In recent years, many Catholics have looked to Cardinal Caffarra as one of the few lights in the present darkness.
A priest confided to me that in the past few days, he went to tell the Cardinal of his distress over the disasters that he endures in the Church every day, mentioning some incidents to him.
The cardinal burst into tears, saying:
“The Lord will not abandon His Church. There were twelve apostles, so the Lord will start again with a few. Imagine the suffering of Saint Athanasius, who was left alone to defend the truth for the love of Christ, of the Church and of men. We must have faith, hope and fortitude.”
The priest confided in me: “The cardinal was very sorrowful, but he conveyed to me so much courage and love for the Church.”
Caffarra’s reference to St. Athanasius refers to the darkest moment in Church history, when the Arian heretics took control of the Church in the fourth century.
Almost alone, Bishop Athanasius’ voice rose to the defense of Catholic truth. He was excommunicated by the pope and suffered exile four times.
But shortly thereafter, the Church returned to true faith and subsequently canonized Athanasius by proclaiming him Father and Doctor of the Church.
The priest that spoke with the cardinals repeated that he was very sorrowful. One might perhaps think that he died of a broken heart. Certainly in the secrecy of prayer, he had offered God his life for this poor, lost Christianity.
He was certain that in the world and in the Church, the Lord will win in the end. Thus, in recent years, he was found to be the protagonist of a powerful defense of the Catholic Faith and of the sacraments in the face of Pope Bergoglio’s Amoris Laetitia.
In this testimony, he was comforted by the prophetic words which he had received years ago from Sister Lucia of Fatima in a letter in which she wrote to him that “the final battle between God and Satan will be about marriage and the family”.
This story – in addition to revealing to everyone his wisdom, his faith, and his courage – also shed light on his deep humanity.
I have a personal memory of this. It was August 15, 2010, the feast of the Assumption. My daughter Catherine had just awoken from a coma and was admitted to the “House of Awakenings” in the Bolognese hills.
To our surprise, that day, we saw Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, Archbishop of Bologna, arrive in the intense heat, in his own humble and simple way.
He had come to see Catherine, whose plight he had followed, (we were in indirect contact) and he stayed with us the entire day.
He was dressed like a simple priest. He also went to greet everyone who was sick, as well as their relatives. A true man of God.
Up until then, I knew him as a very robust theologian, friend and collaborator of John Paul II and Benedict XVI who appreciated him so much.
But that day – in that place of pain and hope – I found him to be a true father. His humanity and his paternal wisdom struck me, and I found them all again in his last mission for the Church.
(Translated by Matthew Mangiaracina)
Originally published at AntonioSocci.com. Reprinted with permission.
What the good Cardinal said is the Truth. And it is to be noted that it is also what BXVI said at Cardinal Meisner’s death. That Cardinal Caffarra said the same thing to this suffering priest good to know.
It’s shows that he knew how desperate the situation truly is, for to invoke the Lord not abandoning His Church shows that many people may be lead to believe that He has or will because of how awful things are in the Church at this moment in Salvation History. It also shows that he took Benedict’s words as a comfort for himself in this time of terrible crisis.
I know that Cardinal Caffarra didn’t need Benedict to say “…the Lord does not abandon His Church.” to know it himself. But it is not a coincidence that he uttered these words to give solace and express his own grief to a struggling priest so shortly after Benedict did in conjunction with Cardinal Meisner’s death.
“The Lord will not abandon His Church. There were twelve apostles, so the Lord will start again with a few. Imagine the suffering of Saint Athanasius, who was left alone to defend the truth for the love of Christ, of the Church and of men. We must have faith, hope and fortitude.”
To which I say Amen.
May God grant eternal rest to Cardinal Caffarra and may He raise up others in the Church who will continue his Holy work.
One interesting note is that the Cardinal, God rest his soul, who interviewed Sister Lucia and seems to have been a friend of Pope Benedict XVI (who certainly saw the third secret) discussed the Church rebuilding with a few faithful apostles. Such language would lead one away from some of the hysteria regarding end times and Fatima and the great apostasy as I assume (wrongly so, perhaps) that if all of this was clearly discussed and alluded to in the secret that Cardinal Caffara would instead of said that he’ll be praying for the Church and those who will suffer through the chastisement.
Cardinal Caffarra has publicly stated that he wrote a letter to Sister Lucia and solicited her prayers for the success of the Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family, which was established back in the early 1980s. His letter was written to Sister Lucia via her bishop, and she responded to the cardinal by letter.
Did Cardinal Caffarra interview Sister Lucia at some point?
Keep an open mind. In Revelations John writes of the end times, but the vision(s) he had may have been figurative rather than factual. The great apostasy was given as the beginning of the last days, but we don’t kniw how long they last or what events will actually occur. All we really know is that things will be very bad, it will seem like all is lost and those who persevere with love and trust in God will be victorious. There is little doubt the end times have begun vecause the apostasy has begun. The Catholic Church and every other religion that calls itself Christian are losing members like a sieve and even within the Church there is apostasy with some 65% to 73% of its members admitting they no longer believe the fundamental truths and doctrines of the faith. A wholesale avandonment if the faith of this magnitude has never happened before. This is not hysteria. It is based on verifiable fact. Taken in conjunction with the vision of Leo XIII, the evidence for the end times having started is quite credible. Even Revelations doesn’t say the last days begin suddenly, out of the blue. We were warned by Mary of iur sinfulness at Lasalette, Lourdes, Fatima, Akita and, yes, at Garabandal and Medugorje. I believe the full force of the kast days gas been like a rusing tide of evil that will bring on a rising tide of more and more severe chastisements until finally Jesus must call an end to the nonsense. The seven seals in Revelations appear to suggest such a scenario. If I am correct, we — the truly faithful — need to oray diligently, fervently and constantly for the grace and fortitude to persevere whatever comes, even our own martyrdom. Fear not, for God is with us and He is our refuge, our strength and our savior and no other
I don’t disagree but just found it interesting. In truth, I have no idea about what may be going on but the days feel darker (I mean literally, to me, at noon it seems vaguely dim and darker than it used to); there is chaos in the world and the Church and time seems to be going by inordinately quick. And I say this as somebody who is clinically very healthy mentally, more spiritually committed and involved than ever and preparing to welcome our third child in December. And like you, I am not prone to hysteria or mindless speculation.
Overall, I have a weird feeling: I am not optimistic nor pessimistic, I am not frightened per se nor do I feel secure. To steal a phrase from Lord of the Rings, I kind of feel like “the deep breath before the plunge”. But a plunge into what? I know not.
I have heard Traditional priests say that we are at the end of
the 5th age of the Church. And that the 6th age will be short (believed to be the period of peace obtained by the proper Consecration of Russia). John Vennari’s (RIP) article about La Salette said Our Lady stated about 25 years of peace (6th age of
the Church). I have heard other places the peace will last 25-30 years . Then, Our Lady said, Antichrist will come (7th and last age
of the Church).
I share your sense of unease. I, too, am experiencing a wonderful period in my life for which I am so very grateful.Much peace in my heart, despite great sorrows and challenges. Life is good! But,….something is very wrong and it is growing stronger. I take my refuge in God’s arms and in the Truth of his Son. God bless us all who labor for Christ.
Jesus told us we need to be aware of the “signs of the times.” I am pessimistic regarding the world, mankind, because so very many souls are being lost when God desires that all people be saved. Yet, I am optimistic regarding the fulfillment of all that we have been promised. I am hopeful that I will reside in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. And I pray the Lord will bring to perfection and completion the good work He has begun in eaxh of us.
I know what you mean, and it’s funny how you bring up that you are in a very healthy place in your life, because that is true of me and is for me a big counter-point to the uneasiness that I feel. On the one hand, I have a job that I love, a great family, our Faith, and a home we love. We make plans for the future, and yet there is still an uneasiness that the world is dark and getting darker. I could easily project the happiness of my own life out onto the world without seeing that is not the reality for most. I don’t know what the future holds.
It’s really, really an odd feeling. You summed it up perfectly when you said you project the happiness but it’s not the reality for most. I am radiantly happy when my family and I are all together at the park, mass or in our home–including when they’re in bed and I’m praying the Rosary and when I’m in church (which is normally with my family except for Eucharistic Adoration). However, when we’re not at one of the aforementioned places but are out in the world (restaurants, malls, sporting events) everything instantly feels foreboding, people look stern and unfriendly, the air is stagnant and it just feels repressive.
…Like being surrounded by a crowd of orcs or something. I exaggerate of course, but not long ago the family and I were out a big event in our town and the ubiquitous tattoos, the language, the appearances…it was all that and something more than that, something almost spiritual. I couldn’t wait to leave. I wonder how many other Catholics are experiencing that these days.
No, Matt, you don’t. Honestly, just before I posted my comment I deleted a final sentence that said I feel surrounded by people who are under some level of demonic assault. I just thought it would be going too far but…I do feel that way.
A crowd of orcs! Oh, my, yes. The tattoos, green hair, the complete absorption in smart phones, the language. And yet,….very nice people. A total disconnesct for me. Like there are two different types of humans on the planet right now.
Not “figurative”, IMHO. As real as a hurricane.
Basic stuff: Revelation, no “s”.
There are now two visions of Christianity. The first is based on the Law of Moses and the worship of our Creator in churches with a tabernacle which is a modern Ark of the Covenant. This image is dying and being phased out by a “new and enlightened view” of modern times. It is now Matthew, Marx, Luke, and John. Man is no longer a temple of God but a “BMU” (Behavior Modification Unit) being used to build a “Brave New World” based on social and economic equality.
Except for Medjugorje, I agree with you.
Sorry Moderator, slightly off topic but very hopeful and
extremely important!
Margaret,
Did you get the letter about the Fatima Center going to
Russia to do a conference there and to try to convince the
Russian people to ask/pressure the Pope to consecrate?
Wooo Hooo!! Busting that old “We don’t want to anger the
Russians” excuse.
Beginning of November, I think. Michal Semin,
Chris Ferarra and the lady that wrote “The Mosque of Notre Dame”
all speaking. Did you see it??? Stroke of genius, I think.
Wonder if it was originally Fr. Gruner’s (RIP) idea?
His spirit still fights on. 🙂
I got it Monday and it’s a fabulous idea. Personally, I think if the Russians realized that this is the greatest honor that could be bestowed upon them, I think that they would *demand* the Collegial Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
I wish I was going with them, but don’t have the $$, so I’m donating instead.
I agree on all points!!
Why not Medjugorje?
The local bishop has not approved it. Also, there are “messages” which contradict the traditional teaching of the Church. +John Vennari (eternal memory!) wrote articles on why one should not follow Medjugorje. In sum, it’s the modernist alternative to Fatima.
Interesting. I was unaware of John’s article. I was there over Christmas of 1993 and there’s a rather lengthy story behind my trip.
If this isn’t “mass apostasy”, then what is it?
It’s mass apostasy but we don’t believe in rapture or this 1000 years kingdom of peace/respite. When Christ returns it’s all over, viola, last and final judgement, earth falls away. Based on the foregoing, I would have expected something more explicit if Fatima really predicted that the current mass apostasy was part of the end: there’s not going to be a remnant to rebuild the Church because it’s not our job to build the Church in Heaven and there won’t be an earth upon which to rebuild it.
Pretty tough to handle. Who can now deny that Francis is building a world socialist Church which includes “gypsies, tramps, and thieves”. There is no sin and all that he can say is “inequality is the root of social evil”.
I have simply come to the point that I ignore everything the man says unless somebody indicates he’s speaking ex cathedra. When he pronounces something ex cathedra which contradicts doctrine or, even worse, the Bible (the inerrant Word of God….you know…that thing) then I just resolve to reiterate to whomever wants to listen the truth and I reject his teaching.
Sadly, AL was an “apostolic exhortation”. It was not an encyclical which would have opened him up to charges of heresy. The fact that he knew this is a matter of grave concern in and of itself.
Cardinal Caffarà didn’the read the 3rd Secret.
Cardinal Ciappi did and said that it dealt with the great Apostasy (in the Church) that will begin AT THE TOP. Who would be able to contradict him while we are currrently seeing the Apostasy spreading from the TOP?
I am imagining that Cardianl Caffarra, given his position and friendship with Pope Benedict XVI probably knew the secret. The point of which was not that we are not going a great apostasy: the point I was making that unlike so much of the hysteria the secret must not have predicted the end of the world as part of the apostasy, if it did, why would he mention rebuilding the Church? That was my point.
Jacques, you are right. It is about the apostasy which Pope Francis has begun with a deceptive simplicity,
Led to believe.
Thank you
If this man of God remained faithful to the end, how can I not?
Cardinal Caffarra, the fight that you waged has begun a new stage where you will intercede for us here, but don’t think for a second that the fight dies with you. We will take it up from here and rely on your intercession. God bless you, and may angels bear your soul to its heavenly home.
What Matt said.
Beautiful!
“The cardinal burst into tears, saying:”
‘The Lord will not abandon His Church. There were twelve apostles, so the Lord will start again with a few. Imagine the suffering of Saint Athanasius, who was left alone to defend the truth for the love of Christ, of the Church and of men. We must have faith, hope and fortitude.’
“Almost alone, Bishop Athanasius’ voice rose to the defense of Catholic truth. He was excommunicated by the pope and suffered exile four times.”
Stop your crying! You could have spoken after the Dubia but you stayed silent!
Yes, imagine poor St. Athanasius, but you weren’t alive then…imagine now, poor Archbishop Lefebvre, you were alive and again, like the Dubia, just stayed quiet and waited and now you cry…may God have mercy on your soul!!!
RIGHTEOUS
THUNDER
Five times banished
Exiled seventeen
Excommunicated champions
God puts at each scene.
Saint Athanasius,
Feast day of worth
On the second of May
The month of great mirth.
Out in the deserts –
As history has charted –
You preserved the true Mass
Great lion-hearted.
Now Lefebvre
And the sixties egalitarians
Like Athanasius,
His time his Arians.
For He who abolished
Death by death
Sent him to absolve
Sin width and breadth.
And yes the same moon
The same sun we’re all under…
We venal rain – but Lefebvre
Righteous thunder!!
“Tradidi Quod Et Accepi”
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4fb76b7a396f0a22b046424d8364657ad22fb551fc3c4d0223dfba836fba81fb.jpg
Harsh.
I deleted it. Unfortunately people allow anger to cloud their minds.
Sometimes one just has to “Let go and let God,” as someone I knew used to say.
Bill W.? 🙂
Maybe harsh, but to my ears the post conveys more the sense of exasperation that many Catholics feel in regards to the half steps taken by the hierarchy of the Church in defense of the faith. I tend to be “prudent” and try to hold my tongue, especially when discussing someone who appears to be a apparent ally. But that doesn’t mean I don’t often feel the same sense of exasperation.
‘may God have mercy on your soul’ followed by four exclamation points is a tad bit more than exasperation.
Cardinal Caffarra doesn’t have to spout off like a berserker to be righteous, he spoke Truthfully, publicly and courageously while almost every other Bishop and Cardinal remained complicity silent or against the Tradition of the Church. He suffered calumny after calumny (and obviously still does) and took it all with humility and charity. To attack him after his death for not being a brawler is ridiculous.
It also supposes a lot of things: the Church has always been hierarchical with procedures and processes. Is it possible that St. Athanasius may have also followed procedures and established norms? Did he actually hear heretical teaching and instantly start battling or did he try to be fraternal first?
Many seem not to realize that publishing the dubia and then publishing the request for an audience regarding the dubia and the pastoral crisis at the parish level regarding pastors of souls (which was written and requested by Cardinal Caffarra) and stating that the audience had been denied is a form of well deserved public rebuke (not the formal correction mind you, but rebukes nonetheless.) Especially when you read the sincere and respectful request, it puts PF in the light he deserves to be seen in.
There seems to be a bit of rebuking on that score and on the issue of a fallen priest named James Martin.
Hi father, hope you are well.
Absolutely, Father.
Oh, I’m not defending the post. In fact, I agree you were right to delete it for the points you mentioned above. I was just trying to give a sense of where it might be coming from. Much of it also has to do with resentment that almost no Bishops defended Lefebvre when he was maligned. Note, it would be unjust to accuse Caffarra of that as he did not become a Bishop until 1995.
Doesn’t our Lord say something like “Those who are not with Me are against Me”? The fence sitters and those too timid or fearful to defend the faith will need a very good lawyer when they stand before the Judge.
Anger is one thing, but spite is another. I don’t know, but I sensed a bit of that in the comment, but I only glanced over it.
All I know is that the moderators do a wonderful job staying on top of inappropriate comments. No grass grows under their feet! By the time I get here, they’ve already all been deleted. I very seldom see any ‘off’ comments.
One has to wonder why these people remain silent now if they woukd give their kives in defense of the faith? Silence gives consent or approval. Many, perhaps, like me as a theologian, may keep silent because, even as part of the hierarchy, they are too low on the totem pole for anyone to listen to them. They’d be speaking to an empty room. But the rest — bishops and cardinals? Where are they?
Think of the bishops of Henrican England (or one could say, Fat ‘Arry Porcine England). Those bishops weren’t time-servers and mediocrities, but highly educated Renaissance-type gentlemen. See: http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/review/399
But still, only one of them stood up against the ‘Arry Ogre, John Fisher. When the pope honored Fisher with a Cardinalate, the fat Monster joked that Fisher would have trouble wearing his hat, because he wouldn’t have a head! (And the wretched king killed Thomas More, one of the best men in the kingdom, and Europe, too, which shocked all of Europe, actually.)
So we are today dealing with something similar. My guess, and it’s only a guess, is that many are just scared, and thus shouldn’t be “direct successors of the Apostles” in the first place. Others are waiting El Bergo out, like most of England’s bishops were when Henry started his insanity. Some are just foolish, blind, not intentionally bad just “out of the loop”. And then others are truly two-faced, appearing “conservative” when a JPII is on the throne and “liberal” when a Progressive is on the throne. And finally, many are out-and-out revolutionaries. But all of ’em are terrified as to what will happen to the Church. They need Faith. It’s “saving Faith” that seems to be in short supply.
Which bishop is which God knows for sure, and he’ll deal with ’em appropriately. Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” We all can see which bishops fit that blessing.
God knows exactly what is what and who is which. As for the rest of us, remember verse 4: ” Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Amen to that.
RC
This is what the liberals refer to as “rigidity”. Anyone who stands for principle is attacked as being the enemy of the unity of all beliefs.
Those are good histories to remember, and we should also remember that the Apostles ran away and hid after Jesus was taken, and only one was present at the foot of the Cross, and that one WASN’T THE FIRST POPE!!!!!
That’s right, RodH. Remember, “My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9
And also, i mean, in a sense, why are we upset at all? The Vat2 Church is imploding. Magnum Principium is a great gift in that: the Modernist Church is opting for the Curse of Babel. Let ’em.
Then too, Fr Z reports there’s only 6 new seminarians starting in Ireland this year:
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2017/09/ireland-manmade-vocation-wasteland/
So clearly, the Vat2 Church is dying own accord.
God is directing history. We should have Faith.
RC
corvinescatholiccorner
1 Peter 4
12 Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try you, as if some new thing happened to you;
13 But if you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is of the honour, glory, and power of God, and that which is his Spirit, resteth upon you.
That’s true! The Moderators are ever-watchful here. BTW, out of curiosity, what happened to The Great Stalin? Commentators come and go for many reasons, of course. Lots of time and effort for everyone involved.
RC
I have known of “The Great Stalin” for many years across many different fora and many different blogs. He is a little like Dr Who in his ability to “regenerate” and slip right back in where he left off. I have great confidence that he “will not leave us as orphans” and that he will return – if he has not done so already. 😉
He did already. Of all his noms de plume, I can’t stand the one you mentioned. There was and is nothing great about Stalin. To use the image of Joseph Stalin as an avatar…I’m sorry, I can’t post what I want to say.
Benedict (his real name) posted on another thread.
Thank you very much Cardinal Cafarra! Your “last” words make me sad but they are at the same time also encouraging! We really need more inspiring and courageous men / priests / bishops / cardinals of your calibre.
St. Athanasius who was excommunicated by Pope Liberius became the 1st Doctor of the Catholic Church and who was known as the Father of Orthodoxy stated “The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of Bishops.”
Gal 1:8 “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.”
“Who is going to save our Church? Not our Bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops like bishops and your religious act like religious” – Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
The following ominous quote is attributed to Cardinal Pacelli concerning the future of the Church from Msgr. Georges Roche and Philippe Saint Germain’s Pie XII devant l’Histoire(published in 1972 by Robert Laffont, Paris) p. 52
I am worried by the Blessed Virgin’s messages to Lucy of Fatima. This persistence of Mary about the dangers which menace the Church is a Divine warning against the suicide of altering the Faith, in Her liturgy, Her theology and Her soul. … I hear all around me innovators who wish to dismantle the Sacred Chapel, destroy the universal flame of the true Faith of the Church, reject Her ornaments and make Her feel remorse for Her historical past. A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, ‘Where have they taken Him?’
— Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli (the future Pope Pius XII)
When did Liberius excommunicate Athanasius? Liberius was exiled himself for refusing to support a condemnation of Athanasius!
He was pressured into doing it. Read St. Athanasius: Defender of the Faith by the late Michael Davies. Angelus Press published it: 1-800-96-ORDER.
I see the “red lamp” every time that I go to church. It is over in the corner.
“The Lord will not abandon his Church” – On these words, help me to stand Lord, as your priest, during these confusing times. Help me not to be discouraged but to offer the mass with more fervent devotion and love for you, and for your your Church.
That is a theologian who believes in Scripture. “When you see the abomination … lift up your heads, your liberation is near.” Who has ever trusted in God and was left abandoned? Our Lord is guarding the Church. He gave his life for the Church. He won’t let her suffer beyond what is needed for her purification. These are days for discernment and discipline, prayer and fasting. Confusion grows but those who have faith see that this is happening just as it was predicted. The signs are thickening. Have courage!
Confusion comes from having Mortal within the Soul! “God is Light, in Him there in no darkness at all!” After we were Baptized, we become a Member o the Mystical Body of Christ! What is that Mystical Body? That is the Resurrected Body of Christ The Lord! It is the Presence of God, therefore, in That Body there is No Darkness at all! Our Lord Christ Jesus made sure that w our Souls remain in that Purity,. thus, He gave the Sacrament of Reconciliation to help us to keep our Clean at all times so that no matter when The Lord our God decides to call anyone of us to go Home with HIM, we would be in the State of Grace! Anyone who is Close to the Sacrament of Confession will never be Confused, because, the Light of God is within the Soul, keeping that soul in constant Purity, no Evil could be present. That means Confusion could ever enters that soul. Try the Evil will, but it knows it will fail! The Gift of Confession is the KEY for to avoid Confusion! What disturbed some of us was having learned the Pope saw Shrinks on a regular bases for a number of YEASR, while being a priest! He should knew that Confessional was the place to be! Our Confessionals are empty, but the offices of Shrinks are very busy! something to think about!
Excellent, provided that one has a good confessor. One lady who occasionally posts here has to travel hundreds of miles to go to church, let alone confession.
Thank you Carlos – very spiritually uplifting. Deo Gratias.
By his words it seems the church (current structure) will fall. If it’s will start again with a few, it means either this huge edifice will not be in place or it will become something else and the Church will be somewhere else. The desert maybe?
Which Pope is the author of this article alleging excommunicated St. Athanasius? Julius I welcomed him to Rome when he was in exile. And Julius’ successor LIberius, while his support for Athanasius was tepid at best, was exiled himself from Rome because he refused to support the condemnation of Athanasius. In addition, Sts. Hilarius of Potiers (the “Athanasius of the West”) and Eusebius of Vercelli, suffered exile for their opposition to Arianism as well.
Good people are always simple, humble, and unostentatious.
With every passing, of Meisner and Cafarra, I feel grief and take it very personally.
In addition to seeing God face to face, the good Cardinal now also sees the inevitable victory of good over evil and the downfall of the present modernist ascendancy which currently grips the Church. Cardinal Caffarra’s tears are now replaced by unrestrained joy. I hope we all will share his joy soon.
Pray for his soul. We can none of us have certainty about someone’s presence in heaven unless they start performing miracles! If he’s already there, they won’t be wasted.
“Caffarra’s reference to St. Athanasius refers to the darkest moment in Church history, when the Arian heretics took control of the Church in the fourth century.”
I wonder whether a century from now, people will be referring to our time as the “darkest moment in Church history.”?
At least the Arian heresy was one single heresy – the divinity of Christ (or lack thereof as they believed). But right now the Church is engulfed by a whole tsunami of heresies emanating not from one arch-heretic priest but even from the very top of the hierarchy. To be sure, denying the divinity of Christ was a big one, but it is resurfacing along with so many others right now.
One could argue that as a result of Amoris laetitia an even greater heresy has been unleashed on the Church. As Prof Seifert pointed out AL 303, if interpreted in the way in which the Pope seems to support, undermines the whole edifice of Moral doctrine. But even more than that, its implications are that God can actively will His children to commit intrinsically evil acts. This would be such an abominable rejection of everything we believe about God, that I suggest it amounts to an even greater heresy than Arianism – it proposes that God Himself is the author of sin.
And the great majority of the hierarchy seem content to go along with this…..
Surely for those who survive this era with their faith intact, a period of great grace awaits them when the Light returns.
How sad is this?
Wow. Amazing article, amazing Cardinal, and also amazing comments. My prayers are united with yours.
Viva Cristo Rey!
I would say that our current day rivals anything faced by the Church, back in the days of Saint Athanasius. In our time, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and Bishop Antonio de Castro Mayer were the only two voices to hold firm to the Faith of the Fathers. They were real men, true Bishops, fearless in defense of their flocks. The most we get today, is a limp wristed
“Dubia.”
My faith is in the one true God and those who defend the authentic truth of the Catholic Church. Jesus promised us that the gates of hell will not prevail against us. Vivat Jesus.
May Cardinal Caffara keep his prayers for us and the whole Catholic Church from heaven.
Don’t forget to pray for his soul!
What a truly wretched individual is Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
The man of so-called “mercy” is responsible for such suffering, such confusion and such upheaval in the Church.