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Defend Tradition Dogma Heresy Tradition

Defending the Sacred Tradition Part 4 – The Society of St. Pius X

These changes the results of liturgical abuses such as clown mass and pagan rituals enter the church including the Holy Mass. Some priest approves of faithful marrying other religion sect and convert to their religion. Some Priests are not wearing cassock and some nuns often removing their veils. Catechism is no longer available in most of the church today. This is what Archbishop Lefebvre warn us of disorder than becomes a danger to out faith. This is why Pope St. Pius V fixed when there’s a disorder in the church and this is why St. Pius X restore so we can once again worship Christ in the right manner and strengthen our faith. When Archbishop Lefebvre retired as Superior General of Holy Ghost Fathers, he was approached by young French seminarians who are traditionalist. 

Let me pause for a moment to make a note that Sanhedrin.net is not affiliated to the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) or any Traditional Catholic Societies. But we have the same goal to spread and teach the readers about the Sacred Tradition including the Traditional Latin Mass.

When the young seminarians asked the archbishop to teach them according to the Tradition, he was hesitating at first because he is too old to guide them. But after a while, he was convinced because he thinks this is the sign from God. In 1970, he founded the Priestly Society of St. Pius X or SSPX with the permission of Bishop François Charrière, Bishop of Lausanne. It continues the Sacred Tradition, including the Traditional Latin Mass or the Tridentine Mass, which contradicts the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. SSPX becomes a center of controversy as they continue the Sacred Tradition, many people followed and attend their Holy Mass including those who have not agreed with the changes of Vatican II. Because of his old age, He decided to consecrate four bishops of the SSPX, though the Vatican doesn’t want him to continue to consecrate four Bishops. Pope John Paul II condemned this consecration and treat it as schismatic act and they were automatically excommunicated (But the Society of St. Pius X is not excommunicated, only Lefebvre, the archbishops who joined the consecration and the consecrated bishops) 

Did Archbishop Lefebvre and his four bishops commit a schismatic act? The answer is NO. Even though they did not follow the orders of the Pope, archbishop consecrates four bishops to continue the sacred tradition, Archbishop’s act was stated in the canon 1323 no. 4 of the 1983 Code Canon Law “a person who acted coerced by grave fear, even if only relatively grave, or due to necessity or grave inconvenience unless the act is intrinsically evil or tends to the harm of souls”. So, what does the canon stated “tends to the harm of souls?” The teachings of Vatican II are harm to our souls. That is why Archbishop Lefebvre and the SSPX choose not to follow its teachings. And since they followed the Canon Law, the excommunication of Archbishop Lefebvre and the four bishops are not official or effective. We are now currently living in the End Times and this is where we must strengthen our faith to God as Pope St. Pius V and Pope St. Pius X did in the past and do not be afraid. Because some clergy and ordinary faithful are already following the path that Archbishop Lefebvre started…

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Defend Tradition Dogma Heresy Tradition

Defending the Sacred Tradition Part 3 – The Vatican II Council and Archbishop Lefebvre

Before the Vatican II Council started, Pope John XXIII pointed Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre as one of the Central Preparatory Commission for the council. Archbishop Lefebvre has a good background and a record in the church. He is a defender of the Catholic Faith and the sacred tradition. He was assigned to draft and prepare the documents for the Second Vatican Council. But after the first session of the council, the drafts were rejected because the council wants to focus on reformation that gives more favor to modernism and for the protestants. Archbishop Lefebvre together with other bishops who rejected the reforms of the Vatican II Council organized a group called “Coetus Internationalis Patrum (International Group of Fathers)” to stop the reformation and to maintain the sacred tradition but ends in a failure. It also results that many clergy disagree with his views, including the Holy Ghost Fathers, a religious congregation where he is a superior general. He resigned as a superior general of the Holy Ghost Fathers because he refused to implement Vatican II Council inspired reforms. 

Why did Archbishop Lefebvre and other archbishops refuse the reformation of the Vatican II Council? Because it is dangerous to our faith. He predicted that this council inspired change will lead to disorder which we are now experiencing today, such as communion in the hand, different versions of the Mass in different places (which Pope St. Pius V changed), liturgical dances and removing the Holy Sacrifice as it slowly becomes an entertainment to the faith full. Second, it gains more favor to the protestants which resulted that our Holy Mass is now similar to the Protestants. Third is that the Council’s ecumenism is where other religions that did not institute by our Lord Jesus Christ is part of the Catholic Church including Paganism. This council inspired is a poison to our faith, and it is sad to see that those people who are not aware of this are now slowly drinking this poison. But God never abandoned us, He loves us very much and the Blessed Virgin Mary will continue to guide us… One year after the resignation of Archbishop Lefebvre from the Holy Ghost Fathers, he was approached by a group of Traditionalist of French Seminary.

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Defend Tradition Dogma Heresy Tradition

Defending the Sacred Tradition Part 2 – The Modernism and Pope St. Pius X

Modernism may be a good evolution for the mankind but it has a side of evil which the Catholic Church faced during the 20th Century. And modernism also enters the church that affects some of the clergy. The effects of Modernism made a change in the church like the modern music that slowly enters the Holy Mass while the Gregorian Chant slowly fades in different churches. It also makes the Holy Mass look like an orchestra rather than a Holy Sacrifice and some musicians after they played their part will have a chat to each other that bothers the Mass. The the priest will have to wait the music to finish before he continues his activities in the Holy Mass. But what evil does the modernism have? There are good in modernism such as automobiles, because will not have to walk or ride a horse in days or years. Telephones are also good because you don’t have to send a messenger to a far away land and received it after one or two years. Films and music to entertain us if we want to relax. But the evil of modernism that we talk about is against the faith of God. Why it is against the faith of God? Simple, modernism teaches us to love and accept other religions, including those who worshipped false Gods, accepting the teaching of the Protestantism and believe the scientific theory as truth. And mostly, as Protestanism spread and accept modernism, they make the people happy and enjoy while worshipping in God in their which they make fun the Sacred Tradition of having a Holy Sacrifice during the Mass. Many people joined the protestantism because they want to feel good and happy instead of making a sacrifice for God during the Holy Mass. This is what the evil of modernism has, it will cause heresy, danger to the faith and poison to the church. 

The previous Popes may be against Modernism, but there no major act against it. Until one Pope faces the Modernism without hesitation. And that is Pope St. Pius X. When he was elected a Pope in 1903, he fought modernism inside the church as it slowly enters the church. His motto is “To restore all things to Christ”. He restored the Gregorian Chant and brought back the glory of the Holy Mass. He encouraged people to often receive Holy Communion instead receiving it once a year. Because the teaching of protestantism and modernism has spread all over the world, he ordered all the churches around the world to have Catechism to spread the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles and the Catholic Church. Even he acquired enemies and critics, he still faces it and fight the evil of modernism with courage because of his love to God. 

Sadly, his great battle against the evil of modernism was forgotten when the Vatican II Council began, which it embraces modernism and had more concern to protestants that brings heresy instead of the Catholic Faith that has the truth. Let us pray to St. Pius X and to the Blessed Virgin Mary to help us to defend the Sacred Tradition of the Church and asked them to pray for us to God.

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Defend Tradition Dogma Heresy Tradition

Defending the Sacred Tradition Part 1 – St. Pius V and Martin Luther

He saw the corruption in the Church and then started to spread false teachings, including having his own interpretation of the Sacred Scripture and the Justification of Faith Alone (Sola Fide). Because of his heresies, he was excommunicated in 1520. Then he began establishing a new church and his false teaching spread that led others to build their own church according to their own interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures which resulted in the birth of Protestanism.

They started attacking the Sacred Tradition of the Church, including the doctrines of Purgatory, Praying to the Saints, to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the one that they attack the most, the Eucharist and the Holy Mass. They targeted the faithful, including priests who did not know the faith and doctrines of the Church. As Protestantism spread, it won the hearts of many people, the priests as well as the hearts of various princes, including those in Germany. Pope Paul III wished for a council as a counter-reform which resulted in the Council of Trent. But the council was delayed a few times because of war and the attacks of the Protestants until it reached its end in 1563 with resulted in the condemning of all Protestant doctrines, Catholic Church leadership reformation, proclamation that Church’s interpretation of the Bible was unquestionable and the proclamation that the Sacred Tradition have much authority as Scripture. Even though the Council of Trent has ended, the problem in the Church is still unresolved.

Until a Dominican Priest and Cardinal, Antonio Ghislieri was elected as Pope in 1566 and took the name of Pius V. As a priest, he supported the papacy against the Protestants. He was known to inculcate discipline, develop the practice of monastic virtues and as a Dominican, he has a devotion to the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was ordained Bishop of Sutri and became Pope after the death of Pope Paul IV with the support of St.Charles Borromeus. As pope, he imposed the canons and decrees of the Council of Trent. He fixed the problems that the previous pope cannot like dismissing the Papal Court Jester, forbidding horse racing in St. Peter’s square, severe sanctions were imposed against blasphemy, adultery and sodomy which he became the subject of hatred in Rome. He also championed and reinforced the Holy Tradition of the Church. And eventually he abolished the sale of indulgence in 1567. As the protestants attacked the sacred tradition, including the Holy Mass, he promulgated the Tridentine Mass and made it mandatory where all the priest must celebrate it to make the church united. And as a Dominican, he also established a devotion to the Holy Rosary, and to be recited to all the church and faithful to the world.

In this article we have looked at the differences between Saint Pius V and Martin Luther. Martin Luther, having seen the problems within the church, decided to become heretical, left the church and create his own. On the other hand, St. Pope Pius V, stayed in the church and resolved the problems from the inside.

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Eucharist Tradition

Covid19 and the Traditional Latin Mass

Some businesses and schools have already solved the problem to continue by using our latest technology, the internet and the social media. Many businesses continued their work and school continue their classes by using online meeting apps such as Zoom, Gmeet and Messenger. This is also followed by our Parish to have an online Mass. Many faithful questioned if the Online Mass is effective because they cannot receive the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. That’s why the church solve it by using the traditional Spiritual Communion prayer for those who can’t attend the Holy Mass or the Sacrament. 

The question is, in the previous pandemic, did the church have an online mass in 1346 or in 1918? How the people attend the Holy Mass? Simple answer, they still went to church and attend the Holy Mass despite of the threat of a virus that can kill them anytime. For us Catholics, attending the Holy Mass is very important because this is where we give adoration, give thanks, petition and love to God. It is also our sacrifice as our Lord Jesus Christ sacrifices His life to save us. 

While the Vatican commands churches to close down, some churches, especially the Traditional Priest Societies open their churches. The first one to do this is the Society of Saint Pius X where they received people to hear confessions and to celebrate the Holy Mass. Some of the SSPX Churches made a legal action so they can open their church for the faithful. Then this was followed by other Traditional Societies such as the Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). During the pandemic and because the churches who celebrate Novus Ordo Mass closed their doors, those who celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass opens their door which makes more people discover this Holy Mass. The Mass that was celebrated by the previous Saints who were priests and was attended by the saints who were ordinary faithful. This is also the same Holy Mass that was attended by the people who experienced the Black Death and the Spanish Flu. This pandemic gives us suffering, but it is also making us discover the Holy Mass that gives strength in soul, but also in the body of the faithful. We also discover the true holy sacrifice that we must do during the Holy Mass. Even if we don’t understand the language, we understand how sacred the Holy Mass is. 

Sadly, the cardinals, including the Pope think this as a threat, so he restricts this Holy Mass so we, the faithful will no longer attend it. But even if they restrict it, we now know what grace we received when we attend the Traditional Latin Mass.

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Feast Day

All Saints Day and All Souls Day

What is All Saints Day? 

All Saints Day is a solemn Holiday that was dedicated to the Saints have attained in Heaven. All Saints mean all the Saints in heaven who are recognized by the Church and those who are known only to God. They might be some of the people we know including our beloved departed ones who are already  in Heaven. These saints are praying for us in Heaven and they are closer to God. 

What is All Souls Day? 

The All Souls Day is a commemoration of all the faithful departed who are currently in Purgatory. On this day, we visit the tomb of our departed beloved ones or family member. We must pray for their souls to end their suffering in Purgatory and be with our savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Why do some people celebrate it by wearing nightmarish creatures such as Frankenstein and the devil? 

Because of lack of Catholic education. People celebrate Halloween by wearing costumes without knowing the meaning of “Hallow”. Hallow means “Holy”, if you pray the “Our Father”, you will encounter this word. If you are now aware that is not right to wear these costumes during All Saints Day and All Souls Day, please stop wearing and celebrating the Halloween in the party. Pray to the Saints that they will help us in our everyday challenges in our life and for other people, so we can be a better person and pray for the souls who are still in purgatory so they can finally go to Heaven.

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Feast Day

The Importance Of The Saints

Why are Saints important in the Catholic Church? 

Our Lord Jesus Christ is our role model that we should follow. But the Saints are important to the Cath are the great example of people who applied the teachings our Lord while they were here on earth. They also pray for us while they were in heaven. They are our intercessor to our Lord Jesus Christ. Their prayers are more heard because they are with God 

Why is it important to listen to words of the Saints? 

While the Holy Scriptures, including the Gospels shows us the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. The words of the Saints teach us how to apply these teachings and how to understand it more because some scriptures are not easy to understand including our generation today. Some make their own understanding of the scriptures including the protestants which is a danger to the faith. While the Saints apply the teachings from the Sacred scripture with the Sacred Oral Tradition. Sadly, when many people ignore the quotations or words of the Saints while not knowing that these are the samples of application of the words of the Holy Scripture. 

What is the role of the Saints in Heaven? 

The Saints are our intercessor to God in heaven. They pray to God for us together with Blessed Virgin Mary. They are not happy go lucky in heaven, one of their roles is to pray and worship our God closer than here on Earth. 

Do the Catholics worship the Saints? 

No. We don’t worship the saints, we give commemoration to them and pray for them. Praying to the saints is asking them to pray for us, who are sinners. We asked them to guide us, pray for us when we are in danger or while we are sick. 

Instead of becoming a saint, can we become angels in heaven?

 No. When we go to heaven, we cannot become angels because they are different heavenly creatures than us. This belief is the effect of some movies and television series where when a person died including an infant, they will become angels in heaven. But it is not true and the creators of this series or movies has lack of research. And even though they are fictions, some viewers believe this is true. When we go to heaven, we became holy, we became saints.

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Others

Do We Go Straight To Heaven When We Die?

What is Purgatory? 

The Purgatory is a place where the soul was cleansed if it still has the stain of sins, mostly the venial sin before we go to heaven. 

is Purgatory exist in the Bible? 

Yes. Although its name was not stated in the Sacred Scriptures or the Holy Bible, but the description of the Purgatory and its function can be found in the Sacred Scriptures. One of the examples is in Isaias 4:4 of the Old Testament: 

“If the Lord shall wash away the filth of the daughters of Sion, and shall wash away the blood of Jerusalem out of the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.” 

The Holy Spirit reveals the truth about Purgatory to the Apostles, that is why it is part of the Sacred Oral Tradition in the Catholic Church. One of the examples is in the letters of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:15):

“If any man’s work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.”

Also, in Revelation 21:27, it was stated that: “Nothing unclean shall enter Heaven”, which means a man who lives on earth faithfully to God, but still has a stain of sins like the venial sins, must go through the purgatory to be cleansed. And to make the cleansing procedure fast, we must pray for the souls in Purgatory so they can go to heaven. The Protestants don’t believe in Purgatory because its name was not stated in the bible because this place was named by the Catholic Church, the Church that was built by our Lord. 

Sadly, many Catholics adopt the teachings of the protestants that there is no purgatory and we all go straight to heaven. This false teaching is a danger because while we don’t pray for the Holy Souls in purgatory, our loved ones who are currently purging in the purgatory delays their arrival in Heaven. Cleansing in Purgatory is also a suffering for the souls. So as Catholics, we must pray for them to stop their suffering in purgatory and have their eternal rest with our Lord Jesus Christ. 

do the Saints go through the Purgatory? 

Yes. Some saints before going to heaven, they went to purgatory first. The souls in purgatory are also holy, but need to be cleansed before they go to heaven. That is why the souls in purgatory are often called “The Holy Souls in Purgatory”. 

What is Hell? 

Hell is a place where God put the fallen angels which we all knew as the demons as punishment for their rebellion against Him. This is also the place where the sinners who don’t repent goes and suffered in the hands of the devil and the Hell’s eternal fire. 

If this is for the Sinners, why did Jesus Christ go to Hell after His Death? 

Our Lord went to Hell after his death to free the people who died before the coming of Christ and have a friendship with God despite having sinned. But our Lord does not go to the place in Hell, where the devil is, He went on the edge of Hell’s circle which we called “Limbo”. 

Can a person who is now in hell be saved and have a chance to go to heaven? 

No. Once you are condemned to hell, there will be no second chance. We are always given a second chance while we are living in this world by confessing our sins, repent and never to sin again. So, while we still breathe, let’s repent and do not sin again.

Categories
Feast Day Hagiography Martyrs

The Saints Who Were Removed from the Liturgical Calendar

Why these Saints are removed from the Liturgical Calendar? 

During the Vatican II under the reign of Pope Paul VI in 1969, these saints were removed because of lack of documents about their life and treat them as a myth. Except for St. Cecilia, who was not removed from the Calendar because of popular devotion to her. The Vatican II was influenced by the protestants who rely only in the scriptures and not in the Sacred Oral Tradition. Though this saint has lack of documents about their life, their story lives in Sacred Oral Tradition. 

Is it true that these Saints never existed? 

No. They really exist. One of the proofs of their existence is their tombs like the tombs of St. Nicholas, St. George and St. Philomena. Another proof is the apparition of the Fourteen Holy Helpers in Bavaria Germany, where the Saints removed from the Liturgical Calendar are a member of the Holy Helpers such as St. Christopher, St. George and St. Barbara. 

Are these Saints not Saints anymore? 

No. They still venerate as Saints but the celebration of their feast day is now optional. It doesn’t mean that they were removed to the liturgical calendar means they are no saints anymore. 

Jesus said to St. Peter, the first Pope “And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.” Does it mean that the Pope has a power to remove the Saints in Heaven? 

No. The Pope is just a man and not a God. He cannot remove saints from Heaven if he removes them from the Liturgical Calendar or from the list of the venerate saints. God is the only person who makes a person a Saint and His knows us very well, even the Saints so He knows who are worthy to be with Him in Heaven. 

Are there Catholic Churches that still celebrate the feats day of the Saints that were removed from the Liturgical Calendar?

 Yes, there are. Most of them is the Traditional Catholic Societies and churches who have this saint as their Patron. 

 

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysterii_Paschalis

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Sacrament

The Sacrament of Extreme Unction

What is the Sacrament of Extreme Unction?

The Sacrament of Extreme Unction is where a person who is in danger of death because of sickness, old age or in an accident, through the anointing of the blessed oil by the priest and through his prayer, gives health and strength to the soul, and sometimes to the body. 

It also takes away the mortal sin when the sick person is unconscious or unaware that he or she is not properly disposed. If the person is guilty of mortal sin and fall unconscious before the priest arrives, this sacrament will restore the person to Sanctifying Grace. If the person is recovered, he or she is bound to confess his sins thus forgiven. 

When did our Lord Jesus Christ institute this Sacrament? 

Our Lord Jesus Christ healed many sicknesses during His ministry on earth without using oil. But one of the biblical proofs of Extreme Unction was written in James 5:14-15: “Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.” 

Who can administer this Sacrament? 

Only an ordained priest who can administer the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. 

What are the effects of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction? 

  1. An increase of Sanctifying Grace. 
  2. Comfort in sickness and strength against temptation. 
  3. Preparation for entrance into heaven by the remission of venial sins, and mortal sins (if the dying is unable to confess). 
  4. Health of the body when this is good for the soul. 


Source: 

http://www.sspxridgefield.com/sacraments,

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