Podcasts about vatican council

Welcome to this enlightening episode of Father and Joe, where Joe Rockey and Father Boniface unfold the complexities and significance of a new papal election. With the election of Pope Leo, many Catholics and non-Catholics alike grapple with the question: "What does this new leadership mean for our daily lives?" While changes might seem ceremonial, Father Boniface provides deep insights into how different popes have redefined roles within the Church, highlighting shifts from Pope John Paul II, Benedict XVI, to Francis.We delve into Pope Benedict's contribution, focusing on his theological brilliance and subtle yet profound changes, such as his emphasis on localized beatification and the wealth of academic discourse he left behind. Unlike his predecessor, Pope Francis brought a mission-focused agenda fueled by simplicity and poverty, reshaping annulment processes, Curial structures, and emphasizing the global mission of the Church. Joe and Father Boniface discuss the unforeseen election of an American Pope, reflecting on how a conclave discerningly selects a pontiff to address contemporary ecclesiastical and global challenges, considering factors often veiled in secrecy.Father Boniface further illuminates the balance between doctrine, which remains unchanged, and governance, which can evolve with each papal reign. This episode enriches listeners' understanding of how a Pope not only influences ecclesiastical direction but also impacts billions globally. Whether you are a devout Catholic or a curious observer, this discussion promises to deepen your appreciation of the Papal office's depth and its alignment with the broader mission of the Church. Tune in next week for more reflections on Pope Leo's election and expectations in his papacy.Tags: Papal Transition, Pontiff, Pope Leo, Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, Catholic Doctrine, Church Governance, Vatican, Catholic Church, Papal Influence, Missionary Discipleship, Evangelization, Church Reform, New Evangelization, Church History, Pope John Paul II, Papal Election, Catholic Tradition, Spiritual Leadership, Theological Insights, Papal Teachings, Beatification, Synod, Catholic Audience, Religious Influence, Modern Christianity, Global Catholicism, Church Doctrine, Vatican Council, Church Unity, Catholic Faith, Church and Society, Clergy, Congregation, Catholic Community, Church Practices, Religious Discussions, Theology, Papal CeremoniesHashtags: #PapalTransition, #PopeLeo, #CatholicChurch, #Vatican, #PopeFrancis, #PopeBenedict, #ChurchHistory, #CatholicDoctrine, #MissionaryDiscipleship, #Evangelization, #ChurchReform, #PapalInfluence, #UniversalChurch, #SpiritualLeadership, #PapalTeachings, #CatholicTradition, #TheologyInsights, #ChurchGovernance, #CatholicFaith, #ReligiousInfluence, #Beatification, #Synod, #CatholicCommunity, #VaticanCouncil, #GlobalCatholicism, #ModernChristianity, #ChurchUnity, #CatholicAudience, #SpiritualDirection, #ChurchPractices, #ReligiousDiscussions, #PapalCeremonies, #NewEvangelization, #PapalElection, #ReligiousSignificance, #CatholicPodcast.

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God? It’s one of the hottest topics of debate online right now, and it seems as though there are many Christians who believe Muslims DON’T worship the same God. Joe walks us through the arguments and shares Church teaching to help guide us through this conundrum. Transcript: Joe: Welcome back to Shameless Popery. I’m Joe Heschmeyer. Do Muslims worship the same goddess Christians? It’s a hot topic of debate online. It’s got many Christians asking the question sincerely. And the second Vatican Council famously said yes to t...

On Hour 3 of the Patrick Madrid Show, Patrick discusses the following: Ed - What does the phase, No salvation outside of the Church mean? My wife and I are having a discussion on it. Craig - The Council of Arles 475 lays out what the Vatican Council said. The Church’s teaching on salvation is not new. Be sure that you stop at mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in the Diocese of Gallop, NM. They have just restored their communion rail. Gary – I am with you on 23andme. You are able to delete your information and discard the samples Michelle in AZ - Communion rail in Gallop, NM. I received my first communion there. Michelle in CA - facial recognition in my car: we can't escape this stuff. Patrick shares an article from the Christian Post on China's digital database Kathy - How come churches have the tabernacle in different places?

Today is the feast of Saint Perpetua and Felicity, two young mothers who gave their life for the Gospel. Father shares an inspirational address to all woman which was shared during the second Vatican Council.

Gospel Mark 9:38-40 John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.” Reflection It's hard for me to believe that for the first 27 years of my life, I believed that the Holy Roman Catholic Church was the only church that could bring somebody salvation. I wonder how that kind of teaching was so prevalent for so long, until Vatican Council blew it apart and talked about one very beautiful thing. Any community of people who turn to God and seek his truth is a means of salvation. It's not membership in a domination that saves us. It's whether or not we're open to what is true, who God really is, and what we're really here for. I ask you to take a few moments to reflect upon the images, these stories. And then I will close with a prayer. Closing Prayer Father, you called us into a community much bigger than our religion, our circle of friends and family, our country. We are called to be a part of your work throughout the world. Bless us with the ability to embrace all who seek the truth. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this weeks podcast we share a reflection from USCCB by Bishop Barron about Dei Verbum to mark the 6th Sunday of the Word of God.We have our regular liturgical odds and ends in part one and in part three we have our reflection on the Sunday gospel as we enter into the liturgical years ordinary time with Luke's gospel (Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21)Sunday of the Word of God 2025In his Apostolic Letter of 30 September 2019, Aperuit illis Pope Francis established that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be the Sunday of the Word of God. It is a day to be devoted to the celebration, study, and spreading of the Word of God. Pope Francis is clear from the very first paragraph of this letter that the relationship between the Risen Lord, a community of believers, and sacred Scripture is essential to who we are as Christians.The reflection we are sharing is from Bishop Barron speaking about Dei Verbum which is the dogmatic constitution on Revelation from the second Vatican Council which sets out the Catholic understanding and role of scripture in Revelation. Resources for Sunday of the Word of God:Resources from the Irish Conference of BishopsResources from the USCCBUSCCB Video - Dei Verbum: the Word of God - Bishop Robert Barron2025 Liturgical handbook from Dicastery for Evangelisation for 6th Sunday of the Word of God during the Jubilee 2025Vatican News - Pope to celebrate Mass on Sunday of Word of God Vatican News - 30/09/2019 - Pope establishes Sunday of the Word of GodText us at +353 874668950 or email at comeandseeinspirtaions@gmail.com

In this episode I welcome Dr. Janet Smith. Janet Smith recently retired from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, MI, where for nearly 20 years she held the Father McGivney Chair of Life Ethics.  She has published and spoken on the Church's teaching on sexuality and on other moral issues.  She has served on one Vatican Council and two Vatican commissions.  She writes regularly for various Catholic publications and does interviews for both Catholic and secular media outlets. More than two million copies of her talk, “Contraception: Why Not” have been distributed. We talk about ectopic pregnancies, the “principle of double effect” and more! Don't miss this amazing and enlightening episode! - Dr. Janet Smith's website: www.janetsmith.org , where you can get a free copy of her talk “Contraception: Why Not”. - During the interview, we spoke about the St. Paul VI Institute, founded in 1985 by Thomas W. Hilgers, MD, as an EXCELLENT alternative to “in Vitro Fertilization” (IVF). - You can find these topics in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 1897 to 1904 AND 2270 to 2275. - Article on the “Principle of Double Effect”: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/abortion-and-double-effect - Fr. Patrick Wainwright is a priest of Miles Christi, a Catholic Religious Order. - Visit the Miles Christi Religious Order website: https://www.mileschristi.org - This Podcast's Website: www.forcollegecatholics.org - To learn about the Spiritual Exercises (silent weekend retreat) preached by the Priests of Miles Christi, visit: https://www.mileschristi.org/spiritual-exercises/ - Recorded at Miles Christi “Family Center” in South Lyon, Michigan. - Planning, recording, editing, and publishing by Fr. Patrick Wainwright, MC. - Gear: SHURE MV7 USB microphone via Squadcast. - Intro music from pond5.com

Bishop Joseph Bambera marks the launch of a groundbreaking Catholic-Jewish initiative - Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition - with a wide-ranging interview with AJC's People of the Pod. At a time when recent events have challenged Catholic-Jewish relations, Bambera, the Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee (USCCB) on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, details why the church has made combating antisemitism a priority.  Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition, a joint project of AJC and the USCCB, features Catholic commentary on various entries of AJC's renowned Translate Hate glossary of antisemitic terms, themes, and memes. It comes as Catholic and Jewish communities prepare to mark six decades of trust-building and mutual learning beginning when the Catholic Church reached out to the Jewish people and the world with Nostra Aetate, the historic Second Vatican Council document disseminated on October 28, 1965, which dramatically and publicly decried antisemitism and transformed the Church's approach to the Jewish people for the better.Resources: New Glossary Breaks Ground in Tackling Antisemitism Through a Catholic Lens Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: with Hen Mazzig, Einat Admony, and more. People of the Pod:  Bernard-Henri Lévy and AJC CEO Ted Deutch on How to Build a Resilient Jewish Future Post-October 7 What's Next for the Abraham Accords Under President Trump? The ICC Issues Arrest Warrants: What You Need to Know Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. __ Transcript of Conversation with Bishop Bambera: Manya Brachear Pashman:   Nearly 60 years ago, the Roman Catholic Church issued a declaration called Nostra Aetate, a groundbreaking document that, among other things, aimed to heal the Church's strained relationship with the Jewish community at large. But over the past year, since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, there have been some tense moments: a call from Pope Francis to investigate whether Israel is committing genocide, a photograph of the Pope before a Nativity scene–featuring a keffiyeh. Now AJC and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops have unveiled Translate Hate: the Catholic edition, the glossary of antisemitic terms, tropes and memes, originally published in 2019, also features Catholic commentaries to explain why the church has made combating antisemitism a priority. Here to talk about this partnership is Bishop Joseph Bambera, Chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Ecumenical and interreligious affairs. Bishop, welcome. Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera:   Thank you for the honor of being with you today. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Bishop Bambera, please walk us through the Catholic edition of Translate Hate and how the Catholic Church became involved in this initiative together with the Jewish community. Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera:   I think the best way to walk us through the Translate Hate Catholic edition is to first take us back to 1965 and the Second Vatican Council and the declaration on the church's relationship with non-Christian religions, and particularly with the Jewish community. There was this really milestone declaration Nostra Aetate that I think many of us would be familiar with, and that really speaks about our relationship as it stands today. A relationship that I would say. tragically prior to the Second Vatican Council was not what it should have been. And on the heels of the Council, for almost 60 years, an anniversary that we'll celebrate next year, we have grown together in mutual respect and understanding.  That particular declaration Nostra aetate speaks very, very clearly about the fact that Catholics and Jews really share a common patrimony. We Catholics, our roots are in Judaism. Jesus was Jewish. His family was. And so many members of the early church were as well. And we recognize and affirm in that document the fact that the Jewish people were the first to hear the Word of God and are a part of a covenant relationship that certainly has not been in any way broken, but has been maintained. And something that we affirm and that we teach in that document. A very important thing, from my perspective. And as well, the document reminds all those who would be familiar with it, and certainly who should be, if they are not, of the importance of us coming to a deeper sense of mutual respect and understanding. Of decrying any sense of hatred, persecution, or antisemitic efforts on the part of individuals that really have been such a burden to the Jewish people. So that particular document really laid the groundwork, for the very simple fact that I am here today and a part of this initiative.  But to fast forward a bit, the reality of antisemitism, as you know better than I, it has hardly diminished, and sadly, has intensified in recent years. And well before October 7 of 2023. So much so that the bishops of the United States, many of them, brought to the attention of the committee that I chair, the Bishops Committee for Humanism and Interreligious Affairs, have brought to our attention the fact that we need to begin to do something in a more concrete way. To walk more intimately and closely and lovingly with our Jewish brothers and sisters and to address the reality of antisemitism in a very real and concrete manner.  And so in 2022 this committee that I just referenced, they issued a document that they shared with all of the bishops. It's called the Fruits of Dialogues: Catholics Confronting Antisemitism. And in many respects, I would say that that particular document was the impetus for this initiative that we are a part of today, the Translate Hate Catholic Edition, hopefully it's been the impetus for other efforts on the part of many bishops in their own particular dioceses and archdiocese to work with their Jewish partners, to help to eradicate this, or certainly to address it in a way that is hope filled.  So this document has been in the works now for quite a while particularly with the leadership of the Bishop's Committee and the American Jewish Committee as well. What you will find is building upon the antisemitic themes and tropes that were placed in the document when the American Jewish Committee put it together; we have provided commentary on a number of them from a Catholic perspective. So you know, if you look at the notion of deicide, the commentary that we provide there offers very clear Catholic theological teaching on the fact that that whole reality is certainly not something that we would ever intend to insinuate today is the responsibility of all of the Jewish people. In the midst of these commentaries, we offer current theological teaching. We offer teaching on human dignity, which is so much a part of our tradition and our hope and prayer for humankind, and we acknowledge, as well, in some of those commentaries, the fact that, you know, some members of the Church throughout history have been insensitive and inappropriately offered, and perhaps even negligently offered, words and actions that led to antisemitic efforts, sadly on the part of so many. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So what is the expectation? This document is going out. How are you expecting or wanting parishes and pastors to implement it? Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera:   Given the fact that it the document that the Bishops Committee came out with in 2022 was really at the initiative of many bishops in the United States, I would like to believe and think that the vast majority of our bishops will embrace this and use it in whatever way speaks to the situation within their own territory, their own region, relative to the Jewish community there. So for example, once this is officially promulgated today, later on in the day, we will be releasing from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on our bishops-only website.  We will be releasing a letter from me as the chair of this committee, and the document, and that will be followed up with a hard copy that will be sent to every bishop in the near future, following the online version that they'll receive today. We anticipate that this will be used by other committees that might have some relationship to the work that our committee does, and the hope that they would use them. We will be disseminating it to ecumenical officers who are appointed in every one of our dioceses to do the work of ecumenism and interreligious affairs folks.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   You mentioned Nostra Atate. In 1965 you were just a child then. And I should also mention AJC played a leading role in those conversations, as well with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. You were ordained 20 years later. And I'm just curious if this major turning point in Catholic Jewish relations, did it come up in your theology training, or 20 years later, was it just accepted as the norm? Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera:   You know, I will be frank with you, the term that you used in asking the question was, did it come up? Yes, it did. It did. But given the scope of issues that would be necessary to prepare a man for ministry in the church as a priest in the seminary, it was one of many things that everything rose to the level of being absolutely vital, all right, to our preparation. So this was but it took its place in a whole line of other things that were just as vital.  So maybe the best way to answer your question was, you know, a great deal of the teaching of the Second Vatican Council was integrated into many of the theology courses that I would have taken, all right, and the same would go for something like Nostra Atate. All right. We were, I was certainly familiar with it. All right. It was certainly something that was communicated as a very significant teaching, a milestone moment in our church, a clear refocusing of our relationship with the Jewish community. Prior to that, there were no relationships officially. So it was put before us as something that was vital to consider. But I would not be honest in wanting to suggest that in some way it was a major focus. It was one of many. Manya Brachear Pashman:   I do want to fast forward and talk about today. Of course, Catholic Jewish relations are quite complicated now, especially given the Israel Hamas war, I imagine educating inspiring your flock on the moral complexities of that war, while also rallying the faithful to combat the rise of antisemitism against Israel and the Jewish Diaspora at large is very complicated, and there have been some tense moments. Recently, a letter from Pope Francis, one year after the October 7 terror attacks, included a couple kind of eerily iconic phrases from John 8:44, a verse that's long been understood as a fundamental, eternal indictment of the entire Jewish people. He was even cited by the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter. A lot of Jews are irate that the Pope has called for an investigation into whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. And most recently, some people were upset that the nativity scene at the Vatican featured a baby Jesus resting in a manger draped with a keffiyeh, Palestinian national symbol, and I know that has since been removed from that scene. But how do you talk about all of these moments with your Jewish friends, friends like the Hollanders, when they arise? Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera:   First of all, the concern that you share in that question, maybe the hurt or the confusion that some of these things have caused. It's rather palpable. I spoke about it just coming into the studio today with Rabbi Marans. I would first say that the very fact that in this exchange that we are having here today, on a day that is a real positive step. I believe in Catholic Jewish relations with the promulgation of the Translate Hate Catholic Edition, I would say it's a testimony to the relationship that we have developed. And I want to thank you for that. I want to thank you for the question, you know, they're, not easy questions to address, but they are of great concern to you and so many others. And you, on behalf of your people, have a responsibility to ask me that question, and I need to say to you that my presence here today is meant to speak a word of encouragement regarding our relationship. It is one that is deeply valued. I treasure it. I'm grateful for it. I am honored to be here today.  Now with that, let me, let me speak a little bit more directly to the question and how these types of things are addressed. I look at the work that I have done in ecumenism and interreligious affairs, and I've been privileged to be chairman of this committee for a term now, for three years. I was previously back in 2017 elected chairman of this very same committee. So I've been at the helm of it twice now, and I've learned so much, so much from Christian partners, so much from our Jewish partners. One of the things that I have learned in the midst of the work that I have done with ecumenism is that I can't create a false sense of unity and harmony. For us to journey together in a positive way, I need to hear what you have to say, and I need to receive it, and I can't say something that is contrary to where my church is.  Now, another dimension of the dialogue work that I have learned relates to listening. How do we listen to what we hear about this relationship? What are we hearing when we read something about Pope Francis? How is that speaking to our hearts? What is it saying to this relationship? I hear from you hurt. I hear from you confusion. I said that a moment ago. For me, and perhaps this is the best thing that I can say, and I would say it across all three areas or topics that you raised in your question, I would say this much. I can't speak for Pope Francis. But what I can do is reflect to you what I hear from him and what I have heard from him throughout his 11 years as Pope. I have heard from him very, very early on, and you're all familiar with this quote that he offered to a Jewish interreligious organization way back, I think, in 2013 or 14, shortly after he was elected Pope, that a true Christian cannot be an antisemite. That's something that I would affirm, and that's something that I have never heard him go back on.  I have heard him embrace better than probably I have heard prior to his election, a deep commitment to the documents of Vatican Council, Vatican Two, and particularly, a deep commitment to the tenets of Nostra Aetate. The other thing that I've heard from Pope Francis, and perhaps this speaks to some of the struggle that you raise that in the face of terrorism and war and the loss of innocent lives, of Jewish lives that were lost in 2023 and of countless other lives that are lost throughout our world in the midst of war. I hear him speak over and over again about human dignity, the value of life and the reason for why we treasure life, and that's rooted in a common scripture that we both cherish, in the first book of the Torah, Genesis, the first chapter. In the image of God man was created, in the image and likeness of God. I think that that speaks for me to this moment.  It does not take away, and I would not imagine that for a moment some of the struggle that you experience, but that's what I hear when I look at his papacy. I also look at some more personal dimensions of it. And I know that his experience as the archbishop of Buenos Aires was an experience that found him deeply connected to the Jewish community, particularly to a close friend of his, whom I've been privileged to meet, Rabbi Abraham Skorka. So I share these things with you in response to your observation. And by the same token, I would say to you that we have miles to go before we achieve the end for which we are about here today. Manya Brachear Pashman:   In this moment, Bishop, do you believe that Translate Hate, specifically this new Catholic edition has particular value in this, in this moment that we talked about, where the relationship can get complicated? Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera:   I think, in any moment in time when there is suffering because of hatred, because of an antisemitic perspective that so many people so horrifically bring to life, I think this particular initiative is vital, and I think today more than ever, we have recognized it in our church, the sufferings of our Jewish brothers and sisters. We have recognized it globally. We have recognized it in our country, and we experience it in in my community, Scranton, relatively, you know, small city of about 100,000 people, you know, we it's sadly, it's sadly everywhere. I believe this moment is a bit of a clarion call for all of us to walk a little bit more authentically and closely with our Jewish brothers and sisters. It's one thing to have issued a document 60 years ago. You can forget the intensity and the significance that document was and meant 60 years ago, 50 years ago, maybe even 40 years ago. But as time goes on and generations pass, we sometimes need to refocus our attention, don't we? And we need to recognize the fact that as our society, becomes more secularized, we can't possibly circle the wagons to just preserve what we have. Every one of our congregations, many of yours and many of mine, are diminishing in terms of numbers since the pandemic, but also before that as well. And I think sadly, what you see in many congregations is this sense of trying to preserve what one has and therefore excluding others. Not just, I certainly don't necessarily mean from being in a church or a synagogue or temple, but I mean excluding from life by one's attitudes and one's actions and one's words. And I think we are, at this moment, really at risk of losing a sense of what we learn and how we grow from dialogue.  I'm here to tell you today that I am so much richer personally because of this opportunity that I have been given to be a part of this initiative, frankly, to even prepare for today. It's just been a wonderful experience for me that has really re-energized me. This wonderful mission. But it's also reminded me of how much people who are involved in in faith traditions, in a leadership position, can be somewhat academically connected to something. It's it's got to be translated to the heart, and I hope that that's what happens here. Manya Brachear Pashman:   I mentioned that you were just a child when Nostra Aetate came about. Can you tell us a little bit about your upbringing and when you heard the calling to seek ordination and become a priest? Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera:   I grew up in a Catholic family. I didn't have a lot of Jewish friends. There weren't a lot of Jewish people living in our community, although I did develop friends as as I went off to college. Okay, when I when I got the call to be a become a priest. I was actually at the University of Pittsburgh with every intention of becoming a dentist. It was kind of the family business, okay? And and I got involved in an ecumenical Christian campus ministry program. But, you know, it was just an experience that really called me to develop a deeper sense of authenticity, I think, in my faith journey, and, and, and so that's what ultimately prompted me to go into the seminary and become a priest. Did you grow up in Pittsburgh? I grew up in Scranton, where I serve as bishop, which is very unusual. So I my mom, who, at 97 still lives nearby. We I've spent my entire ministry in the Diocese of Scranton, and 15 years ago was appointed Bishop. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Wow, wow. That that is indeed rare, and that is indeed rare. So you get to see the parish in which you you grew up. Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera:   I do. I do, yeah. And I've journeyed with this community, there's, there's pluses and minuses to something like that. You know, sometimes people say, What's the best thing about being bishop in your home diocese? I say, you know people, and they know you and and what's the most challenging thing? You know people and they know you. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, Bishop, thank you so much for sharing what the church's teaching now and how it's collaborating with AJC to build bridges and educate your flock. Thank you so much, and thank you for joining us. Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera:   It's been a real pleasure.

Many Catholic churches saw major renovations in the era after the second Vatican Council. In the name of the spirit of Vatican II, and in conforming the church to the new mass, much of the sacred art and beautiful furnishings were purged. But were these changes driven by the council? Were they approved by the Holy Father? Those questions, and others will be answered in this episode as Scott treks thru the history of iconoclast movements which sought to empty Catholic churches of their artistic & religious heritage.

The month of November is dedicated to praying for the souls of the faithful departed. Father Kubicki shares a document from the second Vatican Council about the souls in purgatory being united in the body of Christ just like us.

Shownotes and Transcript Hermann Kelly, President of the Irish Freedom Party, shares insights on Irish politics and his background. He discusses growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, his journey from theology to journalism to politics, working with Nigel Farage in the European Parliament, and the challenges of the political sphere. Hermann outlines the Irish Freedom Party's principles of national sovereignty, anti-EU influence, pro-life stance, and traditional family values, criticizing mainstream parties on immigration. He emphasizes the importance of controlled borders, work permits, and prioritizing Irish citizens' welfare. Hermann addresses media bias, advocating for social media and grassroots efforts to connect with voters and counter leftist narratives. His vision for the party focuses on restoring national sovereignty, protecting Irish culture, and prioritizing Irish citizens in policy decisions. Originally from the Bogside in Derry, Hermann's family have a small farm in Donegal since he was a young. After attending St Columb's College in Derry, he studied marine biology in Edinburgh before studying theology as a lay student at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth.  First a secondary school teacher he then became a journalist, writing for various national newspapers including the Irish Mail on Sunday and Irish Examiner.  He was formerly director of communications for the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group in the European Parliament, and his since come to work with The European Conservatives and Reformists Group.  He is a founding member of The Irish Freedom Party and its current president.   Connect with Hermann and The Irish Freedom Party... X/TWITTER        x.com/hermannkelly                            x.com/IrexitFreedom WEBSITE            irishfreedom.ie/ Interview recorded 10.7.24 Connect with Hearts of Oak... X/TWITTER        x.com/HeartsofOakUK WEBSITE            heartsofoak.org/ PODCASTS        heartsofoak.podbean.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA  heartsofoak.org/connect/ SHOP                  heartsofoak.org/shop/ *Special thanks to Bosch Fawstin for recording our intro/outro on this podcast. Check out his art theboschfawstinstore.blogspot.com and follow him on X/Twitter x.com/TheBoschFawstin Transcript (Hearts of Oak) I'm delighted to be joined by someone whose name I have seen a lot back in my time in my UKIP days, and that's Hermann Kelly. Hermann, thank you so much for your time today. (Hermann Kelly) Great. Thank you very much for the invite, Peter. Great to be here. It's good to have you discuss all things Irish politics. You can obviously follow Herman @HermannKelly on Twitter. And Hermann, journalist, former UKIP's European Media Supremo, head of comms at the EFDD group in the European Parliament, Nigel Farage's press secretary, and all the fun that came back in those times, of course, as president of the Irish Freedom Party, launched in 2018 as a common-sense political party in Ireland, because Ireland lacked those, and we'll get into all of that. But, Hermann, you were born in the bog side. Christmas Day, you were born in the bog side in Derry, London Derry, Stroke City, which which is over there in Northern Ireland. It's known as a very rough area, like the Shanklin Falls, maybe in Belfast. What was it like growing up in an area like the Belfast? Well, it was only rough when I was growing up. It was a very friendly place, a very safe place, incredibly low crime rate. It was only rough if you were a British soldier. So there's bullet holes at the side of our house, the front of our house, on the wall opposite our house. There was a high banking behind our house. IRA used it as a shooting spot. And as the British Army jeeps went past the army checkpoint, out the road, they would get shot at. I've seen that many times. But if you were a local, it was incredibly safe, very low crime rate. And it had my followers headmaster of a large primary school in Cregan and Derry just up the hill from ourselves. and that had 75% male unemployment, so it was quite financially poor. But it was very friendly, very safe. And I must say, it was also highest per capita, donations per capita of any city or any town in what was politically the UK. So people were very kind, very generous. I didn't find it rough at all. It's interesting. Me growing up in Carrickfergus, that was absolutely fine because a lot of police lived there. So actually, it was monoculture, completely Protestant. You found it absolutely fine growing up in somewhere completely Catholic with no police or no army. It's interesting. We both grew up actually fairly safe childhoods. Interesting. But at kind of opposite ends of the scale in terms of that sectarian divide. Yeah. I suppose for where we were, it was a kind of high trust, low friction society. That's the whole thing about not being a multicultural society of a kind of melting pot or a kind of constant friction of people bumping off each other, metaphorically rather than physically. I mean. I always remembered very safe and certainly with the neighbours, very good people as neighbours, very, very lucky. And it shows the whole, the importance of common belief, nationality, and how it can lead to a very low-friction, high-trust society, which is easy to live in. What was it you kind of aspired to growing up? Because you went, you studied theology, you've been in media and journalism and politics. Kind of growing up, what were your thoughts of what the future may be? Well, obviously you can see with my, let's say, circuitous route of career that I didn't really know what I wanted to be when I was 18. And I remembered the agony of what I was going to fill in in the UCAS form to go to university right up to the last minute. And I started at optometry and then marine biology and then theology. I had always a great interest, developed a great interest in philosophy and then from that then theology and but I always had an abiding love interest because I grew up in day during the troubles, oh we always we were brought up with great interest in politics, interest in history in culture and also a great respect for language studied Irish studying English and a bit of French as well but the importance of language and all those things melded together my abiding interest in politics and history and culture and faith etc all those things and then also my respect for language and from that I eventually found my way to become a journalist and then a director of communication so in one way it was very circuitous but then it was when you look back it looked like a very straight path but the interest in politics and a respect for language and literature kind of have always remained with me. Well so how did you end up working with UKIP with the EFDD group in the European Parliament, was it an interest just in politics European Parliament and then later on you connected with the chaos and the fun that was UKIP or did that come first how did that happen? Well. I was actually, well, I'd previously been a teacher, I was working in Dublin and I think i became a teacher. I liked this idea of influence, influence on society to make the world a better place. And so it became a teacher then I realized that, well, where's the power to change society? Really? It's concentrated in the press, in the media. So it became a journalist. And then I think by that stage I had maybe four, five children and someone said to me one time if you can say you're a consultant you can charge twice as much, well journalism in Ireland didn't pay very much so I then was working as a press officer for Libertas in the European election 2009 for deacon gamley who were then a Eurosceptic party pat across Europe and I was so I was then recommended on foot of this by Declan Gamley to Nigel Farage. But previous to this, I had written an article for economic recovery in Ireland. Ireland needs to leave the euro. And I think Nigel Farage had seen this. It went up on UKIP website because it's unusual for people to advocate that in Ireland. And so he heard my name. And after I was recommended by Declan Gamley, he gave my call I said here let's meet up and I worked for Nigel Farage in Ireland it was the Lisbon 2 campaign of 2010 was it and 2010 and I sorry summer 2009 I worked for three months and after that just in Ireland he said come over work for me he was happy with the briefing he got and says here come over work for me full-time over in Brussels so as Ireland was absolutely going down the tubes and all these journalists were losing their jobs and losing their houses I thought well it's a good opportunity to take a well-paid and steady job, you know for the family. Definitely. I remember applying to work over there and after 10 months, they finally approved it and it was far too late and I had to produce documentation that didn't exist in the UK. It was just chaos. But I always heard your name, Hermann Kelly, always mentioned, just as I kept hearing Gawain Tyler's name mentioned over in the UK. And it seemed to me these two were the ones that understood, had their finger on the pulse, certainly in terms of medium press. I must say, I had great fun with UKIP MEPs. Like, I was working for the group, so it would have been probably 47 MEPs, seven different nationalities, I think. EFD group initially was about 42 MEPs, seven different nationalities. But the whole thing is you're meeting new people and people from different countries, different cultures, different experiences of life, pretty well-educated, pretty intelligent people, the whole lot. So it was very stimulating. It was good fun. It was important. I was committed to the work I was doing. I was philosophically committed to it. So I wanted to do a good job. and you know what you develop good relations with the people I was working with, so a number of the MEPs Nigel Farage, Paul Nuttall later guys like Ray Finch that I was very good friends with these people and also a number of staff Jamie Linsworth, Orly Leloup was chief of staff, you know we also became good friends not just colleagues working together in a political party. I remember going going for an interview with orally uh back in the days but it was all I guess the thing I found whenever I'd met a lot of the MEPs was they were real people and you kind of come across politicians that are too polished and that's all they've wanted to do the UKIP MEPs that actually lived their lives and then were doing this because they wanted to do something for their country, that's kind of rare these days in politics and that's what I love, that real but also sometimes a little bit of chaos, I mean you must have had some sleepless nights. Well one previous, Mark Kreutzer, a previous press officer said getting all the UKIP MEPs together. Was like, what was it, like herding cats, like, Yeah, see, to go against the stream, to go against the crowd or the mob, you have to have a quite individualistic contrarian streak to swim against that tide. So you must have that already to be happy to say to the establishment and the vast majority of the easy, instead of taking the easy path, you're taking the harder path and you're going against the tide. So you must have that contrarian and also quite self-confident streak to be able to do that so yeah it's a strength and a weakness, it's a strength in that people actually believe what they say and say what they believe, but it's difficult get them all in one room and get them all going singing off the same hymn sheet as you might say like you know but some great characters. I remember being here out in the front of the European Parliament here in the beer factory and was with a lot of MEPs and staff and turning around to Jamie Leansworth who was Nigel Farage's secretary at the time or advisor and saying, God, we have some characters here, huh? That's an understatement. You've got guys like Godfrey Bloom, and Mike Hookham and all these different guys and Stuart Agnew and they're all very strong characters strong personalities but it was great fun as well and like you you get to like these people as well it was never a dull, never a dull moment no never a dull moment and some of the carry on in among the foreign MEPs as well I remember, you you had MEPs from like Greece and Latvia sorry Lithuania etc et cetera, and you meet them and hear, but their histories are very different. Their experiences of life were very different. So to hear them talking about the importance of national sovereignty against a kind of federalist EU state, etc. They all have it for their own reasons and find it in their own experience. But I certainly was very committed to the job. I did my very best. And certainly reaching for the referendum in 2015, we strove very, very hard. We worked very hard to get a referendum and we worked hard then to get a result. So it was very pleasing for me personally and not just professionally but also personally to get to achieve a referendum 2015 and get a result in the Brexit referendum of 2016, so I was my wife always used to give off to me you love your job as an accusation, I said yeah what's wrong with that I do Yeah it's true it's good to love it, I want to get on the Irish politics but just last thing is is what was it like to be up, you're in the belly of the beast, you're up against the system, you're saying that, actually where we are standing here representing the UK, we are against everything that this institution, this parliament really wants, which is ever closer union, ever closer ties, control. And we want to be free from that. What was that like? Because no other countries have had a breakaway, exit groups, but actually none of them have achieved anywhere near what UKIP achieved, so what was that like as the major grouping there who actually wanted to get out of there, you would have had a lot of commonality I guess with individual MEPs but maybe not with parties, so there must be tension as well Oh yeah certainly in the second term with the EFDD group we there was a marriage of convenience we had with the five-star party and that wasn't a marriage made in heaven believe me uh so we were very Eurosceptic believed in national sovereign they wanted to leave the European union and we were sold a bit of a pup that they were kind of anti-establishment kind of Eurosceptic well the leaders were pepe grillo a guy david casaleggio certainly were quite rebellious and Eurosceptic But the MEPs who they voted in, where a lot of them had done Rasmus schemes and stuff like that, they're all very university-educated. They weren't Euro-sceptic at all. And that was a very difficult time, yes. There was quite a few arguments there. But, you know what? Personally, I would always have different relations with various people, across the political spectrum here in Brussels. I would regard it as bad form to be, disliking people because of their political views. But certainly, politically, Yeah, we were treated pretty abysmally by the institutions of the European Parliament here, who certainly after Brexit were incredibly vindictive and actually went on a witch hunt of MEPs. And I know, for example, that Paul Nuttall, his life was made a nightmare with constant meetings by this finance department with false accusations. And basically the refusal, how they treated some people was just unbelievable. Like one guy broke his arm. I know, for example, that they refused to pay the medical bills of a number of MEPs, which were 100% genuine, just out of malice. And they said, but you have to pay? That's the rules. Take us to court if you want. It's our court. This is the kind of stuff that would happen. and they refused to pay the staff of some MEPs. Asked why, we're not going to do it. If you want to, take it to court if you want. Remember, we control the court as well. So this was the attitude. So it really showed that centralisation of power in the hands of a small number of unaccountable elite is a very dangerous and stupid idea. No completely. Right, I want to get on to Irish politics. And everything that you've taught about, I guess, has given you a wide grasp of what is happening across, your wide grasp of that political side and added to your journalism skills and background. So you've got the Irish Freedom Party and Ireland is, as I mentioned earlier, I grew up with Gareth Fitzgerald and Charlie Hockey in the 80s in Ireland. Ireland was a very different place, although it still was Irish. So that was the benefit of it. Well, that bit's changed. But, and we'll get into Immigrate, but the Irish Freedom Party, tell us kind of where that came from, the idea and what it stands for. Because there was no party in Ireland looking for a sovereign, independent Ireland. You had Sinn Féin, who were basically, they were... They're implementing British rule in Ireland, but also they were happy to advocate Brussels' rule. So they're opposed to UK influence in Ireland, but they were completely happy that the majority of the laws which run in Ireland actually come originally from Brussels by people who we didn't elect and who we can't get rid of. So I believe in nation and nation-state and democratic self-determination. I believe that Irish people are good enough to make their own laws, to decide their own destiny in this world. I'm opposed to subservience to the European Union. The big problem over here in Brussels with the EU itself is what you call qualified majority voting, where Ireland, we're 1% of the EU population. So that means that the votes are voted on, 99% of the votes are done by people who are not Irish, and these laws can be approved and imposed upon us, and there's absolutely nothing we can do about it because we have disqualified majority voting in most of the areas. Many people do not realise that in areas of EU competence, EU law is superior to the Irishlaw, Irish Supreme Court, and the Irish Constitution. And that, for me, certainly is not a constitutional or democratic. Like a constitutional republic. That is a province of Brussels. It's a subservient province of Brussels, and that's not what the people were promised 100 years ago. So how did the party launch? It's been there since 2018, and I've looked at the Irish political scene from afar, and there wasn't anything which was common sense and seen. One Taoiseach after another just destroying Ireland. Yeah, there's this cultural like, it's funny because I was, we're talking about where we're both from, like, so growing up in the Brandywale, in the Lomar Road in Derry during the Troubles, I was brought up for all intents and purposes was a cultural superiority complex, that we were brought up that Irish poetry, Irish dance, Irish games and language and literature was fantastic. It was the best in the world and the world needed plenty of us. Go forth and procreate. We're wonderful, right? It then come down south and the experience is cultural self-loathing, which is very strong among the media class and the political class. And it's, well, where does this come from? And it wasn't just but this cultural self-loathing is very deep in south of Ireland at the minute at something to which I'm very implacably opposed and now we're trying to change the ship of state around, you know what, Irish culture is good Irish nation it's important what's the only one one we have, that Irish democracy, we must, seek that we are in democratic control of our destiny in this world, not to have laws dictated to us by someone else who we didn't vote for and we can't get rid of. But it's to do with a lot of things as well. Our catch cry is that we want free people in a free country. So it's not just like we want democratic control in Ireland to leave the European Union. And that the government in Dublin is going to dictate our lives, is that personal freedom, personal responsibility are very important. They're vital. We're standing up for things like the importance of free speech, for the right to not have the state dictate to you what you most put inside your body as a basic human right. The right to private property, that the state does not control your life, Even an Irish state doesn't control your life. So standing up for, I would describe these the basic building blocks of a liberal society. Of, as I said, free people in a free country, free speech, right to bodily autonomy, private property, lower government, less government waste, less government spending, lower taxation, the people be able themselves to make the decisions which control their own lives. So we started the party five years ago. We just now have had our first councillor elected in those last local elections. Glenn Moore and Clon Bakken will be running a large slate of candidates in the general election, which is likely to come about in October or November of this year. And I'm myself I ran as a candidate in the Midlands Northwest for the European election there just passed I ended up I got there was a huge huge number of candidates, 27 candidates in total, there were 13 nationalist candidates after Peter Casey the former presidential candidate I got the the highest is the highest vote of any nationalist I ended up with 21,000 votes and 3% of the vote. Considering there were 13 nationalist candidates in the field, I did very well. And actually, the person who was presented themselves as kind of a little bit conservative, socially conservative, nationalist. Eurosceptic, what do you call him, Keir Malooly from the Independent Ireland Party. What did they do? They got elected. And the first thing he did was come over to Brussels and join Renew, which is the Federalist fanatic group, with a complete and utter betrayal by the party of all those voters who voted for him. So I only wish he had told the voters before the election that he was going to join the Federalist group in the European Parliament rather than after, because I think my vote would have increased dramatically. Well, Ireland are getting some of the policies, but Ireland seems to have been slow to move away from that. You had Fianna Gael, Fianna Fáil, you've always had them with a dose of Labour in there. Then obviously you've had the rise of Sinn Féin. But Ireland seems to have been slow to move away from that group of parties. And Sinn Féin have been around a long time as well. They're not a new party. Tell me what that's like in moving to new parties and getting the message out. It's a tough sell, actually, putting something new out in the Irish political sphere and getting the message out in the media. Absolutely, because historically, I was very slow to support new parties. Most of the successful political parties are split off from actually Sinn Féin from 1905 and onwards. We have Sinn Féin then split into Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and then Plan the Public. I believe all the parties are a break off of Sinn Féin bar the Green Party, if that is correct. And Sinn Féin well for example but even Fianna Fáil used to be Fianna Fáil, the Republican Party, they believed in National Democratic since they pushed to join the Common Market in 1973 and then it was still Sinn Féin policy to leave the Common Market or the European Community, whatever you called it, certainly up until the late 80s so we're basically.... Look, the Proclamation of Independence in 1916 talked about the Irish people having the right, and even says, also in the Irish Constitution of 1937, about the sovereignty and independence of Ireland should be protected for the good of the Irish nation. And that's what we're seeking for. All we're looking to do is to be a normal, self-governing country where we make our own laws for the benefit of the Irish people. That's all. We're not looking for anything new, crazy, or fandangled thing. But Sinn Féin have changed dramatically. They're now a European Unionist party. I call them a Euro-Loyalist party. I'm sure they hate it, but I love it. You know the reasons why. Oh yeah, I call Sinn Féin immigration party. It does make me laugh that they hate it as well. The Sinn Féin immigration party is Brits out everybody else in. Drives them mad. I saw in your Wikipedia entry you'd used the term abort and import, which I also loved as well. I say the Sinn Féin immigration policy is Brits out to everybody else, and the Fine Gael immigration policy is abort and import. And it actually works perfectly in all the romance languages, French and Spanish Spanish, et cetera. It all works perfectly in those, because I was telling someone over here at dinner one evening, I said, oh, that's really good in French too. That's fantastic. I always use as few words as possible to pack as much power into as little space as possible. That's my job as a press officer, was always to take complex ideas and crunch them down or boil them down into some in as few words as possible with as much power and impact, both political and emotional impact on people as it can. So that's a typical few examples of Hermanism, so to speak, like to boil down complex ideas. The simple language, because my job as press officer was always to get words or formula words that people understand, they can easily understand, easily remember. I always scratch my head looking at Ireland originally used to be one of the strongest Catholic countries, most staunchly Christian Catholic countries in Europe. And yet you've had their political representatives have not gone along with any Catholic belief. You look at Sinn Féin, you look at the North SDLP, everything about them has been more the self-hatred woke agenda and nothing about what actually the church would teach. And I often wonder if I was going to mass each Sunday, actually politically, who would I vote for? Where Northern Ireland, the DUP, who generally were socially conservative. And for the Catholic side, there was no one socially conservative ever to vote for. Absolutely. Well, certainly, yeah, in the last 20 years, you had to, I think a large part of it was self-inflicted by Vatican II about the self-loathing that anything came before 1965 was bad, was supposed to be forgotten, to be rejected. And that the new year zero, so to speak, the second Vatican Council ended, I think, 1968 or 69, that everything after that was okay. And it's all Libby-friendly. That was great. great, but no, in the Irish context, even up in the North, which was normally more conservative, people were more, let's say, conscious and proud of being Christian and being Catholic, part of their identity, national identity, religious identity. Down south, completely the opposite, where people that, because the power of the media, that you had Sinn Féin, the Workers' Party in the 70s and 80s, a very... They started off as nationalists that became internationalists and then became very a Marxist party, basically very anti-Christian and I believe that had a very, the leader's effect on the culture of Ireland because there were so many of them got into the media and had a big big impact, but ourselves, we are happy and proud to, when we are not a kind of confessional party, you don't have to be a Catholic to join the Irish Freedom Party. But we've made it very clear from day one that we are a pro-life party and we are pro-family, that we believe we want to protect and augment the foundations of civilisation. So where cultural Marxism wants to destroy the nation state. National sovereignty, the nation state wants to destroy the family, even down to the distinctions of male and female. We want to counteract that. So we were against this trans ideology. We'll stand up for the distinction and common complementarity of man and a woman. We approve family. We want to encourage people to have children, to educate their children in their culture. It is then with education develops culture and a civilization. And we believe that we also believe in the nation state and in national democracy. So like, but all this stuff about. It's very hard to have a functioning successful civilization where the family is not at the centre of it and faith is a very important, Christian faith you acknowledge not only acknowledge Christian faith as a historical origin but also as a living thing in Ireland. And I must say that compared to the Libby Dibbies in Ireland, you'll find that a large swathe of nationalists, they're not practicing Catholics and Christians, they're certainly culturally so. And they're very proud of that. Because when they look around and they see that here we have, They have 10,000 abortions, 10,000 Irish children being killed in the womb last year in Ireland. Our birth rate is now 1.5, just over 1.5 children per woman. A few generations of that, the population of Ireland shrinks to filial. So we are in favour of liberty and of life. So we would like to encourage people to get married, to have children, to start a family. So we advocate as a pro-natalist, pro-family party, but also advocate policies like we have already. And they've successfully implemented in Hungary to adjust the tax system to help young couples to have kids. And that, for example, if a couple have three or four children, that they don't pay tax and that they don't encourage young couples to have children because no country has a future without children. And that's a basic fact because demographics is destiny. That is a universal truth all across the world and every time in every culture. So we want to encourage the people to have children and also then provide the basics all of them. So I was talking last night on a space and I was talking about the importance of, we are not looking for we're just looking for the ability for people to grow up in a safe environment, and then when they leave school that they have the ability to get a job. Find someone who's only got married to be able to buy a house because at the minute, because of mass immigration, high house prices, young people cannot buy a house and they're all emigrating. A massive problem in Ireland isn't just immigration into Ireland, it's also emigration. We are importing a huge number of people into Ireland. We don't know who, in many cases, we don't know who they are, where they're from, do they have a criminal record. That is detrimental to the security of our country because it leads to an increased crime rate, et cetera. At the same time, because our young people cannot, in many cases, find an apartment to rent, certainly not a house to buy, which they cannot afford anyway. So what are they doing? They're emigrating to Australia and Canada. And that's. Well that's the definition of a failed state isn't it, where you can even provide a job in a house for young people and they're emigrating so that is a failed state, so we as people actually are pretty upset how the country that they love being destroyed before their eyes and, but we will instead of personal darkness we would like to put out a light and do something about it, soI said, we're putting out candidates in the general election. We will keep on standing. Nigel Farage, he just got elected there during the week. It was his eighth time of standing for the Houses of Parliament. And I've only stood twice in the European election. That'd be my first time standing as a TD seat. So we're in the infancy of the Irish Freedom Party. But I am certain that in the years ahead, we will have a large impact. And we're already having an impact. because you saw there in that European election, Sinn Féin did very poorly. Their vote fell, now last October, their vote in the polls was 35%. It's now 18%. And in the European election, their vote fell by 12.5%. A general nationalist sway was 12.5%. So that vote, I would suspect, or I would argue, went from Sinn Féin to a smog spore of nationalist candidates. It was like a plunder boss into a mattress and that vote went everywhere to so many different national candidates, 3,000 here, 3,500 there, maybe 21,000 people like me, but that the. That Sinn Féin vote did not go to Fine Gael. It went to generalist nationalist candidates. So we're having an impact on the narrative, on the discussion of the EU migration pact, on the anti-free speech laws that they're trying to introduce in Ireland, about the whole thing about housing availability, etc. We're having an impact on the political discussion in Ireland already. Ready and I would hope and expect that that increases in the years going forward. I want to pick an immigration but let me just touch on the family, because when you look at Hungary and their pro-family and pro-life policies and there are parties you look at Italy and Greece and there are it's a pro-family nation still pro-family culture and a pro-life generally. But many parties, I know Reform will maybe talk a bit about pro-family, but pro-life, you know, that's up to the individual. But I can't imagine kids growing up thinking, you know, when I get older, someday I'd love to have an abortion. It shouldn't be the main option. There has to be a range of options of adoption, of other ideas. And it seems as though especially young girls are pushed down this avenue and this is the only option and I mean I got a lot of respect for you as a party, not only being pro-family but actually pro-life because that's a completely common sense response to what we are facing. Yeah well I was actually attended the rally for life, on in Dublin there on Saturday there's a very big crowd at it and there was a number of members and candidates for the Irish freedom party were there the Irish freedom party banner and the a number of national flags as well to show that we're proud to stand up for life and so well sure, how can you talk about human rights when you don't If you do not defend the right to life, if you don't defend the right to exist. How can you talk about the right to free speech, the right to private property, the right to this and that? It's a nonsense. And on the counter to that, if you accept that you can wipe out and destroy and butcher innocent human life, if you accept that principle, well, the next thing you're then on to logical consequence of accepting that principle. Is you're then you extended over time and you're then in favor of euthanasia of old people and then your euthanasia of people who are physically handicapped in some way or then people who are depressed and then you're straight on the 100% healthy people who there's nothing wrong with them and then you're straight on to murder, murder of innocent people who have I've never done anything wrong, and there's nothing wrong with them. So it's philosophically to accept the principle that it's okay to destroy human life. I will never accept it. Because you're on the slippery slope of a culture which advocates killing. Killing of its young, it's innocent. Then it's then killing old people, then sick people, and then healthy people. And that is that this two cities as Saint Augustine might say and the culture of life and the cultural death are extremely different and the consequences of a slight change in principle, like it's like coming up to a roundabout in a car and you're going around and you take one direction and as you follow out along that road that you've taken you can go in a very you end up in a very different destination if you take another turn off and you follow that path, for a number of miles. So be very careful. So that's why we've been very clear from day one that this is a pro-life party and we're also pro-family and we support a cultural life, not a culture of death. I want to finish on immigration because it's very strange for Ireland because Ireland have so much influence worldwide and the Irish culture is known throughout, probably because of the potato famine, because of that mass migration that's meant there is Irishness everywhere, certainly in the US and you travel all over Europe and wider and you'll certainly find Irish pubs, people flock to that. That desire and likability and connection and respect for Irish culture and intrigue, all of that, that kind of seemed to be disappearing. I'm surprised the mass immigration, but the change that's brought to Ireland, considering Irishness is known, despite Ireland being a tiny country, its impact culturally is very wide all over the world. But yet successive governments have allowed absolute mass immigration on a scale I don't think anyone else has seen in Europe for such a country that size. How has that affected voters and the public? Because if you keep voting the same way, you're just going to get the same change in Ireland and decimation of Irishness. All the main parties in Ireland, Fianna Fáil, Fianna Gael, Sinn Féin, Labour Party, all the left are all in favour of what pretty much amounts to open borders, mass immigration. Now the consequences of that at the moment is that the Irish population since 1995 has gone up by over 1.5 million people, gone from 3.5 to 5.3 million people. That's a 42% percent increase in a very short period of time. And Ireland actually is the fastest increasing we see in Europe. In the Western world, actually, Ireland has the fastest increase of population through immigration of any country in the world, bar none. So what is happening, I would describe it as the new colonization of Ireland, because the numbers coming in here is so large. Like when we started off the party five years ago, I believe 12% of the population were non-national. It's now 22%. So there's been a 10% increase in the non-national part of our population within five years. That's immense. And actually, Grip Media did an analysis of the rate of influx of immigration into Ireland. And they worked out that if the current rate continues, what has happened over the last five years, As that continues, Irish people will be a minority in their own country by the year 2050. And I don't know about you, but I certainly wasn't asked about that. I didn't give my consent. So we describe what's happened now as the colonization without consent. And all we're looking for is to be a normal country, which has borders, which controls for the good of its people, the numbers of people and the qualifications of the people who are coming in, that they make sure that one, do we need to and two, if you want to come in you have got to contribute to our society and so for example you've got skills that you can that you can contribute and you're not a kind of tax, like don't be coming in here looking for free housing, free welfare, free medical care, like you come in, you work you support yourself and when [I very much believe in the work permit system. You come in, you work, you pay tax. And after that, after picking up, working, being paid, getting experience, having a good time, you then go back to your country of origin or go on to the next country, wherever you like. But I believe that because taking in large numbers of unvetted males into the country makes Ireland a less secure place. And like, for example, in 2022, there were 12 women were murdered in Ireland. Five of those were murdered by non-nationals. So there's been a swathe of increase in rapes and sexual assault in Ireland, as has happened all across Europe, be it in Germany, be it in Italy, be it in Sweden and France. So we should stop being naive and thinking that, oh, but it will never happen in Ireland because everybody loves us. They may do, but the consequences of mass unvetted immigration into Ireland are not very positive for Ireland at the minute. So all we're looking for is to be a normal country which controls its borders for the good of its own people. Because we want our young people, as I said earlier, to be able to get a job, be able to find a house and live in a secure area without any fear. And that's what people see, the destruction of their country, the mass immigration, and of course the destruction of the family. How do you, I mean, someone who understands the media so well, how do you get your message out? You've got a block on the mainstream media. Is it looking for alternative media, going directly to individuals, to the voters? How do you kind of get around that block which exists in Ireland to stop your message of common sense getting out? Well, you're completely true. The mainstream media, and when I say mainstream, it's funny because in regards, for example, that issue of are people in favour of mass immigration, 75% of people in Ireland are completely opposed to more migration. They believe Ireland has more than had enough. So that is the mainstream position. It's the extreme leftist position of open borders. They are the extremists. They are the minority. But the thing is, these leftists do control the media. And so we find it very difficult if not impossible to get anything positive out in the Irish media, so we're using social media at the minute and during the European elections was a good boost because the local papers had to talk about us, talk to our candidates, the write-ups of the candidates was almost universally positive on local radio, there were debates, so we got the name and the candidates of the party out there in open debate. We were discussing our policies in a fair environment for the first time, but the national media blocked us completely. So basically, we're pretty much using social media and also boots on the ground to get out meeting people, canvassing is very, very important. Well, Hermann, I really do appreciate your time. Hermann Kelly, President of the Irish Freedom Party, bringing common sense and an option to the voters that traditionally up to now really have not had any. So Hermann, thank you so much for joining us and giving us an overview, not only of Irish Freedom Party, but the difficulty and issues you're facing there in Ireland. Thank you very much, Peter.

In 1966 the Dutch bishops released a new catechism with much excitement, as the first one to be published after the 2nd Vatican Council. But when the spirit of the age trumped the doctrines of the Church, problems arose.   In this episode Scott treks thru the background, history, and response to this infamous catechism. To help Catholic History Trek, please consider donating via PayPal (Kevin Schmiesing@CatholicHistoryTrek) Thank you for your support!

WELCOME TO SEASON 20:00:  We review FD's NPR voice.1:25:   Mike talks about his experience of doing Sports on NPR.2:22:   We talk about 2024 and our looking forward to this for many years.3:00:  We talk about Generations among ourselves.3:30:   The Catholic Project at Catholic U is the subject today .4:20:   Priests and the Orthodoxy range in the study.5:00:  Fr Eric talks about how he sees this play out in inquirers at the seminary.6:00:   FD talks about how St. JPII and Pope Benedict were priests of the 2nd Vatican Council and were looked on as more progressive at one point.7:19:  Liturgical or Theological or Eccesiological?  Or all these things?8:00:  Is this the Spirit of reform of Vatican II and a resulting backlash?  9:00:  We have a diocesan seminary and Fr. Garris talks about how Priests relate to each other among generations.9:40:  FD notes that it's important to have priest-friends who don't think like you do.11:00. The Church has everyone in it.11:24:   Mike talks about how Fr. Casey Cole, OFM --speaks about wearing the habit and his experience of working as a Campus Minister in the Gross Anatomy Lab.13:20:  Fr. Eric talks about how he tries not to divide priests into categories.14:20:  The 2nd Vatican Council had to shake itself out and some clarifications needed to be made with the New Catechism.15:10:  Young People want things that last in faith traditions.15:50:   How is this being reflected in Pope Francis' papacy?17:00:   Mike's experience with a priest who was a Catholic radio Broadcaster.18:14:  Some more takes on the new study that gives a small snapshot.19:00:   Fr Eric's experience of a funeral that brought a bunch of people together.19:44:   Church Search does to St. James in Lakewood.23:28:   Readings for Epiphany24:00:  A musical interlude.24:40:  The FOUR Kings?25:12:  A stained glass window of the Magi is explored by FD.To get your question of faith answered by us: Email Mike here

The Feast of the Presentation of Mary The Presentation of Our Lady is celebrated by the Church. The presentation in the life of Our Lady is not found in sacred scripture. The event was recounted in a very old document that is known as the prequel to the Gospel. It is the same source that we have the names of Mary's parents. Hear more about the importance of this book within the Church's teachings within the Homily. This feast was not initially a very big celebration in the origin of the Catholic Church. However, it was a significant feast day among the Eastern Churches. After the second Vatican Council when the revised liturgical calendar was made, this feast day was addressed. One of the reasons it was added to the calendar was a gesture of communion with the Eastern Church brothers. There is a significance to this Feast Day. The first is a question of calendar. Usually, the Sunday after this Feast is the Feast of Christ the King. That is a celebration near the end of the liturgical year, where we celebrate Jesus enthroned in His Glory Who will come to judge the living and the dead. The presentation feast is in contrast. It celebrates Mary's presentation when she was three or four years old, way before she'll become the Mother of God. It is the beginning and is in contrast to the Christ the King celebration at the end. Hear more within the Homily. Hear why this Presentation Feast Day is important to our own Spiritual Journey. Listen to The Feast of the Presentation of Mary. Listen to this Meditation Media.

Today on the Christian History Almanac podcast, we head to the mailbag to answer a question about the 2nd Vatican Council. — Show Notes: 1517 Podcast Network Survey Support 1517 1517 Podcasts The 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 on Youtube What's New from 1517: Faith and Reason Exchange @ Apple Podcasts Faith and Reason Exchange @ 1517.org Join the 1517 Academy More from the host: ·       Dan van Voorhis SHOW TRANSCRIPTS are available: https://www.1517.org/podcasts/the-christian-history-almanac CONTACT: CHA@1517.org SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Overcast Google Play FOLLOW US: Facebook Twitter Audio production by Christopher Gillespie (gillespie.media).

Many Protestants don't understand or appreciate how transformational Vatican II was for the Catholic Church and the whole global Christian Church in general. Our friend and Catholic theologian Shaun Blanchard co-wrote a book called Vatican II: A Very Short Introduction. In this episode, we chat with Shaun about the size, scope, and impact of Vatican II in the 1960s, and we wonder about when the next changes at the next Vatican Council might be.In this episode, we tasted a barrel select of Eagle Rare from our friends at Story Hill BKC in Milwaukee, WI.To skip the tasting, go to 9:21.You can find the transcript for this episode here.=====Want to support us?The best way is to subscribe to our Patreon. Annual memberships are available for a 10% discount.If you'd rather make a one-time donation, you can contribute through our PayPal. Other important info: Rate & review us on Apple & Spotify Tweet us at @PPWBPodcast, @robertkwhitaker, and @RandyKnie Follow & message us on Facebook & Instagram Watch & comment on YouTube Email us at pastorandphilosopher@gmail.com Cheers!

Questions Covered: 07:44 – During Mass, the priest does the sign of the cross on his forehead, lip, and heart before reading the Gospel. Should everyone do this or only the priest?  12:00 – How can I better clarify with protestants that they are included when the Nicene Creed says catholic?   17:55 – How can I explain to a friend who missed Mass that they should go to confession before receiving communion?  32:58 – Why is Luke 10:16 a good source for submitting to Church authority?  42:58 – What level of certainty did the Vatican Council fathers have when they stated “The one true God's existence could be known through human reason”?  48:18 – Jesus said we must drink his blood and eat his flesh, where does that leave Protestant?  52:26 – Can you explain praying to the different Marian titles like Our Lady of Fatima or Our Lady of Sorrow?  …

In this episode I talk consecrated virginity for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, and how it relates to marriage. I reflect on some documents of the Vatican Council in this regard, and share some thoughts on how both marriage and consecrated life are two paths established by God Himself for our salvation and sanctification. - You can find the topics discussed in this episode in the Catechism, numbers 1617-1620. - Biblical texts quoted in this episode: Mt 19:12; 1 Cor 7:32, 34. - Encyclical “Sacra Virginitas” by Pope Pius XII: https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_25031954_sacra-virginitas.html - Document “Perfectae Caritatis” (n. 12), from the 2nd Vatican Council: https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651028_perfectae-caritatis_en.html - Decree “Optatam Totius” (n.10) from the 2nd Vatican Council: https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651028_optatam-totius_en.html - Book “And you are Christ's” by Fr. Thomas Dubay - link - Fr. Patrick Wainwright is a priest of Miles Christi, a Catholic Religious Order. - Visit the Miles Christi Religious Order website: https://www.mileschristi.org - This Podcast's Website: https://www.forcollegecatholics.org - To learn about the Spiritual Exercises (silent weekend retreat) preached by the Priests of Miles Christi, visit: https://www.mileschristi.org/spiritual-exercises/ - Recorded at our Family Center in South Lyon, Michigan. - Planning, recording, editing, and publishing by Fr. Patrick Wainwright, MC. - Gear: Shure MV7 USB dynamic microphone. - Intro music from pond5.com

Maria Wancata joins us.0:30:   How was our Holy Week and Easter?4:00:  Why does the clergy not teach people to genuflect or to maintain silence?Here's a good article on genuflection4:10:  The nuns used to do this in Catholic Schools.5:10:  After the 2nd Vatican Council, tabernacles were often moved.6:10:  You genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament, not elsewhere as a sign of adoration.7:00:  Do what's possible.  Some folks can't genuflect.8:20:  What did your parents teach you?11:00:  What does Maria teach her kids?  11:30:  This is reserved for God.11:45:  What about silence before Mass?12:20:  We used a call to worship to center people.13:20:  Some places have a "gathering space."14:50:  Weddings are the worst for silence before Mass.15:40:  Why did this fall away from most people's practice?17:00:  Doing family catechesis in PSR is very helpful.18:10:  They're never too young to learn about Mass.20:00:  What was our experience as children?22:00:   Holy Thursday's Station Churches is our Church Search.St Andrew Kim was particuarly highlighted.24:00:  Shout out to Fr Bona who encouraged Station Churches.25:40:  Readings for Divine Mercy Sunday. 

In this episode, I discuss the 2nd Vatican Council's teaching on various false faiths, and address the question of whether or not a person can be saved outside the visible structures of the church. Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/user?u=81707973 follow me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/DDandDavide Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctrinedogmaanddavide/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086932675723

In this episode, I discuss the 2nd Vatican Council's teaching on Ecumenism. Sources: https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.htmlhttps://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_19280106_mortalium-animos.htmlhttps://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/on-the-ecumenical-movement-2070https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius09/p9nemini.htmhttps://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius09/p9graves.htmhttps://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_10021880_arcanum.htmlhttps://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius06/p6charit.htm Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/user?u=81707973 follow me on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/DDandDavide Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctrinedogmaanddavide/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086932675723

What did the First Vatican Council teach about faith and reason? How do Thomists parse the act of faith? How does the Vatican Council's account of faith and reason fit well with Thomistic hylomorphic dualism over and against Descartes' view? Dr. Gaven Kerr joins the podcast again to discuss these issues. The Classical Theism Podcast aims to defend Catholic Christian ideas in conversation. With the help of various guests, I defend three pillars of the Catholic Christian worldview: (1) the God of classical theism exists, (2) Jesus is our Messiah and Lord, and (3) He founded the Catholic Church. We place a strong emphasis on the first pillar, defending classical theism, drawing upon the work of Thomistic philosopher Dr. Edward Feser and many others. John DeRosa www.classicaltheism.com/support Support the show: Check out my book One Less God Than You: How to Answer the Slogans, Cliches, and Fallacies that Atheists Use to Challenge Your Faith >> www.classicaltheism.com/newbook Support on Patreon to help keep the podcast going and to allow me to produce even more quality content: www.classicaltheism.com/support

Great empty buildings, which only a few decades ago were bustling convents, tower over most towns and villages in Ireland, but they represent a world which is disappearing along with the once all-powerful Irish Roman Catholic Church. In this series of The Essay, Olivia O'Leary, convent-educated and a lapsed Catholic, asks where all the Irish nuns have gone. In her fourth essay, about nuns and politics, Olivia describes the conservative Roman Catholic state Ireland was in the Sixties. Communism was seen as the greatest enemy and hospitals and schools were run by Catholic nuns as a way of imposing church rule and keeping the state out of people's lives. However, it was nuns who swung to the left when the second Vatican Council pushed for a more modern, liberal church, and missionaries coming back from South America preached that the church should be siding with the poor. Many nuns left their comfortable convents to live with the poor. They sat down in front of trucks coming to evict Travellers. They protested against President Ronald Reagan's 1984 visit because of his support for right-wing regimes in Central and South America. They criticised governments and demanded social justice. They abandoned respectability and many of the more conservative priests and bishops thought they were making a show of themselves. They continued to make a show of themselves. Presenter Olivia O'Leary Producer Claire Cunningham A Rockfinch production for BBC Radio 3

To continue on our faith journey, in this Catholic Corner,  we will dive into part 2 of The Universal Call to Holiness which is an idea that has come to fruition over the last sixty years since the 2nd Vatican Council.Our guide for  this part of the journey will be George Weigel's newly released book, To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican IIKey pointsOur mission field, according to Saint John Paul II, is all around us.   All baptized Catholics and Christians are called to mission.The Church respects freedom.   Ultimately, the Church, just like Christ, proposes but never imposes.   One of the greatest quotes of John Paul II's papacy comes to us from his encyclical Redemptoris Missio, paragraph #39As Catholics and Christians, our standard for holiness can't be mediocrity.   We have to be better than mediocre.  Why?   Because Our Lord wants it to be so.  Our Lord wants us to be saints! 

The Universal Call to Holiness is an idea that has come to fruition over the last sixty years since the 2nd Vatican Council.   In todays, Catholic Corner, let's dig into this concept to find those nuggets of wisdom to help us along our faith journey.   Our guide along this journey will be Mary Ann Budnik's fantastic book, You Can Become A Saint.Key pointsA quick summary of the top five ecumenical councils since the beginning of the churchVatican II's document Lumen Gentium paragraph #40What's the plan on how to be a saint?   We tackle the first and most important point to get us started on the right foot along our journey of faith.

*Looking back: week 1 of Aug, 2022 *Cast: @zi1ch and @nakazawa76 *Topics: #侍 #Catholic #PopeBenedictXVI #PopeFrancis #Conclave #VaticanCouncil #Orthodox $SOL $ASTR #NFT #Starbucks #Tiffany #Ledger #DAZN #村上宗隆 #alcoholfree #Budweiser #Hoegaarden #獺祭 #Monsoon #TheFirstSlamDunk etc [*raw ver.] audio + support us: https://www.patreon.com/far_estone *Twitter: https://twitter.com/far_estone *Carrd: https://far-estone.carrd.co *Music: https://free-sound.work/ https://otologic.jp/ https://vsq.co.jp/plus/ https://esffects.net/ *Voice-over: Microsoft Zira

Cale discusses the problem of clericalism in the Catholic Church. He talks about Vatican II and the universal call to holiness and how some responded positively to this after the second Vatican Council, but there is still a lot of work to be done https://canadiancatholic.net/we-desperately-need-new-vision-laity Cale discusses the heroics of up and coming golf star Scottie Scheffler and his Masters win in Augusta, Georgia.  

Level: intermediate In this episode I speak about the liturgical reforms which followed the second Vatican Council. This is the third episode of the Vatican II series. This series is an in-depth analysis of the council, its members, its history, and our response to it.If you enjoy this content, please leave us a review!Intro: Robin Mitchell - purple tide (intro)Outro: Robin Mitchell - purple tide (intro)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thelogosproject)

Vatican 2 is apparently "spent," so they want a new council. RtT's official Sponsor: https://gloryandshine.com/ https://praylatin.com https://www.charitymobile.com/rtt.php https://www.devoutdecals.com/ https://www.blessedbegodboutique.com Sources: https://www.returntotradition.org Contact Me: Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.com Support My Work: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStine SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-tradition Buy Me A Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStine Physical Mail: Anthony Stine PO Box 3048 Shawnee, OK 74802 Follow me on the following social media: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbgdypwXSo0GzWSVTaiMPJg https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/ https://twitter.com/pontificatormax https://www.minds.com/PiusXIII https://gloria.tv/Return%20To%20Tradition mewe.com/i/anthonystine Back Up https://www.bitchute.com/channel/9wK5iFcen7Wt/ anchonr.fm/anthony-stine +JMJ+ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthony-stine/support

Level: intermediate In this episode I speak about the liturgical reforms which followed the second Vatican Council. This is the second episode of the Vatican II series. This series is an in-depth analysis of the council, its members, its history, and our response to it.If you enjoy this content, please leave us a review!Intro: Robin Mitchell - purple tide (intro)Outro: Robin Mitchell - purple tide (intro)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thelogosproject)

The Synod on Synodality is proposed as a perpetual body of reform. Matt Gaspers argues it the so-called “perpetual council” desired by Modernists who want constant updating, ambiguity, and progress. Does it amount to a “Vatican III”? Dr. Taylor Marshall and Matt Gapsers of CFN (catholicfamilynews ) discuss. Watch this new podcast episode by clicking here: Or listen to the audio mp3 here: If you’d like to order a copy of Taylor’s new book Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, you can order it in Hardback, Kindle, or Audiobook. Check out Patreon Patron Benefits for Donating to Dr Taylor Marshall’s Show! All these video discussions are free. Do you want to recommend a show, get signed books, and show support? Here's how: click on Patreon Patron link: Become a Patron of this Podcast: I am hoping to produce more free weekly podcast Videos. Please help me launch these videos by working with me on Patreon to produce more free content. In gratitude, I'll send you some signed books or even stream a theology event for you and your friends. Please become one of my patrons and check out the various tier benefits at: https://www.patreon.com/drtaylormarshall If the audio player does not show up in your email or browser, please click here to listen. If you find this podcast episode helpful, please share this podcast on Facebook. Get more from the Taylor Marshall Show: * Read Taylor Marshall’s historical fiction Sword and Serpent Trilogy. * Download the Study Guide at: http://swordandserpent.com * Take classed with Dr Marshall at the New Saint Thomas Institute. Please visit newsaintthomas.com for more details. Please Share Your Feedback for Taylor Marshall Show: * I'd love to read your feedback: While you listen to today's podcast, would you please take 30 seconds to write a review? Please click here to Rate this Podcast! * iTunes: 3,549,958 downloads * Youtube: 10,311,915 downloads * SHOUT OUTS: A huge “shout out” to all 1,692 of you who wrote amazing 5-star reviews at iTunes. Please rate this podcast by clicking here. From there you can leave a review. I appreciate you for this! Thank you! How to Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or Youtube: Apple/Mac Users: Please subscribe via iTunes by clicking here and then clicking on “View in iTunes.” Android Users: For listening to The Taylor Marshall Show on Android devices (free) using: * Android Stitcher app. * Android Beyond ...

The Synod on Synodality is proposed as a perpetual body of reform. Matt Gaspers argues it the so-called “perpetual council” desired by Modernists who want constant updating, ambiguity, and progress. Does it amount to a “Vatican III”? Dr. Taylor Marshall and Matt Gapsers of CFN (catholicfamilynews ) discuss. Watch this new podcast episode by clicking […] The post 765: Did Pope Francis just begin Vatican III? Synodality as Third Vatican Council [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Hans Kung passed away on April 6. He was a theological advisor at Vatican Council 2 and wrote The Declaration Toward a Global Ethic adopted at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1993 and 2018. We will discuss Hans Kung's efforts toward a world religion, and a world government, on this edition of End of the Age!

 Audio recordingSermon manuscript:It is kind of hard for a protestant to observe the festival that we are observing today. Whereas Catholics and Eastern Orthodox love their ideas of who Mary is, protestants are a little leery of talking about her. That is understandable. Both of these confessions go too far with their devotion for Mary. They say things about her that aren't true. Then, because of these false beliefs, they often believe in Mary more firmly than they might believe in Jesus or God. So what do these other churches teach about Mary? First of all they believe that Mary was immaculately conceived. The word “immaculate” means “pure.” So by immaculate conception they mean that Mary was born without sin. In a way, it's like she is a second Eve. Eve was created without sin, but by her sin, she and Adam contaminated our human race with sin. Mary, as the second Eve, is without sin, so that she can conceive Jesus, the second Adam, without sin. Although the Catholics go too far with this, ascribing sinlessness to Mary, there is a bit of truth here. It is true that Jesus was immaculately conceived. The human nature that Jesus inherited from Eve was not contaminated by original sin, the way that all of us have been conceived in sin by the sinful seed of our fathers. The Scriptures say of Jesus that “he knew no sin.” He received everything from her that being a human being means, but he was not born with original sin. He was pure from the moment of his conception. When the Catholics ascribe this to Mary, they are going beyond what we can know from the Scriptures. The Scriptures do not say that Mary was born without sin. In fact, the Catholics take it one step further and say that Mary's mother, who is not even named or mentioned in the Scriptures, was made to be without sin. Although Mary's sinlessness is not taught by the Scriptures, Pope Pius IX declared in 1854 that Mary's immaculate conception was the official Catholic teaching. In order to be a Catholic in good standing, it is necessary to believe that she was conceived without sin. In 1870, at the first Vatican Council, this teaching was affirmed when the council declared that official statements of the Pope are infallible. These are known as ex cathedra statements. There have only been two times when the Pope has made use of this so-called ability. The first was declaring the immaculate conception of Mary. The second one also had to do with Mary. This second decree is especially connected to today, August 15, in the Catholic Calendar. If you looked at a Roman Catholic Church calendar you would not see “St. Mary, Mother of our Lord” written on today. Instead you would see the feast called the “Assumption of Mary.” In 1950 Pope Pius XII declared that Mary being assumed, or taken, into heaven, body and soul, is official Catholic teaching. The reasoning behind this goes like this: Mary was conceived without sin and was sinless. As you well know, the wages of sin is death. So wherever there is no sin no death is due. Since Mary is held to be without sin, she couldn't have died like everybody else. So they teach that instead of dying she “fell asleep.” This is known as the “dormition of Mary.” “Dormition” means to fall asleep. Then, after having fallen asleep, she was taken into heaven, body and soul, just like we hear of Enoch, Elijah, and Jesus. Although the Bible says absolutely nothing about these things, the so-called vicar of Christ, the Pope, has decreed that these things are to be believed by Christians on pains of losing their salvation. It is hard to see a clearer example of the Pope putting himself in the place of God as Paul prophesied in 2 Thess. 2. Requiring folks to believe in something that is by no means certain is bad enough, but these false ideas also have led to serious false beliefs that are at the very heart of the Christian faith. Their belief in the sinlessness of Mary has not been left as some bare factoid. It has been incorporated into their understanding of salvation. So the Catholic church teaches that Mary is the co-redemptrix, or co-redeemer, alongside Jesus the Redeemer. The sinless flesh which Jesus received from Mary is taken to be part of how we are redeemed. Thus she should be regarded as a contributor to our salvation. The Catholic church does not teach that Mary is the Savior or that she is God, but I don't see how they could come any closer to that kind of idea. And, practically speaking, many Catholics treat Mary as God. There is a prayer practice among Catholics known as the rosary. It is a necklace with beads where the one praying prays different things for each bead. Alongside the Lord's Prayer and the Gloria Patri are prayers to Mary. A portion of this prayer we heard in our Gospel reading: “Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.” Then it goes on to say, “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death. Amen.” The Scriptures do not teach us to pray to mere human beings—no matter how holy they might be. Nor do the Scriptures promise that such prayers are effective. On the other hand, we are strictly commanded to make prayers to God, and we have many promises that God hears those prayers. It might seem as though criticizing the Catholic church is rather fussy, hair-splitting, and uncharitable. After all, the Catholic church is correct about most of the moral issues where our fellow protestants have gone completely off the rails. But  the Catholic church makes mistakes often in this way. The Catholic church has the Gospel. It has baptism. It has the Lord's Supper. But it directs its people away from these certain things that are instituted by God and have his promises attached to them to things that have no such basis in the Scriptures or God's promises. The Gospel and the sacraments are obscured by teaching people to rely on things that have been invented by men. They have rejected the reforms our forefathers brought to their attention. Nobody is saved by believing in lies—no matter how beautiful or devout those lies might appear to be. The purpose of observing the festival today is the same as it is for any of the other saint's days that we might observe. A few weeks ago we observed the day that is set aside for the apostle James. A couple weeks from now we will be considering the martyrdom of John the Baptist. We understand that these saints are not gods. We do not pray to them. We do not put our trust in them for our redemption or salvation. That trust belongs with Jesus alone. He alone died for us and rose from the dead, redeeming us from sin, death, and the devil. Mary, also, was a human being just like any other human being. She was redeemed and saved by the blood of her Son, Jesus, just like all other human beings. She believed in Jesus and thereby received God's grace. What is truly extraordinary about Mary is what is true about every one of us—assuming that we believe. God loved her and chose her for salvation, and she believed that. That is all the honor that anybody needs. Trying to rise above this is to try to make Mary into something that she is not—some kind of god or quasi-god. This is not to say that Mary was just like us in every respect, or that we are just as good as Mary. We are the same as Mary so far as God's redemption and salvation is concerned. We are not the same as her, but almost certainly lower than her, when it comes to her gifts. Elizabeth was entirely correct when she said, “Blessed art thou among women.” There are two high and important gifts that Mary was given that I'd like to talk a little bit about today: her faith and her wisdom. Mary's remarkable faith can be seen at the annunciation. The annunciation is when the angel Gabriel announces to her that she is the recipient of grace, the Lord is with her, and she is blessed among women. Then he goes on to tell her that she will conceive and give birth to a Son. Even though she was a virgin and would remain a virgin, the Holy Spirit would come upon her, overshadow her, and the one born of her would be called the Son of God. To all of this that the angel said to her Mary responded: “I am the Lord's servant. May it happen to me as you have said.” Thus she conceived, and Jesus began to grow in her womb. At the annunciation Mary did not consult her reason. If she had, her reason would have contradicted her faith. She also did not consult her emotions. She was frightened by the angel. The road ahead was not an easy one. She was going to become pregnant without being married. What would her fiancé Joseph think? What would the people in the town whisper? Her faith made her despise whatever shame might come upon her from men. She was not looking to be successful or powerful according to worldly standards. She was content with God's favor resting upon her. Through that faith she became the mother of God. To this very day the teaching of the virgin's birth is an easy target for people who impress themselves with their own powers of reasoning. The math doesn't add up. They might think it is impossible because of the DNA. These are the proud of whom Mary speaks in the Magnificat: God has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. Which brings us to the second outstanding attribute of Mary that I'd like to consider today—her wisdom. Consider Mary's song, the Magnificat, which we heard in our Gospel reading today: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, because he has looked with favor on the humble state of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones. He has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.  You should notice that Mary's wisdom is very much a product of her faith. Mary believes in the greatness of the Lord. She believes in his action and salvation. Consequently she is not impressed with the proud, the rich, and those who sit on thrones. God can and will bring them down. On the other hand God will raise up the humble who believe in him. Although the believer might be despised as a fool, poor, weak, and sinful, God will come to his or her aid. This is all to say that believing in God's grace and power is wise. This wisdom won't get you good grades in school. It is not your ticket to Hollywood or Wall Street. But these things are passing away. God's Word will never pass away. And so it seems quite plain to me that you will be much better off learning from Mary rather than regarding her as the co-redemptrix or the source of immense spiritual power. It seems to me that such reasoning contradicts what Mary herself says in the Magnificat. In her song she does not sing about how great and powerful she is. She says the opposite of that. She is poor and lowly, but God is great. Imitate her faith and her wisdom.

In this episode of Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of America's Heartland, Volume Two: The Lion and the Fourth City, Msgr. Michael Witt and Teresa Holman of Covenant Radio discuss Preparing for the Vatican Council.

In this episode of Saint Louis: The Story of Catholic Evangelization of America's Heartland, Volume Two: The Lion and the Fourth City, Msgr. Michael Witt and Teresa Holman of Covenant Radio discuss The Vatican Council.

Today we'll start the first of two episodes with Fr. Paul Robinson about the doctrine “Outside the Church there is No Salvation.” And today, we'll be speaking about Fr. Leonard Feeney, and the organizations that he was a part of: the Saint Benedict Center, and the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart. Why discuss this doctrine, and this movement, commonly known as "Feeneyism" during this point in the Crisis in the Church Series? Because this movement, which started before the 2nd Vatican Council, contains stark warnings about the current traditional movement in the 21st century.

Hans Kung passed away on April 6. He was a theological advisor at Vatican Council 2 and wrote The Declaration Toward a Global Ethic adopted at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1993 and 2018. We will discuss Hans Kung's efforts toward a world religion, and a world government, on today's edition of End of the Age!

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has declined the resignation of the influential German Cardinal, Reinhard Marx. Marx sent his resignation to the pope last month, over the German Church's handling of clerical sex abuse. The pope asked Marx to continue as archbishop of Munich and Freising. The 67-year-old cardinal is also a member of the pope's Council of Cardinals, and the coordinator of the Vatican Council for the Economy. Until last year, he served as the chairman of the German bishops' conference. The number of Canadians who ended their lives by euthanasia and assisted suicide, increased by 17% in 2020, the country's health department announced on Monday. A total of 7,595 people received “medically assisted deaths” last year, a figure which amounts to 2.5% of all deaths in Canada for the year. Euthanasia was legalized in Canada in 2016. The website of the University of Notre Dame has a feature post celebrating Pride month, on its diversity and inclusion page. The university's media relations staff did not reply to CNA's multiple requests for comment. The university's campus ministry office told CNA, that it was not aware of any plans for an initiative honoring the Sacred Heart in the month of June. Three lay Catholics in Germany have asked the Vatican if the Church in Germany is in schism, through a process called a “dubium.” A dubium, from the Latin word meaning “doubt,” is a question addressed to the Vatican's doctrinal congregation, that can be answered with a “yes” or “no.” One of the Catholics told CNA he is concerned about demands in Germany for the ordination of women, blessings of same-sex couples, and lay people preaching at Masses. Today, the Church celebrates Blessed Edward Poppe, a priest from Belgium who died in 1924, at the age of 33. Poppe is remembered for his priestly ministry to the poor and dying. He spent the last years of his life studying, praying, and producing thousands of writings against Marxism and secularism.

Some characteristics of our Catholic Faith: In this episode we address some consequences that are derived from a correct, Catholic understanding of what FAITH is. Faith is an act of our intelligence, moved by our will and by the Grace of God, by which we accept all the truths that God has revealed and the Church teaches as revealed by God (see St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II, 2, 9; and 1st Vatican Council, Dei Filius 3). The main reason why we accept these truths is because we accept the witness and authority of God, who cannot be deceived nor deceive us. As a consequence, it is clear that our faith is a gift of God; besides, the act of faith should be freely made; it should be “certain”; it should be complete—or integral—, without “picking and choosing” some truths and leaving out others. If both are correctly understood there shouldn't be an opposition between faith and science, or between faith and reason. Faith is universal, in other words, it is for all men, and it should be embraced by all men. It is all-encompassing, in the sense that there should be no area of our life that is not affected by our faith. All the concepts discussed can be found in the Catechism, #142-184. At the end, we discuss what to do to persevere in your faith, and we look at the amazing story of John Henry Newman's conversion to Catholicism. He is a canonized saint who converted from Anglicanism. St. John Newman said, “This I am sure of, that nothing but a simple, direct call of duty is a warrant for any one leaving our [Anglican] Church… The simple question is: Can I (it is personal, not whether “another”, but can I) be saved in the English Church? Am I in safety, were I to die tonight? Is it a mortal sin in me, not joining another communion? (Apologia, 208) LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT (poem) Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene; one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now Lead Thou me on! I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years! So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on. O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone, And with the morn those angel faces smile, Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile! Meantime, along the narrow, rugged path, Thyself hast trod, Lead, Saviour, lead me home in childlike faith, Home to my God. To rest forever after earthly strife In the calm light of everlasting life. Poem by St. John Henry Newman (1801-1890) Host: Fr. Patrick Wainwright, a priest of the Miles Christi Religious Order. Podcast Website: www.forcollegecatholics.org Miles Christi Religious Order's site is www.mileschristi.org To know what are the Spiritual Exercises retreats, and to see the dates and locations for our upcoming retreats in the US, visit https://www.mileschristi.org/spiritual-exercises/ Intro music from www.pond5.com Recorded at the Miles Christi Family Center, South Lyon, Michigan

Dignitatis Humanae, the document on religious liberty issued by the second Vatican Council, states that "that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power." And yet, nearly a century before, pope Pius IX condemned the proposition that "every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which...he shall consider true." Because it seemed to contradict previous magisterial teachings, Dignitatis Humanae has caused controversy ever since its promulgation. On April 25, Controversies in Church History will look at the history of the Church's teaching on religious freedom since the 19th century and its bearing on the status of Dignitatis Humanae. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/churchcontroversies/support

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This Ash Wednesday, following a note from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, many American parishes did not distribute ashes in the customary way of smudging a cross on the forehead and saying one of two possible formulas to each recipient. Instead, as an ostensible anti-COVID precaution, they sprinkled ashes on the top of the head and said the formula once to the whole congregation. Today's guest, Gail Finke, wrote a thought-provoking article, not so much on the appropriateness of changing the usual practice this year because of the pandemic, but on an attitude so often taken in discussing Ash Wednesday every year. There is a certain spiritual elitism which regards concern for the external rite, including the rare opportunity to explicitly witness to the faith in a public way, as the province of those of little or superficial faith, or even of the vain. If someone objects to a seemingly unnecessary change, he is said to be overly concerned with the inessential. Yet the experience of the past several decades has shown us definitively that the elimination of “inessential” devotions has had catastrophic effects on the faith of Catholics. Thus, while the change in how ashes are distributed for one year seems like a small matter, it provides an opportunity to talk about a spiritual and intellectual elitism that has manifested itself in the decades following the second Vatican Council, and more recently in the Church's response to the pandemic. It is an elitism that scandalizes the faithful by stripping away their devotional and liturgical life, and then lectures those who suffer on not having a sufficiently “spiritual” faith. External expressions of devotion are important. The little things which set Catholics apart are important. Constant change and disorientation are not good for the people of God. The assumption that those who object to it must have little faith is arrogant. The indifference to the reality that the large number who do have weak faith will easily fall away when denied the rites of the Church—“you don't need to go to Mass, just make a spiritual communion”—is callous and legalistic. Links Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LYkXheSxHXs Gail Finke, “Are We Going to Throw Out Ash Wednesday Too?” https://www.crisismagazine.com/2021/are-we-going-to-throw-out-ash-wednesday-too Thomas Humphries, “The Case of the Great Pandemic Liturgical Flip-Flop” https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/the-case-of-the-great-pandemic-liturgical-flip-flop/ Driving Home the Faith radio show produced by Gail www.sacredheartradio.com Ep. 84, Disobey Lockdown Now w/ Douglas Farrow and Andrew Busch https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/84-disobey-lockdown-now-douglas-farrow-andrew-busch/ This podcast is a production of CatholicCulture.org. If you like the show, please consider supporting us! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Pope Francis has partnered with Lynne Rothschild and top corporations, the global banks to “redefine capitalism” for “inclusive capitalism.” The nominated “Guardians” of the new Vatican Council for Inclusive Capitalism include a Rothschild, Visa, Mastercard, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Dupont, and Johnson & Johnson.   Watch this new podcast episode by clicking here: Taylor Marshall’s […] The post 586: Pope Francis & Rothschild partner with “Guardian” CEOs for Vatican Inclusive Capitalism Council [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Hi guys and welcome to another episode in the RE series. In today's episode we will be looking at the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church and the roles of each position as well as the four major documents that the council produced. If you are aiming for the top grades why not try some exam questions: 1) Explain two of the main teachings from the four major documents produced by the second Vatican Council [4 marks ]. I hope you find this useful, don't forget to share this resource with your friends. God bless

In this episode, John discusses how some authority is being restored to the twenty-three Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome. Pope Francis has appointed seven new members to the Vatican Council for the Economy, six of which are women, so as to reflect the universality of the Church. Lastly, Pope Francis issues a ruling on concerning the validity of baptisms using a modified formula. Learn More and Join the Institute: https://wordonfire.institute

Pope Honorius has one of the most unique legacies in the history of the papacy, making him the subject of debate all the way through to the first Vatican Council in 1870. In his episode, we discuss monumental restoration efforts in Rome, disruptions in Lombard rule, connections throughout the universal church, and a new heresy with posthumous consequences. Besmirch the besmirchers.

Father Lawrence Frizzell and Msgr. John Radano discuss Prayer for Christian Unity in the Context of Christian Unity Week. Msgr. Radano is Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology in the Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University. He also spent 25 years working in the Vatican Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Michael Davies speaks on the liberal coup that took place at the second Vatican Council. The program for Vatican II was quite different from that which was examined and ultimately promulgated once the Council began. Why is this the case? Michael Davies shows that an organized group of progressives took

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss why, in 1870, the Vatican Council issued the decree ‘pastor aeternus’ which, among other areas, affirmed papal infallibility. It meant effectively that the Pope could not err in his teachings, an assertion with its roots in the early Church when the bishop of Rome advanced to being the first among equals, then overall head of the Christian Church in the West. The idea that the Pope could not err had been a double-edged sword from the Middle Ages, though; while it apparently conveyed great power, it also meant a Pope was constrained by whatever a predecessor had said. If a later Pope were to contradict an earlier Pope, then one of them must be wrong, and how could that be…if both were infallible? With Tom O’Loughlin Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Nottingham Rebecca Rist Professor in Medieval History at the University of Reading And Miles Pattenden Departmental Lecturer in Early Modern History at the University of Oxford Producer: Simon Tillotson and Julia Johnson

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss why, in 1870, the Vatican Council issued the decree ‘pastor aeternus’ which, among other areas, affirmed papal infallibility. It meant effectively that the Pope could not err in his teachings, an assertion with its roots in the early Church when the bishop of Rome advanced to being the first among equals, then overall head of the Christian Church in the West. The idea that the Pope could not err had been a double-edged sword from the Middle Ages, though; while it apparently conveyed great power, it also meant a Pope was constrained by whatever a predecessor had said. If a later Pope were to contradict an earlier Pope, then one of them must be wrong, and how could that be…if both were infallible? With Tom O’Loughlin Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Nottingham Rebecca Rist Professor in Medieval History at the University of Reading And Miles Pattenden Departmental Lecturer in Early Modern History at the University of Oxford Producer: Simon Tillotson and Julia Johnson

Father Lawrence Frizzell interviews Msgr. John Radano about his paper, "Pope Paul VI: Ecumenical Pioneer." Msgr. Radano is Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology in the Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University. He also spent 25 years working in the Vatican Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The very first episode of Vatican Council II!

 In Part 2 of our series Who Are You? Lessons From Our First Parents & John Paul II, return guest Josie Duke continues to draw us back through time to contemplate the Garden of Eden, offering us a taste of: What it was like for Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eve before the Fall - and after - to help us think more about our understanding of Who God is, revealing more about who we are as man and woman created for and in unimaginable love The roots of our suffering in this life Some of the wounds that we have been left with from the fall of mankind which are made manifest multi-dimensionally as we move about in our daily lives Tragically, we learn today that satan offered our first parents what they already had. And he does the same to us as we bear the consequences of those wounds, and repeat the drama of Adam & Eve each and every day in our own lives in many, many ways--which I look forward to breaking apart more specifically in time. And as awesome as Josie is....we only scratch the surface of these beautiful, healing mysteries! We are ever aware that we are both simply "pencils in His hand", trying our best in grace to share what is truly an inexhaustible gift from God our loving Father Who has redeemed us through Christ. It is utterly striking just how vast this discussion is ...and how absolutely essential it is for us as human persons to begin ever anew to understand ourselves, each other, and our Creator if we are to ever truly see one another as gift - and cease allowing our differences to divide us in the infinite ways that we see around us and that cause us so much pain. For indeed, we were created with these very differences that were originally intended by our loving Father to draw us into unity. Our differences....should draw us into...unity?  How can that possibly be?  Stay tuned for more Faith & Good Counsel on that in time.... Kinda sad, isn't, that what we simply knew in our beings before the fall, we now have to effort so hard to comprehend as we struggle to see the dignity of others whom we view as "different" and to try to understand what is truly loving as gift of self to everyone, transcending time and space. Lots to ponder on.... So, what spoke to your heart today? What questions were inspired deep in your soul? I hope you'll take pen to paper again in your journal and prayerfully explore these and other big questions as we move forward with the series, and other offerings coming soon to Faith & Good Counsel.   LINKS & RESOURCES: Letter to Women Mulieris Dignitatem Message of the Vatican Council to Women, December 8, 1965 Nine Days that Changed the World Gaudium et Spes, 22:1 The truth is that only in the mystery of the incarnate Word does the mystery of man take on light. For Adam, the first man, was a figure of Him Who was to come,(20) namely Christ the Lord. Christ, the final Adam, by the revelation of the mystery of the Father and His love, fully reveals man to man himself and makes his supreme calling clear. It is not surprising, then, that in Him all the aforementioned truths find their root and attain their crown. He Who is "the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15),(21) is Himself the perfect man. To the sons of Adam He restores the divine likeness which had been disfigured from the first sin onward. Since human nature as He assumed it was not annulled,(22) by that very fact it has been raised up to a divine dignity in our respect too. For by His incarnation the Son of God has united Himself in some fashion with every man. He worked with human hands, He thought with a human mind, acted by human choice(23) and loved with a human heart. Born of the Virgin Mary, He has truly been made one of us, like us in all things except sin.(24) As an innocent lamb He merited for us life by the free shedding of His own blood. In Him God reconciled us(25) to Himself and among ourselves; from bondage to the devil and sin He delivered us,

Dominican Friar Yves Congar, OP is well known for his writings and influence in the spirituality of the Catholic Church. Join Deacon Jeff as he welcomes Dr. Mark Ginter, Catholic theological scholar, writer and translator, to discuss his new collection of the writings of Congar on the Holy Spirit.

TRADCAST 019 (26 SEP 2017) Contents Segment 1: Chaos in the Novus Ordo Church; the "Benedict XVI is the real Pope" deception; disunity in the Novus Ordo Church vs. Sedevacantism; comments on The Remnant's "Catholic Identity Conference 2017" and analysis of "Catholics Rising" promo video; comments on the dubia and formal correction; a look at recent news headlines; why you're not Novus Ordo anymore, reason no. 6042. Segment 2: The 1985 Ratzinger Report and the 2017 Cardinal Muller Report: nothing has changed in 30 years; rational proof for the existence of God; comments on Chris Ferrara's "Francis Expands the Fake Magisterium". Total run time: 1 hr 9 mins   Links to Items mentioned in the Show & Related Information Novus Ordo Watch, "Resignationism: Now 'Abp.' Georg Ganswein Weighs In" (Mar. 2, 2014) Novus Ordo Watch, “Benedict XVI: What you need to know about the man who claimed to be the Pope from 2005-2013” Book: Joseph Ratzinger, Principles of Catholic Theology (San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 1987) Article: Mario Derksen, "When the Shepherd is Struck: The Papacy and Sedevacantist 'Disunity'"; from The Reign of Mary, vol. XLV, no. 155 (summer 2014) Advertisement: "Catholic Identity Conference 2017", The Remnant YouTube Video: "Catholics Rising: A Major Event Coming Soon", The Remnant (uploaded Sep. 8, 2017) Catholic Magisterial pronouncements: Henry Denzinger’s Sources of Catholic Dogma (1954 ed.) Novus Ordo Watch, "Have the Gates of Hell Prevailed? The Papacy and Sedevacantism" (Dec. 27, 2015) Blog Post: Steven O'Reilly, "Benedict is STILL not Pope", Roma Locuta Est (Sep. 14, 2017) Blog Post: Maike Hickson, "Catholic Scholar: Official Persecution of Orthodoxy Within the Church Has Begun", One Peter Five (Sep. 15, 2017) Blog Post: Pete Baklinski, "Theologian predicts how Pope Francis’ teaching could be used to allow contraception", Life Site (Sep. 15, 2017) Novus Ordo Watch, "Francis’ 'Apostolic Exhortation' Amoris Laetitia: The Highlights" (Apr. 8, 2016) Novus Ordo Watch, TRADCAST 013: The Amoris Laetitia Supershow (Apr. 26, 2016) Book: Gerhard Ludwig Muller, The Cardinal Muller Report (San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2017) Book: Joseph Ratzinger and Vittorio Messori, The Ratzinger Report: An Exclusive Interview on the State of the Church (San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 1987) Novus Ordo Watch, "HERESY: Vatican 'Archbishop' Gänswein says 'No Proof' for God’s Existence" (Dec. 26, 2016) Book: Edward Feser, Five Proofs of the Existence of God (San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, 2017) Church Document: Pope St. Pius X, Motu Proprio Sacrorum Antistitum (Oath Against Modernism, 1910) Church Document: Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Studiorum Ducem (1923) Blog Post: Christopher Ferrara, "Francis Expands the Fake Magisterium", The Remnant (Sep. 6, 2017) Book: St. Robert Bellarmine, On the Roman Pontiff: In Five Books (Mediatrix Press, 2016) Blog Post: Maike Hickson, "Bishop Schneider on Prof. Seifert, Cardinal Caffarra, and the Duty to Resist", One Peter Five (Sep. 17, 2017) Book: Dom Cuthbert Butler, The Vatican Council: 1869-1870 (Westminster, MD: The Newman Press, 1962) Church Document: Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Casti Connubii (1930) TRADCAST & TRADCAST EXPRESS: Complete Episode List Support TRADCAST/NovusOrdoWatch by making a tax-deductible donation HERE Follow Novus Ordo Watch on Twitter Follow TRADCAST on Twitter   Four Automatic Subscription Options for TRADCAST TRADCAST by Email (receive automatic notifications of each new episode by email) The TRADCAST RSS Feed (for use with any podcast service) TRADCAST on iTunes TRADCAST on Stitcher TRADCAST on Google Play TRADCAST on Soundcloud   More Information at TRADCAST.org

Today's topics: Evangelical Attitude; Pope St. John Pilgrimage; Catholic Family Festival Summary of today's show: Scot Landry and Dom Bettinelli consider the headlines of the day, including Pope Francis' address to the new Vatican Council for the Economy; the pilgrimage by people connected to Pope St. John XXIII Seminary to Rome for the canonization of their patron last week; and the successful Catholic Family Festival in Boston. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Domenico Bettinelli Today's guest(s): Chris Kelley, station manager of WQOM Links from today's show: Please support Catholic radio in Boston with a donation to The Station of the Cross

Summary of today's show: Continuing our live coverage from Rome, Scot Landry welcomed Fr. Roger Landry to discuss how the cardinals will be discerning who they will choose to be the next pope; Fr. Chris O'Connor and Mary Jo Kriz to reflect on being pilgrims in Rome at this time and on their pilgrimage in honor of Blessed John Paul II; Fr. Dennis Gill on Pope Benedict's legacy through his emphasis on the liturgy as a catechism of our faith; and Lisa Hughes of WBZ-TV on how the Boston news station plans to cover the conclave. Also, a series of reflections from those involved in The Good Catholic Life on it's two-year anniversary. Listen to the show: Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Fr. Dennis Gill, Mary Jo Kriz, Fr. Chris O'Connor, Fr. Roger Landry, Lisa Hughes Links from today's show: Today's topics: LIVE from Rome: Conclave date set; In the Footsteps of John Paul II; Liturgy as Catechism; Two-Year Anniversary 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed everyone to the show coming from Rome. It's our two-year anniversary show. He welcomed Fr. Roger Landry to the show. Scot said the Vatican press office had announced earlier today that the date for the conclave would be set today. Fr. Roger said that focuses the attention of the cardinals on their immediate preparations to whittle down their lists for who they will vote for on the first ballot. It helps us to expedite our own prayers to help them in their discernment. Every Catholic has a role to play in asking the Holy Spirit to guide them Scot said Cardinal Seán had said he'd hoped the cardinals would choose to spend as much time as they needed in the general congregations to discern who they would vote for. Fr. Roger said he thinks the cardinals will pray for a way to discern out of 115 potential candidates the one choice. They have to get beyond the acquaintance stage to really get to know one another so they are comfortable entrusting the future of the Catholic Church to one man. They're looking for someone to teach, to sanctify, and to govern. Fr. Roger has been in Rome for four days now. Scot asked him what he's been up to. Fr. Roger said for EWTN he was filming a lot of small segments connecting Church history with the present conclave. Much of the churches of Rome provide the context for the papacy. He shows the meaning of the things that we all see, like the obelisk in St. Peter's Square, the façade, the statue of Christ, the inscriptions regarding St. Peter in the building. He said the Altar of the Chair has an inscription that “You the Shepherd of the Sheep, Shepherd the Sheep of God,” which is actually directed to Jesus as the True Shepherd by the Pope. Fr. Roger asks listeners to pray that the Holy Spirit to give the cardinals the light whom they should choose and then to give them patience. The process is long and stressful with two votes in morning and then afternoon. We should also pray that whomever is elected that we can embrace as Peter's successor and Christ's Vicar, even if we don't really know him yet. Trust in God's work through the cardinals and follow him. Scot said a lot has been made in the media about the clash of cultures between the American cardinals sharing in the media versus the curial cardinals who didn't like it. Does that signal a long conclave? Fr. Roger thinks it will be a conclave. After the first few days of voting, they will pause for a day of meditation. He thinks no cardinal will get more than a handful of votes in the first few ballots and it will take time to whittle them down. But we can be assured that there will be a pope eventually on that balcony. Scot asked Fr. Roger what he would say about the importance of Catholic radio. Fr. Roger said Catholic radio helps us to live the good Catholic life. It's not enough just to know the truth, but how to live it. Each Thursday, when he's on the show, we look at the news headlines through Catholic lenses. Sometimes it's bad news, sometimes it's great news. Regardless when we look at the news with the eyes of faith, there's always hope. The Lord is always trying to bring good out of evil. It's been a great joy for him to examine current events through Catholic lenses on this show. 2nd segment: Scot welcomes Fr. Chris O'Connor back to the show. He said Fr. Chris celebrated a Mass at the tomb of Bl. John Paul II. He said he is half-Polish and he is full of joy to see the good that this native son of Poland has done for the world. To be at the tomb of this holy man is to be inspired. It makes you want to deepen your prayer life. Scot said more than half of the popes are buried in St. Peter's but John Paul's tomb is special to us. Fr. Chris said he called us to a greater sense of holiness and a greater respect for human life. He recalled an anecdote in which Mikhail Gorbachev called John Paul II the moral authority in the world today. Fr. Chris said he was stubborn in the best sense of the word and bulldozed through any obstacles placed in the way of freedom for his homeland. He had great confidence in Christ giving him the strength to overcome the scourge of communism. Scot noted that when John Paul was shot in St. Peter's Square, he turned to the Blessed Mother. He asked Fr. Chris what he saw in Poland that exemplified that devotion. He said the shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa is a sign of the country's identity and devotion. The Poles are extremely devoted to her and every August millions of them walk dozens or hundreds of miles in pilgrimage to her shrine. In a period waiting for the conclave, Scot asked Fr. Chris about wanting to have the next pope be of such quality that he is called “The Great” immediately after he goes home to God someday, just like with John Paul in 2005. Fr. Chris said as they've walked around Rome the last few days, people have engaged in the guessing game, but his sense is that whoever walks out on the balcony we're all going to embrace and love. Scot asked Fr. Chris about his favorite moments participating in the show the past two years. He said he's impressed by the number of people who tell him they listen to the program and find it rewarding. He said he admires and respects the work Scot is doing to get the Catholic message out. Fr. Chris said it's like we're holding conferences every day with incredible topics. He said you're always hearing people share their faith and how it's impacted their lives. Scot said one of the moving moments for him was Fr. Chris sharing how he visits Norfolk state prison and hears how many men there listen to the show. Scot said he heard from a firefighter who plays the show in the firehouse and turns it up to help evangelize his brother and sister firefighters. Fr. Chris said of the men in Norfolk that many of them are saints. He hears from them that this is another resource for their faith. Christ said “when I was in prison, you visited me” and “when I was sick you visited with me” and Catholic media is a way of doing that. Scot asked Fr. Chris' hope for the Church with this opportunity to share with others in this media scrutiny. Fr. Chris said the Church has a long tradition and people will see that in the coming days, the grandiosity and beauty of Rome. In the midst of the chaos of the Church, we can witness that we are one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Jesus governs the Church through its visible head, the Pope. The Church can be seen to pray together in Masses. She is apostolic through the many trips of the pope throughout the world. We are catholic by the diversity of cardinals coming to Rome and the pilgrims see in the city. The media will focus on the power of the papacy, but we focus on the service of the papacy, which serves us in every way. Scot said we can see the disagreements in the Church and the different cultures, with an example in the different approaches to the media by the different groups of cardinals. Christ called us to love one another and we do see that love ultimately despite the differences. Fr. Chris said it's a blessing to be in Rome to see it all play out. The Church is like any human family, with strengths and weaknesses. He has the conviction that whomever walks out on that balcony, we will embrace him with great joy. We trust the decision is made by the cardinals with the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. 3rd segment: Scot welcomed Mary Jo Kriz, who's been part of the St. John Seminary Master of Arts in Ministry pilgrimage in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II. Mary Jo said it's been an amazing time. She said today they had a beautiful Mass at the altar of Bl. John Paul II with Fr. Chris O'Connor, Fr. Jonathan Gaspar and Fr. Eric Bennett. The message was to “be not afraid” in this time of transition. Scot said it was clear in Fr. Chris' homily how close he was to John Paul and many of us feel the same. Mary Jo said praying by the tomb made her feel like he was there. She met him in 1995 in Rome and she had the same feeling again. Scot said more than half of all the popes are buried in St. Peter's and that makes it awesome to pray in that place. John Paul leaves a great legacy for the Church. For those who haven't been to Rome, he asked her to sum up what it means to be in Rome. She said they had the opportunity to pray Vespers in Assisi and before that with the cardinals in St. Peter's. No matter where we go in the world, it's the same prayers and the same Mass. The Lord affirmed her faith. If you can get to Rome, you will feel at home. Scot asked Mary Jo about a story of a family member who was stunned to hear her voice on the radio yesterday. She's originally from Buffalo and a family member from the area sent her an email saying she turned on the Catholic radio station there and heard her voice. That's the power of Catholic radio. Scot said when people tell him they hear the show, he asks them how often they listen. Some heard it while surfing the dial and others don't miss it. He asked Mary Jo if she's disappointed that the election of the pope didn't occur while she was there and she agreed she was, but Providence provides. 4th segment: Scot welcomes Fr. Dennis Gill, a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and a former professor at the North American College. He said he is a professor of liturgy but is also an expert in the conclave. He said he has no idea when it will start, but it appears the cardinals are taking the preparation time very seriously. Scot asked if he thought it would be a short conclave. Fr. Gill said he thinks it will go quickly because the cardinals have had this lengthy preparation time and they will know early on the man they think should be the Vicar of Christ. Scot asked his hopes for the focus on liturgy. Fr. Gill said it will take years for us to assess the affect that Pope Benedict had on the liturgy. He has a profound understanding of the liturgy as a divine event. He brought new light to a reading of Sacrosanctum concilium and his writing has helped clarify and reorient the Sacred Liturgy and that will endure. He thinks the next Holy Father will have to continue what Pope Benedict has done, which is an ongoing presentation of what the Vatican Council did. He said much of what Pope Benedict said and did was not fully accepted worldwide and so he hopes the next Holy Father will be even more proactive. Scot said the liturgy teaches us so much about our faith. Fr. Gill said the liturgy is the principal catechism of the Church, in the way it's celebrated as well as its content in the prayers and Biblical content. It's important to highlight the liturgy in this Year of Faith. 5th segment: Scot welcomed Lisa Hughes of WBZ-TV to the show. He asked her how she got this assignment. She said she got very lucky. She was there when Cardinal Seán was made a cardinal. Scot asked what it's like to cover a story in Rome versus a story in Boston. She said the Internet connection isn't as good, the streets are a bit more mysterious to them, but there's something so exciting in being there, hearing the languages and the excitement. The Vatican is the epicenter of it all. Scot said it's like a journalist convention with more than 5,000 credentialed. Lisa said they see cameras everywhere they go. She said they went to , which is the tailor that makes the pope's vestments, and there were already many cameras there, and she's sure there will be many more wherever they go. It is such a big city that they're not on top of each other yet. Lisa said their reports will start airing Sunday night during the 6:30 broadcast, and when the conclave starts they will be on live on the 5 and 6pm shows Monday through Friday and live whenever the announcement comes. Scot said as we close the show that he is happy to relay the news that the date for the conclave has been set by the cardinals to begin on Tuesday, March 12. He asked everyone to redouble their prayers for them as a group and to pray for the man who is elected who is taking on a significant ministry of service. Scot reflected on being host of the show for the past two years.

Summary of today's show: The Year of Faith declared by Pope Benedict XVI is rapidly approaching and Archbishop Rino Fisichella, head of the Vatican's efforts centered on the New Evangelization, recently gave a landmark address on the topic to an Australian national conference on the topic. Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell are joined by Michael Lavigne to discuss the address and to talk about what the New Evangelization and the Year of Faith will mean for us in Boston. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell Today's guest(s): Michael Lavigne of the Office of the Episcopal Vicar for the New Evangelization Links from today's show: Today's topics: Archbishop Rino Fisichella on the Year of Faith and the New EVangelization 1st segment: Scot Landry welcomed Fr. Mark O'Connell to the show. Fr. Mark said at the end of each summer, the SMA Fathers, an African missionary order based in Dedham, welcomes people from all over the archdiocese, including Cardinal Seán and many archdiocesan priests. There was a Mass celebrated by the cardinal and a dinner with traditional African foods. Scot said today we will be discussing an address given by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for New Evangelization, to the the Church in Australia. He discussed the upcoming Year of Faith that has been proclaimed by Pope Benedict, including just what it is and what we're expected to do. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Mark welcome Michael Lavigne from the Office of the Episcopal Vicar for the New Evangelization. Michael said plans for the upcoming Year of Faith are well underway and they hope to make announcements after Labor Day. Scot said Cardinal Seán has allocated a lot of resources in the archdiocese to the Year of Faith. Michael explained what the New Evangelization is. He said it's focus is on those who are already baptized, especially those who are Catholic, including those who have fallen away from the faith or even those who sit next to us in the pews who don't know the faith or don't know friendship with Christ. Scot said growing up here, after he went through CCD in eight grade, confirmation prep was not formal catechetical classes and then there was nothing after that. Beyond eighth grade, for most people it was a self-study. This New Evangelization is tied to adult faith formation. Michael said he grew up very involved in his church, but realized at age 19 that he didn't really know about about the faith. Now today we have the Internet and all kinds of resources and we need to do a better job at pointing people to those resources. Scot asked Michael about the difference between knowing about Christ and knowing him in a personal way. Michael said the idea of truly embracing the faith and being called to holiness wasn't present in his childhood. His knowledge of the faith was more about himself than about Christ and others. Scot said for those listening who feel the same way Michael did, they shouldn't feel like they have done something wrong. The Year of Faith is a recognition that many Catholics are in this same boat. Fr. Mark said it's the responsibility of the community to be evangelizers to the community and not to be alone in their own faith. Scot said Archbishop Fisichella, as the leader of the Vatican efforts in the Year of Faith, was invited to address an Australia-wide evangelization conference. It's the first time he's given such a significant address in English and it applies to the whole English-speaking world. The address is entitled “The timeliness of the proclamation” and begins: In the very first line of his Motu Proprio, Ubicumque et Semper, which officially established the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, Pope Benedict XVI draws the attention of all to the person of Jesus Christ. “It is the duty of the Church to proclaim always and everywhere the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He, the first and supreme evangelizer, commanded the Apostles on the day of his Ascension to the Father: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you'” (Mt 28:19). Such a beginning emphasizes both the necessity of placing Jesus Christ at the center of the new evangelization and the importance of recognizing that the faith received from the Apostles and that which is to be preached is namely the person of Jesus Christ. Scot said when you think of all the Church teaching and all the books written about the faith, Archbishop Fisichella is saying that's all great but let's boil it down to the Good News of Jesus Christ and the person of Jesus. Fr. Mark said there is a unique approach here by the Pope and the archbishop: We need to have a personal relationship with Jesus, beyond being in church on Sundays. Michael said being Christian is first and foremost about Jesus Christ and the essential truths about Him. Scot said there's so much we do as Catholics, like our social ministries, but even before we begin those good acts, we need to slow down and reflect on the revelation, love, and person of Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and taught us so much, and then offered himself as a sacrifice for us only to rise again. We have to take time to reflect on that, especially if we're too busy doing all the other things we have to do as Christians. Michael said we should awake every morning and re-center ourselves in Christ, to reflect on this beautiful gift of life. From both Scripture and Tradition, we can see that the path of the new evangelization has been marked out: we are called to renew the proclamation of Jesus Christ, of the mystery of his death and resurrection to stimulate people once more to have faith in him by means of conversion of life. If our eyes were still capable of seeing into the depths of the events which mark the lives of our contemporaries, it would be easy to show how much this message still holds a place of special importance. Therefore, we need to direct our reflection towards the meaning of life and death, and of life beyond death; to face such questions, those affecting people's existence and determining their personal identity, Jesus Christ cannot be an outsider. If the proclamation of the new evangelization does not find its power in the element of mystery which surrounds life and which relates us to the infinite mystery of the God of Jesus Christ, it will not be capable of the effectiveness required to elicit the response of faith. Scot said he says we just need to tie this mystery of Jesus Christ to the biggest questions: What is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of death? What happens after death? Michael said every human being is wired to ask those questions and we know the answer starts first and foremost with Jesus Christ. Fr. Mark said the key is to make it relevant to the people in the pew. They can't just start from scratch: “You need to love Jesus more.” We need to show them why it's important to give this priority. Scot said the archbishop is saying to compete with everything else in life first with the big questions. The ideologies that de-evangelize people don't have answers to these questions. Michael said when his brother's firstborn was born, he told him about the excitement and how when he first held his daughter, it made him think about God and how God made him and why God made him. We need to engage people in the every day moments to evangelize them in that way. Christ, who is the new Adam, revealing the mystery of the Father and of his love, reveals man fully to himself and manifests to him his most exalted vocation… Through the Incarnation, the Son of God united himself in a certain sense to every human being. He worked with human hands, thought with human intelligence, acted with a human will and loved with a human heart. Being born of the Virgin Mary, he made himself truly one of us, like us in all things but sin. The innocent lamb, freely shedding his blood, he earned for us eternal life; in him God has reconciled us to himself and with one another and he has torn us away from slavery to the devil and to sin, such that each one of us can say, along with the apostle: the Son of God ‘has loved me and sacrificed himself for me' (Gal 2:20). By suffering for us, he has not only given us an example that we might follow in his steps, but he has also opened up for us the way we are to go; if we follow it, life and death will be sanctified and will be given new meaning” (Quoting from Gaudium et Spes, the 2nd Vatican Council document) Fr. Mark said Jesus loves us as we are. We don't have to get our lives in order first. Jesus walks with us and gives meaning to us in this life. Yet, before proceeding to a further discussion on the Year of Faith, it is necessary to examine, from a unique perspective, the present crisis in which society finds itself; that with respect to its connection to the question of God. The new evangelization cannot think that this question lies beyond its field. In contrast to the past, today we do not encounter great systems of atheism, if they were ever great; hence, the question of God needs to be addressed in a different way. Today God is not denied, but is unknown. In some respects, it could be said that, paradoxically, interest in God and in religion has grown. Nevertheless, what I note is the strong emotive connotation and declining religion in the plural; there is no interest in a religion and much less for the theme of the ‘true religion'; what seems to count are, rather, religious experiences. People are looking for different modalities of religion, selected by everyone taking up that which they find pleasing in the sense of ensuring for them that religious experience which they find more satisfying on the basis of their interests or needs at the moment. To this must be added that, especially for the younger generations, their horizon of understanding is characterized by a mentality strongly influenced by scientific research and by technology. These achievements, unfortunately, already hold the upper hand, even with respect to the basic elements of grammar and to culture in general. Thus, the new evangelization requires the capacity to know how to give an explanation of our own faith, showing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the sole savior of humanity. To the extent that we are capable of this, we will be able to offer our contemporaries the response they are awaiting. Scot said the challenge if the New Evangelization today is not competing with atheism, but the bad practice of religion, a watered-down form of religious practice. People say they are spiritual, but not religious. Michael recalled how in his youth, the church youth group was not appreciably different from the Boy Scouts or other organizations and so people feel okay going anywhere. Scot said it's a consumeristic view in seeking experiences that make me feel good, but not seeking the truth or anything that makes us uncomfortable in a good way. Fr. Mark likes the line: “we will be able to offer our contemporaries the response they are awaiting.” The only way to do that is to be more involved in our own faith, to know our own faith, to be part of our parish in a meaningful way. The new evangelization begins once more from this point, from the conviction that grace acts upon us and transforms us to the point of bringing about a conversion of heart, and of the credibility of our witness. … Hiding away in our churches might bring us some consolation, but it would render Pentecost vain. It is time to throw open wide the doors and to return to announcing the resurrection of Christ, whose witnesses we are. As the holy bishop Ignatius wrote, “It is not enough to be called Christians; we must be Christians in fact.” If someone today wants to recognize Christians, he must be able to do so not on the basis of their intentions, but on the basis of their commitment in the faith. If we want to be effective in the New Evangelization, we need to first ask for a conversion in ourselves. And then through ourselves, witness through our actions. Fr. Mark related a story he heard from a comedian who gives himself credit for having charitable thoughts, but never follows through. Michael said we need to have an integrity. Thus, the Year of Faith is a path, an opportunity, that the Christian community offers to the many people who possess a longing for God and a profound desire to meet him again in their lives. It is essential, therefore, that believers recognize the responsibility to provide an authentic companionship of faith, to become a neighbor to those who seek the reasons for and explanations of our Catholic beliefs. These opportunities, provided by the Year of Faith to form authentic friendships in faith, bring to the fore the very question of community. Scot said Christianity is a team sport, meant to be experienced as a group where we all work together to help each other. Fr. Mark reflected on what makes a good neighbor, someone who's willing to help out, who is concerned with your well-being. Michael said the Archdiocese's efforts will be focusing on the creed and the Catechism and the meaning of the Second Vatican Council. The second part will be to focus on prayer and all the different ways we all pray as Catholics. The third part will be becoming active witnesses to those around us, discerning the ways the Holy Spirit is giving us the opportunity to act and to share our faith with others. Scot said there will be a lot of opportunities to come together in person, including for those who haven't been to church in a long time. Michael said this will be at both the parish level and archdiocesan level. Fr. Mark said some people are afraid of studying, that there is a fear that the faith is out of touch. He said the Church is pointing out in particular the documents of the Vatican II and they are rich and have the answers and are relevant. Scot said the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a tremendous document, but it may be difficult to read for beginners, so he recommends the YouCat, which is very accessible given in question and answer format. Scot wanted to end with two quotes from Archbishop Fisichella. The first was from Cardinal Ratzinger made about a week before he was made Pope: “What we need at this time of history are people, who, through a faith which is enlightened and lived out in practice, make God credible in this world … We need people who keep their gaze fixed upon God, learning from there what true humanity is. We need people whose intellect is enlightened by the light of God and whose hearts God may open up in such a way that their intellect may speak to the intellect of others and that their hearts may open the hearts of others. Only through people who are touched by God can God return to humanity.” Hence, the new evangelization starts from here: from the credibility of our living as believers and from the conviction that grace acts and transforms to the point of converting the heart. It is a journey which still finds Christians committed to it after two thousand years of history. Scot's favorite part is that we need people who keep their gaze fixed on God, learning from there was true humanity is. Michael said the key to what we do is that it's all about Who, Jesus Christ. God uses as instruments of grace for those around us. It's about God first and foremost so I let go of me and let God work through me. Fr. Mark said we often hear people say they wish they listened years ago, but the Year of Faith is an opportunity for us to jump in now. Archbishop Fishichella concluded with this story from the Middle Ages: A poet passed by some work being conducted and saw three workers busy at their work; they were stone cutters. He turned to the first and said: ‘What are you doing, my friend?' This man, quite indifferently, replied: ‘I am cutting a stone'. He went a little further, saw the second and posed to him the same question, and this man replied, surprised: ‘I am involved in the building of a column'. A bit further ahead, the pilgrim saw the third and to this man also he put the same question; the response, full of enthusiasm, was: ‘I am building a cathedral'. The old meaning is not changed by the new work we are called to construct. There are various workers called into the vineyard of the Lord to bring about the new evangelization; all of them will have some reason to offer to explain their commitment. What I wish for and what I would like to hear is that, in response to the question: ‘What are you doing, my friend?', each one would be able to reply: ‘I am building a cathedral'. Every believer who, faithful to his baptism, commits himself or herself with effort and with enthusiasm every day to give witness to their own faith offers their original and unique contribution to the construction of their great cathedral in the world of today. It is the Church of our Lord, Jesus, his body and his spouse, the people constantly on the way without ever becoming weary, which proclaims to all that Jesus is risen, has come back to life, and that all who believe in him will share in his own mystery of love, the dawn of a day which is always new and which will never fade. Fr. Mark said he knows that God has created each one of us for a reason and while we could spend our lives running away from that meaning, we should spend our lives understanding and fulfilling what God has called us to do. 3rd segment: Now as we do every week at this time, we will consider the Mass readings for this Sunday, specifically the Gospel reading. Jesus said to the crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." Scot said the readings hits both the original hearers of the time and us today. He said we are called to “gnaw” on the flesh of Jesus and drink his blood, as it literally says in the original Greek. For Jews to even touch blood was to become unclean, so this was incredibly shocking. To follow him as a disciple we need to understand the great gift of the Eucharist for us. Michael said this is the source and summit of the Christian life and who we are as Catholics. One of those things he wrestled with as a 19-year-old was this mystery and so he took Christ at his word and believed without having understanding. It's critical to those of us called to witness to receive the Eucharist regularly because it will empower us in all we will face. Scot said the kernel of the Good News is right here. Fr. Mark said the Old Testament fed people with literal food for the journey and Jesus gives us his body and blood as true food for the journey, whatever journey we take. If we live the Christian life the right way, we will be uncomfortable at times, but Jesus gives us what we need to accept whatever challenge we receive. Scot said this reading tells us not to take the Eucharist for granted. This food nourishes us for eternity. Michael said St. Thomas Aquinas points out that Christians live life abundantly, but that with the Eucharist we live out life super-abundantly, ultimately with God in heaven. It gives us a taste of heaven. Scot said we can take the greatest things in our life for granted, even our spouses and children. We have to approach the Eucharist without taking it for granted. Fr. Mark said if we truly understood and didn't take it for granted truly, we would approach the altar on our knees and in awe. Michael said the Eucharist is the source of the Christian life because all grace that enables us comes from us. It's the summit because it's the place where we gather as a community, as brothers and sisters in faith.

Summary of today's show: On Tuesday of Holy Week in the Archdiocese of Boston, Cardinal Seán celebrates the Chrism Mass with the priests of the archdiocese, blessing the holy oils used in sacraments for the next year and renewing their priestly vows. In a special broadcast from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor, first, discuss the Mass and Holy Week with Fr. Jonathan Gaspar and the listen to and reflect upon Cardinal Seán's homily to the priests, which each year is the one he prepares for with the greatest reflection and prayer. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor **Today's guest(s): Fr. Jonathan Gaspar Links from today's show: Today's topics: Cardinal Seán's homily at the Chrism Mass 1st segment: Today the show is being broadcast from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross following the celebration of the Chrism Mass. He is joined by Fr. Jonathan Gaspar and Fr. Chris O'Connor. Fr. Jonathan said it's always great to see so many priests turn out. Fr. Chris said many priests make a conscious decision to come from all over the Archdiocese in order to receive the oils used in sacraments and to renew their priestly vows. Many can't come because they are needed in their parishes. Scot said it seems the Cardinal puts extra time and effort into his Chrism Mass homily. Fr. Jonathan said the Cardinal loves to preach, but he spends a great of time preparing for this one in particular, offering the priests a message of hope and encouragement. He said the Cardinal has spent many nights over the past few weeks in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and at his desk writing his homily. Scot said Cardinal Sean said the Chrism Mass is a sign of unity across the archdiocese in the sacred chrism consecrated today to be used in every sacrament of baptism, confirmation, and anointing. Fr. Chris said all of those sacraments are connected to this Mass today. Another element of unity is the presence of Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Methodios. Both the Metropolitan and the Cardinal spoke of the need for Christian unity. Scot said there is a luncheon for priests after the Mass at the cathedral and each year two priests received awards for their service. Fr. Jim Rafferty and Fr. Dave Palmieri were the recipients this year. Scot noted that Fr. Rafferty received unfavorable press coverage for a pastoral decision a few years ago at St. Paul's in Hingham and this was a chance to highlight his service and to reaffirm him as one who preaches the faith in season and out of season. Scot said Cardinal Seán also mentioned during his homily how many priests tell him they first had an inkling of their vocation from their childhood priests who mentioned the possibility for the call in their lives. Fr. Jonathan recalled his own childhood priest who planted the idea of a vocation in him as a boy. He said Cardinal Seán told priests that the first way to foster vocations was to just smile and show the joy of the priesthood. 2nd segment: Scot said the Chrism Mass is the second big event of Holy Week after Palm Sunday. In many places, Chrism Mass is on Holy Thursday morning, but in big dioceses they move it to another day because priests need to get back to the parishes for Holy Thursday evening for all the preparations that must be made. Fr. Chris said in Rome it will be held on Holy Thursday. He said Pope John Paul II used to publish a Holy Thursday letter to the priests of the world giving them something to reflect on. He's hoping Pope Benedict issues such a letter this year. Scot said priests at this Mass renew their priestly promises from ordination. After 14 years as a priest, Fr. Chris reflected on the renewal and he recalled the words, “Lord, I am unworthy.” In the midst of our own brokenness, Christ continues to call us to minister to his people. It also brought him back to his ordination day, being with his brother priests and celebrating the gift of his priesthood. The only large gathering of priests for Mass like this is the ordination Mass. The Cardinal asked three questions of the priests to renew their priestly vows. Fr. Chris said the Cardinal also asked the priests to pray him as a priestly leader. At another point, the vicar general kepis up and reads the names of all the priests who have died in the past year. About 25 priests were named this year. Scot said he reflected on how every priest present knew that one day their name would be read in this Mass. Fr. Chris said all Christians need to be cognizant of their own mortality and death, but the proximity of Easter reminds us of the promise of eternal life. Now we will hear from Cardinal Sean's homily for the Mass and we will stop periodically to comment on it: Good morning everyone. Your eminence, Metropolitan Methodius, Brother Bishops and Priests, Deacons, Fellow Religious, dear brothers and sisters in the Lord. I first learned about the great tradition of Boston when John Wright became our bishop when I was a seminarian and he would regale us with many stories about Boston. But my favorite story of his was about Mayor Curley. Once when he was running for mayor, he was opposed by one of his lieutenants, a big, garrulous red-haired Irishman who I think was the police or the fire chief at the time. When his opponent had a political rally he decided to go. When he got there, he asked to speak. He said, “You know, every great man in history has had a betrayer. Caesar had his Brutus, Washington had Benedict Arnold, and our blessed savior had Judas. And you know? They were all redheads. Once I was visited by a priest who was very discouraged. He thought he was a redhead… He said: “Bishop, I am the worst priest in the world.” I said to him, that is quite a distinction. I asked him about his ordination and first mass. I said, “Did you fight over who was going to be first in line at your ordination? Did you betray Christ for the collection? Did you chop off someone's ears with a machete? Did you then run away and hide? I was of course comparing the worst priest in the world with the first priests in the world, the apostles. The vocation of the apostles begins with the joyful discovery of Christ, and with the reckless abandoning of their boats, their nets and their families, to follow the Lord. It wasn't too long however, when they were soon in competition with each other and worried about their retirement benefits, like who was going to have the thrones on the right and the left. They spent most of the first Sacred Triduum locked in the Cenacle, while it was the women who followed Jesus through the Stations of the Cross and to Calvary. To me one of the most poignant scenes in the Gospels is the apparition of the Risen Lord on Easter to the 11 remaining apostles. They're hiding out in the Cenacle with the doors bolted. Suddenly, Christ is in their midst showing them his wounded hands as if to say: “See how much I love you.” The reaction of the apostles certainly must have been one of very conflicted emotions. First of all, they were overjoyed to see that Jesus was alive and in their midst. Secondly, they would have felt a profound shame and embarrassment because of their cowardly behavior. The apostles did not surface even to bury Jesus' body after the crucifixion. Had it not been for Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, Jesus' body would have been cast into a common ditch to be savaged by vultures and dogs. But Jesus' love and forgiveness is so great, He does not even remind them of how badly they have behaved, but instead gives them the gift of the Spirit so that these sinners could become wounded healers. I find immense consolation in the fact that the Gospels give us, not pious platitudes, but a gritty, realistic portrayal of our first priests, the apostles. They were ordinary men like ourselves, full of humanity and shortcomings and idiosyncrasies. They were entrusted however, to carry on the most important mission in the history of the world and despite all of their weaknesses, they did an extraordinary job. Scot said one the ideas that stood out to him was that the people entrusted by Jesus to spread the Gospel were not those who had the courage to follow the Way of the Cross and stand at the foot of the Cross. Fr. Chris said we only know for sure that the Virgin Mary and John the beloved apostle were there. He loved how he picked up on the flaws and foibles of the apostles because it shows that by Christ picking these flawed men we see that the Church's ministry is about reconciliation. He reconciles them to himself in order to send them out to tell about the power of forgiveness. Scot said the cardinal has immense satisfaction that the Gospels give us a gritty, real, intense view of the apostles. Our Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints. Fr. Chris said it goes back to the incarnation, that Christ became human so we might become divine. Christ is present to us and offering us an opportunity to die to self, so we might live in him. That's what he calls us all to, regardless of state in life. I'm sure that all of us at one point have felt a certain envy of the apostles. We imagine how wonderful it would be to be there and hear Jesus' voice, to see his miracles, to experience the closeness, the companionship and joy of being in his presence. It is ironic however, that the apostles' worst behavior came about while Jesus was still with them. They came into their own after the Pentecost experience. It's then that they go out boldly to proclaim the gospel and to share with the world what they have received. Though we have not had the privilege of walking over the hills of Galilee in Jesus' company, we have received the same Spirit that the apostles did on Holy Thursday, on Easter Sunday and on Pentecost. And now the mission must continue, despite our weaknesses and shortcomings and all obstacles. Christ is counting on us just as He counted on those simple fishermen to preach his gospel, calling people to conversion and discipleship, building a community of faith around the Eucharist. Like those first Christians in the Acts of the Apostles, we must be united in embracing the teachings of the apostles, fellowship and prayer, and the breaking of the bread. Holy Thursday is a very special day for us priests; indeed this very Chrism Mass is an extension of Holy Thursday. On that first Holy Thursday, Jesus washed the feet of his apostles and commanded them to love one another in the way that He loves us. He also commanded them to celebrate the Eucharist, “Do this in memory of me.” And later on that same evening, Jesus tells his first priests: “Watch and pray.” Today, 2,000 years later, Jesus is telling us the same thing: we must love one another, we must celebrate His Eucharist, and we must watch and pray. In Chapter 14 of the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke reports how Paul and Barnabas gather the faithful at Antioch and they reported what God had done with them and how God had “opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” Pope Benedict has lifted that beautiful phrase, “the door of faith,” “Porta Fidei,” for the name and theme of his letter announcing the year of faith beginning in the fall. It will mark the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the second Vatican Council, convoked by Blessed Pope John XXIII, and which also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, published by Blessed John Paul II. We are people of faith. Faith defines our identity and motivates our actions. Faith is our most precious gift. I am so grateful to have been born into a family of believers, the faith and example of my parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles was so life giving to me as child. And I am ever grateful to my uncle, Father Jerry Riedy, who baptized me into the faith. Scot said although priests today haven't walked with Jesus in Galilee, they have received the same Spirit the apostles did on Pentecost. Christ is counting on these priests just as He did on the apostles. Scot said the Cardinal has a passion for gathering the people of God around the Eucharistic table each week, because it is where we show our love for one another. Fr. Chris said the early Christians did this to show their love for Christ. There is an equality at that table. All are invited and equal in the eyes of God. We receive communion, we are brought deeper into the mystery of God and are meant to share it with our brothers and sisters in the faith. Scot said Cardinal Seán later told the priests to open the door of faith to people and how grateful he is to his family for opening the door of faith to him. We are all called to show people the beauty of our faith in our lives. Fr. Chris said we learn by imitation and example and so when we see the example of those who love the Lord and willingly give their life in service to the Lord we see the love for Christ conveyed and that faith is infectious. Preparing these reflections today, I decided to consult my concordance of the Bible. I found that the word faith appears four times in the Old Testament. However, in the New Testament, which is much shorter, the term faith appears over 250 times and the word believe also appears over 250 times. It is impossible to read the New Testament without appreciating how important faith is. Faith means not being an orphan, having a father who is our God and having many brothers and sisters. Faith is a home where we dwell and move and have our being, where we discover how much we are loved and who we are. Faith is a relationship with Christ, a loving and trusting and enduring friendship. Indeed the mission entrusted by Jesus to the apostles is not first of all to announce the gospel, but first of all to believe in him. As priests we are called to be men of faith, teachers of faith and witnesses of faith. The epistle to the Hebrews tells us that faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. After a beautiful passage celebrating the faith of our ancestors throughout salvation history, the author of Hebrews exhorts us: “Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus the origin and crown of all faith.” A few weeks ago I was invited to give the opening talk at a retreat for 75 young Jesuits here in Boston. A Jesuit Father who is a missionary in Siberia had organized the retreat and invited me. Afterwards, he presented me with a beautiful Russian icon of Our Lady. He told me that in Russia it is said: You do not choose the icon, the icon chooses you.” A very interesting perspective. Well, faith is born of a glance. Not so much ours, but that of Christ. The account of the vocation of the Apostles begins by the assertion Jesus looking at them. Jesus saw Andrew and Peter. Jesus saw the sons of Zebedee. Jesus saw Matthew. And having seen them, having fixed his gaze upon them, Jesus calls them to a life of discipleship. We should ask ourselves: “when did we become aware that Jesus had set his eyes on us?” When did we recognize His voice, and His invitation – “Follow me.” Each of us has our own vocational story. For each of us, there is a precise moment for each of us where we became aware that Jesus was looking at us. Certainly, there were many other moments: moments of enthusiasm, moments of definitive choice, and moments of decision to renew ourselves in the face of trials and difficulties and trials in our ministry. Even moments of remorse and shame when we had to cast ourselves on the mystery of our Lord's mercy, like Peter in the courtyard of the high priest, when the Lord turns and fixes his gaze on Peter, who goes out and weeps bitterly. To be under the gaze of the love and mercy of Jesus and to put our eyes fixed on Him, this is faith and from that faith comes every call, every following and even our ministerial vocation which unites us to Jesus who with love, compassion and tenderness sees the crowd and is moved because they are like sheep without a shepherd. Seeing our people's needs, Jesus sends us. Indeed as priests, we must persevere in running this course with our gaze fixed on Jesus, the origin and crown of all faith. It is our own Boston Marathon with many a Heartbreak Hill. It is a long distance run, not the frenetic sprint of the person anxious to be everywhere, who feels indispensable, who never has time for smile, who is not capable of listening, and who does not have the capacity for a profound silence. We need to witness the faith not by adopting the rhythms and times of this world, but rather by responding to the urgency of the gospel. “Faith comes through hearing” (Romans 10, 17) and it is as men of faith, that we must build our lives on the Word of God. There are so many demands on our time and attention, and our energy is not limitless. It requires discipline in the organization of our time to guarantee that each day we can be nourished by listening to the Word of God. Our celebration of the liturgy is also a crucial contact with the power that comes from God's Word and from the Sacraments. Regardless of what one may feel about the new translation, the changes in the liturgy have been an opportunity for us to focus with greater attention to the words we are praying. The Chrism Mass allows us to glimpse the grace of belonging to a presbyterate. It is this in this presbyterate, united to Christ and one another that the gifts that we received by the imposition of hands can be stirred up and enlivened. Here all of our struggles and triumphs are melded into one. The hidden sacrifices heroically made by some of our brothers, the special graces, the pastoral genius, the tireless dedication come together to forge our presbyterate. We are a body that together regenerates itself. Together we share the responsibility to announce the Gospel and to build up the Christian community. You often hear the expression: “keep the faith.” But what we really need to do is not keep the faith, but spread it around. Our faith grows stronger when we share it with others. All of us remember fondly the priests who mentored us in the faith. Now it is our turn to share these treasures. We are earthen vessels bearing treasures. The world is being overcome with darkness. To me one of the most chilling phrases on Jesus' lips are the words: “When the Son of Man returns will he find any faith on the earth?” In great part it depends on us. We who are Christ's priests have a huge responsibility to announce his Gospel in season and out of season. Scot said this was news to him about faith and belief in the Bible. It's important for the growth of the Church to understand that faith and belief are fundamental. Fr. Chris said we have to remember that faith is a gift from God to us, which we can accept or reject. It's also important to remember how grateful the Cardinal was that his parents were believers that they imparted their faith to him. How grateful we should be to those in our lives who have imparted the faith to us. Sometimes when we're lacking faith, the best way to grow in faith is to tell the Lord and then to pray. We become a better athlete by practicing the motions of the sport, and we grow in faith by acting in faith. Scot said the Cardinal said our faith grows stronger as we share it with others. We all have a huge responsibility to preach the Gospel in season and out of season. Fr. Chris quoted the First Letter of Peter, “be prepared to give a reason for your hope,” for why we believe. What are the highlights of our own faith conveyed in 3 minutes that we would give to someone who asked? I often tell the Jesuits that I'm a little envious of them, since they have 35 craters on the moon named after Jesuit fathers. We Capuchins only have a cup of coffee…. One of the best spots to drink a good cappuccino is the Piazza of San Eustachio in Rome. If you have ever indulged yourself at one of the cafés there, you may have noticed the lovely church which looks like many other Italianate churches, except for the fact that on top of the church where one usually expects to find the cross, there is a huge set of antlers. I am sure that there is some pious explanation for the antlers, perhaps some story about San Eustachio running over a deer and miraculously providing venison for 4000 orphans. However, if you ask the Romans why there are antlers on the top of the church you may hear the story that I was told. Apparently, a young Roman nobleman married a beautiful bride in that church, but soon after the marriage she absconded with the best man. Today the man would have gone on the Jerry Springer show. The husband was disconsolate, and in his grief and rage had the antlers placed on the roof of that church. In Italian, a man who has deceived by his wife is referred to as “cornuto” which means having horns. I am told that ever since the antlers went up, there are very few weddings in that church. Accordingly, for many Romans, the antlers on the church betoken defeat and sadness. During this year of faith we need to climb up and pull the antlers down and lift high the cross, the triumphant, life giving cross. Our people need us to be confident and joyful teachers of the faith. Cardinal Dolan spoke of going to a conference by Cardinal Wright on Evangelization, expecting a deep theological treatise. The message of the eloquent Bostonian was simply – smile! Pope Benedict constantly dwells on relationship of faith with joy. The word joy appears sixty (60) times in the New Testament. The very word Gospel means glad tidings. We are messengers of that joyful news. Scot said when he lived in Rome, he never saw the church the Cardinal referred to. Fr. Chris said he is going to Rome this summer and he's planning to check it out. Scot said the Cardinal seemed to be saying that we should tear down anything distracting us from the faith and in its place to lift high the Cross. But the cross isn't about grief. The cardinal referred to Cardinal Dolan speaking of the joy of having received the Good News and letting it permeate out hearts, even before the cross. Fr. Chris quoted St. Theresa of Avila: “Lord, save me from long-faced saints.” We should see the cross as something beautiful and life-giving. Showing the joy of the love of Christ attracts people and is an invitation to the gift of faith. The people need to glimpse our own faith. They need teachers who are witnesses. In our priestly support groups and circles of priests, we need to talk about Christ and our love for the mission that He has entrusted to us. It is because the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus are talking about Jesus, that the Risen Lord draws near and breaks open the Scriptures for them. That experience made their hearts burn within them. Cleopas and his buddy never finished that dinner – they got up from that table probably without even paying the check and ran back to Jerusalem with the waitress chasing them down the road. They were filled with joy, and wanted to share that joy and good news with their brothers – “we have seen the Lord and we recognized him in the breaking of the bread.” Pope Benedict XVI, in Porta Fidei, writes “faith grows when it is lived as an experience of grace and joy.” He warns us not to grow lazy in the faith, and urges us to focus on Jesus Christ, because “in him all the anguish and longing of the human heart finds fulfillment.” At the Chrism Mass, I like to make an appeal, a challenge to my priests and to myself. In the past, I have asked us all to work harder on our preaching. I have asked that every priest make a serious retreat each year – I had to go down to St. Petersburg last year to make sure Bishop Hennessey was not offering the enneagram and reiki. Actually we are very grateful for the wonderful work Bob Hennessey is doing on those retreats. I have asked that each priest develop a personal rule of life to assure the balance we need to pray hard, work hard and play hard. I have asked that each priest join a priest support group to be able to build a truly spiritual fraternity with a deep sense of shared mission. This year I would ask that each priest, myself included, to recommit ourselves to our own ongoing formation. Each of us is ultimately responsible for his own ongoing formation, which needs to be spiritual, human, theological and pastoral so that we might be the teachers of the faith our people need. Pope John Paul II wrote in Pastores dabo Vobis: “Ongoing formation aims at increasing the priest's awareness of his share in the Church's saving mission”. “The priest's permanent formation appears not only as a necessary condition but also as an indispensable means for constantly refocusing on the meaning of his mission and for ensuring that he is carrying it out with fidelity and generosity. By this formation, the priest is helped to become aware of the seriousness and yet the splendid grace of an obligation which cannot let him rest, so that, like Paul, he must be able to say: “If I preach the Gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel”(1 Cor. 9:16). At the same time, the priest also becomes aware of a demand, which insistently comes from all those whom God is unceasingly calling to salvation. Scot said in the seminary it's important to remind the seminarians that formation doesn't end with ordination. Fr. Chris said none of us are finished products. The disciples on the road to Emmaus were on a journey and each priest has to grow theologically and pastorally. He said he was intrigued by the list of challenges the Cardinal gives each year to the priests for them to work on. It's helpful to look on all of them and see where they've grown. One year is was about working on homilies. Another year was about taking a serious renewing retreat each year. Another year, they were to form a spiritual fraternity. This year it's about ongoing formation. Fr. Chris said it's a good reminder to all of his priests. Scot recapped the end of the Cardinal's homily. For the Church, the Year of the Faith is to be the year of the New Evangelization. Our personal ongoing formation will help us as a diocese in our task of imbuing our pastoral planning with the new evangelization which means taking the Gospel to those who have grown cold, to reach out with a new ardor and with new methods, turning our parishes into communities of evangelizers where every parishioner feels a call to share their faith, to be a part of the mission to make Christ's Gospel loved, and to promote a civilization of justice and love. I am very grateful to Bishop Arthur Kennedy for his willingness to help us to equip our people for the challenges of the New Evangelization and for promoting our ongoing formation. I know that it seems daunting but I am confident that this Year of Faith will be great grace for our Church if we priests take advantage of this time to renew ourselves in an ongoing conversion that is a response to Christ's loving call. Spiritual writers speak of a second call, actually there are many moments when the Lord glances at us as He did to Peter, after Peter's fall and what I call the “Last Breakfast” when the risen Lord, having examined Peter in his love, says “Follow me” again. As we renew our ordination promises may we recommit our lives to Christ, to our brothers and sisters, in the service of the Gospel whose Heralds we are. May the Lord grant each of us a faith that bestows confidence and courage, generosity and joy, as together we work to build up Christ's Kingdom. Together we want to take down the antlers of sadness and defeat and weathervane of doubt and uncertainly and lift high the cross. What St. Francis calls the book that contains the greatest love story in the history of the world – and we priests are all part of that story. God bless you. Scot said it's his sense that the Cardinal's hope is that each parish will come alive and each Catholic will be motivated to share their faith. Fr. Chris said it's an insight that originates with Pope Benedict XVI, who is always talking about this new evangelization, re-presenting the Gospel to those who have grown cold in the faith, re-introducing the idea that Christ is the life and the Resurrection. Scot previewed the liturgies of the rest of the week. He said beautiful images from these liturgies taken by George Martell can be found at . Scot and Fr. Chris said the best way to prepare for Easter is to participate in all the liturgies and services of Holy Week. Fr. Chris reminded everyone that tomorrow night is the final light of The Light Is On For You for this Lent, where the sacrament of confession will be available in every church and chapel from 6:30-8pm.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Fr. Jonathan Gaspar, Priest-Secretary to Cardinal Seán O'Malley and Director of the Archdiocesan Office for Worship, and Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth, Executive Director of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) Today's topics: The new translation of the Roman Missal Summary of today's show: On the First Sunday of Advent at the end of November, the Church in the United States will mark a historic moment where the texts of the Mass we celebrate each day will change. Why are they changing? What are they changing too? How will it affect how we sing at Mass? Is it taking usback to the Middle Ages? All these questions and more will be answered as Scot Landry is joined by Fr. Jonathan Gaspar of the Archdiocese's Office of Worship and Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth of the International Committee on English in the Liturgy, which was largely responsible for this new translation of the Roman Missal. 1st segment: Scot said the first Sunday of Advent this year marks a momentous occasion in the history of the Church, because we will begin praying the liturgy in new ways that will help us deep the sense of reverence and the sacred. One of the worldwide experts on these changes is with us. The ICEL has a major task to help creation translations that are faithful to the original Latin texts of the Church's liturgical texts. Msgr. Wadsworth said ICEL is a commission of 11 bishops who represent the territories of the world where the Mass is celebrated in English: the US, Canada, Ireland, England & Wales, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and South Africa. ICEL is responsible for all of the liturgical texts, including those for the Mass. It started its work even during the Second Vatican Council, translating texts at the time. It's a collaboration of 11 bishops' conferences, which have responsible for the liturgical texts in their countries, and ICEL provides assistance to them. ICEL was originally funded by an initial contribution from the 11 conferences, and since that time it collects copyrights on the liturgical texts from the publishing of the books containing the works. It enables them to subsidize the production of liturgical books in poorer areas. Msgr. said the staff of the permanent secretariat which is located in Washington, DC, is 5 people, with collaborators all over the world. Msgr. said when there's a text to be translated from Latin, they have a base translation by a person authorized by the Church to undertake the work. They have linguistic ability as well as a theological background. Their first draft goes to a committee of four bishops who have those same gifts and they assess the translation line by line and word by word. From them, the text goes to the 11 bishops of the ICEL board, who meet at least once per year. At that point the text, which is called the Green Book, goes to the individual bishops conferences and all of those bishops study and reflect on the text and consult anybody they want to help them. All of that comes back to the ICEL offices and they apply them to the text. On the large-scale, the Church has given general guidelines, which were mostly issued in 2001. And then more specific guidelines have been issued in the Ratio Translationis for the English language, which are the specific considerations which have to be born in mind when translating into English. What the bishops are often able to identify are those things which might be insensitive in relation to their own territory. English is a worldwide language, but it's used differently in different places. Scot asked how they balance the concerns between countries and bishops. Msgr. said they balance the universal with the local. The liturgy belongs to everyone and there is a single English text for everyone to have. Because the character of the text is more formal than the English we use today, that's the level in which English is used throughout the world. Ultimately, the text is established by a process of voting. There has to be a greater than two-thirds majority of the bishops for a text to be established. After all the amendments and suggestions have been applied, it is called the Grey Book. The bishops then vote on it. That establishes the text, which goes back to the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome who needs to authorize the text for publication and implementation. The text is voted up or down in its entirety. The Congregation, assisted by the Vox Clara committee which helps the Congregation with anything in English, can amend the text as they see fit at any stage of the process because they have overall authority over liturgy in the Church. The first version of the current Latin missal came after the Vatican Council in 1969 and the English was published in 1973. In 2001, new guidelines for translation were issued and the updated version of the Latin missal in 2002. So it's taken about 10 years to implement the translation of the new Roman Missal in English. Scot asked how many languages the Latin is translated into. Monsignor thought it was in the hundreds of languages. In addition to the 11 members of ICEL, there are more than 20 that use the English liturgies even though English isn't the main spoken language of the place. Monsignor said it's the work of many hands. The Liturgy is the center of our life as a Church and so great care must be taken in every step of the process. 2nd segment: Monsignor said when the current translation was implemented in 1973 and it was thought there would be a revision done pretty quickly, within 5 or 10 years, but it's taken 40 years. Scot asked why they thought a revision would be needed.It was because it was our first experience of vernacular liturgy instead of Latin. We're still very young in our experience of that. In the 1980s, ICEL surveyed people on what they expected from a revision. First, they thought the present translation doesn't convey all of the content of meaning of the original Latin text. Second, there is an absence of the special vocabulary we use in speaking about our faith that convey so many important concepts. Third, it was thought the language we use in everyday language was not suited to use in liturgy. Monsignor himself has experienced this moving from the United Kingdom to the United States. The difference is language is diminished by using more formal language, such as we would use in poetry or literature. This is a style of language we share across the world. Fr. Jonathan said he compares it to the new renovated apse at St. John's Seminary. Father said he had been at the seminary for eight years and they had a beautiful painting over the apse of the chapel that depicts the Pentecost scene. Just this past summer, that painting was restored and removed years of smoke damage from candles and incense. Now when you look at it, you see not only St. Peter, but also the keys in his hands. By analogy that's what the new translation is giving us. The old translation gives us the big picture, we see Peter. But in the new translation we see Peter in 3D. All of the imagery the Church gives us is restored in this text. Scot asked if the absence of vocabulary was because of the quickness or the desire to make it as colloquial as possible. Monsignor said it was a little of both. The old translation was completed in just about 2 short years from beginning to end. The guidelines issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship at the time favored a more conversational style of English. There has been a change in the translation approach. The cumulative effect is that ideas that are very important in the liturgy are lessened, so now we are expanding some of those concepts in the new translation. Scot asked about the new words that may be unfamiliar to some Catholics. Monsignor said we have a lifetime to plumb the riches of the liturgy and catechesis can help us to deepen our appreciation for these mysteries. Scot asked why the new translation will be more beautiful? Monsignor said one of the characteristics of the original Latin texts is that they're beautiful themselves. Many of them date back nearly two millennia. The new guidelines instruct that when translating, the beauty of the form and structure of the original texts must be respected. Fr. Jonathan commented on the new translation of the Gloria: “We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory.” Some might say that's just a wordier way of saying what we've been saying along: “We worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.” Monsignor said in the old version all the repetition that is found in the Latin text is suppressed. Repetition is a device in poetry that brings greater emphasis and as you say it, the rhythm of the text is evident. There is music within words and one of the great aspects that has guided this process has been to make that music more evident. Often the bishops of the committee asked to sing the prayer to consider it. These are living, breathing texts for living celebrations of the liturgy. Scot asked why it's central that the liturgy not only be spoken, but that we bring back more sacred singing in the Mass? Monsignor said the liturgy is something we do together, it's not a private prayer. It's a form of worship that envelops the whole of the church and singing is a way we united our voices and we give a heightened expression to the something that is really important. The beauty of the chant is to call to mind the contemplative, where the whole intention is to draw us in more deeply to the reality of that moment of the Mass and music is a more powerful way to do that. Music unites truth and beauty. Scot said the first time he's seen a priest sing the Mass it was beautiful, even though he just had a good voice. Fr. Jonathan said it's not just for musicians. To hear someone who doesn't have a trained voice do so is beautiful. St. Augustine said, “Only the love sings.” When we sing, we put our praise of God into song, not because we have good voices, but what we're called to express in our worship, which is the praise and love of our Father through the liturgy. 3rd segment: Scot said there's been a lot of focus on the different responses that the congregation will be saying. Monsignor said the greatest amount of change is in the prayers said by the priest. All of the prayers that change each day and the prayers of the Eucharistic Prayer have changed, but we will be drawn into those prayers as we hear them over and over. Monsignor said there are 10 Eucharistic Prayers in the Roman Missal, the four main ones and then six for particular needs and reconciliation. they've all been set to music in both a simple and solemn tone. This version of the missal will have more music than any previous version. This is music that is not the hymns, but all the chants for the order of the Mass. It is all Gregorian chant. This doesn't supplant all other forms of music, but it belongs to the whole Church and is a form of music we will share with all parts of the world that worship in English. Special chants for particular times of the year are included, including Holy Week, Palm Sunday, the Triduum. Scot said the words of the Gloria are changing. Does that mean all of the sung Glorias that people sing now will go away? Monsignor said each national conference of bishops has issued guidelines to help composers through this transition. In the case of settings of the Mass that are already familiar, they have mostly been revised to bring them into conformity. A certain bit of flexibility is allowed, but there is a move away from paraphrase. Fr. Jonathan said he has many hopes with regard to how the new translation affects the music of the Mass. It's the first time we've received one musical setting of the Mass that he hopes will become common. On a local level, in the 289 parishes of the Archdiocese, there are many beautiful settings of the Mass are sung and many he would never be able to sing with because he hasn't heard them before. One setting means it's one we can all know and sing and pray together. It doesn't exclude other settings from publishers, but the chant in this missal is very beautiful. He's had reports from music directors who had been skeptical that to their surprise the people are responding to the chants and that even the children are singing them and loving them. Scot asked why Gregorian chant is recommended so strongly versus more contemporary music. Monsignor said the chant has three qualities that make it special: First, it's universal that belongs to everyone in the Church and doesn't have a direct secular equivalent. Second, it is thus very spiritual music. It doesn't bear the mark of changing styles in music, it's timeless. Often people find it attractive because it can't be placed in any particular time period. Third, it bear repetition. If we sing it every day, it doesn't get stale. Many of the current styles are appropriate for instrumental accompaniment and large groups of singers, whereas they are not appropriate for weekdays and smaller congregations. Fr. Jonathan said a lot of musicians ask if they can use an organ with the chants, he says it's okay to help them in the beginning, but ideally Gregorian chant puts the emphasis on the word that is being sung. The musicians also say they don't know how to sing chant, but he points to the example of the children's choirs. If you put a line in front of them, even in Latin, the children pick it up very easily. You don't need special training in chant. He's hoping to offer workshops on chant in the upcoming year. 4th segment: Scot mentioned some criticisms of the new translation. Some say it brings us back to the Middle Ages. Monsignor said this is just not true. The texts of the Mass go back to first millennium, but the current translation is well-translated and faithful. What about some of the new words feeling clunkier, like consubstantial in the creed. Fr. Jonathan said there's a whole theological language we're going to notice and it's very precise, especially with regard to the relationships within the Trinity. It's going to require catechesis and is a wonderful opportunity for priests and deacons to preach on Sundays about our liturgical texts, which is one of our main sources of our preaching in the Mass. It begins the first Sunday of Advent but is a work of catechesis that continues in years to come. Some people say it will be hard to implement on the parish level. Monsignor said the Church is very resourceful with many men and women of great gifts that will be brought into play. We're continually invited to greater and more active participation in the liturgy and this is the opportunity to assess our experience of the liturgy and dare to do things differently. What about the claim we'll be praying more Latin? Fr. Jonathan said we've always had the option to pray in Latin, which is the official language of the Church. This new translation from Latin into English. It does not require more Latin being sung, but it wouldn't be a bad thing to hear the original Latin melodic line to give people a sense of the long history we have as Catholics. What about the fact that two-thirds of people on Christmas for whom this will be new? Monsignor said the experience of the liturgy once it's implemented will carry people along. It's important to address the Christmas phenomenon. It's important for them to know that the Church they belong to is a living reality that is changing and growing. The Church will be extending an invitation to everyone who comes to Christmas to be more actively and consciously engaged in the life of the Church. For some people who aren't involved in the Church may be unsettled at first, but it might sharpen the invitation for them to rejoin us on a regular basis. Fr. Jonathan said the biggest misconception was that this text somehow came to us from a committee of one or two in the Vatican. Monsignor effectively rebutted that claim. So many faithful people, including the bishops and the thousands who assisted them, produced a text that really reflects the work of many hands. Monsignor encouraged everyone to joyfully receive this gift from the Church. Apart from expressing all the truths of the faith we believe, it's the most powerful way we receive grace from God to become holy. We sing in the middle of the Mass, “holy, holy, holy,” and the purpose of the Mass is to help us become what we sing.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor **Today's guest(s):** Chris Carmody, Religion Teacher at St. Mary High School, Lynn, and Youth Minister Coordinator at Immaculate Conception Church, Salem * [Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium](http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html) **Today's topics:** Vatican II document Lumen Gentium **Summary of today's show:** Chris Carmody joins Scot and Fr. Chris to discuss the 2nd Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, and its groundbreaking look inward that helped the Church address the modern world in new ways and opened up a new understanding of the laity's role in the Church. **1st segment:** Scot welcomed Fr. Chris back to the show and said they've been planning to discuss the various documents of the Second Vatican Council and today they will be discussing Lumen Gentium, the dogmatic constitution on the Church in the World. Fr. Chris said this is the constitution for the Church and Pope John Paul and OPope Benedict have always referred to this document on a regular basis. Unlike all the other councils in the Church, this was the first that wasn't called to address a heresy or combat a schism. It was called to take a look at where the Church has been and where it is heading. Pope John XXIII said, "Let's open the windows and let in the fresh air." There was no other agenda. Scot said there were 21 coun cils in the history of the Church and the previous one was Vatican I in the 1870s. Fr. Chris said the Vatican Council was a continuity and a renewal. It was designed to capture who we are and what we are about. He also noted that Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict were young scholars at the Second Vatican Council and had key roles in shaping the council. Fr. Chris said the Church has occasionally called all the bishops of the world together in ecumenical council. He said some scholars said this may have been the first truly ecumenical council with bishops from all over the world contributing for the first time. More than 2,600 bishops were at the council, as well as other experts and observers from other Christian denominations. Scot noted that most of the meetings took place inside St. Peter's Square with all the thousands of attendees during all these meetings. **2nd segment:** Scot welcomed Chris back to the show. Before Easter, he was on the show to talk about the Hunger for Justice pilgrimage for youth on Good Friday and Holy Saturday. He's been studying in the Masters of Arts in Ministry and will be transferring to the Masters of Arts in Theological Studies at the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization. He has always loved studying theology from his days as an undergrad at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He found the course on Vatican II to be valuable because he'd never had a chance to read through the documents themselves. Scot asked about the context of Vatican II. Fr. Chris said Pope John XXIII was originally seen as a bridge between popes and a quiet keeper of the Vatican. But he said he felt moved by the Holy Spirit to call this council. He sent out to all of the bishops of the world a blank slate and asked what they should be talking about. From that came all of these documents which began discussions at the Vatican lasting many years addressing important issues. Scot said 16 documents were the product of Vatican II. It opened in 1962 and closed in 1965 with four separate sessions. Four documents were constitutions: divine revelation, on the Church, on the Church in the modern world, and on the sacred liturgy. There were 9 decrees and three declarations on various topics. Fr. Chris said the constitution is the backbone that sets the scope for how we're going to proceed. The declaration makes a statement on a topic, what it is and why it's important. Lumen Gentium (Light of the World), on the Church, was the Church looking inward. Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope), the Church in the World, looks at the Church's interaction with the world. The former is dogmatic, t he latter is pastoral. Chris said before we can talk to anyone else, we need to look at who we are and that's why the Church looked internally before addressing our interaction externally. Fr. Chris said Lumen Gentium is the key document of Vatican II because it defines the Church. The other documents are in some way leading back to the Church, and so their root is in Lumen Gentium. Lumen Gentium is broken up into eight sections: the mystery of the Church, the People of God, on the hierarchical structure of the Church and in particular on the Episcopate, the Laity, the universal call to holiness, religious, the nature of the pilgrim church, and the Blessed Mother. **3rd segment:** Scot said Cardinal Cushing represented the Archdiocese of Boston at Vatican II. Fr. Chris said he was instrumental in the piece on ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. Scot said one of  the key themes is that of unity. Chris said it comes from the creed that we are one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Within our unity, we show the unity of Christ to the world: bishops in union together and with the pope and the people in unity with their bishop. Fr. Chris said we are made in the image of God and Pope Benedict emphasizes that a key term of Vatican II is communion. God is three persons in one nature and we need to image that unity among each other. Scot recalls the image of Christianity as a team sport. We're not called to be individuals in the Church nor is the Church to be isolated from the world. We're called to be in relation, but we should be a sign of unity with each other in the kingdom of God on earth. Fr. Chris said the Mass is where we find God's Word, God's sacrament among us, and God's marching orders to us. Scot said Lumen Gentium tried to answer what is the Catholic Church in relation to the church that Jesus founded: Is it entirely the Church he founded? Chris said they concluded that we are the Church that Christ founded, but we're still working toward that goal in our unity. The document says the true Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church. Fr. Chris said because Christ has promised to never abandon the Church, we believe that the fullness of the Church as founded by Christ, resides in the Catholic Church, and that's where we will find holiness. Before Vatican II, some said there was no way to be saved without being a baptized and active Catholic. Fr. Chris said there are possibilities for people outside of the Church to be saved, but if you know the Church to be the fullness of salvation, then you have an obligation to give yourself to the Church and be part of the Church. Scot said the document tried to broaden the description of the Church beyond the visible and institutional. Vatican II said it also invisible. Chris said the Church is also the People of God and the Mystical Body of Christ. When we are out in the world, we are the Church, even when we are not inside the building. There is no one description that encompasses the fullness of the Church. Fr. Chris said when you look through a diamond, you see it through different prisms or angles. How do you describe a mountain to someone who's never seen one? The idea of the People of God shows that the Church is a pilgrim Church on the way to salvation. All of the members of the Church are sanctified and made holy. Scot said the document seems to endorse that there are many descriptions of the Church; that people can approach the Church with different ideas. Chris said Lumen Gentium talks about the Church as being pilgrim. The Church on earth is in communion with the Church in heaven. We are always with each other; we are not alone on the journey to heaven. **4th segment:** One of the goals of the document was to define the roles within the Church. One of those definitions looked at the relationship between the Pope and the bishops and the tension of the pope's authority versus the bishop's collegiality. Fr. Chris said the document reminds us that we're a hierarchical church. It starts with the the great reverence and respect for the Pope. He stands in the person of Christ in a primary way. He shares the teaching authority of the Church with the bishops. Vatican II recognized that each bishop has the fullness of the priesthood. A priest preaches because he shares in his bishop's ministry. Vatican II affirmed very carefully that if you're looking for the Church, look to the unity in the local diocese between bishop, priests, and laity. The parish is just a microcosm of the diocese. The bishops share a collegiality with the Pope. They are not the Pope's lieutenants. They have a primacy in their dioceses as the unifier and governor and teacher. Scot said the permanent diaconate was re-established after Vatican II and articulated in Lumen Gentium. Chris said he was surprised when he learned that there was a long period in Church history when the permanent diaconate was not part of the Church. The deacons are a great resource for the Church. Scot said Vatican II envisioned that it would be mission countries with priest shortages that would embrace this ministry, but it was Western nations that now have the most deacons. Their roles in the Church were outlined including preaching and administering certain sacraments. > It is the duty of the deacon, according as it shall have been assigned to him by competent authority, to administer baptism solemnly, to be custodian and dispenser of the Eucharist, to assist at and bless marriages in the name of the Church, to bring Viaticum to the dying, to read the Sacred Scripture to the faithful, to instruct and exhort the people, to preside over the worship and prayer of the faithful, to administer sacramentals, to officiate at funeral and burial services. Chris said one of his favorite parts is when the Church addresses the youth. The Church is ever-young despite being one of the oldest institutions in the world. >By the power of the Gospel He makes the Church keep the freshness of youth. Fr. Chris said the Church is often defined by oppositions: old and young, holy and sinful, priests and laity. No one term ever describes the Church, but must always encompass "both/and". Too many of us get into the mindset that the building is the church, but the Church is the People of God, from the Pope to the newest baptized person. Not just the laity or just the clergy, but all of us. Chris said Lumen Gentium says the "laity is here understood to mean all the faithful except those in holy orders and those in the state of religious life specially approved by the Church." They are those who live out the Christian life in the world. >[B]y their very vocation, seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering them according to the plan of God. They live in the world, that is, in each and in all of the secular professions and occupations. They live in the ordinary circumstances of family and social life, from which the very web of their existence is woven. They are called there by God that by exercising their proper function and led by the spirit of the Gospel they may work for the sanctification of the world from within as a leaven. In this way they may make Christ known to others, especially by the testimony of a life resplendent in faith, hope and charity. Therefore, since they are tightly bound up in all types of temporal affairs it is their special task to order and to throw light upon these affairs in such a way that they may come into being and then continually increase according to Christ to the praise of the Creator and the Redeemer. It is through baptism that all Christians share in the priesthood of Christ, in his role of prophet, and in his kingship. Scot said this priesthood means anyone who sacrifices on behalf of God. We are all called to preach, to teach, and to sanctify, in a certain way. The laity teach by witnessing in the world, they are sanctified by their prayers for one another. It's not just religious and clergy who are called to holiness, but all are. Scot said this section of Lumen Gentium was innovative and is what St. Josemaria Escriva preached. Chris said we are called to be "perfect as your Father is perfect." He finds it the hardest teaching. People believe that perfection is impossible. >In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. Fr. Chris said the Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners. We're all on the road to holiness. But it is right that we're called to holiness because it is friendship with God and ultimate friendship with God is heaven where we gaze on the face of the Father. We say the Church is holy because Christ promised that he would never abandon the Church to make sure that what the Church teaches is true. If what the Church teaches isn't true, then Christ would be a liar. Fr. Chris emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church, animating the Church and convicting us in both our faith and in our sinfulness. The council fathers emphasized the Holy Spirit in each of our lives. **5th segment:** In this segment, we'll talk about the Blessed Mother. There was some discussion at the council about whether there should be a separate document on the Blessed Mother. Fr. Chris said we have to emphasize the role of Mary's life in each Catholic's life, but we can't overemphasize her above the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And since there was n't a document on the Persons of the Trinity, they didn't think there should be a separate one for her. Chris said the document says Mary is the perfection and model of the Church. She is what we are working toward and she is a sure source of our hope. Scot said the role of Mary was key in the discussions in ecumenism. Fr. Chris said the Church tells us we cannot compromise the truth to please someone else and Mary is an essential element of our faith. Mary is at the two moments of the institution of the Church: At the foot of the cross where the blood and water from Christ's side and Jesus gives Mary to John, representing us; and at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles. Scot said the document clarifies that Mary is our intercessor who goes to her Son to mediate our prayers. Chris said when we honor Mary, she is making known the Son to us. Her mediation doesn't remove Christ's mediation on our behalf. Fr. Chris said she is a powerful intercessor. The mother goes to her Son and begs for us. We can count on our supernatural mother being with us and to guide us through life. Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II and we will continue to revisit the documents of Vatican II between now and then.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor**Today's guest(s):** Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, founder and publisher at Ignatius Press* [Jesus of Nazareth 2](http://www.ignatius.com/promotions/jesus-of-nazareth/)* [Ignatius Press](http://www.ignatius.com)**Today's topics:** Pope Benedict's new book, "Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection"**A summary of today's show:** Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, of Ignatius Press and a friend and student of Pope Benedict, recounts his own journey with the Holy Father, reflects on his papacy and future legacy, and delves this new book which is apropos for this Holy Week as we enter into it.**1st segment:** Happy Patriots' Day. Scot said today is much more than a day off or Marathon Day or a day when the Red Sox play with an early start. It is the start of Holy Week. We celebrated Palm Sunday yesterday and today is officially known in the Church calendar as Monday of Holy Week. Pope Benedict XVI published a book last month entitled "Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection" to help us to get to know our Lord in a special way. On today's broadcast we talked with the English-language publisher of that book, Fr. Joseph Fessio of Ignatius Press. But Fr. Fessio is much more than just the publisher. He has known Pope Benedict since Father was a graduate student and the Pope was known as Fr. Joseph Ratzinger.**2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcome Fr. Fessio. Fr. Fessio first met Fr. Ratzinger in 1972. Prior to that he was doing his theology as a young Jesuit scholastic in Lyons, France. He met there [Fr. Henri de Lubac, SJ](http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/authors/henridelubac.asp), who was a wonderful priest, a great Jesuit, and tremendous scholar. When it came for Fr. Fessio to do hiw own doctoral studies, and Fr. de Lubac suggested he do his studies on [Hans Urs von Balthasar](http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/authors/vonbalthasar.asp), the Swiss theologian that de Lubac thought was the great theologian of the Church. He said Fr. Fessio should go to Regensburg to study with the great young theologian Fr. Ratzinger and it was Fr. de Lubac who wrote Fr. Ratzinger on his behalf. Fr. Ratzinger made an exception to accept Fr. Fessio among his graduate students even though he'd been trying to reduce the number of students he was accepting. He was a wonderful teacher as the world now knows.After that, his former doctoral students would gather with him every year, especially after 1977, when he became Archbishop of Munich-Friesing. This was called the Schulerkreis or "student circle". They would go to a monastery, select a theme, bring in a speaker, have discussions, have meals together, Mass together. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with their revered mentor. They thought they would end when he became Pope in 2005, but he informed the students that he wanted to continue so they keep going every August. That he continues this, tells Fr. Fessio that he values his friendships he's made, that he values academic discussion and inquiry in o themes of theological interest, and what a warm human person he is that he enjoys this recreation.Fr. Chris asked what qualities Pope Benedict has a professor and teacher that he would admire. He has a brilliant mind and grasps what he reads and remenbers them forever. Is widely read in many subjects, not just theology and philosophy, but also literature and history and others. HE loves art and music and plays piano. He's exceptional for the depth of his knowledge and the sharpness of his intellect. He's also very tranquil and listens well. Most memorable for Fr. Fessio were not Fr. Ratzinger's lectures, which were excellent, but his seminars. In a group of students, he would lead discussion and make sure everyone got a chance to speak and guide it. At the end, he would summarize the whole session into two very beautiful and long German sentences. They would be astounded at his ability to synthesize and grasp the important themes and put them together. He sees it again and again now that he's Pope. At the Synod of the Eucharist, where bishops discuss a theme, then put together a synopsis of themes they'd like the Pope to address, and if you read the document Pope Benedict produced, it's beautiful. When the synod fathers give the Pope their document, they number each item. If you look at the footnotes of the Pope's post-synodal exhortation, [Sacramentum Caritatis](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis_en.html), he took all the little fragments that they'd put into their list and he made them into a mosaic; he put them into order; he synthesized them. The synod was one big seminar where Professor Ratzinger listened and synthesized. Pope John Paul II had put Cardinal Ratzinger in charge of the creation of the Universal Catechism and he did the same with that document.Fr. Fessio once made a retreat and meditated on the table of contents of the Catechism. He didn't read the document, just the table of contents. It is so beautifully organized. It's not just individual statements of our faith; they are put together as an organic whole.Scot said his reaction when he read Pope Benedict's first encyclical, [Deus Caritas Est](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est_en.html), was that the Pope was such a clear writer and to be a clear writer, you need to be a clear thinker. Back when he was Fr. Ratzinger, what was the general thinking of where the brilliant professor Fr. Ratzinger was headed in his life? Fr. Fessio said they didn't think he would become part of the ecclesiastical structure of the Church. He was a brilliant professor and in Germany that's a highly revered position and they assumed he would continue a career in theology. In Germany, theologians become bishops. (In the US, it's canon lawyers.) When he became prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the hostile media gave him the image as the Panzercardinal, the great Enforcer, the disciplinarian, harsh and unyielding. When he became Pope, his students rejoiced because as Pope now this wonderful man would be known for who he truly is. Sure enough, in 2005, the journalists all asked what caused the change for him to become so warm and kind and caring. Fr. Fessio said that's the way he's always been. They only just finally got to know him.Scot asked him what it was like to have someone he knew so well to be elected Pope. He was very happy and he sort of predicted it. When he looked at all the candidates, he decided that no one else had the name recognition or great talents. And John Paul II had increased the College of Cardinals and made it more international which means there are cardinals from all over the world. If you are good enough to become a cardinal, you know you can't elect someone on hearsay or a nice impression. You need someone you rely upon or trust or that someone you know relies upon and trusts. Who do all these cardinals know? A cardinal serving in Rome gets to know all the other curial cardinals as well as the worldwide cardinals and because he is such a good person and so fair--even his enemies admire and respect him--it just seemd to Fr. Fessio it was unlikely anyone else would be elected. He was happy for the whole Church.The 20th century was a great century for Popes in his view: from Pius X all the way to Pope John Paul II. We are fortunate to have been alive during two of the greatest pontificates, maybe, of all time. Scot asked Fr. Fessio if he had concern for the Pope upon him being elected Pope in his late 70s as he was preparing for retirement. On the one hand, he knew he would prefer to work in his later years in theology. But on the other hand, he is a person of great serenity. He knew he would live the papacy from within and be quite content within. He didn't want it and wasn't looking for it. In the interview book ["Light of the World"](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1586176064/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=catholicnetrevie&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1586176064), he said, "I saw the guillotine coming." He also said about following John Paul II, he said, "I am who I am. The cardinals elected me. I'll just do the best I can."**3rd segment:** Fr. Chris said it's great to discover that the Pope's new book is #5 on the New York Times' bestseller list. To what does Fr. Fessio attribute this great success? He said we have the best known teacher on the planet writing a book about the most important figure in human history and that should be of interest to even the readers of the New York Times. Even in these secularized times, there are still people who value a book like this by a man like this.Scot asked the significance of the book in the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI. Scott Hahn says that the "Jesus of Nazareth" project will be the Pope's great legacy, just as the Theology of the Body was Pope John Paul's. Fr. Fessio said the project is a work of Pope Benedict's mature years, is close to his heart, he's worked on it at great length with great devotion, and it's on Jesus. He also does something in this book that's not been done in any major book about Jesus. We've had lives of Jesus, but this is not a life of Jesus. We've had Christologies, books on the theology of the divinity and humanity of Christ and the function of his being a savior, but Pope Benedict said in the introduction that it's not his goal to do that.His goal is to present the figure and the message of Jesus in a way that will inspire a personal commitment and give people a certitude about their faith. In the last century, there has been an historical scholarship to find the "real" Jesus, but it always ends up with someone how is wispy and amorphous or someone who represents the pet project of the scholar, i.e. Jesus the revolutionary or social worker. But in this book, he says that that the results of historical scholarship are in now and there's not much more to say there. What we need to do now is expand it into theological exegesis that recognizes faith as a way of seeing the Gospel. And it stays historical because it's about a real person who lived.He integrates the results of historical scholarship and the vision of faith and that, Fr. Fessio said, will be a landmark for a long time to come.On the other hand, he believes Pope Benedict's legacy will be larger than this and it will be marked by two things. First, his greatest love is the liturgy and after he was named archbishop in 1977 he didn't write any more books. He gave talks and wrote articles that were collected into books and wrote an autobiography, but he in 1990 said he would work on a book on the liturgy. Fr. Fessio believes the book, "The Spirit of the Liturgy", is the masterpiece on the Catholic Mass. It is the best of any that has been written and he doesn't see how it can be surpassed in the future. That, along with his motu proprio in 2007 [Summorum Pontificum](http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/b16summorumpontificum.htm) which made the Extraordinary For of the Mass more available, mark a turning point in liturgical renewal which will have a longstanding effect on the Church.Third, you can't have a healthy Catholic Church without priests. You can't have a large number of priests without strong bishops who have good solid seminaries. Fr. Fessio said he lived through a dark age of seminaries after the 2nd Vatican Council, which is changing now. For the last three or four years, bishops' appointments have been men who've been willing to stand up for the faith, to take a stand for it, have great talents, and are quite loyal to the Church. This isn't by chance. Last July he appointed Cardinal Mac Ouellet as prefect for the Congregation for Bishops, the congregation that oversees the appointment of bishops. Fr. Fessio has know him for many years and both were close to Fr. Ratzinger. He's extraordinary, intelligent, and a man of faith, and he's in charge of the appointment of bishops worldwide. For the US, Cardinal Burke is a member of that Congregation and he knows the situation in the US and knows priests and bishops and here.Scot asked Fr. Fessio to describe what in Pope Benedict's and Cardinal Ouellet's mind makes a good bishop for the 2010s. Of course, they want men of prayer deeply committed to Jesus and his Church. They want bishops with intellectual foundation to defend the faith and be prophetic in proclaiming the Word of God. They also want bishops who can recognize the importance of hermeneutics of continuity, an understanding that the Second Vatican Council is not a break with the past, of everything that went before it. Fr. Fessio has heard a lot of people say, "Oh, that's pre-Vatican II. We don't do that any more." This Pope's view is that the Vatican council was a moment in the Church's long living tradition in which there was organic development that was called for, a renewal that was rooted  in Tradition. After the council , there were many bishops who thought the council was a complete transformation of the Church.Fr. Chris said that it seems that with the current Jesus of Nazareth book ending with the Resurrection that it wraps up the series. Or is there another volume coming? Fr. Fessio said the Holy Father has promised that he would write a short book (in Italian "fascicolo") on the infancy of Christ. So there's the public life of Christ to the Transfiguration and then the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ in two volumes and then a small half-book being worked on now that he hopes to finish it by the summer. Scot asked if Ignatius Press will publish that book. Fr. Fessio said they don't have the contract yet, but the Pope has been very loyal to Ignatius as Ignatius has been to him. He knows of a New York publisher who went to Rome personally to offer a $2.1 million advance for the book, which Ignatius wasn't required to pay, but the Holy Father's publisher said No, that Ignatius Press was going to do it.After he was elected Pope, Ignatius had 23 of his books in print. Other publishers wanted to get on the bandwagon and one American publisher who knows the Pope and his secretary who asked him, "Holy Father, why is that only Ignatius Press is allowed to publish your books?" He said, "Before anyone cared about me, they published my books."Scot asked Fr. Fessio why does it have both Joseph Ratzinger and Pope Benedict XVI on the cover? At what level of magisterial authority does he write this book? Fr. Fessio said it is not at all magisterial, in the technical sense of being an authoritative statement for the Church. It is really a book by Joseph Ratzinger as a private theologian, but this man happens to be Pope. So in order to help sell the books and to let people understand, they book both the name and the title.  It doesn't have the Church's authority behind, but neither does the phone book and that's full of true statements. So it's full of truth in that sense even while you can disagree with his conclusions. He has also become what his office is. Joseph Ratzinger doesn't put on a costume as Pope Benedict XVI. He really is the successor of Peter and he is what his office is. **4th segment:** Fr. Chris asked Fr. Fessio what his favorite part of the book is. Fr. Fessio said he couldn't pick a favorite part. It's not a book that's easily divided into parts. It's sequential as it goes through Holy Week and it's a story. The whole story is what is powerful for him. In every part he sees wonderful insights and clarity of thought. What he likes most are certain constant features that everywhere throughout the book. Pope Benedict uses the Old Testament in a certain way. He'll talks about saying and acts of Jesus that may be hard to understand by going back to Old Testament texts in which Jesus' acts are the fulfillment. But he goes deeper an deeper into the historical context. It's also so Christ-centered because he shows how the sayings of Christ, his words to us, are actually expressions of the way Christ lived his life. Pope Benedict's character as a teacher is seen throughout the book. He enumerates many things, he begins with questions and then answer them. He has a teaching style.Fr. Fessio said he's working on adapting the books into an online college course, working with the [College of St. Thomas More](http://www.cstmo.org/) in Fort Worth, a fully online Catholic university. Every time  he re-reads the books in preparation for these classes, he gets something new. They discuss Scot's favorite passage of the book on Christ washing the feet of the Apostles. Pope Benedict says it's an encapsulation of the ministry of Christ, that God stoops down to serve man, that "God did not grasp at divinity, but rather emptied himself and took on the form of a slave." The bathing of the whole body is also a reference to baptism and feet-washing is a reference to the need for continual cleansing necessary through confession. When Christ washes our feet, it is an expression of an inner reality of service to others, not just to show us who He is, but to gives us an example of who were to be. Now, the Pope goes deeper. Christ knows we can't do that as an act of our own moral strength. Noting that this takes place at the Last Supper, he says we need to be united to Christ in the Eucharist, then we can let that life flower in us as a moral life. We don't do it on our own.Fr. Chris said in the foreword of the book, Pope Benedict says he has the task as communicating the figure and message of Christ. Fr. Fessio said that his is against the background of the historical scholarship. Pope Benedict wants to show us that having read the scholarship, there can still be a full concrete attractive image of Jesus, the man who was God, not a shriveled and shrunken image made by questioning everything we know about Christ. He wants to give the fullness of Christ as we receive Him in the Gospels. The message is similar. Some scholars say we can't be sure of what Christ said because earlier editors could have inserted anything into the texts of the Gospels we have today. But Pope Benedict says we can have a genuine figure of Jesus, filled out and fleshed out and we can have have real teachings of Jesus from the Gospels; we can rely on them. Otherwise who will follow Jesus? No one will follow a stick figure Jesus.About the Resurrection, Fr. Fessio notes that Pope Benedict says with St. Paul that if Jesus isn't risen our faith is in vain. He also addresses whether the tomb was empty. Some scholars say  that Jesus could have died and his spirit rose to heaven and his body decomposed and it would not alter our belief in the resurrection of Jesus. But the Pope says while there could be a resurrection of the crucified Christ without the body leaving the tomb, because it's a transhistorical, beyond empirical event, but there would have been no belief in it, the Jews at the time knew where he was buried. If they'd gone to the tomb and found a body, it would have been a dis-proof of the resurrection and there wouldn't have been a belief in Jesus in the early Church.Fr. Fessio said there is a [study guide](http://www.ignatius.com/IProducts/56149/jesus-of-nazareth-study-guide-volume-ii.aspx?src=ipjon) available for the book and Holy Week is a good time to study and pray with this book.He suggests that Holy Week is a good time to get away from the world--Facebook, Twitter, TV, and magazines--and be with the Lord in this special time.