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Cardinal Caffarra Has Died

Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, Archbishop emeritus of Bologna, Italy, has passed away. He was 79 years old.

Caffarra is now the second of the four dubia Cardinals to die in the past 60 days. In fact, his death comes two months, almost to the day, since the passing away of Cardinal Joachim Meisner on July 5.

Cardinal Caffarra was unique amongst the dubia cardinals in that he had received a warning message from Sister Lucia in the 1980s about the fight that was coming. In a 2008 interview, Caffarra revealed the unexpected message he was given by the Fatima visionary:

Q. There is a prophecy by Sister Lucia dos Santos, of Fatima, which concerns “the final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan”. The battlefield is the family. Life and the family. We know that you were given charge by John Paul II to plan and establish the Pontifical Institute for the Studies on Marriage and the Family.

A. Yes, I was. At the start of this work entrusted to me by the Servant of God John Paul II, I wrote to Sister Lucia of Fatima through her Bishop as I couldn’t do so directly. Unexplainably, however, since I didn’t expect an answer, seeing that I had only asked for prayers, I received a very long letter with her signature – now in the Institute’s archives. In it we find written: the final battle between the Lord and the reign of Satan will be about marriage and the familyDon’t be afraid, she added, because anyone who operates for the sanctity of marriage and the family will always be contended and opposed in every way, because this is the decisive issue. And then she concluded: however, Our Lady has already crushed its head.

Before he signed on to the dubia, Caffarra made clear that he believed Amoris Laetitia to have been a real problem for the Church:

With regard to the papal exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, Cardinal Caffarra points out that its “Chapter 8 is, objectively, unclear” since it causes “conflicts of interpretations even among bishops.” In such a case, continues the Italian prelate, one has to refer to the continuity of the Magisterium of the past in order to receive clarity. “In matters of Doctrine and Morals, the Magisterium cannot contradict itself,” Caffarra states. With regard to the question of the “remarried” divorcees and their access to Holy Communion, the cardinal makes clear that this cannot be changed and that these couples are still not allowed to receive Holy Communion. He refers here to the previous magisterial teaching of the Church and continues: “Now, if the pope would have wanted to change that teaching – it is very clear – he would have the duty, indeed the grave duty, to say so, clearly and explicitly. One cannot change the age-old discipline of the Church with the help of a footnote, and in an uncertain tone.”

In January 2017, Cardinal Caffarra broke his silence on the dubia, taking pains to demonstrate both a filial respect to the pope and an awareness of the “grave duty of us cardinals to advise the pope in governing the Church. It is a duty, and duties oblige.” He again reiterated his serious concern about that “which only a blind man can deny,” namely that “in the Church, there is a great confusion, uncertainty, insecurity caused by certain paragraphs of Amoris Laetitia.” When it comes to the discipline regarding the sacraments of marriage, confession, and the Eucharist, said Caffarra, “some bishops say A, others say the opposite of A.”

In an interview with 1P5’s Maike Hickson in July of last year, Caffarra made clear his concerns for the state of marriage in the world and the confusion surrounding this holy institution even within the Church:

The condition in which marriage finds itself today in the West is simply tragic. Civil laws have changed the definition, because they have eradicated the biological dimension of the human person. They have separated the biology of generation from the genealogy of the person. But I shall speak about this later. To Catholic faithful who are confused about the Doctrine of the Faith concerning marriage, I simply say: “Read and meditate upon the Catechism of Catholic Church nn. 1601-1666. And when you hear some talk about marriage – even if done by priests, bishops, cardinals – and you then verify that it is not in conformity with the Catechism, do not listen to them. They are the blind leading the blind.”

His advice to the faithful on how to preserve the Catholic Faith in its entirety and raise children to eternal life should perhaps be the thing we remember most about this Italian prelate who so committed himself in his final days to defending the teachings of Our Lord:

Caffarra: I will tell you very frankly that I do not see any other place outside the family where the faith which you have to believe and to live can be sufficiently transmitted. Moreover, in Europe during the collapse of the Roman Empire and during the later barbarian invasions, what the Benedictine monasteries then did can likewise be done now by the the believing families, in today’s reign of a new spiritual-anthropological barbarism. And thank God that they [the faithful families]  exist and still resist.

A little poem written by Chesterton brings me to this reflection; he wrote it at the beginning of the twentieth century: The Ballad of the White Horse. It is a great poetic meditation on an historical fact. It takes place in the year 878. The King of England, Alfred the Great, had just defeated the King of Denmark, Guthrum, who first had invaded England. And thus came a moment of peace and serenity. But during the night after the victory, King Alfred has a terrible vision [in Book VIII: 281-302]: he sees England invaded by another army, which is described, as follows: “… What though they come with scroll and pen [a strange army it is, indeed, which has no weapons, but pen and paper – Cardinal Caffarra], And grave as a shaven clerk, By this sign you shall know them, That they ruin and make dark; By all men bound to Nothing, …. Know ye the old barbarian, The barbarian come again.”

Believing families are the true fortresses. And the future is in the hands of God.

The future is truly in the hands of God, as is the soul of the good Cardinal Caffarra. May God grant him eternal rest, and if he is welcomed into eternal beatitude, may he intercede for us poor sinners here below who carry on the fight in his stead.

103 thoughts on “Cardinal Caffarra Has Died”

    • I’m not sure ‘food testers’ would be a terribly over reactive idea for the 2 remaining. Although, in Edward Pentin’s article, it started out saying that he ‘died suddenly’. Followed up by he had been suffering from an illness. (didn’t specify) I’m sure more details will come later. We will see. All of the Cardinals except for Cardinal Burke are getting up in age however.

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  1. Cardinal Caffarra knew that silence in the face of the manifest dangers contained in Amoris Laetitia was not a viable option, so it was only with greatest trepidation, gentility and self-doubt (qualities his opponents–convinced of their virtue and harmony with the Spirit–deeply lack) that he sought to address them. He was a model of St. Francis de Sales’ wise counsel: “Cook the truth in charity until it tastes sweet.”

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  2. I urge all NOT to give in to the temptation, however jokingly expressed, to conclude that the Cardinals who oppose error and confusion are being murdered.

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    • I think it’s still safe to assume, Chris, that even those like me who deplore the Bergoglian disaster do not believe he or members of his cohort have descended to Clintonian levels.

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      • If by his “cohort” you mean his dodgy colleagues within the Church then I can understand how you might want to defend them.

        But there is so much more to it.

        It’s not just a Bergoglian disaster. It’s a worldwide disaster encompassing so much more than “just” the Catholic Church.

        Bergoglio is not in charge albeit he may be one of those at the top. If someone else wanted the Cardinals dead then they will be dead. They are not “with the project” (a phrase used by a number of those who are.)

        There are a number who could have given the instruction.

        At the same time, I am prepared to accept that God has taken them to rescue them from the (even more) insanity to come.

        Coincidence though, despite their age, is just too much.

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        • No one is “defending” anyone. It’s merely a matter of what is probable and what is far less likely. Conspiracies exist and always have, but for me they need to be proven with solid evidence not conjectured.

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          • Apologies I did actually mean to change that first bit which sounded a little wrong. Unfortunately sometimes on my phone what I have written gets lost and it takes a while to find it and then I get distracted which is what happened then.

    • Now why would you say such a thing? Both of the cardinals who died were up in years and certainly could have died of natural causes. That being said, there is not much that I wouldn’t put past the men who make up the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Will an autopsy be done? Was an autopsy done on Cardinal #1 of the Dubia?

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    • Well, God does not “murder” — but it may well be that he has taken these two princes from our midst as a sign of urgency to those who remain.

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  3. “In the face of a new spiritual barbarism, the family is the only place left to transmit and live out the faith.”

    Encouraging words, as they match exactly my experience. My family and I will honor this brave man with fidelity reflecting his own. I will not let anyone tell me different. There are shining examples of those few who remain standing amidst the gale. As Chesterton alludes, it is an honor to have the chance to stand with them. Alone.

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  4. To be honest, think that God is taking these excellent priests before all hell break loose on earth, seems that they don’t have to suffer the grave punishments that will come…

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    • I agree. I believe these men are God’s final gift of gracious forbearance to this wayward pontiff. Once this divine olive branch is spent, there will be no other, only swift and terrible judgment.

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      • Could be.

        This Pope could not have gotten more gentle and even effeminate men to resist him.

        NONE OF THEM have modeled St Paul and “resisted him to his face”.

        Dubia are questions about heresy, not resistance to the fomenter of heresy.

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        • Yes, the effeminate church, so lacking in real men taking it to the grill. We cannot afford our faithful shepherds to be as doves now – we need some Hawks! Cleaning house like Jesus did in the Temple “and He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.”

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        • The reason they are cardinals; is because they are gentle.( referring to the holy cardinals).
          We KNOW the vile ones are not so gentle at all.

          That is the problem. So many, when they are young, believe they can ” hide” a little bit and wait things out so as to be present for the Church when that day comes.
          But, while they “hide” their light under the bushel, they became weakened by nature, for they fail to use their God given masculinity. I do not believe for one moment Cardinal Burke or any of the Dubia cardinals would purposefully do this…….but, it is a way of life in the hierarchy. Play along here and there, to get along, to hopefully do whatever.

          For example, a Pope Pius X type of cardinal would not make it to first base in the hierarchy today or in the last ????? years. Now there was a man who understood, ” I came into this world with nothing on, and I shall go out with nothing on.” Such a good and humble, humble pope, who never forgot his priesthood nor His Master that he served in the Church.

          I am with you RodH. One must be true to God and to oneself. That is the real test of faith, I think. The parish priest will be our strength now. And he will be tested like never before.
          That is where we shall defend the Church, from the parishes.
          And that is where the laity will not only protect their priests, but build each other up as well.

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          • “The parish priest will be our strength now. And he will be tested like never before.
            That is where we shall defend the Church, from the parishes.
            And that is where the laity will not only protect their priests, but build each other up as well.”

            GREAT statement!!!!!!

          • I really think it is going to come to that. And even within those parishes, it will come down to the families.

        • How can Cardinals resist the Pope to his face when they took a special vow of obedience to the Pope when they became cardinals? The vow certainly seems to neuter brotherly accountability.

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          • A vow of obedience to the Pope doesn’t bar one from resisting if he is WRONG.

            the truly hilarious thing about the current guy is his fawning praise of “dialogue” and openness in debate.

            HAHAHAHA!!!!

            Does anyone take this guy’s words at face value?

    • If that’s true than God would want to keep us in error without leadership. Your idea seems plausible until you realize the after-effects. I don’t think God built a church so laymen can tell people about the truths of the faith, and if so why not be Unitarians if the hierarchy is only a font of error?

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        • The Arian heresy mostly affected the East and 80% of bishops, and barely had any influence on the West. Modernism has touched most every single bishop East & West with ecumenism and indifferentism. A little different by measure of scope and depravity. I cannot imagine the Arians enjoying the Novus Ordo or finding respect for the “homosexual person” as found in the modern catechism.

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      • My comment is only directed to the deaths of Card. Mesiner and Card. Caffara, not to be generalized believing that God will abandon us taking all the good priests in the world… God has different missions for each of us, and for each of the Priests in his Church, I believe these two Cardinals have accomplished theirs.
        We still have a good amount of excellent Priests and Cardinals that are leading the fight against the spread errors that have infected our Holy Catholic Church, Priests and Cardinals that God is using to fulfill the promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

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        • No, God will not abandon His faithful but remember …….Luke 18:8 Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? The Faithful will be a remnant

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    • In truth, why should these guys get a pass anyhow?

      All four of them have lived their lives doing good but not fighting the enemies of the faith and condemning them publicly by name. NONE of these men are combative in the service of the Lord. NONE.

      We need a new culture in the Church and it is my opinion that the Lord is offering that option up “to those who have ears”.

      Where would we be today if prelates had been righteously combative, condemning the evil ones continuously and endlessly since V2? Such a culture was the culture of the Church in times past and certainly was the method used by Jesus and the Apostles and the Fathers. Ever noticed how gentle Cardinal Burke is WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE RAPE OF THE CHURCH?

      But no, since V2 it’s all about fraternal harmony and gentle suggestions.

      This generation truly is, like the generation of Hebrews who were not courageous enough to enter the Promised Land, going to and in fact DYING in the desert.

      May God raise up Calebs and Joshuas from among the priests who will some day become bishops.

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  5. May the Good Lord bless His Servant Cardinal Carlo Caffarra: Eternal Rest Grant unto him O Lord and let the perpetual light shine upon Him. Amen.

    Requiescat in pacem, Amen,

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  6. El Bergo is just following the old adage, “The secret of success is to outlive your enemies.” Or was it “The best revenge is served cold”? (As in just let your enemies die off, then give ’em their dinner?)

    Problem is, God doesn’t die. Well, yes, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity died, so God DID die, as Jesus was a true union of both the Divine Nature of the Eternal Logos with which the Father created all that is, and the BVM’s human nature. But that Second Person is alive again, and will sit in judgement. And He will give it, to us, to Cardinal Caffarra (Requiescat in pace!) – and to every last human being. Trying to hide on that day won’t work. Remember Revelation 19:15 “And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp two edged sword; that with it he may strike the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God the Almighty.”

    Why will the Lord of Hosts so treadeth? Because:
    “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.” St. Matthew 5:6

    Amen.
    RC

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  7. Meisner and Caffarra have been called to our Lord. God reward them abundantly!
    Who now will raise their voice for Christ? For the laity left to grovel in absurdities put forward by cowards.
    Who among the clerics garbed in red will be man enough to step forward?

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  8. May God look kindly upon this faithful servant and admit Cardinal Caffara to his eternal reward.

    I can’t help but think each of these deaths is a sort of countdown… to what I don’t know. But time is growing short. We’re closing in on one year of the dubia being delivered to Pope Francis’ desk. Our Lord won’t wait forever.

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    • I wouldn’t say them, but I get your drift. The best defense is a good offense. If (God forbid!) Cardinal Brandenmuller or Cardinal Burke goes, then you know that something is rotten in Denmark (apologies to Shakespeare and all the Dutch)

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  9. Cardinal Brandmuller at 88 is older than both Meisner (83) and now Caffarra (79).

    Cardinal Burke just turned 69 June 30. In time, he may well be, among the dubia cardinals, the Last Man Standing.

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    • His birthday is June 30th? Awesome! That’s the Synaxis of the Holy Apostles and the passing of Blessed Vasyl (Basil) Velychovsky on June 30, 1973. Yours truly was baptized on June 30th but some years before.

      O Blessed Vasyl, pray for Cardinals Burke and Brandenmuller!

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      • Don’t forget – it was 2 cardinals who put their names on the critical study of the NO aka The Ottaviani Intervention. And look what that started. (Never mind the fact that Archbishop Lefebvre actually wrote it.)

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  10. Here we have yet another sad day in the life of the Church. Yet let us not in our sadness forget that the men who promised a correction have not yet publicly made that correction.

    And seriously, who even thinks such a correction will have some sort of spectacular results?

    The foul rot permeates the Church now and it seems obvious that such a structure cannot remain as such, full of division and chaos. No, as the heretics insist on remaining, they must be driven out. That will require a lot more than a “correction”.

    Brace yourselves.

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  11. Is this what he means by “Time is greater than space.”?

    RIP Cardinal Caffarra. I pray that Christ will welcome you with the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

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  12. Well perhaps he will be able to do things in heaven that he was not able to do on earth. This is a sad day for us all but we must hope he can do something.

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  13. No need for sadness for he is a holy man.

    Like St Therese he will spend his heaven doing good on earth even more than he could when he was still earthbound.

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  14. What’s going to happen now? Only two Dubia Cardinals are left… If I didn’t know Christ promised us that the gates of hell would not prevail, I would believe the Church is finished.

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  15. Two dead, two more to go. Walter Brandmueller is 88 and looks like death

    Raymond should be very scared of the sins of gluttony, sloth, wrath and pride given his girth, small hands and green as envy.

    But who are we kidding. Most smug katholics are morbidly obese, haven’t met a good hard workout in a gym in decades, and are addicts to dopamine hits via internet bomb throwing, all the while hiding behind a red silk cappa magna

    Rodney Pelletier at “Church Militant” is a poster child of morbidly obese katholics

    hypocrites by no other name…right Raymond?

    https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/second-dubia-cardinal-dies

    Even now onepeter is in a desperate situation to raise funds bc they are poorly funded.

    Move over, Caffara, onepeter is next to join you.

    Pass the donuts, get the next fire bomb ready to throw at those heretiks!

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  16. Not to alarm anyone but I just saw that Michael Hichborn of the Lepanto Institute posted this video. He claims that the priest in it is giving details about the death of Cardinal Caffara which conflict with the earlier report and are eerily reminiscent of the circumstances under which the body of Pope John Paul I was found…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0jRzyXJZy8&sns=em

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  17. My name is Michael Emerson Long. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT CARDINAL RAYMOND BURKE WOULD MAKE A GOOD HOLY POPE. MAY OUR MOTHER MARY PROTECT HIM WIT- IN HER MOST HOLY MANTLE. My E-mail is [email protected] PLEASE ALLOW my name and my E-mail to REMAIN HERE at my own REQUEST. THANK YOU ALL.

    Reply

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