Did Pope Benedict Leave Signs that He Remained the Pope?

It may seem strange, but I will begin answering that question by looking at William Shakespeare. For decades scholars argued about who Shakespeare really was. Some insisted that Christopher Marlow was the true author of the plays. The Earl of Oxford was another. In recent years more and more evidence shows that, in fact, Shakespeare was Shakespeare. 

He was the son of John Shakespeare, a recusant who kept the faith, a local low-level politician who resigned his office rather than take the oath of supremacy. His son William's missing years were probably spent being educated on the continent which explains his broad knowledge of Italy, particularly Venice. Another indication of his Catholicism was his ownership of a house in London used for secret Masses. It was exposed when a floor collapsed under the weight of several hundred Catholics hearing the Mass. [Brief article on Shakespeare's Catholicism.]

Sunday Meditation: Pope Benedict's Prophecy

“From today’s crisis will emerge a church that has lost a great deal. It will no longer have use of the structures it built in its years of prosperity. The reduction in the number of faithful will lead to it losing an important part of its social privileges. It will become small and will have to start pretty much over again. It will be a more spiritual church and will not claim a political mandate flirting with the Right one minute and the Left the next. It will be poor and will become the Church of the destitute.” —Prophecy of Benedict XVI

It's Ironic that Today's Funeral for Pope Benedict...

...takes place on the feast day of a pope martyr, St. Telesphorus who occupied the chair of Peter from 125-136 and died during the first year of of the reign of Antoninus Pius, although there appears to be some confusion since Antoninus became emperor in 138 and Telesphorus is said to have died in 136, two years earlier. 

St. Telesphorus, pray for us.

Two Popes Who Saw the Problem: One in the Past, One in the Present

Pope Adrian VI, 1522-23

Anyone with eyes to see knows that the Catholic Church is in crisis. It's an unholy mess and, with the latest
Synod on Synodality, things are likely to get much worse. Just as the Vatican used previous synods and surveys to undermine the faith and attack Dogma and Sacred Tradition, the latest synod "listening sessions" will likely be used to further advance dissent and heresy. Already there are rumors about legitimizing contraception and further advancing homosexuality and even abortion. Check out the wolves among the synod "experts" who will be preparing the document for the next step in the synod process. 

No matter how this goes, don't lose heart, friends. God uses what Satan means for evil to bring about good, and what is happening is nothing new in the Church. 

Let's recall for a minute a 16th century pope who served only twenty months, Pope Adrian VI (January 9, 1522 - September 14, 1523). He was a reformer who eliminated many of the excesses of the corrupt Vatican which contributed to the Protestant revolt. He eliminated the balls and fetes, the plays and pomps and parties and all the luxuries infecting the Vatican court. He ate and dressed simply. His two objectives were to reform the curia and to fight the invasion of the Turks. He denounced clerical corruption through his legate at the Diet of Nuremberg in 1523 instructing him with these words:

Hmm...Does this Explain Pope Benedict's Abdication?

Honestly...admit it...you wonder about Pope Benedict's abdication. Many thought he must be seriously ill or seeing sings of dementia, but here we are almost five years later and Pope Benedict, while frail as one would expect of a man his age, continues to be clear in mind. Did he really abdicate because he didn't have the energy to attend World Youth Day and gallivant around the world?

I suspect there's a lot more to the story. So do many others. So check out the scenario described in the article below and scratch your head. If the pope was "forced out," my understanding is that he is still the pope. And the fact that he continues to wear the papal white has always been confusing. Where in history have we had a "pope emeritus?" Anti-popes, yes; three men claiming to be pope at one time, yes; but never a "pope emeritus."

Democrat Fingers in the Vatican Pie: Did Obama Force Benedict’s Abdication?

"Eternal Truth" and the "Anthropological Revolution"

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the Military Archdiocese released an important statement following President Trump's ban on transgenders in the military. I've attended several Confirmations celebrated by Archbishop Broglio and am always edified by his witness. I feel the same way about this press release. It includes a major point about the nature of the human person. We would do well to take this seriously:

“The dignity of the human person is rooted in the fact that people are created in the image and likeness of God – God who in the fullness of his divinity assumed humanity to redeem the world. A recent conference, titled ‘Framing a Catholic Response to Gender Ideology’ held this past May at Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, noted that gender ideology undermines basic Christian anthropology by defining the person as a disembodied mind and the body as a mere instrument. A Catholic response to gender ideology considers multiple insights including medical, psychological, philosophical, theological, pastoral, and legal perspectives. The Church honors human dignity by drawing near in order to accompany people."

Guest Post: An Invalid Abdication

by Richard Cowden Guido

It wouldn't be the first time in Church
history that more than one man
 claimed to occupy Peter's seat.

Editor's Note: This article extends the discussion of "This Disastrous Papacy" and "In Response to This Disastrous Papacy." I hope readers find it thought provoking. 

Since the great St. Vincent Ferrar incorrectly recognized an antipope as a legitimate one, arguably it is forgivable if SSPX folk & others, for a time, make a comparable error in our own era.

Nonetheless according not to any ‘authority’ of Ann Barnhardt, but rather to the overwhelming & indeed QED evidence – in particular Benedict XVI’s own words on the matter – it remains that recognizing Jorge Bergoglio as other than an antipope is an error, & a manifest one.

For contrary to assertions against that evidence, Pope Benedict did not ‘properly, licitly’ resign or abandon the papacy, but has instead publicly asserted he sought only to resign an aspect of it, while maintaining the Papal office itself.

This Disastrous Papacy and the Big Question!

Will the real pope please stand up!

I've always admired Phil Lawler for his integrity and clear writing as well as his charity. So when I saw his article, This Disastrous Papacy, in the March 16th issue of The Wanderer; I read it carefully.

He minces no words. Acknowledging that he criticized the two former popes for what he considered imprudent actions, he then stresses that "never did it cross my mind that [they] posed any danger to the integrity of the Catholic faith." Then he writes more pointedly about Pope Francis:

The Preeminence of the Blessed Mother in the Garden of the Resurrection

PART I
(PART II and PART III)

The Myth of Mary Magdalen’s Intimate Association with Jesus

The BRETHREN and the DISCIPLES are 2 different sets of 
people (John 2:12).  Jesus sent His Mother to the BRETHREN

(John 20:17) while the Blessed Mother sent Mary Magdalen 
to the DISCIPLES (John 20:18).

Every year at Easter, the secular media, newspapers and television rush to inform their audiences that Christianity is nothing less than a gigantic fraud perpetrated for over 2,000 years, a conspiracy of power that long held a monopoly on the things of the soul and is now being exposed. 

What attacks against Christianity share in common is totally unscientific, undocumented and unsupported speculation intended to destroy the heart of the Christian Faith, namely, that Jesus Christ rose physically from the dead, and was God, not just a mortal man. The outright bigotry inherent in their wild assertions is evident for all logical educated persons to see.

Red Pill Brief Part II (5.36 minutes)

In this second video, Major Coughlin (who is a Catholic) discusses Interfaith dialogue, Saul Alinsky and the OIC. He states that when Pope Benedict XVI came to America in 2008, he was speaking out about the dangers of the OIC but that the American Bishops undermined Benedict every step of the way. 

Well, this is interesting! What do you think? Was Benedict's abdication a leftist coup?

Jonah preaching: "Repent or Nineveh will be destroyed!"

Catholics ask Trump to investigate Soros/Clinton Conspiracy in Vatican Affairs.

• There's no doubt that the devil would love to infiltrate the Catholic Church and turn her into the whore of Babylon. 
• It's also true that Christ is the head of the Church and the gates of hell will never prevail against her. 
• And it's a fact that Cardinal Danneels publicly admitted being part of a "Mafia"described as St. Gall's that held secret meetings in Switzerland to bring about the election of Jorge Bergoglio.

No matter how you view the article above, you must admit that we are living in the Chinese curse of "interesting times." They are also times that call for heroic efforts to save our beloved country and the world. This morning I was reading about "Nineveh 90," urging Catholics to do the "Nineveh Thing" which requires heroic efforts indeed. 

Guest Post: What do you think? Do the Prophecies of St. Francis Explain It All?

Take a look at this and see what you think, but please don't be alarmed. Church history is filled with challenging periods when corrupt popes ruled and anti-popes added to the confusion. "Let not your hearts be troubled." Trust in God and pray. I don't know if we are living in the time prophesied by St. Francis or not. I do know that our response in all circumstances is to commit to the duties of our state in life and to work out our salvation in fear and trembling committing ourselves to the will of God.   Mary Ann

The Prophecy of St. Francis about a Future Pope

By David Martin

Shortly before his death, St. Francis of Assisi called together the friars of his Order and detailed a prophecy of what was to come upon the Church in the latter days. That this prophecy references the last times is evident by the prediction of events that would not be fulfilled until after Vatican II, and by its placing these events in the time frame of the Gospel prophecy concerning the great tribulations just before Christ's Second Coming. (Matthew 24) St. Francis relates the following concerning the future Church under siege.

Ordinary Conscience Cannot Exempt from the Church's Moral law

         Ordinary Conscience Cannot Exempt from the Church's Moral Law

by Rudolph Lohse

       

         The classic definition of “conscience” in the Catholic Church is that of Thomas Aquinas, for whom “conscience is the mind of man passing moral judgments.” It is the voice of reason, separated from feeling, emotion and desire. Conscience is imbedded in the intellect which apprehends and interprets the moral law. It is not an immediate internal illumination of each person for himself without reference to an objective norm found outside of man and independent of his subjective persuasion. It requires development and careful training for knowing the laws of God. We have an obligation to educate it.

         Today, many “Catholics in Name Only” (CHINO) use an appeal to conscience to try to justify their aberrant behavior, in violation of the moral law as taught by our Church. A typical statement, often counseled to the laity by misguided priests is: “The Church says that if a teaching is not designated as a dogma, and if two or three moral theologians hold a contrary opinion, a Catholic is not conscience-bound to follow the teaching of the Magisterium.” These priests insinuate that sin only happens when people have failed to follow their conscience. So if, personally, you do not think that an objective sin is really a sin, these priests claim that it is not a sin for you. Such comments completely misrepresent Church teaching, because they are gross and irresponsible oversimplifications. This is a serious error, which misleads people into thinking they are avoiding sin, when in fact they remain quite guilty of their immoral actions.

Thought for the Day: For Those Who Think Every Word a Pope Speaks is Infallible...

...and that the Holy Spirit controls the bishops who cast the ballots at a conclave.

Here's what Josef Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, replied in 1997 when he was asked by a reporter on Bavarian TV whether the Holy Spirit picks the pope:

I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the Pope.... I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit's role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined.....There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit obviously would not have picked.  Source

Obviously we are called to honor our spiritual father on earth, but don't mistake him for someone he is not. The pope is not God and every pronouncement he makes is not necessarily from the mouth of God. We have had many bad popes who were more diligent about advancing their own interests than the will of God. How do we know a good pope from a bad one? Jesus told us, "by their fruits." How will you know if their fruits are good? Do they advance the faith consistent with the unchangeable doctrine of Holy Mother Church? How will we know if their actions are consistent with the doctrine? STUDY THE FAITH. KNOW THE DOCTRINE!

If you don't know the faith, you are susceptible to every shifting tide and every variable wind. You can only be rock solid if you are firmly attached to the rock of the faith which the Holy Spirit promises cannot be destroyed. And that is the meaning of "Where Peter is, there is the Church." It doesn't mean that Peter is holy or that everything he says is the truth, but only when his words and actions match the unchanging doctrine of Holy Mother Church. Love God, pray unceasingly, and discern the spirits.

Did Pope Benedict Exercise "Conscious Uncoupling" from His Bride, the Church?

I admit it. I was seriously trouble when Pope Benedict stepped down from his responsibilities as pope. I recall saying to my husband that if we can't walk away from our responsibilities as spouses (You know, "in sickness and in health" etc.) how can it be right for the pope to resign? Pope John Paul II certainly had health reasons to quit, but he became a witness of suffering to a world that wants only pleasure without pain.

Well, columnist Peter Weber has a thoughtful article that puts into words what I couldn't and I'd be interested in what readers think. One of my favorite priests, Fr. John Hardon, continued in active ministry until he lay on his deathbed. Many of the saints did the same. What is the legacy left to us by Pope Benedict's decision to retire? Is Weber right?

How Pope Benedict unwittingly made the Catholic case for 'conscious uncoupling'

How Do You Approach to Receive the King of the Universe?

In 2010 Pope Benedict explained why those who received Communion from him personally must kneel and receive on the tongue:

The idea behind my current practice of having people kneel to receive Communion on the tongue was to send a signal and to underscore the Real Presence with an exclamation point. One very important reason is that there is a great danger of superficiality precisely in the kinds of mass events we hold at St. Peter’s, both in the Basilica and in the Square. I have heard of people who, after receiving Communion, stick the Host in their wallet to take home as a kind of souvenir. In this context, where people think that everyone is just automatically supposed to receive Communion — everyone else is going up, so I will, too — I wanted to send a clear signal. I wanted it to be clear: Something quite special is going on here! He is here, the One before whom we fall on our knees! Pay attention! This is not just some social ritual in which we can take part if we want to. 

  I once read a quote from a non-Catholic who said if he believed what Catholics say they believe about the Real Presence, he would crawl up to receive Communion on his hands and knees. Does my disposition show this kind of belief and respect for the risen Lord who comes to me in Holy Communion?

Oh, how I wish we would return to using the altar rail and kneel for Communion. It not only shows respect for Jesus in the Eucharist, but is the great equalizer where college presidents kneel side by side with their students, where company presidents and CEOs kneel next to their employees, where presidents kneel beside secretaries and clerks, etc. There is no favored place at the table when one approaches the Communion rail. How I wish its use would return. I think our pope emeritus would approve as well.

The Pope Decrees....

Catholic charities must always act in accordance with Catholic teaching

Now the question is -- will they follow the decree? Remember a few years ago (2008 to be exact) when Catholic Charities of Richmond

Media Ignores the Pope's Message -- Surprised?

The media ignored the pope's message to over a million people at the 7th World Meeting of Families in Italy that the "family, based on marriage between man and woman...is the first and irreplaceable school of social virtues." It seems pretty obvious as the culture across the world is disintegrating into violence and barbarism, but that doesn't keep the social elites from playing let's pretend. Let's pretend that divorce is good for kids. Let's pretend it makes no difference if Heather has two mommies or Daddy is shacking up with another guy Let's pretend that abortion is a great decision that is the best thing for families and that using drugs and plugs build marital love. Yes, indeed, let's pretend that dads in the home are irrelevant and single parent families are just the same, or even better for kids. After all each of us can make his own reality these days, no matter how unreal it really is. As for social virtues. The extended family is its own little society of love and the basis for a strong community. Hug your kids today and, if you have a chance, some extended family members as well.

Pope Benedict's Address to the American Bishops

A group of American bishops is meeting this week on their ad limina visit to meet with Pope Benedict. In his address today he made it clear that Catholics have an obligation to involve themselves in the market place, including politics. He also stressed that radical secularism (and the Obama presidency is the epitome of radical secualrism) destroys Christian culture. Here is a segment of the pope's address with my comments in red:

The Church’s witness, then, is of its nature public [Catholics, don't just sit behind locked doors in the Church praying, but evangelize and act in the market place]: she seeks to convince by proposing rational arguments in the public square [Note the word "rational." Catholic truth is based on reason and appeals to those seeking truth. Those who don't care about truth will not listen, but truth-seekers will.] The legitimate separation of Church and State cannot be taken to mean that the Church must be silent on certain issues, nor that the State may choose not to engage, or be engaged by, the voices of committed believers in determining the values which will shape the future of the nation. [Don't let the State cow you into silence with the false separation argument. Fight it as the bigotry it is.]

In the light of these considerations, it is imperative that the entire Catholic community in the United States come to realize the grave threats to the Church’s public moral witness presented by a radical secularism which finds increasing expression in the political and cultural spheres. [The greatest threat to the Church in America today is the Obama administration. He wants to suppress the rights of Catholics and Christians to practice their faith in the public square. Fight despite the growing persecution.] The seriousness of these threats needs to be clearly appreciated at every level of ecclesial life. Of particular concern are certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion. Many of you have pointed out that concerted efforts have been made to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices. Others have spoken to me of a worrying tendency to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience. [Catholics are being squeezed out of many occupations, especially health care. Even wedding photographers and caterers face the hobnailed boot of the Obama/Clinton/Sebelius tyranny.] 

Here once more we see the need for an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity endowed with a strong critical sense vis-à-vis the dominant culture and with the courage to counter a reductive secularism which would delegitimize the Church’s participation in public debate about the issues which are determining the future of American society. [Orthodox Catholic bloggers, take heart. You are part of the "articulate and well-formed Catholic laity" countering the "reductive secularism."] The preparation of committed lay leaders and the presentation of a convincing articulation of the Christian vision of man and society remain a primary task of the Church in your country; as essential components of the new evangelization, these concerns must shape the vision and goals of catechetical programs at every level. [Get rid of the marshmallow fluff and teach doctrine!] 

In this regard, I would mention with appreciation your efforts to maintain contacts with Catholics involved in political life and to help them understand their personal responsibility to offer public witness to their faith, especially with regard to the great moral issues of our time: respect for God’s gift of life, the protection of human dignity and the promotion of authentic human rights. [Keep the pressure on those pro-abort Catholics!] As the Council noted, and I wished to reiterate during my Pastoral Visit, respect for the just autonomy of the secular sphere must also take into consideration the truth that there is no realm of worldly affairs which can be withdrawn from the Creator and his dominion (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 36). [Obey God over man.] There can be no doubt that a more consistent witness on the part of America’s Catholics to their deepest convictions would make a major contribution to the renewal of society as a whole. [So all you dissident Catholics get with the program. Are you listening, Doug Kmiec et al?]

You Know All Those Lawyer Jokes?

Here's the lawyer who inspired them.

Pope sued for not wearing seat belt