‘Not Silent Over a Deviation
That Was Baneful to the Church!’
We all do it.
But how we do it can be harmful.
When it’s done to the exclusion of Truth, it actually takes on a malicious intent.
Of course, it is possible that in a person’s “selectivity,” they really weren’t intending to be malicious, but their capability of understanding is limited in scope, and they are only able to focus on their narrow-minded comprehension.
This can show a lack of spiritual discernment and, as we continue to witness this, even an inordinate fear.
An interesting example is the current fury over Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion
of Christ.
We have yet to see one bad review from anyone who has seen the film.
In fact, the spiritual awakening it is causing in so many souls from so many varied backgrounds is a testimony to the Truth of what Gibson said himself: “The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film, and I was just directing traffic.”
Yet, what did one popular web site recently run as a major story?
“But Is Mel Gibson Catholic?”
The story went on about Mel building a Church that celebrates the Tridentine Mass. The assumptions in the article, without once asking for Mel to comment, were a good work of character assassination. (The Anti-Defamation League would have been proud and could use it to claim that Gibson doesn’t speak for what the Catholic Church believes!)
The main thrust was, of course, that Mel does not want to be associated with the local Church that has abandoned the Latin Mass in favor of the Novus Ordo.
Obviously, Gibson is also no fan of one Roger Cardinal Mahony and the shenanigans his archdiocese has been involved in for several decades.
It would NOT take a genius to discover in minimal research that Mel is among thousands in the Los Angeles Archdiocese who do not trust Mahony one single bit (this includes many of his priests!); nor would they go to him as those who have gone before discovered it was not only fruitless but dangerous to expose oneself before a vindictive administrator.
The Ph.D “scholar” that is quoted in the article states that Mel Gibson’s Church is “schismatic” and although he admits that the “corruption of the clergy makes it hard to find authentic teaching or authentic liturgy,” the “new English Mass is perfectly legitimate.”
And so we ask, if Mel is “schismatic,” why would the Holy Ghost work through him to create what will probably be history’s most authentic and soul-inspiring film on the life and death of the Son of God?
Could it be that the Holy Ghost is PLEASED with Mel Gibson’s religious stand and viewpoints?
Could it be that while the cardinal of L.A. hides behind lawyers and pays millions in diocese funds to silence victims, the Holy Ghost has abandoned a hierarchy that does not feed the faithful “authentic teaching or authentic liturgy”?
Is this Truth apparent to us, as we have pointed out so often, in the very androgynous statue of Mary in the “Rog Mahal” cathedral? Does anyone really believe that the Spouse of the Immaculata approves of such disdaining images?
We have stated before that we are not believers in the “empty seat” (sedevacantism).
At the same time, while we condemn no one who goes to the “new English Mass,” we do say it is a liturgy that has changed the focus of our worship from the Creator to the creature. We strongly believe in the Latin Mass and while, again, we are not stating that those who do not attend it will be condemned, we will shout it from the rooftops that many will be surprised at the loss of eternal rewards because of the spiritual weakness in attending the Novus Ordo liturgy.
It is like Communion in the hand — something which Mother Teresa said was the saddest thing for her to witness (this from a woman who held lepers in her hands)!
Sure, we can take our Lord’s Blessed, Sacred and Holy Body in our hands which haven’t even been cleansed by Holy Water. But what will lead to a more pleasing reception of Communion to our Lord: receiving the Sacrament in our mouth without touching it and preferably on our knees?
And which of the two scenarios — Communion in the hand or placed in one’s mouth — will lead a soul when we stand before the Judgment Seat of God to less condemnation and more reward in Eternity?
This brings us to that “selectivity” we keep seeing, especially on this popular web site that espouses itself to be “charismatic.”
Constantly, the theme of “obedience” to local authorities is brought out.
Now, in a new controversy between the Padre Pio Centre in Pennsylvania and the local bishop, the theme was again struck that the Centre — unlike the great Saint — was not in obedience to the diocese. The Centre is being chastised as the right to administer the Sacraments is being taken away.
And so, who else but the great Saint Father Pius and his strict adherence to his religious vows was promenaded for all Catholics to remember and take notice in this dispute between the Centre and local bishop — lest we become Mel Gibsons!
But in this viewpoint, there is a serious flaw in this “selectivity” in constantly harping on Padre Pio’s religious vow of obedience to his superiors.
For one thing it is incorrect.
It is proven in Padre Pio’s own words and actions.
These words and actions were a direct result of the very change in the Mass from the Latin rite to the Novus Ordo!
Let us quote directly from an article on the life of the great Saint by Rev. Father Jean, OFM, Cap: Padre Pio “was a model of respect and submission towards his religious and ecclesiastical superiors, especially during the time when he was persecuted.
NONETHELESS, HE COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT OVER A DEVIATION THAT WAS BANEFUL TO THE CHURCH.
Even before the end of the Council, in February 1965, someone announced to him that soon he would have to celebrate the Mass according to a new rite, ad experimentum, in the vernacular, which had been devised by a conciliar liturgical commission in order to respond to the ‘aspirations’ of modern man.
Immediately, even before seeing the text, he wrote to Paul VI to ask him to be dispensed from the liturgical experiment, and to be able to continue to celebrate the Mass of St. Pius V.
When Cardinal Bacci came to see him in order to bring the authorization, Padre Pio let a complaint escape in the presence of the Pope’s messenger: ‘For pity sake, end the Council quickly!’ ”
As for the changes brought about by the so-called “spirit of Vatican II,” Padre Pio said, “In this time of darkness, let us pray. Let us do penance for the elect.”
Is this not a direct reference to the “end times” our Lord spoke of? Jesus Himself said, “And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened. … For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect” Matthew 24:22.
Can it get any clearer for those of “selective” minds or whose fears drive them to offend God by leading the faithful astray with incorrect assumptions that when it comes to obedience we are truly indeed living in a time of great deception?
Padre Pio, knowing full well the importance for him to please God over pleasing man or superior, immediately asked not to be forced to take part in the Novus Ordo liturgy!
Why?
Because it was a deviation [a “departure from normality” or “deviant behavior”] that was baneful [“causing death, destruction or ruin”] to the Church.
Has the Holy Spirit not proven to us the wisdom of Padre Pio’s actions?
Who has presided over the “deviant behavior” of the pedophile scandal but the very bishops who have presided over liturgical abuse.
Who is causing the “death, destruction and ruin” of the dogmas and traditions of the Catholic Church? Mel Gibson or members of the hierarchy who hide behind lawyers and money?
But Padre Pio did not stop there when he sought NOT to obey any local or hierarchal request to perform the Novus Ordo!
Padre Pio also had another condemnation for religious authorities in the Church, despite those who wish to only invoke the memory of his incredible “obedience” to his own religious vows [“a promise that commits one to behave in a particular way, especially according to the principles of a religious body” or “a solemn promise to God”].
Again, we will quote: “In 1966, the Father General (of the Franciscans) came … prior to the special Chapter on the Constitutions in order to ask Padre Pio for his prayers and benedictions.
He met Padre Pio in the cloister. ‘Padre, I came to recommend to your prayers the special chapter for the new Constitutions … ’
He had scarcely gotten the words ‘special Chapter’ … ‘new Constitutions’ out of his mouth when Padre Pio made a violent gesture and cried out: ‘THAT IS ALL NOTHING BUT DESTRUCTIVE NONSENSE!’
‘But Padre, after all, there is the younger generation to take into account ... the youth evolve after their own fashion ... there are new demands … .’
‘The only thing missing is mind and heart, that’s all, understanding and love.’
Then he proceeded to his cell, did a half-turn, and pointed his finger, saying: ‘We must not denature ourselves, we must not denature ourselves! AT THE LORD’S JUDGMENT, ST. FRANCIS WILL NOT RECOGNIZE US AS HIS SONS!’ ”
So much for the term “aggiornamento”!
When Padre Pio was “reproached” by his spiritual director for his “harsh conduct” toward people in the Confessional, the great Saint had this to say about “obedience”: “I could obey you, but each time it is Jesus who tells me how I am to deal with people.”
There is one line out of all this that is the most striking and an obvious thought of the great stigmatist. It is his overriding concern about the Lord’s Judgment.
And notice, as the Saints have taught over and over again and which is proven by the Scripture — “And Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you, that you, who have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the seat of His majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel’ ” Matthew 19:28, and again, “Know you not that the Saints shall judge this world?” I Corinthians 6:2 — it is St. Francis himself who will judge and then turn over to the Just Judge for reward or sentencing!
Dare we say, Padre Pio, as a Saint, will judge many bishops and those in religious orders who turned their backs on the Tridentine Mass when they should have known better!
And there will be the judgment of those who have wrongfully used Padre Pio’s religious “obedience” to the Holy See (which had nothing to do with the local ordinary!) to put fear in the hearts of the faithful that they should remain silent in the face of scandal and jealousy— as in the affair with the Padre Pio Centre.
The question for all of us to ask — and one which we can only answer as individuals — is: who, today, is truly being obedient to the Lord?
Mel Gibson or Cardinal Mahony?
The Padre Pio Centre or the local ordinary?
What should we choose?
“Obedience” in scandal?
Or Truth, falsely called “schism” by those in scandalous “obedience”?
We truly believe that the Lord is calling each one of us today to answer His question: “Who is in schism: those who love the Tridentine Mass or the bishops blinded by scandal who have failed to obey the Voice of the Lord and institute the Divine Mercy Feast in every parish throughout their dioceses?”
© 2004 Agnus Dei Presents!
