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THE ATHANASIAN
A publication of Traditional Catholics of America t Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL tVolume VII, No. 2 t March 1, 1986
(The Conciliar Church and John Paul II are once again the topics of the following article. Since this matter has been discussed a
number of times in recent years in the pages of this newsletter, it has certainly been given sufficient attention and the position of the
author has been made crystal clear. With the appearance of this particularly outspoken article then, we will put aside this subject for a
while. If future circumstances warrant, we will, of course, return to it.)
NO OTHER EXPIANATION IS ADEQUATE
Fr. Frands E. Fenton
T he Conciliar Church is not tht:_~oman Cath~lic
_s.;hurcb and the man wh.o is its head, Jonn Paul ll,
is not~ yaJid__pQ!1_e~ As regular reader~f this newsletter
these matters are smarter or more perceptive than they?
Hardly. But what is the explanation? How can something
of this sort be so obvious to me and others and yet appar-
weliknow, this is my absolute conviction, a conviction, ently anything but obvious to those conservative and
of course, likewise shared by other Roman Catholics, "traditional" Catholics to whom I refer? Could it be that
both priests and laymen. Further, it is my contention they actually see the picture every bit as clearly as I do but
that it is this clear-cut, unqualified position on these two refuse to face up to it and its consequences for one reason
subjects which, more than anything else, identifies the or another? Perhaps this is the case in some instances but
truly traditional Roman Catholic and separates him from I would be reluctant to believe that this applies to the gen-
all the rest who call themselves such and who think they erality of such individuals because this would be to ques-
are. tion their honesty and courage, many of whom, in other
respects, give every indication of sincerity and devotion
The proof, I submit, is overwhelming that the Conciliar to truth. ·
Church is nothing more than another heretical non-
Catholic denomination. While, admittedly, the .case for What is the ·answer? How can so many conservative
the invalidity of John Paul IT is far less obvious, .yet the "Catholics" and so-called traditional Catholics behold
evidence is there-and it is conclusive-that he is not a t~hetic Conciliar Church and still believe it to be
true pope. (As noted in the September 1, 1985 issue of "the one true Church? And how can this same category of
The Athanasian, the booklet by Father Noel Barbara of people believe John Paul II to be a valid pope in view of,
France contains the best treatment I have seen on the among other things, his public, persistent, heretical posi-
subject of the invalidity of John Paul II.) Incidentally, if it tion on the subject of false religious liberty previously
were readily apparent that the current occupant of the condemned by the Church? How can they possibly
papal throne was a non -pope, the game would long since excuse or justify this in a man supposedly the Vicar of
have been up for the destroyers of the Church, would ft Christ? Do they imagine that he's in good faith and really
not? But that would never do. Those whose satanic task just doesn't know the truth of the matter? Preposterous!
and purpose has been and is the total destruction of the
Roman Catholic Church are brilliant operators and ex- John Paul II, actor par excellence, champion of "ecumen-
pert subverters, as the record of the past few decades very ism," idolized by millions-he is the one person who is,
clearly shows. And because those primariJy responsible far and away, the one responsible here and now for the
over the years. for the destruction of the Church have tragic state of the Church. (There are, to be sure, others
been so strikingly skillful and clever, they have been able in the Vatican and elsewhere who share that responsibil-
to continue their nefarious work right up to the present ity in .various degrees, not the least of whom is the num-
moment without effective exposure. ber two man in the Vatican, the Freemason Secret'ary of
State, Cardinal Agostino Casaroli. Incidentally, not only
It is not the purpose of this article to present again the l@~ folm_Paul !!…!l~V~I O__!l.C~P!:!~.licly__ mep.tioned, much ·
case against the Conciliar Church and John Paul II. That l~ss COI)._9~D}ned1._g_9mmunis~__!~rol!_ghg_ut the entire _
has been done sufficiently in a number of issues of this @!![Se of his "PQntificate" -an observation made in
newsletter, most recently in the issues of June 1 and previous issues of this newsletter-1:?J!t t_b.e same can b~
September 1, 1985. My concern here has to do with the s,aid regarding Freemasonry. If he has ever condemned it, __
question as to why it is that conservative "Catholics" and pr even so much as uttered the word on any occasion, I
so many self-styled traditional Catholics fail to see the certainly am not aware of it.)
Conciliar Church for what it is and fail to see John Paul II
for what he is. How explain this? Is it that I and those tra- Are those "traditional" and conservative "Catholics" of
4iti~nal Roman Catholics who share my convictions on the Conci'IiarCh~~ch going to grope ~for excuses and
grasp at straws forever to defend that Church and to ex,
plain away the words and deeds of John Paul II? Or will
the day come when they will finally face up to the stark A Couple of Notes
fact that the one logical explanation for the tragic
Church situation is wh::-.t authentic traditional Roman As of this writing I have a total of 90 Mass inten,
Catholics have been saying_ for quite some time_ tions to be fulfilled. Hence, in order that I may not
now-and that is, once again,_that the Conciliar Church have too large a backlog of Masses to which I am
is not Catholic and that the man who is its head, John committed, I am reluctant to accept any more
Paul II, is not a valid pope? They blame anyone and Mass requests until I can satisfy those I presently
everyone for the chaotic mess except the one primarily have. I would be grateful, then, if no further Mass
responsible. The bishops are at fault, for example, but requests were sent to me during the next several
most of those bishops are the appointees of John Paul II or weeks, say, until May 1. After that date I will be
of the one he is so fond of calling his mentor, Paul YI: Or pleased to accept them again.
it is the fault of those Modernists and "liberals" in the
Vatican who give John Paul II bad advice. Why doesn't ttttt
he dismiss them then? The "Holy Father" is really a
traditionalist at heart, you know, but just can't get the Very noticeable by its absence from this issue of
Church back on track because of all the obstacles The Athanasian is an article by Mr. John Weiskittel.
confronting him. Nonsense! The Conciliar Church is The reason is a simple one: it arrived too late for
what it is today as a result of the deliberate destructive inclusion. He will return to these pages in the April
efforts of John Paul II and his predecessors and allies. 15 issue. Liberation theology and cremation are
among the topics likely to be discussed by Mr.
Such is my absolute conviction. The enemies of the true Weiskittel in future issues.
Church are in control of the Conciliar Church-and
John Paul II is at least the most prominent of those ene, · – Fr. F. Fenton
mies. Mainly because of his heretical position over the
past several years on the subject of religious liberty he has
long since ceased to be a valid pope. (Archbishop Marcel
Lefebvre makes an excellence case against John Paul II on
this religious liberty issue but stops short of drawing the
logical conclusion.) How long more will conservative
"Catholics" (as exemplified by The Wanderer) and "tradi,
Pray
tional" Catholics (as exemplified by The Remnant and The
Angelus) continue to refuse to face up to the reality of the
situation? How long more, if ever, before they conclude
The Rosary
that the stand of the real traditional Catholic is the only
logical answer? The Conciliar Church is not the Roman
Catholic Church and John Paul II is a non,pope. No
Daily
other explanation is adequate. No other answer makes
sense. t
"The Church is like the moon; it may wane but never
be destroyed; it may be darkened but it can never dis,
appear." (Saint Ambrose)
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THE ATHANASIAN 2 MARCH 1, 1986
The Popular Heresy of Our Day-
Religious Indifferentism
' 'W e all worship the same God"; "we're all on
different roads that lead to the same
could readily give the impression that all religions are
equally good and acceptable to God.
place"; "it's deeds not creeds that count." These are a few
of the sayings expressive of the false doctrine of religious Any Catholic worthy of the name knows and believes,
indifferentism, that doctrine which holds that all reli,' unless his religious education has been woefully deficient,
gions are equally good and acceptable before God. that, among all the religions and denominations and
sects in the world, there is but One True Church-and
Religious indifferentism is, in a word, heresy for it is an that is the Roman Catholic Church. That being under,
implicit denial of the One True Church. If all religions are stood, a Catholic must always and everywhere speak and
equally good, then obviously the Roman Catholic act accordingly, never even implicitly conveying the
Church is no better, and essentially no different, than erroneous notion that one religion is as good as another.
any or all of the others. If it is really of little or no impor, Loving our non,Catholic fellowman in Christian charity
tance what a person believes just so long as he lives what is one thing; explicitly or implicitly condoning his
he honestly thinks is a morally good life, it follows that religious errors is something else. Although we may hold
the doctrines of the Church-contained, for example, in this or that non,Catholic in high regard for one reason or
the Apostles Creed-may readily be rejected without en, another, this must not mean approval of his religious
dangering one's salvation. What a monumental waste of errors or the false religion he professes. If we are true
time and effort, then, on the part of the Son of God to followers of Christ, it is our duty to be intolerant of error,
preach and to teach a body of doctrine and a code of mo, and especially of error in the form of false religions and
rality if, in fact, man can actually believe what he pleases religious beliefs. True brotherly love in relation to our
in matters of religion! And what a colossal tragedy that non,Catholic friends and acquaintances consists, among
countless multitudes have given their lives as martyrs other things, in our striving, tactfully and with the grace
down through the centuries in testimony to the Catholic of God, to lead them into the household of the Faith.
Faith when, according to the advocates and practitioners
of religious indifferentism, it's quite insignificant to what To hold, then, that one religions is more or less as good as
Church one belongs or what religious creed, if any, one another, or to talk or act in a manner which conveys the
accepts! clear implication that one believes this, is known as reli,
gious indifferentism. But since religious indifferentism is,
"For this I was born, and for this came I into the world; in effect, a denial of the Roman Catholic Church as the
that I should give testimony to the truth." Oohn 18, 37) One True Church, it is, in fact, heresy. Since Vatican
So spoke the Son of God to Pilate on Good Friday. The Council II, however, it is no longer considered such by
contention that one religion is just as good as another many of the clergy and laity of the Conciliar Church and
makes a mockery of truth, in this case, divine truth, an~ its practice has become ever increasingly widespread.
contradicts the record of history as well. (It was the dis, Words and actions which were once heretical or border,
tinguished convert from Anglicanism, John Cardinal ing on heresy are now quite acceptable to, if not even
Newman, who stated that "to be deep in history is to encouraged by, the Conciliar Church. What was former,
cease to be a Protestant"). To present the standard proofs ly condemned as religious indifferentism is now approved
that the Roman Catholic Church is the One True as "ecumenism." Whatever it's called though, it's still
Church is, however, beyond the scope of this article. heresy!
That is here taken for granted. Because it is the One True
Church though, unique among all the world's religions, If religious indifferentism was condemned in the past
certain obligations are incumbent upon its members as a because it was an implicit denial of the Roman Catholic
consequence of this. Regardless of the circumstances, a Church as the one and only true religion, then "ecumen,
Catholic, for example, may never verbally deny that he is ism" is every bit as condemnable today for the same rea,
a Catholic nor take any action which is equivalent to a son. The difference, of course, is that in the past all truly
denial of the Faith or of the One True Church. For a Catholic bishops and priests believed in the uniqueness of
Catholic to say, then, either in so many words or in ef, the Church as the One True Church and as the Mystical
feet, that one religion is just as good as another is a clearly Body of Christ, whereas today many, if not most, of the
implicit denial of the Roman Catholic Church as the clergy of the Conciliar Church simply do not believe this.
One True Church. The same holds true of any action on Put another way, the difference is between the logical po,
the part of a Catholic, be he priest or layman, which (continued on page 4, column 2)
THE ATHANASIAN 3 MARCH 1, 1986
Prayer, Knowledge, Action
I n whatever nation the Communists have gained
adequate control, religion and patriotism have been
systematically destroyed to the extent possible and fea,
and confidently look for ultimate victory, God willing,
over the horrendous threat posed to freemen by the
satanic conspiracy of atheistic Communism.
sible under the particular circumstances. If, God forbid,
the long,planned Communist conquest of America fully (With but few changes the above article is every bit as
materializes, the same will happen here and no stone applicable to the conspiracy of Freemasony.)
will be left unturned to eliminate every last vestige of
religion and patriotism. Love and service of God and of
country-the destruction of these fundamental loyalties
of a nation's citizenry is an absolute prerequisite of the Pray
Communists for the total conquest of that nation. The Rosary
Daily
To prevent the tragedy of a Communist America, it is
increasingly imperative that all true and, therefore, anti,
Communist Ameri(:ans do their full part. But so many
of them are not, including many traditional Roman
Catholics. While aqmitting the Communist threat, they
contend that praye~ alone will do the job. Despite what ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
is overwhelming evidence to the contrary, such people
seem quite convinced that, as long as we pray, keep the "Religious lndifferentism" continued from page 3
Commandments, practice our Faith, the Communist
conspiracy· will be stopped and ultimately defeated or, sition on the subject of the real (traditional) Roman
perhaps, disintegrate. This position is not substantiated Catholic Church and the equally logical position of that
by the experience of other on<:e,free nations now under Church which is no longer Catholic although it still re,
Communist control, the faith and devotion of whose tains the name. With the latter, one Church might very
citizens were well,known, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, well indeed be just as good as another.
for example.
The Roman Catholic Church is not one of many. It is
When faced with concrete situations demanding intelli, unique. It is the One, True Church whose history can be
gent and courageous action it is imperative that we traced back to the Apostles and to Christ Himself, its
realize that God expects us to do our part. We must not, Founder. So forceful and convincing are the arguments
in effect, rely on His performance of a miracle to solve for its uniqueness among all the Churches of the world
some grave problem. "God will provide" may well be a that untold millions have entered its fold over the course
sincere act of faith in the power and goodness of the of some nineteen and a half centuries, included among
Almighty but it presumes that we likewise use our Ged, them some of the greatest minds of every generation.
given abilities and talents to provide for ourselves and
for those for whom we are responsible. Sacred Scripture Of the many obligations, then, which being a Catholic
tells us that faith without works is dead. So too, at least entails is the positive one of professing the Faith when
in this present context, prayer without knowedgeable circumstance1;i require it, and the negative one of never
action is insufficient. "Pray as if everything depended denying the Faith either explicitly or impli~itly. Religious
upon God and work as if everything depended upon indifferentism or, as it is called today, "ecumenism," is an
yourself'' is the sage advice often attributed to Saint implicit denial of the Roman Catholic Church as the one
Augustine. and only true Church. And so no Catholic, however
laudable his intentions may be, may talk or act in a
No, prayer alone, apart from a miracle, will not stop or manner which even conveys the impression that one reli,
turn back or destroy the criminal Communist conspir, gion is just as good as another. This is, in large part, the
acy. That it is absolutely essential, there is no question "ecumenism" so widely in vogue today in the Conciliar
for, without God and His indispensable aid, we cannot Church. Once known as the great American heresy, reli,
conquer the militant atheism which is Communism. gious indifferentism is now practiced on a worldwide
But together with prayer there must be joined adequate scale. Any and every genuine Catholic, however, must
knowledge of Communism and intelligent, courageous, and will shun it like the plague which it most certainly
persevering action. Only in the combination of the
i is. t
three-prayer, knowledge, action-can we reasonably
THE ATHANASIAN 4 MARCH 1, 1986
The Middle Ages:
Dark Ages or the Ages of Faith? (Part 1)
Jill Wiesner
F ifty years before the birth of our Lord the seeds of
destruction of the Roman Empire were being
sown. The Chinese Empire expelled a tribe called the
there caused him to devote his life to God, offering purity
and humility as reparation for the worldliness of others.
Withdrawing for awhile to the solitude of a cave, he
Huns from its borders, beginning a movement known as began his lifelong practice of prayer and penance. He
the migration of nations. As the Huns moved westward then went to Monte Cassino where he constructed two
they attacked all nations in their path. Fleeing the bru, chapels. He was joined there by other young men who
tal Huns, these nations entered Europe in search of new also wanted to devote their lives to the service of God.
lands. This was the beginning of the Benedictine Order.
From the time of Caesar Augustus the Roman legions The Rule with which Saint Benedict guided his monks
guarded the frontiers of the Empire against the migra, stressed silence, solitude, prayer, humility and obedience.
ting nations, which they called barbarians. The first to The soul was to concentrate on God and avoid thoughts
arrive, the Goths, lived in peace with their Roman of the world so that solitude was "interior as well as
neighbors for some time. Their leaders even trained and exterior." Thoughts of the imperfections of others were to
served in the Roman army. Later, however, they be, be banished and only the imperfections of oneself were to
came restive and revolted against the Empire, attacking be brought to mind. Saint Benedict laid down twelve de,
Rome itself. grees of humility in his Rule:
Soon after the arrival of the Goths the Franks invaded 1. Deep compunction of heart and holy fear of
Gaul. The Vandals rode south through Spain and into God and His judgments.
northern Africa, conquering all the Roman provinces in
their path. By the year 570, the Lombards had laid 2. The perfect renunciation of our own will.
waste to most of Italy. The provinces in Britain were in
the possession of the Angles, Jutes and Saxons. When 3. Ready obedience.
the invasions ended all that was left of the vast Roman
Empire was the small territory around Constantinople. 4. Patience under all sufferings and injuries.
The Western world was in the hands of new nations.
5. The manifestation of our thoughts and designs
The immediate effects of the invasions were upheaval to our superior or director.
and disorder. The remains of Roman civilization were in
ruins and the young Catholic Church had suffered ter, 6. To be content, and to rejoice, in all humilia,
rible losses as well. Clergy and laity alike had defended tions; to be pleased with mean employments, poor
their cities against the invaders and great numbers t0f clothes, etc.; to love simplicity and poverty and to
them had lost their lives. Many monasteries and judge ourselves as unworthy and bad servants in
churches were destroyed. everything that is enjoined us.
However, the "barbarians" were not savages. Though 7. Sincerely to esteem o~rselves base and more un,
rough and uncultured compared to the worldly Greeks worthy than everyone, even the greatest sinners.
and Romans, they were vigorous and unspoiled. Unlike
the moral decay of the ancient pagans, the invaders had 8. To avoid all love of singularity in words or
high ideals of self,respect and personal liberty. They actions.
were loyal to their tribes, devoted to their kin and had a
great respect for womanhood. 9. To love and practice silence.
Among these people the Church began the work of con, 10. To avoid dissolute mirth and laughter.
version. The primary instrument used to accomplish
this task was the order of monks founded by Saint 11. Never to speak with a loud voice, and to be
Benedict. modest in our words.
Born in 480, the son of a noble family, Benedict was sent 12. To be humble in all our exterior actions …
to school in Rome at age 14. The immorality he saw
THE ATHANASIAN 5 MARCH 1, 1986
Saint Benedict promised that faithful application of the dally loved the Rule of Saint Benedict and, after one
twelve degrees would, with God's help, elevate the soul year as Praetor, he joined the Benedictine Order.
to perfect charity.
The sight of several young Angles (English) for sale as
The Benedictine motto, "Ora et labora" (Work and slaves in the marketplace increased the young monk's
pray), was followed in all the monasteries that were es, missionary zeal. Learning that they were still heathens,
tablished throughout Europe. Wherever they went, the he lamented that "so fine an outside should have noth,
monks drained marshes, cleared forests, tilled barren ing of God's grace to furnish it within." He applied t~
fields, and built monasteries and schools. The monas, Pope Benedict I to send him as a missionary to Britain.
teries became centers of learning so that a number of the Permission was granted but the Roman people prevailed
great universities of Europe had their beginnings as upon the Pope, telling him, "In suffering Gregory to go
monasteries. The monks also carefully recorded history, away, you have destroyed Rome: you have undone us,
preserving the memory of Greek and Roman culture; and offended St. Peter." Gregory was recalled but was
and copied Scriptures, decorating the pages with the soon sent as ambassador from the Holy See to Emperor
beautiful designs called illumination. Tiberius in Constantinople where he opposed several
nascent heresies. In Constantinople he continued the
The Rule of Saint Benedict became the model for every monastic way of life, unaffected by the opulence of the
other monastic rule written since his day. In addition, imperial court. Several monks accompanied him, at his
men and women living in the world, but trying to live request, in order that, through their example, he would
holy lives, chose it as their guide, as did Christian not stray from the path of simplicity and prayer.
princes in writing constitutions for their states.
His mission completed, Gregory returned to Rome,
Conversions grew through the holy influence of the which was once again under siege, this time by the
monks. However, missionaries also came from the plague. In January of 590, Pope Pelagius II died from it,
Eastern Roman Empire who preached the false doctrine and the clergy, senate and Roman people unanimously
of Arianism. Arian priests came with the invading chose Gregory as the new Pope. Gregory, though unsuc,
Vandals who persecuted the Church in Africa, took her cessfully, opposed their choice with all his strength,
property and turned it over to the Arian clergy. writing to every bishop of influence as well as to the
emperor, since it was the custom in a papal election to
Though Arians sowed confusion among a number of consult the emperor as the head of the senate and the
"barbarian" nations, the Franks, who entered Gaul in people.
485, had not been exposed to Arianism. On Christmas
Day 496, their warrior,king Clovis, with 3,000 of his Throughout this period of time the plague continued to
nobles and warriors, received Baptism from Saint decimate the city, the number of deaths increasing daily.
Remigius, Bishop of Rheims. His kingdom, France, be, Pope Gregory exhorted the Roman people to repen,
came a Catholic nation and is regarded as the "eldest tance, and asked the faithful to assemble under the di,
daughter" of the Church in Europe. rection of their priests in each of the seven districts of
the city. In solemn procession, chanting the Kyrie
Under the Franks the slaves of the Roman Empire be, Eleison, they all approached the church of St. Mary
came serfs and acquired more personal freedom. Thej Major where the holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered.
did, however, still belong to the land of the local lord. During the procession, which lasted for about one hour,
The Church opposed serfdom and, when she could not a number of those who assisted fell dead in the streets.
prevent it, did everything possible to make the burden But, led by the example and prayers of Gregory, the
of the serfs easier. Bishops were required to protect serfs people continued the procession. Soon after, the plague
against violence from their masters; a special religious abated.
ceremony accompanied the granting of freedom to a
serf; the priests attending lords at their deathbeds were Throughout his years as Pope, Gregory continued the
instructed to encourage them to free their serfs. practice of solemn processions to one of the principal
churches of Rome on the great festivals of the Church.
In the year 540, three years before the death of Saint Traces of this custom can be found in our missals today
Benedict, one of his greatest followers was born. where, during Advent and Lent and on the festivals of
Gregory (whose name means "watchman" in Greek) was Christmas and Easter, we read that the Station is at St.
a bright, eager student who became well,versed in both Peter's or St. Mary Major's or at one of the other great
civil law and the canons of the Church. At age 34 he stational churches.
was chosen Praetor (governor and chief magistrate) of
Rome by the Emperor Justinian the Younger. Though Pope Gregory I reigned for thirteen and a half years and
this was a position of great honor, Gregory's chief plea, is better known today by the title, Saint Gregory the
sure was conversation with the holy monks. He espe, Great. He was a powerful force for unity and order
THE ATHANASIAN 6 MARCH 1, 1986
within the Church as well as an able instructor of the
faithful.
The Saints On
Since the Emperor in Constantinople lacked the money
Baptism Of Desire
and the troops to defend Rome against the Lombards,
the protection of the city was left to the Pope. With the
And Of Blood
income from the lands which had been donated to the Saint Ambrose says in his sermon on the Emperor
Church, he was able to buy off the Lombards while at Valentinian II, who died a catechumen: "I hear
the same time repairing the walls of the city and raising you express grief that he did not receive the
troops. During this time he passed laws concerning the Sacrament of Baptism. Tell me, what else is there
proper treatment of slaves. in us except the will and petition? But he had long
desired to be initiated before he came to Italy, and
In the midst of temporal cares Saint Gregory's greatest expressed his intention to be baptized by me as
concern was his spiritual mission. To the Angles he sent soon as possible … Has he not, therefore, the grace
the great Benedictine missionary, Saint Augustine of which he desired? Surely he received it because he
Canterbury. Through the efforts of this first Arch- asked it." (De Obitu Valent., 51)
bishop of Canterbury that nation was converted. In
Saint Gregory's lifetime the conversion of the Visigoths Saint Augustine says: "I find that not only suffer-
of Spain from Arianism was also accomplished, pagan- ing for the name of Christ can supply the defect of
ism in Corsica and Sardinia overcome, and the conver- Baptism, but even faith and conversion of heart, if
sion of the Arian Lombards begun. there be no time for celebrating the Sacrament."
(De Bapt., iv., 22)
Saint Gregory's love for the beauty of divine worship led
to the development and use of the incomparable Saint Augustine writes: "To all those who die con-
Church music known as Gregorian Chant. fessing Christ, even though they have not received
the laver of regeneration, martyrdom will prove as
Saint Gregory the Great is one of the four Latin Doctors effective for the remission of sins as if they were
of the Church because 'o f his· writings, among which is washed at the baptismal font." (De Civ. Dei., xiii,
the Liber Regulae Pastoralis ("The Pastoral Rule") which 2)
helped to regulate the life and manners of the clergy for
centuries. This holy Pope was the first to use the title, Saint Thomas Aquinas (SUMMA THEO-
"Servant of the Servants of God." Every Pope since has LOGICA, Vol. II, Pt. III, Qt. 68, Art. 2: "Whether
signed his letters to the faithful in this manner. a Man Can be Saved Without Baptism?"): "I
ANSWER THAT … Secondly, the ·sacrament of
A conscientious follower of the Rule of Saint Benedict, Baptism may be wanting to anyone in reality but
Saint Gregory gained conversions, not by force but by not in desire: for instance, when a man wishes to
mildness and charity. But his meekness did not dull his be baptized, but by some ill-chance he is forestalled
courage in defense of the Church. "You know me," he by death before receiving Baptism. And such a
wrote to one of his bishops, "and that I tolerate a long man can obtain salvation without being actually
while; but when I have once determined to bear nor baptized, on account of his desire for Baptism,
longer, I go with joy against all dangers." which desire is the outcome of 'Faith that worketh
by charity,' whereby God, Whose power is not tied
Through example and prayer Saint Benedict, Saint to visible sacraments, sanctifies man inwardly.
Gregory the Great and those who followed them carried Hence Ambrose says of Valentinian, who died
the light of Christian civilization into the new nations. while yet a catechumen: "I lost him whom I was to
We, who have the task of preserving that civilization, regenerate: but he did not lose the grace he prayed
would do well to emulate them. Remembering the Rule r1or. '"
of Saint Benedict and the perseverance of Pope Saint
Gregory, we too can "go with joy against all dangers."t And, "REPLY OBJ. 3-The Sacrament of Baptism
is said to be necessary for salvation in so far as man
cannot be saved without, at least, Baptism of de-
sire; 'which, with God, counts for the deed'
(August., ENARR. in Ps. lvii)."
THE ATHANASIAN 7 MARCH 1, 1986
Christian Joy
E ver since the fall of our first parents sorrow and
suffering have been and, until the end of time, will
continue to be the lot of every human being born into
tions in which they found themselves, so often the dis,
ciples of Christ would inject some note of joy. And why?
Because there is no room for prolonged sorrow in the
this world. They are part and parcel of human life. As Catholic Faith because behind it and within it is the
always, so now, some people experience more difficult divine personality of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the
trials than others, some live lives of almost continual ultimate source of all true happiness.
hardship, some endure their troubles unknown to any
but God-but everyone suffers in one form or another. And so, any Catholic who has a real and strong faith
Such is life. and who firmly believes in the goodness and mercy of
God will be joyful even under the most trying condi,
Now, is genuine happiness possible despite all this? In, tions, for such a person has perfect confidence that
deed, not only is it possible but the cultivation of such Almighty God will bring forth victory in His own good
happiness is our Christian duty. And how can this be? time. It is a contradiction that any genuine follower of
Simply because our Catholic Faith is a Faith of joy be, Christ become discouraged and lose heart because of the
cause its sources of joy in Christ are completely indepen, sufferings which are his. The servant is not greater than
dent of human sorrow and pain and misery and the Master and the Master first suffered and died for us.
wretchedness.
Ideally, then, we Catholics should be joyful always, with
Take the New Testament. It opens with a burst of joy a joy arising from the conviction that this short life is
over the birth of the Savior. It closes with a picture of merely a period of probation and trial and that eternal
countless multitudes singing in the heavenly courts of happiness in God's glorious Kingdom awaits those who
the just. Almost anywhere you open it, amid all kinds of remain faithful. We Catholics should cultivate an
circumstances; you can nearly always find some note of abiding spirit of joy as our Christian duty, a joy which is
happiness. Even at the Last Supper, on the eve of His beyond the world and the hardness of circumstances as
Passion and Death, the Apostles hear Jesus saying to was that of our divine Model, He Who could say to His
them: "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy beloved followers on the eve of His crucifixion: "These
may be in you, and your joy may be filled." Oohn 15, 11) things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have
After Christ had ascended into Heaven and His peace. In the world you shall have distress: but have
Apostles were left alone to carry on His work, we read confidence, I have overcome the world." Oohn 16, 33)
that they continued daily in the temple and "took their And whenever we tend to become sad and depressed,
food with gladness and simplicity of heart." (Acts 2, 46) Christ's words of encouragement to His Apostles at the
And when the Apostles were scourged and tortured for Last Supper should renew in us a joyful spirit: "So also
preaching the doctrines of Christ, Holy Scripture de, you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again,
scribes them as "rejoicing that they were accounted and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall
worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus." (Ac!S take from you." Oohn 16, 22)t
5, 41) No matter how sad and distressing were the condi,
THE ATHANASIAN
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