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Saving Benedict XVI -
Schizophrenia or Hypocrisy?
In the Gospel of Luke we read that Christ told the crowds: "When you see a cloud rising from the West, presently you say: A shower is coming: and so it happeneth: And when ye see the south wind blow, you say: There will be heat: and it cometh to pass. You hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth: but how is it that you do not discern this time?" (Lk 12: 54)
Perhaps, there is no warning from Our Lord that it is more appropriate for the time in which we live today.
For years now, and especially since the current phase of the calamitous project of the destruction of the Faith that moved to high speed with Pope Francis’ reign, many priests and laymen react surprised and scandalized over the buffoon we see sitting on the cathedra of St. Peter.
If I were to speak of surprise, I would like to say that the surprise is mine and also of many others like me who for years have been fighting Progressivism, this neo-modernism that managed to reach the highest places in the Hierarchy of the Church. "Felix qui
pout rerum cognoscere cause" said Virgil (Fortunate is he who was able to know the causes of things).
This surprise is due, today more than ever, to the emergence of absurd theories that claim to show that there is a radical break between Francis and the other Popes of the post-Vatican II Council, to the point of supposing that Francis would not be Pope.
So, today I want to expound, on the one hand, on the almost delusional incoherence of this position and, on the other, on the danger there is in abandoning oneself to the guidance of those who, based on extravagant and arbitrary whims, claim to uphold superficially (or at times through a merely emotional fanaticism) a movement without its feet set in reality, like the ones who hate Francis (the consequence), but have nostalgia for Benedict (one of the causes of Francis' election).
The words of Benedict himself
Those who support such nonsense not only seem to act as schizophrenics, but are also publicly denied by Benedict himself who has repeatedly stated that his resignation has been well-deliberated and definitive.
In his book on his conversations with Benedict XVI titled Last Testament: In His Own Words, Peter Seewald reproduces the words of Benedict XVI regarding his resignation. He explains that Benedict's central statement is this: “But no one has tried to blackmail me. If that had been attempted I would not have gone since you are not permitted to leave because you're under pressure." (London, Bloomsbury, p. 72)
Benedict XVI cannot be clearer when he says that: "So I wrote the text of the resignation, I cannot say with precision when, but at the most 14 days beforehand. I wrote it in Latin because something so important you do in Latin." (Ibid., pp. 60-61)
He adds: "A weak point is perhaps my lack of clear, purposeful governance and the decisions that have to be made there.,. So, practical governance is not my forte, and there, I would say, is a certain weakness." (Ibid., pp. 255-256).
Furthermore, in a letter addressed to the Secretariat of the Prefect for Communication, Msgr. Dário Edoardo Viganò, which he writes on the occasion of the presentation of the Collection, The Theology of Pope Francis, Benedict XVI says that there is an "internal continuity" between his pontificate and that of Francis.
His words are: "I welcome this initiative which intends to oppose and react to the foolish prejudice according to which Pope Francis would be only a practical man deprived of particular theological or philosophical formation, whereas I was only a theoretician of theology who understood little of the concrete life of a Christian today."
And he adds: "These small volumes rightly show that Pope Francis is a man of profound philosophical and theological formation and, therefore, help us to see the interior continuity between the two pontificates, although with all the differences of style and temperament."
Furthermore, on June 28, 2016, on the anniversary of the 65th priestly ordination of Benedict, a ceremony was held in Clementine Hall, where Pope Francis was also present. In his brief final greeting, Benedict XVI speaks again of mercy: "Thanks above all to you, Holy Father! Your kindness, from the first moment of the election, in each moment of my life here, really moves me inside."
He continues: "More than in the Vatican Gardens, with their beauty, your kindness is the place where I live: I feel protected. Thanks also to the word of thanks, of everything. We hope that you can go forward with all of us on this path of divine mercy, showing us the path of Jesus towards Jesus, towards God."
Finally, the letters of Benedict XVI to Cardinal Brandmüller - which have recently been published - absolutely destroy any dream of those Ratzingherians who pretend that he is still the Pope. In the first letter of November 9, 2017, Benedict XVI states as clearly as possible that only Francis is the Pope.
His words to the Cardinal are these: "As Pope Emeritus, I tried to create a situation in which I was absolutely inaccessible to the mass media and in which it was fully clear that there is only one Pope."
We see that the Ratzingherians try to show that the resignation of Benedict XVI is invalid are baseless. The arguments put forward do not proceed. However, those "arguments," despite their variety, lead to a single result: Benedict XVI is still Pope and, so, Francis is not a true Pope.
Self-delusional attempts to justify 'Pope Benedict'
This speaks volumes about the real reason for these attempts: It is not so important to understand how things are, but rather what end they want to reach, which is to state that Francis is not a true Pope - in one way or another.
So, with the clarification of the words of Benedict XVI himself declaring that he is not Pope and that the pontificate of Francis is in continuity with the preceding ones, what are we left to think? I believe that there are only two things we can think:
1. Those who say Benedict is Pope are in a state of trauma because they cannot sincerely admit that Francis is an extension of Benedict. This would be something like a kind of spiritual schizophrenia that prevents them from reconciling cause and effect because they will not accept that Benedict has abandoned them.
2. Or, those who promote this theory are hypocritical scoundrels who simply want to take advantage, confuse people and, through this confusion, constitute themselves as an infallible criterion for determining who is and who is not the Pope.
If we give these people the benefit of the doubt and consider that they are innocent, then, they do what they do out of ignorance or from the painful disappointment they possibly have upon learning that "Saint Benedict" is an example far from what holiness is.
Yes, it is not just Francis' fault if there is a decline of the Faith in the whole world. The catastrophic situation in which the Church finds herself is the result of years and years of attacks directed against the doctrine, the liturgy and, in general, everything that represents the Kingdom of Christ in society.
For the sake of the argument, if we admit the hypothesis that Benedict resigned under the pressure of a mafia, this mafia could not have had power unless if had been bolstered by the previous conciliar Popes and by Benedict himself. Should we also blame Francis for this?
At any rate, it does not seem a very honest or courageous position for a Pope who resigns and abandons the flock when the wolf is inside it.
It is enough here to remember the following words of Christ:
"But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep: And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep." (Jn 10: 12)
In short for decades, our Pontiffs have wandered around as if they were drunk. Their dependence on the absinthe of Progressivism and Modernism continually increase. They roam in the dark night of Humanism. Perhaps the Bavarian has better hidden his intention than the Argentinian, but at the end of the day, both walk hand in hand, singing the same tango and staggering in the same direction.
It is up to us to not lose sight of what the Prince of the Apostles said: "Sobrii estote et vigilate: qui adversarius vester diabolus, tamquam leo rugiens, circuit quærens quem devoret: qui resistite fortes in fide." Be sober, be watchful! For your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith. (I Pet 5: 8-9)
Christus Rex - Adveniat Regnum Tuum
Fr. Alvarez Norton gave this talk to a group of young people in Italy.
You can watch it here with English subtitles.
Perhaps, there is no warning from Our Lord that it is more appropriate for the time in which we live today.
For years now, and especially since the current phase of the calamitous project of the destruction of the Faith that moved to high speed with Pope Francis’ reign, many priests and laymen react surprised and scandalized over the buffoon we see sitting on the cathedra of St. Peter.
Benedict praises the United Nations in a speech, later, Francis follows suit. No break, but continuity...
This surprise is due, today more than ever, to the emergence of absurd theories that claim to show that there is a radical break between Francis and the other Popes of the post-Vatican II Council, to the point of supposing that Francis would not be Pope.
So, today I want to expound, on the one hand, on the almost delusional incoherence of this position and, on the other, on the danger there is in abandoning oneself to the guidance of those who, based on extravagant and arbitrary whims, claim to uphold superficially (or at times through a merely emotional fanaticism) a movement without its feet set in reality, like the ones who hate Francis (the consequence), but have nostalgia for Benedict (one of the causes of Francis' election).
The words of Benedict himself
Those who support such nonsense not only seem to act as schizophrenics, but are also publicly denied by Benedict himself who has repeatedly stated that his resignation has been well-deliberated and definitive.
A deliberate decision to resign: 'If anyone had tried to blackmail me, I would not have gone'
Benedict XVI cannot be clearer when he says that: "So I wrote the text of the resignation, I cannot say with precision when, but at the most 14 days beforehand. I wrote it in Latin because something so important you do in Latin." (Ibid., pp. 60-61)
He adds: "A weak point is perhaps my lack of clear, purposeful governance and the decisions that have to be made there.,. So, practical governance is not my forte, and there, I would say, is a certain weakness." (Ibid., pp. 255-256).
Furthermore, in a letter addressed to the Secretariat of the Prefect for Communication, Msgr. Dário Edoardo Viganò, which he writes on the occasion of the presentation of the Collection, The Theology of Pope Francis, Benedict XVI says that there is an "internal continuity" between his pontificate and that of Francis.
Always praise and warmth for Francis and his 'mercy'
And he adds: "These small volumes rightly show that Pope Francis is a man of profound philosophical and theological formation and, therefore, help us to see the interior continuity between the two pontificates, although with all the differences of style and temperament."
Furthermore, on June 28, 2016, on the anniversary of the 65th priestly ordination of Benedict, a ceremony was held in Clementine Hall, where Pope Francis was also present. In his brief final greeting, Benedict XVI speaks again of mercy: "Thanks above all to you, Holy Father! Your kindness, from the first moment of the election, in each moment of my life here, really moves me inside."
Francis follows Benedict's footsteps and prays with an iman at a mosque in Turkey
Finally, the letters of Benedict XVI to Cardinal Brandmüller - which have recently been published - absolutely destroy any dream of those Ratzingherians who pretend that he is still the Pope. In the first letter of November 9, 2017, Benedict XVI states as clearly as possible that only Francis is the Pope.
His words to the Cardinal are these: "As Pope Emeritus, I tried to create a situation in which I was absolutely inaccessible to the mass media and in which it was fully clear that there is only one Pope."
We see that the Ratzingherians try to show that the resignation of Benedict XVI is invalid are baseless. The arguments put forward do not proceed. However, those "arguments," despite their variety, lead to a single result: Benedict XVI is still Pope and, so, Francis is not a true Pope.
Self-delusional attempts to justify 'Pope Benedict'
This speaks volumes about the real reason for these attempts: It is not so important to understand how things are, but rather what end they want to reach, which is to state that Francis is not a true Pope - in one way or another.
So, with the clarification of the words of Benedict XVI himself declaring that he is not Pope and that the pontificate of Francis is in continuity with the preceding ones, what are we left to think? I believe that there are only two things we can think:
Clear continuity among the Vatican II Popes
2. Or, those who promote this theory are hypocritical scoundrels who simply want to take advantage, confuse people and, through this confusion, constitute themselves as an infallible criterion for determining who is and who is not the Pope.
If we give these people the benefit of the doubt and consider that they are innocent, then, they do what they do out of ignorance or from the painful disappointment they possibly have upon learning that "Saint Benedict" is an example far from what holiness is.
Benedict and Francis: hosting immoral performance and circus shows in the Vatican hall
For the sake of the argument, if we admit the hypothesis that Benedict resigned under the pressure of a mafia, this mafia could not have had power unless if had been bolstered by the previous conciliar Popes and by Benedict himself. Should we also blame Francis for this?
At any rate, it does not seem a very honest or courageous position for a Pope who resigns and abandons the flock when the wolf is inside it.
It is enough here to remember the following words of Christ:
"But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep: And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep." (Jn 10: 12)
In short for decades, our Pontiffs have wandered around as if they were drunk. Their dependence on the absinthe of Progressivism and Modernism continually increase. They roam in the dark night of Humanism. Perhaps the Bavarian has better hidden his intention than the Argentinian, but at the end of the day, both walk hand in hand, singing the same tango and staggering in the same direction.
It is up to us to not lose sight of what the Prince of the Apostles said: "Sobrii estote et vigilate: qui adversarius vester diabolus, tamquam leo rugiens, circuit quærens quem devoret: qui resistite fortes in fide." Be sober, be watchful! For your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith. (I Pet 5: 8-9)
You can watch it here with English subtitles.
Posted February 13, 2019
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