshiping false gods and/or false conceptions of God. He would not turn in the direction of Mecca, for example. He would not cross His Holy Arms that our sins nailed to the wood of the Holy Cross in a Mohammedan gesture known as the "posture of tranquility. How could one who believes himself to be the Vicar of Christ do so?
 
This is beyond all argumentation. Anyone who believes otherwise does not understand Who God is nor does he take seriously these words of Saint John the Evangelist:
 
Whosoever revolteth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father and the Son. If any man come to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house nor say to him, God speed you. For he that saith unto him, God speed you, communicateth with his wicked works. (2 John 1: 9-11) http://www.christorchaos.com/WhenPrayingwithBaalandHisFriendsisaGestureofFraternity.htm
 
But this column is reserved for Saints, which means that it is reserved for Catholics who have been canonized by a valid Pope, so let us talk about Pope Saint Urban, who, as I mentioned before, preferred to shed his blood than to even appear to do what Father Ratzinger has done and continues to do throughout his “Pontificate”.
 
We go now to Abbot Gueranger’s, The Liturgical Year:
 
This day is honoured by the triumph of two sainted Popes: and Gregory VII, when he quitted this earth, was introduced into the court of Heaven by one of his predecessors. Urban was a martyr by the shedding of his blood; Gregory was a martyr by the sufferings he had to endure during his whole pontificate. Both fought for the same glorious cause. Urban laid down his life rather than obey an earthly pontentate who bade him degrade himself by adoring an idol; Gregory preferred to endure every temporal suffering rather than allow the Church to be the slave of Caesar. Both of them adorn the Paschal season with their beautiful palms. Our Risen Jesus said to Peter: Follow me! (St John xxi 19) – and Peter followed him, even to the cross. Urban and Gregory were Peter’s successors, and like him, they were the devoted disciples of the same divine Master. We honour them both on this day; and, in their triumph, we have a proof of the invincible power which, in every age, the Conqueror of death has communicated to them whom he appointed to bear testimony to the truth of his Resurrection.
 
The labours and merits of the holy Pope Urban are thus commemorated in the Liturgy:
 
Urban, a Roman by birth, governed the Church during the reign of the Emperor Alexander Severus. By his learning and holy life, he converted many to the Christian faith. Among these were Valerian, the husband of St Cecily, and Tiburtius, Valerian’s brother; both of whom, afterwards, courageously suffered martyrdom. Urban wrote these words regarding property that is given to the Church: ‘Things that have been offered to the Lord by the faithful should not be put to any other use than such as is for the benefit of the Church, the Brethren in the Christian faith, or the poor: because they are the offerings of the faithful, the return made for sin, and the patrimony of the poor.’ He reigned six years, seven months, and four days. He was crowned with martyrdom, and was buried in the cemetery of Praetextatus, on the eighth of the Calends of June (May 25). In five ordinations held in the Decembers of different years, he ordained nine priests, five deacons, and eight bishops for divers places.
 
We shall close with a prayer from the Saintly Abbot Gueranger:
 
Holy Pontiff! the joy of this day of thy triumph is enhanced by its being the anniversary of the entrance into heaven of thy illustrious successor Gregory. Thou hadst watched his combats here on earth, and his courage hadst delighted thee, as being equal to that of the martyrs. He, when dying at Salerno, thought of thy martyrdom, and the thought inspired him with energy for his last trial. How admirable is the union that exists between the Church triumphant and militant! How sublime the brotherhood that exists between the Saints! What a joy it is for us to know that we may share in it! Our Risen Jesus invites us to be united with him for all eternity. Each generation is sending him its elect, and they cluster around him, for he is their Head, and they are the members that complete his mystical body. He is the first-born of the dead (Apoc. i 5); and he will give us to share in his life, in proportion to our having imitated him in his sufferings and death. Pray, O Urban, that we may become more and more inflamed with the desire of being with him who is the way, the truth, and the life; (St John xiv 6) that we may be detached from earthly things, and comport ourselves here below as men who believe themselves to be exiles, absent from the Lord. (2 Cor. v 6)