Years of Plenty For SSPX Continue

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In yesterday’s post titled “Tłuste Lata” For Catholicism in Poland (see here) we chronicled the advance that Catholicism is making in the Polish Church. The advance can be seen in the growing numbers of men who are presently studying for the priesthood in Catholic seminaries.

Today, we turn our focus to the Catholic Church’s FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY AMONG EQUALS, the Fraternal Priestly Society of St. Pius X. On the SSPX’s US website, (see here) via the DICI website, we are informed that a total of 53 new entrants have commenced their first year of study at SSPX seminaries. Furthermore, another 49 men have entered the pre-seminary phase who will take courses in the humanities before beginning their specialized seminary studies.

To provide context, since context is everything, I would like to draw your attention to the situation at the Seminary of Our Lady Co-Redemptrix in La Reja Argentina. La Reja is approximately 30 miles west of Buenos Aires. (see here) Just this year, 9 new entrants will begin their first year of spirituality and a further 14 will begin the pre-seminary phase. That is a total of 23 men just this year. When added to the 30+ seminarians (will confirm once I have exact figure but there are 49 seminarians in La Reja and Goulburn collectively), the total comes out to no less than 53.

While at the same time, over at the diocesan seminary of Buenos Aires, the number of seminarians is less than 30. (Once again, see here) And for further context, here is a comment from a friend of this blog, Mr Richard Malcomb who writes:

“Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio in his last year as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires had in his seminary a grand total of 28 seminarians.”
…which was a two thirds dropoff from what he inherited in 1997.

Before I go to the post, I would just like to remind all my readers that the SSPX’s Seminary Project in Virginia is underway. (see here) Last time we checked in, the slate roof was being installed. (see here) If you would be so kind as to venture over to their website and even kinder and contribute to this noble cause, your humble blogger would be most grateful.

On an aside, at this rate, it would appear that this new seminary will be needed just to handle the overflow from St. Thomas Aquinas Seminiary in Winona.

Deo Gratias!

Archbishop Lefebvre, ora pro nobis!

And now, I am reproducing the post below…

FOR THE RECORD

From DICI we offer this joyful news about this academic year’s number of entrants to the SSPX’s seminaries, as well as the total of postulants to the brotherhood.

---

The Society of St. Pius X is admitting a total of 53 young men to their first year of spirituality in its different seminaries for the current academic year 2015-2016.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Seminary of the Holy Cure of Ars in Flavigny (France) is welcoming 14 new seminarians (4 Frenchmen, 4 Swiss, 2 Gabonese, 2 Italian, 1 Nigerian and 1 Pole) and 2 postulant brothers (1 French and 1 Canadian), as well as a pre-seminarian.

Sacred Heart Seminary in Zaitzkofen (Germany) is welcoming 10 new seminarians (2 Germans, 2 Czechs, 1 Austrian, 1 Frenchman, 1 Lithuanian, 1 Pole, 1 Russian and 1 South African).

St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Winona, Minnesota (U.S.A.) is welcoming 12 new seminarians and 5 postulant brothers (all Americans), as well as 30 pre-seminarians who will take courses in the humanities before beginning their specialized seminary studies. [Read at STAS.ORG: 35 new vocations]

In the Southern Hemisphere the beginning of the new academic year in March 2015 saw the arrival at the Seminary of Our Lady Co-Redemptrix in La Reja (Argentina) of 9 new seminarians (5 Argentines, 2 Brazilians, 1 Chilean and 1 Guatemalan) and 3 postulant brothers (1 American, 1 Brazilian and 1 Dominican), and of 14 pre-seminarians as well.

At Holy Cross Seminary in Goulburn (Australia), 8 new seminarians had entered as first-year students (2 Australians, 2 Filipinos, 1 American, 1 Indian, 1 Kenyan, and 1 Ugandan), as well as one postulant brother and 4 pre-seminarians.

That makes for this calendar year 2015 a total of 53 first-year seminarians and 10 entering as postulants to become brothers. There were 51 new seminarians in 2014, 43 in 2013, 50 in 2012, 57 in 2011, and 48 in 2010.

(Source: FSSPX/MG—DICI no. 323, 10-19-2015)

Like the old saying claims: You can’t argue with success!

 

“Tłuste Lata” For Catholicism in Poland

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I interrupt the chronicling of the Synod of Filth to bring some good news. Below is a translation of two posts, one from the SSPX Polish website and the other from the  UnaCum.pl post (Polish Una Voce) pertaining to seminarians studying in SSPX and Ecclesia Dei Seminaries.

As you can see dear reader, the Poles are experiencing “Tłuste Lata”, which translates roughly into a “Years of plenty”.

First, the SSPX since they have pride of place and are first among equals on your humble blogger’s even humbler blog. On the back of the 39 seminarians that took their cassocks at the SSPX’s seminaries that we chronicled in the post titled Vaches Grasses (see here) and had to quickly update it, which we did with the post titled Make That 39!, (see here) all in February of this year. Well the new year has started and it promises to be another  “Tłuste Lato”. We have a further 10 taking their cassock at the SSPX’s Zaitzkfen International Seminary alone, being reported by the SSPX’s Polish website.  Here is the translated post: (original see here)

This year, to the international seminary belonging to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Zaitzkofen Bavaria, knocked the next ten young men who want to study and take formation to serve the Church as priests. Candidates for the priesthood come from eight countries: among them two Germans and two Czechs and one candidate from Austria, France, Lithuanian, Poland, South Africa and Russia – the latter does not appear in the photo, because it is still waiting for a visa to enter the EU .

And from co-religionists and brothers in Christ, fighting the good fight inside the pro-conciliar church structures, over at at the UnaCum.pl website the following can be read: (original see here)

Poles in traditional seminars UnaCum.pl

As every year, we publish the joyous news about Poles who are preparing for the priesthood in the priestly pontifical institutes of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei. These seminarians are asking for prayers, for their priestly vocations.

In the European seminary of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) in Wigratzbad in Bavaria, studying theology are Mr James who comes from the Diocese of Torun and Mr Michael who is from the Archdiocese of Warsaw. Studying philosophy in Bavaria are two Poles: Mr Peter of the Archdiocese of Lodz and Mr Wojciech from the diocese of Bielsko-Zywiec. In the US seminary of the FSSP in Denton studying theology is Mr Krzysztof who comes from the diocese of Bielsko – Zywiec.

The seminary of the Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP) in Courtalain in France, the following individuals are preparing for the priesthood: Mr Wojciech from the Diocese of Torun, Mr Michael of the Archdiocese of Warsaw, Mr. Rafal from the Diocese of Radom, Mr. Peter of the Archdiocese of Gniezno, Mr.. Przemysław from the Archdiocese Warsaw and Mr.George of the Archdiocese of Warsaw.

On 1 November 2012, the Superior of Institute of St. Philip Neri (ISPN), headquartered in Berlin, the Academy was established by Card. Baronius. The Academy educates future priests for the Institute, but the classes are open to all. The course of studies at the Academy last 6 years and is consistent with the Roman guidelines for training priests in philosophy and theology. In this academic year, continuing his studies at the Academy is Mr. Martin who is from the Diocese of Rzeszow.

Sancte Gabriel Possenti, ora pro eis!

And just to give you a point of reference as to how big this news is, please recall that Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio in his last year as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires had in his seminary a grand total of 28 seminarians. (see here)

A big DEO GRATIAS and please keep these young men, all the other young men who are attending traditional seminaries as well as seminaries that teach traditional Catholicism in your prayers.

Archbishop Lefebvre, ora pro nobis!

PS Brick by brick!

The Work of Providence

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Posted without any comment from the Society of St. Pius X website. (see original here)

First Mass repeats history in Pittsburgh

Continuing a parish and family tradition, recently-ordained Fr. Michael Brown celebrated his First Mass at St. James Church in Pittsburgh.

History seems to keep repeating itself at St. James in Pittsburgh. Last Christmas the SSPX offered Midnight Mass as the official reopening of St. James, as had been done twice before in the parish’s history.

On Sunday, July 26th, as the Society in Pittsburgh was celebrating the external solemnity of St. James, the newly-ordained Fr. Michael Brown offered a first Mass for the parish. This too was very interesting in view of the parish’s history as Fr. Brown’s great-great uncle, Fr. Thomas Brown, was the pastor of St. James for some 20 years.

Fr. Thomas Brown took up the care of St. James parish in 1941 and played a pivotal role in the parish’s history, being the one who burned the mortgage after all of the renovations needed from the 1927 explosion that destroyed so much of the church. There too he celebrated the parish’s 100th anniversary on June 13, 1954.

Another family member, Fr. John Fording, also celebrated a first Mass at St. James under Fr. Thomas Brown’s tenure as pastor. Now, 61 years to the date after that 100th anniversary Mass, Fr. Michael Brown offered his first Mass as a priest in Winona and on this Sunday in July returned to the parish marked by his ancestors to offer some of the first fruits of his priesthood with his family and the faithful of St. James.

370 friends and faithful filled the pews of the church to unite themselves to the sacrifice of the Mass offered by Fr. Brown, the exact same Mass his uncle and relatives offered in this sanctuary of sacrifice. Surely Fr. Thomas Brown smiled in his eternal rest as he saw his family coming back to the church in which he labored so much. How truly Providential it is that God has brought back St. James church just in time for Fr. Michael Brown to be able to offer a first Mass there.

In August, Fr. Michael Brown will be assigned to the priory in Walton, Kentucky from which he will take care of the SSPX faithful of St. James in another interesting act of Providence. Please pray for Fr. Brown, and all the newly-ordained priests, as their new assignments take effect in August. May they all bear great fruits in union with Our Lord.

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You’re invited!

The current pastor, Fr. Patrick Rutledge, is inviting everyone to join a Marian Procession that St. James Church will host on Saturday, August 15th at 8:30pm (following the 7:00pm Mass).

This procession was promised to Our Lady if she helped the Pittsburgh area chapel to acquire St. James Church, and so on August 15th—exactly one year after we closed on the church—we will hold a candlelit procession in her honor. We will also consecrate the parish and the West End Village to her Immaculate Heart at the official entrance to the West End.

For details, please contact the parish:St. James Church

326 S. Main Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
412-875-6323 | email

T -135: An Ideology In Disguise

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Today your humble blogger returns from a long weekend and starts by calling a time out from our running analysis of the upcoming Stealth Sex Synod™ (see here) and its players. This time-out was prompted by a comment that this blog received after the last post titled Everybody Has A Plan… The best manner in which to address the issues raised in the comment section is to define what exactly it is that we are analysing. So today we take one step back and try to lay down some philosophical determinants within the framework of our analysis. Just a reminder, our defined method of inquiry is the Peirce/Ockham pragmatic methodology (see here)

The subject matter of the afore-mentioned post was to demonstrate the difference between what can objectively be considered “theology” and what would objectively constitute an “ideology”. To be more specific, what we are in fact dealing with is “theology as science” on the one hand and  the phenomenon of “theology as ideology” on the other.

To this end, we explained the philosophical basis for any science is that of a “positive” process, wherein the philosophical basis for an ideology is one that is “normative”. Just as a quick reminder, the following was written in the above mentioned post:

In philosophy, normative statements make claims about how things should or ought to be, how to value them, which things are good or bad, and which actions are right or wrong. Normative claims are usually contrasted with positive (i.e. descriptive, explanatory, or constative) claims when describing types of theories, beliefs, or propositions. Positive statements are (purportedly-) factual statements that attempt to describe reality.

And here we see how the above definitions dovetail into our theme of OBJECTIVE REALITY v VIRTUAL REALITY (ALTERNATIVE REALITY).

Let’s start from the “positive” side of the definition. We see that a “positive process” leads to an “attempt to describe reality”. Here is an example of two instances where we observe a “positive process” at work:

1) The Catholic Church teaches that there are two sources of knowledge about God: (1) as known through “natural light of human reason from the things that are made” and (2) as known through “divine revelation.” (see here)

and

2) The scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.^[2] To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry is commonly based on empirical or measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. (see here)

If we examine both these definitions, what we see is two different areas of… let’s call it human endeavor, both based on a “positive process”. Furthermore what we can clearly see is that “pre-conciliar” Catholicism is in essence a scientific method. Or to be more precise, what we see from the above two definitions is that the scientific method that arose during the age of enlightenment is nothing more than a subset of Thomistic Catholicism.

When looking at the above two definitions, what we also observe is that the definition of Catholicism has a “normative” element, i.e. as known through “divine revelation“. It is this element of Catholicism that allows us to “makes claims about how things should or ought to be, how to value them, which things are good or bad, and which actions are right or wrong.”

Yet please notice that even these “normative processes” contained in “divine revelation” have a solid grounding in strictly “positive processes”, i.e. natural law and natural moral law. And this would make sense, since “divine revelation” is nothing more than the Creator providing the “normative” element to His creation. Or to put it in a scriptural context: “Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” (Matt 5:17 -see here)

Now that we have established the existence of a “normative process” in Catholicism, let’s look at the scientific method to see if we can identify any “normative” aspects that will allow us to “makes claims about how things should or ought to be, how to value them, which things are good or bad, and which actions are right or wrong.”

Since the scientific method is strictly an objective process, the closest that we can come to making a “normative” claim is through the “valuation” element of the definition. And as we know, when it comes to providing “valuation”, we have a very good mechanism in natural law known as the “market”.  Here is the definition: (see here)

A free market economy is a market-based economy where prices for goods and services are set freely by the forces of supply and demand and are allowed to reach their point of equilibrium without intervention by government policy, and it typically entails support for highly competitive markets and private ownership of productive enterprises.

So what we see in the above definition is a “normative” element, i.e. makes claims about how things should or ought to be, how to value them, but in a strictly objective manner. Therefore, a “normative” element is present.

Quickly reviewing the above, what we can observe is that the “scientific method” is nothing more than a part of Catholicism with a very limited “normative” aspect that allows for the making of “value” judgements. However, a comprehensive and complete mechanism that allows for the widest understanding and valuation of human activity is provided by Catholicism.

Which brings us to all the other areas of human endeavor that lie outside of Catholicism. This category can be described as: all “normative” undertakings that are not derived through either the scientific method in particular or from Catholicism in general.

In other words, these are the aspects of human endeavor that have either not yet been proved using the scientific method or cannot be proved since they do not conform to natural law.

In other words, what we have left is “ideology”. Just a quick definition to refresh the memory, ideology is defined as: (see here)

Ideology:

1. the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group.

2. such a body of doctrine, myth, etc., with reference to some political and social plan, as that of fascism, along with the devices for putting it into operation.

3. Philosophy.

a. the study of the nature and origin of ideas.

b. system that derives ideas exclusively from sensation.

4.theorizing of a visionary or impractical nature.

As we can observe from the definition of ideology, when we speak about ideology as a strictly a “normative process”, we are referring to a “system that derives ideas exclusively from sensation” and “theorizing of a visionary or impractical nature”.

In other words, ideology by definition, is composed of all the aspects of human endeavor and thought that is divorced from and/or not compatible with natural law and natural moral law.

Concluding today’s post, what we can easily observe from the above text is the close relationship between “science” and “theology”. We can also make a wider assertion that the part of science that is not yet known to man, will be eventually made known through a scientific process. This scientific process is not only compatible with, but is in fact a subset of Catholicism.

Therefore, when we are observing an individual phenomena, whether they be the debate between the neo-modernists and the Thomists, the Keynesians and the monetarists, the socialists and the capitalists, the global warming alarmists and the climate realists, the genderists and the defenders of anatomically correct marriage or even the Bergoglian/Kasperian “theology done on the knees” proponants and the authors of the FiveCardinals Book, what we are in fact dealing with are issues that differ philosophically at their root in “normative” and “positive” processes.

T -159: Re-Blog – Letters to Investors, Friends and Benefactors.

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Seeing as how Jeffrey Sachs has been parachuted into the Vatican and is engaged in helping out with Francis’ Global Warming Political Platform, I am re-blogging one of my favorite posts, one which I wrote at the beginning of this year.

As for Mr. Sachs, he makes an appearance at about the 2:20 minute mark of the video. The subject matter is Greece. And for those who have been following the story of Greece (see here), this is the latest: see here.

But just in case you do not want to dive into detail, the skinny is that Greece is still not fixed.

The Deus Ex Machina Blog

As the year Anno Domini 2015 is upon us, it is customary for individuals who are entrusted with “managing” other individuals “property” to write to those individuals and explain how they have performed over the past year. These missives can take the form of a “letter to investors” as in the case of investment firms who manage financial assets in their care. These missives could also take the form of a “letter to friends and benefactors” as is the case of the local ordinaries of the Catholic Church who manage the eternal well being of the souls entrusted to them.

I have come across this most interesting post at the website Zero Hedge. Its subject matter has a striking similarity with what the average Catholic has experienced over the course of the 50 year “new springtime of the spirit of Vatican II”. Furthermore, the subject matter of this Zero Hedge…

View original post 2,130 more words

T -178: A Final Rendezvous With Destiny and With Death

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Ahead lies the Arctic shore and beyond, the sea.
And still, the little animals surge forward.
Their frenzy takes them down the …cliffs,
creating tiny avalanches of sliding soil and rocks, seemingly indestructible …..
They reach the final precipice, this is the last chance to turn back.
Yet over they go, casting themselves bodily out into space.
All seem to survive the ordeal.
For now they begin to swim.
Not toward land strangely, but away toward the far horizon.
Others find the beaches by round about ways.
They too plunge into the waves.
It’s not given to man to understand all of natures mysteries.
But as nearly as he can surmise,it would appear that the lemmings consider this body of water just another lake and if it’s another lake, it must have a distant shore.
And so they strike out boldly.
Then gradually the strength wanes, determination ebbs away.
And soon the Arctic Sea is dotted with tiny bodies.
And so is acted out the legend of mass suicide and
the destruction of a species it would seem to be.
Except that nature, in her infinite wisdom has spared a few.
Back on the Arctic plain, there remains a small handful that did not make this fatal journey.
And in time, new generations will take the place of those that have been lost.
And yet when the population cycle mounts to another peak, the lemming legend will be told again.
It will come to this same amazing climax, a final rendezvous with destiny and with death.

Today we transition back to the VIRTUAL REALITY vs OBJECTIVE REALITY theme …bah, to the COLLECTIVE DELUSION theme, that we have been engaged in over the last few weeks. Over at one of the “mainstream” “catholic” news outlets, we are entertained by a post regarding a couple of old favorites of this blog. (see here) One is the Brazilian Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, the Prefect of the Congregation for Religious Life (see here) and his side kick Archbishop José “just call me Pepe”Rodríguez Carballo, the Vatican congregation’s secretary. (see here and here)

Today’s news report has Card. Braz de Aviz giving a speech to a new, by Church standards organization comprised of 1200 “formation directors”. Here is the relevant passage:

Brazilian Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, speaking to a first-of-its-kind congress of many of the world’s religious formation directors, also warned the religious against trying to abandon the changes in the church brought about by the Second Vatican Council.

So it probably does not take an exceptional amount of brain power to figure out why this “first-of-its kind” congress was called and why this particular theme of this “first-of-its-kind” congress was chosen. And if you can’t figure it out, think Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Excuse the digression… Here is what was said:

“The contexts have changed,” he said. “We are disoriented. In our identity, we are a bit insecure. We need a new deepening, a new pausing, a new listening.”

Continuing, the cardinal told the formation directors: “Do not distance yourself from the great lines of the Second Vatican Council.”

Aside from the obvious irony of a self confessed “out of context”, “disoriented” and “insecure” prelate giving instructions about how to overcome the “out of context-edness”, “disorientation”and “insecurity” of the situation to 1200 similarly “out of context”, “disoriented” and “insecure” “formation directors”, it needs to be said that the instruction was quite clear, focused and firm. Now whether it was correct, well that’s a horse of a different color.

Just so that you dear reader are 100% clear about what it is that the good cardinal does not want the “formation directors” to distance themselves from, is this:

What the graph above represents, is the time period that Card. Braz de Aviz was referring to in his above quote, the time period during which he, the formation directors and especially their religious orders became “out of context-ed”, “disoriented”and “insecure”.

Just to make sure that we understand, this above time period represents the 50 years of “changing context, insecurity in identity and disorientation” that the members of the religious orders have experienced, or as it is commonly referred to, the advent of the “new springtime of the spirit of Vatican II”. If you recall, the Second Vatican Council ended in 1965 and as is just so happens, the peak membership of not just the above orders but all orders and clergy for that matter was circa 1966.

Here is another depiction of this time period, the time period that card. Braz says that we can not distance ourselves from.

This graph depicts the decline in percentage terms of the respective religious orders. The manner in which this graph is read is that, for example the Jesuits have approximately 48% the number of members that they had in 1966. What this graph also displays is that the Jesuits had the largest decrease in membership in percentage terms of the major religious orders. In other words, the Jesuits were “winning”, in a Charlie Sheen sort of way. (see here)

Having said the above, we know from our logic class that correlation and coincidence do not necessarily prove causality. Necessarily, that is. But in this above case, I think a solid argument can be made that an inverse relationship exists between the membership levels and the number of years spent under the “new springtime of the spirit of Vatican II” regime. In other words, the longer under the VII regime, the lower the memberships level. Or in other words, there appears to be a very strong causal relationship. 

However, Card. Braz does not acknowledge this causal relationship. Here is what card. Braz asserts:

“In fact, those that are distancing themselves from the council to make another path are killing themselves — sooner or later, they will die,” Braz de Aviz said. “They will not have sense. They will be outside the church. We need to build, using the Gospel and the council as a departure point.”

Very interesting assertion. The “departure point” appears to be similar to the precipice in the embedded video. But I digress…

But what is the evidence that this assertion, i.e.

In fact, those that are distancing themselves from the council to make another path are killing themselves — sooner or later, they will die,”

is in fact a true assertion?

Unfortunately Card. Braz did not provide his audience with any supporting evidence, neither empirical nor anecdotal for his assertion. So we are left to our own devices.

Therefore, let’s compare some numerical data of religious societies that have been “distancing themselves from the council” and compare them to the religious orders for which we have empirical data presented in the above two graphs.

The first example is the Fraternity of St. Peter. Here is how their membership data looks”:

Oh my! It does not look anything like the first two graphs. Surely this is an exception?

Another religious society that has distanced itself form the council is the Society of St. Pius X, and here is how their respective membership numbers look.

Oh my! Oh my! This membership data looks even better than that of the FSSP. Hard to call this an exception.

And just for good measure, let’s examine the graph of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, and how their membership numbers looked… before they were brutally suppressed on the order of Francis and carried out by card. Braz, “just call me Pepe Rodriguez Carballo and the notorious admitted slanderer Commissioner Volpi: (see here)

From the above empirical evidence, it would appear that the following statement by card. Braz, i.e.

In fact, those that are distancing themselves from the council to make another path are killing themselves — sooner or later, they will die,”

is a FALSE statement.

Summarizing the evidence assembled above, it would appear that the religious societies that distanced themselves from the Second Vatican Council are not only growing, but thriving. Not only are they thriving, but they are taking over churches that the “post conciliar” orders are abandoning. (see here and here) The fact of the matter is this, the post conciliar orders are abandoning these churches since they do not have either the members nor the pew sitters to maintain them.

As a matter of fact, a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church just made an announcement during this past Lent that he is closing most of the churches in his country due to not distancing himself from the council soon enough.  (see here)

So how do we reconcile the apparent dichotomy between Card. Braz’s assertions and the facts presented above?

Enter our little furry friends.

I will paraphrase the narrator from the video embedded above since I think there may be a phenomenon underpinned by a higher natural law that is at work in both cases, i.e. the suicidal tendencies of both the lemmings and the post-conciliar hierarchy/clergy. Here is one possible and very likely explanation:

It’s not given to man to understand all of natures mysteries. But as nearly as we can surmise, it would appear that the post concilier hierarchy considers the Second Vatican Council just another council, and if it’s another council, it must have continuity with the Magisterium. And so they strike out boldly as if the NewChurch is the same as the Catholic Church. But then, gradually the strength wanes, determination ebbs away. And soon the post-concilier landscape is dotted with empty churches and dying congregations. And so is acted out the legend of mass suicide and the destruction of another sect that it would seem to be, such as the Arians, Pelagians, Donatists, Jansenist, Lutherans, Universal Unitarians, etc, etc, etc. And in time, new generations will take the place of those that have been lost. But nature, in her infinite wisdom has spared a few. Back in the Swiss Alps, there remained a small handful that did not make this fatal journey.

And to them, salvation will be their just reward.

T -190: The Remnant: “Athanasius Smiled: Taking Back One of Our Places”

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FOR THE RECORD: Today, 190 days from the start of the Stealth Sex Synod of 2015 brings good news from Pittsburgh PA. The “Indefectable” Catholic Church took back one of its former places of worship. The 28th of March, 2015 saw the Solemn Blessing and First Mass of St. James Church, a former diocesan church now owned by the Society of St. Pius X. For the details of this good news, this blog is re-producing the article that appeared in the Remnant Newspaper. (see here)

Deo Gratias and may this be the next of many more to come!

On an aside, for those who would like to see the new Church and the history behind the story of the SSPX acquisition of the property, please go to the SSPX website (see here) to see the background information and videos of the first Mass offered by the SSPX at St. James Church in Pittsburgh which actually occurred at Midnight on the Feast of the Holy Nativity.

And now I hand the ball off to the Remnant.

The Remnant: “Athanasius Smiled: Taking Back One of Our Places”

She’s Ours Again (St. James Church)

In his letter to Catholics suffering at the hands of Arian heretics, the great St. Athanasius writes: “I know moreover that not only this thing saddens you, but also the fact that while others have obtained the churches by violence, you are meanwhile cast out from your places. For they hold the places, but you the Apostolic Faith.”

Today Athanasius smiled, for in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States of America a gathering of faithful Catholics witnessed a truly remarkable event: the dedication ceremony of new Catholic Church.

Now by “new” I don’t refer to the age of the actual building, for the West End parish of St. James the Greater was established in 1853. No, “new” in the sense that this building, which fell into disuse after the Second Vatican Council and was eventually sold off to a businessman to be used for secular purposes, has as of this morning been redeemed and rededicated to the holy purposes for which Catholics from many years ago had built it in the first place. The building is being placed back in the service of the Catholic Faith and the salvation of souls.

The Chancery Office of the Diocese of Pittsburgh may not be happy with this development but it is not difficult to imagine heaven rejoicing on this day, along with faithful Catholics all around the world who see this as a heaven-sent sign of things to come if we can just hold fast to the faith of our fathers during these times of upheaval in the Church.

To fully appreciate the long journey St. James has taken in order to reestablish the mission of salvation for which the church was built, readers may wish to peruse the SSPX’s 44-page St. James Church Re-Dedication commemorative brochure, which has been compiled by the new pastor of St. James, Father Patrick Rutledge, and can be viewed here

This morning, following a procession of priests and faithful through the streets of Pittsburgh, St. James Catholic Church at 326 S. Main Street was blessed at 11:00am by Fr. Niklaus Pfluger (First Assistant to the Superior General, Bishop Bernard Fellay). A Solemn Mass (see photo) followed, making it official: the SSPX has taken back one of ours but in a spirit of humility and gratitude to God for his goodness.

This day was a long time coming

As the recent SSPX press release put it:

For many years the Society of St. Pius X has performed its apostolic work for the salvation of souls under the auspices of Our Lady of Fatima Church. With the re-dedication of the new church the priestly society will continue its Pittsburgh, PA apostolate under the patronage of the Apostle, St. James the Greater. The retention of the church’s original titular saint also signifies that the SSPX is continuing to transmit the same Catholic Faith for which the West End parish was founded in 1853.

As of tomorrow, March 29, Sunday Mass will once again be offered at St. James Church at 9:00am with confessions starting at 8:00am and the public Rosary at 8:30am. The Mass, the Rosary, the Faith celebrated from now on in the Church of St. James will be according to the traditional Catholic Roman Rite of the Church.

Whether you support the SSPX or not, we can all agree on this much: At least the Muslims didn’t get this one, and Pittsburgh Catholics have not only kept the faith but managed to recover one of the churches that had been lost to us all.

All glory, laud and honor to Thee Redeemer King!

T -209: It Was Only a Matter of Time!

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From the Pertinacious Papist Blog. (see here)

Enjoy!

A big thanks for the tip to Elizabeth.

T -210: From Rome Blog: Pope Francis’ Homily at Ognissanti: An Analysis

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FOR THE RECORD

My WordPress Site

Pope Francis at Ognissanti, March 7, 2015 (click image for original from Catholic Herald article on this event).

Rome, March 9, 2015:  Students of theology at Rome, who are catholic, have long experience in “reading” what their professors are saying.  This is because the current climate of Modernism, and the persecution of Catholic seminarians which is attendant upon keeping it in power, makes a woeful variety of the forms of dishonestly flourish under its pallid “sun” of error.

Modernism, as Catholics know and recognize, is the error which says there is nothing religious but what comes from the sentiments of the human heart. It is a species of atheism, of the kind apt to be found in those who pretend to be religious.  It is a very apt and useful error for the ecclesiastical parasite, the priest-careerist or the hierarchical climber, because it absolves from all conscience and morality…

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T -227: THIS BLOG SUPPORTS VOX CANTORIS!

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It must be going HORRIBLY WRONG at the Francis circus TeamFrancis Vatican since these clerics are starting to resort to these types of tactics:

Nothing more needs to be said!