On apostolic succession
"Although it may seem that this power of loosing and binding was given by the Lord only to Peter, we must nevertheless know without any doubt that it was given to the other apostles.. Indeed even now the same office is committed to the whole Church in her bishops and priests."
Venerable Bede, Doctor of the Church
"Our apostles knew through Our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the office of bishop. For this ready, therefore, having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have already been mentioned and afterwards added the further provision that, if they should die, other approved men should succeed their ministry ."
St. Clement I
"We are in position to enumerate those who were instituted bishops by the apostles and their successors down to our own times, men who neither knew nor taught anything like what these heretics rave about."
"(It is also incumbent) to hold is suspicion others who depart from primitive succession, and assemble themselves together in any place whatsoever, either as heretics of perverse minds, or as schismatics puffed up and self-pleasing, or again as hypocrites, acting thus for the sake of lucre and vainglory. For all these have fallen from the truth."
St. Irenaeus, Doctor of the Church
"Nor can he be reckoned a bishop, who, succeeding to no one, and despising the evangelical and apostolic tradition, sprang from himself. For he who has not been ordained in the Church can neither have nor hold to the Church in any way."
St. Cyprian
"And last, the very name Catholic, which, not without reason, belongs to this Church alone, in the face of so many heretics, so much so that, although all heretics want to be called 'Catholic', when a stranger inquires where the Catholic Church meets, none of the heretics would dare to point out his own basilica for house."
St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church
"Far be it from me to speak adversely of any of these clergy, who, in succession from the apostles, confect by their sacred word the Body of Christ, and through whose efforts also it is that we are Christians."
St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church
#church #priesthood
"Although it may seem that this power of loosing and binding was given by the Lord only to Peter, we must nevertheless know without any doubt that it was given to the other apostles.. Indeed even now the same office is committed to the whole Church in her bishops and priests."
Venerable Bede, Doctor of the Church
"Our apostles knew through Our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the office of bishop. For this ready, therefore, having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have already been mentioned and afterwards added the further provision that, if they should die, other approved men should succeed their ministry ."
St. Clement I
"We are in position to enumerate those who were instituted bishops by the apostles and their successors down to our own times, men who neither knew nor taught anything like what these heretics rave about."
"(It is also incumbent) to hold is suspicion others who depart from primitive succession, and assemble themselves together in any place whatsoever, either as heretics of perverse minds, or as schismatics puffed up and self-pleasing, or again as hypocrites, acting thus for the sake of lucre and vainglory. For all these have fallen from the truth."
St. Irenaeus, Doctor of the Church
"Nor can he be reckoned a bishop, who, succeeding to no one, and despising the evangelical and apostolic tradition, sprang from himself. For he who has not been ordained in the Church can neither have nor hold to the Church in any way."
St. Cyprian
"And last, the very name Catholic, which, not without reason, belongs to this Church alone, in the face of so many heretics, so much so that, although all heretics want to be called 'Catholic', when a stranger inquires where the Catholic Church meets, none of the heretics would dare to point out his own basilica for house."
St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church
"Far be it from me to speak adversely of any of these clergy, who, in succession from the apostles, confect by their sacred word the Body of Christ, and through whose efforts also it is that we are Christians."
St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church
#church #priesthood
What is Infallibility?
Infallibility: The doctrinal authority of the Church is not unlimited; it is, on the contrary, clearly limited to the domain of divine revelation. It relates only to the deposit of revealed doctrine and that which is necessary for the preservation of this deposit. These same boundaries limit infallibility.
Its object includes, then:
1st. The teaching of dogma, or the truths of faith which are to be believed.
2d. Moral teaching, or truths to be practised.
3d. Matters relating to general discipline, in as far as they pertain to faith and morals.
4th. Dogmatic facts, that is to say, facts so intimately connected with dogma, that they cannot be questioned without weakening the dogma itself. Such, for example, are the declarations and verifications of errors contained in the writings judged by the Church, since otherwise she could not, as she is bound to do, preserve from the poison of error the flock confided to her care.
Infallibility comes neither from inspiration properly speaking nor from a new revelation, but from a special, divine assistance granted either to the bishops united with the Pope, or to the supreme pastor, to enable them to understand and proclaim the revelation made by Jesus Christ. This assistance by no means dispenses with useful researches and discussions; in a word, with the labor of man. Only after taking every indispensable means to avoid acting precipitately, only after studying with extreme care the two sources of revelation, Scripture and tradition, does the Church or the Pope declare as revealed a belief hitherto implicitly contained in the deposit of revelation.
Infallibility differs essentially from impeccability, which consists in the inability to sin; this signal privilege, which was awarded to the Mother of God, has never been attributed to the sovereign Pontiff.
#infallibility #ccc #pope #obedience #church
Infallibility: The doctrinal authority of the Church is not unlimited; it is, on the contrary, clearly limited to the domain of divine revelation. It relates only to the deposit of revealed doctrine and that which is necessary for the preservation of this deposit. These same boundaries limit infallibility.
Its object includes, then:
1st. The teaching of dogma, or the truths of faith which are to be believed.
2d. Moral teaching, or truths to be practised.
3d. Matters relating to general discipline, in as far as they pertain to faith and morals.
4th. Dogmatic facts, that is to say, facts so intimately connected with dogma, that they cannot be questioned without weakening the dogma itself. Such, for example, are the declarations and verifications of errors contained in the writings judged by the Church, since otherwise she could not, as she is bound to do, preserve from the poison of error the flock confided to her care.
Infallibility comes neither from inspiration properly speaking nor from a new revelation, but from a special, divine assistance granted either to the bishops united with the Pope, or to the supreme pastor, to enable them to understand and proclaim the revelation made by Jesus Christ. This assistance by no means dispenses with useful researches and discussions; in a word, with the labor of man. Only after taking every indispensable means to avoid acting precipitately, only after studying with extreme care the two sources of revelation, Scripture and tradition, does the Church or the Pope declare as revealed a belief hitherto implicitly contained in the deposit of revelation.
Infallibility differs essentially from impeccability, which consists in the inability to sin; this signal privilege, which was awarded to the Mother of God, has never been attributed to the sovereign Pontiff.
#infallibility #ccc #pope #obedience #church
Unchangeable Church Teaching:
What Can and Cannot Be Reformed in the Church
by Fr. Michael Mueller, 1875
Q. What follows from the fact that the holy Roman Catholic Church can never be destroyed by any created power?
A. That it would be the sin of heresy for any one to say that a reform of the doctrine or the constitution of the Roman Catholic Church could ever become necessary.
Q. Can anyone change the doctrine of Jesus Christ, or the articles of faith, the commandments, or the sacraments?
A. To think so and to attempt to do so would be as foolish as it would be for one to attempt to reform the visible world and the laws which God has established to preserve and maintain it.
Q. Could some new doctrine, new commandment, or new sacrament be added; or could some of the articles of faith, some of the commandments, or some of the sacraments be left out?
A. By no means.
Q. Why not?
A. Because not even the Apostles themselves had power from Christ to add to, or leave out, any portion of Christ's doctrine.
Q. How do we know this?
A. Because Jesus Christ said to the Apostles: "Go and teach all nations, teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." --Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.
Q. In what other words has our Blessed Saviour assured us that His holy doctrine will never suffer any change?
A. In these words: "Amen, I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt. v. 18. "Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass." Matt. xxiv. 35.
Q. What does St. Paul say to assure us that nothing whatsoever can be added to, or left out of the doctrine of Jesus Christ?
A. He says: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we said before so now I say again: if any one preach to you a gospel besides that which you have received, let him be accursed." Gal. i. 8, 9.
Q. Is there nothing in the Catholic Church that may be reformed?
A. Nothing in the doctrine which was delivered to her from the beginning to teach, but the manners of such of her pastors and children as fail to live up to her teachings, may and ought to be reformed.
Q. May Priests and even Bishops, nay, even a Pope, fail to live up to Christ's holy doctrine?
A. They may, indeed; and certain periods of the lives of some of them have been very disedifying.
Q. How can we easily account for this?
A. Because one can know and teach the true doctrine of Christ without practising it.
Q. What, then, is the answer to those who object to our religion because the lives of certain pastors of the Church have been disedifying?
A. The lives of the scribes and the Pharisees were very disedifying. Nevertheless our blessed Saviour told the multitudes and His disciples that "they have sitten on the chair of Moses. All things, therefore, whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not: for they say and do not." Matt. xxiii. 2.
Q. Does the Lord make use of apostate Catholics, such as Martin Luther, Calvin, John Knox, Henry VIII., King of England, to reform the manners of the people?
A. The thought is absurd. The lives of those men were evil, and it is only the devil that makes use of them to pervert the people still more. The Lord makes use of His saints, such as a St. Francis of Assisium, a St. Dominick, a St. Ignatius, a St. Alphonsus, to convert the people and reform their evil manners by explaining to them the truths of faith, the commandments, and the necessity of receiving the sacraments with proper dispositions, and by setting them in their own lives the loftiest example of faith, purity, and all Christian virtues.
Q. Is it possible to reform men in any other way?
A. Since the coming of the Redeemer it has never been heard that men were reformed and made virtuous by any other means than those which Jesus Christ left to His Church.
#ccc #church #tradition
What Can and Cannot Be Reformed in the Church
by Fr. Michael Mueller, 1875
Q. What follows from the fact that the holy Roman Catholic Church can never be destroyed by any created power?
A. That it would be the sin of heresy for any one to say that a reform of the doctrine or the constitution of the Roman Catholic Church could ever become necessary.
Q. Can anyone change the doctrine of Jesus Christ, or the articles of faith, the commandments, or the sacraments?
A. To think so and to attempt to do so would be as foolish as it would be for one to attempt to reform the visible world and the laws which God has established to preserve and maintain it.
Q. Could some new doctrine, new commandment, or new sacrament be added; or could some of the articles of faith, some of the commandments, or some of the sacraments be left out?
A. By no means.
Q. Why not?
A. Because not even the Apostles themselves had power from Christ to add to, or leave out, any portion of Christ's doctrine.
Q. How do we know this?
A. Because Jesus Christ said to the Apostles: "Go and teach all nations, teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." --Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.
Q. In what other words has our Blessed Saviour assured us that His holy doctrine will never suffer any change?
A. In these words: "Amen, I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt. v. 18. "Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass." Matt. xxiv. 35.
Q. What does St. Paul say to assure us that nothing whatsoever can be added to, or left out of the doctrine of Jesus Christ?
A. He says: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we said before so now I say again: if any one preach to you a gospel besides that which you have received, let him be accursed." Gal. i. 8, 9.
Q. Is there nothing in the Catholic Church that may be reformed?
A. Nothing in the doctrine which was delivered to her from the beginning to teach, but the manners of such of her pastors and children as fail to live up to her teachings, may and ought to be reformed.
Q. May Priests and even Bishops, nay, even a Pope, fail to live up to Christ's holy doctrine?
A. They may, indeed; and certain periods of the lives of some of them have been very disedifying.
Q. How can we easily account for this?
A. Because one can know and teach the true doctrine of Christ without practising it.
Q. What, then, is the answer to those who object to our religion because the lives of certain pastors of the Church have been disedifying?
A. The lives of the scribes and the Pharisees were very disedifying. Nevertheless our blessed Saviour told the multitudes and His disciples that "they have sitten on the chair of Moses. All things, therefore, whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not: for they say and do not." Matt. xxiii. 2.
Q. Does the Lord make use of apostate Catholics, such as Martin Luther, Calvin, John Knox, Henry VIII., King of England, to reform the manners of the people?
A. The thought is absurd. The lives of those men were evil, and it is only the devil that makes use of them to pervert the people still more. The Lord makes use of His saints, such as a St. Francis of Assisium, a St. Dominick, a St. Ignatius, a St. Alphonsus, to convert the people and reform their evil manners by explaining to them the truths of faith, the commandments, and the necessity of receiving the sacraments with proper dispositions, and by setting them in their own lives the loftiest example of faith, purity, and all Christian virtues.
Q. Is it possible to reform men in any other way?
A. Since the coming of the Redeemer it has never been heard that men were reformed and made virtuous by any other means than those which Jesus Christ left to His Church.
#ccc #church #tradition
'Moreover, to be a trustworthy guide, the Church must state the truth clearly and unmistakably.
The faithful are not guided by ambiguous circumlocutions, by terms that may be understood in two or perhaps more ways. Neither may she keep exclusively in the lofty heights of theory; but she must instruct with regard to the facts of everyday life. The dangers arising from books are concrete not abstract, and they must be met by concrete measures. This can be done effectively only by an energetic and unmistakable "thou shalt not" which makes men realize that they are "under authority." No one has ever stated the truth more clearly, more unmistakably than Christ our Lord. Was it not precisely for this very fact that "many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him"? (John 6, 67.)'
Francis S. Betten, S.J., The Roman Index of Forbidden Books
#church
The faithful are not guided by ambiguous circumlocutions, by terms that may be understood in two or perhaps more ways. Neither may she keep exclusively in the lofty heights of theory; but she must instruct with regard to the facts of everyday life. The dangers arising from books are concrete not abstract, and they must be met by concrete measures. This can be done effectively only by an energetic and unmistakable "thou shalt not" which makes men realize that they are "under authority." No one has ever stated the truth more clearly, more unmistakably than Christ our Lord. Was it not precisely for this very fact that "many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him"? (John 6, 67.)'
Francis S. Betten, S.J., The Roman Index of Forbidden Books
#church
Rome shall apostatise from the Faith, drive away the Vicar of Christ and return to its ancient paganism...Then the Church shall be scattered, driven into the wilderness, and shall be for a time, as it was in the beginning, invisible, hidden in the catacombs, in dens, in mountains, in lurking places; for a time it shall be swept, as it were from the face of the earth. Such is the universal testimony of the Fathers of the Church.
Cardinal Henry Edward Manning
#church
Cardinal Henry Edward Manning
#church
https://youtu.be/x5FgSDKD-9Q
Traditionalist problems
Notes:
We should be careful not to fall into excess or defect in our reactions to the current state of the Church.
Common problems:
-Becoming depressed
When we have a passion in relation to the state of the Church, we fall into excess in our judgment. That's why we should not let our sorrow overcome our judgment. We have to beg God for the fortitude to struggle against the disastrous state of the Church so it doesn't affect our Faith.
-Falling into anger
We should be careful not to allow the problems existing in the Church to affect our spiritual life.
It doesn't mean we should remain ignorant of the situation, but when we see some defects we should rather focus on bettering ourselves.
We should also have detachment even from the idea of a perfectly ordered Church, although we must strive for it to be healthy, as the church is our means to God.
-Being overly critical
When we see a dysfunctional Church member we have to be careful not to let it distract us from our personal pursuit of holiness. St.Thomas says that we are allowed to say anything that can take from someone's reputation only when these conditions are met: we proceed from charity not from the love of vindication; we do it for the sake of the person who has the defect; the correction has to be just (we don't exaggerate nor we diminish it); it has to be necessary, either for us or for the sake of others. Many traditionalists criticise the Church while committing the sin of omission for not praying and doing penance for those who have the defect.
-The sin of curiosity
Constantly seeking the knowledge about the problems causes attachment to suffering, which may influence our faith and charity.
It's good to listen to knowledgeable priests that present the nature of the problems clearly, so we may understand the situation.
We should not spend all our time on reading books about the state of the Church.
Our obligation is to advance in Faith, not to know all the existing problems.
-Traditionalists wish to see the truth, but will engage in argumentations which they are not intellectually prepared for.
Some people will take the time to research a subject but they're often unaware of the broader picture, and consequently, they make mistakes.
We have to be careful not to criticize those who do not view the situation in the same way as we do. If we wish to merit them the grace to see the truth, we should fast and pray for them, be charitable when providing information.
(The fact that God gave you the grace to see something is not a foundation to be prideful-you might always make a misjudgment yourself).
If we are to help, we ourselves ought to become the best we can in the first place.
#church
Traditionalist problems
Notes:
We should be careful not to fall into excess or defect in our reactions to the current state of the Church.
Common problems:
-Becoming depressed
When we have a passion in relation to the state of the Church, we fall into excess in our judgment. That's why we should not let our sorrow overcome our judgment. We have to beg God for the fortitude to struggle against the disastrous state of the Church so it doesn't affect our Faith.
-Falling into anger
We should be careful not to allow the problems existing in the Church to affect our spiritual life.
It doesn't mean we should remain ignorant of the situation, but when we see some defects we should rather focus on bettering ourselves.
We should also have detachment even from the idea of a perfectly ordered Church, although we must strive for it to be healthy, as the church is our means to God.
-Being overly critical
When we see a dysfunctional Church member we have to be careful not to let it distract us from our personal pursuit of holiness. St.Thomas says that we are allowed to say anything that can take from someone's reputation only when these conditions are met: we proceed from charity not from the love of vindication; we do it for the sake of the person who has the defect; the correction has to be just (we don't exaggerate nor we diminish it); it has to be necessary, either for us or for the sake of others. Many traditionalists criticise the Church while committing the sin of omission for not praying and doing penance for those who have the defect.
-The sin of curiosity
Constantly seeking the knowledge about the problems causes attachment to suffering, which may influence our faith and charity.
It's good to listen to knowledgeable priests that present the nature of the problems clearly, so we may understand the situation.
We should not spend all our time on reading books about the state of the Church.
Our obligation is to advance in Faith, not to know all the existing problems.
-Traditionalists wish to see the truth, but will engage in argumentations which they are not intellectually prepared for.
Some people will take the time to research a subject but they're often unaware of the broader picture, and consequently, they make mistakes.
We have to be careful not to criticize those who do not view the situation in the same way as we do. If we wish to merit them the grace to see the truth, we should fast and pray for them, be charitable when providing information.
(The fact that God gave you the grace to see something is not a foundation to be prideful-you might always make a misjudgment yourself).
If we are to help, we ourselves ought to become the best we can in the first place.
#church
YouTube
Traditionalist Problems ~ Fr Ripperger
What are some problems in the movement? Anxiety, worry, despair, anger, etc are a few but what do you do about it?
For more sermons & lectures please visit
http://sensustraditionis.org/ & remember to do the PenanceWare Fr asks for
Fr Ripperger's order…
For more sermons & lectures please visit
http://sensustraditionis.org/ & remember to do the PenanceWare Fr asks for
Fr Ripperger's order…
Ecce Verbum
What is Infallibility? Infallibility: The doctrinal authority of the Church is not unlimited; it is, on the contrary, clearly limited to the domain of divine revelation. It relates only to the deposit of revealed doctrine and that which is necessary for the…
What does the term 'Ex Cathedra' mean?
Ex Cathedra: "We teach and define that it is a divinely revealed dogma: that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra--that is, when in the discharge of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the universal Church--is, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, possessed of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer willed that His Church should be endowed for defining a doctrine regarding faith or morals; and that therefore such definitions are irreformable of themselves and not from the consent of the Church. If any one should have the rashness to contradict our definition, which God forbid, let him be anathema."--Pope Pius IX, Vatican Council I, 1870, Session 4, Chap. 4
According to the Council the Pope, to speak ex cathedra, must first act in virtue of his supreme authority and as head of the Church. Second, he must have the intention of defining a doctrine, an intention which must be evident either from the terms he employs (for example, if he uses the words we define, if he pronounces anathema against contrary doctrine) or from the circumstances under which he speaks.
In a word, the Pope speaks ex cathedra when he makes known his intention to oblige the faithful to believe interiorly and to profess exteriorly that which he teaches concerning faith and morals. Hence it follows that this character of infallibility extends in no way to the writings and acts of the Pope as a private man.
Example of Ex Cathedra Pronouncement: "The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives; that the unity of this ecclesiastical body is of such importance that only for those who abide in it do the Church's sacraments contribute to salvation and do fasts, almsgiving and other works of piety and practices of the Christian militia produce eternal rewards; and that nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed blood in the name of Christ, unless he has persevered in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church."-Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, "Cantate Domino," 1441
#excathedra #pope #church #ccc
Ex Cathedra: "We teach and define that it is a divinely revealed dogma: that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra--that is, when in the discharge of his office as pastor and teacher of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the universal Church--is, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, possessed of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer willed that His Church should be endowed for defining a doctrine regarding faith or morals; and that therefore such definitions are irreformable of themselves and not from the consent of the Church. If any one should have the rashness to contradict our definition, which God forbid, let him be anathema."--Pope Pius IX, Vatican Council I, 1870, Session 4, Chap. 4
According to the Council the Pope, to speak ex cathedra, must first act in virtue of his supreme authority and as head of the Church. Second, he must have the intention of defining a doctrine, an intention which must be evident either from the terms he employs (for example, if he uses the words we define, if he pronounces anathema against contrary doctrine) or from the circumstances under which he speaks.
In a word, the Pope speaks ex cathedra when he makes known his intention to oblige the faithful to believe interiorly and to profess exteriorly that which he teaches concerning faith and morals. Hence it follows that this character of infallibility extends in no way to the writings and acts of the Pope as a private man.
Example of Ex Cathedra Pronouncement: "The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives; that the unity of this ecclesiastical body is of such importance that only for those who abide in it do the Church's sacraments contribute to salvation and do fasts, almsgiving and other works of piety and practices of the Christian militia produce eternal rewards; and that nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed blood in the name of Christ, unless he has persevered in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church."-Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, "Cantate Domino," 1441
#excathedra #pope #church #ccc
Duties of the Church: 2022 Conference 1 of 3 ~ Fr. Ripperger
https://sensusfidelium.tv/watch/duties-of-the-church-2022-conference-1-of-3-fr-ripperger_7nj1FCQOyay2iVq.html
#church
https://sensusfidelium.tv/watch/duties-of-the-church-2022-conference-1-of-3-fr-ripperger_7nj1FCQOyay2iVq.html
#church
Spiritustv
Duties of the Church: 2022 Conference 1 of 3 ~ Fr. Ripperger
1 of 3 conferences in 2022 given by Fr. Ripperger at Our Sorrowful Mother's Ministry - www.osmm.org