This episode from the series about the conclave and the new pope is well worth watching. Robert Royal feels some optimism about the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost because of his selection of the name, etc. "You can be in continuity with a previous pope and yet at the same time practice a sort of innovation," he said. That Pope Leo came out on the loggia wearing the traditional vestments (unlike Francis) was a big difference.
On synodality: Fr. Murray said he thinks the pope's remarks indicate he will not stop the synodal process which, as Royal, mentioned, is "an empty sack." Fr. Murray is concerned about the ecclesial assembly scheduled for 2028. "We are not a Church in which the hierarchy is an appendage." If by synodality the pope means the 2028 assembly, there will be a lot of opposition because that is "at odds with the hierarchical nature of the Catholic Church."
We need to give things some time. I'm a little disturbed by the number of people writing about "creepy Leo" and "Communist Leo" and "effeminate Leo" and "grift Pope Leo." Really? Can everyone take a deep breath and give the man a chance? If nothing else, we need to respect the office.
One of the things I like about Fr. Murray and Robert Royal is they are always respectful in their disagreement. Talking about the homosexual issue, Royal pointed out that there is some kind of "protective homosexual network" in the Church that needs to be rooted it out. "This is a burning issue...stand strong against the activists of these homosexual groups." Fr. Murray went on to say that to protect the flock, the Church will inevitably offend some people.
Watch the video and be sure to pray and fast for Pope Leo that in the months ahead we will see positive signs that indicate a holy pope who will lead the Church in the footsteps of Peter and the other apostles.
An excellent view, published by Roberto de Mattei on Rorate’s web site -
ReplyDeletehttps://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2025/05/leo-xiv-and-future-of-church-by-roberto.html?m=1
I don’t read Catholic blogs (other than this one) any more for reasons you speak of here. I went over to Canon212 and Barnhardt immediately after Pope Leo’s election, just to see what they had to say - less than an hour. And what I saw there I found repulsive, especially so since I used to follow those authors, those sites closely for Catholic news, forming my faith, in many ways, during the confusing Pontificate of Francis. Before the Pope had a chance to speak or act other than his excellent blessing on the Loggia, their opinions and positions had already been formed. Invectives were bring applied liberally.
No more. Not for me. I find the language and the spirit behind it repulsive.
This Pope was validly elected. There is no doubt or question that Pope Leo XIV is Holy Father, Vicar of Christ, Bishop of Rome, Successor of St Peter. And a Catholic has no choice on this matter: treat our Holy Father with the respect due from a spiritual child to the authority granted over him (or her) by God.
Protestants give obedience based on calculation and personal opinion. Catholics give obedience, unreservedly, filling our duty within the hierarchy of Heaven, within the bounds of Dogma, Cannon Law and Sacred Tradition.
Thank you for this reasonable and very Catholic blog. I’m sure there are many other voices like yours out there. But I have always found it as a dependable, edifying place to go for Catholic news and opinion. The quality of comments has seriously declined from the old days. But your blog itself - as good as it ever was.
God bless and keep Pope Leo XIV!
A humorous anecdote from an air traffic controller who went to grade school with young Robert Prevost and knew him.
Deletehttps://youtu.be/kl4yHV2AVyg
I appreciate his pride and love and missionary spirit.
Habemus Papam!
I am sincerely looking forward to clarity once again, unambiguous leadership (not to say always perfect), perhaps buying a book or two by our Pope.
Pope Leo reminds me a bit of Bp. Paprocki who is also a canon lawyer. Thoughtful listener who understands words mean something.
ReplyDeleteSome commenters elsewhere point to Pope Leo's brother saying he will be like Francis. Before that worries anyone I think it's helpful to remember many many Catholics aren't reading Crisis or Lifesitenews or blogs like this. Maybe they read their parish bulletin or the diocesan newspaper. They saw Francis as a man who cared about the poor and the earth.
Another “good sign” - Pope Leo XIV is signing his name with the appendix PP, which is the Latin abbreviation for “Pastor Pastorum” (“Shepherd of Shepherds“ - the Bishops).
ReplyDeleteMore that is encouraging, tagged to his official portrait by CNA (quote):
“The Vatican unveiled Pope Leo XIV’s official portrait and signature Saturday, revealing the American pontiff’s embrace of traditional papal elements just two days after his historic election.
The formal portrait shows the 69-year-old pope wearing the red mozzetta (short cape), embroidered stole, white rochet, and golden pectoral cross — traditional papal vesture that present a visual contrast to the simpler style preferred by his predecessor.
Vatican Media published the portrait alongside the pope’s personal signature, which includes the notation “P.P.” — an abbreviation traditionally used in papal signatures that stands for “Pastor Pastorum” (“Shepherd of Shepherds”). Pope Francis had departed from this convention, signing simply as “Franciscus.”
This return to traditional elements accompanies Leo’s papal coat of arms. The heraldic design features a fleur-de-lis on a blue background, symbolizing the Virgin Mary, while the right side displays the Sacred Heart of Jesus resting on a book against a cream background.
This is based on the traditional symbol of the Augustinian Order.
The fleur-de-lis has particular significance in Catholic iconography as a symbol of purity and the Virgin Mary.
The three-petaled lily design has also been connected to the Holy Trinity. It is prominently featured in French heraldry, which may hold personal meaning for the pope, who has French ancestry through his father’s lineage.
Beneath the shield runs a scroll displaying the pope’s episcopal motto: “In illo uno unum” (“In the one Christ we are one”), a phrase taken from St. Augustine’s commentary on Psalm 127. The motto reflects Leo’s roots in the Augustinian order and his commitment to unity in the Church.
These profound presentations of papal symbols — the portrait, signature, and coat of arms — traditionally occur in the early days of a new pontificate and provide insights into the theological priorities and pastoral style the new pope intends to emphasize.
Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, made history on May 8, becoming the first U.S.-born pope.”
(End quote)
https://www.instagram.com/p/DJemb7-x2z8/
Regarding the rhetoric you noted in your third paragraph, I think we have Frank Walker (Canon212) to thank in some/large part. Granted, I hate to throw stones, and Canon 212 has been (but maybe less so now) a valuable source of information for me.
ReplyDeleteBut what started out as occasional jabs is just a constant stream of “Grift this” and “Fake Catholic that” and “obese he” and “FrancisPriest/Bishop/Cardinal.” It’s ugly and tiresome, and all too often baseless or at least, irrelevant to the article linked. I honestly think I’ll have to go somewhere else for Catholics news aggregation, because the hyperventilating commentary is just ridiculous, and corrosive to my own charity, at this point.
Nick
As St. Cyprian wrote: "He who abandons the See of Peter on which the Church was founded, falsely believes himself to be part of the Church." (De Unitate Eccles.)
ReplyDeleteThe prodigal son remains the son.
DeletePartially Catholic is not Catholic.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by "partially Catholic?" There are lots of confused and poorly formed Catholics who don't even know what the Church teaches. How much responsibility does each of us have for that problem? How many of our children are confused because we taught the faith badly? I certainly have failed many times.
DeleteI attached my above comment to the wrong post:
DeleteTo Anonymous 11:03 - "Partially Catholic is not Catholic".
From Aqua - The prodigal son remains the son".
Just after Jesus was rebuked by the Pharisees for associating with sinners Jesus informs the assembly (and all human history) that "there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than ninety-nine just who need not penance". And then, Jesus goes on and tells the remarkable parable of the Prodigal Son, which most everyone can intimately relate to. The ruler's son remains the son, even as he eats husks and garbage in the pig slop. And the son remains the son when he returns to his father in repentance and humility and receives the reward the father so much wants the son to have, never stopped wanting the son to have (Luke 15).
From the Collect, today's liturgy, Third Sunday After Easter ... apropo -
"O God, Who to those who go astray dost show the light of truth, that they may return to the path of justice: grant that all who are enrolled in the Christian faith may both spurn all that is hostile to that name and follow after what is fitting to it. Through our Lord."
My prayer is that Pope Leo fulfills in Holy Mother Church his episcopal motto by the grace of God: "In illo uno unum" (In the one Christ we are one).
Mary Ann, sorry if I was not clear. My partially Catholic comment was intended towards Prevost. The nice vestments, speaking Latin, etc.
DeleteOur popes, when teaching the faithful, are guaranteed to speak with the voice of Christ. Confusion is not from God. The modernists' MO is confusion. Why do good priests insist we study with pre-VII material? The VII documents contain heresy and the "popes" and bishops who signed on to them was the beginning of the great apostasy as prophesized in scripture.
Prevost, like the post conciliar popes before him, is a VII guy. There are pictures on Twitter of him, Bergoglio and Bernidine all wearing the same satanic pectoral cross; where Christ's foot is inverted.
Anonymous 1103:
DeletePope Leo XIV's name is no longer "Prevost", at least to Catholics.
And he is not "a V II guy" ... rather Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ, Holy Father, who happens to reign in what we used to call the post-concilliar V II era. It is, simply, the Catholic Church with problems and opportunities associated with the current age within which Church Militant fights for God.
"In illo uno unum - In the one Christ we are one".
- Pope Leo XIV
Aqua, the VII, ape of the Catholic Church, officially teaches heresies, (false ecumenism and religious liberty) in her documents. SSPX's partial communion is nonsensical. "Fr." James Martin is elated with the election of Prevost. It's not that hard to connect the dots. The reason so many are confused is because they can't see or admit we're living in the great apostasy. And as Bp.. Sanborn points out, antichrist cannot come if the Church was fully intact with a valid pope and magisterium, as She would fight him tooth and nail.
DeleteThe Great Apostasy is an invention of Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism. There is nothing in Scripture that indicates an apostasy of the entire Church will ever happen. All of the passages have to do with individuals who fall away. Jesus promised that the gates of hell would never prevail against the Church. Was He lying? The Great Apostasy is a myth with no more foundation than the Protestant belief about the "rapture" where the good guys get beamed up to heaven and the bad guys are left behind.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteAnonymous 414: The election of Pope Pius XIV is clear as crystal. The Bishops of the world are in union with him. To remain Catholic, one must live within the one, holy, Catholic apostolic Church under the ultimate authority of the Pope who alone answers directly to Christ our Lord (not Boshop Sanborn). The Sede movement is a dead, dry hole.
DeleteOops ... Leo XIV.
DeleteForgot to check it.
Aqua, the sede position is the only position which does not contradict Catholic teaching...it's especially notable in the r and r position of the SSPX. Let's wait and see though what the desperately in need of more bishops the SSPX does.
DeleteAnonymous 1216: Doesn't contradict Catholic teaching except that they reject the Pope, all Bishops all Priests all Sacraments and have declared on their own personal authority that the entire Catholic Church to be dead that was promised to endure until the end of time when it will raised to heaven and that their little Sede chapels with Priests not in communion with anyone but themselves are the remnant. Other than that, they don't contradict Catholic teaching.
DeleteSSPX is not anxious about appointing new Bishops because they are peacefully loyal to the Pope, see themselves as members of the one, holy, Catholic, Apostolic church and insist that they exist to help Holy Mother Church, not replace. The Bishops will come in God's time. They are at peace, as one would expect.
ReplyDeleteThis homily should be listened by all Catholics in the Universal Church.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKpEVIXpggw
May God bless all soldiers of Jesus Christ and Mary, Mother of God!
Viva Cristo Rey!
At yesterday's morning Mass (TLM) the pastor encouraged us to pray for the new Pope and not get caught up in being immediately negative.
ReplyDeleteToday again we were reminded to pray for the Pope. I thought it's a sad state of affairs to be so wary of a new Pope. But that is Francis's legacy.
I am hopeful of this Pope yet resigned to having to endure or ignore the post-VII milieu that Pope Leo seems intent on continuing. I viewed some of the Youtube video a commenter linked to yesterday. Like Francis he embraced the idea of change "to let the Holy Spirit in" even though doing the same old thing is comfortable. Who's been keeping the Holy Spirit out? It seems to me it might be these VII devotees who are so busy "ministering " to each other.
I'm pretty sure he was not speaking to those who cling to "I am the Bread of Life" and "On Eagles Wings" and parade up to the altar to give away holy communion. (He said he shared this concern with Francis.)
I will never understand this rhetoric that the church must update to the times. Does facing God and worshipping him with a Latin mass that is ancient and steeped in tradition and the sustenance of countless saints burden the modern man? Does it prevent him from moving closer to God? Prevent him from taking care of himself and his family as he obligated to do?
End Times
ReplyDelete1. Gospel preached to the whole world & all nations - Matthew 25.
2. Full universal conversion of all Jews to Jesus Christ & His Church - Romans 11:25-26; CCC 674.
3. Great Apostasy. - Matthew 24; 2 Thessalonians 2-3.
4. Antichrist (Fully human possessed by the devil) - 3 1/2 years before coming of Christ within 7 year tribulation.
5. Tribulation- natural & man made - Matthew 24.
Andrew Nelson:
DeleteA Catholic is in grace peril when he has separated from the Apostolic line and the authority vested by God therein.
It is given to the Apostles and their Priests to guard, interpret and pass on Sacred Scripture. Authority is given to the Apostles to cherish, guard, protect, edify and lead to heaven the Faithful. It is not good to seperate oneself from the authority of the Apostles and the Magisterium which is invested in them and their unbroken line.
Instead of cherry-picking verses you *think* support your Sede position, return in submission to the authority of this validlynelected Pope and the Apostles in union with him. Submit to the Catechism of Trent, one excerpt of which I hi-lite below, which clearly establishes the power and authority and apostolic essence of Holy Mother Church - in this particular chapter 9 of part 1 on the nature of the Catholic Church.
"But, although the Catholic faith uniformly and truly teaches that the good and the bad belong to the Church, yet the same faith declares that the condition of both is very different: the wicked are contained in the Church, as the chaff is mingled with the grain on the threshing floor, or as dead members, sometimes, remain attached to a living body."
" Hence, there are but three classes of persons excluded from her pale, infidels, heretics and schismatics, and excommunicated persons ... heretics and schismatics, because they have separated from the Church, and belong to her, only as deserters be long to the army from which they have deserted. It is not, however, to be denied, that they are still subject to the jurisdiction of the Church, inasmuch as they are liable to have judgment passed on their opinions, to be visited with spiritual punishments, and denounced with anathema ... But with regard to the rest; however wicked and flagitious, it is certain that they still belong to the Church; and of this the faithful are frequently to be reminded, in order to be convinced that, were even the lives of her ministers debased by crime, they are still within her pale, and, therefore lose no part of the power, with which her ministry invests them."
https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Catechism_of_the_Council_of_Trent/Part_1:_Article_9
It is not the will of God that individuals declare anathemas upon the heads of apostolic authority. The Catechism grants that bad will coexist with good within Holy Mother Church, but it does not grant you Sedes power to rule on such matters over the Vicar of Christ and all Christ's Apostles, Her laws and Her Sacraments. That is very, very bad.
There is no longer any confusion or doubt: Pope Leo XIV is validly elected by an overwhelming majority (100+) of Cardinals according to Canon Law. Catholics must give him our veneration and obedience, our love.
I feel it is important to hi-lite even further a sentence that may have been lost in the extract from the Catechism of Trent (part 1 ch 9) above:
Delete"... the faithful are frequently to be reminded, in order to be convinced that, were even the lives of her ministers debased by crime, *they are still within her pale, and, therefore lose no part of the power, with which her ministry invests them*."
The Sede position invests themselves with the power to judge and pronounce verdict. The Council of Trent, speaking on the nature of Holy Mother Church and its members clearly does not agree. The Sede position sees obvious spiritual crimes. The Sede position then walks with that knowledge down false paths and thereby commits different spiritual crimes.
Aqua,
ReplyDeleteI am not a ‘sede’, only a traditional Catholic. And these end time points are from a Catholic talk(not sede) on the end times. It is not my opinion, but again, only Catholic.
Sorry about that Andrew. I was responding to the theme of the thread above, in regards to the "great apostasy" theme from a long time Sede commenter, which irks me like mosquitos on a warm summer evening on my front porch.
DeleteI've been super excited about our new Pope, growing more and more optimistic every day, reading and seeing some really cool things about him and possibilities about our shared Catholic future on behalf of my children who I sincerely wish to protect from confusion and error. We so desperately need strong Apostolic leadership in this moment. And so I'm a little sensitive to the Sede intrusions into this new Pope Leo XIV moment in Catholic time.
But, again, *I do apologize* for making that assumption in your direction.
I did find that last Catechism excerpt interesting, however, in regards to the Sede conundrum: "~ even ministers debased by spiritual crimes remain within the pale, and lose no part of the power with which her ministry invests them".
A good article on perception bias - seeing the world in ways we expect to see, limiting our ability to see it as it is. We put things into categories in order to more easily, rather than better, understand them. We should take each thing (person, opinion, concept) as it is, try to understand it on its own merits without precondition or pre-judgement.
Deletehttps://open.substack.com/pub/boriquagato/p/a-tour-of-confirmation-bias?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web