[ 0 → 4] TrapCast Express [ 4 → 15] TrapCast Express, it's Monday, September 19th, 2022. [ 16 → 20] Does the Holy Spirit still guide the Church? [ 21 → 28] That question was asked by Eric Sammons of Crisis Magazine on September 8th. [ 28 → 33] Considering that Sammons wrote a book called Deadly Indifference, [ 33 → 38] How the Church Lost Her Mission, and How We Can Reclaim It, [ 39 → 44] I'd say that is not the kind of fellow you'll want to consult about questions of whether or how [ 44 → 48] the Holy Spirit guides the Catholic Church. [ 49 → 56] And indeed, his write-up was the usual shallow treatment of a very serious and important topic, [ 56 → 58] with a predictable conclusion. [ 58 → 65] In conclusion, of course, it reaffirmed once more the popular recognize-and-resist position, [ 65 → 71] according to which the Vicar of Christ can teach or legislate or decree one thing, [ 72 → 80] and then a magazine editor like Eric Sammons can decide to disagree and go against that in public [ 80 → 86] and tell everyone else to follow suit because, hey, the Pope isn't always infallible, [ 86 → 88] and besides, [ 88 → 95] what about the Aryan crisis and, oh my gosh, we once had popes who were moral scoundrels? [ 95 → 102] That's pretty much the level of theology and Church history at which Sammons operates, [ 102 → 104] and it's utterly disgraceful. [ 105 → 112] Because these are really serious matters, and a Catholic cannot simply refuse submission [ 112 → 118] to the Roman pontiff and then point to some other bishop that he chooses to let go of. [ 118 → 126] Instead, whether that be Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre or Athanasius Schneider or Ted Strickland, [ 127 → 131] and then declare those bishops the safe norm to follow, [ 131 → 135] because that is not how it works in the Catholic Church. [ 137 → 144] The Pope has immediate universal jurisdiction over every single Catholic. [ 144 → 146] That is a dogma. [ 147 → 147] Okay? [ 147 → 149] You can look it up in Vatican I. [ 150 → 155] That means you are subject to the Pope, right, if you're Catholic. [ 155 → 159] So, if we assume for a minute, for the sake of argument, [ 159 → 163] that Francis is the Pope and his modernist establishment is the Catholic Church, [ 164 → 167] then you must submit to his rule. [ 168 → 173] And what he teaches, what he legislates and decrees, [ 174 → 176] at least in his official documents, [ 176 → 177] that is for you to... [ 177 → 178] to accept. [ 178 → 178] Okay? [ 179 → 179] Period. [ 180 → 183] If an auxiliary bishop from Kazakhstan says something different, [ 184 → 189] then you do not have the option of simply going by that instead. [ 189 → 192] Not even if you're in that diocese. [ 193 → 198] Now, of course, Eric Sammons just so happens to conclude [ 198 → 201] that the way the Holy Ghost still guides the Church, [ 202 → 205] and he means the Novus Ordo Church, of course, [ 205 → 207] that sorry heap of apostasy, [ 207 → 212] sacrilege, and blasphemy that continually leads souls to hell, [ 212 → 218] is by giving us shepherds just like the ones that he, Sammons, [ 218 → 219] happens to agree with. [ 220 → 224] Even if, or rather, precisely because, [ 225 → 229] they differ from Francis and oppose him to an extent. [ 230 → 231] This is nuts. [ 231 → 237] By the same token, one might as well disagree with Schneider, [ 237 → 240] or Strickland, and instead embrace, you know, [ 241 → 245] Blaise Cupich, or Robert McElroy, or Reinhard Marx. [ 246 → 246] Right? [ 246 → 251] They, at least, have the full approval of the supposed pope. [ 252 → 254] But no, no, no, says Sammons, [ 255 → 258] those individuals are not being led by the Holy Spirit. [ 259 → 262] They are being unfaithful to the Holy Ghost. [ 264 → 266] Let's look at what Eric Sammons says verbatim. [ 267 → 271] Having touched on some troublesome points of church history, [ 271 → 276] he says that the Holy Ghost guides the church only with a light touch. [ 277 → 281] Then he adds, very casually, the following, quote, [ 281 → 286] He allows sinful men to corrupt the church's institutions, [ 286 → 290] to proclaim heresy, and to degrade the witness of the church [ 290 → 293] to the point of near silence. [ 294 → 296] The Holy Spirit's guidance is just that, [ 296 → 297] guidance. [ 298 → 303] The church is not a puppet through which the Holy Spirit controls all the strings. [ 304 → 309] Such a setup would violate one of God's greatest gifts to mankind, free will. [ 311 → 314] So, how does the Holy Spirit guide the church? [ 315 → 317] Instead of controlling her, [ 318 → 320] he influences each individual member, [ 321 → 323] and particularly, but not exclusively, [ 324 → 325] each member of the hierarchy. [ 326 → 331] This influence can be either accepted or rejected by each individual. [ 332 → 334] If many individuals accept it, [ 335 → 337] the church will see good times, [ 337 → 340] with growth and examples of holiness shining through. [ 341 → 345] But if most individuals do not accept the Holy Spirit's guidance, [ 345 → 348] then we have times such as the Arian crisis, [ 348 → 351] or today's crisis, unquote. [ 352 → 353] In other words, [ 353 → 355] the office of the papacy, [ 355 → 357] the magisterium of the Holy See, [ 358 → 359] in the final analysis, [ 359 → 361] it's all basically useless, [ 361 → 364] because it can be corrupted by sinful men. [ 365 → 366] It means nothing, [ 366 → 367] and has no guarantees, [ 368 → 369] except perhaps that [ 369 → 373] once-in-a-blue-moon infallible ex cathedra pronouncement. [ 374 → 376] Now, what documentation, [ 377 → 379] what evidence from church teaching, [ 379 → 382] does Sammons provide in support of his thesis? [ 384 → 385] None, of course. [ 385 → 388] He is effectively asking the reader [ 388 → 390] to take his word for it all. [ 391 → 394] He thinks the church is guided by the Holy Spirit [ 394 → 397] in the sense that God sends graces, [ 397 → 399] and if people accept those graces, [ 399 → 401] then things turn out well. [ 401 → 402] And if they don't, [ 402 → 404] then you have hell on earth. [ 404 → 406] You have the papal magisterium teaching heresy [ 406 → 409] and leading the Catholic sheep astray. [ 409 → 413] And I guess it's then up to each individual believer [ 413 → 415] to figure out which way to go. [ 415 → 416] Which bishop, which cleric, [ 416 → 420] is currently acting in accordance with God's graces? [ 420 → 423] Which pope is currently teaching the truth? [ 424 → 426] And which pope is a heretic [ 426 → 429] who must be avoided under pain of damnation? [ 429 → 432] That's quite the arc of salvation, huh? [ 433 → 437] I mean, any Protestant could say that about his church. [ 438 → 442] And then if some bishops resist and others don't, [ 443 → 444] well, I guess then you have... [ 445 → 447] Then you have to decide which group of bishops is right, [ 448 → 450] or if even any of them is right, [ 450 → 451] and to what extent. [ 452 → 455] And we're supposed to believe that that is the church [ 455 → 458] outside of which there is no salvation? [ 459 → 462] It sounds like there's no salvation inside of it either. [ 463 → 467] But hey, Eric Sammons is there to help you sort it all out. [ 467 → 472] Folks, this is considered traditional Catholicism in our time. [ 472 → 474] It is beyond the pale. [ 475 → 478] So, what should you do then? [ 478 → 481] Should you take my word instead of Sammons' word? [ 482 → 484] No, not at all. [ 484 → 489] Rather, take, for example, the word of Pope Leo XIII. [ 491 → 491] Quote, [ 491 → 494] For he who is the Spirit of truth, [ 495 → 498] inasmuch as he proceedeth both from the Father, [ 498 → 499] who is the eternally true, [ 499 → 503] and from the Son, who is the substantial truth, [ 503 → 504] receiveth from Eve, [ 505 → 509] each both his essence and the fullness of all truth. [ 509 → 513] This truth he communicates to his church, [ 513 → 516] guarding her by his all-powerful help [ 516 → 520] from ever falling into error, [ 520 → 523] and aiding her to foster daily [ 523 → 527] more and more the germs of divine doctrine, [ 527 → 531] and to make them fruitful for the welfare of the peoples. [ 532 → 534] And since the welfare of the peoples, [ 535 → 536] for which the church was established, [ 537 → 540] absolutely requires that this office [ 540 → 542] should be continued for all time, [ 543 → 547] the Holy Ghost perpetually supplies life and strength [ 547 → 550] to preserve and increase the church. [ 551 → 553] I will ask the Father, [ 553 → 556] and he will give you another paraclete, [ 556 → 558] that he may abide with you forever, [ 558 → 561] the Spirit of truth." [ 561 → 562] Unquote. [ 562 → 564] And that last sentence is a quote from [ 564 → 565] St. John, [ 565 → 565] St. John's Gospel, [ 566 → 567] chapter 14, [ 567 → 569] verses 16 and 17. [ 570 → 572] So, that is from the encyclical [ 572 → 573] Divinum Illud, [ 574 → 576] published in 1897, [ 576 → 577] paragraph 5. [ 577 → 579] That was Pope Leo XIII. [ 581 → 584] Or, consider the following words [ 584 → 585] of Pope Pius XI, [ 586 → 587] who wrote in 1930, [ 588 → 588] quote, [ 589 → 592] A characteristic of all true followers of Christ, [ 592 → 594] lettered or unlettered, [ 594 → 595] is to suffer them all, [ 595 → 597] to be guided and led [ 597 → 600] in all things that touch upon faith or morals [ 600 → 602] by the Holy Church of God [ 602 → 604] through its supreme pastor, [ 605 → 606] the Roman Pontiff, [ 607 → 608] who is himself guided [ 608 → 611] by Jesus Christ, our Lord. [ 612 → 612] Unquote. [ 613 → 614] And that's from the encyclical letter [ 614 → 618] Casti Canubii, paragraph 104. [ 619 → 621] Now, ironically, that encyclical [ 621 → 624] is quite popular among semi-trads [ 624 → 625] because, you know, [ 625 → 626] it's the great encyclical [ 626 → 627] on Christian marriage. [ 628 → 629] And, of course, [ 629 → 631] it includes a prohibition [ 631 → 632] of contraception. [ 632 → 634] But, somehow, [ 634 → 636] that part that I just quoted [ 636 → 638] doesn't get that much attention. [ 639 → 640] Ah, but, [ 641 → 643] the Pope isn't always infallible. [ 644 → 644] Right? [ 645 → 646] That's right. [ 647 → 649] But then, neither is Eric Sammons [ 649 → 651] or Athanasius Schneider [ 651 → 652] or Peter Kwasniewski. [ 654 → 656] Besides, God never told you [ 656 → 658] that you should listen [ 658 → 659] to any of these fellows. [ 660 → 661] But he did tell you [ 661 → 663] to listen to the Pope [ 663 → 666] and not just when he's infallible. [ 667 → 669] See, the deposit of faith [ 669 → 671] was entrusted to the apostles, [ 672 → 673] specifically to St. Peter [ 673 → 674] and his successors, [ 675 → 677] to guard and interpret [ 677 → 678] and guarantee. [ 679 → 681] It was not entrusted [ 681 → 682] to any other individual [ 682 → 683] of our choosing. [ 684 → 686] Whether his last name be Burke [ 686 → 688] or Lefebvre or Schneider [ 688 → 689] or anyone else. [ 690 → 691] And, see, that's why [ 691 → 692] it is so important [ 692 → 693] to understand [ 693 → 696] that Francis [ 696 → 697] is not a valid Pope. [ 698 → 699] There is no substitute [ 699 → 701] for a true Pope. [ 702 → 702] That is why [ 702 → 704] Sedevacantism is so important. [ 705 → 706] It's not a bunch of Sedevacantists [ 706 → 708] arrogantly making their view [ 708 → 710] into a dogma. [ 710 → 712] It's applying the correct [ 712 → 713] pre-Vatican II doctrine [ 714 → 715] and teaching on the papacy [ 715 → 716] to the current situation. [ 718 → 719] And that pre-Vatican II [ 719 → 721] understanding of the papacy [ 721 → 724] we have an obligation to retain. [ 724 → 725] It's not optional. [ 727 → 729] But once we apply that [ 729 → 731] to Jorge Bergoglio in particular, [ 732 → 734] we find out that the man [ 734 → 735] cannot be the Pope. [ 736 → 738] The papacy is not just [ 738 → 739] an empty label. [ 739 → 741] It is a reality [ 741 → 743] that has real consequences. [ 744 → 747] Now, let me briefly say [ 747 → 749] one thing about Pope Liberius [ 749 → 751] and St. Athanasius [ 751 → 753] and the Arian heresy. [ 753 → 755] Because a lot of people think [ 755 → 757] that Pope Liberius [ 757 → 758] sided with Arius [ 758 → 760] and that whereas [ 760 → 762] St. Athanasius remained Orthodox, [ 762 → 764] the Pope did not. [ 764 → 766] That is false. [ 767 → 769] But don't listen to me about that. [ 770 → 771] Listen to the Popes. [ 771 → 772] For example, [ 772 → 774] Pope St. Anastasius I [ 774 → 777] who reigned shortly after Liberius [ 777 → 780] from 399 to 401. [ 780 → 781] In his letter [ 781 → 783] Dat Mihi Plurinum, [ 783 → 785] St. Anastasius mentions [ 785 → 787] Pope Liberius in a list of [ 787 → 789] holy people who endured exile [ 789 → 791] for the Catholic faith. [ 791 → 793] And you can find that [ 793 → 795] in Denzinger No. 93. [ 796 → 799] Or listen to Pope Pius IX. [ 799 → 800] He said this, quote, [ 800 → 801] And previously, [ 802 → 805] the Arians falsely accused [ 805 → 807] Liberius, also our predecessor, [ 807 → 809] to the Emperor Constantine [ 809 → 811] because Liberius refused [ 811 → 814] to condemn St. Athanasius, [ 814 → 815] Bishop of Alexandria, [ 815 → 818] and refused to support [ 818 → 819] their heresy. [ 820 → 821] Unquote. [ 821 → 822] That's from the encyclical letter [ 822 → 825] Quartus Supra of Pius IX [ 825 → 828] released in 1873. [ 828 → 830] That's paragraph 16. [ 831 → 832] And lastly, [ 832 → 834] let's look at Pope Benedict XV. [ 834 → 836] Not only does he name [ 836 → 838] Pope Liberius as one of those [ 838 → 839] who preferred exile [ 839 → 841] to compromising the faith, [ 841 → 843] he specifically notes [ 843 → 845] that St. Athanasius was confirmed [ 845 → 847] in the Orthodox faith [ 847 → 849] because he relied on [ 849 → 852] the papal judgment of Liberius. [ 852 → 853] Here's the quote [ 853 → 855] from the encyclical of [ 855 → 856] Pope Benedict XV. [ 857 → 857] Quote, [ 858 → 860] The ancient fathers, [ 860 → 861] especially those who held [ 861 → 863] the more illustrious chairs [ 863 → 864] of the East, [ 864 → 865] since they accepted [ 865 → 866] these privileges [ 866 → 867] as proper to the [ 867 → 868] pontifical authority, [ 869 → 870] took refuge [ 870 → 872] in the apostolic sea [ 872 → 873] whenever heresy [ 873 → 875] or internal strife [ 875 → 876] troubled them. [ 877 → 878] For it alone [ 878 → 879] promised safety [ 879 → 881] in extreme crises. [ 882 → 883] Basil the Great did so, [ 884 → 885] as did the renowned defender [ 885 → 886] of the Nicene Creed, [ 887 → 888] Athanasius, [ 888 → 890] as well as John Chrysostom. [ 891 → 891] For the great [ 891 → 893] of these inspired fathers [ 893 → 894] of the Orthodox faith [ 894 → 896] appealed from the councils [ 896 → 898] of bishops [ 898 → 900] to the supreme judgment [ 900 → 902] of the Roman pontiffs, [ 902 → 904] according to the prescriptions [ 904 → 906] of the ecclesiastical canons. [ 906 → 907] Who can say [ 907 → 908] that they were wanting [ 908 → 910] in conformity to the command [ 910 → 912] which they had from Christ? [ 912 → 913] Indeed, [ 913 → 914] lest they should prove [ 914 → 916] faithless in their duty, [ 916 → 917] some went fearlessly [ 917 → 918] into exile, [ 919 → 920] as did Liberius [ 920 → 921] and Silvarius. [ 921 → 927] So that's Pope Benedict XV, [ 927 → 928] the encyclical [ 928 → 930] Principi Apostolorum Petro, [ 931 → 933] published in 1920, [ 933 → 934] paragraph 3. [ 936 → 937] So there we have it. [ 937 → 939] The Holy Ghost guides [ 939 → 941] the Catholic Church above all [ 941 → 943] by keeping the apostolic sea [ 943 → 944] from defecting. [ 945 → 947] The Roman sea alone [ 947 → 948] has that guarantee. [ 950 → 950] Vatican I, [ 950 → 951] the first Vatican, [ 951 → 952] Vatican Council, [ 953 → 954] teaches that explicitly, [ 955 → 956] quoting the words [ 956 → 957] of the Fourth Council [ 957 → 958] of Constantinople, [ 959 → 959] as follows, [ 960 → 960] quote, [ 960 → 962] Since that saying [ 962 → 964] of our Lord Jesus Christ, [ 964 → 965] You are Peter, [ 965 → 966] and upon this rock [ 966 → 967] I will build my church, [ 968 → 970] cannot fail of its effect [ 970 → 972] the words spoken [ 972 → 973] are confirmed [ 973 → 974] by their consequences. [ 975 → 977] For in the apostolic sea, [ 977 → 978] the Catholic religion [ 978 → 980] has always been preserved [ 980 → 980] unblemished, [ 981 → 983] and sacred doctrine [ 983 → 984] been held in honor. [ 985 → 987] Since it is our earnest desire [ 987 → 989] to be in no way separated [ 989 → 990] from this faith and doctrine, [ 991 → 992] we hope that we may deserve [ 992 → 994] to remain in that one communion [ 994 → 997] which the apostolic sea preaches, [ 997 → 999] for in it is the whole [ 999 → 1000] and true strength [1000 → 1002] of the Christian religion. [1003 → 1003] Unquote. [1006 → 1008] All other dioceses in the world [1008 → 1010] can defect from the true faith, [1010 → 1013] but the Sea of Rome cannot. [1014 → 1016] But if Francis is the Pope, [1017 → 1019] then the Sea of Rome has defected. [1020 → 1022] Ergo, he cannot be the Pope. [1022 → 1025] That is the only possible conclusion [1025 → 1028] without giving up the Catholic faith. [1029 → 1030] And therefore, [1030 → 1033] we embrace Sedevacantism [1033 → 1034] rather than recognize [1034 → 1036] and resist traditionalism, [1036 → 1039] because while the Sea of Rome [1039 → 1040] cannot defect, [1040 → 1042] it can be vacant. [1043 → 1044] And yes, that raises [1044 → 1046] a lot of other questions [1046 → 1046] and difficulties, [1047 → 1048] and we have to leave [1048 → 1050] a number of things to mystery, [1051 → 1052] trusting and believing [1052 → 1053] in God and his promises. [1055 → 1057] But what we can say with certainty [1057 → 1059] is that the solution [1059 → 1060] is not found [1060 → 1064] in accepting a defected apostolic sea [1064 → 1066] and just picking some other bishop [1066 → 1067] to follow. [1068 → 1069] That other bishop [1069 → 1070] or priest [1070 → 1071] or whatever [1071 → 1072] doesn't have [1072 → 1074] the divine assistance. [1075 → 1077] And if you think he does, [1078 → 1079] well, then that's based [1079 → 1081] on your own private judgment [1081 → 1082] and contradicted [1082 → 1083] by the teaching [1083 → 1085] of the Catholic Church. [1086 → 1087] Ladies and gentlemen, [1088 → 1089] the key takeaway here today [1089 → 1092] is what Vatican I [1092 → 1093] and Constantinople IV [1093 → 1095] teach so beautifully [1095 → 1096] and so clearly, [1096 → 1098] that the divine assistance, [1098 → 1100] the promises of Christ, [1100 → 1101] to St. Peter [1101 → 1103] and his lawful successors, [1104 → 1106] cannot fail in their effects [1106 → 1108] and are therefore confirmed [1108 → 1110] in their consequences. [1111 → 1113] Now it's time [1113 → 1114] to acknowledge [1114 → 1115] the consequences. [1117 → 1118] Tradcast Express [1118 → 1119] is a production of [1119 → 1120] Novos Ordo Watch. [1121 → 1123] Check us out at tradcast.org [1123 → 1124] and if you like what we're doing, [1125 → 1126] please consider making [1126 → 1128] a tax-deductible contribution [1128 → 1130] at novosordowatch.com. [1130 → 1131] That's novosordowatch.org slash donate.