The conciliar mass and sacraments

Avoid the False “Divine Mercy” Devotion

Posted on by Catholic Candle

Catholic Candle note: The article below is a warning against a false, conciliar, counterfeit devotion concerning God’s mercy.

 

 

Catholics should stay away from the so-called “Divine Mercy” devotion and stick to the traditional Catholic devotions, especially the devotion to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The “Divine Mercy” devotion sprang out of supposed apparitions to Sister Faustina in Poland.  She is a supposed conciliar “saint”.  Pope John Paul II, of course, was Polish and loved “all things” Polish.  He “canonized” her.  He encouraged devotion to Sister Faustina, her supposed visions, and this devotion. 

 

Before Vatican II, the Holy Office quelled the so-called “Divine Mercy” devotion.  The Congregation of the Holy Office, in a plenary meeting held on November 19, 1958, declared the following:

·         The supernatural nature of the revelations made to Sister Faustina is not evident.

·         No feast of Divine Mercy is to be instituted.

 

·         It is forbidden to divulge images and writings that propagate this devotion under the form received by Sister Faustina.


Sister Faustina’s diary was also placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, or List of Prohibited Books by Pope Pius XII.  The diary was never removed from the List, but the list was completely abolished by the Modernist Pope Paul VI.

There was also a second decree, on March 6, 1959, in which of the Holy Office decreed the following:

·         The diffusion of images and writings promoting the devotion to Divine Mercy under the form proposed by the same Sister Faustina is forbidden.

·         The prudence of the bishops is to judge as to the removal of the aforesaid images that are already displayed for public honor.

 

Pope Paul VI lifted these prohibitions and restrictions on April 15, 1978 and Pope John Paul II introduced a “feast” of Divine Mercy into the novus ordo mass’s calendar.  These actions are part of the conciliar pattern of overturning the pre-Vatican II safeguards of the Faith.

 

There are many things in the writings of Sr. Faustina which would scandalize an informed Catholic.  For example, Sr. Faustina claimed that “Our Lord” declared that “He” is uniting “Himself” more closely with her than anyone else, including “His” own Mother.  Here are the words of this supposed apparition to Sr. Faustina:

 

I am uniting Myself with you so intimately as with no other creature.[1]

 

How different from these words are Our Lord’s words to a real saint, St. Catherine of Sienna!  Our Lord told St. Catherine:

 

Do you know, daughter, who you are, who I am?  If you know these two things, you will be blessed.  You are she who is not; whereas I am He who is.[2]

 

There are many other evils in the supposed words of “Our Lord” to Sr. Faustina.  But for the present article, let this quote (above) suffice for a warning against the supposed “revelations” to Sr. Faustina.

 

The real image of God’s mercy is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, crowned with thorns, dripping with His Precious Blood.  The Sacred Heart calls for a devotion of reparation, as the Church had continually promoted before Vatican II. However, this is not true with the “Divine Mercy” devotion.

 

The picture that accompanies this false “Divine Mercy” devotion is an image of “Our Lord” with rays coming from “His Heart” but “He” has no heart.  It is a Sacred Heart without a heart, without reparation, without the price of our sins being shown. This points toward this devotion being a satanic counterfeit of the Real devotion to the Sacred Heart.

 

In the “Divine Mercy” devotion, there is an absence of the need for reparation for sins.  For example, there is a claim that all the temporal punishment for sin will be removed for persons who observe the 3:00 p.m. Low Sunday devotions. How could such a devotion be more powerful and better than a plenary indulgence?  How could it not require as a condition that we perform a penitential work of our own?  How could it not require the detachment from even venial sin that is necessary to obtain a plenary indulgence?

 

The “Divine Mercy” devotion seems to place so much emphasis on God’s mercy as to exclude His justice.  Our sins, and the enormity of their offensiveness to God, is pushed aside as being unimportant.  That is why the aspect of reparation for sin is omitted or obscured.  The “Divine Mercy” seems to be the sort of presumption on God’s mercy which is described by Pope St. Gregory the Great, Doctor of the Catholic Church:

 

Let him who does all that he can, rely firmly upon the mercy of God.  But for him who does not do all that lies within his power, to rely upon the mercy of God would be simple presumption.[3]

 

Although God is truly all-merciful, nonetheless, this devotion seems like a devotion NOT suited to our time.  Presently, most people seem more inclined to presume upon God’s mercy than to despair of God’s mercy.  People today have less need to be convinced that God will accept them back as prodigal sons and have more need to be convinced they should “work out their salvation in fear and trembling”,[4] as St. Paul teaches.  No doubt some people need to focus on the fact that it is not too late to repent.  But it would seem this is not most people’s problem and that this supposed “Divine Mercy” devotion is especially contrary to what we need in our time.

 

The chaplet of Divine Mercy contains orthodox prayers.  However, the evil is that it is the chaplet of this false vision and “Divine Mercy” devotion.  If a person thinks that he received spiritual benefit in connection with his use of the “Divine Mercy” devotion, that merely shows that God can draw a person to Himself in any circumstances.  If a person got an inspiration while attending the novus ordo mass or a protestant service, that does not indicate that those evil services are in themselves good or a source of any good.  The same is true of the “Divine Mercy” devotion.

 

Lastly, the “new” SSPX now promotes this false conciliar devotion in a low-key way.

 

 

 


[1]           Quoted from Divine Mercy in My Soul, The Diary of Sr. Faustina, Stockbridge, MA, Marian Press, ©1987, p. 288 (emphasis added).

 

[2]           The Life of St. Catherine of Sienna, by Blessed Raymond of Capua (St. Catherine of Sienna’s confessor), © 1960 by Harvill Press and P. J. Kennedy & Sons, republished by TAN Books (c) 2011, Part 1 ch. 10.

 

[3]           The Four Last Things, by Fr. Martin Von Cochem, quoting Pope St. Gregory the Great – Tan Books and Publishers, Inc. Rockford, Illinois ©1987, Part 4, ch. 4, page 219.


[4]           “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more now in my absence,) with fear and trembling work out your salvation.”  Philippians, 2:12.

A “Good” Life is Possible in the Catacombs

Posted on by Catholic Candle

Catholic Candle note: We received this article from a reader. 

 

Regarding reasons why (self-described) traditional Catholics remain in a compromise group, see this article: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/why-do-traditional-catholics-stay-in-a-compromise-group.html

 

Regarding how to sanctify the Sunday when there is no uncompromising Mass available to attend, read this article: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/sanctifying-sunday-no-mass.html

 

 

 

When it is God’s Will for us, we can do without the Mass and the Sacraments But With Our Lord in a Special Way

 

We’re not alone in the catacombs.  Our Lord compensates in a special way when we stand up against compromising priests and church leaders.  How does He compensate in that special way?  Well, I’ll tell you with first-hand experience.  To summarize in a few words: I’ve been happy and confident I’m following His will.

Without the Mass we might think we would be lost, but no, not so.  It is true that at Mass, the priest does act “in the person of Christ” (as the theologians say), and Christ then acts as our Mediator with God.   But many of us somewhat took advantage of that (while we still had Mass), and we let the priest “do all the work”.   Now, without the Mass and the priest, our relationship with Our Lord has to be one-on-One. 

God sent us the current circumstances in which we need to speak directly to God without a priest who stands in place of Christ for us.  As God sent us these circumstances and Wills that we be in them for His glory and our salvation, this circumstance can make us feel so much closer to Him.  He can feel like a part of us now as never before.

Without that weekly Confession available, we can have a much greater understanding of just how evil sin is, and how it hurts Our Lord – because we can’t confess every week and “start over, no problem”.  We can now realize it is far better not to sin even in the smallest way (i.e., venial sin), and we can do this with God’s help, because we’re now much closer to Our Lord one-on-One.

Without weekly reception of Our Lord in Holy Communion, it would seem to be a real loss, but we can make up in a special way with frequent, very slow and devout Spiritual Communions at least four times per day.  Doing this, it is twenty-eight Spiritual Communions per week vs. one “Sunday Catholic” Sacramental Communion.  The many Spiritual Communions can bring us closer to Our Lord when said with devotion and love.

Also, with the Mass on Sunday, compensation comes from reading each word from our missals with greater devotion and understanding, rather than attending a Mass expecting the priest to do most of the understanding and devotion.

The above four things we can willingly do without, for the Love of God.  Of course, the Mass and the Sacraments are an infinite treasure, which we should ardently long to receive when God sends them to us.  However, it is incomparably better to be in the catacombs with Him, but without the Mass and Sacraments, than to sin by attending compromise Masses and receiving compromise Sacraments!

We know also, sadly, that there are other things – like the beautiful liturgical music at Mass and parish devotions.  Plus, social parish gatherings, etc.  However, Our Lord will more than compensate for loss of these, with many spiritual graces.  He is never outdone in generosity!

To be sure, there are, unfortunately, only a few like-minded traditional Catholics in the catacombs, but their friendship is strong and loving.  The good Lord has always provided – and will continue to provide – what is needed for those who stand up for Him.  Bet on it!

 

Does the end ever justify the means?

Posted on by Catholic Candle

We live in a time of great pressure and growing distress.  Here are two examples:

  1. People are pressured to accept the COVID “vaccine”[1] in order to keep their jobs (or to avoid fines, or be able to obtain food, etc.) because of “vaccine” mandates imposed by the government or by their employers.[2]
  2. People are pressured to attend the Masses[3] of (or go to Confession to)[4] a compromise group or priest in order to get the sacraments or to avoid being without a parish to which to belong.

When people yield to pressures such as these, they say they were “forced” to receive the COVID “vaccine”, or they say they “had no choice” except to attend the Masses of a compromise group or priest.  

But did they really have no choice?  Of course, they had a choice!  They merely did not like the alternative.  They could refuse the COVID “vaccine” even if they were fired from their jobs (or even if they had no way to obtain food, or whatever).  Or (in the other example), those people could sanctify the Sundays at home, rather than support a compromise group and receive its sacraments.  

When these people say they were “forced” to commit the sin, they really mean that they chose to do the evil deed rather than to accept the crosses and sufferings sent to them by God.  

The Church’s martyrs often were given a way to avoid being killed.  For example, many Roman martyrs were told they could avoid being killed if they simply burned a tiny amount of incense to a false god.  Instead of their glorious martyrdoms and eternal salvation, those people could have excused themselves by saying they were “forced” to burn incense to the false gods.  Plainly such an excuse would have been sinful.   Their duty was to avoid such sin even though their steadfastness in the Faith would result in their martyrdom.

But suppose the sin which is “forced” upon the person is “only” a small sin and the results from committing the sin are very great goods?  This outlook (viz., that a sin is “only” a venial sin), is a temptation from the devil!  It is always wrong to commit even the “smallest” sin in order that good can come from it.  

All sins are infinite offenses against God in three ways (and mortal sins are infinite offenses against God in a fourth way too).[5]  We should never “slap God in the Face” in order that good might come from it.  In other words: the end does not justify the means.  

St. Paul shows this truth when he writes that some enemies of Christ spread the lie that Catholics hold that the end justifies the means.  Here are his words:

We are slandered, and as some affirm that we say: let us do evil, that there may come good.[6]

What does the word “justify” mean?

  • to provide or be a good reason for (something): to prove or show (something) to be just, right, or reasonable;
  • to provide a good reason for the actions of (someone).[7]

Under these broad definitions, it would seem that the end can be thought to justify the means in some circumstances.  For example: an employee is late for work and he justifies his delay, i.e., provides a good reason, when he explains that a car accident shut down the road on which he was traveling to work.

However, this is not what it means for the “end to justify the means”.  When it is claimed that the end justifies the means, this means that an outcome is so desirable that even sinful conduct is acceptable to achieve it.[8] 

In this sense, the end never justifies the means.  In other words, we cannot truly justify committing a sin.  As St. Paul teaches this truth, we cannot “do evil that there may come good”.


Conclusion

We are soldiers of Christ!  We must be friends of God!  Let us never commit a sin (such as to receive the COVID vaccine or attend a compromise Mass) in order that good can come of it!  Properly understood, the end never justifies the means.

[1]          The Covid “vaccine” is not really a vaccine.  It is gene therapy.  It is called a vaccine in order to deceive people into accepting it.  Here is how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration defined “gene therapy” in 2018:

Human gene therapy seeks to modify or manipulate the expression of a gene or to alter the biological properties of living cells for therapeutic use.

Gene therapy is a technique that modifies a person’s genes to treat or cure disease. Gene therapies can work by several mechanisms:

  • Replacing a disease-causing gene with a healthy copy of the gene
  • Inactivating a disease-causing gene that is not functioning properly
  • Introducing a new or modified gene into the body to help treat a disease.

Quoted from: https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/cellular-gene-therapy-products/what-gene-therapy

This 2018 FDA definition fits the COVID Pfizer and Moderna “vaccines” perfectly.

However, that was before the leftists needed mRNA treatments to qualify as “vaccines”.  Now the leftist “fact checkers” solemnly tell you that COVID mRNA treatments are not gene therapy.  See, e.g., https://news.yahoo.com/fact-check-covid-19-vaccines-140024936.html

[2]          For an explanation of why the COVID “vaccines” (from Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson) are always mortally sinful to receive, read this article: https://catholiccandle.org/2021/01/01/reject-the-covid-vaccines/

[3]
        To read about the importance of completely avoiding all compromise groups and priests, read this article: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/why-do-traditional-catholics-stay-in-a-compromise-group.html

[4]
        To read about the importance of never going to confession to a compromise group or priest, read this article: https://catholiccandle.org/2020/09/01/excuses-for-compromise-confessions/

[5]          For an explanation of these truths, read this article: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/the-infinite-evil-of-sin.html

[6]
         Here is the longer quote:

For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie, unto his glory, why am I also yet judged as a sinner?  And not rather (as we are slandered, and as some affirm that we say) let us do evil, that there may come good?  whose damnation is just.  What then?  Do we excel them?  No, not so.  For we have charged both Jews, and Greeks, that they are all under sin.

Romans, 3:7-9 (emphasis added).

[8]          Webster’s definition of the end justifying the means:

used to say that a desired result is so good or important that any method, even a morally bad one, may be used to achieve it.

[Example of using the phrase in a sentence:] They believe that the end justifies the means and will do anything to get their candidate elected.

https://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/the%20end%20justifies%20the%20means

The Conciliar Church “Sacrament” of Reconciliation is Against God

Posted on by Catholic Candle

Catholic Candle note:  The article below refers to Rome’s betrayal of the Catholic Faith.  However, a reader would be mistaken if he assumed that Pope Francis’ betrayal somehow means that he is not the pope.

Sedevacantism is wrong and is (material or formal) schism.  Catholic Candle is not sedevacantist.  On the contrary, we published a series of articles showing that sedevacantism is false (and also showing that former Pope Benedict is not still the pope).  

We recommend a small book explaining the errors of sedevacantism.  It is available:

Here is what St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church, teaches concerning the need to recognize and respect the authority of a superior – such as the pope – even when he is bad:

Even should the life of any superior be so notoriously wicked as to admit of no excuse or dissimulation, nevertheless, for God’s sake, Who is the source of all power, we are bound to honor such a one, not on account of his personal merits, which are non-existent, but because of the divine ordination and the dignity of his office.[1]

However, even while recognizing the pope’s authority and our duty to obey him when we are able, we know we must resist the evil he says and does.  Read more about this principle here: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/against-sedevacantism.html#section-7

—

Conciliar “reconciliation” is a humanistic meeting between a “priest” and a lay person to help him reconcile with his fellow man.  In this conciliar mindset, God is neither necessary nor needed and, in effect, reconciling with your fellow man is more important than with God.

The conciliar church is the devil’s counter-church, headquartered in Rome.  In the conciliar mindset, everyone goes to heaven; sin is not a problem.  A standard comment by the “priest” at a conciliar funeral is that the deceased loved one is smiling and looking down on us happily, without a problem, wishing us well and waiting for us to join him in heaven.  So, there is no need for the traditional Catholic Sacrament of Penance if we are all going to Heaven anyway.

Picture this.  If Christ was still on earth when the conciliar church was developing its new “sacrament” of reconciliation, they would have slammed the rectory door so hard and so fast on Christ that they would have given Him a Bloody Nose.  Consequently, if there is “no more sin” in the conciliar church, then God need not be involved.

We should never go to this conciliar “sacrament” of “reconciliation” because:

  • It is a bad fruit of the bad conciliar tree.  There are no good fruits of this tree and there could never be.
  • This “reconciliation” is a “sacrament” of a false religion: the new conciliar church.[2] 
  • It is never – or almost never – administered by a priest whose ordination is not doubtful.  Treating such a “priest’s” ordination as invalid, as we must, we are obliged to also treat his absolution as invalid.[3] 
  • It is a sin of scandal to participate in this conciliar “reconciliation”, just as it is a sin to participate in any other conciliar service.[4] 
  • Because the reconciliation “sacrament” inherently involves a sin of scandal and is a compromise with the modernists, it gives no grace.[5]
  • It is a temptation of false piety[6] to use this “sacrament” because we “have to go to confession somewhere”.  
  • This “sacrament” of “reconciliation” is designed by our enemies – the modernists – for the purpose of weakening our faith in many ways, e.g., by emphasizing the “social” sin against our fellow man, and by deemphasizing the gravity of sin as an offense against God.  

Let's review the traditional Catholic dogma on the Sacrament of Penance.

From My Catholic Faith, Bishop Morrow, Lesson 144, page 300:

What is the sacrament of Penance?  It is the sacrament by which sins committed after Baptism are forgiven through the absolution of the priest. 

In every sacrament three things are necessary: the outward sign, the inward grace, and Divine institution.

Penance has the three essentials of a sacrament:

  • It is a sensible sign; i.e., the words of absolution and the external act of the confession.
  • It was instituted by Jesus Christ on the first Easter Sunday night.
  • It confers grace.  It is the way by which after Baptism sanctifying grace is restored to the penitent who has committed mortal sin.  It increases this grace in the penitent who already possesses it.  It also gives actual graces.

The priest forgives sins with the words: "I absolve thee from thy sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen."


From the Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 13, article: Sacraments, page 297:

In every sacrament three things are necessary: the outward sign, the inward sign, and Divine institution.

From Catechism of the Council of Trent, p.263, heading; The Meaning of Penance:

Interior penance consists in turning to God sincerely and from the heart, and in hating and detesting our past transgressions, with a firm resolution of amendment of life, hoping to obtain pardon through the mercy of God.  

Accompanying this penance, like an inseparable companion of detestation for sin, is a sorrow and sadness, which is a certain agitation and disturbance of the soul, and is called by many a passion.  Hence, many of the Fathers (of the Church) define penance as an anguish of soul. 


From The Catholic Dictionary, Rev. William E. Addis and Rev. Thomas Arnold, page 645:

Priests have received power from Christ to forgive sins in His name and according to His law—i.e., in the case of true repentance.  God alone can remit sins, but He has been pleased to make the priest's absolution the means by which His grace is conveyed.  He said to His Apostles, "Receive the Holy Ghost; whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted (i.e., forgiven them), and whosoever sins ye retain, they have been retained.  …

The conciliar church got rid of the confession “box”, and in a sense the “priest” locks his office door to keep God out.  Added to this, the “priest” on occasion will have a group reconciliation to be sure everyone gets along with each other.

If you think about the conciliar church, you realize there is no real need for it.  Everyone is saved automatically; getting along with others is most important; there is no need for prayer or concern about God, hell, or purgatory.  This mindset drastically reduces vocations, church attendance, and church finances.

Conciliar church leaders in Rome are not concerned.  They worry about saving the planet, about global warming, protecting the Muslims, and making sure the world appreciates Luther and all he did for the religions of the world.

The conciliar church kept the name Catholic to confuse and keep a billion plus confused Catholics accepting VC II’s anti-God counter-church.

Well, what is in store for uncompromising traditional Catholics?  We have a fight on our hands – a fight for the restoration of the human element of the Church, without any help from the Church leaders.

Don’t despair!  God knows what we need, and be assured He will do what is necessary for us and much more!  Our part is for all, without exception, to lead the holy life God wants us to lead, to be a “light” in the world, and to fight in the army of Christ the King.

It is not that hard, with all of God’s graces and help.  The catacombs will strengthen your faith if you love Christ the King and study the traditional Catholic Faith.

[1]          Quoted from St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Third Sermon for Advent, entitled: On the Three Advents of the Lord and the Seven Pillars which we ought to Erect within us.

[3]          For an explanation of why the conciliar rites of ordination and consecration are doubtful, read these analyses:


Because those conciliar rites are doubtfully valid, they should be treated as invalid.  https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/new-ordination-doubtful.html


The reckless claim that there are no good priests left

Posted on by Catholic Candle

 

Recklessness is the vice of making a decision without sufficient care about the correctness or consequences of the decision.

 

 

The sedevacantists are reckless.

 

Virtually all sedevacantists have these three reckless positions in common:

 

1.    Sedevacantists rashly judge the interior, subjective culpability of the pope and of conciliar Catholics, which leads the sedevacantists to declare that the pope and conciliar Catholics are not “real” Catholics and that we “know” that they are not part of the Catholic Church.[1]

 

2.    After having rashly judged that the pope is not a “real” Catholic, sedevacantists then recklessly conclude that he is not really the pope – based on their rash judgment of his interior, subjective culpability.[2] 

 

3.    Having recklessly concluded that we have no pope, they take upon themselves the pope’s authority to declare that the doubtful new conciliar rites of ordination and consecration are definitely invalid. 

By contrast, faithful and informed Catholics do not declare that they are certain that those rites are invalid. Instead, faithful and informed Catholics see enough doubt about those new rites that they exercise Catholic prudence and caution and simply stay away from them. They treat those rites as invalid because they are doubtful.[3]

 

 

A further recklessness of some sedevacantists:  They claim there are no good priests, Masses, or sacraments left.

 

After having recklessly concluded that we have no pope, and that the conciliar rites are definitely invalid, some sedevacantists then add a fourth reckless position: they declare that there are no good priests and no good Masses offered anywhere in the world.

 

It seems rash to say that there are no true Masses offered anywhere.  How could we be sure of that?  It seems better and more prudent to say that we know of no faithful priests who are willing and able to help us (although, of course, we know of many compromising priests).

 

We know of some priests who have not responded to our attempts to contact them.  These priests might well know why we are contacting them and they do not answer.  Plainly they are either unwilling or unable to help us. 

 

But does that mean we know with certitude they are unfaithful?  No.  We don’t know their circumstances.  Perhaps they are too sick to come to the aid of uncompromising Catholics.  God will judge that.  We should withhold judgment on their subjective, interior culpability for what they are doing and not doing.

 

Does that mean we know that they are not offering a true, uncompromising Mass?  No.  Are we sure we know all possibly-faithful priests in the world?  No.

 

Again, it seems rash to conclude we know every priest in the world (and his particular situation) so that we could conclude there are certainly no true, uncompromising Masses offered anywhere.

 

 

How should we act given that we know of no good, uncompromising priests?

 

We (at Catholic Candle) have no knowledge of (or access to) uncompromising Masses, priests and sacraments (except Baptism and Holy Matrimony).  For how long?  For as long as God Wills.  We are content with that.[4]  We place our trust in God, because He desires our salvation more than we do.[5]

 

But our lack of a faithful priest could change this month … or perhaps not for years – whatever God prefers.  We don’t know God’s plan for this.  Nor are we desperate to find out anything.  We trust in our dear Lord and with that, we are content.  Of course, however, we do our best to find an uncompromising priest whenever we hear of the “rumor” of one.  We try to follow St. Augustine’s sound advice: work as if everything depended on you and pray as if everything depended on God.

 

Meanwhile, we must pray the Mass prayers, unite ourselves to whatever uncompromising Masses there might be offered anywhere in the world, and pray for priests.  Let’s persevere!

 

It is our supposition that there will be priests and Masses until the Second Coming of our Lord.  But that will not necessarily mean that we know who those priests are and where they are offering the Mass – much less, that we can attend their Mass.  For all we know, they are in a gulag somewhere.

 

Instead, let us focus on God’s Plan for us and the means of salvation He is currently giving us.  Let us pray the rosary.  We are in the time of the greater efficacy of the Holy Rosary.  Our Lady of Fatima told us that time is now:

 

God is giving two last remedies to the world: the Holy Rosary and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  …  Prayer and sacrifice are the two means to save the world.  As for the Holy Rosary, Father [Fuentes], in these last times in which we are living, the Blessed Virgin has given a new efficacy to the praying of the Holy Rosary.  This in such a way that there is no problem that cannot be resolved by praying the Rosary, no matter how difficult it is – be it temporal or above all spiritual ….[6]

 

Dear Readers, we are “in this” together!  Be assured that we (at Catholic Candle) are not only “looking out” for ourselves.  If/when we learn about an uncompromising priest, we will do our best to spread this information worldwide.  We will also do our best to help him make himself available worldwide, to all who need him.  Of course, we ask the same of you – should you know of any priests that do not suffer from the very problems we document on this website, please let us know.

 

Meanwhile, keep standing strong, Oh Soldiers of Christ!  May God shower you with His choicest blessings!

 

 


[1]               The unproven, negative judgment about a person’s culpability is the sin of rash judgment.  Summa, IIa IIae, Q.60, a.2, Respondeo. 

 

Sedevacantists claim that the conciliar Catholics’ actions are so self-incriminating that we have no need to know their interior state.  They wrongly say that the words of liberal Catholics make it “all too clear” that these people know that they are going against the Catholic Faith, and yet they obstinately continue.  This is the very rash judgment we are forbidden to make.

 

For a further explanation of the sedevacantists’ (objective) sin of rash judgment, read this article: http://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/against-sedevacantism.html#section-5

 

[2]           Read a fuller analysis of the errors of sedevacantism here: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/against-sedevacantism.html

 

[3]           For further information about the doubtfulness of the conciliar “ordination” rite, read these analyses:

 

❖  https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/new-ordination-doubtful.html

 

❖  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B49oPuI54eEGd2RRcTFSY29EYzg/view

 

[4]           This is a glorious time to be Catholic, adhering to Catholic tradition!  https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/it-is-a-blessing-to-live-during-this-great-apostasy.html

We should be completely content living without the Mass and sacraments as long as God Wills this for us.  https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/complete-contentment-without-the-mass-when-it-is-not-available-without-compromise.html

 

[5]           Here is how St. Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church, teaches this truth:

 

Cast all your care on Him, because He cares more about your salvation than

you do.

 

St. Anthony of Padua, Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost (emphasis added).

[6]           Words of Sister Lucy, seer at Fatima, from her December 26, 1957 interview by Fr. Augustin Fuentes, vice-postulator of the cause of beatification for Francisco and Jacinta.  (Emphasis and bracketed word added.)  This interview can be found at: http://radtradthomist.chojnowski.me/2019/03/is-this-interview-that-caused-her.html

 

Rome Has the Churches, But Traditional Catholics Have the Faith

Posted on by Catholic Candle

Catholic Candle note:  We recommend that readers copy the following article and keep it handy, as we live “in the Catacombs” and as we and the Church follow Christ to Calvary.  We all need to keep its contents in mind and in practice until the “Resurrection” (viz., the restoration following the pope’s and bishops’ consecration of Russia to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart).

A similar statement was first expressed in 1970, after the destructive Second Vatican Council.  The only difference is that things are much worse now.  The Catholic Church is going through a Passion similar to that of Christ.  So be ready to help carry His Cross as the Cyrenean did.

Rome has had a series of bad popes who teach heresies and have taken the Faith from most Catholics.  Rome has succeeded in establishing the anti-Catholic conciliar church by making it appear that there is no longer any need for the traditional Catholic Church, when they:

1.    Eliminated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that gave grace, and replaced it by a service that does not give grace – and without grace a Catholic loses his Faith.

2.    Re-wrote all seven Sacraments to make them acceptable to non-Catholics.

3.    Taught (and teach) that everyone goes to Heaven (i.e., universal salvation).

4.    Give the impression that Mass attendance on Sunday depends on if you really want to go, and have nothing better to do.

5.    Say that there is no need for confessing your sins to please God; you must reconcile with your fellow man.

6.    Imply that all faiths are the same and that salvation is assured regardless what faith (or no faith) you choose with your complete “religious liberty”.

The above points are just a few of the many anti-Catholic actions used by Rome to establish the anti-God, humanist, conciliar church.  These actions effectively center everything on man and focus on solving his earthly problems with little thought of God and our duties to Him.

Well, what is an uncompromising traditional Catholic to do?

First, realize that Our Lord will not abandon you.  He will give you many graces to ensure a holy and happy life during this current crisis in the Church, even though we have no Mass to attend because there are no uncompromising priests, at least in most places in the world.  We do as the early Christians did: move to the Catacombs.

In the Catacombs we can live our lives without a priest, but with the fruits of the four Sacraments so necessary for a fruitful spiritual existence and salvation.

1.    Marriage

2.    Baptism

3.    Penance

4.    Holy Communion

Let’s consider how we receive the fruits of these necessary Sacraments for that spiritual existence and salvation, beginning with Marriage.  The baptized Catholic couple marry each other with words they pledge to one another and this marriage is blessed by a priest, if this is possible.

(T)he marriage contract is not a mere promise, but a transfer of right, by which the man actually yields the dominion of his body to the woman, the woman the dominion of her body to the man; it must therefore be made in words which designate the present time, the force of which words abides with undiminished efficacy from the moment of their utterance, and binds the husband and wife by a tie that cannot be broken.  …  [T]he consent of the parties, expressed in the manner already explained, is sufficient to constitute a true marriage.

See, Catechism of the Council of Trent, section: The Kind of Consent Required in Matrimony, subsection: The Essence of Marriage Constituted by the Consent.)

Next, we consider Baptism of the offspring of the above marriage. 

The matter of this sacrament is true and natural water; and it is indifferent whether it be cold or hot.  The form is: I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.          

See, 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. II, article: Baptism.

Next, we consider the need for the fruits of the Sacrament of Penance, when there is no uncompromising priest to confess to.

Perfect Act of Contrition Without a Priest.  The prospect of dying without confession would be horrifying were it not for the knowledge that a merciful God has provided for this with a perfect Act of Contrition.  This prayer, said sincerely and with God’s help, is literally a God-send.  United with a pledge to go to confession when available, this heartfelt prayer restores the dying person to grace at once.

See, Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. IV, 1908, article: Contrition, article subsection: Perfect Contrition Without the Sacrament.

Of course, all of us should strive to make perfect acts of contrition even many times per day, just as frequent sacramental confession is important wherever God gives the opportunity to receive this sacrament without compromise.

And finally, we consider receiving the fruits of Holy Communion, in frequent Spiritual Communions, i.e., receiving the Holy Eucharist in spirit. 

A person receives the Holy Eucharist in spirit when he, “inflamed with a ‘lively faith which worketh by charity’, partake in wish and desire of that celestial bread offered to them, from which they receive, if not the entire, at least very great fruits.”[1] 

St. Thomas Aquinas teaches about the efficacy of a Spiritual Communion in these words:

The effect of the sacrament can be secured by every man if he receives it in desire, though not in reality.  …  So likewise, some eat this sacrament spiritually before they receive it sacramentally.

Summa, III Q.80, a.1, ad. 3.

If a person sincerely wants to receive Holy Communion, Our Lord will see to it that he receives the beneficial fruit of the Sacrament.  He assures us of our reward from a Spiritual Communion.  Here are the words in the Imitation of Christ:

The Voice of Christ:

When he is indeed unable to come, he will always have a good will and pious intention to communicate and thus he will not lose the fruit of the Sacrament.

 The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas `a Kempis, Book IV, ch. 10.

Another fruit of a worthy Holy Communion is the preservation from mortal sin and the remission of venial sin.[2]      

Although we should make Spiritual Communions every day, we should especially prepare well for our Sunday Spiritual Communion and make this Act at the appropriate time when reading our Sunday Mass prayers at home.  One way to add special meaning to the Sunday Spiritual Communion, we recommend that you consider fasting from midnight.

So, you can see, a spiritual, holy, and fruitful life is possible in the Catacombs without a priest during this very serious crisis.  Some say we are in the most serious crisis ever, in the Catholic Church.  God has created us to live now and He wants us to help Catholics to return to the full Traditions of the Church.

Life in the Catacombs is not easy, but with the daily help and graces from Our Lord, it can be holy, fruitful, and spiritually beneficial with our full cooperation and with much prayer.


[1]           The Catechism of the Council of Trent, Section: The Sacrament of the Eucharist, subsection, On the Three-fold Manner of Communicating.

[2]           See My Catholic Faith, Bishop Louis Morrow, My Mission House, Kenosha, WI, ©1949, p.298.

“In Order To Remain Catholic, It Is Necessary to Become Protestant.”

Posted on by Catholic Candle

The above statement summarizes the results of the Second Vatican Council in a uniquely profound, and meaningful way.  In one statement, it brings to mind just how anti-Catholic the Council was and is.  In order to remain “Catholic” as far as Rome and the Council are concerned, one has to accept, think, and follow Protestant-type religious formulas.

 

What are those anti-Catholic religious formulas and beliefs – which are promoted by Satan, the Protestants, and the Conciliar church of the Second Vatican Council?  Here are some of them:

 

1.    “Eliminate” the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and replace it with a non-Catholic service designed with the help of six Protestant ministers and a Mason.

 

2.    “Eliminate” the Holy Sacrament of Penance and replace it with “reconciliation” with your fellow man.  God is not involved.

 

3.    “Eliminate” the truth that there is No-Salvation-Outside-the-Catholic Church and promote Religious Liberty.

 

4.    Disregard any facts and information against all false religions, and praise Martin Luther on the 500th anniversary of his heretical sect (i.e., promoting Religious Liberty).

 

5.    “Eliminate” the need for the Sacrament of Extreme Unction by promoting Universal Salvation, (i.e., everyone goes to heaven).

 

6.    “Revise” the Sacrament of Holy Orders, causing real doubt of a valid ordination.

 

7.    “Eliminate” the Sacrament of Confirmation.

 

8.    Insist that we can live how we want and do not need to perform good works (i.e., Universal Salvation).

 

9.    “Eliminate” the primacy of the pope in favor of a democracy of bishops and

cardinals.

10. Reject the Christ-established one, united Church; (Christ never referred to His Churches, but to His Church.)  There are 200 different Protestant churches in the United States alone.[2]

 

11. “Eliminate” belief in Divine Tradition, with the false belief that the Bible holds all the truth.

 

12. Accept divorce as proper and necessary, (i.e., easy annulments).

 

13. Accept that it was necessary to kill Catholics in 1560 England to establish the Protestant faith.

 

14. Accept all faiths as the road to salvation (i.e., Religious Liberty).

 

15. When Pope Francis states, “Who am I to judge?” on the evils of unnatural lifestyles, he is suggesting that he agrees with the Protestants that private judgment is a rule of faith.

 

The above is a partial list of what it means to become Protestant in order to remain Catholic per the Second Vatican Council.  An additional result of the Council was the self-destruction of once-vital Catholic religious organizations.  There were great reductions in the number of vocations, priests, sisters, monks, churches, Catholic schools, convents, seminaries, and monasteries. 

 

What more could the leaders in Rome and the Conciliar church do to fulfill the requests of Satan?  Not much, if anything, with the complete destruction of the human element in the Catholic Church.

 

I believe that uncompromising traditional Catholics are experiencing a bloodless type of martyrdom – with a martyrdom of blood to follow in the future, as in 16th century England.  Satan is not going to change course now, after all his many current successes. Sixty years ago, who would have believed that it would be possible that the Catholic Church’s human element would be on “life support” by the year 2021?

 

Fear not; we are not alone.  Our Lord gave you all the graces needed to stand firm as an uncompromising Catholic fighting for Christ the King up until now.  You will get all the necessary graces to withstand what is coming. 

 


[1]              I Accuse the Council, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, 1982, p. 79.

 

[2]              My Catholic Faith, Bishop Louis Morrow, ©1949, p. 102.

 

Excuses for Compromise Confessions

Posted on by Catholic Candle

Our Lord permits the current Great Apostasy in which we are living.  It is for our good: “All things work together unto the good for those who love God.”   Romans, 8:28.

Further, we must remember that Our Lord can never be outdone in generosity.  He gives extra graces to Catholics in the catacombs, who stand firm against compromise.  He does not abandon them but merely changes His methods of blessing and sanctifying them.  Our Lady of Fatima informed us about God’s approaching change of method.

For example, we don’t have Mass and Holy Communion because there are no uncompromising priests (at least in most places in the world).  Instead, Our Lord gives much greater efficacy than ever before, to the Holy Rosary, so that it fills all needs.[1]  

Similarly, the lack of uncompromising priests also means we don’t have confession (at least in most places in the world).  But again, our generous Lord knows our needs and He does not abandon us.  He only uses alternate means to sanctify us.  He gives great power to alternatives which are within our power during these apostate times.  St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church, tells us the important use we can make of good works to blot out sin during the current Great Apostasy:

There is no sin which almsgiving does not blot out.  It is the fitting remedy to heal every wound.  But almsgiving does not only mean giving money, but also refers to every other good work helping others, including a physician healing the sick or a wise man giving good counsel.[2]

There are some people who call themselves “Traditional Catholics” yet who accept compromise confessions under the appearance of good.[3]  They rationalize their compromise by excuses such as:

➢  Excuse #1: “We are sinners and so we can’t be without confession”.  This is a false humility and a lack of trust in God.

 

·         A Catholic with true humility would say: “God is in charge and I will do His Will.  When He permits me to be without the Sacraments out of love for Him and for the uncompromising Catholic Faith, I won’t presume I know what I need better than God does.”

·         A Catholic who trusts in God would say: “God will not abandon me, if I don’t abandon Him.  He will take care of me and give me the means for my salvation, if I don’t abandon (and offend) Him by compromising and going to compromise priests.”

 

➢  Excuse #2: “We need to go to the Sacraments to show our children how important the Sacraments are.”  This is a false piety.  True piety would reject compromise Sacraments because they offend Our Lord and thus are against true piety.  When parents compromise in this way, they are merely teaching their children the life-long lesson that the Faith is “negotiable” and can be compromised for the Sacraments.  Beginning in the 1960s, conciliar Catholics taught their children the same lesson when they stayed in their local parishes for the sake of the Sacraments.

Our Lord is offended and angered by such compromise confessions!  Let us remain faithful to Him and use the means of salvation which He sends us, rather than the means which we choose, thinking we know better than He does.


[1]               Sister Lucy, seer at Fatima, revealed this truth in the following words addressed to Fr. Fuentes:

 

God is giving two last remedies to the world: the Holy Rosary and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  …  Prayer and sacrifice are the two means to save the world.  As for the Holy Rosary, Father, in these last times in which we are living, the Blessed Virgin has given a new efficacy to the praying of the Holy Rosary.  This in such a way that there is no problem that cannot be resolved by praying the Rosary, no matter how difficult it is – be it temporal or above all spiritual ….

 

Words of Sister Lucy, seer at Fatima, from her December 26, 1957 interview by Fr. Augustin Fuentes, vice-postulator of the cause of beatification for Francisco and Jacinta.  (Emphasis added.)  This interview can be found at: http://radtradthomist.chojnowski.me/2019/03/is-this-interview-that-caused-her.html

[2]           St. Thomas Aquinas quoting and following St. John Chrysostom, in the Catena Aurea on St. Luke’s Gospel, Ch. 12, section 9 (emphasis added).

[3]           St. Ignatius of Loyola received the Spiritual Exercises from Our Lady, in a cave at Manresa, Spain, in 1522.  In these Spiritual Exercises, here is how Our Lady warns us about committing sin under the appearance of good:

 

Fourth Rule: It is proper to the evil Angel, who forms himself under the appearance of an angel of light, to enter with the devout soul and go out with himself: that is to say, to bring good and holy thoughts, conformable to such just soul, and then little by little he aims at coming out drawing the soul to his covert deceits and perverse intentions.

 

Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Rule Four for the Discernment of Spirits, Second Week.

Why did Rome beatify and canonize the evil-doers?

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Rome had (and has) a problem after the Second Vatican Council.  How do you give credence to – and make believable – the anti-Catholic results of the Council?  Well, the Masons and the Church leaders in Rome decided that if the popes at the time of and after the Council (1962-l965) were beatified/canonized, it would go a long way to convince gullible Catholics that the Council results were good and holy.

It worked, because most Catholics now believe and accept the following evils of the Council (whether those Catholics have ever heard of Vatican II or not):

1.    The replacement of the Tridentine Mass with an anti-Catholic service (i.e., the Novus Ordo mass) that does not give grace.  Without grace, you lose the Faith.  The Blessed Mother stated at La Salette, France, on Sept. 19, 1846, that “Rome will lose the Faith and become the seat of the anti-Christ.”

2.    Religious liberty (i.e., you can choose any faith and be saved).

3.    Universal salvation (i.e., everyone will go to heaven).

4.    The adulterating of the Catholic Sacraments to have them more in line with Protestant false “sacraments”.

5.    “Catholic divorce” – annulments for false or doubtful reasons.

 

6.    Maintaining that the Council was necessary to update the Catholic Faith to make it more relevant in the modern age.  (If you believe that was necessary, you have already lost the Faith – because the Faith does not change.)

 

7.    The establishment of a new anti-Catholic conciliar church to replace the Roman Catholic Church.

 

8.    Rome also had to make many changes in the beatification/canonization process in order to make it fit the less-than-saintly lives of the popes involved in and after the Council.  The following disastrous changes were made:

 

a.    Reduced the number of miracles required,

b.    Shortened the time before declaring the heroic level of virtue,

c.     Allowed the beatification and canonization processes to be influenced by popular emotions and public opinion,

 

d.    Gave diocesan bishops the right to instruct the trial and to judge.  Therefore, since bishops are making the determination on the canonizations, these decentralized decisions are less consistent, lack the quality control and uniformity of the Vatican’s prior decisions.

e.    Accepted lower standards of life unworthy of canonized saints – many of these conciliar “saints” are so far from heroic sanctity that in many cases there is not even reasonable assurance that such “saints” even died in the state of grace.

 

f.     Eliminated the Devil’s Advocate (who is similar to a prosecutor and is the one who challenges the evidence), thus changing the canonization proceedings into an academic process rather than a courtroom-style procedure.

 

g.    Accepted doubtful “miracles” without serious investigation.

These changes give Catholics a great uncertainty they did not have in the past, and cause much doubt concerning the beatifications and canonizations after Vatican Council II, now and in the future.   

The following popes were involved in the conciliar church, during and after the Council, and their causes for beatification/canonization were or will be moving through the process.

➢  “St.” John XXIII, who initiated the Council and agreed with and promoted the anti-Catholic changes.

➢  “St.” Paul VI, who agreed with and fostered all of the anti-Catholic changes.

➢  “St.” John Paul II, who also agreed with the changes of the Council and enacted additional anti-Catholic changes.

➢  Former Pope Benedict XVI, who agreed with the changes but was so pressured that he chose to abdicate the papacy in order to make room for a more liberal pope (i.e. Pope Francis), who will increase the number of heresies to be accepted.   I believe Benedict will be beatified and canonized in due time for his efforts to promote the evils of the Council.[1]

➢  As for Pope Francis, the conciliar church is already talking about the need to beatify and canonize him.[2]

As stated above, the plan is to make the anti-Catholic Council seem holy, accepted, and believable by beatifying and canonizing all the popes involved in it or promoting it, during or after.  Who would have believed 60 years ago that the human element of the Catholic Church would be so completely destroyed?  Believe it also because the Blessed Virgin foretold this at La Salette. 

Have faith!  An all-powerful God is in charge, so all is not lost!  We must pray and do penance following Our Lady’s request at Fatima.  The human element of the Catholic Church will come back strong and holy. 

God will raise up uncompromising Traditional Catholic leaders from among unworthy men, just as He is able to raise up sons of Abraham from the stones on the banks of the Jordan River.[3]


[1]           In connection with Pope Paul VI’s supposed “canonization”, and in an apparent joke masking an underlying truth, Pope Francis quipped, “As for Benedict XVI and myself, we’re on the waiting list” for sainthood.  https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/18/18/pope-says-hes-on-sainthood-waiting-list

 

 

[2]           See, e.g., Pope Francis documentary: A film that could buttress the case for sainthood, found here: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/pope-francis-documentary-a-film-that-could-buttress-the-case-for-sainthood-1.3582228

 

[3]           On the banks of the Jordan River, St. John the Baptist declared to the Jews:

 

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance; and do not begin to say, “We have Abraham for our father”.  For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

 

St. Luke’s Gospel, 3:8 (emphasis added).

A compromise group’s Masses and sacraments do not give grace

Posted on by Catholic Candle

People should avoid the Masses (and sacraments) of a compromise group, e.g., the N-SSPX[1] or another indult group or “motu proprio”[2] group, or Bishop Williamson’s group,[3] or the sedevacantists[4].  This is true even when that group has valid Masses and sacraments.

The Mass and the sacraments are good in themselves and are themselves causes of grace.[5]  However, this does not mean that valid Masses and sacraments always cause grace.  For sometimes they involve compromises and defects which are sins and are obstacles to grace.[6]

The end does not justify the means.  So, we cannot use sin (a bad means) to obtain grace (a good end).  When it is a sin to attend a particular group’s (or priest’s) Mass or sacraments because of compromises and errors, then those Masses and sacraments cannot do us good because the end does not justify the means and God does not give us grace through our sinning.[7]

Conclusion

When a Mass or sacrament is from a compromise group or is otherwise (objectively) sinful, then no one should attend or receive the Mass/sacrament.  Let us not attend any compromise Masses or receive (or attend) any compromise sacraments, telling ourselves that we “need our sacraments”! 

God knows better than we do what we need and provides for us better than we understand.  “All things work together unto the good for those who love God.”  Romans, 8:28.


[1]           For many articles showing that the SSPX is a compromise group, read the articles in the Society of St. Pius X folder found here: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/

[2]           For twenty reasons the indult (“motu proprio”) Mass is objectively sinful, read this article: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/20-reasons-motu-proprio.html

 

[3]           For many articles showing that Bishop Williamson’s group is a compromise group, read the articles in the Bp. Williamson folder found here: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/

[4]           The sedevacantists are inherently in schism from the Catholic Church, although some of them might not know better and so might not be culpable for their grave sin.  https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/against-sedevacantism.html

 

[5]           The Sacraments are instrumental causes of grace (“ex opere operato”).  See, session VII, canon VIII.  The Council of Trent distinguishes (on the one hand) the seven Sacraments – which cause grace – from other good works and prayers (on the other hand) through which we obtain grace, which are not themselves causes of grace.  Reciting a Hail Mary is not a direct cause of grace.  Rather, it is a pious occasion which disposes us and prompts God to give grace – but not through that prayer as a cause.

 

[6]           One obvious example of this is a satanic Black Mass which, even when it is valid is still sinful and does not give grace.  For further information concerning why a person might not receive grace from a valid mass or sacrament, read this article: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/new-mass-never-grace.html

 


[7]           Here is how St. Thomas Aquinas, greatest Doctor of the Catholic Church, explains that when a (valid) Sacrament is a sin, then “in consequence” it does not give grace:

[S]ome have contended that heretics, schismatics, and the excommunicated, who are outside the pale of the Church, cannot perform this Sacrament [viz., the Holy Eucharist]. But herein they are deceived, because, as Augustine says (Contra Parmen. ii), it is one thing to lack something utterly, and another to have it improperly; and in like fashion, it is one thing not to bestow, and quite another to bestow, but not rightly. … [S]ince the consecration of the Eucharist is an act which follows the power of order, such persons as are separated from the Church by heresy, schism, or excommunication, can indeed consecrate the Eucharist, which on being consecrated by them contains Christ’s true body and blood; but they act wrongly, and sin by doing so; and in consequence they do not receive the fruit of the sacrifice [viz., grace]….

Summa, III, Q.82, a.7, Respondeo (emphasis and bracketed words and letters added).

For a further analysis of this issue, read this article: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/new-mass-never-grace.html

The New Mass does not give grace

Posted on by Catholic Candle

 

We must always judge the claims people make, according to our Traditional Catholic Principles.  As one example: it is a core, unshakable Traditional Catholic Principle that Vatican II is a bad tree which can only bear bad fruit.  . 

 

In his war against Our Lord, the devil has endless false arguments which seek to deceive Catholics that bad fruit is really good fruit.  One such Satanic attempt to deceive Catholics is the following superficial “argument” that falsely concludes that the new mass gives Grace:

 

➢  The new mass is a Mass.

 

➢  The Mass gives Grace.

 

➢  Therefore, the new mass gives Grace.

 

Our Catholic Common Sense (judging according to Traditional Catholic Principles) causes us to know immediately that the hand of Satan is in this “argument”, because the new mass is a bad fruit of a bad tree.  No bad fruit is good and something evil cannot be a source of Grace.  Our Catholic Common Sense immediately “smells” the work of Satan, even if a Traditional Catholic leader or an “angel of light”[1] were to insist otherwise.

 

We know that the new mass always offends God and is inherently evil.[2]  God never uses something inherently evil as a source of Grace.  (However, when a person is ignorant and witnesses evil, God might use that particular time and place as the occasion to give His Grace, to help that person see the evil and make changes in his life.)

 

Further, if every mass gave Grace, then all evil (but valid) masses would give Grace.  This cannot be!  This would mean all (valid) masses of heretics and schismatics give Grace and thus, are good because they (supposedly) sanctify souls! 

 

We would also be forced to conclude that the (valid) masses of Satanists give Grace and are good, even though they are designed and conducted to mock our Lord and offend him as greatly as possible through the gravest possible sacrileges.  Our Catholic Common Sense knows immediately that this is Satan’s “argument” and that it must be false to say all valid masses give Grace.

 

That argument (above) no more proves the new mass gives Grace, than does the following (false) “argument” prove that all prayer pleases God:

 

➢  The Pharisee’s prayer[3] is a prayer.

 

➢  Prayer pleases God.

 

➢  Therefore, the Pharisee’s prayer pleases God.

 

Through our Catholic Common Sense, we know immediately that this argument is false, and Our Lord told us that God did not hear the Pharisee’s prayer.

 

The devil knows we have Catholic Common Sense and that this “argument” won’t fool us if we judge (and reject) this argument according to our Traditional Catholic Principles.

 

For this reason, the devil has additional “layers” of false arguments so that he can attempt to deceive by a subsequent “layer” of argument any persons who had managed to remain undeceived by his earlier fallacy.  His next “layer” of false argument involves presenting his fallacious “reasoning”, adding something like “Archbishop Lefebvre said this” or “St. Pius X taught this”.

 

A striking (and unfortunate) example of this type of demonic “argument”, is the one which currently deceives Bishop Williamson (and, tragically, which he is spreading).

 

Bishop Williamson used to say the new mass is inherently evil and no one should ever attend it.[4]  He now says that the Council of Trent’s infallible teaching shows that the new mass gives Grace.  Here are Bishop Williamson’s recent words:

 

I’m sure you ask yourselves: “What kind of world are my children going to have to grow up in? How are they going to keep the Faith?”  Very good question.  By prayer and Charity and by frequenting the sacraments, so long as they are still available, so long as it’s at all still possible to reach the sacraments.  And some Novus – I’ve got into quite a lot of controversy for saying this, but it’s true – there is no question that some Novus Ordo Masses are valid.[5]  And if they’re valid, then it’s defined by the Council of Trent that grace passes, “ex opere operato”, is the strict phrase.[6]

 

However much this superficial invocation of the Council of Trent deceives Bishop Williamson himself, the fact remains that our Catholic Common Sense immediately “smells the rat” despite mention of Trent.  Despite Traditional-sounding buzzwords, we know that the new mass is evil and cannot be a source of Grace.

 

To unmask this false argument, let us look more closely than Bishop Williamson did (in the conference quoted above), at his claim that the Council of Trent shows that the new mass gives Grace.

 

The Council of Trent truly states that Sacraments are instrumental causes of Grace (“ex opere operato”).  See, session VII, canon VIII.  The Council of Trent distinguishes (on the one hand) the seven Sacraments – which cause Grace – from other good works and prayers (on the other hand) through which we obtain Grace, which are not themselves causes of Grace.  Reciting a Hail Mary is not a direct cause of Grace.  Rather, it is a pious occasion which disposes us and prompts God to give Grace – but not through that prayer as a cause.

 

However, although Catholics know that the Sacraments cause Grace, it is against Catholic Teaching and Catholic Common Sense to wrongly jump to the conclusion that every valid Sacrament gives Grace, as Bishop Williamson asserts.  In other words, although the Sacraments are causes of grace, this does not mean that there aren’t obstacles which sometimes serve to prevent a valid Sacrament from giving Grace. 

 

Bishop Williamson’s superficial “reasoning” misses three key distinctions: 

 

1.    No “Grace passes” (to use Bishop Williamson’s expression) to a person receiving the Holy Eucharist in mortal sin, even when the Host is validly consecrated;

 

2.    No “Grace passes” when the Holy Eucharist is validly consecrated by a heretic or schismatic; and

 

3.    No “Grace passes” when the Holy Eucharist is validly consecrated but the rite of the Mass is sinful.

 

Below we examine these distinctions which show the falsehood of Bishop Williamson’s rash, overly broad claim that every time there is a valid Sacrament, “Grace passes” (i.e., is given).

 

 

1.       No “Grace Passes” to a Person in Mortal Sin Even When the Holy

          Eucharist is Validly Consecrated.

 

When Bishop Williamson says that, if a Sacrament is “valid, then it’s defined by the Council of Trent that grace passes”, he distorts the Council of Trent and makes a false, overly broad “rule” that a valid Sacrament always gives Grace.  If his rule were correct, then to receive the Holy Eucharist in mortal sin would give Grace.  But such Communion is a mortal sin of sacrilege, not a source of Grace.  Thus, Bishop Williamson’s rule is false (because it is overly broad) that every valid Sacrament gives Grace.

 

 

2.       No “Grace Passes” When the Holy Eucharist is Validly Consecrated

          by a Heretic.

 

Bishop Williamson’s second crucial omission is failing to consider valid Sacraments performed by heretics and schismatics.  Such (valid) Sacraments are mortal sins and God does not give His Grace through those Sacraments.  Here is how St. Thomas Aquinas explains this important truth:

 

[S]ome have contended that heretics, schismatics, and the excommunicate, who are outside the pale of the Church, cannot perform this Sacrament [viz., the Holy Eucharist]. But herein they are deceived, because, as Augustine says (Contra Parmen. ii), “it is one thing to lack something utterly, and another to have it improperly”; and in like fashion, “it is one thing not to bestow, and quite another to bestow, but not rightly.” … [S]ince the consecration of the Eucharist is an act which follows the power of order, such persons as are separated from the Church by heresy, schism, or excommunication, can indeed consecrate the Eucharist, which on being consecrated by them contains Christ’s true body and blood; but they act wrongly, and sin by doing so; and in consequence they do not receive the fruit of the sacrifice [viz., Grace]….

 

Summa, III, Q.82, a.7, Respondeo. 

 

This is a second reason Bishop Williamson is plainly wrong in his superficial misuse of the Council of Trent to support his assertion that “Grace passes” with every valid Sacrament. 

 

For any reader interested in further enumerations of the Catholic teaching that no “Grace passes” when valid Sacraments are given by heretics, see the teaching of St. Augustine, Pope Gregory XVI, St. Fulgentius, St. Bonaventure and St. Jerome, quoted (with citations) in Lumen Gentium Annotated, by Quanta Cura Press, pp. 117, 135 & 138, © 2013, available at: scribd.com/doc/158994906 (free) & at Amazon.com (sold at cost).

 

Concluding this section: Plainly, our Catholic Common Sense is confirmed by the teachings of the Catholic Faith, viz., even if a particular evil mass were valid, it is false and rash to judge that this mass gives Grace (as Bishop Williamson asserts).  This truth applies to all heretics and adherents to any false religions, including the new conciliar religion.[7]

 

 

3.       No “Grace Passes” When the Holy Eucharist is Validly Consecrated

          But the Rite of the Mass is Sinful.

 

Even when a Sacrament is valid, the Council of Trent nonetheless infallibly declares it is a mortal sin to omit the Catholic rites surrounding that Sacraments’ Matter and Form.  Here are the Council’s words:

 

If anyone saith, that the received and approved rites of the Catholic Church, wont to be used in the solemn administration of the sacraments, may be contemned, or without sin be omitted … let him be anathema.

 

Session VII, canon XIII.[8]

 

Thus, the Council of Trent verifies our Catholic Common Sense that a valid sacrament can be a mortal sin (and thus, not give Grace), because of omissions from (or additions to) the Catholic sacramental rite.  This is precisely the case of the new mass, which changes the Catholic rite surrounding the Sacrament’s Matter and Form so that it is inherently a mortal sin of sacrilege and thus, cannot cause Grace (even if we were to suppose the consecration were valid).

 

Let us pray for Bishop Williamson that he correct his grave errors promoting the new mass.  He has done great good in the past and it is possible for him to still do great good in the future.

 

 

 

 


[1]           “But though … an angel from heaven preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.”   Galatians, 1:8.  St. Paul further explains that this “angel of light” is the devil: “Satan himself transformeth himself into an angel of light.”  II Cor. 11:14.

 

[2]           http://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/attendance-at-new-mass.html

[3]           “The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself:  ‘O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican.  I fast twice in a week:  I give tithes of all that I possess.’”  St. Luke, 18:11-12.

 

[5]           Bishop Williamson here supposes that if a new mass were to have a valid consecration, this would automatically mean that the new mass is a valid mass.  For purposes of this article, we leave aside – but do not grant – this unsupported assumption. 

 

Church law treats the Mass’s Offertory as one of the three main parts of the Mass without attending which, a Catholic has not attended Mass.  Thus, even if a person were to assume that a new mass’s consecration were valid, this does not allow us to conclude that such a new mass would be a valid mass as such, since the conciliar “offertory” is so radically different and might properly be called the very antithesis of the Catholic Offertory.  Thus, even if a person were to suppose that a new mass were to have a valid consecration, this is not enough to show that it is a valid mass because the new mass contains an “anti-Offertory”.

Also, Bishop Williamson here implicitly makes the unsupported assumption that some conciliar ordinations and consecrations are known to be valid – which is a necessary assumption to support his supposition that some new masses have definitely valid consecrations.  But the truth is that the validity of all conciliar “ordinations” and “consecrations” is inherently doubtful.  For a thorough explanation of this, see:

 

➢  http://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/new-ordination-doubtful.html

 

➢  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B49oPuI54eEGd2RRcTFSY29EYzg/view

➢  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B49oPuI54eEGZVF5cmFvMGdZM0U/view

 

[6]           May 20, 2016 conference available here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGcr24n8fJo begin at minute 22:00 (emphasis added).

[7]           We reject the new mass and all other aspects of new conciliar religion, just as we reject all aspects of all other false religions.  Although we reject their objective errors, we do not judge other persons’ subjective culpability for holding those grave errors.

 

For a thorough explanation of our Catholic duty to judge objective errors but not judge other persons’ subjective culpability, see the discussion of the moral sin of rash judgment here: http://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/against-sedevacantism.html#section-5

[8]           For a thorough treatment of the evil of changing the Catholic rite of the Mass and thereby causing a valid Mass to be a mortal sin, not a source of Grace, see Summa Theologiae Moralis, vol. III, De Sacramentis, H. Noldin, S.J., p.245 et seq., Oeniponte, 1920.

Why is the indult Mass accepted by the compromising “trads”?

Posted on by Catholic Candle

The answer, I believe, is that most people don’t realize the damage caused by the indult Mass, or they falsely believe the indult Mass is better than no Mass at all, (i.e., they must have a Mass).  Or it is easier to accept the indult Mass to go along to get along.  By attending the indult Mass a person implicitly shows that he accepts the new mass because the indult is only allowed under this condition.

Attending an indult Mass gives bad example, as does approval of the indult Mass by the N-SSPX, Bishop Williamson’s group, and other compromise groups.

Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre stated in a letter of Mar. 18, 1989, to Father Daniel Couture, “These Masses are scams which lead the faithful to compromise their principles!  Many have already abandoned them.”

If you attend the indult, you get a Faith-destroying sermon.  Who can believe a priest trained in Modernist schools and seminary for his whole life would give a Faith-strengthening sermon?  Not a chance.  This puts your Faith in jeopardy.  It’s all a plan to liberalize the faithful to accept the conciliar church.  It is offered as a “treat” but is actually a “trick.”

Archbishop Lefebvre understood that the enemies of Christ’s Kingship occupying Rome would not blush at using this Most Sacred Gift of God, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in order to lure the resisting Catholics into the conciliar church.[1]  So, his warnings ring true for all the congregations and clergy who compromise (in any way!) with Vatican II, the new mass, the new Code of Canon Law, the new Profession of Faith and other conciliar changes!  Archbishop Lefebvre initiated a Catholic Resistance; we simply must continue resisting modernist Rome, “until we have a perfectly Catholic successor of Peter.”  (Letter of Archbishop Lefebvre to Four Bishops of SSPX, Aug. 20, 1987.)

To improve relations with Rome, the N-SSPX publicly thanked Rome for a (false) “freeing” of the Mass, (the July 2007 motu proprio), which can be used only by a priest who accepts the new mass.  Because of this and many other N-SSPX compromises, including unnecessary sacramental indults (for confession and marriage), uncompromising traditional Catholics should not attend N-SSPX Masses or support the N-SSPX.

By attending the indult Mass wherever it is offered, or by supporting the groups who approve attending it (e.g., the N-SSPX and Bishop Williamson’s group), you put your Faith in jeopardy.

Further, former Pope Benedict XVI wrote:

The faithful who ask for the celebration of the forma extraordinaria [i.e., the Latin Tridentine Mass] must not in any way support or belong to groups which show themselves to be against the validity or legitimacy of the Holy Mass [i.e., the conciliar mass] or the Sacraments celebrated in the forma ordinaria.[2]

I believe attendance at the indult Mass would be down if the priest saying the indult would start out by explaining each time that “If you are attending this Latin Mass under the Motu Proprio, you acknowledge that you accept the new mass.  If not, please leave and don’t come back.”

Not only did the N-SSPX thank Rome for the (false) "freeing" the Mass, they explicitly accept 95% of VC II.  Yet, many still overlook this, believing God will understand.  He is certainly merciful, but He is also just.

Below are other reasons for staying far away from the indult.  Would you attend the indult Mass offered by a priest who also offers a Black Mass?  If not, then why accept a priest who offers the sacrilegious new Mass?  The new mass is inherently harmful to souls and to the Catholic Faith.  Thus, it is a sacrilege because it fits the definition of sacrilege: viz., the “irreverent treatment of the sacred.”[3]

If a person attends an indult Mass in a church that is also used for the new mass, then he willingly uses for worship a place which is also set aside for the commission of sacrilege.  A place used for sacrilege is far more unfitting for Divine worship than a “neutral” place, like a rented meeting hall. 

Thus, when traditional Catholics compromise by choosing an indult Mass, they accept the conciliar hierarchy’s bait and they presume they will be strong enough and wise enough to discern and reject the accompanying conciliar poison.

 

That is the exact excuse friends of ours made to us in the late 1960s, when we left our local diocese parish in order to remain traditional Catholics.  They felt we should stay to fight on the inside and help the parish reject liberalism.  However, absolutely none who stayed on the inside remained faithful to the Catholic Faith.  None.

The question arises as to whether or not the indult Mass gives grace.  Although we know that God gives grace to whomever He pleases, whenever He pleases, He does not give grace because we offend Him (as we would offend Him by attending an indult Mass).

In conclusion, Archbishop Lefebvre called the indult Mass a scam, i.e., “a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation; to deceive and defraud.”[4]  He also stated in his Aug. 29, 1987, letter to the four new bishops of the SSPX that Rome permitted the indult Mass “in order to lure the resisting Catholics into the conciliar church!” 

So, let’s heed the faith-saving advice of Archbishop Lefebvre and stay completely away from all indult Masses and all compromise groups accepting indult Masses, like the N-SSPX.


[1]           The Vatican has clearly said that it continues on the course of post-conciliar errors and that these motu proprio (indult) Masses are designed to integrate traditional Catholics into the conciliar church. See, e.g., this article, where the Vatican calls the traditional Mass an “ecumenical bridge” and outlines the plan for using it as a step to blending the new mass and the traditional Mass.  http://www.zenit.org/article-32593?l=english – see also, http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1101922.htm.

 

Cardinal Mayer (former president of the Ecclesia Dei Commission in charge of indult groups) candidly admitted the conciliar trap: “Sometimes a temporary solution may be necessary, such as allowing them [viz., conservative Catholics] the possibility of celebrating the Holy Mass [of Pope St. Pius V].” See, Letter of Cardinal Mayer to Msgr. May, L’Homme Nouveau, March 19, 1989 (emphasis added), quoted at: http://www.sspx.org/motu_proprio/attendance_at_the_indult_vanes.htm

[2]           May 13, 2011 Instruction “Universae Ecclesiae” on the implementation of the Motu Proprio “Summorum Pontificum”, ¶19 [bracketed words added for clarity].

 

[3]           Summa, IIa IIae, Q. 99, a.1.

 

[4]           Quoted from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scam

Complete Contentment Without the Mass When it is not available without compromise

Posted on by Catholic Candle

Catholic Candle note:  In the human element of the Catholic Church, there is now a great crisis in the Faith.  The formerly traditional groups (e.g., the SSPX and the Williamson group) have compromised.  One consequence is that the Mass is usually not available to most faithful and informed Catholics because they refuse to go to a Mass offered by a priest in a compromise group.  

Many Catholics at various times in Church history have had to sanctify Sundays without the Mass, e.g., Japanese Catholics, for 300 years.  We recommend this article to help you do that: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/sanctifying-sunday-no-mass.html

However, the article below shows us that we should not be anxious or think that God has abandoned us when we do not have the Mass and sacraments because we reject compromise.  Rather, this is a glorious time to be a faithful Catholic and this crisis in the Faith is a blessing to strengthen our Faith![1]  As shown in the article below, we should be perfectly content that God placed us in the present time where the uncompromising Mass is rare.

God is our goal.  All other things – even very good things – are important only as means to attain and increase Divine friendship, which is the theological virtue of charity.[2]

The Mass and sacraments are usual (and wonderful) means through which God befriends a soul, infusing charity into the soul.  However, God sometimes chooses to use other means instead, as he has with many Catholics over the last 2000 years.[3] 

We must make ourselves indifferent to any particular means (even very good means) for arriving at our goal (viz., a continually deeper friendship with God).  We must only seek any particular means – including the Mass and sacraments – to the extent God wills us to have them.  No means are helpful to attain friendship with God unless God wants us to use those means in our circumstances.  We should not want any means – even very good means like the Mass – which God does not want us to use in our circumstances.

Here is how St. Ignatius of Loyola explains this truth in the Spiritual Exercises that he received from Our Lady, in the cave of Manresa, Spain, in 1522:

Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.  And the other things on the face of the earth are created for man that they may help him in prosecuting the end for which he is created.

From this it follows that man is to use them as much as they help him on to his end, and ought to rid himself of them so far as they hinder him as to it.  For this it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things in all that is allowed to the choice of our free will and is not prohibited to it; so that, on our part, we want not health rather than sickness, riches rather than poverty, honor rather than dishonor, long rather than short life, and so in all the rest; desiring and choosing only what is most conducive for us to the end for which we are created.[4]

But we often fool ourselves that we are doing God’s will, when we are really seeking to do our own will.  For example, we justify attending Mass with a compromise group because “I need my sacraments to grow closer to God”.  We are discontent without the Mass because being without the Mass is not the means we choose for sanctifying our souls.

St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Doctor of the Church, calls a “childish” to worry about God-given circumstances that keep us from attending Mass or receiving the sacraments.  Here are St. Alphonsus’ words:

How childish the pretense of those who protest they wish for health not to escape suffering, but to serve our Lord better by being able to observe their Rule, to serve the community, go to church, receive Communion, do penance, study, work for souls in the confessional and pulpit!  Devout soul, tell me, why do you desire to do these things?  To please God?[5]

Let us no longer be childish or discontent that we do not have the Mass and sacraments available to us!  We should be perfectly content without them as long as God chooses that we have nowhere to attend Mass without compromise.  In the circumstances in which God has lovingly placed us, it pleases Him that we do not have the Mass and sacraments!  

As St. Alphonsus explains, it would displease God for us to attend Mass or receive the sacraments when God places us in the circumstances He has.   Here are St. Alphonsus’ words in the context of being unable to receive the sacraments because of sickness:

Why then search any further to please God when you are sure God does not wish these prayers, Communions, penances or studies, but he does wish that you suffer patiently this sickness he sends you?  Unite then your sufferings to those of our Lord.[6]

When a priest or group compromises, God does not Will the compromises as such, because they are sins.  However, God does Will the effect on us, viz., that we cannot attend Mass because of those compromises.  Here is the way St. Alphonsus explains this truth:

It is true, when one offends us unjustly, God does not will his sin, nor does he concur in the sinner’s bad will; but God does, in a general way, concur in the material action by which such a one strikes us, robs us or does us an injury, so that God certainly wills the offense we suffer and it comes to us from His hands.  Thus, the Lord told David He would be the author of those things he would suffer at the hands of Absalom: “I will raise up evils against thee out of thy own house, and I will take thy wives before thy face and give them to thy neighbor.”  Hence too, God told the Jews that in punishment for their sins, He would send the Assyrians to plunder them and spread destruction among them: “The Assyrian is the rod and staff of my anger . . . I will send him to take away the spoils.”  “Assyrian wickedness served as God’s scourge for the Hebrews”, is St. Augustine’s comment on this text.  And our Lord Himself told St. Peter that His sacred passion came not so much from man as from His Father: “The chalice which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?”[7]

Conclusion

It is easy to be glad to be healthy so that we can serve God better.  However, we should be equally glad to be sick, if God sends us sickness.  Thus, e.g., if our doctor tells us we should get a cancer screening test, we should be completely at peace while waiting for the test result.  If the test shows we have cancer, this is merely God showing us the next way He wills us to serve Him (i.e., with cancer).  Why would we want health if God shows us that He does not want it for us now?

Likewise, it is easy to rejoice to serve God through the Mass and sacraments.  However, we should be equally happy and completely content without them if God chooses this for us.  Why would we want the Mass and sacraments when God shows us that He does not want them for us now?

This is a glorious time to be Catholic!  Let us be grateful to God and perfectly content with the circumstances into which He has placed us, including being without the Mass!

Priests, as well as laymen, should have this perfect contentment

Priests also, are susceptible to fear and discontent if they feel alone because of the compromises of other priests.  Like laymen, they often rationalize that they must associate with compromise priests or bishops because they “need” a confessor, or they “need” holy oils and the sacrament of confirmation for their flock.  

This is the same childish pretense that St. Alphonsus condemns in the context of going to church and receiving Communion.  Instead, priests should give an example of a fearless and unshakeable Faith and perfect contentment without the sacraments when it is God’s Will.  That is the lesson they need to teach their flock.

[1]          Read this article about how the present crisis in the Church can help us strengthen our Faith: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/it-is-a-blessing-to-live-during-this-great-apostasy.html

[2]          Charity is inherently Friendship with God.  Here is how St. Thomas Aquinas, greatest Doctor of the Church, explains this truth:

It is written (John 15:15): “I will not now call you servants . . . but My friends.” Now this was said to them by reason of nothing else than charity. Therefore, charity is friendship. …

According to the Philosopher (Ethic. viii, 2,3) not every love has the character of friendship, but that love which is together with benevolence, when, to wit, we love someone so as to wish good to him. If, however, we do not wish good to what we love, but wish its good for ourselves, (thus we are said to love wine, or a horse, or the like), it is love not of friendship, but of a kind of concupiscence.  For it would be absurd to speak of having friendship for wine or for a horse.

Yet neither does well-wishing suffice for friendship, for a certain mutual love is requisite, since friendship is between friend and friend: and this well-wishing is founded on some kind of communication.

Accordingly, since there is a communication between man and God, inasmuch as He communicates His happiness to us, some kind of friendship must needs be based on this same communication, of which it is written (1 Corinthians 1:9): “God is faithful: by Whom you are called unto the fellowship of His Son."  The love which is based on this communication, is charity: wherefore it is evident that charity is the friendship of man for God.

Summa, IIa IIae, Q.23, a.1, sed contra and respondeo.

[3]          For example, God used means other than the Mass and confession for 300 years with the Catholics in Japan, as well as in many other places, e.g., in France during the 1789 Masonic Revolution, and in Ecuador.  Read about these periods in which God sanctified souls without the Mass and confession here: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/sanctifying-sunday-no-mass.html

[4]          Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, beginning of the First Week, Principle and Foundation (emphasis added).

[5]          St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Complete Uniformity to God’s Will, §5 (emphasis added).  This work is available for free here: https://www.ecatholic2000.com/liguori/sal.shtml

[6]          St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Complete Uniformity to God’s Will, §5 (emphasis added).  This work is available for free here: https://www.ecatholic2000.com/liguori/sal.shtml

[7]          St. Alphonsus de Liguori, Complete Uniformity to God’s Will, §2.  This work is available for free here: https://www.ecatholic2000.com/liguori/sal.shtml