Login 
''Remember your faith; wake Christ within you'' - St. Augustine of Hippo.
First the bad news! In a sense it was not really 'news' to hear Cardinal Baldisseri state that, prior to it being published, Pope Francis had viewed and approved the October Synod's disastrous mid-term Relatio report. Though modernists hoped such to be the case, and orthodox Catholics feared it was, all involved really knew deep down that it had to be the case. Nevertheless, not wanting to make things seem worse than they might be, up to now we have spoken of the dangerous errors being furthered, through the synods of 2014-2015, as being 'Kasperian ideology'. From now on we will consider ourselves fully justified to publicly use the term which we have long thought in private: in all truth, we are dealing with a 'Bergoglian ideology'.
During this weekend, the stark reality of this has really sunk in further for us. Let us recall that the Relatio document was only a mid-term working document. It was also rejected by the bishops who stood up and stated that it did not express their views during the synodal discussions. Nevertheless, in three key areas it expressed ideological premises at odds with the constant teaching of the Magisterium. The Relatio asked whether the Church could: value homosexual orientation; allow those living in adulterous situations to receive Holy Communion; recognize so-called ''positive aspects'' of objectively sinful relationships.
We also now know officially that Pope Francis did indeed push for the problematic points to be taken forward to the 2015 Synod, even though they did not achieve the necessary 2/3 majority of votes. In relation to this, it is very troubling to note that, although a 2/3 majority was not reached, that a large majority of bishops did in fact vote in favour of developments which contradict the constant teaching of the Magisterium, and even the Divine and Natural Law.
All of this makes even clearer where Pope Francis is coming from with three of his well-publicised acts; meeting last weekend with a 'transgendered' woman and her 'partner'; marrying co-habiting couples just prior to the Synod; speaking on the telephone with a divorced woman who wanted to receive Holy Communion. In each of these cases, it was left to those involved to speak to the media and give the impression that they had been affirmed in their lifestyles; rather than cautioned about the spiritual dangers they were putting themselves in through objectively grave matter in sin, much less being helped to make a good confession. On the other hand, Pope Francis spoke harshly of a mother of a large family, sniped at those seeking 'doctrinal-security', and has not been so quick to meet with the founder of the persecuted Franciscans of the Immaculate or the traditional bishop of Paraguay.
Still, this was meant to be an encouraging article for sea-sick Catholics on the troubled Barque of St. Peter!
Firstly, remember that Papal Infallibility has limits. It means that the Holy Father is preserved from ever solemnly promulgating error from the Chair of Peter. These synodal manipulations are doing enormous damage to countless souls but they are not Ex Cathedra. Don't let them harm your own soul, faith or walk with Christ. Whilst damaging to society's reception of the Church's truth claims, such manipulations cannot actually destroy the truth in its essence. This is because of the promises of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit for His Church.
We also wanted to include a heartening reflection of St. Augustine of Hippo on the miracle of Jesus Calming the Storm. As the Church now struggles through a very dangerous spiritual storm, sea-sick readers may find it helpful to set some time aside this week to prayerfully reflect on the account of this given in Mark's Gospel 4:35 - 41.
St. Augustine - in his Sermones, 361, 7, - provides a helpful exegesis on this account:-
In many instances in the Bible, the sea symbolizes a place of evil forces that only God can control (cf. Ps. 65:7; 89:9-10;107:23-30). By His domination of the elements, exerted by the giving of the same kind of order that brought demons to heel (v.39;cf.1:25), Jesus shows Himself to have the power of God: hence the disciples' ask, in verse 41: ''Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey Him?''Â
The words that Jesus uses: ''Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?'' teach us a perennial truth: faith conquers fear; if we have faith in Jesus, nothing can disturb our peace: ''Christian, Christ is asleep in your boat. Wake Him up and He will calm the storm and your fears... You are afraid because you are asleep; you are tossed about on the stormy desires raised by the breath of those who tempt you to do evil because your faith is asleep. 'Your faith is asleep' means you have forgotten your faith. To wake Christ means to awaken your faith, to recall what you believe. Remember your faith; wake Christ within you. Your faith will immediately still the frightening winds and waves of those who tempt you to do evil.''
Dear readers, we hope these words will provide you with some encouragement and nourishment today. Seafarers in storms often lash themselves to a bulkhead to protect themselves from being swept overboard. Let us lash one another to Christ in prayer. Keep close to Jesus and Our Lady through worthy reception of Holy Communion, frequent Confession and good spiritual reading - rooted in Sacred Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Lives of the Saints.Â
And in all things - Keep the Faith!
