“The obedient man shall speak of victory.” Proverbs 21:28.
St. Rita’s Vine
St. Rita, after becoming a religious, was commanded by her Superior to take a bucket of water twice a day and water a withered branch staked in the ground with no roots. Obviously it would slowly rot under these useless drops of water. Without a word of complaint, she went about this task. The bucket was heavy, the path was long. From the standpoint of gardening, it was a waste of time, but certainly not from the spiritual point of view. To be sure, this useless exercise would teach her patience and self-discipline. As for the dead branch, it would never come to life again. However, God had other plans. To show his pleasure at her faithful obedience one day, when she was wore out trudging up the path, He caused small leaves to begin to grow on the plant. Later on, magnificent clusters of sweet grapes grew on the vines that sprouted from the branch. Thus, God shows His pleasure of faithful obedience by the miracle of St. Rita’s vine.
JESUS REVEALS HIS HATRED OF SELF-WILL TO ST.
MARGARET MARY
“One day, having on one occasion finished taking the discipline for the space of an Ave Maris Stella, as I had been ordered, He said to me, “This is my share,” but as I continued, He added, “And that is the devil’s,” which made me cease at once. Another time when I was taking it for the holy souls in purgatory and wanted to exceed the permission given me, they immediately surrounded me complaining that I was striking them. This made me resolve to die rather than overstep, ever so little, the limits imposed on me by obedience.” From her Autobiography, page 66.
Here we see the importance of obedience, and how the overstepping its bounds, or not obeying as one should, is very displeasing to God. This applies especially to Religious, who take a vow of obedience. Now when a Religious takes a vow of obedience, and they offend in a grave matter, they have committed a mortal sin. St. Paul alludes to this to St. Timothy: “Having damnation, because they have made void their first faith.” 1 Timothy 5:12. The footnote in the Douay Rheims says, Their first vow: “Their first faith”: Their vow, by which they had engaged themselves to Christ.” “Having damnation,’’ he says, because they broke their vow. Which is why Jonah said he would pay his vows to the Lord for his salvation: “I will pay whatsoever I have vowed for my salvation to the Lord.” Jonas (Jonah) 2:10.
The Religious takes a vow to his Superior, but this obedience extends all the way to the Pope in his decrees for the Church, which all of us are bound to obey. In our time, we see many clergy taking liberties with the liturgy and various other things. To give an example, Pope John Paul II issued a Decree in 1980 titled Inaestimabile Donum, on the liturgy, which he ordered to be published and obeyed. In other words, it is a mandate. The late Father Robert Brown, speaking of this document, said, “It was written to correct abuses in the liturgy.” You’ve likely never heard of it. It’s been out for 46 years now, and he’s the only priest who has ever mentioned it to my knowledge. Pope John Paul II forbade Extraordinary ministers except in cases of real necessity. He also spoke of proper reverence toward the Blessed Sacrament, proper genuflections, and he forbade the clergy to add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on their own authority. There are certain movable parts in the liturgy that change daily. There are others that are immovable. When we see clergy doing things we’ve never seen before, such as, leaving the altar to give the peace sign to several people, this is an innovation. It is not authorized by the Pope. It actually falls under the sin of disobedience because it’s adding something to the liturgy on their own authority. Father Frank Roof said many years ago, “A priest is not allowed to leave the altar!” Even though the priest might have good intentions, it is still offensive to God because it’s disobedience and not obedience.
Another thing some clergy are starting to do is to give a little introduction before Mass. The Pope has not authorized this. Once the Mass begins, once the Sign of the Cross is made, the Holy Sacrifice of Calvary begins, in an unbloody and invisible manner. Why do you think the clergy are required to have a crucifix on the altar? To remind them what they are about to do. St. Leonard of Port Maurice, in his little book, THE HIDDEN TREASURE, on the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, says we should go to Mass as if we are going to Calvary, and go home from Mass beating our breasts and begging God for mercy. Can you imagine then, before Jesus took up His cross to Calvary, St. John begins with a little introduction before they begin? Some other priests allow a woman to introduce the Gospel with the Alleluia. These are just some of the many abberations, to name just a few, that people unfortunately witness in the Mass. Is this obedience to the Pope?
He says the Second Vatican Council’s admonition in this regard must be remembered. “The Second Vatican Council’s admonition in this regard must be remembered: “No person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove or change anything in the Liturgy on his own authority.” Now when the priest takes liberties with the liturgy, think about what Jesus told St. Margaret Mary, “This is the devil’s share.”
OBEDIENCE FOR ALL, AND NECESSARY FOR
SALVATION IN GRAVE MATTERS:
“Let every soul be subject to higher powers: for there is no power except from God: and those that are, are ordained of God. Therefore, he that resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist, purchase to themselves damnation.” Romans 13:1-2.
Indiscreet obedience: When one obeys a higher power when the order or the law is unjust; such as abortion – a police officer protecting those involved in killing the innocent unborn children; judges and lawyers protecting the guilty; a liturgical law that will harm the faith of the faithful, such as telling them to stand for Holy Communion rather than kneeling, which is a lesser form of reverence and decreasing reverence for Jesus Christ the Son of God contained therein. Or the guards at the Resurrection of Christ, who were bribed to lie about the body of Jesus: “Who when they were departed, behold some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all things that had been done. And they being assembled together with the ancients, taking counsel, gave a great sum of money to the soldiers, Saying: Say you, His disciples came by night, and stole him away when we were asleep. And if the governor shall hear this, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they taking the money, did as they were taught: and this word was spread abroad among the Jews even unto this day.” St. Matthew 28:11-15. These kind of orders are unlawful and unjust, and we are obliged to disobey them. Not all the soldiers obeyed this unjust order. St. Longinus was one of the soldiers, and he refused. They put him in prison.
“Admonish them to be subject to princes and powers, to obey at a word.” Titus 3:1. “To obey at a word.” Disobedience is a fruit of self-will.
“Jesus learned obedience by the things by which he suffered, Heb. 5:8. Jesus, the Son of God, was even subject to his earthly parents, St. Luke 2:43-51. “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.” If he, who was the Son of God obeyed men, shall it be that we, who are only men, not obey men also?
GOOD WORKS ARE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION
Good works with faith and charity justify men and help them to obtain heaven. Here is a clear quote from St. James that faith alone does not justify. ‘’ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?…Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only? St. James 2:20,24. The Holy Scriptures are loaded with quotes about being judged by our works, but the Protestants will argue till they’re blue in the face that they do not. Not only are we judged according to what we did do, but also for what we have failed to do. Sins of omission. We see in St. Luke that the rich man was condemned to hell for what he neglected to do, that of not feeding Lazarus. It doesn’t even mention all the other sins he did commit. “There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom: And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame. And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented.” 16:19-25.
“And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell gave up their dead that were in them; and they were judged every one according to their works.” Apocalypse (Revelation) 20:13.
St. Peter: “Wherefore, brethren, labour the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election.’’ 2 Peter 1:10.
Jesus confirms St. Peter: ““And they that have done good things, shall come forth unto the resurrection of life; but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.” John 5:29. Jesus is not speaking of faith here. He’s speaking of good works.
But good works without faith are useless. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6. And faith and works are both useless without charity. “And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” 1 Cor. 13;2-3.
A CELEBRATED CONTROVERSY BETWEEN ST.
FRANCIS DE SALES AND CALVIN’S SUCCESSOR BEZA
St. Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, had an initial meeting in 1597 with the great Reformer, Theodore Beza, the successor of Calvin at Geneva. Here are a few extracts from their conversation, and the commentaries on them given by Mr. Trochu:
With a keen sense of the essential, Francis asked a very short question: “Sir,” he said, as soon as he was bidden to speak, “Can one be saved in the Roman Church?” A fair question, after all, from a Catholic who wants to strengthen his own conviction in the face of the final problem, but a question with immense repercussions, the gravity at which Beza at once grasped. If the Catholic Church could insure the salvation of the faithful, then it had been more than useless to separate oneself from it: all that need to have been done was to improve it from within, as the Council of Trent and the Catholic Reformers had done. If, on the other hand, salvation was impossible in the Roman Catholic Church, what other religious society, before that of the Reformers, had given Christ to men and ensured their salvation?
After a long period of reflection, Theodore Beza replied: “You have asked me whether one could be saved in the Roman Church. Of course I answer in the affirmative. It is so beyond a doubt, and it cannot in truth be denied that she is the Mother-Church.” A reply of great significance, which the ministers Rotan and Morlas had made to Henry V, exactly four years earlier. Francis de Sales posed another question. ‘’Since this is so, and salvation lies in the Roman Church, why did you start this so-called reformation with so many wars, pillaging, ruins, fires, sedition, looting, murder, destruction of churches, and innumerable other evils?” Note, Beza does not deny these accusations.
Theodore Beza responded after a moment’s silence. “I do not want to deny that you can be saved in your religion. But there is this misfortune: You confuse souls with too many ceremonies and difficulties; for you say that good works are necessary for salvation, whereas they are only a matter of decorum. From this come a number of evils: people believe in the necessity of these good works through your preaching and, as they fail to achieve this, they go miserably to their damnation, because they contravene their conscience. This is why, in order to correct these evils, we endeavored to establish our religion, in which the way to heaven is made easy for the faithful, having laid as its foundation the fact that faith saves without works. (Faith without works is dead.” St. James 2:20).* That good works are not essential for salvation, but only as I have already told you, a matter of decorum.’’
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES FINAL ARGUMENT
“In truth,” he said, ‘’ but you forget that by rejecting good works you fall into a maze from which you will find it difficult to get out…Can you be unaware of the reason why Our Lord Jesus Christ, in St. Matthew’s Gospel, teaching His apostles what He wanted them to believe about the Last Judgement, makes no mention of sins committed, but says only that He will condemn the wicked because they have NOT done good works? Here are His words: Depart from me you cursed into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me not to eat…and so on. You see failure to do good works brings eternal damnation. If they were only a question of decorum, as you say, do you think that those who had not done them would be punished with such a harsh penalty? For my part, I await your solution to this difficulty, or else your concurrence with my sentiments.” Theodore Bez had no answer. Indeed he had not.
- * ‘’ What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him? And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food: And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit? So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.’’ James 2:14-17.
- Again, St. John reiterates the same thing: ‘‘He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth.’’ 1 John 3:17-18.
- Good deeds, or good works. St. John Vianney used to say: “The devil writes down all your sins, and your angel writes down all your good deeds. Labor that your angel’s book is full, and the devil’s book is empty.’’
Devotion to Mary — A Great Sign of Predestination MotherofGodlibrary.org/2019/05
Souls in Hell – What the Saints and Scriptures Say MotherofGodlibrary.org/2019/04
Decree on Modesty – Pope Pius XI Tinyurl.com/tdakwyaj
Impressive Stories on the Miraculous Medal MotherofGodlibrary.org/2019/