Taylor MarshallPope Archives - Taylor Marshall

1185: Will JD Vance Investigate DC Cardinal McElroy and US Bishops? John Yep and Dr. Marshall

Daniel K — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 21:18:19 +0000

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426: Viganò Warns Trump of Baphomet Inscription: Solve et Coagula and Infiltration of Deep Church [Podcast]

Daniel K — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 20:11:52 +0000

What did Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò mean when he warned President Donald Trump with the obscure Latin phrase: Solve et Coagula – which is the tattoo printed on the two forearms of the Free-masonic Sabbatic Goat? (It’s also tattooed on the wrist of Harry Potter author JK Rowling). Dr. Marshall will explain what “Solve et Coagula” means and why occultists and magicians use the term. It’s a profound yet subtle warning by a Catholic Archbishop to the American President. Archbishop Viganò, the former Papal Nuncio to Washington DC, published an open letter to President Donald Trump claiming that pandemic misinformation and unrest in the cities are signs of a Deep State and a Deep Church inspired by forces of darkness. Dr. Taylor Marshall reads the letter of Archbishop Vigano and provides commentary based on his last several videos regarding President Trump and our current situation. Dr. Marshall also relates it to his research found his book Infiltration about the “Deep Church” being infiltrated by secret societies and political entities.

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264: Pope Francis and the Pan Amazonian Synod Plans Revealed [Podcast]

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 22:48:13 +0000

Why is the upcoming PanAmazonian Synod so important for Pope Francis and the hierarchy of Germany? How does it relate to married priests and the ordination of women? Who are the native peoples and what are their beliefs? Do we need to be converted by them?

Today’s Latin word: Colonia

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#	Title	Released
262	Are Catholics Warriors? The Rosary (and Latin Mass) as Weapon with Fr Richard Heilman	06/14/2019
261	Archbishop Vigano Interview AND Cd. Burke & Bp. Schneider Issue 40 Points	06/12/2019
260	Biblical Theology of the Rain Bow	06/10/2019
259	Vigano is for Victory! New Docs on Pope Francis and McCarrick	06/07/2019
258	Infiltration Interview by Sam Guzman of Catholic Gentleman w Dr Taylor Marshall	06/05/2019
257	Truth About Infiltration of Catholic Church: Faith Goldy interviews Dr Taylor Marshall	06/03/2019
256	Infiltration: Pope Francis Rewound 150 Years – Alta Vendita and La Salette	05/31/2019
255	Abby Johnson on Pro Life State Bans w Dr Taylor Marshall Tim Gordon Fr Dave Nix	05/29/2019
254	Taylor Marshall Meets Pope Francis (Plus Cardinal Burke on Patriotism and Natural Law)	05/24/2019
253	Pope Francis on Women Deaconesses: Can Women be Ordained? Amazon Synod	05/13/2019
252	Pope Francis Changes Rule on Abuse and Talks Globalist Supra-Nationalist Bodies	05/11/2019
251	Did They Rig The Election Of Pope Francis (plus Chile refusal of Communion on tongue)	05/8/2019
250	Pope Francis: Evangelization over Doctrine – Cart before the Horse?	05/6/2019
249	Pope Francis Accused of 7 Counts of Heresy by 19 Scholars	05/2/2019
248	Why Do Secularists and Mohammedans Unite?	04/30/2019
247	Is Easter Pagan? Pagan Astarte or the Lord Jesus Christ?	04/25/2019
246	Easter Worshippers or Easter Martyrs?	04/24/2019
245	Pope Benedict Speaks REVISITED with Comments by Cardinal Müller	04/23/2019
244	What is the Historical Date of Good Friday? Was AD 30 or AD 33?	04/19/2019
243	Catholic France in the End Times, Great French Monarch and Our Lady of La Salette	04/17/2019
242	Why Do Traditional Catholic Men Fight? with Fr Dave Nix and Dr Marshall	04/16/2019
241	Pope Benedict XVI Speaks: I am no longer directly responsible	04/12/2019
240	Did Popes Favor the United States? with Charles Coulombe	04/10/2019
239	Why do Catholics Veil Images on Passion Sunday (5th Sunday) of Lent?	04/08/2019
238	Natural Law and Catholic Republic #TnT	04/05/2019
237	Cardinal Sarah Breaks His Silence	04/03/2019
236	Birth Rates, Immigration and Christianity	04/01/2019
235	Can a Pope Be Heretical? Bishop Athanasius Schneider Answers #TnT	03/29/2019
234	Against Catholic Distributism w Dr Jay Richards and #TnT	03/27/2019
233	Why Did Pope Francis Refuse Kissing of His Ring? [Podcast]	03/26/2019
232	What’s the Catholic View on ILLEGAL Immigration? from Aquinas and Catechism	03/25/2019
231	How to attend Traditional Latin Mass 101 (Step by Step)	03/22/2019
230	Cardinal Danneels Legacy and Sankt Gallen Mafia	03/20/2019
229	Traditional Catholics Unite the Clans with Michael Matt	03/18/2019
228	Pope Francis Endorses the UN 2030 Agenda	03/15/2019
227	Saul Alinsky and Corruption of Catholic Campaign for Human Development	03/14/2019
226	Bishop Athanasius Schneider to Pope Francis: Does God Will Many Religions Part 2	03/11/2019
225	Papal Wish List for Pope Pius XIII: TnT Describe their Ideal Pope	03/8/2019
224	Does Amoris Laetitia by Pope Francis contain error?	03/6/2019
223	Who will be Pope after Pope Francis? Predictions by TnT	03/4/2019
222	Fast for Pope Francis: Make Lent Penitential Again!	03/2/2019
221	Pope Francis Bishop Zanchetta, Demise of Natacha Jaitt and Gustavo Vera	02/1/2019
220	TnT with NFL Catholic Kickers: Greg “the Leg” Zurlein and Harrison “Buttkicker” Butker	02/27/2019
219	Is Pope Francis Driving the Agenda? w John Henry Westin	02/25/2019
218	Michael Voris and Dr Taylor Marshall: Should Pope Francis Resign	02/24/2019
217	Pope Francis and the Dubia Brothers	02/22/2019
216	Mr McCarrick, Vigano, Pope Francis and Rome Summit	02/20/2019
215	Good Priests: How Do We Support Them?	02/18/2019
214	Pope Benedict’s Resignation	02/15/2019
213	Pope Benedict’s Resignation	02/13/2019
212	Pope Francis: Does God Will Many Religions? Cardinal Müller Responds	02/11/2019
211	Communion on Tongue vs. Hand	02/08/2019
210	Novus Ordo Mass Buzzwords	02/06/2019
209	Post-Vatican 2 Buzzwords: Pastoral, Dialogue	02/04/2019
208	Having Big Families: Taylor and Tim Talk with Wives	02/01/2019
207	Should Pro-Abort Catholic Politicians be Excommunicated?	01/28/2019
206	The War Over Covington and Catholicism	01/25/2019
205	Covington High Boys: Assault on Catholic Pro-Life Young Men	01/23/2019
204	Malachi Martin: Can We Trust Him (Plus Sedevacantism)	01/21/2019
203	The Rosary as the Weapon! with Fr Donald Calloway	01/18/2019
202	Was Pope John Paul I Murdered by Poisoning?	01/16/2019
201	Did Cardinal Wuerl Lie regarding McCarrick?	01/14/2019
200	Should Immoral Priests be Removed? with Fr John Hollowell and Dr Taylor Marshall	01/11/2019
199	Liturgical Abuse in the Novus Ordo Mass	01/09/2019
198	Third Secret of Fatima & Our Lady of Akita	01/07/2019
197	McCarrick, Pope Francis, St Gallen Mafia w James Grein	01/03/2019
196	2019 Catholic Goals for Battle with Dr Taylor Marshall	01/01/2019
195	2018 Catholic Year in Review w Taylor Marshall and Tim Gordon	12/28/2018
194	Michael Voris Interviewed by Dr Taylor Marshall	12/20/2018
193	Dr Marshall’s Top 11 Christmas Gifts for Men in 2018	12/18/2018
192	Why Do We Have Corrupt Cardinals?	12/14/2018
191	Why Did Pope Francis Change Doctrine On Death Penalty?	12/12/2018
190	10 Reasons to Attend Latin Mass	12/11/2018
189	Saint Nicholas Story: The Bishop against Bishops	12/06/2018
188	McCarrick’s Victim Speaks Out on McCarrick and St Gallen Mafia w James Grein	12/05/2018
187	Tolkien and Thomas Aquinas on Analogy of Being	12/03/2018
186	Dr Marshall on His Conversion, Latin Mass, and Pope Francis on Terry and Jesse Show	12/01/2018
185	JRR Tolkien and True Fairy Tales w Fr Longenecker and Dr Marshall	11/30/2018
184	Why Does Pope Francis Favor Cardinal Cupich?	11/28/2018
183	Why Every Catholic NEEDS Aristotle and Aquinas	11/26/2018
182	Red Pilled on Pope Francis with Patrick Coffin, Dr Taylor Marshall and Timothy Gordon	11/21/2018
181	Fr Mark Goring & Dr Taylor Marshall Discuss Catholic Crisis	11/19/2018
180	McCarrick Investigation Voted Down by Bishops	11/16/2018
179	Why Remain Catholic During the Abuse Scandals?	11/14/2018
178	Catholic Scandal: What Can We Laypeople Do?	11/12/2018
177	Why do Catholics Vote Democrat: Against “Catholic Socialism”	11/09/2018
176	Plague in the Priesthood: Vigano vs. Lavender Mafia	11/07/2018
175	Third Secret of Fatima: Who is the Bishop in White?	11/05/2018
174	Second Secret of Fatima: Did Pope Consecrate Russia?	11/02/2018
173	First Secret of Fatima: Does Hell Exist? (Fatima 1)	10/31/2018
172	Catholic Take on Dracula, Zombies, Frankenstein and Halloween	10/29/2018
171	Top 10 Tips for a Catholic Halloween (Joy and Taylor Talk)	10/26/2018
170	Pope Francis’s Agenda for Youth Synod 2018	10/24/2018
169	Vigano’s Third Letter: Response to Pope Francis and Cardinal Ouellet	10/21/2018
168	What is the Heresy of Modernism? w Dr Marshall and Fr Longenecker	10/19/2018
167	Why did Pope Francis Rescue Cardinal Wuerl?	10/17/2018
166	Can a Pope be Deposed?	10/12/2018
165	Vigano attacked by Cardinal Ouellet: Why?	10/10/2018
164	Did Jesus Descend into Hell? Proof from the Bible	10/08/2018
163	Is it OK to Criticize Pope Francis? VIGANO Part 2	10/05/2018
162	How did Thomas Aquinas Die: Neurosurgery and Brain Death	10/03/2018
161	Did Pope Francis Stop Cardinal Abuse Investigation? (Müller, Murphy-O’Connor, St Gallen)	09/28/2018
160	Pope Francis Church History & Papal Controversy w Fr Dwight Longenecker	09/26/2018
159	Pope Benedict and Freemason Infiltration of Catholic Church	09/21/2018
158	Ember Days: History and Theology of Fasting for Holy Priests	09/18/2018
157	Jordan Peterson’s Church of St Joachim of Fiore: Dr Peterson and Christianity	09/17/2018
156	Third Secret of Fatima and Smoke of Satan in the Catholic Church	09/13/2018
155	Defrocked, Laicized or Suspended: Defining our Catholic Terms	09/10/2018
154	St Gallen Mafia & Pope Francis: What is it? w Timothy Gordon	09/07/2018
153	Hunting & Christianity: What does the Bible Say? w Dr Bracy Hill and Dr Marshall	09/05/2018
152	Can Archbishop Vigano be Trusted? w Dr Taylor Marshall	09/03/2018
151	Why Won’t Pope Francis Respond to Viganò? Is the answer Peronism?	08/30/2018
150	Why did Pope Benedict Resign? McCarrick, Vigano and Vatican Bank Scandals Explained in Detail	08/28/2018
149	Eastern Catholics & Dormition of Mary	08/22/2018
148	McCarrick Scandal, Suffering Souls, and the problem of Fake Science	08/17/2018
147	Against the Catholic Mega-Diocese: Scandal and Subsidiarity	08/15/2018
146	American Catholic Kings? Freemasons & Catholic Integralism	08/15/2018
145	How to Walk the Camino de Santiago	08/08/2018
144	Did USA Founding Fathers Plagiarize Thomas Aquinas? with Timothy Gordon	07/30/2018
143	Shoveling Incense into the Cathedral’s Botafumeiro (Camino 7)	07/02/2018
142	Tears and Arrival in Santiago! (Camino 6)	07/01/2018
141	Monastery at Samos, Spain (Camino 5)	06/30/2018
140	Eucharistic Miracle at O Cebreiro in Spain (Camino 4)	06/29/2018
139	Embarrassing Fall at the Iron Cross (Camino 3)	06/19/2018
138	The Angry Jousting Pilgrim of 1434 (Camino 2)	06/11/2018
137	Beginning Camino of St James and Various Routes (Camino 1)	06/02/2018
136	Why Tongues of Fire on Pentecost and How to Refute Mormons Easily	05/25/2018
135	Journey to Dominican Priesthood: Brother Bradley Elliott interviewed by Dr Taylor Marshall	04/18/2018
134	Saint Veronica in 9 Points: Was She Berenike?	04/04/2018
133	Saint Joseph in 9 Points Podcast (Should You Bury His Statue?)	03/19/2018
132	St Patrick in 9 Bullet Points and the “Two Patrick Theory”	03/17/2018
131	Thomas Aquinas on Catholic Priesthood Interview with Fr Christopher Pietraszko	03/16/2018
130	How do we get to Heaven? Wrong Answers for Catholics	03/08/2018
129	Aquinas Why Fish and No Meat in Lent PLUS the Demonic Incubus and Sucubus!	02/28/2018
128	Is there now a Matrimony Heresy?	02/21/2018
Your Guardian Angel is Not a Pet (Replay Link)	10/02/2017
127	Is the Eucharist Symbolic: 4 Medieval Heretics on the Eucharist before the Reformation	08/30/2017
126	Why do Catholics “Worship” Statues and Icons: The Iconoclastic Heresy and the Council of Nicea II in AD 787	08/23/2017
125	Does Christ have 1 or 2 Natures? Heretic Eutyches and the Monophysite Heresy?	08/16/2017
124	Heretic Nestorius: Is Mary Mother of God? Are there 2 Christs?	05/25/2017
123	Heretic Arius and Deity of Christ (PLUS his death on toilet)	04/03/2017
122	Heretic Valentinius Explained	03/10/2017
121	Your Virtue of Temperance (and Aquinas on Women Looking Sexy)	02/09/2017
120	Your Virtue of Fortitude with Aquinas (Virtues Part 4)	01/05/2017
119	Your Virtue of Justice with Aquinas (Virtues Part 2)	10/27/2016
118	Your Virtue of Prudence with Aquinas (Virtues Part 2)	10/21/2016
117	Fr Donald Calloway: Champions of the Rosary	10/05/2016
115	Intro to Four Cardinal Virtues (Virtues Part 1))	09/28/2016
116	When Evangelicals Convert Catholics…Why?	09/23/2016
114	Your Focus Changes Your Feelings	09/07/2016
113	Did The Holy Spirit Appear As A Real Dove? And Saint Raymond Nonnatus	08/31/2016
112	Reflections on Pilgrimage to Rome	07/13/2016
111	10 Tips for Visiting Rome	06/08/2016
110	The Humility of Mary	06/02/2016
109	Is Catholicism a Religion or Relationship with Christ?	05/25/2016
108	Early Female Mystics and Martyrs: Perpetua and Felicity	05/18/2016
107	The Word “Catholic” in the Early Church	04/07/2016
106	Can Christians Kill People? Answers from Thomas Aquinas	03/23/2016
105	Our Pilgrim Interviews on Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/24/2016
104	Reflections on Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/17/2016
103	Happiness Is A Skill	02/11/2016
102	Taylor’s New Podcast for Christian Men: Maccabee Society	02/03/2016
101	Jewish Priests and Catholic Priests	01/21/2016
100	Is Star Wars Christian or Anti-Christian?	01/06/2016
99	Should Catholics Share the Gospel with Jewish Friends	12/16/2015
98	Was Muhammad Evil?	11/18/2015
97	Revelation Ch. 22 Tree of Life and Holy Water (Catholic Apocalypse Part 16)	11/10/2015
96	Revelation Ch. 21 Heaven as a Cube and the New Jerusalem (Catholic Apocalypse Part 15)	11/04/2015
95	Taylor’s Thoughts on Being Father of a Large Family	10/28/2015
94	On the Indissolubility of Marriage and the Synod on the Family	10/21/2015
93	Revelation Ch. 20 The Millennium in Catholic Tradition (Catholic Apocalypse Part 14)	10/15/2015
92	Revelation Ch.19 Eucharist as Apocalypse (Catholic Apocalypse Part 13)	10/07/2015
91	Revelation Ch. 18 Fallen is Babylon the Great (Catholic Apocalypse Part 12)	09/30/2015
90	Revelation Ch. 17 The Whore of Babylon and Her Beast (Catholic Apocalypse Part 11)	09/23/2015
89	Do Babies Know the Existence of God (Plus the Harrowing of Hell and Sedevacantists)	09/09/2015
88	Revelation Chs. 15-16 7 Chalices of Wrath (Catholic Apocalypse Part 10)	09/02/2015
87	Revelation Ch. 14 Lamb on the Mountain with 6 Angels against Babylon (Catholic Apocalypse Part 9)	08/26/2015
86	Taylor’s Conversion Story to Catholicism – Interview with Matthew Leonard	08/19/2015
85	Revelation Ch. 13 The Sea Beast and the Land Beast and the Mark of the Beast (Catholic Apocalypse Part 8)	08/13/2015
84	Revelation Ch. 12 – Our Lady of the Apocalypse (Catholic Apocalypse Part 7)	07/29/2015
83	Revelation Chs. 10-11 The Giant Angel and Two Witnesses (Catholic Apocalypse Part 6)	07/15/2015
82	Revelation Chs. 8-9 Seven Trumpets against Jerusalem (Catholic Apocalypse Part 5)	07/09/2015
81	Revelation Chs. 6-7 Four Horseman and Seven Seals (Catholic Apocalypse Part 4)	07/02/2015
80	Taylor’s Catholic Thoughts on Same Sex Marriage	06/30/2015
79	Revelation Chs. 4-5 The Lamb and Liturgy of God (Catholic Apocalypse Part 3)	06/17/2015
78	Is the Relic of True Cross Real? [Mini-Podcast]	06/16/2015
77	Revelation Chs. 2-3 Seven Churches and Seven Ages of Salvation (Catholic Apocalypse Part 2)	06/10/2015
76	Revelation Ch. 1 Apparition of Fiery Christ (Catholic Apocalypse Part 1)	06/03/2015
75	Trinity Sunday, Liturgy, Thomas Becket and Anglican Use Thoughts (Special Edition)	05/29/2015
74	Tongues of Fire in Acts, 1 Enoch, and Pre-Vatican Liturgy [Mini Podcast]	05/27/2015
73	Advice on Being a Man	05/22/2015
72	What was the Priestly Status of Mary? Was she a Levite? [Mini Podcast]	05/16/2015
71	The Theology of Cooking Food	05/14/2015
70	3 Steps to Overcoming Anxiety and Stress	05/06/2015
69	How to Read the Summa in One Year	04/22/2015
68	St Paul on Faith and Works Catholic vs Protestant Debate	03/25/2015
67	How Your Fears Are Hurting You Spiritually?	03/18/2015
66	What is 666 and the Mark of the Beast?	03/04/2015
65	40 Days of Joy	02/26/2015
64	Why did God make you? Luke 19 Gives the Answer	02/11/2015
63	Is Being A Christian Hard or Easy?	01/21/2015
62	Catholic View of the End Times and Tribulation	01/14/2015
61	When Other People Really Hurt You	01/07/2015
60	Is Saint George Still a Saint?	01/01/2015
59	Revolution in Catholic Education – Jennifer Fulwiler Interviews Taylor Marshall	12/31/2014
58	The Hidden Theology in Sword and Serpent with St George and Sabra	12/11/2014
57	Advent Total Consecration to Mary	11/13/2014
56	Top 5 Advent Devotions	11/07/2014
55	Why Do We Baptize Babies? The Covenantal Argument	10/22/2014
54	Is God Male or Female – The Catholic Teaching	10/08/2014
53	Lucifer vs. Saint Michael	10/01/2014
52	1 Year Anniversary Special Edition: Essentialism What is the Essence of Your Life?	09/24/2014
51	The Price of Your Anger	09/17/2014
50	The Seven Sorrows of Mary are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit	09/15/2014
49	6 Obstacles in Your Life (How to Conquer Them)	09/10/2014
48	Brain Science, Your Soul & Prayer	09/03/2014
47	Don’t Swallow the Camel	08/27/2014
46	The Secret Life of Thomas Aquinas	08/22/2014
45	Did Saint Paul Teach Once Saved Always Saved?	08/06/2014
44	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 2	07/30/2014
43	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 1	07/24/2014
42	Golf Cart Saints	07/15/2014
41	5 Intellectual Virtues and Pornography, Art, and Culture	07/02/2014
40	Taylor and Joy Talk About Their Marriage	06/25/2014
39	How Was the Bible Assembled? (plus Joy joins me)	06/18/2014
38	Should You Budget Time (or Money)?	06/04/2014
37	The Theology of Vacation, Leisure, and Recreation	05/28/2014
36	Noah Movie Review – Rock Monsters?	05/21/2014
35	Children Need Fortitude	05/14/2014
34	Jokes of Saint John XXIII	05/07/2014
33	Divine Mercy: 5 Common Questions	04/30/2014
32	4 Sections of Hell	04/23/2014
31	Meet the Saint Version of You	04/16/2014
30	Should You Be an Optimist?	04/09/2014
29	Finding Fellowship like Samwise Gamgee	04/01/2014
28	Demons, Snakes, and Ticks: Lessons from a Hunting Trip	03/26/2014
27	How to Make an Eternal Impact with Your Life	03/19/2014
26	Thoughts on My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/26/2014
25	Why is the Catholic Church Roman?	02/19/2014
24	The Seven Lies We Believe About Our Failures	02/11/2014
23	How to Restart Your Mental Computer	02/06/2014
22	Top Five Productivity Tips from Thomas Aquinas	01/29/2014
21	Did You Miss God’s Plan for Your Life?	01/23/2014
20	When Prayer Becomes a Chore	01/15/2014
19	12 Attributes of a Baptized Christian	01/08/2014
18	A Podcast Against Bitter Catholics!	12/30/2013
17	Mary’s Painless Delivery of Christ Explained	12/18/2013
16	Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Luke (Plus How to Set Goals)	12/11/2013
15	Total Consecration to Mary	12/04/2013
14	What’s Your Apostolate?	11/27/2013
13	6 Items for the Liturgy of Your Life	11/20/2013
12	Why You Should Be More Creative	11/13/2013
11	Why Did They Stop Teaching Virtue?	11/06/2013
10	How Do Saints Hear Our Prayers?	10/30/2013
9	My Opinion of Martin Luther	10/23/2013
8	My Top 5 Daily Prayers	10/16/2013
7	Your Guardian Angel	10/03/2013
6	How You Can Convert 7 Billion People	09/25/2013
5	3 Strategies for a Marriage that Sings!	09/18/2013
4	4 Step Plan When Family Leave the Faith	09/12/2013
3	5 Tools for Deep Daily Prayer Life	09/04/2013
2	Three Tips to Increase Your Passion for Life	08/28/2013
1	How to Find a Spiritual Director	08/18/2013

The post 264: Pope Francis and the Pan Amazonian Synod Plans Revealed [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

233: Why Did Pope Francis Refuse Kissing of His Ring? [Podcast]

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 23:41:01 +0000

Pope Francis on March 25 2019 was shown on camera jerking his hand away from the faithful laity trying to venerate the papal ring of the Pope? Why is this what is the history of kissing bishop’s and pope’s rings? Dr Taylor Marshall explains the history and the situation and gives some analysis.

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- New classes at New Saint Thomas Institute. We have just begun our New Testament Studies curriculum. Please visit: newsaintthomas.com for more details.

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Podcast Archive
#	Title	Released
231:	How to attend Traditional Latin Mass 101 (Step by Step) [Podcast]	03/22/2019
230	Cardinal Danneels Legacy and Sankt Gallen Mafia	03/20/2019
229	Traditional Catholics Unite the Clans with Michael Matt	03/18/2019
228	Pope Francis Endorses the UN 2030 Agenda	03/15/2019
227	Saul Alinsky and Corruption of Catholic Campaign for Human Development	03/14/2019
226	Bishop Athanasius Schneider to Pope Francis: Does God Will Many Religions Part 2	03/11/2019
225	Papal Wish List for Pope Pius XIII: TnT Describe their Ideal Pope	03/8/2019
224	Does Amoris Laetitia by Pope Francis contain error?	03/6/2019
223	Who will be Pope after Pope Francis? Predictions by TnT	03/4/2019
222	Fast for Pope Francis: Make Lent Penitential Again!	03/2/2019
221	Pope Francis Bishop Zanchetta, Demise of Natacha Jaitt and Gustavo Vera	02/1/2019
220	TnT with NFL Catholic Kickers: Greg “the Leg” Zurlein and Harrison “Buttkicker” Butker	02/27/2019
219	Is Pope Francis Driving the Agenda? w John Henry Westin	02/25/2019
218	Michael Voris and Dr Taylor Marshall: Should Pope Francis Resign	02/24/2019
217	Pope Francis and the Dubia Brothers	02/22/2019
216	Mr McCarrick, Vigano, Pope Francis and Rome Summit	02/20/2019
215	Good Priests: How Do We Support Them?	02/18/2019
214	Pope Benedict’s Resignation	02/15/2019
213	Pope Benedict’s Resignation	02/13/2019
212	Pope Francis: Does God Will Many Religions? Cardinal Müller Responds	02/11/2019
211	Communion on Tongue vs. Hand	02/08/2019
210	Novus Ordo Mass Buzzwords	02/06/2019
209	Post-Vatican 2 Buzzwords: Pastoral, Dialogue	02/04/2019
208	Having Big Families: Taylor and Tim Talk with Wives	02/01/2019
207	Should Pro-Abort Catholic Politicians be Excommunicated?	01/28/2019
206	The War Over Covington and Catholicism	01/25/2019
205	Covington High Boys: Assault on Catholic Pro-Life Young Men	01/23/2019
204	Malachi Martin: Can We Trust Him (Plus Sedevacantism)	01/21/2019
203	The Rosary as the Weapon! with Fr Donald Calloway	01/18/2019
202	Was Pope John Paul I Murdered by Poisoning?	01/16/2019
201	Did Cardinal Wuerl Lie regarding McCarrick?	01/14/2019
200	Should Immoral Priests be Removed? with Fr John Hollowell and Dr Taylor Marshall	01/11/2019
199	Liturgical Abuse in the Novus Ordo Mass	01/09/2019
198	Third Secret of Fatima & Our Lady of Akita	01/07/2019
197	McCarrick, Pope Francis, St Gallen Mafia w James Grein	01/03/2019
196	2019 Catholic Goals for Battle with Dr Taylor Marshall	01/01/2019
195	2018 Catholic Year in Review w Taylor Marshall and Tim Gordon	12/28/2018
194	Michael Voris Interviewed by Dr Taylor Marshall	12/20/2018
193	Dr Marshall’s Top 11 Christmas Gifts for Men in 2018	12/18/2018
192	Why Do We Have Corrupt Cardinals?	12/14/2018
191	Why Did Pope Francis Change Doctrine On Death Penalty?	12/12/2018
190	10 Reasons to Attend Latin Mass	12/11/2018
189	Saint Nicholas Story: The Bishop against Bishops	12/06/2018
188	McCarrick’s Victim Speaks Out on McCarrick and St Gallen Mafia w James Grein	12/05/2018
187	Tolkien and Thomas Aquinas on Analogy of Being	12/03/2018
186	Dr Marshall on His Conversion, Latin Mass, and Pope Francis on Terry and Jesse Show	12/01/2018
185	JRR Tolkien and True Fairy Tales w Fr Longenecker and Dr Marshall	11/30/2018
184	Why Does Pope Francis Favor Cardinal Cupich?	11/28/2018
183	Why Every Catholic NEEDS Aristotle and Aquinas	11/26/2018
182	Red Pilled on Pope Francis with Patrick Coffin, Dr Taylor Marshall and Timothy Gordon	11/21/2018
181	Fr Mark Goring & Dr Taylor Marshall Discuss Catholic Crisis	11/19/2018
180	McCarrick Investigation Voted Down by Bishops	11/16/2018
179	Why Remain Catholic During the Abuse Scandals?	11/14/2018
178	Catholic Scandal: What Can We Laypeople Do?	11/12/2018
177	Why do Catholics Vote Democrat: Against “Catholic Socialism”	11/09/2018
176	Plague in the Priesthood: Vigano vs. Lavender Mafia	11/07/2018
175	Third Secret of Fatima: Who is the Bishop in White?	11/05/2018
174	Second Secret of Fatima: Did Pope Consecrate Russia?	11/02/2018
173	First Secret of Fatima: Does Hell Exist? (Fatima 1)	10/31/2018
172	Catholic Take on Dracula, Zombies, Frankenstein and Halloween	10/29/2018
171	Top 10 Tips for a Catholic Halloween (Joy and Taylor Talk)	10/26/2018
170	Pope Francis’s Agenda for Youth Synod 2018	10/24/2018
169	Vigano’s Third Letter: Response to Pope Francis and Cardinal Ouellet	10/21/2018
168	What is the Heresy of Modernism? w Dr Marshall and Fr Longenecker	10/19/2018
167	Why did Pope Francis Rescue Cardinal Wuerl?	10/17/2018
166	Can a Pope be Deposed?	10/12/2018
165	Vigano attacked by Cardinal Ouellet: Why?	10/10/2018
164	Did Jesus Descend into Hell? Proof from the Bible	10/08/2018
163	Is it OK to Criticize Pope Francis? VIGANO Part 2	10/05/2018
162	How did Thomas Aquinas Die: Neurosurgery and Brain Death	10/03/2018
161	Did Pope Francis Stop Cardinal Abuse Investigation? (Müller, Murphy-O’Connor, St Gallen)	09/28/2018
160	Pope Francis Church History & Papal Controversy w Fr Dwight Longenecker	09/26/2018
159	Pope Benedict and Freemason Infiltration of Catholic Church	09/21/2018
158	Ember Days: History and Theology of Fasting for Holy Priests	09/18/2018
157	Jordan Peterson’s Church of St Joachim of Fiore: Dr Peterson and Christianity	09/17/2018
156	Third Secret of Fatima and Smoke of Satan in the Catholic Church	09/13/2018
155	Defrocked, Laicized or Suspended: Defining our Catholic Terms	09/10/2018
154	St Gallen Mafia & Pope Francis: What is it? w Timothy Gordon	09/07/2018
153	Hunting & Christianity: What does the Bible Say? w Dr Bracy Hill and Dr Marshall	09/05/2018
152	Can Archbishop Vigano be Trusted? w Dr Taylor Marshall	09/03/2018
151	Why Won’t Pope Francis Respond to Viganò? Is the answer Peronism?	08/30/2018
150	Why did Pope Benedict Resign? McCarrick, Vigano and Vatican Bank Scandals Explained in Detail	08/28/2018
149	Eastern Catholics & Dormition of Mary	08/22/2018
148	McCarrick Scandal, Suffering Souls, and the problem of Fake Science	08/17/2018
147	Against the Catholic Mega-Diocese: Scandal and Subsidiarity	08/15/2018
146	American Catholic Kings? Freemasons & Catholic Integralism	08/15/2018
145	How to Walk the Camino de Santiago	08/08/2018
144	Did USA Founding Fathers Plagiarize Thomas Aquinas? with Timothy Gordon	07/30/2018
143	Shoveling Incense into the Cathedral’s Botafumeiro (Camino 7)	07/02/2018
142	Tears and Arrival in Santiago! (Camino 6)	07/01/2018
141	Monastery at Samos, Spain (Camino 5)	06/30/2018
140	Eucharistic Miracle at O Cebreiro in Spain (Camino 4)	06/29/2018
139	Embarrassing Fall at the Iron Cross (Camino 3)	06/19/2018
138	The Angry Jousting Pilgrim of 1434 (Camino 2)	06/11/2018
137	Beginning Camino of St James and Various Routes (Camino 1)	06/02/2018
136	Why Tongues of Fire on Pentecost and How to Refute Mormons Easily	05/25/2018
135	Journey to Dominican Priesthood: Brother Bradley Elliott interviewed by Dr Taylor Marshall	04/18/2018
134	Saint Veronica in 9 Points: Was She Berenike?	04/04/2018
133	Saint Joseph in 9 Points Podcast (Should You Bury His Statue?)	03/19/2018
132	St Patrick in 9 Bullet Points and the “Two Patrick Theory”	03/17/2018
131	Thomas Aquinas on Catholic Priesthood Interview with Fr Christopher Pietraszko	03/16/2018
130	How do we get to Heaven? Wrong Answers for Catholics	03/08/2018
129	Aquinas Why Fish and No Meat in Lent PLUS the Demonic Incubus and Sucubus!	02/28/2018
128	Is there now a Matrimony Heresy?	02/21/2018
	Your Guardian Angel is Not a Pet (Replay Link)	10/02/2017
127	Is the Eucharist Symbolic: 4 Medieval Heretics on the Eucharist before the Reformation	08/30/2017
126	Why do Catholics “Worship” Statues and Icons: The Iconoclastic Heresy and the Council of Nicea II in AD 787	08/23/2017
125	Does Christ have 1 or 2 Natures? Heretic Eutyches and the Monophysite Heresy?	08/16/2017
124	Heretic Nestorius: Is Mary Mother of God? Are there 2 Christs?	05/25/2017
123	Heretic Arius and Deity of Christ (PLUS his death on toilet)	04/03/2017
122	Heretic Valentinius Explained	03/10/2017
121	Your Virtue of Temperance (and Aquinas on Women Looking Sexy)	02/09/2017
120	Your Virtue of Fortitude with Aquinas (Virtues Part 4)	01/05/2017
119	Your Virtue of Justice with Aquinas (Virtues Part 2)	10/27/2016
118	Your Virtue of Prudence with Aquinas (Virtues Part 2)	10/21/2016
117	Fr Donald Calloway: Champions of the Rosary	10/05/2016
115	Intro to Four Cardinal Virtues (Virtues Part 1))	09/28/2016
116	When Evangelicals Convert Catholics…Why?	09/23/2016
114	Your Focus Changes Your Feelings	09/07/2016
113	Did The Holy Spirit Appear As A Real Dove? And Saint Raymond Nonnatus	08/31/2016
112	Reflections on Pilgrimage to Rome	07/13/2016
111	10 Tips for Visiting Rome	06/08/2016
110	The Humility of Mary	06/02/2016
109	Is Catholicism a Religion or Relationship with Christ?	05/25/2016
108	Early Female Mystics and Martyrs: Perpetua and Felicity	05/18/2016
107	The Word “Catholic” in the Early Church	04/07/2016
106	Can Christians Kill People? Answers from Thomas Aquinas	03/23/2016
105	Our Pilgrim Interviews on Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/24/2016
104	Reflections on Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/17/2016
103	Happiness Is A Skill	02/11/2016
102	Taylor’s New Podcast for Christian Men: Maccabee Society	02/03/2016
101	Jewish Priests and Catholic Priests	01/21/2016
100	Is Star Wars Christian or Anti-Christian?	01/06/2016
99	Should Catholics Share the Gospel with Jewish Friends	12/16/2015
98	Was Muhammad Evil?	11/18/2015
97	Revelation Ch. 22 Tree of Life and Holy Water (Catholic Apocalypse Part 16)	11/10/2015
96	Revelation Ch. 21 Heaven as a Cube and the New Jerusalem (Catholic Apocalypse Part 15)	11/04/2015
95	Taylor’s Thoughts on Being Father of a Large Family	10/28/2015
94	On the Indissolubility of Marriage and the Synod on the Family	10/21/2015
93	Revelation Ch. 20 The Millennium in Catholic Tradition (Catholic Apocalypse Part 14)	10/15/2015
92	Revelation Ch.19 Eucharist as Apocalypse (Catholic Apocalypse Part 13)	10/07/2015
91	Revelation Ch. 18 Fallen is Babylon the Great (Catholic Apocalypse Part 12)	09/30/2015
90	Revelation Ch. 17 The Whore of Babylon and Her Beast (Catholic Apocalypse Part 11)	09/23/2015
89	Do Babies Know the Existence of God (Plus the Harrowing of Hell and Sedevacantists)	09/09/2015
88	Revelation Chs. 15-16 7 Chalices of Wrath (Catholic Apocalypse Part 10)	09/02/2015
87	Revelation Ch. 14 Lamb on the Mountain with 6 Angels against Babylon (Catholic Apocalypse Part 9)	08/26/2015
86	Taylor’s Conversion Story to Catholicism – Interview with Matthew Leonard	08/19/2015
85	Revelation Ch. 13 The Sea Beast and the Land Beast and the Mark of the Beast (Catholic Apocalypse Part 8)	08/13/2015
84	Revelation Ch. 12 – Our Lady of the Apocalypse (Catholic Apocalypse Part 7)	07/29/2015
83	Revelation Chs. 10-11 The Giant Angel and Two Witnesses (Catholic Apocalypse Part 6)	07/15/2015
82	Revelation Chs. 8-9 Seven Trumpets against Jerusalem (Catholic Apocalypse Part 5)	07/09/2015
81	Revelation Chs. 6-7 Four Horseman and Seven Seals (Catholic Apocalypse Part 4)	07/02/2015
80	Taylor’s Catholic Thoughts on Same Sex Marriage	06/30/2015
79	Revelation Chs. 4-5 The Lamb and Liturgy of God (Catholic Apocalypse Part 3)	06/17/2015
78	Is the Relic of True Cross Real? [Mini-Podcast]	06/16/2015
77	Revelation Chs. 2-3 Seven Churches and Seven Ages of Salvation (Catholic Apocalypse Part 2)	06/10/2015
76	Revelation Ch. 1 Apparition of Fiery Christ (Catholic Apocalypse Part 1)	06/03/2015
75	Trinity Sunday, Liturgy, Thomas Becket and Anglican Use Thoughts (Special Edition)	05/29/2015
74	Tongues of Fire in Acts, 1 Enoch, and Pre-Vatican Liturgy [Mini Podcast]	05/27/2015
73	Advice on Being a Man	05/22/2015
72	What was the Priestly Status of Mary? Was she a Levite? [Mini Podcast]	05/16/2015
71	The Theology of Cooking Food	05/14/2015
70	3 Steps to Overcoming Anxiety and Stress	05/06/2015
69	How to Read the Summa in One Year	04/22/2015
68	St Paul on Faith and Works Catholic vs Protestant Debate	03/25/2015
67	How Your Fears Are Hurting You Spiritually?	03/18/2015
66	What is 666 and the Mark of the Beast?	03/04/2015
65	40 Days of Joy	02/26/2015
64	Why did God make you? Luke 19 Gives the Answer	02/11/2015
63	Is Being A Christian Hard or Easy?	01/21/2015
62	Catholic View of the End Times and Tribulation	01/14/2015
61	When Other People Really Hurt You	01/07/2015
60	Is Saint George Still a Saint?	01/01/2015
59	Revolution in Catholic Education – Jennifer Fulwiler Interviews Taylor Marshall	12/31/2014
58	The Hidden Theology in Sword and Serpent with St George and Sabra	12/11/2014
57	Advent Total Consecration to Mary	11/13/2014
56	Top 5 Advent Devotions	11/07/2014
55	Why Do We Baptize Babies? The Covenantal Argument	10/22/2014
54	Is God Male or Female – The Catholic Teaching	10/08/2014
53	Lucifer vs. Saint Michael	10/01/2014
52	1 Year Anniversary Special Edition: Essentialism What is the Essence of Your Life?	09/24/2014
51	The Price of Your Anger	09/17/2014
50	The Seven Sorrows of Mary are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit	09/15/2014
49	6 Obstacles in Your Life (How to Conquer Them)	09/10/2014
48	Brain Science, Your Soul & Prayer	09/03/2014
47	Don’t Swallow the Camel	08/27/2014
46	The Secret Life of Thomas Aquinas	08/22/2014
45	Did Saint Paul Teach Once Saved Always Saved?	08/06/2014
44	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 2	07/30/2014
43	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 1	07/24/2014
42	Golf Cart Saints	07/15/2014
41	5 Intellectual Virtues and Pornography, Art, and Culture	07/02/2014
40	Taylor and Joy Talk About Their Marriage	06/25/2014
39	How Was the Bible Assembled? (plus Joy joins me)	06/18/2014
38	Should You Budget Time (or Money)?	06/04/2014
37	The Theology of Vacation, Leisure, and Recreation	05/28/2014
36	Noah Movie Review – Rock Monsters?	05/21/2014
35	Children Need Fortitude	05/14/2014
34	Jokes of Saint John XXIII	05/07/2014
33	Divine Mercy: 5 Common Questions	04/30/2014
32	4 Sections of Hell	04/23/2014
31	Meet the Saint Version of You	04/16/2014
30	Should You Be an Optimist?	04/09/2014
29	Finding Fellowship like Samwise Gamgee	04/01/2014
28	Demons, Snakes, and Ticks: Lessons from a Hunting Trip	03/26/2014
27	How to Make an Eternal Impact with Your Life	03/19/2014
26	Thoughts on My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/26/2014
25	Why is the Catholic Church Roman?	02/19/2014
24	The Seven Lies We Believe About Our Failures	02/11/2014
23	How to Restart Your Mental Computer	02/06/2014
22	Top Five Productivity Tips from Thomas Aquinas	01/29/2014
21	Did You Miss God’s Plan for Your Life?	01/23/2014
20	When Prayer Becomes a Chore	01/15/2014
19	12 Attributes of a Baptized Christian	01/08/2014
18	A Podcast Against Bitter Catholics!	12/30/2013
17	Mary’s Painless Delivery of Christ Explained	12/18/2013
16	Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Luke (Plus How to Set Goals)	12/11/2013
15	Total Consecration to Mary	12/04/2013
14	What’s Your Apostolate?	11/27/2013
13	6 Items for the Liturgy of Your Life	11/20/2013
12	Why You Should Be More Creative	11/13/2013
11	Why Did They Stop Teaching Virtue?	11/06/2013
10	How Do Saints Hear Our Prayers?	10/30/2013
9	My Opinion of Martin Luther	10/23/2013
8	My Top 5 Daily Prayers	10/16/2013
7	Your Guardian Angel	10/03/2013
6	How You Can Convert 7 Billion People	09/25/2013
5	3 Strategies for a Marriage that Sings!	09/18/2013
4	4 Step Plan When Family Leave the Faith	09/12/2013
3	5 Tools for Deep Daily Prayer Life	09/04/2013
2	Three Tips to Increase Your Passion for Life	08/28/2013
1	How to Find a Spiritual Director	08/18/2013

The post 233: Why Did Pope Francis Refuse Kissing of His Ring? [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

201: Did Cardinal Wuerl Lie regarding McCarrick? [Podcast]

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 18:13:59 +0000

According to the Washington Post, Cardinal Donald Wuerl knew of sexual misconduct allegations against ex-cardinal Theodore McCarrick since 2004, despite saying: “I can report that no claim — credible or otherwise — has been made against Cardinal McCarrick during his time here in Washington.” Dr Taylor Marshall and Tim Gordon analyze all the timeline of events and the quotes of Cardinal Donald Wuerl regarding his claims and discuss whether he lied to the press and to the faithful.

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Announcements:
- The podcast is now on my channel on Youtube.com
- The complete Sword and Serpent Trilogy is now published, including the the third Book: Storm of Fire and Blood.
- Download the Study Guide at: http://swordandserpent.com
- New classes at New Saint Thomas Institute. We have just begun our New Testament Studies curriculum. Please visit: newsaintthomas.com for more details.

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iTunes: 2,092,596 downloads on iTunes as of today.
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SHOUT OUTS: A huge “shout out” to all 1,036 (!) 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!

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Podcast Archive
#	Title	Released
198	Third Secret of Fatima & Our Lady of Akita	01/07/2019
197	McCarrick, Pope Francis, St Gallen Mafia w James Grein	01/03/2019
196	2019 Catholic Goals for Battle with Dr Taylor Marshall	01/01/2019
195	2018 Catholic Year in Review w Taylor Marshall and Tim Gordon	12/28/2018
194	Michael Voris Interviewed by Dr Taylor Marshall	12/20/2018
193	Dr Marshall’s Top 11 Christmas Gifts for Men in 2018	12/18/2018
192	Why Do We Have Corrupt Cardinals?	12/14/2018
191	Why Did Pope Francis Change Doctrine On Death Penalty?	12/12/2018
190	10 Reasons to Attend Latin Mass	12/11/2018
189	Saint Nicholas Story: The Bishop against Bishops	12/06/2018
188	McCarrick’s Victim Speaks Out on McCarrick and St Gallen Mafia w James Grein	12/05/2018
187	Tolkien and Thomas Aquinas on Analogy of Being	12/03/2018
186	Dr Marshall on His Conversion, Latin Mass, and Pope Francis on Terry and Jesse Show	12/01/2018
185	JRR Tolkien and True Fairy Tales w Fr Longenecker and Dr Marshall	11/30/2018
184	Why Does Pope Francis Favor Cardinal Cupich?	11/28/2018
183	Why Every Catholic NEEDS Aristotle and Aquinas	11/26/2018
182	Red Pilled on Pope Francis with Patrick Coffin, Dr Taylor Marshall and Timothy Gordon	11/21/2018
181	Fr Mark Goring & Dr Taylor Marshall Discuss Catholic Crisis	11/19/2018
180	McCarrick Investigation Voted Down by Bishops	11/16/2018
179	Why Remain Catholic During the Abuse Scandals?	11/14/2018
178	Catholic Scandal: What Can We Laypeople Do?	11/12/2018
177	Why do Catholics Vote Democrat: Against “Catholic Socialism”	11/09/2018
176	Plague in the Priesthood: Vigano vs. Lavender Mafia	11/07/2018
175	Third Secret of Fatima: Who is the Bishop in White?	11/05/2018
174	Second Secret of Fatima: Did Pope Consecrate Russia?	11/02/2018
173	First Secret of Fatima: Does Hell Exist? (Fatima 1)	10/31/2018
172	Catholic Take on Dracula, Zombies, Frankenstein and Halloween	10/29/2018
171	Top 10 Tips for a Catholic Halloween (Joy and Taylor Talk)	10/26/2018
170	Pope Francis’s Agenda for Youth Synod 2018	10/24/2018
169	Vigano’s Third Letter: Response to Pope Francis and Cardinal Ouellet	10/21/2018
168	What is the Heresy of Modernism? w Dr Marshall and Fr Longenecker	10/19/2018
167	Why did Pope Francis Rescue Cardinal Wuerl?	10/17/2018
166	Can a Pope be Deposed?	10/12/2018
165	Vigano attacked by Cardinal Ouellet: Why?	10/10/2018
164	Did Jesus Descend into Hell? Proof from the Bible	10/08/2018
163	Is it OK to Criticize Pope Francis? VIGANO Part 2	10/05/2018
162	How did Thomas Aquinas Die: Neurosurgery and Brain Death	10/03/2018
161	Did Pope Francis Stop Cardinal Abuse Investigation? (Müller, Murphy-O’Connor, St Gallen)	09/28/2018
160	Pope Francis Church History & Papal Controversy w Fr Dwight Longenecker	09/26/2018
159	Pope Benedict and Freemason Infiltration of Catholic Church	09/21/2018
158	Ember Days: History and Theology of Fasting for Holy Priests	09/18/2018
157	Jordan Peterson’s Church of St Joachim of Fiore: Dr Peterson and Christianity	09/17/2018
156	Third Secret of Fatima and Smoke of Satan in the Catholic Church	09/13/2018
155	Defrocked, Laicized or Suspended: Defining our Catholic Terms	09/10/2018
154	St Gallen Mafia & Pope Francis: What is it? w Timothy Gordon	09/07/2018
153	Hunting & Christianity: What does the Bible Say? w Dr Bracy Hill and Dr Marshall	09/05/2018
152	Can Archbishop Vigano be Trusted? w Dr Taylor Marshall	09/03/2018
151	Why Won’t Pope Francis Respond to Viganò? Is the answer Peronism?	08/30/2018
150	Why did Pope Benedict Resign? McCarrick, Vigano and Vatican Bank Scandals Explained in Detail	08/28/2018
149	Eastern Catholics & Dormition of Mary	08/22/2018
148	McCarrick Scandal, Suffering Souls, and the problem of Fake Science	08/17/2018
147	Against the Catholic Mega-Diocese: Scandal and Subsidiarity	08/15/2018
146	American Catholic Kings? Freemasons & Catholic Integralism	08/15/2018
145	How to Walk the Camino de Santiago	08/08/2018
144	Did USA Founding Fathers Plagiarize Thomas Aquinas? with Timothy Gordon	07/30/2018
143	Shoveling Incense into the Cathedral’s Botafumeiro (Camino 7)	07/02/2018
142	Tears and Arrival in Santiago! (Camino 6)	07/01/2018
141	Monastery at Samos, Spain (Camino 5)	06/30/2018
140	Eucharistic Miracle at O Cebreiro in Spain (Camino 4)	06/29/2018
139	Embarrassing Fall at the Iron Cross (Camino 3)	06/19/2018
138	The Angry Jousting Pilgrim of 1434 (Camino 2)	06/11/2018
137	Beginning Camino of St James and Various Routes (Camino 1)	06/02/2018
136	Why Tongues of Fire on Pentecost and How to Refute Mormons Easily	05/25/2018
135	Journey to Dominican Priesthood: Brother Bradley Elliott interviewed by Dr Taylor Marshall	04/18/2018
134	Saint Veronica in 9 Points: Was She Berenike?	04/04/2018
133	Saint Joseph in 9 Points Podcast (Should You Bury His Statue?)	03/19/2018
132	St Patrick in 9 Bullet Points and the “Two Patrick Theory”	03/17/2018
131	Thomas Aquinas on Catholic Priesthood Interview with Fr Christopher Pietraszko	03/16/2018
130	How do we get to Heaven? Wrong Answers for Catholics	03/08/2018
129	Aquinas Why Fish and No Meat in Lent PLUS the Demonic Incubus and Sucubus!	02/28/2018
128	Is there now a Matrimony Heresy?	02/21/2018
	Your Guardian Angel is Not a Pet (Replay Link)	10/02/2017
127	Is the Eucharist Symbolic: 4 Medieval Heretics on the Eucharist before the Reformation	08/30/2017
126	Why do Catholics “Worship” Statues and Icons: The Iconoclastic Heresy and the Council of Nicea II in AD 787	08/23/2017
125	Does Christ have 1 or 2 Natures? Heretic Eutyches and the Monophysite Heresy?	08/16/2017
124	Heretic Nestorius: Is Mary Mother of God? Are there 2 Christs?	05/25/2017
123	Heretic Arius and Deity of Christ (PLUS his death on toilet)	04/03/2017
122	Heretic Valentinius Explained	03/10/2017
121	Your Virtue of Temperance (and Aquinas on Women Looking Sexy)	02/09/2017
120	Your Virtue of Fortitude with Aquinas (Virtues Part 4)	01/05/2017
119	Your Virtue of Justice with Aquinas (Virtues Part 2)	10/27/2016
118	Your Virtue of Prudence with Aquinas (Virtues Part 2)	10/21/2016
117	Fr Donald Calloway: Champions of the Rosary	10/05/2016
115	Intro to Four Cardinal Virtues (Virtues Part 1))	09/28/2016
116	When Evangelicals Convert Catholics…Why?	09/23/2016
114	Your Focus Changes Your Feelings	09/07/2016
113	Did The Holy Spirit Appear As A Real Dove? And Saint Raymond Nonnatus	08/31/2016
112	Reflections on Pilgrimage to Rome	07/13/2016
111	10 Tips for Visiting Rome	06/08/2016
110	The Humility of Mary	06/02/2016
109	Is Catholicism a Religion or Relationship with Christ?	05/25/2016
108	Early Female Mystics and Martyrs: Perpetua and Felicity	05/18/2016
107	The Word “Catholic” in the Early Church	04/07/2016
106	Can Christians Kill People? Answers from Thomas Aquinas	03/23/2016
105	Our Pilgrim Interviews on Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/24/2016
104	Reflections on Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/17/2016
103	Happiness Is A Skill	02/11/2016
102	Taylor’s New Podcast for Christian Men: Maccabee Society	02/03/2016
101	Jewish Priests and Catholic Priests	01/21/2016
100	Is Star Wars Christian or Anti-Christian?	01/06/2016
99	Should Catholics Share the Gospel with Jewish Friends	12/16/2015
98	Was Muhammad Evil?	11/18/2015
97	Revelation Ch. 22 Tree of Life and Holy Water (Catholic Apocalypse Part 16)	11/10/2015
96	Revelation Ch. 21 Heaven as a Cube and the New Jerusalem (Catholic Apocalypse Part 15)	11/04/2015
95	Taylor’s Thoughts on Being Father of a Large Family	10/28/2015
94	On the Indissolubility of Marriage and the Synod on the Family	10/21/2015
93	Revelation Ch. 20 The Millennium in Catholic Tradition (Catholic Apocalypse Part 14)	10/15/2015
92	Revelation Ch.19 Eucharist as Apocalypse (Catholic Apocalypse Part 13)	10/07/2015
91	Revelation Ch. 18 Fallen is Babylon the Great (Catholic Apocalypse Part 12)	09/30/2015
90	Revelation Ch. 17 The Whore of Babylon and Her Beast (Catholic Apocalypse Part 11)	09/23/2015
89	Do Babies Know the Existence of God (Plus the Harrowing of Hell and Sedevacantists)	09/09/2015
88	Revelation Chs. 15-16 7 Chalices of Wrath (Catholic Apocalypse Part 10)	09/02/2015
87	Revelation Ch. 14 Lamb on the Mountain with 6 Angels against Babylon (Catholic Apocalypse Part 9)	08/26/2015
86	Taylor’s Conversion Story to Catholicism – Interview with Matthew Leonard	08/19/2015
85	Revelation Ch. 13 The Sea Beast and the Land Beast and the Mark of the Beast (Catholic Apocalypse Part 8)	08/13/2015
84	Revelation Ch. 12 – Our Lady of the Apocalypse (Catholic Apocalypse Part 7)	07/29/2015
83	Revelation Chs. 10-11 The Giant Angel and Two Witnesses (Catholic Apocalypse Part 6)	07/15/2015
82	Revelation Chs. 8-9 Seven Trumpets against Jerusalem (Catholic Apocalypse Part 5)	07/09/2015
81	Revelation Chs. 6-7 Four Horseman and Seven Seals (Catholic Apocalypse Part 4)	07/02/2015
80	Taylor’s Catholic Thoughts on Same Sex Marriage	06/30/2015
79	Revelation Chs. 4-5 The Lamb and Liturgy of God (Catholic Apocalypse Part 3)	06/17/2015
78	Is the Relic of True Cross Real? [Mini-Podcast]	06/16/2015
77	Revelation Chs. 2-3 Seven Churches and Seven Ages of Salvation (Catholic Apocalypse Part 2)	06/10/2015
76	Revelation Ch. 1 Apparition of Fiery Christ (Catholic Apocalypse Part 1)	06/03/2015
75	Trinity Sunday, Liturgy, Thomas Becket and Anglican Use Thoughts (Special Edition)	05/29/2015
74	Tongues of Fire in Acts, 1 Enoch, and Pre-Vatican Liturgy [Mini Podcast]	05/27/2015
73	Advice on Being a Man	05/22/2015
72	What was the Priestly Status of Mary? Was she a Levite? [Mini Podcast]	05/16/2015
71	The Theology of Cooking Food	05/14/2015
70	3 Steps to Overcoming Anxiety and Stress	05/06/2015
69	How to Read the Summa in One Year	04/22/2015
68	St Paul on Faith and Works Catholic vs Protestant Debate	03/25/2015
67	How Your Fears Are Hurting You Spiritually?	03/18/2015
66	What is 666 and the Mark of the Beast?	03/04/2015
65	40 Days of Joy	02/26/2015
64	Why did God make you? Luke 19 Gives the Answer	02/11/2015
63	Is Being A Christian Hard or Easy?	01/21/2015
62	Catholic View of the End Times and Tribulation	01/14/2015
61	When Other People Really Hurt You	01/07/2015
60	Is Saint George Still a Saint?	01/01/2015
59	Revolution in Catholic Education – Jennifer Fulwiler Interviews Taylor Marshall	12/31/2014
58	The Hidden Theology in Sword and Serpent with St George and Sabra	12/11/2014
57	Advent Total Consecration to Mary	11/13/2014
56	Top 5 Advent Devotions	11/07/2014
55	Why Do We Baptize Babies? The Covenantal Argument	10/22/2014
54	Is God Male or Female – The Catholic Teaching	10/08/2014
53	Lucifer vs. Saint Michael	10/01/2014
52	1 Year Anniversary Special Edition: Essentialism What is the Essence of Your Life?	09/24/2014
51	The Price of Your Anger	09/17/2014
50	The Seven Sorrows of Mary are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit	09/15/2014
49	6 Obstacles in Your Life (How to Conquer Them)	09/10/2014
48	Brain Science, Your Soul & Prayer	09/03/2014
47	Don’t Swallow the Camel	08/27/2014
46	The Secret Life of Thomas Aquinas	08/22/2014
45	Did Saint Paul Teach Once Saved Always Saved?	08/06/2014
44	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 2	07/30/2014
43	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 1	07/24/2014
42	Golf Cart Saints	07/15/2014
41	5 Intellectual Virtues and Pornography, Art, and Culture	07/02/2014
40	Taylor and Joy Talk About Their Marriage	06/25/2014
39	How Was the Bible Assembled? (plus Joy joins me)	06/18/2014
38	Should You Budget Time (or Money)?	06/04/2014
37	The Theology of Vacation, Leisure, and Recreation	05/28/2014
36	Noah Movie Review – Rock Monsters?	05/21/2014
35	Children Need Fortitude	05/14/2014
34	Jokes of Saint John XXIII	05/07/2014
33	Divine Mercy: 5 Common Questions	04/30/2014
32	4 Sections of Hell	04/23/2014
31	Meet the Saint Version of You	04/16/2014
30	Should You Be an Optimist?	04/09/2014
29	Finding Fellowship like Samwise Gamgee	04/01/2014
28	Demons, Snakes, and Ticks: Lessons from a Hunting Trip	03/26/2014
27	How to Make an Eternal Impact with Your Life	03/19/2014
26	Thoughts on My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/26/2014
25	Why is the Catholic Church Roman?	02/19/2014
24	The Seven Lies We Believe About Our Failures	02/11/2014
23	How to Restart Your Mental Computer	02/06/2014
22	Top Five Productivity Tips from Thomas Aquinas	01/29/2014
21	Did You Miss God’s Plan for Your Life?	01/23/2014
20	When Prayer Becomes a Chore	01/15/2014
19	12 Attributes of a Baptized Christian	01/08/2014
18	A Podcast Against Bitter Catholics!	12/30/2013
17	Mary’s Painless Delivery of Christ Explained	12/18/2013
16	Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Luke (Plus How to Set Goals)	12/11/2013
15	Total Consecration to Mary	12/04/2013
14	What’s Your Apostolate?	11/27/2013
13	6 Items for the Liturgy of Your Life	11/20/2013
12	Why You Should Be More Creative	11/13/2013
11	Why Did They Stop Teaching Virtue?	11/06/2013
10	How Do Saints Hear Our Prayers?	10/30/2013
9	My Opinion of Martin Luther	10/23/2013
8	My Top 5 Daily Prayers	10/16/2013
7	Your Guardian Angel	10/03/2013
6	How You Can Convert 7 Billion People	09/25/2013
5	3 Strategies for a Marriage that Sings!	09/18/2013
4	4 Step Plan When Family Leave the Faith	09/12/2013
3	5 Tools for Deep Daily Prayer Life	09/04/2013
2	Three Tips to Increase Your Passion for Life	08/28/2013
1	How to Find a Spiritual Director	08/18/2013

The post 201: Did Cardinal Wuerl Lie regarding McCarrick? [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

173: First Secret of Fatima: Does Hell Exist? (Fatima 1) [Podcast]

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 16:59:15 +0000

This is part 1 of a three part series on the three visions given by Our Lady of Fatima. Line by line commentary by Dr Taylor Marshall and Timothy Gordon. We also look at the errors of Balthasar and his hypothesis of “Dare We Hope that All Be Saved” (a theory also espoused by Bishop Robert Barron).

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Podcast Archive
#	Title	Released
171	Top 10 Tips for a Catholic Halloween (Joy and Taylor Talk)	10/26/2018
170	Pope Francis’s Agenda for Youth Synod 2018	10/24/2018
169	Vigano’s Third Letter: Response to Pope Francis and Cardinal Ouellet	10/21/2018
168	What is the Heresy of Modernism? w Dr Marshall and Fr Longenecker	10/19/2018
167	Why did Pope Francis Rescue Cardinal Wuerl?	10/17/2018
166	Can a Pope be Deposed?	10/12/2018
165	Vigano attacked by Cardinal Ouellet: Why?	10/10/2018
164	Did Jesus Descend into Hell? Proof from the Bible	10/08/2018
163	Is it OK to Criticize Pope Francis? VIGANO Part 2	10/05/2018
162	How did Thomas Aquinas Die: Neurosurgery and Brain Death	10/03/2018
161	Did Pope Francis Stop Cardinal Abuse Investigation? (Müller, Murphy-O’Connor, St Gallen)	09/28/2018
160	Pope Francis Church History & Papal Controversy w Fr Dwight Longenecker	09/26/2018
159	Pope Benedict and Freemason Infiltration of Catholic Church	09/21/2018
158	Ember Days: History and Theology of Fasting for Holy Priests	09/18/2018
157	Jordan Peterson’s Church of St Joachim of Fiore: Dr Peterson and Christianity	09/17/2018
156	Third Secret of Fatima and Smoke of Satan in the Catholic Church	09/13/2018
155	Defrocked, Laicized or Suspended: Defining our Catholic Terms	09/10/2018
154	St Gallen Mafia & Pope Francis: What is it? w Timothy Gordon	09/07/2018
153	Hunting & Christianity: What does the Bible Say? w Dr Bracy Hill and Dr Marshall	09/05/2018
152	Can Archbishop Vigano be Trusted? w Dr Taylor Marshall	09/03/2018
151	Why Won’t Pope Francis Respond to Viganò? Is the answer Peronism?	08/30/2018
150	Why did Pope Benedict Resign? McCarrick, Vigano and Vatican Bank Scandals Explained in Detail	08/28/2018
149	Eastern Catholics & Dormition of Mary	08/22/2018
148	McCarrick Scandal, Suffering Souls, and the problem of Fake Science	08/17/2018
147	Against the Catholic Mega-Diocese: Scandal and Subsidiarity	08/15/2018
146	American Catholic Kings? Freemasons & Catholic Integralism	08/15/2018
145	How to Walk the Camino de Santiago	08/08/2018
144	Did USA Founding Fathers Plagiarize Thomas Aquinas? with Timothy Gordon	07/30/2018
143	Shoveling Incense into the Cathedral’s Botafumeiro (Camino 7)	07/02/2018
142	Tears and Arrival in Santiago! (Camino 6)	07/01/2018
141	Monastery at Samos, Spain (Camino 5)	06/30/2018
140	Eucharistic Miracle at O Cebreiro in Spain (Camino 4)	06/29/2018
139	Embarrassing Fall at the Iron Cross (Camino 3)	06/19/2018
138	The Angry Jousting Pilgrim of 1434 (Camino 2)	06/11/2018
137	Beginning Camino of St James and Various Routes (Camino 1)	06/02/2018
136	Why Tongues of Fire on Pentecost and How to Refute Mormons Easily	05/25/2018
135	Journey to Dominican Priesthood: Brother Bradley Elliott interviewed by Dr Taylor Marshall	04/18/2018
134	Saint Veronica in 9 Points: Was She Berenike?	04/04/2018
133	Saint Joseph in 9 Points Podcast (Should You Bury His Statue?)	03/19/2018
132	St Patrick in 9 Bullet Points and the “Two Patrick Theory”	03/17/2018
131	Thomas Aquinas on Catholic Priesthood Interview with Fr Christopher Pietraszko	03/16/2018
130	How do we get to Heaven? Wrong Answers for Catholics	03/08/2018
129	Aquinas Why Fish and No Meat in Lent PLUS the Demonic Incubus and Sucubus!	02/28/2018
128	Is there now a Matrimony Heresy?	02/21/2018
	Your Guardian Angel is Not a Pet (Replay Link)	10/02/2017
127	Is the Eucharist Symbolic: 4 Medieval Heretics on the Eucharist before the Reformation	08/30/2017
126	Why do Catholics “Worship” Statues and Icons: The Iconoclastic Heresy and the Council of Nicea II in AD 787	08/23/2017
125	Does Christ have 1 or 2 Natures? Heretic Eutyches and the Monophysite Heresy?	08/16/2017
124	Heretic Nestorius: Is Mary Mother of God? Are there 2 Christs?	05/25/2017
123	Heretic Arius and Deity of Christ (PLUS his death on toilet)	04/03/2017
122	Heretic Valentinius Explained	03/10/2017
121	Your Virtue of Temperance (and Aquinas on Women Looking Sexy)	02/09/2017
120	Your Virtue of Fortitude with Aquinas (Virtues Part 4)	01/05/2017
119	Your Virtue of Justice with Aquinas (Virtues Part 2)	10/27/2016
118	Your Virtue of Prudence with Aquinas (Virtues Part 2)	10/21/2016
117	Fr Donald Calloway: Champions of the Rosary	10/05/2016
115	Intro to Four Cardinal Virtues (Virtues Part 1))	09/28/2016
116	When Evangelicals Convert Catholics…Why?	09/23/2016
114	Your Focus Changes Your Feelings	09/07/2016
113	Did The Holy Spirit Appear As A Real Dove? And Saint Raymond Nonnatus	08/31/2016
112	Reflections on Pilgrimage to Rome	07/13/2016
111	10 Tips for Visiting Rome	06/08/2016
110	The Humility of Mary	06/02/2016
109	Is Catholicism a Religion or Relationship with Christ?	05/25/2016
108	Early Female Mystics and Martyrs: Perpetua and Felicity	05/18/2016
107	The Word “Catholic” in the Early Church	04/07/2016
106	Can Christians Kill People? Answers from Thomas Aquinas	03/23/2016
105	Our Pilgrim Interviews on Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/24/2016
104	Reflections on Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/17/2016
103	Happiness Is A Skill	02/11/2016
102	Taylor’s New Podcast for Christian Men: Maccabee Society	02/03/2016
101	Jewish Priests and Catholic Priests	01/21/2016
100	Is Star Wars Christian or Anti-Christian?	01/06/2016
99	Should Catholics Share the Gospel with Jewish Friends	12/16/2015
98	Was Muhammad Evil?	11/18/2015
97	Revelation Ch. 22 Tree of Life and Holy Water (Catholic Apocalypse Part 16)	11/10/2015
96	Revelation Ch. 21 Heaven as a Cube and the New Jerusalem (Catholic Apocalypse Part 15)	11/04/2015
95	Taylor’s Thoughts on Being Father of a Large Family	10/28/2015
94	On the Indissolubility of Marriage and the Synod on the Family	10/21/2015
93	Revelation Ch. 20 The Millennium in Catholic Tradition (Catholic Apocalypse Part 14)	10/15/2015
92	Revelation Ch.19 Eucharist as Apocalypse (Catholic Apocalypse Part 13)	10/07/2015
91	Revelation Ch. 18 Fallen is Babylon the Great (Catholic Apocalypse Part 12)	09/30/2015
90	Revelation Ch. 17 The Whore of Babylon and Her Beast (Catholic Apocalypse Part 11)	09/23/2015
89	Do Babies Know the Existence of God (Plus the Harrowing of Hell and Sedevacantists)	09/09/2015
88	Revelation Chs. 15-16 7 Chalices of Wrath (Catholic Apocalypse Part 10)	09/02/2015
87	Revelation Ch. 14 Lamb on the Mountain with 6 Angels against Babylon (Catholic Apocalypse Part 9)	08/26/2015
86	Taylor’s Conversion Story to Catholicism – Interview with Matthew Leonard	08/19/2015
85	Revelation Ch. 13 The Sea Beast and the Land Beast and the Mark of the Beast (Catholic Apocalypse Part 8)	08/13/2015
84	Revelation Ch. 12 – Our Lady of the Apocalypse (Catholic Apocalypse Part 7)	07/29/2015
83	Revelation Chs. 10-11 The Giant Angel and Two Witnesses (Catholic Apocalypse Part 6)	07/15/2015
82	Revelation Chs. 8-9 Seven Trumpets against Jerusalem (Catholic Apocalypse Part 5)	07/09/2015
81	Revelation Chs. 6-7 Four Horseman and Seven Seals (Catholic Apocalypse Part 4)	07/02/2015
80	Taylor’s Catholic Thoughts on Same Sex Marriage	06/30/2015
79	Revelation Chs. 4-5 The Lamb and Liturgy of God (Catholic Apocalypse Part 3)	06/17/2015
78	Is the Relic of True Cross Real? [Mini-Podcast]	06/16/2015
77	Revelation Chs. 2-3 Seven Churches and Seven Ages of Salvation (Catholic Apocalypse Part 2)	06/10/2015
76	Revelation Ch. 1 Apparition of Fiery Christ (Catholic Apocalypse Part 1)	06/03/2015
75	Trinity Sunday, Liturgy, Thomas Becket and Anglican Use Thoughts (Special Edition)	05/29/2015
74	Tongues of Fire in Acts, 1 Enoch, and Pre-Vatican Liturgy [Mini Podcast]	05/27/2015
73	Advice on Being a Man	05/22/2015
72	What was the Priestly Status of Mary? Was she a Levite? [Mini Podcast]	05/16/2015
71	The Theology of Cooking Food	05/14/2015
70	3 Steps to Overcoming Anxiety and Stress	05/06/2015
69	How to Read the Summa in One Year	04/22/2015
68	St Paul on Faith and Works Catholic vs Protestant Debate	03/25/2015
67	How Your Fears Are Hurting You Spiritually?	03/18/2015
66	What is 666 and the Mark of the Beast?	03/04/2015
65	40 Days of Joy	02/26/2015
64	Why did God make you? Luke 19 Gives the Answer	02/11/2015
63	Is Being A Christian Hard or Easy?	01/21/2015
62	Catholic View of the End Times and Tribulation	01/14/2015
61	When Other People Really Hurt You	01/07/2015
60	Is Saint George Still a Saint?	01/01/2015
59	Revolution in Catholic Education – Jennifer Fulwiler Interviews Taylor Marshall	12/31/2014
58	The Hidden Theology in Sword and Serpent with St George and Sabra	12/11/2014
57	Advent Total Consecration to Mary	11/13/2014
56	Top 5 Advent Devotions	11/07/2014
55	Why Do We Baptize Babies? The Covenantal Argument	10/22/2014
54	Is God Male or Female – The Catholic Teaching	10/08/2014
53	Lucifer vs. Saint Michael	10/01/2014
52	1 Year Anniversary Special Edition: Essentialism What is the Essence of Your Life?	09/24/2014
51	The Price of Your Anger	09/17/2014
50	The Seven Sorrows of Mary are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit	09/15/2014
49	6 Obstacles in Your Life (How to Conquer Them)	09/10/2014
48	Brain Science, Your Soul & Prayer	09/03/2014
47	Don’t Swallow the Camel	08/27/2014
46	The Secret Life of Thomas Aquinas	08/22/2014
45	Did Saint Paul Teach Once Saved Always Saved?	08/06/2014
44	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 2	07/30/2014
43	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 1	07/24/2014
42	Golf Cart Saints	07/15/2014
41	5 Intellectual Virtues and Pornography, Art, and Culture	07/02/2014
40	Taylor and Joy Talk About Their Marriage	06/25/2014
39	How Was the Bible Assembled? (plus Joy joins me)	06/18/2014
38	Should You Budget Time (or Money)?	06/04/2014
37	The Theology of Vacation, Leisure, and Recreation	05/28/2014
36	Noah Movie Review – Rock Monsters?	05/21/2014
35	Children Need Fortitude	05/14/2014
34	Jokes of Saint John XXIII	05/07/2014
33	Divine Mercy: 5 Common Questions	04/30/2014
32	4 Sections of Hell	04/23/2014
31	Meet the Saint Version of You	04/16/2014
30	Should You Be an Optimist?	04/09/2014
29	Finding Fellowship like Samwise Gamgee	04/01/2014
28	Demons, Snakes, and Ticks: Lessons from a Hunting Trip	03/26/2014
27	How to Make an Eternal Impact with Your Life	03/19/2014
26	Thoughts on My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/26/2014
25	Why is the Catholic Church Roman?	02/19/2014
24	The Seven Lies We Believe About Our Failures	02/11/2014
23	How to Restart Your Mental Computer	02/06/2014
22	Top Five Productivity Tips from Thomas Aquinas	01/29/2014
21	Did You Miss God’s Plan for Your Life?	01/23/2014
20	When Prayer Becomes a Chore	01/15/2014
19	12 Attributes of a Baptized Christian	01/08/2014
18	A Podcast Against Bitter Catholics!	12/30/2013
17	Mary’s Painless Delivery of Christ Explained	12/18/2013
16	Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Luke (Plus How to Set Goals)	12/11/2013
15	Total Consecration to Mary	12/04/2013
14	What’s Your Apostolate?	11/27/2013
13	6 Items for the Liturgy of Your Life	11/20/2013
12	Why You Should Be More Creative	11/13/2013
11	Why Did They Stop Teaching Virtue?	11/06/2013
10	How Do Saints Hear Our Prayers?	10/30/2013
9	My Opinion of Martin Luther	10/23/2013
8	My Top 5 Daily Prayers	10/16/2013
7	Your Guardian Angel	10/03/2013
6	How You Can Convert 7 Billion People	09/25/2013
5	3 Strategies for a Marriage that Sings!	09/18/2013
4	4 Step Plan When Family Leave the Faith	09/12/2013
3	5 Tools for Deep Daily Prayer Life	09/04/2013
2	Three Tips to Increase Your Passion for Life	08/28/2013
1	How to Find a Spiritual Director	08/18/2013

The post 173: First Secret of Fatima: Does Hell Exist? (Fatima 1) [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

169: Vigano’s Third Letter: Response to Pope Francis and Cardinal Ouellet [Podcast]

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 15:29:14 +0000

Archbishop Vigano launches third testimony letter. This the best one yet where he discusses that he is doing these things to avoid judgment from Christ on the Last Day. He addresses Cardinal Ouellet and corrects and clarifies. More than anything, Vigano says that this crisis about the salvation of souls and discusses how each of us (the Pope included) will have to answer questions on Judgment Day on how whether we were truthful. Very powerful testimony. As Dr Marshall states: “We now have a bishop who actually speaks like a Catholic bishop.”

The Taylor Marshall Show Podcast is now also available on Spotify: Play “Taylor Marshall Show” inside Spotify.

Listen to audio or watch the Youtube video interview by clicking here.

Or listen to the audio mp3 here:

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.

Announcements:
- The podcast is now on my channel on Youtube.com
- The complete Sword and Serpent Trilogy is now published, including the the third Book: Storm of Fire and Blood.
- Download the Study Guide at: http://swordandserpent.com
- New classes at New Saint Thomas Institute. We have just begun our New Testament Studies curriculum. Please visit: newsaintthomas.com for more details.

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!

Please Share Your Feedback:

iTunes: 1,706,247 downloads on iTunes as of today.
Youtube: Leave a comment on Youtube here.
SHOUT OUTS: A huge “shout out” to all 832 (!) 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!

Subscribe to This Weekly Podcast 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 the Stitcher app.

Spotify Users: For listening to The Taylor Marshall Show on Spotify, search in Spotify for “Taylor Marshall.”

Android Users can also listen to the show with:
- Android Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store.
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Our you can listen/watch to the Taylor Marshall Show via Youtube:

SURVEY: Please view our Podcast Listener Poll by clicking here.

[reminder]

If you like this podcast, please leave a review.

Podcast Archive
#	Title	Released
168	What is the Heresy of Modernism? w Dr Marshall and Fr Longenecker	10/19/2018
167	Why did Pope Francis Rescue Cardinal Wuerl?	10/17/2018
166	Can a Pope be Deposed?	10/12/2018
165	Vigano attacked by Cardinal Ouellet: Why?	10/10/2018
164	Did Jesus Descend into Hell? Proof from the Bible	10/08/2018
163	Is it OK to Criticize Pope Francis? VIGANO Part 2	10/05/2018
162	How did Thomas Aquinas Die: Neurosurgery and Brain Death	10/03/2018
161	Did Pope Francis Stop Cardinal Abuse Investigation? (Müller, Murphy-O’Connor, St Gallen)	09/28/2018
160	Pope Francis Church History & Papal Controversy w Fr Dwight Longenecker	09/26/2018
159	Pope Benedict and Freemason Infiltration of Catholic Church	09/21/2018
158	Ember Days: History and Theology of Fasting for Holy Priests	09/18/2018
157	Jordan Peterson’s Church of St Joachim of Fiore: Dr Peterson and Christianity	09/17/2018
156	Third Secret of Fatima and Smoke of Satan in the Catholic Church	09/13/2018
155	Defrocked, Laicized or Suspended: Defining our Catholic Terms	09/10/2018
154	St Gallen Mafia & Pope Francis: What is it? w Timothy Gordon	09/07/2018
153	Hunting & Christianity: What does the Bible Say? w Dr Bracy Hill and Dr Marshall	09/05/2018
152	Can Archbishop Vigano be Trusted? w Dr Taylor Marshall	09/03/2018
151	Why Won’t Pope Francis Respond to Viganò? Is the answer Peronism?	08/30/2018
150	Why did Pope Benedict Resign? McCarrick, Vigano and Vatican Bank Scandals Explained in Detail	08/28/2018
149	Eastern Catholics & Dormition of Mary	08/22/2018
148	McCarrick Scandal, Suffering Souls, and the problem of Fake Science	08/17/2018
147	Against the Catholic Mega-Diocese: Scandal and Subsidiarity	08/15/2018
146	American Catholic Kings? Freemasons & Catholic Integralism	08/15/2018
145	How to Walk the Camino de Santiago	08/08/2018
144	Did USA Founding Fathers Plagiarize Thomas Aquinas? with Timothy Gordon	07/30/2018
143	Shoveling Incense into the Cathedral’s Botafumeiro (Camino 7)	07/02/2018
142	Tears and Arrival in Santiago! (Camino 6)	07/01/2018
141	Monastery at Samos, Spain (Camino 5)	06/30/2018
140	Eucharistic Miracle at O Cebreiro in Spain (Camino 4)	06/29/2018
139	Embarrassing Fall at the Iron Cross (Camino 3)	06/19/2018
138	The Angry Jousting Pilgrim of 1434 (Camino 2)	06/11/2018
137	Beginning Camino of St James and Various Routes (Camino 1)	06/02/2018
136	Why Tongues of Fire on Pentecost and How to Refute Mormons Easily	05/25/2018
135	Journey to Dominican Priesthood: Brother Bradley Elliott interviewed by Dr Taylor Marshall	04/18/2018
134	Saint Veronica in 9 Points: Was She Berenike?	04/04/2018
133	Saint Joseph in 9 Points Podcast (Should You Bury His Statue?)	03/19/2018
132	St Patrick in 9 Bullet Points and the “Two Patrick Theory”	03/17/2018
131	Thomas Aquinas on Catholic Priesthood Interview with Fr Christopher Pietraszko	03/16/2018
130	How do we get to Heaven? Wrong Answers for Catholics	03/08/2018
129	Aquinas Why Fish and No Meat in Lent PLUS the Demonic Incubus and Sucubus!	02/28/2018
128	Is there now a Matrimony Heresy?	02/21/2018
	Your Guardian Angel is Not a Pet (Replay Link)	10/02/2017
127	Is the Eucharist Symbolic: 4 Medieval Heretics on the Eucharist before the Reformation	08/30/2017
126	Why do Catholics “Worship” Statues and Icons: The Iconoclastic Heresy and the Council of Nicea II in AD 787	08/23/2017
125	Does Christ have 1 or 2 Natures? Heretic Eutyches and the Monophysite Heresy?	08/16/2017
124	Heretic Nestorius: Is Mary Mother of God? Are there 2 Christs?	05/25/2017
123	Heretic Arius and Deity of Christ (PLUS his death on toilet)	04/03/2017
122	Heretic Valentinius Explained	03/10/2017
121	Your Virtue of Temperance (and Aquinas on Women Looking Sexy)	02/09/2017
120	Your Virtue of Fortitude with Aquinas (Virtues Part 4)	01/05/2017
119	Your Virtue of Justice with Aquinas (Virtues Part 2)	10/27/2016
118	Your Virtue of Prudence with Aquinas (Virtues Part 2)	10/21/2016
117	Fr Donald Calloway: Champions of the Rosary	10/05/2016
115	Intro to Four Cardinal Virtues (Virtues Part 1))	09/28/2016
116	When Evangelicals Convert Catholics…Why?	09/23/2016
114	Your Focus Changes Your Feelings	09/07/2016
113	Did The Holy Spirit Appear As A Real Dove? And Saint Raymond Nonnatus	08/31/2016
112	Reflections on Pilgrimage to Rome	07/13/2016
111	10 Tips for Visiting Rome	06/08/2016
110	The Humility of Mary	06/02/2016
109	Is Catholicism a Religion or Relationship with Christ?	05/25/2016
108	Early Female Mystics and Martyrs: Perpetua and Felicity	05/18/2016
107	The Word “Catholic” in the Early Church	04/07/2016
106	Can Christians Kill People? Answers from Thomas Aquinas	03/23/2016
105	Our Pilgrim Interviews on Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/24/2016
104	Reflections on Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/17/2016
103	Happiness Is A Skill	02/11/2016
102	Taylor’s New Podcast for Christian Men: Maccabee Society	02/03/2016
101	Jewish Priests and Catholic Priests	01/21/2016
100	Is Star Wars Christian or Anti-Christian?	01/06/2016
99	Should Catholics Share the Gospel with Jewish Friends	12/16/2015
98	Was Muhammad Evil?	11/18/2015
97	Revelation Ch. 22 Tree of Life and Holy Water (Catholic Apocalypse Part 16)	11/10/2015
96	Revelation Ch. 21 Heaven as a Cube and the New Jerusalem (Catholic Apocalypse Part 15)	11/04/2015
95	Taylor’s Thoughts on Being Father of a Large Family	10/28/2015
94	On the Indissolubility of Marriage and the Synod on the Family	10/21/2015
93	Revelation Ch. 20 The Millennium in Catholic Tradition (Catholic Apocalypse Part 14)	10/15/2015
92	Revelation Ch.19 Eucharist as Apocalypse (Catholic Apocalypse Part 13)	10/07/2015
91	Revelation Ch. 18 Fallen is Babylon the Great (Catholic Apocalypse Part 12)	09/30/2015
90	Revelation Ch. 17 The Whore of Babylon and Her Beast (Catholic Apocalypse Part 11)	09/23/2015
89	Do Babies Know the Existence of God (Plus the Harrowing of Hell and Sedevacantists)	09/09/2015
88	Revelation Chs. 15-16 7 Chalices of Wrath (Catholic Apocalypse Part 10)	09/02/2015
87	Revelation Ch. 14 Lamb on the Mountain with 6 Angels against Babylon (Catholic Apocalypse Part 9)	08/26/2015
86	Taylor’s Conversion Story to Catholicism – Interview with Matthew Leonard	08/19/2015
85	Revelation Ch. 13 The Sea Beast and the Land Beast and the Mark of the Beast (Catholic Apocalypse Part 8)	08/13/2015
84	Revelation Ch. 12 – Our Lady of the Apocalypse (Catholic Apocalypse Part 7)	07/29/2015
83	Revelation Chs. 10-11 The Giant Angel and Two Witnesses (Catholic Apocalypse Part 6)	07/15/2015
82	Revelation Chs. 8-9 Seven Trumpets against Jerusalem (Catholic Apocalypse Part 5)	07/09/2015
81	Revelation Chs. 6-7 Four Horseman and Seven Seals (Catholic Apocalypse Part 4)	07/02/2015
80	Taylor’s Catholic Thoughts on Same Sex Marriage	06/30/2015
79	Revelation Chs. 4-5 The Lamb and Liturgy of God (Catholic Apocalypse Part 3)	06/17/2015
78	Is the Relic of True Cross Real? [Mini-Podcast]	06/16/2015
77	Revelation Chs. 2-3 Seven Churches and Seven Ages of Salvation (Catholic Apocalypse Part 2)	06/10/2015
76	Revelation Ch. 1 Apparition of Fiery Christ (Catholic Apocalypse Part 1)	06/03/2015
75	Trinity Sunday, Liturgy, Thomas Becket and Anglican Use Thoughts (Special Edition)	05/29/2015
74	Tongues of Fire in Acts, 1 Enoch, and Pre-Vatican Liturgy [Mini Podcast]	05/27/2015
73	Advice on Being a Man	05/22/2015
72	What was the Priestly Status of Mary? Was she a Levite? [Mini Podcast]	05/16/2015
71	The Theology of Cooking Food	05/14/2015
70	3 Steps to Overcoming Anxiety and Stress	05/06/2015
69	How to Read the Summa in One Year	04/22/2015
68	St Paul on Faith and Works Catholic vs Protestant Debate	03/25/2015
67	How Your Fears Are Hurting You Spiritually?	03/18/2015
66	What is 666 and the Mark of the Beast?	03/04/2015
65	40 Days of Joy	02/26/2015
64	Why did God make you? Luke 19 Gives the Answer	02/11/2015
63	Is Being A Christian Hard or Easy?	01/21/2015
62	Catholic View of the End Times and Tribulation	01/14/2015
61	When Other People Really Hurt You	01/07/2015
60	Is Saint George Still a Saint?	01/01/2015
59	Revolution in Catholic Education – Jennifer Fulwiler Interviews Taylor Marshall	12/31/2014
58	The Hidden Theology in Sword and Serpent with St George and Sabra	12/11/2014
57	Advent Total Consecration to Mary	11/13/2014
56	Top 5 Advent Devotions	11/07/2014
55	Why Do We Baptize Babies? The Covenantal Argument	10/22/2014
54	Is God Male or Female – The Catholic Teaching	10/08/2014
53	Lucifer vs. Saint Michael	10/01/2014
52	1 Year Anniversary Special Edition: Essentialism What is the Essence of Your Life?	09/24/2014
51	The Price of Your Anger	09/17/2014
50	The Seven Sorrows of Mary are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit	09/15/2014
49	6 Obstacles in Your Life (How to Conquer Them)	09/10/2014
48	Brain Science, Your Soul & Prayer	09/03/2014
47	Don’t Swallow the Camel	08/27/2014
46	The Secret Life of Thomas Aquinas	08/22/2014
45	Did Saint Paul Teach Once Saved Always Saved?	08/06/2014
44	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 2	07/30/2014
43	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 1	07/24/2014
42	Golf Cart Saints	07/15/2014
41	5 Intellectual Virtues and Pornography, Art, and Culture	07/02/2014
40	Taylor and Joy Talk About Their Marriage	06/25/2014
39	How Was the Bible Assembled? (plus Joy joins me)	06/18/2014
38	Should You Budget Time (or Money)?	06/04/2014
37	The Theology of Vacation, Leisure, and Recreation	05/28/2014
36	Noah Movie Review – Rock Monsters?	05/21/2014
35	Children Need Fortitude	05/14/2014
34	Jokes of Saint John XXIII	05/07/2014
33	Divine Mercy: 5 Common Questions	04/30/2014
32	4 Sections of Hell	04/23/2014
31	Meet the Saint Version of You	04/16/2014
30	Should You Be an Optimist?	04/09/2014
29	Finding Fellowship like Samwise Gamgee	04/01/2014
28	Demons, Snakes, and Ticks: Lessons from a Hunting Trip	03/26/2014
27	How to Make an Eternal Impact with Your Life	03/19/2014
26	Thoughts on My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/26/2014
25	Why is the Catholic Church Roman?	02/19/2014
24	The Seven Lies We Believe About Our Failures	02/11/2014
23	How to Restart Your Mental Computer	02/06/2014
22	Top Five Productivity Tips from Thomas Aquinas	01/29/2014
21	Did You Miss God’s Plan for Your Life?	01/23/2014
20	When Prayer Becomes a Chore	01/15/2014
19	12 Attributes of a Baptized Christian	01/08/2014
18	A Podcast Against Bitter Catholics!	12/30/2013
17	Mary’s Painless Delivery of Christ Explained	12/18/2013
16	Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Luke (Plus How to Set Goals)	12/11/2013
15	Total Consecration to Mary	12/04/2013
14	What’s Your Apostolate?	11/27/2013
13	6 Items for the Liturgy of Your Life	11/20/2013
12	Why You Should Be More Creative	11/13/2013
11	Why Did They Stop Teaching Virtue?	11/06/2013
10	How Do Saints Hear Our Prayers?	10/30/2013
9	My Opinion of Martin Luther	10/23/2013
8	My Top 5 Daily Prayers	10/16/2013
7	Your Guardian Angel	10/03/2013
6	How You Can Convert 7 Billion People	09/25/2013
5	3 Strategies for a Marriage that Sings!	09/18/2013
4	4 Step Plan When Family Leave the Faith	09/12/2013
3	5 Tools for Deep Daily Prayer Life	09/04/2013
2	Three Tips to Increase Your Passion for Life	08/28/2013
1	How to Find a Spiritual Director	08/18/2013

The post 169: Vigano’s Third Letter: Response to Pope Francis and Cardinal Ouellet [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

154: St Gallen Mafia & Pope Francis: What is it? [Podcast]

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 17:32:39 +0000

What is the St Gallen Mafia? How does it relate to the election of Pope Francis? Who is in it? What is it? And how do we know about it? We answer all these questions in this weeks podcast/video:

Cardinal Daneels refers to his membership to a certain St Gallen club or “mafia” (his term) that met together to forge support for the election of Pope Francis (and perhaps for the pre-mature resignation of Pope Benedict). Dr Taylor Marshall discusses the origin of the St Gallen Mafia, who were members, and the role especially of Cardinal Daneels and Cardinal Martini in the theological agenda of their self-labeled “mafia.”The election, support, and theology of Pope Francis make sense as we come to understand this St Gallen Mafia.

The Taylor Marshall Show Podcast is now also available on Spotify: Play “Taylor Marshall Show” inside Spotify.

Listen to audio or watch the Youtube video interview by clicking here.

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.

Announcements:
- The podcast is now on my channel on Youtube.com
- The complete Sword and Serpent Trilogy is now published, including the the third Book: Storm of Fire and Blood.
- Download the Study Guide at: http://swordandserpent.com
- New classes at New Saint Thomas Institute. We have just begun our New Testament Studies curriculum. Please visit: newsaintthomas.com for more details.

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!

Please Share Your Feedback:

POPULARITY: 1,691,375 downloads on iTunes as of today.
SHOUT OUTS: A huge “shout out” to all 736 (!) 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!

Subscribe to This Weekly Podcast 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 the Stitcher app.

Spotify Users: For listening to The Taylor Marshall Show on Spotify, search in Spotify for “Taylor Marshall.”

Android Users can also listen to the show with:
- Android Beyond Pod app from the Google Play Store.
- Android Pocketcasts app.
Our you can listen/watch to the Taylor Marshall Show via Youtube:

SURVEY: Please view our Podcast Listener Poll by clicking here.

[reminder]

If you like this podcast, please leave a review.

Podcast Archive
#	Title	Released
152	Can Archbishop Vigano be Trusted? w Dr Taylor Marshall	3/09/2018
151	Why Won’t Pope Francis Respond to Viganò? Is the answer Peronism?	30/08/2018
150	Why did Pope Benedict Resign? McCarrick, Vigano and Vatican Bank Scandals Explained in Detail	29/08/2018
149	Eastern Catholics & Dormition of Mary	22/08/2018
148	McCarrick Scandal, Suffering Souls, and the problem of Fake Science	17/08/2018
147	Against the Catholic Mega-Diocese: Scandal and Subsidiarity	15/08/2018
146	American Catholic Kings? Freemasons & Catholic Integralism	15/08/2018
145	How to Walk the Camino de Santiago	8/08/2018
136	Why Tongues of Fire on Pentecost and How to Refute Mormons Easily	25/05/2018
135	Journey to Dominican Priesthood	18/04/2018
134	Saint Veronica in 9 Points: Was She Berenike?	04/04/2018
133	Saint Joseph in 9 Points Podcast (Should You Bury His Statue?)	19/03/2018
132	St Patrick in 9 Bullet Points and the “Two Patrick Theory”	17/03/2018
131	Thomas Aquinas on Catholic Priesthood Interview	16/03/2018
130	How do we get to Heaven? Wrong Answers for Catholics	08/03/2018
129	Aquinas Why Fish and No Meat in Lent PLUS the Demonic Incubus and Sucubus!	28/02/2018
128	Is there now a Matrimony Heresy?	21/02/2018
127	Is the Eucharist Symbolic: 4 Medieval Heretics on the Eucharist before the Reformation	30/08/2017
126	Why do Catholics “Worship” Statues and Icons: The Iconoclastic Heresy and the Council of Nicea II in AD 787	23/08/2017
125	Does Christ have 1 or 2 Natures? Heretic Eutyches and the Monophysite Heresy?	16/08/2017
124	Heretic Nestorius: Is Mary Mother of God? Are there 2 Christs?	25/05/2017
123	Heretic Arius and Deity of Christ	03/04/2017
122	Heretic Valentinius Explained	10/03/2017
121	Your Virtue of Temperance (and Aquinas on Women Looking Sexy)	09/02/2017
120	Your Virtue of Fortitude with Aquinas (Virtues Part 4)	05/01/2017
119	Your Virtue of Justice according to Thomas Aquinas	27/10/2016
118	Your Virtue of Prudence	21/10/2016
117	Fr Donald Calloway: Champions of the Rosary	5/10/2016
116	When Evangelicals Convert Catholics…Why?	28/09/2016
115	Introduction to the Four Cardinal Virtues (Part 1 of Virtues)	23/09/2016
114	Your Focus Changes Your Feelings	07/09/2016
113	Did The Holy Spirit Appear As A Real Dove? And Saint Raymond Nonnatus	13/08/2016
112	Reflections on Pilgrimage to Rome	13/08/2016
111	10 Tips for Visiting Rome	6/08/2016
110	The Humility of Mary	6/02/2016
109	Is Catholicism a Religion or Relationship with Christ?	5/25/2016
108	Early Female Mystics and Martyrs: Perpetua and Felicity	5/18/2016
107	The Word “Catholic” in the Early Church	4/7/2016
106	Can Christians Kill People? Answers from Thomas Aquinas	3/23/2016
105	Our Pilgrim Interviews on Our Lady of Guadalupe	2/24/2016
104	Reflections on Our Lady of Guadalupe	2/17/2016
103	Happiness Is A Skill	2/11/2016
102	Taylor’s New Podcast for Christian Men: Maccabee Society	2/03/2016
101	Jewish Priests and Catholic Priests	1/21/2016
100	Is Star Wars Christian or Anti-Christian?	1/06/2016
099	Should Catholics Share the Gospel with Jewish Friends	12/16/2015
098	Was Muhammad Evil?	11/18/2015
097	Revelation Ch. 22 Tree of Life and Holy Water	11/10/2015
096	Revelation Ch. 21 Heaven as a Cube and the New Jerusalem	11/04/2015
095	Taylor’s Thoughts on Being Father of a Large Family	10/28/2015
094	On the Indissolubility of Marriage and the Synod on the Family	10/21/2015
093	Revelation Ch. 20 The Millennium in Catholic Tradition	10/15/2015
092	Revelation Ch.19 Eucharist as Apocalypse	10/07/2015
091	Revelation Ch. 18 Fallen is Babylon the Great	09/30/2015
090	Revelation Ch. 17 The Whore of Babylon and Her Beast	09/23/2015
089	Do Babies Know the Existence of God	09/9/2015
088	Revelation (Chs 15-16) 7 Chalices of Wrath (Catholic Apocalypse Part 10)	09/2/2015
087	Revelation Ch. 14 Lamb on the Mountain with 6 Angels against Babylon	08/26/2015
086	Taylor’s Conversion Story to Catholicism – Interview with Matthew Leonard	08/19/2015
085	Revelation Chapter 13 The Sea Beast and the Land Beast the Mark of the Beast	08/13/2015
084	Revelation Chapter 12 – Our Lady of the Apocalypse	07/29/2015
083	The Giant Angel and Two Witnesses: Revelation Part 6 (Chapters 10-11)	07/15/2015
082	The Seven Trumpets: Book of Revelation Part 5 (Chapters 8-9)	07/02/2015
081	Book of Revelation Part 4 (Chapters 6-7)	07/09/2015
080	Taylor’s Catholic Thoughts on Same Sex Marriage	06/30/2015
079	Book of Revelation Part 3 (Chapters 4-5)	06/17/2015
078	Is the Relic of True Cross Real?	06/16/2015
077	Book of Revelation Part 2 (Chapter 2-3)	06/10/2015
076	Book of Revelation Part 1 (Chapter 1)	06/03/2015
075	Trinity Sunday, Liturgy, Thomas Becket and Anglican Use Thoughts	05/29/2015
074	Tongues of Fire in Acts, 1 Enoch, and Pre-Vatican Liturgy	05/27/2015
073	Advice on Being a Man	05/22/2015
072	What was the Priestly Status of Mary? Was she a Levite?	05/16/2015
071	The Theology of Cooking Food	05/14/2015
070	3 Steps to Overcoming Anxiety and Stress	05/06/2015
069	How to Read the Summa in One Year	04/22/2015
068	St Paul on Faith and Works Catholic vs Protestant Debate	03/25/2015
067	How Your Fears Are Hurting You Spiritually?	03/18/2015
066	What is 666 and the Mark of the Beast?	03/04/2015
065	40 Days of Joy	02/26/2015
064	Why did God make you? Luke 19 Gives the Answer	02/11/2015
063	Is Being A Christian Hard or Easy?	01/21/2015
062	Catholic View of the End Times and Tribulation	01/14/2015
061	When Other People Really Hurt You	01/07/2015
060	Is Saint George Still a Saint?	01/01/2015
059	Revolution in Catholic Education – Jennifer Fulwiler Interviews Taylor Marshall	12/31/2014
058	The Hidden Theology in Sword and Serpent with St George and Sabra	12/11/2014
057	Advent Total Consecration to Mary	11/13/2014
056	Top 5 Advent Devotions	11/07/2014
055	Why Do We Baptize Babies? The Covenantal Argument	10/22/2014
054	Is God Male or Female – The Catholic Teaching	10/08/2014
053	Lucifer vs. Saint Michael	10/01/2014
052	1 Year Anniversary Special Edition: Essentialism What is the Essence of Your Life?	09/24/2014
051	The Price of Your Anger	09/17/2014
050	The Seven Sorrows of Mary are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit	09/15/2014
049	6 Obstacles in Your Life (How to Conquer Them)	09/10/2014
048	Brain Science, Your Soul & Prayer	09/03/2014
047	Don’t Swallow the Camel	08/27/2014
046	The Secret Life of Thomas Aquinas	08/22/2014
045	Did Saint Paul Teach Once Saved Always Saved?	08/06/2014
044	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 2	07/30/2014
043	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 1	07/24/2014
042	Golf Cart Saints	07/15/2014
041	5 Intellectual Virtues and Pornography, Art, and Culture	07/02/2014
040	Taylor and Joy Talk About Their Marriage	06/25/2014
039	How Was the Bible Assembled? (plus Joy joins me)	06/18/2014
038	Should You Budget Time (or Money)?	06/04/2014
037	The Theology of Vacation, Leisure, and Recreation	05/28/2014
036	Noah Movie Review – Rock Monsters?	05/21/2014
035	Children Need Fortitude	05/14/2014
034	Jokes of Saint John XXIII	05/07/2014
033	Divine Mercy: 5 Common Questions	04/30/2014
032	4 Sections of Hell	04/23/2014
031	Meet the Saint Version of You	04/16/2014
030	Should You Be an Optimist?	04/09/2014
029	Finding Fellowship like Samwise Gamgee	04/01/2014
028	Demons, Snakes, and Ticks: Lessons from a Hunting Trip	03/26/2014
027	How to Make an Eternal Impact with Your Life	03/19/2014
026	Thoughts on My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/26/2014
025	Why is the Catholic Church Roman?	02/19/2014
024	The Seven Lies We Believe About Our Failures	02/11/2014
023	How to Restart Your Mental Computer	02/06/2014
022	Top Five Productivity Tips from Thomas Aquinas	01/29/2014
021	Did You Miss God’s Plan for Your Life?	01/23/2014
020	When Prayer Becomes a Chore	01/15/2014
019	12 Attributes of a Baptized Christian	01/08/2014
018	A Podcast Against Bitter Catholics!	12/30/2013
017	Mary’s Painless Delivery of Christ Explained	12/18/2013
016	Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Luke (Plus How to Set Goals)	12/11/2013
015	Total Consecration to Mary	12/04/2013
014	What’s Your Apostolate?	11/27/2013
013	6 Items for the Liturgy of Your Life	11/20/2013
012	Why You Should Be More Creative	11/13/2013
011	Why Did They Stop Teaching Virtue?	11/06/2013
010	How Do Saints Hear Our Prayers?	10/30/2013
009	My Opinion of Martin Luther	10/23/2013
008	My Top 5 Daily Prayers	10/16/2013
007	Your Guardian Angel	10/03/2013
006	How You Can Convert 7 Billion People	09/25/2013
005	3 Strategies for a Marriage that Sings!	09/18/2013
004	4 Step Plan When Family Leave the Faith	09/12/2013
003	5 Tools for Deep Daily Prayer Life	09/04/2013
002	Three Tips to Increase Your Passion for Life	08/28/2013
001	How to Find a Spiritual Director	08/18/2013

The post 154: St Gallen Mafia & Pope Francis: What is it? [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

151: Why Won’t Pope Francis Respond to Viganò? Is the answer Peronism? [Podcast]

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 14:00:23 +0000

Why Won’t Pope Francis Respond to Viganò? As a follow up to why did Pope Benedict resign, we look at the political history of Pope Francis and the influence of the Argentinian ruler Juan Perón (1895-1974). We examine the clip of Francis on the plane when he says he will “not say one word” regarding the 11 page testimony of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò.

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Podcast Archive
#	Title	Released
150	Why did Pope Benedict Resign? McCarrick, Vigano and Vatican Bank Scandals Explained in Detail	29/08/2018
149	Eastern Catholics & Dormition of Mary	22/08/2018
148	McCarrick Scandal, Suffering Souls, and the problem of Fake Science	17/08/2018
147	Against the Catholic Mega-Diocese: Scandal and Subsidiarity	15/08/2018
146	American Catholic Kings? Freemasons & Catholic Integralism	15/08/2018
145	How to Walk the Camino de Santiago	8/08/2018
136	Why Tongues of Fire on Pentecost and How to Refute Mormons Easily	25/05/2018
135	Journey to Dominican Priesthood	18/04/2018
134	Saint Veronica in 9 Points: Was She Berenike?	04/04/2018
133	Saint Joseph in 9 Points Podcast (Should You Bury His Statue?)	19/03/2018
132	St Patrick in 9 Bullet Points and the “Two Patrick Theory”	17/03/2018
131	Thomas Aquinas on Catholic Priesthood Interview	16/03/2018
130	How do we get to Heaven? Wrong Answers for Catholics	08/03/2018
129	Aquinas Why Fish and No Meat in Lent PLUS the Demonic Incubus and Sucubus!	28/02/2018
128	Is there now a Matrimony Heresy?	21/02/2018
127	Is the Eucharist Symbolic: 4 Medieval Heretics on the Eucharist before the Reformation	30/08/2017
126	Why do Catholics “Worship” Statues and Icons: The Iconoclastic Heresy and the Council of Nicea II in AD 787	23/08/2017
125	Does Christ have 1 or 2 Natures? Heretic Eutyches and the Monophysite Heresy?	16/08/2017
124	Heretic Nestorius: Is Mary Mother of God? Are there 2 Christs?	25/05/2017
123	Heretic Arius and Deity of Christ	03/04/2017
122	Heretic Valentinius Explained	10/03/2017
121	Your Virtue of Temperance (and Aquinas on Women Looking Sexy)	09/02/2017
120	Your Virtue of Fortitude with Aquinas (Virtues Part 4)	05/01/2017
119	Your Virtue of Justice according to Thomas Aquinas	27/10/2016
118	Your Virtue of Prudence	21/10/2016
117	Fr Donald Calloway: Champions of the Rosary	5/10/2016
116	When Evangelicals Convert Catholics…Why?	28/09/2016
115	Introduction to the Four Cardinal Virtues (Part 1 of Virtues)	23/09/2016
114	Your Focus Changes Your Feelings	07/09/2016
113	Did The Holy Spirit Appear As A Real Dove? And Saint Raymond Nonnatus	13/08/2016
112	Reflections on Pilgrimage to Rome	13/08/2016
111	10 Tips for Visiting Rome	6/08/2016
110	The Humility of Mary	6/02/2016
109	Is Catholicism a Religion or Relationship with Christ?	5/25/2016
108	Early Female Mystics and Martyrs: Perpetua and Felicity	5/18/2016
107	The Word “Catholic” in the Early Church	4/7/2016
106	Can Christians Kill People? Answers from Thomas Aquinas	3/23/2016
105	Our Pilgrim Interviews on Our Lady of Guadalupe	2/24/2016
104	Reflections on Our Lady of Guadalupe	2/17/2016
103	Happiness Is A Skill	2/11/2016
102	Taylor’s New Podcast for Christian Men: Maccabee Society	2/03/2016
101	Jewish Priests and Catholic Priests	1/21/2016
100	Is Star Wars Christian or Anti-Christian?	1/06/2016
099	Should Catholics Share the Gospel with Jewish Friends	12/16/2015
098	Was Muhammad Evil?	11/18/2015
097	Revelation Ch. 22 Tree of Life and Holy Water	11/10/2015
096	Revelation Ch. 21 Heaven as a Cube and the New Jerusalem	11/04/2015
095	Taylor’s Thoughts on Being Father of a Large Family	10/28/2015
094	On the Indissolubility of Marriage and the Synod on the Family	10/21/2015
093	Revelation Ch. 20 The Millennium in Catholic Tradition	10/15/2015
092	Revelation Ch.19 Eucharist as Apocalypse	10/07/2015
091	Revelation Ch. 18 Fallen is Babylon the Great	09/30/2015
090	Revelation Ch. 17 The Whore of Babylon and Her Beast	09/23/2015
089	Do Babies Know the Existence of God	09/9/2015
088	Revelation (Chs 15-16) 7 Chalices of Wrath (Catholic Apocalypse Part 10)	09/2/2015
087	Revelation Ch. 14 Lamb on the Mountain with 6 Angels against Babylon	08/26/2015
086	Taylor’s Conversion Story to Catholicism – Interview with Matthew Leonard	08/19/2015
085	Revelation Chapter 13 The Sea Beast and the Land Beast the Mark of the Beast	08/13/2015
084	Revelation Chapter 12 – Our Lady of the Apocalypse	07/29/2015
083	The Giant Angel and Two Witnesses: Revelation Part 6 (Chapters 10-11)	07/15/2015
082	The Seven Trumpets: Book of Revelation Part 5 (Chapters 8-9)	07/02/2015
081	Book of Revelation Part 4 (Chapters 6-7)	07/09/2015
080	Taylor’s Catholic Thoughts on Same Sex Marriage	06/30/2015
079	Book of Revelation Part 3 (Chapters 4-5)	06/17/2015
078	Is the Relic of True Cross Real?	06/16/2015
077	Book of Revelation Part 2 (Chapter 2-3)	06/10/2015
076	Book of Revelation Part 1 (Chapter 1)	06/03/2015
075	Trinity Sunday, Liturgy, Thomas Becket and Anglican Use Thoughts	05/29/2015
074	Tongues of Fire in Acts, 1 Enoch, and Pre-Vatican Liturgy	05/27/2015
073	Advice on Being a Man	05/22/2015
072	What was the Priestly Status of Mary? Was she a Levite?	05/16/2015
071	The Theology of Cooking Food	05/14/2015
070	3 Steps to Overcoming Anxiety and Stress	05/06/2015
069	How to Read the Summa in One Year	04/22/2015
068	St Paul on Faith and Works Catholic vs Protestant Debate	03/25/2015
067	How Your Fears Are Hurting You Spiritually?	03/18/2015
066	What is 666 and the Mark of the Beast?	03/04/2015
065	40 Days of Joy	02/26/2015
064	Why did God make you? Luke 19 Gives the Answer	02/11/2015
063	Is Being A Christian Hard or Easy?	01/21/2015
062	Catholic View of the End Times and Tribulation	01/14/2015
061	When Other People Really Hurt You	01/07/2015
060	Is Saint George Still a Saint?	01/01/2015
059	Revolution in Catholic Education – Jennifer Fulwiler Interviews Taylor Marshall	12/31/2014
058	The Hidden Theology in Sword and Serpent with St George and Sabra	12/11/2014
057	Advent Total Consecration to Mary	11/13/2014
056	Top 5 Advent Devotions	11/07/2014
055	Why Do We Baptize Babies? The Covenantal Argument	10/22/2014
054	Is God Male or Female – The Catholic Teaching	10/08/2014
053	Lucifer vs. Saint Michael	10/01/2014
052	1 Year Anniversary Special Edition: Essentialism What is the Essence of Your Life?	09/24/2014
051	The Price of Your Anger	09/17/2014
050	The Seven Sorrows of Mary are the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit	09/15/2014
049	6 Obstacles in Your Life (How to Conquer Them)	09/10/2014
048	Brain Science, Your Soul & Prayer	09/03/2014
047	Don’t Swallow the Camel	08/27/2014
046	The Secret Life of Thomas Aquinas	08/22/2014
045	Did Saint Paul Teach Once Saved Always Saved?	08/06/2014
044	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 2	07/30/2014
043	How to Escape Joyless Catholicism, Part 1	07/24/2014
042	Golf Cart Saints	07/15/2014
041	5 Intellectual Virtues and Pornography, Art, and Culture	07/02/2014
040	Taylor and Joy Talk About Their Marriage	06/25/2014
039	How Was the Bible Assembled? (plus Joy joins me)	06/18/2014
038	Should You Budget Time (or Money)?	06/04/2014
037	The Theology of Vacation, Leisure, and Recreation	05/28/2014
036	Noah Movie Review – Rock Monsters?	05/21/2014
035	Children Need Fortitude	05/14/2014
034	Jokes of Saint John XXIII	05/07/2014
033	Divine Mercy: 5 Common Questions	04/30/2014
032	4 Sections of Hell	04/23/2014
031	Meet the Saint Version of You	04/16/2014
030	Should You Be an Optimist?	04/09/2014
029	Finding Fellowship like Samwise Gamgee	04/01/2014
028	Demons, Snakes, and Ticks: Lessons from a Hunting Trip	03/26/2014
027	How to Make an Eternal Impact with Your Life	03/19/2014
026	Thoughts on My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/26/2014
025	Why is the Catholic Church Roman?	02/19/2014
024	The Seven Lies We Believe About Our Failures	02/11/2014
023	How to Restart Your Mental Computer	02/06/2014
022	Top Five Productivity Tips from Thomas Aquinas	01/29/2014
021	Did You Miss God’s Plan for Your Life?	01/23/2014
020	When Prayer Becomes a Chore	01/15/2014
019	12 Attributes of a Baptized Christian	01/08/2014
018	A Podcast Against Bitter Catholics!	12/30/2013
017	Mary’s Painless Delivery of Christ Explained	12/18/2013
016	Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Luke (Plus How to Set Goals)	12/11/2013
015	Total Consecration to Mary	12/04/2013
014	What’s Your Apostolate?	11/27/2013
013	6 Items for the Liturgy of Your Life	11/20/2013
012	Why You Should Be More Creative	11/13/2013
011	Why Did They Stop Teaching Virtue?	11/06/2013
010	How Do Saints Hear Our Prayers?	10/30/2013
009	My Opinion of Martin Luther	10/23/2013
008	My Top 5 Daily Prayers	10/16/2013
007	Your Guardian Angel	10/03/2013
006	How You Can Convert 7 Billion People	09/25/2013
005	3 Strategies for a Marriage that Sings!	09/18/2013
004	4 Step Plan When Family Leave the Faith	09/12/2013
003	5 Tools for Deep Daily Prayer Life	09/04/2013
002	Three Tips to Increase Your Passion for Life	08/28/2013
001	How to Find a Spiritual Director	08/18/2013

The post 151: Why Won’t Pope Francis Respond to Viganò? Is the answer Peronism? [Podcast] appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Who is Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò? The Nuncio that accused Pope Francis of covering up McCarrick’s sexual abuse

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 03:35:46 +0000

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has recently released his testimony against Cardinal Wuerl, Cardinal McCarrick, and Pope Francis. As former Papal Nuncio (ambassador between Vatican and Washington DC), he alleges that Pope Benedict had censured Cardinal McCarrick for his sexual predatory behavior, but that Pope Francis reinstated McCarrick. Cardinal Wuerl was aware of it all, as were many high level Cardinals that he lists in his 11 page document (link below).

Many are asking “Who is Archbishop Vigano?” so here are the details:

I’ll put it in bullet point to save me time formatting and to get you the information:

He was born 16 January 1941 in Varese, Italy.
His brother Lorenzo Viganò is a Jesuit priest.
He speaks Italian, French, Spanish and English.
Viganò was ordained a priest on 24 March 1968.
He earned a doctorate in both canon and civil law.
He joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1973, with papal diplomatic missions to Iraq and Great Britain.
From 1978-1989, he held posts at the Vatican Secretariat of State.
From 1992-2009, he was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria by Pope John Paul II.
In 2009, Viganò was appointed Secretary General of the Vatican City Governatorate by Pope Benedict XVI. This made him second ranked Vatican administrator to Pope Benedict XVI
CONTROVERSY IN ROME: In 2010, Viganò was involved in a scandal. Letters by him were leaked. One such letter late appeared in the Papal “Wikileaks” through the Pope’s butler. In these letters, Viganò complained of corruption in Vatican finances and of collusion against him by Vatican officials. Cardinal-President Emeritus Giovanni Lajolo, President Giuseppe Bertello, Secretary-General Giuseppe Sciacca and former Vice Secretary-General Giorgio Corbellini issued a joint statement on behalf of the Governatorate of the Vatican: “The unauthorized publication of two letters of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the first addressed to the Holy Father on March 27, 2011, the second to the Cardinal Secretary of State on May 8, for the Governorate of Vatican City is a source of great bitterness”. It continued, “The allegations contained in them can not but lead to the impression that the Governorate of Vatican City, instead of being an instrument of responsible government, is an unreliable entity, at the mercy of dark forces. After careful examination of the contents of the two letters, the President of the Governorate sees it as its duty to publicly declare that those assertions are the result of erroneous assessments, or fears based on unsubstantiated evidence, even openly contradicted by the main characters invoked as witnesses”.

[bctt tweet=”One such letter by Archbishop Vigano was leaked in the Papal Wikileaks scandal through the Pope’s butler. In these letters, Viganò complained of corruption in Vatican finances and of collusion against him by Vatican officials. Read more:” username=”taylorrmarshall”]

One year later on 13 August 2011, Pope Benedict appointed him Nuncio to the United States. Reuters reported that Viganò was unwilling to take that assignment. It would seem that his willingness to be controversial in 2010 regarding corruption is what made Pope Benedict trust him for the USA.
In 2014, Viganò ordered officials of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to end an investigation into sexual misconduct on the part of Archbishop John Nienstedt even after two auxiliary bishops explained that the investigation was far from complete. He ordered those bishops to destroy a letter they wrote him in which they objected and told him “this would rightly be seen as a cover-up”.
On 24 September 2015 during his visit to the United States, Pope Francis met Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. This was seen as an embarrassing moment for the Pope. It was Viganò who arranged and insisted on the meeting.
On 12 April 2016, Pope Francis accepted Viganò’s resignation.
On August 25, 2018 Viganò released an 11-page letter explaining that Pope Benedict XVI had secretly sanctioned Theodore Edgar McCarrick from public ministry and that McCarrick was rehabilitated by Pope Francis. McCarrick began to appear publicly and also arranged the appointment of key American bishops and cardinals, such as: Blase Cupich and Joseph W. Tobin. If true, it means that Pope Francis has known about McCarrick’s predatory behavior for years…and has promoted him.

If you’d like to read the full Testimony of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, you can read it by clicking here.

Pray for the Catholic Church,
Dr Marshall

PS: In case you missed it, here’s my Youtube video explain how the Viganò controversy actually goes back him blowing the whistle to Pope Benedict regarding the Vatican Bank Scandal of 2010-2011 – which led to Vatileaks Scandal. Click here to watch it.

The post Who is Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò? The Nuncio that accused Pope Francis of covering up McCarrick’s sexual abuse appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Does the Mega-Diocese foster sexual scandals and bad priests? Yes

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 17:22:11 +0000

The 2002 Boston Scandal, the ~~Cardinal~~ McCarrick Scandal, and the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report reveals that the bishops are at ground zero in this scandal.

Some bishops didn’t properly vet seminarians and admit perverts.
Some bishops ordained mental disturbed, predatory priests.
Some bishops covered the crimes of Judas priests.
Some bishops relocated the predatory Judas priests.
Some bishops made secret payouts to victims to keep them quiet.
Some bishops have been molesting and having homo-relations with seminarians and priests.

The laity are shocked that so-called Episcopoi (Greek word for “bishop” meaning “supervisor” or “overseer”) could do such horrible things and still show up smiling for photos after the post-confirmation ceremonies. How could this be?

Continue reading the article below or watch the video Youtube version here:

Three Reasons for Sexual Scandals:

Denial of Christian Faith. These clerics are secretly atheists, agnostics, or Satanists who see the Church as a social justice network that pays well and provides a lifestyle of insurance, income, retirement and unquestioned access to compromised men and vulnerable children.
Homosexuality. The 2004 John Jay Report publicized that 80% of priest abuse victims are male. The orientation of abuse was overwhelming homosexual According to James Martin and Larry Stammer, 15–58% of American Catholic priests are homosexual in orientation. Father Dariusz Oko of Poland has suggested that 50% of the bishops in the United States are homosexual.
Evolution of the Mega-Diocese. Since 1900, the concept of the Catholic diocese has morphed into something that would not be recognized by Christians of the medieval period, and certainly not by the Church Fathers.

Today, I want to focus on the third. The problem of the Mega-Diocese: what it is, how it happened, and how it leads to clericalism and sexual abuse.

[callout]I am NOT stating that the Mega-Diocese is the root cause of sexual scandal or that eradicating it will fix everything! We need a a refocus on intrinsic evils, formation of true consciences, biblical literacy, removal of sexual active bishops/clergy, orthodox theological, Thomism, liturgical reverence, and heroic priests. But the Mega-Diocese is certainly infertile soil for these changes. Read on to discover the historic origin of this deformation and why it fosters abuse.[/callout]

Picture above: a bishop gathered with his diocese.

What is a Mega-Diocese?

A Mega-Diocese is a diocese so enormous that a bishop cannot oversee it. Remember “bishop” in Greek is επίσκοπος (episcopos) which means “overseer.” Epi means “over” as in the word epidermis. Skopos means “see” as in the English words scope and telescope.

[bctt tweet=”A Mega-Diocese is a diocese so enormous that a bishop cannot oversee it. ” username=”taylorrmarshall”]

We all desire lower Student/Teacher Ratios:

Parents eagerly search for schools with a low teacher/student ratio. Everyone in education knows that as you raise the teacher/student ratio, scores and academic performance go down. 12 students to 1 teacher proves to produce higher scores and better outcomes. 40 students to 1 teacher proves to produce lower scores and more drop outs.

But we currently have very high Disciple/Bishop Ratios:

What we have created over the last 150 years (since the loss of the Papal States, really) is an insanely high disciple/bishop ratio with regard to bishops. Bishops belong to the magisterium in union with the Pope. Magister is Latin for teacher. The bishop is the primary teacher. So we are discussing a student/teacher ratio here, as well. As the disciple/bishop ratio increases, what do we see? Lay people know their faith less (akin to lower scores), and they drop out at higher numbers (leave the church).

Currently here are the number of baptized in the top 4 USA archdioceses:

1 Los Angeles 4,174,304
2 New York 2,521,087
3 Chicago 2,442,000
4 Boston 2,077,487

How can a bishop manage this? He cannot. Not even Saint Paul could manage this? So how did we get here?

How did we get high Disciple/Bishop Ratios?

In the Patristic and Medieval Church, every wrinky-dink town had it’s own bishop. For evidence look at Italy:

Italy has 227 dioceses. 116,350 sq mi and population of 60,483,973 people
USA has 167 dioceses. 3,796,742 sq mi and population of 325,719,178 people

Here are 2 maps that I created for reference:

What we see here is that the Catholic Church from AD 100-1500 was appointing a bishop for almost every “town” in Italy since a bishop should be able to geographically access his flock.

[bctt tweet=”Italy has 227 dioceses. USA has 167 dioceses. This is wrong for the USA and it’s contrary to subsidiarity.” username=”taylorrmarshall”]

After 1520, but especially after 1870, the Catholic Church slowed down its bishop appointments, and the Papacy began to settle for “mega-dioceses.” By the 1900s, this problem was everywhere in the United States and has become ridiculous since the death of Pope John Paul II.

In 1950, the bishop of Los Angeles served 832,375 lay Catholics. In 2016, the archbishop of Los Angeles was responsible for 4,392,000 lay Catholics.

How the Mega-Diocese Fails Christians:

The Mega-Diocese is based on the presumption that one man can shepherd a million people and oversee hundreds of priests (both are impossible). The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has 1,117 priests and 4,392,000 baptized laity. One bishop can not oversee 1000+ priests. One bishop cannot be shepherd for 4.3 million people. For reference, the entire population of England in AD 1086 was 3.6 million. Imagine if all of England in AD 1086 had only one bishop! Ridiculous.

[bctt tweet=”The Mega-Diocese is based on the presumption that one man can shepherd a million people and oversee hundreds of priests (both are impossible). ” username=”taylorrmarshall”]

Enter the Legal Fiction of Auxiliary Bishops:

In order to “fix” this problem, the Popes began to appoint “Auxiliary Bishops.” According to Apostolic example, Patristic custom, and ancient Catholic Councils, a bishop must be a bishop of a geographic place. So you cannot have 3 bishops of the same geographic region. For Saint Ignatius of Antioch or Polycarp, multiple bishops in one place would be a schismatic and heretical act. There is only one geographic bishop for one geographic place.

So the Popes (initially Pope Leo X) created a legal fiction called Auxiliary Bishops with titular sees. The Pope appoints the Auxiliary Bishop to a geographical diocese that no longer exists, and then sends that auxiliary bishop to work inside the diocese of another bishop. Incidentally, the Pope that first allowed this legal fiction was the infamous Medici Pope Leo X (the same Pope whom Martin Luther spoke out against in 1517). Previous popes had banned the custom of auxiliary bishops with fictional titular sees.

For example, Bishop Robert Barron (to choose the most well-known auxiliary bishop) is an auxiliary bishop in Los Angeles. However, since every bishop must actually be a canonical bishop of his own geographical area, Bishop Barron is actually the titular bishop of “Macriana in Mauretania” – an ancient Berber town in Algeria.

On paper and in reality, this canonical appointment to Macriana in Mauretania is ridiculous. Bishop Barron has nothing to do with Macriana and we shouldn’t create the legal fiction of bishops over non-existing “sees.”

In the early Catholic Church, Bishop Barron would simply be bishop ordinary of his pastoral region of Santa Barbara. He would simply become Bishop of Santa Barbara – not Pretend Bishop of “Macriana in Mauretania” but really serving the people of Santa Barbara under the auspices of the geographical bishop of Los Angeles. What a mess.

I’m not blaming Bishop Barron or any auxiliary bishop for this situation. They are obeying the directives of canon law and the Pope and are in good faith with regard to their appointments. There are great men serving as auxiliary bishops throughout the world. But when we look at it from a systemic point of view, it reveals an ecclesiological problem that contradicts both the Council of Nicea and biblical and patristic theology about the local ecclesia.

How to fix the Mega-Diocese? Break it up with Subsidiarity

The Mega-Diocese is an offense against the Catholic doctrine of subsidiarity – the doctrine that matters ought to be handled by the smallest and most proximate competent authority – not by a Cardinal Archbishop living 90 miles away who also has the direct canonical care of souls for 1 million people. It’s a mistake to ask a bishop to be responsible for 1 million people and 1,000 priests. It’s a crime against the laity, too. The Mega-Diocese is bad for everyone.

[bctt tweet=”The Mega-Diocese is an offense against the Catholic doctrine of subsidiarity – the principle that matters ought to be handled by the smallest and most proximate competent authority – not by an archbishop living 90 miles away who has canonical care of souls for 1 million people.” username=”taylorrmarshall”]

When we see a public school teacher with 50 students in a class, we know its bad for the teacher and bad for the students. Everyone loses. Same the episcopal-diocesan structure.

How do we fix the Mega-Diocese problem? Obviously, a diocese of over one million souls is too big and too spread out. We need to follow the custom of ancient popes and have many, many, many more dioceses and bishops appointed. We need ecclesial subsidiarity. If Italy has 227 dioceses and the USA has 167 dioceses, we have an apparent problem. Creating more Mega-Dioceses and more and more auxiliary bishops will yield more abuse inside a broken system.

How big should a diocese be?

There were around 150-250,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese of Paris during the medieval era. It may seem extreme, but I don’t see the benefit of having a diocese any bigger than that. If a bishop had 100 priests and 100,000 people, it would be a manageable situation.

Still don’t believe me, ask Moses:

The biblical Mega-Diocese of Moses in Exodus 18 and the advice of Jethro:

Moses was exhausted overseeing the 400,000 Israelites under his pastoral supervision. His father-in-law Jethro observed this and rebuked Moses while providing a solution to break up his “Mega-Diocese”:

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law (Jethro) saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”

17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone….21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

If Moses couldn’t handle it, so also the modern bishop cannot handle it. Moses followed the advice of Jethro. He appointed men to oversee “thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.” He didn’t place men “over 10,000 or even 100,000.” That’s too much! In other words, Jethro tells Moses: “Lets practice pastoral subsidiarity.”

[bctt tweet=”In other words, Jethro tells Moses: Lets practice pastoral subsidiarity.” username=”taylorrmarshall”]

It’s comical that my own enormous state of Texas has – 15 dioceses! The disciple/bishopratio here is horrible. Moreover, bishops spend entire weekends driving out into the country for confirmations at their parishes hours away.

Just like parents with kids in the school district, we lay people should beg and ask for a better disciple/bishop ratios. Say no to more auxiliary bishops. That’s a cheap bandaid covering the wound. The Archdioceses of LA and NYC should be broken into the 5 dioceses. The reason it won’t happen now is money. But in a pastorally sensitive church, those Mega-Dioceses would be prudently divided into 5 geographic dioceses. Let an auxiliary bishop simply be a bishop of that deanery and call him “bishop ordinary.”

[bctt tweet=”The Archdioceses of LA & NYC should be broken into the 5 dioceses. The reason it won’t happen now is money. But in a pastorally sensitive church, those Mega-Dioceses should be divided into 5 dioceses. Let an auxiliary bishop simply be a bishop ordinary of his deanery. ” username=”taylorrmarshall”]

Until we break up the Mega-Dioceses, do not expect clerical sexual scandal to get better or heal. The Mega-Diocese is unaccountable, noisy, not policed, and unsupervised. The Mega-Diocese allows the predatory priest (and bishop) to wear camouflage. Meanwhile a bishop close to his people and even closer to his priests as “father to fathers” is both more accountable and a better supervisor as episcopos.

I’d love to hear more recommendations, objections, and thoughts, especially from laity and clergy existing within the Mega-Diocese structures. One thing that I didn’t cover is that Mega-Diocese usually have low native seminarian counts and low ordination counts. They statistically cannot produce vocations. If the bishop is the sacramental “father of fathers,” then he is the overworked “absent father figure” within a Mega-Diocese. Vocations are not conceived by absent fathers.

[reminder]

Pray for the Church ad Jesum per Mariam cum Petro,
Dr Taylor Marshall

[bctt tweet=”If the bishop is the sacramental father of fathers, then he is the overworked absent father figure within a Mega-Diocese. Vocations are not conceived by absent fathers.” username=”taylorrmarshall”]

PS: I would also add that bishops should be chosen from among the local presbytery or at least from near regional dioceses, and not “imported” from elsewhere. Moreover, bishops should not be moved all over the nation like bishop pieces on a chess board. A bishop should stay the bishop of one place for life…like marriage. St John Fisher, pray for us.

The post Does the Mega-Diocese foster sexual scandals and bad priests? Yes appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Video: Did Mary Die BEFORE she was Assumed into Heaven? Yes

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 18:56:17 +0000

Did Mary die and enter a tomb to later be resurrected and assumed into Heaven? Or did God immediately raise up her body into Heaven?

You might be surprised to learn that Catholic iconography, saints, Eastern liturgy, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and even Pope Pius XII taught that she first died and then her body was assumed into Heaven. But her “death” was different. Let’s discover the distinction. Here’s a video I produced on the topic:

Click here to begin watching the video: Did Mary Die?

[reminder]

Our Immaculate Mother of the Christ, pray for us,
Dr Taylor Marshall

The post Video: Did Mary Die BEFORE she was Assumed into Heaven? Yes appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The Chalice of the Last Supper and Saint Laurence of Rome

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 15:16:23 +0000

A curious element of the Roman Canon is that it refers to the chalice as “this chalice”:

Simili modo postquam coenatum est, accipiens et hunc praeclarum Calicem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas: item tibi gratias agens, benedixit, deditque discipulis suis, dicens: Accipite et bibite ex eo omnes…

Which I translate as:

In similar way, after He had supped, taking also this precious chalice into His holy and venerable hands again giving thanks to Thee, He blessed it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: All of you, take and drink this…

There is a tradition that the chalice used in Rome was once the actual chalice used by our Lord Jesus Christ at the first Eucharist.

When the Roman Emperor Valerian ordered the beheading of Pope Sixtus II in Rome, the Pope’s deacon named Lawrence sold the gold chalices and precious items and gave the proceeds to the poor. However, there was one item that was preserved. According to legend it was the chalice used at the Last Supper by Christ and served as the personal chalice of Saint Peter who had brought it to Rome. This is why the Roman liturgy reads: “hunc praeclarum Calicem.” Laurence gave this special chalice to a Roman soldier who took it to Spain.

Here is a photo of it paired with a painting from 1560 by Juan de Juanes that incorporated it:

And painted by Juan de Juanes:

If this tradition is valid, then this is the chalice of the Son of God and also the chalice of Saint Peter used by Peter and all popes up till the martyred Pope Sixtus II. The mystery of faith.

[reminder]

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Pope Zachary (d. 752) in 7 Points

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 02:56:10 +0000

Pope Zachary is one of the top 10 Popes of the early medieval periods. Let’s take a look at some high points in his pontificate:

Pope Zachary appointed Saint Boniface (Apostle of Germany) in AD 742 as Papal Legate to the German dioceses.
Pope Zachary condemned the practice of worshipping angels in AD 745.
He is the Pope known for deposing the Merovingian King of the Franks, Childeric III and then granting the crown to Pepin the Short, the father of Charlemagne. Saint Boniface crowned Pepin King of the Franks at Soissons in 752.
Pope Zachary accused the court of Constantinople, along with its Patriarch, and its Emperor Constantine V of heresy. They promoted iconoclasm: the destruction of images of Christ and the saints and banned their production. (Here’s my podcast on iconoclasm in its Byzantine context.)
Pope Zachary built the original church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva (“over Minerva”) over an ancient temple to Minerva near the Pantheon. This church would later become a setting for the Dominican Order. It’s (revised) interior is stunning.
Pope Zachary forbade the selling of slaves to Muslims in the city of Rome.
But here is why I really like Pope Zachary: While restoring the Lateran Palace, he relocated the relic of the skull of Saint George to the church of San Giorgio al Velabro (a church I visit annually in Rome).

Here’s a photo of me in San Giorgio al Velabro kneeling by the altar that holds the skull of Saint George.

It looks empty now but a cleric in the church told me that the skull is still in there. Just not visible (if I understood his Italian).

If you’d like to read my bestselling historical fictional account of Saint George’s life, please check out my novel: Sword and Serpent at amazon.com.

The post Pope Zachary (d. 752) in 7 Points appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Are Catholic Canonizations of Saints Infallible? Yes

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:17:03 +0000

On the interwebs you sometimes bump into a few Catholics that assert that canonizations are not infallible or are reversible. They will cite saints who are allegedly un-sainted (eg. St George, St Christopher, St Philomena – I explain why they are NOT un-sainted in this podcast) or they will object to canonized saints that they don’t like (eg, St John XIII or St Josemaria).

Canonizations are Infallible. Here’s why:

Concerning the Potential Problem of “Damned Saints”:

When a person is damned, he hates and curses God forever in Hell. That’s what damnation is. It’s a decision to reject God and His love. The damned person lacks all charity toward God. As Thomas Aquinas, would say, he belongs to the Kingdom of Satan. He is officially anti-Christ.

If the Church mistakingly were to canonize a damned man, then that means monks and nuns would be praying the Liturgy of the Hours and commemorating a man who currently curses God – and doing so annually in the liturgical cycle. Moreover, this would entail that priests are celebrating Masses in honor of a man who is literally diabolical. Even more so, churches, chapels, and cathedrals would be erected and consecrated in honor a man who hates God. No doubt, the devil would love all of this. So canonizations are infallible.

Concerning the Potential Problem of “Make-Believe Saints”

The same goes saints who are claimed to not have existed. If someone were to say that St George or St Christopher were make-believe people, then you have the Liturgy of Hours and Holy Mass celebrated to what amount to cartoon characters. It would be like celebrating Mass in honor of Luke Skywalker. It’s a mockery of true religion.

[Shameless plug: Check out my #1 Bestselling Historical Novel Sword and Serpent for a plausible biography of Saint George (and the “Dragon”) along with Saint Christopher by clicking here.]

We can grant that the legends and hagiography about certain saints are exaggerated or embellished, but we cannot say that the Church formally venerates imaginary people, celebrated Mass in honor of imaginary people, or that there are Churches dedicated to imaginary people.

If so, the devil would love all of this. So canonizations are infallible. It’s also worth noting that when a Pope canonizes a saint he invokes his authority as Vicar of Christ and successor to Saints Peter and Paul in a way similar to declaring dogmas infallible.

I recently wrote a history of the process of canonizations. You can read it here: “How Saints are Canonized: from Local to Papal Canonizations over Time.”

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Pope Saint Callixtus I – Laxity, Contraception, Abortion in AD 217

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 17:38:26 +0000

What happens when you have canonized Catholic saints criticizing and resisting a canonic Catholic pope? That’s exactly what happened with Pope Saint Callixtus I, who died in AD 223.

Tertullian and Origen spoke against Pope Callixtus for his laxity. And Saint Hippolytus became the Catholic Church’s first antipope in resistance to Pope Callixtus who he saw as promoting and allowing: contraception, abortion, heresy, and easy-penance.

Why the conflict?

Before we get started I want to stress that all this happened 100 years before Constantine legalized Catholicism. Some wrongly assume that before Constantine the Church of Rome was a happy assembly of saints without church politics. Not quite. The Church of Rome has been plagued with conflict and controversy from the very beginning (as detailed in this book).

The document Philosophumena (attributed to Saint Hippolytus of Rome) recounts how Pope Callixtus had once been a Roman slave belonging to a Christian master named Carpophorus. Carpophorus placed his slave Callixtus (the future pope) in charge of funds that he had collected from other Christians for the care of orphans, widows, and the poor.

Callixtus the slave who lost all the money. He fled Rome but was discovered boarding a ship near Portus, the harbor city of Rome. Callixtus jumped overboard to avoid capture but was arrested nonetheless and taken back to his Christian master Carpophorus.

In an attempt to recover the money, Callixtus the slave physically assaulted Jews inside a Roman synagogue in attempt to either get a loan from the Jews or to collect debts from Jews. He was re-arrested. At this time, he was denounced as a Christian (probably by the Roman Jews) and sent as a prisoner to the mines of Sardinia.

Enter Emperor Commodus. Commodus was the son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. You likely remember him from the film Gladiator:

Emperor Commodus had a “Christian” mistress named Marcia (you might be surprised to learn that Rome one hundred years later had a collection of so-called “Christian prostitutes” that were regulated by Constantine’s son). The “Christian mistress” Marcia was served by a eunuch named Hyacinth who was also an ordained presbyter. (100 years later, eunuchs were banned from ordination at the Council of Nicea).

Marcia and Hyacinth appealed to the Roman Emperor Commodus for the release of Christian prisoners from the mines of Sardinia. This imperial intervention affected the release of Callixtus and other Christians in the mines. Life in the mines was rough and they had suffered there as witnesses to our Lord Jesus Christ. These Christians were honored by Christians back in Rome as quasi-martyrs.

Callixtus’s Rise to the Papacy:

Pope Victor I as Bishop of Rome honored Callixtus with a monthly pension from the Catholic Church, supposedly to honor him as a living confessor (one who suffered for Christ, but did not die).
Pope Zephyrinus (successor of Victor I) honored Callixtus in AD 199 by ordaining him as one of the prestigious “seven deacons of Rome,” and appointed him as guardian of the catacombs along the Appian Way. To this day, these catacombs are named after Callixtus as the “Catacombs of Saint Callixtus.” From his time until the time of Constantine, this catacomb became the ceremonial burial place for nine bishops of Rome. (Origen visited Rome during the reign of Pope Zephyrinus.)
Deacon Callixtus became the chief advisor of Pope Zephyrinus in Rome.
In AD 217, Pope Zephyrinus received the crown of martyrdom and the Deacon Callixtus was the obvious choice for Bishop of Rome.
Callixtus became Pope in AD 217 and established Santa Maria in Trastevere as his principle “cathedral” in Rome (this was before the Lateran basilica was given to the Church by Constantine and before the construction of the basilica at the Vatican).

Pope Callixtus as a “Lax Pope”:

Callixtus’s “pre-mining” life had been one of financial controversy, and yet he had proved himself faithful to Christ in the mines and worthy of respect and office in the Church of Rome. Perhaps it was his controversial past that lead to his position of laxity for the Church in Rome.

In AD 217 (the first year of his Pontificate), Pope Callixtus issued the “Decree of 217” which scandalized many, especially Tertullian who documents the episode. The Decree of 217 stated that penance and absolution would be enough to re-admit Christians to the Eucharist for the seven sins previously restricted. These seven sins were:

murder
idolatry
fraud
apostasy (publicly renouncing Jesus Christ)
blasphemy
adultery (sex with someone besides your spouse)
fornication (sex outside marriage)
(this list is found in Tertullian’s De Pudicitia*, Ch 19).

Pope Callixtus also allowed:

not requiring public penance from heretics entering the Catholic Church.
clergy t0 marry before and after ordination.
noblewomen to contract Christian marriages with plebs and slaves (forbidden by Roman law).

The Christians at the time were divided on this lax approach to sinners.

Tertullian openly wrote and taught against the lax novelties of Pope Callixtus.
The Greek-speaking Roman priest Hippolytus was elected as a rival Bishop of Rome and became the Church’s first Anti-Pope.
Origen relates how when he was in Rome he heard the famous Hippolytus preach – showing that Origen was sympathetic with Hippolytus’ theology. It seems however that Origen greatly respected the Bishop of Rome and that he heard Hippolytus preach before Hippolytus presumed to become a rival Bishop in Rome. Nevertheless, Origen’s strictness would seem to make him more sympathetic with the ancient practice of making sacramental absolution rare.

In general, opponents of Pope Callixtus alleged that his policies would lead to a lower of morals among Christians, and this proved to the case with regard to contraception and abortion.

The Problem of Abortion and Contraception among Christians during the time of Pope Callixtus:

Hippolytus laments that Catholic women in Rome began to engage in contraception and abortion during the lax reign of Pope Callixtus:

Whence women, reputed believers, began to resort to drugs for producing sterility, and to gird themselves round [their belly], so to expel what was being conceived on account of their not wishing to have a child either by a slave or by any paltry fellow, for the sake of their family and excessive wealth. Behold, into how great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by inculcating adultery and murder at the same time! And withal, after such audacious acts, they, lost to all shame, attempt to call themselves a Catholic Church.

For Hippolytus, this rise in contraception and abortion among Roman Christian women was a sign that the laxity of Pope Callixtus was bearing evil fruit.

Five or six years later, Pope Callixtus received the crown of martyrdom in AD 222 or 223 and was enrolled in the number of the saints. His feast day is October 14.

Conclusion:

Do grace and mercy lead to laxity? It’s a common question: If God forgives me no matter what, why not just keep sinning? Why change my life at all?

This precise question is tackled by Saint Paul in his epistle to the Romans 6:

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried[a] therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

It was and will be a perennial question for Christians in every age. If a Christian can just “pray the prayer” (as Evangelicals say), just be baptized, just go to confession, or just get an indulgence, why live like a saint?

Problems also with Rigorism:

But there is an opposite error. If the forgiveness of sin is rigorous (as it was before AD 217), two results follow:

First, is simply despair. If forgiveness if far off, why even try?
There is a second result that I would like to suggest that I rarely see in Patristic studies. I believe that the popularity of Gnosticism and Gnostic sects the exploded in the 100s was partly due to the lack of access to sacramental absolution. Gnostics promised that there were secret ways (not depending on morality or absolution) that allowed access to God. If a Christian had fallen into apostasy, murder, or adultery and could not find forgiveness and communion within the Catholic Church, there would be extreme pressure to join a Gnostic cult where immediate salvation and access to God was assured.

All Catholics today would grant that Pope Callixtus made the correct move, by allowing for “easy” absolution of grave sins before the time of death. (Easy, by the way, still entailed periods of public penance.) Did this new laxity come with a price? Yes. Did Catholic women try to “get away” with contraception and abortion? Yes. Does that still happen today? Yes.

Is the solution to this form of laxity to make the conditions for sacramental absolution more strict? No. I don’t think so. People can and will take advantage of grace in every age. There is no way to prevent that. However, we must always be in a position to recognize the forgiveness and mercy of Christ who was ready to immediately forgive the repentant Peter, Thomas, Paul, et al.

[reminder]I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic of lax vs. rigorous absolution.[/reminder]

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Can you be a Christian and a Socialist? The Popes Say No

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:22:47 +0000

Popes have taught clearly that "Christian" and "Socialist" are mutually exclusive

Early this week, I posted “Catholic Condemnation of Socialism in 5 Papal Quotes (Pope Leo XIII Puts the Smack Down on Socialism)” and as expected, folks came out of the word work saying things like “Aha! But the Church doesn’t condemn Christian Socialism, but only condemns Marxist or atheistic Socialism.”

This isn’t true. Simply read Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum and you’ll discover that he condemns Socialism as an economic error contrary to natural law and social justice. But if that does not convince you, here are some quotes from subsequent Popes further laying the smack down on Socialism and even on so-called “Christian Socialism”:

Pius XI against “Christian Socialism”:

Here is a quote form Pope Pius XI on the 40th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum showing that “Catholic Socialism” or “Christian Socialism” is condemned by the Catholic Faith:

“Religious socialism, Christian socialism, are contradictory terms; no one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true Socialist.” (Pope Pius XI, Encyclical Quadragesimo Anno, May 15, 1931. n. 120)

You cannot be “a good Catholic and a true Socialist.” It just doesn’t get any clearer than that! In that same encyclical, Pius XI also teaches:

“We make this pronouncement: Whether considered as a doctrine, or an historical fact, or a movement, Socialism, if it remains truly Socialism, even after it has yielded to truth and justice on the points which we have mentioned, cannot be reconciled with the teachings of the Catholic Church because its concept of society itself is utterly foreign to Christian truth.” (Quadragesimo Anno, n. 117)

The important distinction made by Pope Pius XI is that even if Socialism is modified to “truth and justice on the points” of error, it “cannot be reconciled with the teachings of the Catholic Church.” Socialism is inherently broken and motivated by covetousness. Socialism is, they say, the Gospel of Envy.

And one extra quote from Pius IX on Captitalism as not fundamenetally flawed as is Socialism:

“Capitalism itself is not to be condemned. And surely it is not vicious of its very nature, but it has been vitiated.”

Socialism is inherently flawed and condemned. Capitalism is not condemned. Capitalism is instrumentally neutral. It can be used for virtue or it can be used for vice (“vitiated”).

Pope John XXIII against “Moderate Socialism”:

And I’ve heard it said by some Catholics: “Yeah, but Leo XIII and Pius XI didn’t live to see later moderations of Socialism, so what they were condemning was an earlier form of Socialism.” In order to refute this objection, we have have Pope Saint John XXIII’s reiteration and approval of the previous papal condemnations of Socialism [the comments in red are my own]:

“Pope Pius XI further emphasized the fundamental opposition between Communism and Christianity, and made it clear that no Catholic could subscribe even to moderate Socialism [Catholics cannot even try to modify Socialism!]. The reason is that Socialism is founded on a doctrine of human society which is bounded by time and takes no account of any objective other than that of material well-being [Socialism is fundamentally materialistic and closed off to the spiritual]. Since, therefore, it proposes a form of social organization which aims solely at production; it places too severe a restraint on human liberty, at the same time flouting the true notion of social authority.”
(Pope John XXIII, Encyclical Mater et Magistra, May 15, 1961, n. 34)

Pope John XXIII teaches us that:

Pius XI was right on Socialism as being opposed to Christianity
Catholics may not subscribe “even to moderate Socialism”
Socialism is materialistic
Socialism restrains human liberty

Pope Paul VI on Socialism as Corrupt Ideology:

And Pope Paul VI also condemned Socialism in 1971 on the 80th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum against Socialism:

“Too often Christians attracted by Socialism tend to idealize it in terms which, apart from anything else, are very general: a will for justice, solidarity and equality. They refuse to recognize the limitations of the historical socialist movements, which remain conditioned by the ideologies from which they originated.” (Paul VI, Octogesima Adveniens, May 14, 1971, n. 31)

Pope John Paul II as Reaffirming Leo XIII’s original condemnation of Socialism:

On the 100th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s condemnation of Socialism, Pope John Paul II issued the document Centesimus Annus reiterating the Catholic condemnation of Socialism:

“It may seem surprising that Socialism appeared at the beginning of the Pope’s critique of solutions to the ‘question of the working class’ at a time when ‘socialism’ was not yet in the form of a strong and powerful State, with all the resources which that implies, as was later to happen. However, he correctly judged the danger posed to the masses by the attractive presentation of this simple and radical solution to the ‘question of the working class.’” (John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, May 1, 1991, n. 12)

John Paul II lived under Socialism and understood its corruption of the working class. He perceived Leo XIII as a prophetic voice at the turn of the century.

The Popes of the 20th century explicitly teach that whether we modify Socialism in the shape of “Moderate Socialism,” or “Christian Socialism,” or “Theistic Socialism,” it still doesn’t fit into Catholic teaching. Socialism is not Christian and never will be Christian.

Godspeed,
Dr Taylor Marshall

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Catholic Condemnation of Socialism in 5 Papal Quotes

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 12:52:28 +0000

Pope Leo XIII Puts the Smack Down on Socialism

Sometimes you hear Christians says, “We can be faithful Catholics and Socialists with regard to economics, because we aren’t atheists like Marx.”

Actually, that’s not true. The Pope’s have spoken explicitly and condemned “Socialism” on theconomic grounds and in terms of social justice.

Socialism was condemned explicitly by Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical Rerum Novarum.

I’ve included 5 quotes to help you understand how socialism is situated and condemned by Catholic theology. All the text in red is my commentary:

4. To remedy these wrongs the socialists, working on the poor man’s envy of the rich [this has often been the strategy – to employ “covet thy neighbors goods” as a lever for social revolution], are striving to do away with private property, and contend that individual possessions should become the common property of all, to be administered by the State or by municipal bodies. They hold that by thus transferring property from private individuals to the community, the present mischievous state of things will be set to rights, inasmuch as each citizen will then get his fair share of whatever there is to enjoy. But their contentions are so clearly powerless to end the controversy that were they carried into effect the working man himself would be among the first to suffer [the Pope says the working man is the first to suffer in Socialism – and history proves His Holiness correct]. They are, moreover, emphatically unjust, for they would rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, [it is “distorted” to ask the State to ‘transfer private property to the community”] and create utter confusion in the community.

The second quote emphasizes how the wage-earner is abused by Socialism:

5. Socialists, therefore, by endeavoring to transfer the possessions of individuals to the community at large, strike at the interests of every wage-earner [wage-earners are abused], since they would deprive him of the liberty of disposing of his wages [a person has right of liberty to use his wages as he sees fit], and thereby of all hope and possibility of increasing his resources and of bettering his condition in life [the wager earner has the right to seek to better his condition].

The third quote from Rerum Novarum condemns the Socialist principle that children belong to the State and not the father – and Pope Leo XIII quotes Saint Thomas Aquinas to validate his point:

14. “The child belongs to the father,” and is, as it were, the continuation of the father’s personality; and speaking strictly, the child takes its place in civil society, not of its own right, but in its quality as member of the family in which it is born. And for the very reason that “the child belongs to the father” it is, as St. Thomas Aquinas says, “before it attains the use of free will, under the power and the charge of its parents.”(4) The socialists, therefore, in setting aside the parent and setting up a State supervision, act against natural justice [it’s against social justice to replace parental supervision with State supervision], and destroy the structure of the home [hmmm…as socialism takes root, is it not historically evident that the domestic structure crumbles?].

The fourth quote regards the just due to labor:

15. And in addition to injustice, it is only too evident what an upset and disturbance there would be in all classes, and to how intolerable and hateful a slavery citizens would be subjected. The door would be thrown open to envy, to mutual invective, and to discord [This happened in Russia and Cuba. When social change is depended on covetousness of one class against another, hatred and murder follow]; the sources of wealth themselves would run dry, for no one would have any interest in exerting his talents or his industry [Yep, why work hard when you get paid the same for the chump doing nothing? It’s entirely unjust!]; and that ideal equality about which they entertain pleasant dreams would be in reality the levelling down of all to a like condition of misery and degradation [Socialist communities always lead to the poverty of all – not to a stable middle class]. Hence, it is clear that the main tenet of socialism, community of goods, must be utterly rejected [Did you get that? “utterly rejected”], since it only injures those whom it would seem meant to benefit, is directly contrary to the natural rights of mankind [it’s directly against natural law and social justice], and would introduce confusion and disorder into the commonweal. The first and most fundamental principle, therefore, if one would undertake to alleviate the condition of the masses, must be the inviolability of private property [Private property, not shared property, IS THE FIRST AND FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE to alleviate poverty]. This being established, we proceed to show where the remedy sought for must be found.

The fifth and final quote for today comes from paragraph 17 and shows how Socialists “strive against nature”:

17. It must be first of all recognized that the condition of things inherent in human affairs must be borne with, for it is impossible to reduce civil society to one dead level. Socialists may in that intent do their utmost, but all striving against nature is in vain [Socialists strive against nature!]. There naturally exist among mankind manifold differences of the most important kind; people differ in capacity, skill, health, strength; and unequal fortune is a necessary result of unequal condition [we have different aptitudes, assets, and liabilities]. Such unequality is far from being disadvantageous either to individuals or to the community. Social and public life can only be maintained by means of various kinds of capacity for business and the playing of many parts; and each man, as a rule, chooses the part which suits his own peculiar domestic condition [handicaps do not prevent humans from the dignity of work and production]. As regards bodily labor, even had man never fallen from the state of innocence, he would not have remained wholly idle [work is not evil – it’s part of the pre-sin vocation for humans]; but that which would then have been his free choice and his delight became afterwards compulsory, and the painful expiation for his disobedience. “Cursed be the earth in thy work; in thy labor thou shalt eat of it all the days of thy life.”

So what can we summarize about the condemnation of Socialism from Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum:

Socialism promotes envy between classes. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods.”
The transfer of private property to community property is against nature and justice.
Socialism hurts the working man first and foremost.
A person has the right to improve his social condition through labor. His social condition should not be taken away from him.
Socialism perceives children as belonging to the State chiefly, and thus the State has a prior right over the father of the child with regard to guardianship, education, and labor. This the Pope condemns.
Socialism must be “utterly rejected.”
Socialism leads to “condition of misery and degradation.”
The Pope recognizes that not every human has equal aptitude in this life for wage-earning.
Labor is good and not evil. Socialism wrongly presumes that work is always an exploitation of one class serving another class.
It is evident in these quotes, but especially elsewhere, that those who have acquired private property should share their goods with those who are in need. This is the call to almsgiving that Proverbs and Christ repeatedly exhort us to practice.

Please share this post with others so that they can see that Socialism per se is condemned by Catholic social teaching.

Godspeed,

Dr Taylor Marshall

The post Catholic Condemnation of Socialism in 5 Papal Quotes appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Vatican 101: Your Guide to How the Vatican Works

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:28:28 +0000

+ List of the Vatican Dicasteries

What is “the Vatican” and how does it work? Most Catholics are partially ignorant about what “the Vatican” is and how it works. The Vatican City State is a sovereign nation, but it is also the collection of dicasteries that oversee legal cases, liturgy, money, abuse, doctrine, religious orders, appointment of bishops…basically all the newsworthy and controversial elements of Catholicism.

Over the last couple years I’ve been able to spend time in Rome and even some time with priests, bishops, and cardinals working within the Vatican. What was once a knotted mystery has become more clear to me and I wanted to share a basic outline so that you can also better understand how the Vatican works:

Understanding the Roman Curia as Dicasteries:

“The Vatican” is literally the geographic location of Saint Peter’s burial at the foot of the “Vatican Hill” outside the ancient boundaries of the city of Rome (See my book The Eternal City for thorough details about the geography and tradition of Peter’s burial). But a more accurate term for what most people mean by “the Vatican” is the “Roman Curia,” which is a collection of “dicasteries” or departments working for and under the Pope.

The word dicastery comes from the Greek word δικαστήριον meaning “place of justice.”

The Church is not a nation, but to use an analogy, you might think of the heads of each “dicasteries” as the “cabinent” of the United States President. I know, I know. It breaks down. You don’t need to leave a comment to me about how the Pope is not like a President. I’m only making an analogy.

So the Pope appoints leaders or prefects (usually cardinals) to each of the dicasteries to aid His Holiness in the governance of the Church:

List of the Vatican Dicasteries:

Here are the Vatican dicasteries organized into their six various species:

Secretariats:
The Secretariat of State (most powerful dicastery – headed by Cardinal Secretary of State)
The Secretariat for the Economy (created by Pope Francis to oversee financials)
The Secretariat for Communications (Vatican Radio, Osservatore Romano, Vatican Press, etc.)
Congregations:
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (one might say this is the second most powerful dicastery, after the Secretary of State)
The Congregation for the Eastern Churches
The Congregation for Divine Worship (liturgy and sacraments)
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints (the process of canonizing saints)
The Congregation for Bishops (researches and selects bishops for dioceses)
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (formerly named Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith)
The Congregation for the Clergy (priests, deacons, seminaries)
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (religious life)
The Congregation for Catholic Education (Catholic universities, but not seminaries)
Dicasteries
The Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life (created by Pope Francis)
The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (created by Pope Francis)
Legal Tribunals (operate like courts):
The Apostolic Penitentiary (excommunications, dispensations, indulgences)
The Tribunal of the Roman Rota (highest appellate tribunal; usually handles contested marriage annulments)
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (Supreme court seeing appealed cases from Roman Rota and conflicts between Congregations)
Pontifical Councils
The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (handles ecumenical relations with non-Catholic Christians, and notably Jewish relations)
The Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts (interpreting canon law)
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (handles relations with non-Christian religions)
The Pontifical Council for Culture
The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization (for re-evangelizing the West)
Offices of the Holy See:
The Apostolic Camera (the Papal Treasury)
The Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (modified by Pope Francis; see Secretariat for the Economy above; oversees property of the Holy See)
The Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See (oversees finances)

*Note: The tendency of Pope Francis has been to close and collapse “Pontifical Councils” into what he calls “Dicasteries.” Pope Francis has closed down four “Pontifical Councils” and erected two new “Dicasteries” listed above.

My opinion is that a reduction in the number of dicasteries is a positive reform of the Church.

Each dicastery works at the pleasure of the Holy Father. The Pope appoints all offices and he can close and open new dicasteries according to his pleasure.

Other Departments in the Vatican

You also have other departments in the Vatican that are not technically dicasteries such as:

The Pontifical Swiss Guard
- Approximately 130 soldiers that where colorful uniforms while protecting the Pope and providing border security for Vatican City.
- Fun fact: the Swiss Guard makes use of the Glock 19 pistol and Heckler & Koch MP7 .
The Vatican Bank (Official Name is: Institute for the Works of Religion – I’ll do a future post on this.)
The Pontifical Commissions (3 of which fall under the CDF):
- Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church (art, books, archives)
- Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei
  - Oversees 1962 Extraordinary Form of Mass.
  - Answers to and is located within CDF.
- Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology
- Pontifical Biblical Commission (publishes articles on biblical studies; answers to CDF)
- International Theological Commission (publishes theological articles; answers to CDF)
- Pontifical Commission for Latin America (answers to Congregation for Bishops)
- Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (instituted by Pope Francis in 2014; headed by Cardinal O’Malley of Boston)
Temporary or Interdicasterial Commissions (temporary commissions for tasks, such as producing a Catechism of the Catholic Church)

How to Be Better Educated about the Catholic Church:

As the Church faces new issues, new dicasteries are created and some are closed. There is nothing of divine right with the Roman Curia. The Pope can open and close dicasteries to help him govern the Church. Technically speaking, he could close all the offices.
It’s worth following the current issues in the Catholic Church and having an understanding of how these issues flow into and out of the “Vatican” through the various dicasteries.
It’s also worth printing out on a piece of paper the dicasteries of the Catholic Church.
- Print them out and place them in your Bible so that you can pray for their leaders and for their work. It’s worth following which Cardinals head which dicasteries.

Here are the current leaders/prefects of some of the important dicasteries:

The Secretariat of State: Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin
The Secretariat for the Economy: Australian Cardinal George Pell
The Secretariat for Communications: Monsignor Dario Edoardo Viganò

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller
The Congregation for the Eastern Churches: Cardinal Leonardo Sandri
The Congregation for Divine Worship: Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints: Italian Cardinal Angelo Amato
The Congregation for Bishops: Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples: Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni
The Congregation for the Clergy: Italian Cardinal Beniamino Stella
The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life: Brazilian Cardinal João Braz de Aviz
The Congregation for Catholic Education: Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi

The Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life: American Cardinal Kevin Farrell
The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development: Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson

All the Cardinals that lead dicasteries are usually seen as papabile – unspoken candidates for the next papacy.

Holy Apostles, pray for the Cardinals.

[reminder]Do you have questions or comments about the Roman Curia?[/reminder]

The post Vatican 101: Your Guide to How the Vatican Works appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Is Peter’s Historical Chair inside the Vatican?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 21:23:43 +0000

In the Catholic calendar up until at least 1955, January 18 was the Feast of the Saint Peter’s Chair at Rome. The “chair” is an Old Testament sign of magisterial authority, as Christ Himself gave witness:

“Saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not. For they say, and do not.” (Matthew 23:2–3, D-R)

The commemoration of Peter’s chair in rome honors the preeminent magisterial authority of Saint Peter to whom was given the Keys of the Kingdom. Peter’s office as the Vicar of Christ recalls the promise of God to the “royal steward” or “vicar” in the royal household of the Davidic king. This prophecy promises that the king’s steward will “become a throne of honor”:

“And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place, and he shall be for a throne of glory to the house of his father.” (Isaiah 22:22–23, D-R)

Yet did Saint Peter as the first Vicar of Christ have his own physical cathedra (Greek: “chair”)?

There is a third century anti-Marcionite poem that seems to testify to this historicity of Peter’s cathedra:

Hac cathedra, Petrus qua sederat ipse, locatum

Maxima Roma Linum primum considere iussit.

– Adversus Marcionem (Patrologia Latina II, 1099)

The Latin translates:

“On this chair whereupon Peter himself sat

The great Rome placed Linus and commanded him to sit.”

Saint Linus is of course the successor of Saint Peter, that is the second pope of Rome. Is this cathedra, Petrus qua sederat ipse, a literally chair or is it merely a poetic allusion to Peter’s authority? I suppose that there is no way to know for sure, but Tertullian (cf. De præscriptione hæreticorum, 36) and others seem to suggest or assume that a true physical chair kept in Rome had been that of Saint Peter.

Regardless, the chair depicted above is the traditional “Chair of Saint Peter”. In Old Saint Peter’s, this chair was prominently placed in the baptistry and the Pope would sit on it in order to confer the sacrament of Confirmation. This chair and custom are confirmed to as early as AD 366.

Today, it is enshrined in the apse of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. I don’t know whether carbon dating has been performed on it. If you’re aware of any studies or archeological investigations, please send them my way.

[reminder]

Do you enjoy reading Taylor Marshall’s posts? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It’s free. Please click here to sign up and get a free book by Email. You can also browse Taylor’s books about Catholicism at amazon.com by clicking here.

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How St Francis differed from Martin Luther or Catholic Reform vs. Protestant Reform

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 16:23:21 +0000

How did Saint Francis’ reformation of the Catholic Church (“Francis, rebuild my Church”) differ from Martin Luther’s “reformation”?

For Audio Podcast version of: “My True Opinion of Martin Luther” click here.

Essentially, Francis teaches us that we cannot fight heresy by creating new heresies. Francis always submitted to the Church, the popes, and the bishops.

Whenever “reformation” begins to the buck against the institutional Church, more heresy arises. For example, in many regards the Monophysite heresy (i.e. “Christ has one nature”) was an over-reaction to the Nestorian heresy (i.e. “Christ is two persons”). The Catholic Church has always sought to aim directly at the truth, and not merely at the destruction of error. Too often the refutation of error crosses over into further error.

Similarly, Luther and Calvin sought to displace misunderstandings about grace and merit (i.e. the faulty nominalism spawned by William of Ockham) by creating an alternate vision of grace and merit (which ironically embraced Ockham’s nominalism and repackaged it). Luther’s “solution” was in fact heretical. A quick fix is often faulty. Duct tape can “fix” almost anything – but it eventually gives way to other problems.

The annals of Church history are filled with Catholic Reformers: Paul, Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Maximus, John Damascene, Pope Gregory VII, Francis, Dominic, Catherine of Sienna, Ignatius, Teresa of Avila, et al. Each of these Catholic Reformers retained the unity of Christ’s Church, submitted to church leadership, and patiently brought about renewal. In many cases, each experienced active persecution from other Christians and even fell under the suspicion of heresy. However, their humility and silence eventually vindicated their cause as advocates for the evangelical truth of Christ’s doctrine.

Saint Francis of Assisi is perhaps one of the best examples of patience in the cause of reform. When St Francis went to Rome to seek recognition from the Pope, the Pope dismissed him impatiently and told him to go “lie down with the pigs.”

After a little while, Francis returned smeared with swine feces and stinking to high heaven. When the Pope objected, Francis answered, “I obeyed your words and merely did as you said. I lay down with the pigs.” Suddenly the Pope realized that this was a holy man who was willing to obey even in the face of humiliation. The Pope listened to Francis’ vision for renewal and the rest is history.

When rebuffed by the pope, Saint Francis could have appealed to Sacred Scripture, showing this his pattern of life was poor and lowly like that of Christ. He might even have contrasted his own “biblical life” against the extravagance of the Papal court. Francis may even have rightly rebuked the abbots, bishops, and cardinals for lacking evangelical witness. Instead, Francis followed the path of Christ. He allowed himself to be misunderstood and maligned, knowing that God would bring about his vindication…and God always does.

Contrast Saint Francis to Martin Luther. Luther did not visit Rome for confirmation of his cause, nor did he respect the structures of the Church. In fact, Cardinal Cajetan met privately with Luther and explained how Luther might modify his message so that Cajetan could have it approved by the Roman Curia. If Luther had moved more slowly and charitably, he may have become “Saint” Martin Luther.

Unfortunately, Luther was adamant and stiff-necked. He would not attempt compromise. If the Pope would not agree with him, then he would reject the papacy. Period. Luther would not tolerate any authority that failed to support him immediately and without question. Consequently, when the papal bull arrived, Luther burned it publicly and began to curse the pope as Antichrist.

Note the difference between Francis and Luther. The former moved slowly and humbly. The latter acted independently and rashly. Consequently, the history of Protestantism is marked by rash and hasty division – there are now 36,000 Protestant denominations.

As the Apostle James wrote: “the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God” (Jas 1:20). History shows that God does not use “hot-heads” to guide His Church into righteousness. God chooses those who are little, meek, and humble – for such is the kingdom of Heaven.

Herein lies the mystery of Catholic Reform.

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Which is MORE Traditional: Mass ad orientem or versus populum?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 17:21:08 +0000

And the Roman Ciborium in Roman Architecture

Ever since Cardinal Sarah’s ad orientem endorsement, and subsequent slap down by voices in the Holy See, there is debate on both sides favoring ad orientem celebration of the Holy Mass.

My goal here is show that both ad orientem AND versus populum are part of the ancient Roman Rite – and to show how the ciborium/baldacchino is a determining factor in the architecture governing each. Before we get started, let’s define vocab and issue a clarification to the liturgical police on each extreme:

Defining Terms of the Debate

ad orientem: Latin for “to the East.” For those new to the debate, ad orientem refers to the priest celebrating Mass on the same side of the altar as the people. People wrongfully call this “priest with his back to the people.”

versus populum: Latin for “toward the people.” This refers to the priest celebrating Mass on the opposite side of altar so that he is facing the people in the nave.

ad Deum: People wrongfully use ad Deum (Latin for “toward God”) as a synonym for ad orientem. I dislike this usage because it’s confusing and it presumes that versus populum is not ad Deum or “toward God.” When Pope Boniface VIII celebrated Holy Mass in AD 1300 at Old Saint Peter’s Basilica versus populum, he was celebrating Mass ad Deum (to God). It’s blasphemous to say otherwise. A valid Mass is always ad Deum no matter where the priest stands.

ciborium: Usually this refers to the precious vessel that holds the hosts during Mass. It can also roofed baldacchino that stands over the altar.

Showing My Liturgical Preference Cards Up Front

When writing about liturgy, everyone wants to size you up and classify you: Is he trad, is he liberal, is he reform-of-the-reform, whatever. So here is my perspective. I prefer the EF Latin Mass and I’m a member of a FSSP parish. But I attend the so-called Novus Ordo for daily Mass – and I usually attend the Novus Ordo when I travel. I have attended the Novus Ordo in Saint Peter’s Rome. I’ve attended the EF Latin Mass in Saint Peter’s in Rome. I received Jesus Christ and for this I’m grateful.

I can serve the EF. I’m good at Latin and I understand most of it in the Mass. I can listen to the Epistle and Gospel in Latin and understand it.

I love ad orientem. I find priests smiling over the altar as distracting. Personally, I find the priest facing with the congregation more Christocentric. For me, the elevation is more dramatic and devltional ad orientem. Silent canon makes more sense ad orientem, in my opinion. All pluses from my point of view.

Conclusion: I like the Latin Mass, but I never make a stink of it. I’m not exclusivist.

Talking Latin Mass Will Always Get You Judged…

I almost hate writing about anything Latin Mass because it gets me labeled by both extremes in the Church. So let me just issue a clarification:

For liturgical progressives who want to judge me: I don’t believe that attending the EF Latin Mass is a statement or that it means that one is “rad trad” or hates his local bishop or the Pope. Far from it. I love the Ordinary Form of the Mass. I attend it daily. I love my local bishop and pray for him daily. I love the Holy Father and pray for him daily and was even honored to shake his hand recently when he kissed my baby. I know that these hostile elements can exist in the “trad movement” but I’m not into that. So if you want to lump me in with the “mean Latin Mass haters,” you’re wrong.

For Traddies who want to judge me: I don’t think that Latin EF Mass and ad orientem is divinely mandated liturgy, nor do I think it’s always the best. If you think for saying this, I’m a Freemason, heretic, idolator, New World Order-ist, Novus Ordo-ist, Neo-Catholic – you’re incorrect and I’ll ignore your comments.

Both Versus Populum and Ad Orientem in the Roman Tradition

I just got back from Rome. If you’ve been there, you know already that the major churches in Rome have always had the priest facing the people over the altar (photos at the end of the post):

St Peter’s
St Paul’s outside the Walls
St John Lateran
St Mary Major
St Clement’s
St Maria in Trastavere

Why? Because versus populum was part of the ancient Roman tradition. Where there was space and a big budget (as in these important Roman churches), they worked it versus populum. However, this elegant arrangement usually requires the presence of a ciborium (a stone canopy or baldacchino) over the altar.

Where there isn’t space to do it right (that is, no ciborium over altar), they worked ad orientem with dignity.

Those that study the issue know that it has to do with whether a Roman ciborium/baldacchino can be built over the altar. Generally speaking, if there is a ciborium, it’s versus populum. If not, there’s ad orientem.

There is a Roman way of doing versus populum and Pope Benedict pointed that out: screens and/or baldacchino, candles on the altar (causing visual disruption), and especially a crucifix in the middle. The silent canon especially balances out versus populum and the attention on the priest.

My personal preference would be that everything should be ad orientem – unless you can install a ciborium/baldacchino over the altar – ideally with a sunken confessio for relics under the altar. If not, it should be ad orientem.

The problem, in my unimportant layman’s point of view, is that parishes in the 1950s-1980s plunged into versus populum altars without understanding the ancient Roman requisites for such people-facing altars. So now we have a churches where the altar lacks dignity and is often dwarfed by “the presiders chair” and the ambo. The ciborium canopy magnified the dignity of the altar within the versus populum context. We need to rediscover this feature of Roman liturgy and architecture. We need to start building a ciborium canopy over the altar.

Photos of Examples of Versus Populum with Proper Ciborium

Here are photos of the churches above showing how the ancient Roman versus populum worked with the ciborium canopy or baldacchino:

Here’s Pope Pius XII celebrating versus populum…but under the baldacchino with candle and crucifix “obstruction.”

Here’s the Pope’s cathedral Saint John Lateran. Note the amazing baldacchino which contains the skulls of Saint Paul and Saint Peter behind the gold grating above the altar:

Here’s my favorite church Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome. Historic versus populum, but with a baldacchino. This church is so God-honoring. Beauty. Truth. Goodness. I try to attend Sunday Mass here (Ordinary Form) whenever I can:

And here’s San Clemente in Rome. Small church with versus populum with a modest baldacchino:

I could also include Saint Mary Major and Saint Paul’s outside the Walls. The point is, if you’re going to do versus populum, you need a baldacchino/ciborium over the altar. If not, ad orientem tends to be the “traditional” way to construct a church.

Comments

[reminder]I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments. Do you have a preference? How is your parish set up? Do you like it or not? How could we improve our altars using the Roman churches as models?[/reminder]

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History of Catholic Cardinals: Their Power and Number

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 22:07:55 +0000

The Roman Development of the Office of Cardinal

Having just returned from teaching Roman Church History in Rome, I’ve been reviewing the history of Roman cardinals. Here’s a brief timeline:

6th century – In Rome the first cardinals were the seven deacons of the seven regions of the city. The deacons, not the presbyters, had immediate access to the Pope of Rome. This is why deacons in Rome were granted the privilege of wearing a more dignified vestment (the dalmatic) than that of the priest (the chasuble).
8th century – The term “cardinal” is attached to the senior priest (pastor) in each of the titular churches of Rome. For the significance of titulus in relation to the churches in Rome, see my book The Eternal City where I relate how the Latin term titulus was used to denote licensed altars in the city of Rome based on the Old Latin (pre-Vulgate) translation of the Old Testament.
By decree of the Lateran Council of 769, only a cardinal priest or deacon was eligible to become pope. This is no longer the case. Any Catholic male may be elected as Pope. Laity could not participate in the election. Armed men could not be present for papal elections.
9th century – Pope Stephen V (816-17) decreed that all 7 cardinal bishops were bound to sing Mass on rotation at the high altar at St. Peter’s Basilica, one every Sunday. He also mentions the distinction of cardinal bishops, cardinal priests, and cardinal deacons.
11th century – In 1059, during the pontificate of Nicholas II, cardinal bishops were given the right to elect the pope under the Papal Bull In nomine Domini. Emperors could not nominate candidates or veto a winner. Emperors could still “confirm” the election. Election must take place in Rome. Pope is pope from moment of election and consent and not from coronation or enthronement.
12th century – At the Third Lateran Council in 1179 the right to the whole body of cardinals – bishops, priests and deacons – to elect the pope was re-established for the first time in over 100 years.
Also, a 2/3 majority was required for a valid election.
13th century – In 1244, cardinals were granted the privilege of wearing the red hat by Pope Innocent IV.

Cardinals in Post-Tridentine Era

The chief clergy of any diocese were often called cardinals. However, the use of the title “cardianl” was reserved for the cardinals of Rome in 1567 by Pope Saint Pius V.
In 1517, Pope Leo X added 31 additional cardinals, bringing the total to a staggering 65 cadinals!
Pope Sixtus V (1585-1590) capped the number of cardinals to 70, comprising of:
- 6 cardinal bishops,
- 50 cardinal priests,
- 14 cardinal deacons.
- This was modeled on the Sandhedrin pattern of Moses and the Old Testament – seventy elders to assist in judging Israel.
During the pontificate of Pope Saint John XXIII, the limit exceeded 70.
1965 Pope Paul VI also increased the number of cardinal bishops by giving that rank to patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches.
In 1970, Pope Paul VI raised the number of cardinal electors at a cap of 120 cardinal electors while at the same time fixing the maximum age for cardinal electors at the age of 80 years. Hence, for the first time in history, elderly cardinals could no longer vote.
Of the 117 cardinals under the age of 80 at the time of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, 115 participated in the conclave of March 2013 that elected his successor. The two who did not participate were Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja (for health reasons) and Keith O’Brien (following allegations of sexual misconduct).
As of 9 July 2016, there are a total of 212 cardinals, of whom 113 are cardinal electors under the age 80.

Pray for our current Holy Father Francis of Rome, and pray for our Cardinals who have been chosen by God to elect the next Holy Father.

And I just can’t resist, here’s the video from a week ago of Pope Francis kissing my baby: Click here to watch.

https://youtu.be/5nvvRd8GhkE

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Video: Pope Francis Kissed My Baby Margaret Today in Rome!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 17:26:46 +0000

This morning, the Vicar of Christ and Successor of Saint Peter took our baby daughter Margaret Grace Carol Marshall (“Carol” for Karol Wojtyła aka Saint John Paul II – she was born on Saint John Paul II’s feast day).

In the video below you’ll see how Pope Francis stops the Popemobile when he looks and sees my wife Joy holding our baby Margaret. Next he motions for our baby Margaret to be brought up to him in the Popemobile. He kisses her, blesses her, and then laughs. You can then see me (Taylor) shake hands with the Holy Father. At the end you can see Joy’s ecstatic mother’s smile after the Vicar of Christ on earth has just kissed her baby girl.

Here’s the video (click here to being watching it):

https://youtu.be/5nvvRd8GhkE

Please pray for our Holy Father Pope Francis that God might reward him for his kindness and generosity to our baby and our family.

Also, my son Becket had his First Communion in Saint Peter’s Basilica about an hour before this happened with the Pope. It’s a red letter day!!!

Godspeed,
Taylor

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PHOTO: Margaret’s Latin Baptism

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 18:48:06 +0000

Thanks for praying for Margaret. She was born on Oct 22 (St John Paul II) and baptized on Oct 31 (Vigil of All Saints)!

[callout]Saint John Paul II issued a document asking parents to baptize infants quickly “within weeks of birth.” Learn more about Saint John Paul II on not delaying baptism by clicking here.[/callout]

Here’s the “House of Marshall” after the Baptism (thanks to Paul Hunker for this photo):

L-R Marshall Family: Mary Claire, Elizabeth, Rose, Joy and Baby Margaret, Becket, Jude, Blaise, Taylor, Gabriel. Priest: Father Tom Longua

Margaret is officially a little saint – filled with the Holy Trinity and sanctifying grace. And check out this photo of Margaret 2 days after birth with this shadow of a cross on her forehead. Pretty cool. I don’t how this happened but it’s a good reminder that the baptized are marked with the sign of the cross:

Thanks for praying for Margaret! She’s daddy’s little pearl.

If you’re a Member of the New Saint Thomas Institute, be sure to check out class on Baptism, Infants, and Thomas Aquinas on Limbo:

And here’s a Youtube video Blaise’s baptism according to the 1962 Rite:

[reminder]

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Will Pope Allow Divorce and Remarriage for the Sake of Conscience?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 16:26:03 +0000

Regarding the Conscience Kasperites™

The 2015 Roman Synod on the Family has come to a close and I’ve had a chance to review the document. As I stated back in July, the strategy of revisionist Kasperites (named after their proponent Cardinal Walter Kasper) in the Catholic Church will be to maintain official doctrine, but to change pastoral practice in the name of “mercy” so that the doctrine becomes de facto disregarded. We saw this play out during the Synod:

Cardinal Walter Kasper (age 82)

Thanks be to God, that the bishops at the Synod voted against the “Kasper Proposal.” If you need to catch up on what’s going down, you might read Father Z’s article on the Final Report Paragraphs 84-85. All the meat in this debate is found in those paragraphs.

[callout]UPDATED:

In 1993 Cardinal Kapser signed a pastoral letter which requested that divorced and civilly remarried German Catholics be able to receive the Eucharist under pastoral review. Then Cardinal Ratzinger and Pope Saint John Paul II strongly disapproved. So this has been in the works for over 22 years!

At Synod of Bishops in 2014, Cardinal Kasper told reporters that since African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries have a “taboo” against homosexuality, “they should not tell us too much what we have to do.” When the quote become public, Kasper denied having made the comment. The reporter Edward Pentin later produced a recording of the conversation, which verified that the Cardinal had made such a statement.[/callout]

What is “Conscience” and How It Matters in This Debate

The “Conscience Kasperites” will use the slogan “conscience is inviolable” to license laymen, priests, and bishops (and popes?) to allow Catholics to openly disagree with Catholic teaching. Recently, Archbishop Blase Cupich of Chicago seems to serve as the American Apostle of “Conscience Kasperites”.

Archbishop Blase Cupich, age 66

Archbishop Blase Cupich (pronounced SOO-Pitch) of Chicago (papal delegate to the Roman Synod on the Family) has said that civilly divorced and remarried Catholics should “come to a decision in good conscience” and that the Church should “help them move forward and to respect that.”

Thankfully, the Catholic Church didn’t allow King Henry VIII to “come to a decision in good conscience” and “respect that” with regard to his marriage(s). King Henry VIII, according to his own testimony, was 100% convinced that his union with Catherine of Aragon was not only null but contrary to God’s will. But the Catholic Church didn’t “help him move forward and respect that.” Schism followed but the Catholic Church stood firm for the teaching of Christ. It was the pastoral thing to do.

The Church and her bishops (and laity) don’t have magic goggles that allow them to inspect as to whether a person is living according to his or her conscience. Kasper and Cupich don’t know if a couple are living in accord with their conscience. This is why we Catholics have objective rules and tangible sacraments. Canon law and infallible magisterial teaching are the instruments of pastoral direction.

Father Z also spoke of the new doctrinal need for Catholics to get deep into the orthodox teaching on “conscience,” because the doctrine of conscience being advocated by the”Conscience Kasperites” is not the doctrine found in Saint John Paul II, nor in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Conscience is “con+scientia = “with knowledge”

Conscience is a word formed by two Latin words: con/cum (with) and scientia (knowledge). It is the judgment of reason by which we knowledgeably jude our moral actions. Here is what the Catechism says about conscience [with my comments in red]:

1796 Conscience is a judgment of reason by which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act. [conscience judges certain concrete acts – not tendencies or lifestyles]

1797 For the man who has committed evil, the verdict of his conscience remains a pledge of conversion and of hope. [conscience is a pledge toward conversion]

1798 A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. [conscience must be well-formed] It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. Everyone must avail himself of the means to form his conscience.

1799 Faced with a moral choice, conscience can make either a right judgment in accordance with reason and the divine law [this is the part of the CCC that “Conscience Kasperites” reject] or, on the contrary, an erroneous judgment that departs from them.

1800 A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience.

1801 Conscience can remain in ignorance or make erroneous judgments. Such ignorance and errors are not always free of guilt. [“Conscience Kasperites” also dismiss this truth that having a bad conscience does NOT necessarily remove moral guilt]

1802 The Word of God is a light for our path [the Word of God, the Bible is our path – so a pastor or bishop should read the word of God to us in each of these moral dilemmas so that we can make a right and true judgment]. We must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. This is how moral conscience is formed.

What’s the take home here? A conscience is well formed “with knowledge” based on the Word of God, prayer, and truth faith.

It is literally impossible for a Catholic to read the appropriate passages in Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church and conclude in their conscience:

committing a homosexual act today is morally good.
today I can vote to fund abortion with tax-payer funds and not be guilty of grave sin.
if I’m still in a sacramental marriage “till death do us part,” I can have sex tonight with someone besides my living spouse.
to masturbate at this moment is morally permissible.
I can exploit my workers and not pay them because my conscience doesn’t bother me. It must not be a sin.
I am aware that the Catholic Church calls contraception an “intrinsic evil,” but my conscience tells me it’s a good thing for my marriage and well-being.

Please hold fast to the authentic Catholic teaching of Saint John Paul II. The conscience is “man’s most secret core, and his sanctuary.” Yet sanctuaries must be designed, decorated, and maintained.

Ignorance does mitigate guilt and can exclude it altogether. But pastorally, a shepherd (bishop or pastor) should feed his flock with the truth, and work to form their consciences with knowledge.

[callout]Hard truth: If a parish is full of people with “badly formed consciences,” then what’s the proper pastoral response?

If my children grow up thinking that lying is okay or stealing little pieces of candy from the pharmacy is “no big deal” – then that’s my bad as a parent. I failed them as a father if they say, “When Dad saw us stealing candy at Walmart, he simply said: ‘Follow your conscience on the matter.'” But if they steal candy and know, “My father taught me not to do this, but I’m going to do it any way,” then I did my job and that’s their guilt.

Reverend and Spiritual Fathers, do your spiritual children know right from wrong? If you’ve been Pastor for 10 years and 90% of your congregation honestly thinks contraception is morally permissible, then you’ve failed them as a spiritual father. The deserve to be taught the Catholic truth in a careful, patient, and loving way. Caritas in veritate.[/callout]

If a layman says, “Yes, Father, I understand that the Church teaches that [fill in the blank] is an intrinsic evil and/or disordered but for me in my conscience it’s good…so I’m going to keep doing it anyway, and I’ll keep coming to Holy Communion,” then that pastor should pray and work so as to correct the erroneous conscience. He cannot say “I’m glad that you’ve come to a decision in good conscience…and I want to help you move forward and I respect that.”

That’s not how father’s speak with children that they love.

What Can You Do – 3 Step Program?

Step 1: Read the section in the Catechism on Conscience in full. It will take you less than 2 minutes to read. Here it is: This is your homework (CCC 1776-1802).

Step 2: Familiarize yourself with the way that Conscience Kasperites are using the word “conscience” to promote relativism. Relativists say, “What’s right for me may not be right for you.” Conscience Kasperites also affirm this teaching but they attempt to Christianize it by appealing to malformed consciences: “What’s right for your conscience may not line up with Church teaching, and that’s okay.”

Step 3: Pray and be joyful. Don’t be stressed out over this. The theological enemies of the Catholic Church always fade away. The truth of God abides forever. They will lose this battle. Their disagreement will only create a great movement of truth against it.

[reminder]Have you met Conscience Kasperites? Are you ready? Do you think “conscience” is being abused?[/reminder]

The post Will Pope Allow Divorce and Remarriage for the Sake of Conscience? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Who was the Second Pope: Intro to Saint Linus

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 14:32:06 +0000

And his thoughts on chapel veils...

We all know that Saint Peter was the first Pope, but who took up the reins after the Emperor Nero crucified Peter upside down below the Vatican Hill?

Tradition identifies Saint Linus as Pope #2. In today’s video, I give you a short intro into this sainted pope and martyr – who shares a feast day with Padre Pio:

If you don’t see the video in your email or rss, please click here to watch it.

If you’re interested in going on a pilgrimage to Rome with me in 2016, please click here for details.

[reminder]

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Pope Pius IX’s Secret Vist to America in 1849

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 11:39:44 +0000

The aquatic entry of a Pope onto America Territory

With Pope Francis arriving in America, there are many media sources recollecting the “first” papal visit to the United States by Pope Paul VI. But this isn’t quite correct. Back in 1849, there was a covert visit to the United States by Pope Pius IX. Here’s a video explaining it, or you can read on below for a full explanation of this little known historical fact:

If you don’t see the video in your email or RSS, click here.

I’ve only had the opportunity to visit the White House once and after lunch I was shown a portrait of a large ship flying the American and Papal flags. It depicts the first papal visit to the territory of the United States in the person of Pope Pius IX in 1849.

The American USS Constitution (known affectionally as “Old Ironsides”) received onboard King Ferdinand II and Pope Pius IX on Aug 1 1849 giving them a 21-gun salute. By stepping on board an American vessel, the Holy Father officially entered American territory. A commissioned military ship has the same legal status as a piece of political soil. So while Pius IX did not actually enter the borders of the United States, he did technically step foot onto American territory.

The King and Pope received a full tour of Old Ironsides and was even hosted in Captain Gwinn’s quarters. The Holy Father personally met the Catholic sailors on board, blessed them, and spoke with them through an English/Italian interpreter.

To show his appreciation, Pope Pius IX struck a silver medal bearing the pontiff’s coat of arms along with the coat of arms of Captain Gwinn. The Holy Father also sent papally blessed Rosaries to the crew of the Constitution.

When news reached the United States that the Pope of Rome had received hospitality on an American war vessel, the Navy was furious. Commodore Morgan sought to have Captain Gwinn disciplined. However, Gwinn died months later before disciplinary measures could be executed. I’m sure Saint Peter returned the hospitality to Captain Gwinn…

[reminder]Did you know that a Pope had “entered America” back in 1849?[/reminder]

Please share this post with your friends on Facebook.

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[Catholic Video] Do Catholics Reject Separation of Church and State? Yes

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 16:14:28 +0000

Do Catholics reject the principle of Separation of Church and State? Some might be surprised to learn that the “separation of Church and State” was doctrinally condemned by Pope Pius IX in 1852 and again by Pope Saint Pius X in 1907.

In this sample New Saint Thomas video I explain what these Popes taught, why they taught it, and how we as Catholics can better understand the relationship between secular nations and the Catholic Church. If you love your nation and Church, then you need to know this:

[HD Video] Church and State: Religion and Secularism in the Public Square

From NSTI Module 4: Atheism and Secularism of the Catholic Certificate in Apologetics. Taylor explains the papal teaching on secular states and the Catholic Church:

Having trouble seeing the video in your RSS feed or email? Click here to watch the video.

[reminder]Were you aware that the Catholic Church had social teaching on the separation of Church and State? Do you think that the solution in the video is helpful?[/reminder]

Message for those of you that are not yet Members of the New Saint Thomas Institute:

[callout]Fall Enrollment for new members to the New Saint Thomas Institute (NSTI) ends at 11:59pm on Tuesday September 15. There are less than 59 spots left at the reduced tuition rate with the bonuses. If you have friends or family who would like join, please share this post with them. Here’s the link for Fall Enrollment with the bonuses and tuition discount: special link for joining the New Saint Thomas Institute.][/callout]

How the Home-screen looks of our NSTI Certificate in Catholic Apologetics:

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Why do Popes Change Their Names?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 14:55:05 +0000

This morning I was so excited to begin teaching a class for the Rome Experience at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce) in Rome. All of the seminarians are top-shelf Catholics and gentlemen. It’s an honor to be here with them.

In this morning’s second session on “The Theology of Rome,” (which is covered in book form here), we studied the second chapter of Daniel and explored the role of the unhewn stone that destroys the pagan sovereign kingdom’s over Israel – climaxing in the Roman Empire. The Stone is Christ, but it is instrumentally Saint Peter (Kepha in Aramaic or Petros in Greek) when we appreciate the Roman context of the prophecy.

One of the students raised an excellent question: “Why do Popes choose new names?” Here’s where the tradition got started:

Pope Mercury? Try again…Pope John II

On January 2 AD 533, a priest of Rome named Mercurius was elected as the Pope. He felt, however, that it would be unbecoming of the Holy See to have a Pope named after a Roman god “Mercury.” It would sound strange to Roman ears. Think of saying something like “Pope Jupiter” or “Pope Neptune.” So this priest opted not to be called “Pope Mercury” and instead changed his name when he became Pope.

Not all Popes after Mercury chose new names. However, those with extremely non-Roman names (think Germanic Popes) often chose Roman names assimilate into their Roman context. Pope Adalbert just sounds wrong.

Mercury chose the name “John” to honor his papal predecessor Pope John I who died in AD 526. Incidentally, Pope Saint John I was the first Pope to visit Constantinople while serving as Pope.

Pope John II (Mercury) is notable in Church History because obtained from the Emperor Justinian his orthodox profession of the Catholic Faith and his repudiation of the Monophysite heresy.

Fun Fact #1: The last pope to use his personal baptismal name was Pope Marcellus II in 1555.
Fun Fact #2: There hadn’t been a new Papal name since AD 913 until Pope Francis! Before Pope Francis, Popes always chose names from the recycled list of previous Papal names. I supposed that “John Paul” is technically a new name, but it’s also a compound name of two previously uses Papal names.

[reminder]What Papal name would you choose for the next Pope and why? Which would I choose? I love Pope Leo XIII (by the way, will somebody please canonize him!), so I’d like the next Pope to be Pope Leo XIV. Plus, Leo is a very regal name. So…what named would you like to see for the next Holy Father.[/reminder]

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[Video] Is Eucharistic Benediction with the Pope More Powerful?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 21:23:27 +0000

Is Eucharistic Benediction more powerful in the hands of the Pope?

The answer may surprise you. I share my thoughts after attending Eucharistic Benediction with Pope Francis on the Feast of Corpus Christi:

To watch the video at Youtube, please click here.

I’d like to add here that there are always “extra graces” associated with the Petrine ministry and his liturgical functions. I simply wanted to express that the Eucharistic Benediction is Christ’s direct blessing on your life. He is really there blessing you from the monstrance – whether it’s the Pope holding the monstrance or newly ordained priest. Christ does the blessing.

I hope you enjoy the video.

[reminder]Is there anything else you’d like me to cover while I’m here in Rome?[/reminder]

I’m here with the Rome Experience teaching seminarians. Please learn more about the Rome Experience and support this powerful apostolate with your prayers and gifts: The Rome Experience.

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Pope Francis says iPhones are Damaging Families

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 12:22:14 +0000

Pope Francis has called families to put down their iPads, tablets, gadgets, smart phones and to start talking to one another in a personal way.

Joy and I are struggling with this. The kids got Kindle Fires for Christmas…for reading. But with all the features, they are turning into iPads with games, movies, etc. We have them locked down so they can’t get the internet, but still, in the evening I look around and see everyone on a screen. It’s getting kind of scary. So the Pope’s words have hit open ears.

In his annual message for the World Day of Communications, Pope Francis said:

The great challenge facing us today is to learn once again how to talk to one another, not simply how to generate and consume information,” the Pope said.

[reminder]Do you agree? Does your family or group of friends retreat to gadgets? How do we use them for good without becoming slaves to the screen?[/reminder]

Full story from the Telegraph can be found here.

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My thoughts on Pope Francis and Breeding Like Rabbits

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 21:34:14 +0000

Pope Francis recently explained that Catholics don’t need to breed reproduce like rabbits in order to be good Catholics. I don’t ever weigh in on Pope Francis debates, but today I’ll dip my toe.

Whenever the Pope has one of these zingers, I receive emails, comments, texts, and Facebook messages asking me to comment on this-or-that latest comment by Pope Francis. I like to remain silent. But today I thought I’d share my personal thoughts (not judgment).

The latest excitement is over Pope Francis’ comment that Catholics don’t have to breed “like rabbits” in order to be faithful.

To celebrate on Valentines Day this year, I’m going to get this really attractive date outfit for my wife Joy (beautiful mother of seven). Shhh. Don’t tell her. It’s a secret:

But seriously, I know that many families have been hurt or discouraged by this rascally rabbits comment:

They are strong Catholics with a love for Jesus and the Church.
They are open to life with all the joys and crosses that come along with it.
They struggle with raising a large family.
Finances are tight.
School tuition is expensive.
Mom gets ridiculed at the supermarket for “all those kids”
Neighbors say stuff like “Don’t you know how that happens?”
Grandparents murmur about responsibility.
Husband and wife exchange worried glances as they go over budgets and college funds.

The one place that “understands them” is supposed to be the Catholic Church. However, when they hear themselves compared to “rabbits” by the Holy Father (whatever the context), they feel hurt.

Here’s my take on this episode and most of the other papal soundbites that get filtered through the media:

A Pope can take an external or internal approach to his role as the Vicar of Christ.

1) An internal approach would direct papal teaching and speaking energies to the faithful within the Catholic Church. He would primarily encourage and edify those who are in the fold, as Christ said to Peter: “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:32).

2) An external approach would be to direct his teaching and speaking energies to the secular world which is either skeptical about the Church or downright opposed to it. The goal is bring about conversions from an unsuspecting society. An external approach crafts communicative missives to the skeptics, world leaders, and enemies of Christianity.

Pope Francis is clearly of the second approach: external. He’s sending out zingers and being provocative in order to get the attention of those who have dismissed Christ, Christianity, and the Catholic Church.

The good news is that his soundbites get turned into widely publicized headlines in secular news outlets. His voice resounds through the electric echo chamber of global communications…free press. The bad news is that there seems to be a lot of confusion over controversial positions facing the Church.

So here’s my layman’s take on it:

Let me lay down a caveat before I say something controversial here. I am a layman. I have zero magisterial authority. I’m just a guy tapping on a keyboard in Texas…

But my personal opinion (which might not be worth two cents) is that the Holy Father, in our time, should be focused on an internal approach to the papacy. Why fly around with a airplane full of journalists recording soundbites only so that they can warp them and confuse the faithful globally. It is true that the secular world happily repeats the provocative messages – but they do so unfaithfully. First confusion about homosexuality, then atheism, then remarriage, then Catholic rabbits, and so on.

My personal opinion (probably not worth two cents) is that the Church needs a papacy focused internally on feeding the sheep in the fold and less attention on distracting the wolves externally.

I think Pope Francis is a good man. He’s committed to trying to resurrect the “external papacy” of Pope Saint John Paul II rather than the “internal papacy” of Pope Benedict XVI. Unfortunately, I think the strategy, at this point, isn’t working out.

Was this helpful? If so, please share it with family and friends on Facebook by clicking here.

[reminder]Do you think that the papacy should be focused internally, externally, or 50/50? Comments are open, but be please charitable toward each other and toward the Holy Father. As mamma said, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”[/reminder]

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Saint Irene: Miss Constantinople Beauty Pageant Winner of AD 768

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 18:42:24 +0000

Here’s the story of how an Byzantine Empress had her political enemies ordained priests so keep them out of political office…and how she later proposed marriage to Charlemagne…and was denied.

Here’s a quick backstory to the plot.

Saint Irene was the wife and empress of the Byzantine Emperor Leo IV. She was not a princess. Historians believe she was chosen to marry the emperor’s son through an imperial Miss Byzantine Beauty Pageant known as a Bride Show.

Basically, the Byzantine emperor would line up the most gorgeous women of the empire for a beauty contest, and the emperor’s son would choose his favorite.

(“Wow dad, that girl over there would make for a really hot empress. Can I marry her?”

“If she’s the one you like.”

“Gee, thanks dad!”

“You’re welcome, son. Happy birthday Leo!”)

Although she won out as “Miss Constantinople AD 768,” she soon learned that her young husband Leo IV espoused the heresy of iconoclasm.

Iconoclasm wrongly taught that images of of Christ, Mary, and the saints should not only be removed from churches and homes, but that they should be destroyed as being contrary to the commandment “Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven image.”

Saint Irene’s husband Leo IV died and left the throne to their nine year old son Constantine VI. She served as Regent until the prince reached the age of majority.

Irene unveiled a plot enthrone throne Caesar Nikephoros, a half-brother of her deceased husband Leo IV. To overcome this conspiracy, she had Nikephoros and his co-conspirators ordained as priests, an act that disqualified them from political office. Check mate!

“So you want to usurp my nine-year-old son’s rightful claim on the Byzantine throne, do you? Too bad. I’ve arranged for you to receive Holy Orders tomorrow before breakfast. Toodles!”

Saint Irene got busy. She arranged for her son Constantine VI to marry Rotrude the daughter of Charlemagne, but the wedding fell through. (Maybe the young Constantine VI also wanted to choose his own Miss Constantinople rather than risk it with the daughter of a Frankish warlord.)

Irene also worked with the Pope in Rome for the Second Ecumenical Council of Nicea in AD 787 to doctrinally ratify the use of Christian images of Christ and the saints.

Saint Irene refused to allow the rule to pass from her regency to her son Constantine VI. Like Queen Elizabeth I of England, she employed the male title of “king” (basileus) instead of “queen” (basilissa). She was King Irene!

By the way, Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as a substitute Roman Emperor because of the irregularity of Irene’s rule in the New Rome of Byzantium!

The widowed Irene later proposed marriage to Charlemagne to reestablish the glory of Constantinople! Charlemagne declined…even though she had once been Miss Constantinople.

Saint Irene’s feast day is August 9.

[reminder]

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The Last Saint of the Year: St Sylvester on Dec 31

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 31 Dec 2014 20:53:46 +0000

Evelyn Waugh (one of my favorite authors) in his historical novel Helena had a throwaway line, which was a joke about today’s (Dec 31) saint. Pope Saint Sylvester was the Pope of Constantine and Waugh jokingly has a comment that states that if Pope Sylvester every did become a saint, he would be relegated to the last day of the year…

The forged legend of the Donation of Constantine (8th century) claims that Constantine offered his crown to Pope Sylvester (314-335). Sylvester then gives it back to Constantine. The importance image here is that Constantine abdicated (briefly) and that the Pope as the Vicar of Christ then re-established Constantine has the Roman Emperor. The message is clear: only the Pope can make kings and emperors out of laymen. The story was already in circulation in the 500s.

The medieval legend was that Pope Sylvester also baptized Constantine. I’ve even seen the obelisk at the Lateran baptistry that reads “Constantine was baptized here.” Here’s an image by Raphael which depicts the alleged baptism of Constantine by Pope Sylvester:

Saint Sylvester, last saint of the year, pray for us.

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Crazy Cardinals, Synod on Marriage and Family, Finding Peace

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 16:36:49 +0000

Have you been following all the crazy news about the Synod of Bishops for Marriage and the Family and the Relatio document from last week?

Do you have questions about how the Church is handling homosexuality? Has it bothered you? Are you concerned? Below is a video explaining some of the lesser known details, the crazy things cardinals say, how Saint Paul handled homosexuality in the first century, and why you should not lose your peace over this situation.

Please take a moment to watch this video:

[youtube id=”5HNRNLS-tSg”]

Are you having trouble seeing this video in your browser or email? Please click here to watch it.

[reminder]Please share your thoughts about the Synod of Bishops for Marriage and the Family (but be charitable in your feedback, please).[/reminder]

[callout]Do you have friends and family confused about this Synod? Please share it with them on Facebook by clicking here.[/callout]

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Saint Helen: A recommended book, Evelyn Waugh’s Helena

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 15:06:31 +0000

Today is the feast day of Saint Helen, the mother of Constantine the Great. She is the matriarch of Christian Europe and the finder of the one true Cross of Christ in Jerusalem. Here’s a post I wrote before on how Saint Helen found the original cross: it’s a great story.

I’m particularly obsessed with Saint Helena and Constantine because I’m polishing my historical young-adult novel on Saint George, which includes the likes of Saint George, Saint Christopher, Saint Nicholas, Saint Helen, Constantine, et al. It’s the story of Saint George’s coming of age, virtue, and martyrdom (and yes it has a great dragon in it).

It’s a fun novel for young adults and adults. Look for it on amazon after Thanksgiving!

One book that inspired me in particular was Evelyn Waugh’s historical fiction novel Helena. Waugh took the historical early 4th century and fictionalized it. He’s known for his acclaimed bestseller Brideshead Revisited, but I dare say that his Helena is as good as, if not better than Brideshead. Helana novel is a history lesson and entertainment all rolled into one. If you’re looking for a great novel with Christian themes, please read Waugh’s Helena.

Blurb from book:

Evelyn Waugh, author of the internationally acclaimed bestseller Brideshead Revisited and one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, considered Helena to be perhaps his finest novel. Based on the life of St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine and finder of the true cross, this spiritual adventure brings to life the political intrigues of ancient Rome and the early years of Christianity.

Helena is the intelligent, horse-mad daughter of a British chieftain who is suddenly betrothed to the warrior who becomes the Roman emperor Constantius. She spends her life seeking truth in the religions, mythologies, and philosophies of the declining ancient world. This she eventually finds in Christianity—and literally in the Cross of Christ.

Here’s the link to the book in amazon.com: Waugh’s novel Helena. Enjoy it!

[reminder]Have you read this novel? What did you think?[/reminder]

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NFP and Serious Reasons…What are these reasons?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 11:30:00 +0000

Do you need a reason to morally practice NFP or Naturally Family Planning? My post about the sinfulness of contraception and sterilization (Read: 6 Reasons Why Contraception is Sinful) stirred up some comments about natural family planning (NFP). Some have claimed that NFP is abused just as much as artificial contraception. So today we’ll look at NFP and the Catholic Church’s serious reasons or just causes for NFP.

In this post we’ll look at the teaching of Pope Pius XII and Pope Paul VI on the reasons for NFP. I’ll also share some personal thoughts about it all.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a popular contemporary term for “periodic continence.” NFP works by observing the cycles of a wife’s fertility (charting oral temperatures, measuring cycle length, and journaling interior fertility signs), and then avoiding the nuptial embrace during her times of fertility so as to avoid pregnancy. In NFP, the husband and wife abstain from the nuptial embrace altogether during the time of the wife’s monthly fertility (usually 7-12 days).

Pope Pius XII Who Gave Us the”Serious Reasons”

The Church allows married couples to practice periodic continence only for what the church calls “serious” or “just” reasons. These reasons were listed by Pope Pius XII in his “Address to the Italian Catholic Union of Midwives” from 1951. Granted, a popes address to “Italian midwives” is low on the the pole when it comes to magisterial statements. It’s not a universal statement. Nevertheless, it’s helpful to begin our investigation here.

Pope Pius XII NFP Serious List (1951)

Pope Pius XII’s list from his “Address to the Italian Catholic Union of Midwives” in 1951:

Serious motives, such as those which not rarely arise from medical, eugenic, economic and social so-called “indications,” may exempt husband and wife from the obligatory, positive debt for a long period or even for the entire period of matrimonial life.”

Pope Pius XII gives us these four reasons:

Medical reasons
Eugenic reasons
Economic reasons
Social “indicator” reasons

Pope Paul VI NFP Serious List (1968)

Seventeen years later, the serious reasons (seriis causis) were repeated by Pope Paul VI in his groundbreaking encyclical Humanae Vitae.

With regard to physical, economic, psychological and social conditions, responsible parenthood is exercised by those who prudently and generously decide to have more children, and by those who, for serious reasons and with due respect to moral precepts (seriis causis moralibusque praeceptis observatis), decide not to have additional children for either a certain or an indefinite period of time.” (Humanae Vitae, 10).

Here Pope Paul VI mentions “serious reasons” (seriis causis) with four kinds of conditions:

Physical conditions
Economic conditions
Psychological conditions
Social conditions

It seems that Pope Paul VI has in mind the four reasons listed by Pope Pius XII with the additional help of “psychological” and the omission of “eugenic.” However, we can discern that medical, eugenic, and psychological belong to the one “medical” genus of reason/condition/cause.

I think we can simplify the lists of both pontiffs without doing injustice to either.

NFP Serious Reasons List: Simplified and Harmonized

Physical conditions (including “Medical,” “Psychological,” and “Eugenic”)
Economic conditions
Social conditions

Note that NFP or “periodic continence” in itself is morally neutral since observing a woman’s cycle and remaining continent are morally neutral. Therefore, NFP is not intrinsically evil. Artificial contraception (condoms, the pill, interuptus) are intrinsically evil because they directly intervene in the natural process. Artificial contraception obstructs the natural act either through devices, chemicals, or direction intervention. So then, NFP can be used when there is a proper “serious” circumstance, and the Holy Father provides four such circumstances. Let’s go through these four grave reasons.

1. Physical (Medical, Psychological, and Eugenic) Medical reasons for NFP would prudently weigh whether the mother’s life is in jeopardy or whether a circumstance would endanger the newly conceived child’s life (eg, the mother is going through chemotherapy or other treatment that would damage or kill a newly conceived baby). In regard to serious medical reasons, Pope Paul VI, in Humanae Vitae n. 16, also spoke of “reasonable grounds for spacing births, arising from the physical or psychological condition of husband or wife.”

The Catholic Church recognizes that psychological problems are serious. This might include not only the mother’s mental health, but also the father’s mental health. If either parent is depressed, schizophrenic, suicidal, etc. parents should prayerfully delay pregnancy “with due respect to moral precepts.” For more on “Catholic parent mental break down,” please check out my post on GBS: George Bailey Syndrome.

With regard to what Pius XII calls “eugenics,” if the couple would pass on dangerous birth defects or perhaps has a history of serial miscarriages, then parents might prayerfully delay pregnancy “with due respect to moral precepts.” Jennifer Fulwiler has an excellent post on NFP and her own personal experience with NFP, medical problems, her babies, and “hope vs. risk.”

2. Economic (Poverty and Debt) Economic reasons touch on whether the married couple is too poor to provide for a new child. Obviously, an economic “serious reason” does not to the inability to pay for fishing boats, fancy prep schools, a new hunting rifle, or Lilly Pulitzer diaper bags. We’re talking about falling below the poverty line within one’s culture. There is no point in comparing poverty in one nation to poverty in another. It depends on where you live. A family earning $20,000 in the United States would be “rich” in Indonesia – but they don’t live in Indonesia. They live in America! American parents must buy minivans, pay the mortgage, buy clothes, and provide religious education in America at American prices. So we shouldn’t say, “Even poor Americans are richer than central Africans, therefore, poor Americans can’t have recourse to NFP.

If a married couple are subsisting on government assistance, then they should delay pregnancy “with due respect to moral precepts.” There is one element missing from today’s discussion on Catholic marriage and family and that is debt.

Financial debt is a grave evil. The Bible often speaks of the danger of personal debt:

“The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)

Young people often entangle themselves in debt, and I personally believe that debt is the #1 reason for young people today avoid marriage. If 25-year old Tom has $18,000 in credit card debt and $45,000 in college debt, and 22-year old Sally has $5,000 in credit card debt and $52,000 in college debt, then they would begin their married life with $120,000 of debt! That doesn’t even include a mortgage. It’s a difficult subject, but my personal belief is that priest should not marry people with large debt amounts.

We don’t allow people to enter the priesthood or religious orders with stacks of debt, why then should we allow people to enter into a the sacrament of marriage burdened with debt. It’s hard to fulfill the vocation of having a large Catholic family if you begin with piles of debt. Nevertheless, some financially prudent couples find themselves drowning in debt for no fault of their own – often with insurmountable medical expenses for themselves or for their children. This is an economic evil and such families might consider the delaying pregnancy through NFP.

3. Social (Upheaval and Persecution) The Holy Father refers here to social disorder. Social disorder doesn’t include, “the Democrats won the Presidency again.” Social disorder refers to serious problems in which raising children would be almost impossible: Concentration camps. Religious persecution. Forced relocation. Famines. Living under China’s one child policy.

The growth of a family presumes a natural habitat for the family to flourish. When this habitat is removed or destroyed, it is not prudent to introduce children into the world. If a Chinese mother must worry about forced abortions for her next pregnancy, clearly this is a serious cause! No one would fault her for using NFP.

My Thoughts on the “Big Catholic Family”

Disclaimer: We have eight children. Do I ever get nervous about having more? Yes, I do. Does the thought of ten children sometimes scare me? Yes, it does. However, I try to make a trustful surrender of my will to God’s will. When we had five children, all we had to be reminded of is the fact that:

St Thomas Aquinas was number six in his family.
St Therese de Lisieux (Doctor of the Church) was the ninth of nine children.
St Gabriel Possenti (patron of handgun owners!) was number 11.
St Catherine of Sienna (Doctor of the Church) was number 23!
Saint Pius X was number 2 of 9 children.

We should be grateful to these saints, but also to their parents who were sacrificial in their generosity.

So, yes, it can be worrisome and scary. Yet God will always equip you with new graces. Earthly life is short. Eternal life is everlasting. Can you imagine having the everlasting glory in heaven for having been the parent of St Therese of Lisieux? What joy her parents must now experience.

St Basil the Elder and his wife St Emelia had nine children – five of which are canonized saints! So you never know. Trustful surrender. It won’t be easy, but it will be full of joy – both in this life and in the world to come!

Please also explore Taylor’s books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

The post NFP and Serious Reasons…What are these reasons? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

The Roman Church as Prophesied in the Old Testament

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 17:55:11 +0000

Did you know that the “Roman identity” of the New Testament Church was foretold in the Old Testament? If we understand the Jewish prophets, we will see that the Church of Jesus Christ would necessarily be “Roman.”

It relates to a vision found in the second chapter of Daniel. This chapter describes a dream of Nebuchadnezzar about an enormous statue composed of four different materials. First, the head was of gold. Second, the chest and arms were of silver. Third, the belly and thighs were of bronze. Fourth, the legs and feet were of iron and clay. According to the vision, a stone will be hewn from a mountain without human hands and cast into the statue. This small rock smashes against the statue’s iron and clay feet, which causes the entire statue to crumble. Then the small rock becomes a great mountain and fills the entire earth.

Daniel interpreted the dream in the following way. First, the golden head was Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian Empire. Next, an inferior kingdom would then follow the Babylonian Empire, as silver is inferior to gold. Then, a third kingdom would arise inferior to the second kingdom, as bronze is inferior to silver. Lastly a fourth kingdom would arise that was different than the previous three. As for the small uncut rock cast down from Heaven, Daniel explains:

And in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever; just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure (Dan 2:44-45).

The stone from Heaven in the days of the Fourth Kingdom signifies that “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed.”

Looking in back in time, we understand the prophecy as corresponding to the following historical chronology when heathen kingdoms ruled over the Jews:

Babylonian Empire (ca. 587-539 B.C.)
Medo-Persian Empire (ca. 539-331 B.C.)
Greek Empire (ca. 331-168 B.C.)
Roman Empire (ca. 63 B.C.-A.D. 70)

It was in fact in the days of the Fourth Kingdom, the Roman Empire that God established His Messianic Kingdom:

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled…And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered (Lk 2:1-6).

It is also common knowledge that Christ was crucified under Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. From a historical point of view we see that the Rock of Ages came crashing into the Roman Empire. The Kingdom of Christ began precisely when Daniel predicted—during the era of the Fourth Kingdom, the Kingdom of Rome.

It is important to note here that the Four Kingdoms of the Gentiles also began to anticipate a Messiah in their own way. Ezekiel and Daniel called King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon “the King of Kings” (Ezek 26:7; Daniel 2:37), a title given subsequently to Jesus Christ. Isaiah called King Cyrus of Persia “the Messiah” (Isaiah 45:1), a surprising use of the term for a Gentile king! Alexander the Great of Greece united the Mediterranean world, had himself proclaimed the “Son of God,” and died at the age of thirty-three. The Greco-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV later ruled the Promised Land, desecrated the Temple, and in turn became a type of the False Messiah or Antichrist. But it was Rome that was the final “kingdom” and it was inherited by Christ and His saints.

As we see in Daniel 2, “[Rome’s] sovereignty shall be left to another people” and it would happen through the introduction of a stone or rock – a Petros or Peter!

The section above was an excerpt from The Eternal City: Rome and the Origins of Catholicism. To learn more about the “Theology of Rome” or Romalogy, take a look at my book.

[reminder]

The post The Roman Church as Prophesied in the Old Testament appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

#039: How Was the Bible Assembled? (plus Joy joins me)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 13:53:45 +0000

Who got to choose which books were allowed in the Bible and which were not? What was the criteria that they used? We answer the most difficult questions about the Bible’s origins in today’s show.

This is a sneak preview of my second (new) Ox Talk Podcast. Also, for the first time ever, my lovely wife Joy joins me on the microphone in this podcast. You won’t want to miss this one!

Click to Listen: Podcast #039: How Was the Bible Assembled

If audio player does not show up in your email or browser, please click here to listen.

New Announcements:

There is now a “waiting list” to join the New Saint Thomas Institute. There are currently 232 people waiting to join our New Saint Thomas Institute. If you would like to reserve your spot on our waiting list, receive priority enrollment, and get reduced tuition, please learn more by clicking here.
Today is a special public preview of “Ox Talk Podcast” – a special podcast for Members of the New Saint Thomas Institute.
My wife Joy co-hosts today’s show.

Past Episodes of the Show:

Podcast Archive
#	Title	Released
039	How Was the Bible Assembled? (plus Joy joins me)	06/18/2014
038	Should You Budget Time (or Money)?	06/04/2014
037	The Theology of Vacation, Leisure, and Recreation	05/28/2014
036	Noah Movie Review – Rock Monsters?	05/21/2014
035	Children Need Fortitude	05/14/2014
034	Jokes of Saint John XXIII	05/07/2014
033	Divine Mercy: 5 Common Questions	04/30/2014
032	4 Sections of Hell	04/23/2014
031	Meet the Saint Version of You	04/16/2014
030	Should You Be an Optimist?	04/09/2014
029	Finding Fellowship like Samwise Gamgee	04/01/2014
028	Demons, Snakes, and Ticks: Lessons from a Hunting Trip	03/26/2014
027	How to Make an Eternal Impact with Your Life	03/19/2014
026	Thoughts on My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe	02/26/2014
025	Why is the Catholic Church Roman?	02/19/2014
024	The Seven Lies We Believe About Our Failures	02/11/2014
023	How to Restart Your Mental Computer	02/06/2014
022	Top Five Productivity Tips from Thomas Aquinas	01/29/2014
021	Did You Miss God’s Plan for Your Life?	01/23/2014
020	When Prayer Becomes a Chore	01/15/2014
019	12 Attributes of a Baptized Christian	01/08/2014
018	A Podcast Against Bitter Catholics!	12/30/2013
017	Mary’s Painless Delivery of Christ Explained	12/18/2013
016	Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Luke (Plus How to Set Goals)	12/11/2013
015	Total Consecration to Mary	12/04/2013
014	What’s Your Apostolate?	11/27/2013
013	6 Items for the Liturgy of Your Life	11/20/2013
012	Why You Should Be More Creative	11/13/2013
011	Why Did They Stop Teaching Virtue?	11/06/2013
010	How Do Saints Hear Our Prayers?	10/30/2013
009	My Opinion of Martin Luther	10/23/2013
008	My Top 5 Daily Prayers	10/16/2013
007	Your Guardian Angel	10/03/2013
006	How You Can Convert 7 Billion People	09/25/2013
005	3 Strategies for a Marriage that Sings!	09/18/2013
004	4 Step Plan When Family Leave the Faith	09/12/2013
003	5 Tools for Deep Daily Prayer Life	09/04/2013
002	Three Tips to Increase Your Passion for Life	08/28/2013
001	How to Find a Spiritual Director	08/18/2013

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Mary Undoer of Knots – Pope Francis’ Favorite Marian Devotion

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 18:16:02 +0000

Do you have some “knots” in your life? Here’s the solution! Pope Francis has a very special devotion to Our Lady Undoer of Knots. Many have never heard of this devotion, but it’s a great one…going all the way back to the second century.

Before describing “Our Lady Undoer of Knots,” I’d like to share a recent experience from my own life as it relates to this special Marian devotion:

During the offertory of our High Mass for the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas, a student tapped me on the shoulder, “Dr. Marshall, you’re needed in the courtyard.” I was a bit puzzled, but I followed the student outside.Outside in the courtyard, I saw one of the altar servers handing a hot thurible and the chains were tangled and knotted. The priest was about to incense the altar, and in its current condition, the thurible would not close. It was a jangled up mess. Apparently, the base of the thurible had flipped over a few times and the chains were wound up around each other. If you have handled a thurible, you may have experienced this before.

We literally had 45 seconds until the priest needed the thurible at the altar. I prayed, “Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for us.” And like magic I tumbled around the base of the thurible about three times. Aha! It was straight again. The altar server used his bare hands to put the coals in the thurible (he was in a hurry, after all) and he darted inside to the altar…just in time.So what is meant by the title Our Lady Undoer of Knots?

Pope Francis’s Devotion to ‘Our Lady Undoer of Knots’

Our new Pope Francis has been one of the chief promoters of “Our Lady Undoer of Knots.” When Pope Francis, then Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was studying in Germany, he was stunned by a Bavarian painting of “Holy Mary, Our Lady Untier of Knots.” He acquired a copy of the painting and brought it to Argentina and promoted devotion to Mary under this title. Apparently it has caught on with the faithful of Argentina.It is interesting that this Marian devotion of Pope Francis is rooted in Bavaria – it therefore creates a bridge between the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI and that of Pope Francis. In fact, Cardinal Bergoglio had an image of Our Lady Undoer of Knots engraved into a chalice and presented it to Pope Benedict XVI.

The Theology of Our Lady Undoer of Knots

The theology of Mary untying knots goes back to the second century – less than one hundred years after the death of the Apostles. Saint Irenaeus of Lyons wrote “the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith.” (Adversus haereses, 3, 22) This is one of the earliest examples of describing Mary as the “New Eve.” Eve, standing next to Adam, is the “co-peccatrix” (co-sinner) Mary, standing next to Christ crucified, is the “co-redemptrix” (co-redemptress). This does not mean that Mary directly saves or redeems us. It means that Mary consents and participates in the redemptive action of Christ. Her role is congruent and relative to the condign and absolute role of Christ.

Our Lady Undoer of Knots is Patristic and may be the way forward for establishing and expanding Marian theology. The doctrine of Mary’s universal mediation and her subordinate role to Christ in human salvation is beautifully summed up in this saying of Saint Irenaeus of Lyons. The fact that it goes back to the second century reveals that this is not a medieval accretion. It’s a doctrine deriving from the Apostles themselves.

[reminder]Had you heard of this devotion, Our Lady Undoer of Knots? If so, in what part of the world do you live? Is it popular there?[/reminder]

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Is Christ the Savior of His Mother Mary?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 11:29:00 +0000

Is Christ the Savior of His Mother Mary? The Catholic Church answers, “Yes, Christ is the Savior of His Mother Mary.”

Pope Pius IX on the Immaculate Conception

Here is the exact quote from Pope Pius IX’s Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus from December 8, 1854 in which the Pope infallibly declared the immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Wherefore, in humility and fasting, we unceasingly offered our private prayers as well as the public prayers of the Church to God the Father through his Son, that he would deign to direct and strengthen our mind by the power of the Holy Spirit. In like manner did we implore the help of the entire heavenly host as we ardently invoked the Paraclete. Accordingly, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, for the honor of the Holy and undivided Trinity, for the glory and adornment of the Virgin Mother of God, for the exaltation of the Catholic Faith, and for the furtherance of the Catholic religion, by the authority of Jesus Christ our Lord, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own:

“We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful.”

Mary was regenerated, justified, and sanctified at the very moment of her conception. Pope Pius IX, in conformity with Catholic tradition, taught that this unique act of salvation occurred “in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race.” This is why Mary can still refer to God as “God my Savior” (Lk 1:47).

To summarize, then, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s immaculate conception is due to the merits of Jesus Christ as “Savior”.

Saint Augustine on Immaculate Conception

Saint Augustine stands in this tradition, writing in the early 400s:

“Now with the exception of the holy Virgin Mary in regard to whom, out of respect for the Lord, I do not propose to have a single question raised on the subject of sin – after all, how do we know what greater degree of grace for a complete victory over sin was conferred on her who merited to conceive and bring forth Him who all admit was without sin — to repeat then: with the exception of this Virgin, if we could bring together into one place all those holy men and women, while they lived here, and ask them whether they were without sin, what are we to suppose that they would have replied?” (St. Augustine, De natura et gratia, Patrologia Latina 44:267)

Luke 1:28 and the Immaculate Conception

Lastly, it should be noted that for Pope Pius IX the locus classicus in Sacred Scripture for the doctrine of the Mary’s immaculate conception is not Luke 1:28 (“Hail full of grace”), but Gen 3:15 (“I will place enmity between you [Satan] and the woman”).

The woman who shall bear the Savior shall have perfect enmity with Satan and thus it is necessary that Satan have no dominion over her. In other words, she must be without sin. Hence, the immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin.

[reminder]

(Members of the New Saint Thomas Institute received a video relating to this topic on Dec 3, 2013. Please see “Did Thomas Aquinas Deny the Immaculate Conception” in the NSTI online course catalogue.

Are you not yet a Member of the NSTI? Learn more about becoming an NSTI Member by clicking here.

The post Is Christ the Savior of His Mother Mary? appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

20 Fun Facts about Papal Elections in Church History

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 07:03:00 +0000

Today begins the Papal Conclave to elect our new Pope. I was reading up on the history of Papal conclaves and distilled for you twenty interesting facts. Here they are. Feel free to use them at your next cocktail party:

1. How was a Pope elected in the early Church? Originally, the Pope was elected by the local bishops surrounding Rome, by the clergy of Rome, and by “good men” of Rome. Saint Cyprian, writing about the election of Pope Cornelius, lists these three groups (Ep. IV ad Anton., n. 8) as the original body of electors in the third century, long before the office of cardinal was created. Obviously, this loose form of election allowed for some confusion and the production of anti-popes.

2. Could an Emperor “Veto” a Papal Election? In AD 533, Pope John II formally recognised the right of the Ostrogothic kings to ratify papal elections. This right passed to the Holy Roman Emperors and then to the Austrian Emperor. This so-called “Imperial Veto” was exercised by the Hungarian king as late as 1903 against the election of Mariano Rampolla. When Rampolla was vetoed after a lawful election, the conclave selected Giuseppe Sarto – Saint Pius X! Pope Pius X immediately outlawed the “Imperial Veto” for the future.

3. What about laymen? In AD 789, noblemen (prominent Roman laymen) were excluded from the vote. However, Pope Nicholas restored votes to noblemen in AD 862.

4. When did the college of cardinals come into existence? In AD 1059, only the Roman cardinals (in Latin “hinge” clergy) elected the Pope. The cardinals included the bishops of six local dioceses around Rome (cardinal bishops) and the clergy of Rome (cardinal priests and cardinal deacons). The titles and hierarchy of the cardinals still hearken back to this arrangement, even though today’s cardinals represent various nationalities.

5. Are the cardinals ranked by power? In the 11th century, the cardinal bishops would create a list of candidates and then the rest of the cardinals would join in the vote. This gave special power to the cardinal bishops. This is no longer the case. All cardinals have one vote and vote together in common.

6. Did the people have a say? In AD 1139, the Pope removed the previously required “assent of the people” at the institution of a new Pope. Previously, if the people cheered, it was good. If they rioted, no so good.

7. Just a few cardinals can do the job. There were only seven cardinals in existence when Pope Alexander IV was elected!

8. What kind of majority is required to elect the Pope? According to an old decree of AD 1179, a 2/3 majority is required to elect the Pope. In the case of Alexander IV who elected by a conclave of only seven cardinals, five cardinals would have sufficed for a 2/3 majority. Later on, Pope John Paul II’s constitution allowed election by absolute majority if deadlock prevailed after thirty three or thirty four ballots.

9. The meaning of the term “conclave.” Due to delays in electing Popes, in AD 1274 it was decreed that the cardinals should be LOCKED UP until they elected a Pope. This is the meaning of “conclavis” which basically mean “locked up with a key.”

10. A two year conclave! The longest conclave lasted for two years from AD 1314 till 1316 during the Avignon Papacy.

11. The Pope acting like Moses. In 1587, Pope Sixtus V restricted the number of cardinals to 70, following the precedent of Moses who appointed 70 elders (6 cardinal bishops, 50 cardinal priests, and 14 cardinal deacons). Pope John XXIII began to expand the number and Pope Paul VI increased the limit to 120! There will be 115 cardinal voters in this election, even though there are many more cardinals above the voting age, which brings us to…

12. How old can cardinal electors be? Pope Paul VI in 1970 said that cardinals could only vote if under the age of 80.

13. Does the Pope have to be a cardinal? Pope Urban VI in 1378 was the last pope elected from outside the College of Cardinals.

14. Does he have to be a priest? The last person elected as Pope who was not already a priest was Pope Leo X in 1513.

15. Does the cardinal need to be present to be elected? No. Pope Adrian VI was elected cardinal while he was absent from the conclave! Surprise!

16. Women? Women cannot be elected Pope since they cannot be priests or bishops. However, there is a false legend about “Pope Joan.”

17. Can a cardinal reject his election? Yes, a cardinal can be validly elected, but refuse the Papal office. He only becomes Pope when he assents.

18. When does a Pope choose his name? If the elected cardinal assents to the election, the Dean of the Cardinals asks, “Quo nomine vis vocari? The cardinal then announces his new name.

19. What about the famous proclamation? When the Pope is announced to the world, the Church uses this traditional template:

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum:

Habemus Papam!

Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum,

Dominum [forename],

Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem [surname],

qui sibi nomen imposuit [papal name].

“I announce to you a great joy:

We have a Pope!

The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord,

Lord [forename],

Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church [surname],

who takes to himself the name [papal name].”

20. What is the first thing a new Pope does? The new pope begins his pontificate by giving his first apostolic blessing, Urbi et Orbi (“to the City and to the World”). An indulgence is attached to hearing this blessing, even through the radio or TV.

Question: What did I miss? Can you share any other interesting or unusual facts concerning the Papal Conclave?

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Cardinal Burke as Pope: Answering Two Common Objections ("Does He Know Spanish?" & "But He’s American!")

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:52:00 +0000

His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke

The Cardinal Who Will Be Pope

Cardinal Burke will be the next Pope. Yesterday, I posted a controversial post defending this thesis titled: Pope Prediction: 10 Reasons Cardinal Burke Will Be the Next Pope.

National Review is covering the post here.

Esquire Magazine picked up my blog post here. (Be careful surfing Esquire…)

There are two objections that keep coming up both here on Canterbury Tales and on Facebook/Twitter.

We need to address both of these objections. I think you’ll be satisfied with the answers – and see that neither objection holds water:

First Objection: Cardinal Burke will not be elected because he doesn’t know Spanish. He knows English, Latin, French, Italian, but not Spanish, they say. Folks are rightly claiming that it is inconceivable for a Pope to be ignorant of Spanish given the growing importance of Latin America in the third millenium of the Catholic Church.

Answer to First Objection: Cardinal Burke is able to speak and write in Spanish and has delivered many bilingual homilies at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Just ask the folks who have served with him. He may not be an expert in Spanish, but he can manage to preach and write in Spanish.

Second Objection: Cardinal Burke is American and the Cardinals know that the world will resent a Pope from the world’s leading super power – the United States.

Answer to the Second Objection: People aren’t thinking clearly about this. Cardinal Burke would be the perfect Pope, precisely because the global tribe looks at America with suspicion. Cardinal Burke is an American who vocally disapproves of America. He isn’t wining and dining with President Obama, Joe Biden, are the other power players of Washington DC and New York. As I wrote yesterday, Cardinal Burke has called President Obama “anti-life and anti-family.”

Cardinal Burke isn’t going to pander to America’s claims of greatness and superiority. Rather, His Eminence would attack and destroy those claims.

In fact, Cardinal Burke is the cardinal with the clearest voice speaking against the crimes of the United States. Is America an emerging super Evil Empire spreading porn, abortion, materialism, perverse marriages, and filth all over the globe? Yes.

Would a Third World Pope know how to stand down this First World evil? Most likely not. Would a Third World Pope be taken seriously be First World powers? Probably not.

You need a holy American who is not afraid to speak out against his homeland. Which American Cardinal has the hardest words for America? Cardinal Burke.

This last objection actually becomes one of the best arguments for Cardinal Burke.

If you missed it, please see Pope Prediction: 10 Reasons Cardinal Burke Will Be the Next Pope and join in on the great conversation. Please consider subscribing to my blog Canterbury Tales for FREE. CLick here to receive new daily posts instantly through e-mail.

Please also explore Taylor’s books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

The post Cardinal Burke as Pope: Answering Two Common Objections ("Does He Know Spanish?" & "But He’s American!") appeared first on Taylor Marshall.

Pope Prediction: 10 Reasons Cardinal Burke Will Be the Next Pope

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:30:00 +0000

His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke

Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura

I’m making a very bold and controversial claim: His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke will be the next Pope. I’m going to provide you with 10 solid reasons why the cardinals will rally to him in the conclave for the required 2/3 vote majority.

Let’s be honest. Most people are claiming (or grumbling) that Cardinal Burke will never be elected as Pope. They say he’s too heavy-handed, too ceremonial, too traditional, too political, and too serious to be papabile. If you’re one of those people who think Burke is the best cardinal for the job, but look at your toes and sigh: “It’ll never happen,” then keep reading.

The problem is that the Burke naysayers are thinking like journalists and voters. (By the way, one of my favorite daily blogs: Rorate Coeli explains why the journalists get it wrong.)

When the doors of the conclave close, men who would usually vote one way, vote another. Under the staring eyes painted onto the ceiling of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, these cardinals know that history is being made. The Pope they elect will have a difficult vocation. The Pope they elect will change the lives of billions of people both now…and in the future.

I want to challenge you to think like a cardinal in 2013. The cardinals are worried. Most cardinals knew that Pope Benedict had considered abdication, but most of them never thought it could actually happen. Here we are 50 years after the Council, right in the middle of the Year of Faith, and then suddenly the Pope resigns.

Globally, the Catholic Church faces accusations. Here and there in local dioceses, there are spots of financial and sexual scandal (for example, in Los Angeles). The rumors in Rome surrounding Vatileaks, the Butler, and the Bank are still circulating. Cardinal O’Brien of Scotland just stepped down. The question of secular politicians and the Church is a concern. There is growing debate about liturgy and the Extraordinary Form. The SSPX dialogue fell flat. So in the middle of this storm, Pope Benedict abdicates. I think this is all part of the divine plan (Here’s my post explain why I think the Blessed Virgin Mary asked Pope Benedict stepped down), but let’s be honest. It’s a traumatic time. Yet, whenever there is trauma, conservatism reigns.

The Cardinals will rally to a holy man who will prayerfully clean house and face down the evils, scandals, and rumors. There is only one cardinal who has vocalized a plan of attack for the political, liturgical, and canonical problems in the Church: his name is Raymond Cardinal Burke.

Cardinal Burke is the only one who has explicitly proclaimed a way forward in these times of trouble. As in the last papal conclave, the cardinals will turn to a man who operates on sound principles. A man whose virtue is known by all. A man of the Gospel.

With that being said, here are the 10 reasons why Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke will be elected Pope.

1. Burke is an open advocate for using canon law in defense of the sacraments and God’s honor. He’s a hardliner against pro-abortion Catholic politicians. He has openly spoken out against American and Irish Catholic politicians who advocate abortion, homosexual unions, etc. As Pope, he would back cardinals who have difficult decisions to make back home.

2. Burke thinks seriously. He is theologically orthodox and can spot dissent. If you thought Ratzinger was a Rottweiler, then just look out! Burke once forced the cancellation of a Sheryl Crowe concert at a Catholic hospital…because she’s pro-abortion. He sacked a St Louis Catholic basketball coach for supporting abortion and embryonic destruction. Cardinal Burke isn’t afraid to play ball.

3. His Eminence celebrates and promotes the Latin Mass and a reverent Novus Ordo. This is huge. Cardinal Schonborn’s balloon Mass is not the way of the future of Catholicism. All the cardinals feel this. Pope Benedict moved us away from all that. Cardinal Burke will continue to carry Benedict’s liturgical torch. Cardinal Burke brings noble dignity to the Holy Sacrifice of Mass.

4. …which leads to the SSPX. As long as Benedict XVI is alive, it will be necessary for the next Pope to bring resolution to this traditionalist soap-opera. The reconciliation of the SSPX would be the greatest possible gift to Benedict’s living legacy. To use baseball terminology, it would equate to a relief pitcher saving the game and earning a “win” for the starting pitcher who got behind in the run count.

5. Speaking of the Latin Mass, Cardinal Burke has traditional liturgical flare (for example, he wears the cappa magna without blinking an eye). With rumors and scandals floating everywhere, Catholics are desperate to see visual dignity restored to the Holy See.

For fun, here’s Blessed John Paul II in his cappa magna:

And, yes historians, Cardinal Burke even wears the old Cardinals’ galero:

If he’s elected, will he wear the papal tiara?

6. Burke will help the cardinals and bishops do what they know they need to do: discipline dissenting Catholic politicians. Burke called the US Democratic party “the party of death” and accused Barack Obama of being “anti-life and anti-family.” He’s not afraid. The cardinals need a Pope standing behind them who speaks like this.

7. Cardinal Burke speaks the minimum languages necessary for a Supreme Pontiff: English, French, Latin and Italian.

8. Cardinal Burke is the perfect age: 64. Almost everyone is convinced that the cardinals will elect a cardinal in his mid to late 60s.

9. He is the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. This is a really big deal. The years to come require expertise in canon law, not just theology. Cardinal Burke is already a Vatican insider. He already has experience at the highest canonical authority, second only to the Supreme Pontiff himself.

10. Most importantly, Cardinal Burke is extremely Marian. He has great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He continues the tradition beginning with Pope Pius IX and extending up to Bl John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. For me, Fatima is the key to everything going on in the Catholic Church. I think Cardinal Burke feels the same way. Moreover, he is close to the Friars of the Immaculate and he helped establish the shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Please also read Cardinal Burke’s piece on “Our Lady of America.

Let me add one more – an eleventh reason: nobody suspects Cardinal Burke to be elected. That is almost always a necessary feature of a papal candidate.

So there you have it: 10 reasons (plus one) why the cardinals will rally to Cardinal Burke in the conclave. You’ll see Cardinal Burke in a white cassock before end of March…maybe even donning the old tiara!

Compliments of Photoshop

Question: Are you convinced that Cardinal Burke will be the next Pope? Please leave a comment explaining why I’m right or just plain nuts?

For those who think I’m nuts, just think about this: Last time around, everyone thought Ratzinger was way too conservative to be elected. Well…

Please explore Taylor’s brand new book about Rome and the Catholic Church:

The Eternal City: Rome & the Origins of Catholicism (available in paperback and Kindle!)

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12 Interesting Facts about Benedict’s Retired Status (His name, title, clothes, residence, etc.)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:20:00 +0000

Life after the Papacy. A very rare event. The blogosphere and Twitter-land have been buzzing with information true and false about Pope Benedict’s status and plans for retirement. Here are 12 facts that I was able to verify about his name, titles, clothing, accommodations, and other unusual circumstances:

Benedict will live at the Castel Gandolfo (south of Rome) until after the cardinals elect a new Pope.
Benedict’s golden “ring of the fishermen” was crushed. According to tradition, it will be melted down and made into the new ring of the next Pope. Is has not been confirmed whether this tradition will be preserved during this historically unique transition.
Benedict will retain his papal name of “Benedict” and not resort back to the Joseph Ratzinger, as had been reported by some. (However, the next Pope could ask him to resort to plain-old “Joseph” if he insisted on it.)
Benedict’s title will be “Pope Emeritus.” He will continued to be styled “Your Holiness” and “His Holiness.”
Benedict will continue to wear the white papal cassock but without the shoulder cape.
Benedict will give up the papal red shoes. It is reported that he will wear brown shoes instead.
He will not participate in the papal conclave in the coming days. He has wisely chosen to isolate himself from those events.
The Swiss Guard no longer protects or serves Benedict as he is no longer the Pope.
After the election of the new Pope, Benedict will live a former convent called Mater Ecclesiae (Mother of the Church) in the southwest corner of Vatican City.
The photogenic Archbishop Georg Ganswein will continue to serve as Benedict XVI’s personal secretary at Mater Ecclesiae.
It is reported that Benedict’s favorite cat, Contessina, will live with him at Mater Ecclesia in the Vatican.
Benedict, while being styled Pope Emeritus, is no longer a Pope. He has no canonical jurisdiction and cannot invoke papal infallibility. Canonically, he will be like any other retired archbishop.

Question: Do you know about anything else that we should know about Benedict’s retirement? Please leave a comment.

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We don’t have a Pope, but we do have the prayers of St Peter!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:44:00 +0000

Caravaggio’s “Crucifixion of St Peter”

The Catholic Church is officially Pope-less. However, Christ is still the divine Head and High Priest of the Mystical Body, Mary is the mediating neck, and the heavenly Saints are still praying for us. Saint Peter, our first Pope, is praying for us, even encouraging us:

“And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us.” (Hebrews 12:1, D-R)

Would you please join others in praying the nine-day prayer (novena) asking Saint Peter’s prayers during this period of papal interregnum?

Below is the “Novena to Saint Peter.” Print it out and place it in your prayerbook or Bible. Put it on your nightstand and pray it with your spouse before bed. Whatever it takes to remember it.

Let’s try to encourage thousands of Catholics to pray this novena before the conclave meets in the next 10-15 days! Please share this post with friends.

Novena to St. Peter

O Holy Apostle, because you are the Rock upon which Almighty God has built His Church,obtain for me I pray you: lively faith, firm hope, and burning love, complete detachment from myself, contempt of the world, patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, recollection in prayer, purity of heart, a right intention in all my works, diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the will of God and perseverance in the grace of God even unto death; that so, by means of your intercession and your glorious merits, I may be made worthy to appear before the Chief and Eternal Shepherd of Souls, Jesus Christ, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns forever. Amen.

Gracious Father, by Whose Hand Thy servant Simon Peter was most wonderfully delivered out of prison and from impending death. Grant us, in all the changes and chances of mortal life, to dread nothing but the loss of Thee, and to cast all our care upon Thee, Who carest for us. When disasters lie ahead, help us to avoid them if we may, and to endure them if we must, knowing that we walk with Him Who endured all for us, Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who now liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Litany of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Queen conceived without Original Sin, pray for us.

Queen of Apostles, pray for us.

Saint Peter, pray for us.

Prince of the Apostles, pray for us.

St. Peter, to whom were given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, pray for us.

St. Peter, so ardent for the glory of Christ, pray for us.

St. Peter, whose heart was pierced with one look from Jesus, pray for us.

St. Peter, who ceased not to grieve for having denied the Son of God, pray for us.

St. Peter, whose cheeks were furrowed by a stream of tears which flowed to the end of thy life,

pray for us.

St. Peter; who cried out, “Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee,” pray for us.

St. Peter, bound in chains for Christ, pray for us.

St. Peter, delivered from prison by an Angel, pray for us.

St. Peter, who rejoiced to suffer for Christ, pray for us.

St. Peter, whose very shadow healed the sick, pray for us.

St. Peter, whose voice even the dead obeyed, pray for us.

St. Peter, that we may have a constant and mutual charity among ourselves, pray for us.

That we may taste and see more and more how sweet is the Lord, pray for us.

That we may be zealous in loyalty to thy successor, the present Vicar of Christ, pray for us.

That we may help, at least by prayer, to restore to the unity of thy Holy See the scattered sheep,

pray for us.

That we may be prudent and watchful in prayer, pray for us.

That we may die the death of the just, pray for us.

V. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him,

R. And His wonderful works to the children of men.

V. Pray for us, Saint Peter the Rock,

R. That we may be worthy of the Vicar of Christ.

Let Us Pray: O Lord Jesus Christ, Who upon blessed Peter, Thine Apostle, didst bestow the pontifical power of binding and loosing, and didst give to him the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, grant that his intercession may ensure our deliverance from the bondage of sin, Thou Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Once again, please share this Novena with your friends and family and encourage them to join in on the prayers.

Do you enjoy reading these posts by Dr. Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It’s free. Please click here to receive daily posts through e-mail. Privacy Guarantee: Your e-mail will never be shared with anyone. Please also explore Taylor’s books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

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My One Mass with Pope Benedict – It Brought Me into the Catholic Church!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:25:00 +0000

A photo from the Mass I attend with Pope Benedict

In 2006, when I was still an Episcopalian priest, Joy and I visited Rome. Intellectually we were coming to recognize that the Catholic Church was the true Church, but we needed the emotional push to bring the decision to fulfillment.

In Rome, we were able to take the Scavi tour underneath Saint Peter’s Basilica. At the end of the tour, we saw the bones of Saint Peter. I prayed earnestly that I would soon enter into full communion with Saint Peter and his successor on earth, Pope Benedict XVI.

After the tour, the Belgian priest, who had been our tour guide, stayed behind and struck up a conversation with us. We had been so excited and impressed by the tour. When I told him that we were not Catholics, but that I was an Episcopalian priest, his face lit up. He was writing his dissertation in Rome on some ecumenical matter.

Then he surprised us with a question: “Would you like to attend Holy Mass with the Pope this evening?” The answer to that question was obvious. The Belgian priest was pleased to make arrangements. We walked from the Scavi entrance on the south side of Saint Peter’s, across Saint Peter’s Square, and then up a staircase to the north. At the top were two Swiss Guards with pikes. The Belgian priest told us to wait there. He mumbled some Italian to the guards and disappeared.

A few minutes later he returned with two orange tickets, which were marked with that evening’s date and were issued by the Palazzo Apostolico Vaticano. The Belgian priest told us to return to Saint Peter’s an hour before the Mass with those tickets. We had a nice chat, and the priest went about his business. To my shame, I don’t know his name. (Father, if you’re out there, let me know!)

That evening, my wife and I attended the Holy Mass of the Purification with Pope Benedict. At this particular Holy Mass the Holy Father recognized the various religious orders of the world. We were in line with hundreds of nuns, friars, and monks. We were clearly out of place—a married Episcopalian priest in a cassock with a pregnant wife. My dear! I hope we did not scandalize all those nuns.

The Holy Mass was glorious. It began in total darkness. Pope Benedict XVI entered the back doors with only a candle. From this candle was lit all the candles of the nuns, monks, and friars. For the whole Mass, we were near the bronze statue of Saint Peter. I could see the Holy Father clearly. I knew that His Holiness was the true successor of the Fisherman, and recalling that just that morning I had been deep underneath that altar at the bones of Saint Peter, the connection between the ministry of Saint Peter the First Pope and that of Benedict XVI the present Pope was made manifest right before my eyes.

When it came time for Holy Communion, I knew that I could not go forward to receive. Although the Basilica was now lit with glorious light and joy, my soul remained in the darkness.

I was not a Catholic. I was not in communion with the Holy Father. I was in schism. It was a sickening feeling. I was out of communion with the Vicar of Christ, and I knew in that moment that my relationship with Christ was impaired. I also knew what I had to do. I had to resign the Episcopalian priesthood and become a Catholic.

That Mass was one of the most important events in my life. When we got back from Rome, the process began. When I think of Pope Benedict, I’ll always recall that Holy Mass on February 2, 2006 – a Holy Mass that changed my life forever. Viva Papa!

The post above is excerpt from my new book: The Eternal City: Rome & the Origins of Catholicism. Please take a quick look at the new book by clicking here.

Question: What was your favorite moment during the reign of Pope Benedict XVI? Please leave a comment below.

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Pope Benedict Has Embraced Mary’s Title "Mediatrix of All Graces"

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:47:00 +0000

Yesterday we asked the question, “Did the Blessed Virgin Ask Pope Benedict to Step Down?”

To review, there is a suggestion that Pope Benedict XVI received a special locution or apparition from Our Lady about the Catholic Church and gave him explicit permission to step down from the Holy See.

On the day His Holiness announced his resignation, the Pope publicly referred to Mary as the “Mediatrix of All Graces.” Pope Benedict entrusted the mission of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care “to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of all graces (Mediatricis omnium gratiarum).”

Many other news sources and blogs jumped onto this story because it signals something new in Pope Benedict’s thought. Pope John Paul II frequently employed the title “Mediatrix of All Graces.” However, Pope Benedict has been reticient up until recently.

[If you’re interested in the theological difference between “Mediatrix of All Graces” and just the simple title “Mediatrix,” please click here.]

It’s no secret that the young Father Joseph Ratzinger at the Second Vatican Council was openly opposed to the term “Mediatrix of All Graces” preferring instead “Mediatrix.” It seems now that the Holy Father has reversed course and has made Mediatrix of All Graces part of his papal vocabulary. This is a major event in the life of the Catholic Church. Saint Louis de Montfort said that all the saints of the later ages will be deeply Marian. Mary is the channel of all grace and sanctity.

Questions: Is Pope Benedict XVI paving the way for the future declaration of the Fifth Marian Dogma (“Mediatrix of All Graces”)? Does His Holiness’ use of this Marian title indicate an even deeper devotion to Our Lady? What would happen in our era if a Pope declared a Fifth Marian Dogma?

Please leave a comment and share your thoughts with us.

Privacy Guarantee: Your e-mail will never be shared with anyone. Please also explore Taylor’s books about Catholicism at amazon.com.

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Did the Blessed Virgin Ask Pope Benedict to Step Down?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:09:00 +0000

Did Mary Reveal Something to Pope Benedict?

How does a Pope make the decision to resign from the Papacy? The effects of such a decision are staggering. It’s a decision that affects every Catholic, and even every person on earth. He is the Vicar of Christ. His prayers and actions (through participation in the High Priesthood of Christ) win graces for the world.

It is obvious that Pope Benedict XVI appreciates and venerates the Petrine Office. His Holiness also has a profound understanding of redemptive suffering. Pope Benedict, it would seem, would desire to fight it out to the end. Failing physical health and old age have captured Pope since Saint Peter. Surely, poor health alone would not lead our Holy Father to step down from the Holy See of Saint Peter.

This raises the question: Why, then, is Pope Benedict making this historic decision? Is his decision based solely on poor health…or something else?

I recently heard a homily from a priest that I greatly admire. This priest suggested that Pope Benedict was getting “orders from above.” Pope Benedict, after all, does have a superior whom he must obey: Jesus Christ Our Lord.

This priest suggested that Pope Benedict received a message or apparition from the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is speculation, but the announcement of His Holiness’ abdication on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes may indicate a Marian origin to his decision.

There are enemies both inside and outside the Catholic Church. Personally, I believe there is spiritual rot festering in the machine work of the Vatican. When he became Pope, His Holiness referred to the “wolves” that were within the Church. It is no secret that there are cardinals who are opposed to Pope Benedict. I suspect (and this is pure speculation), that Heaven is about to intervene in a way that we could never foresee.

I believe that Pope Benedict would have never resigned unless he was told to do so through a heavenly command. I believe that Jesus and Mary told His Holiness to make this historic decision and announcement. Our Lady is the Exterminatrix of Heresies. She is about to clean house.

As Saint Peter (our first Pope) once said:

“For the time is, that judgment should begin at the house of God.” (1 Pet 4:17)

Pope Benedict XVI implicitly indicated that he had received a heavenly command just the other day is his final Angelus address from the papal window:

“But this does not mean abandoning the Church, indeed, if God is asking me to do this it is so that I can continue to serve the Church with the same dedication and the same love with which I have done thus far, but in a way that is better suited to my age and my strength.”

– Pope Benedict XVI “Angelus Address” Feb 23, 2013.

Divine judgment begins first with His own people. The resignation of Pope Benedict may be the first domino to fall leading to a chain reaction of important events. Again, I think we are seeing a mystery of supernatural intervention. Who would have thought that Year of Faith would require so much faith!

Keep praying the Rosary daily, go to confession weekly, say your morning and evening prayers, begin reading the Bible daily. Make it a good Lent.

Question: Do you also think that Pope Benedict is responding to a command from heaven? Is Our Lady guiding him through these final days of his pontificate. Please leave a comment and share your thoughts on this heavy matter.

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Eleven Great Quotes from Pope Benedict XVI on Liturgy and the Holy Mass

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:06:00 +0000

Like most of you, I have enjoyed reading the Holy Father’s thoughts on the liturgy and the Holy Mass over the years. Pope Benedict was undeniably prolific in his theological reflection on Liturgy and the Eucharist prior to his election as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church. Even before I became Catholic, I was impressed by his forthrightness and clarity on what constitutes genuine and God-honoring liturgy.

A previous post on the Pope’s condemnation of clapping at Holy Mass was popular, so here are eleven more Ratzinger-zingers on the Holy Mass. Please read them carefully, and digest what His Holiness is saying.

These are only the tip of the iceberg. I’d encourage you to read the books when you have time. Tell then, here goes:

Ratzinger on the Liturgical Reformers Creating a ‘Fabrication, Banal Product’
The liturgical reform, in its concrete realization, has distanced itself even more from its origin. The result has not been a reanimation, but devastation. In place of the liturgy, fruit of a continual development, they have placed a fabricated liturgy. They have deserted a vital process of growth and becoming in order to substitute a fabrication. They did not want to continue the development, the organic maturing of something living through the centuries, and they replaced it, in the manner of technical production, by a fabrication, a banal product of the moment. (Ratzinger in Revue Theologisches, Vol. 20, Feb. 1990, pgs. 103-104)

Ratzinger on Those Who Appreciate the Latin Mass being Wrongly Treated Like ‘Lepers’

“For fostering a true consciousness in liturgical matters, it is also important that the proscription against the form of liturgy in valid use up to 1970 [the older Latin Mass] should be lifted. Anyone who nowadays advocates the continuing existence of this liturgy or takes part in it is treated like a leper; all tolerance ends here. There has never been anything like this in history; in doing this we are despising and proscribing the Church’s whole past. How can one trust her at present if things are that way?” (Spirit of the Liturgy, 2000)

Ratzinger on the Degeneration of Liturgy and ‘Liturgical Fabricators’

“[W]e have a liturgy which has degenerated so that it has become a show which, with momentary success for the group of liturgical fabricators, strives to render religion interesting in the wake of the frivolities of fashion and seductive moral maxims. Consequently, the trend is the increasingly marked retreat of those who do not look to the liturgy for a spiritual show-master but for the encounter with the living God in whose presence all the ‘doing’ becomes insignificant since only this encounter is able to guarantee us access to the true richness of being.” (Cardinal Ratzinger’s preface to the French translation of Reform of the Roman Liturgy by Monsignor Klaus Gamber, 1992).

Ratzinger on the ‘Disintegration of the Liturgy’

“I am convinced that the crisis in the Church that we are experiencing today is, to a large extent, due to the disintegration of the liturgy.” (Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977)

Ratzinger against ‘Homemade Liturgy’

“It is also worth observing here that the ‘creativity’ involved in manufactured liturgies has a very restricted scope. It is poor indeed compared with the wealth of the received liturgy in its hundreds and thousands of years of history. Unfortunately, the originators of homemade liturgies are slower to become aware of this than the participants…” (Feast of Faith p. 67-68)

Ratzinger on the Latin Mass as the ‘Holiest and Highest Possession’

“I am of the opinion, to be sure, that the old rite should be granted much more generously to all those who desire it. It’s impossible to see what could be dangerous or unacceptable about that. A community is calling its very being into question when it suddenly declares that what until now was its holiest and highest possession is strictly forbidden and when it makes the longing for it seem downright indecent.” (Ratzinger Salt of the Earth (1997)

Ratzinger on the Danger of Creative “Presiders” at the Mass

In reality what happened was that an unprecedented clericalization came on the scene. Now the priest — the “presider”, as they now prefer to call him — becomes the real point of reference for the whole Liturgy. Everything depends on him. We have to see him, to respond to him, to be involved in what he is doing. His creativity sustains the whole thing.

Ratzinger on the Danger of ‘Creative Planning of the Liturgy’

Not surprisingly, people try to reduce this newly created role by assigning all kinds of liturgical functions to different individuals and entrusting the “creative” planning of the Liturgy to groups of people who like to, and are supposed to, “make a contribution of their own”. Less and less is God in the picture. More and more important is what is done by the human beings who meet here and do not like to subject themselves to a “pre-determined pattern”. (Spirit of Liturgy, ch. 3)

Ratzinger on Why the Priest Should Not Face the People During Mass

The turning of the priest toward the people has turned the community into a self-enclosed circle. In its outward form, it no longer opens out on what lies ahead and above, but is locked into itself. The common turning toward the East was not a “celebration toward the wall”; it did not mean that the priest “had his back to the people”: the priest himself was not regarded as so important. For just as the congregation in the synagogue looked together toward Jerusalem, so in the Christian Liturgy the congregation looked together “toward the Lord”. (Spirit of Liturgy, ch. 3)

Ratzinger on the Priest and People Facing the Same Direction

On the other hand, a common turning to the East during the Eucharistic Prayer remains essential. This is not a case of accidentals, but of essentials. Looking at the priest has no importance. What matters is looking together at the Lord. (Spirit of Liturgy, ch. 3)

Ratzinger on the ‘Absurd Phenomenon’ of Replacing the Crucifix with the Priest

Moving the altar cross to the side to give an uninterrupted view of the priest is something I regard as one of the truly absurd phenomena of recent decades. Is the cross disruptive during Mass? Is the priest more important than Our Lord? (Spirit of Liturgy, ch. 3)

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How to Spring a Soul from Purgatory in 4 Steps

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 01:13:00 +0000

According to the current Enchiridion of Indulgences, one can apply a plenary indulgence to a departed soul by the “visitation of a cemetery” {Coemeterii visitatio} from November 1st till the 8th (i.e. the octave of All Saints).

Here’s the text:

13. Visit to a Cemetery (Coemeterii visitatio)

An indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed.

The indulgence is plenary each day from the 1st to the 8th of November; on other days of the year it is partial.

In order for the indulgence to be plenary, the following conditions must also be met alone with the visit and prayers at the cemetery:

Sacramental confession within “about twenty days”[1] of the actual day of the Plenary Indulgence.
Eucharistic Communion on the day of the Plenary Indulgence.
Prayer for the intentions of the Pope on the day of the Plenary Indulgence.
It is further required that all attachment to sin, even venial sin, be absent.[2]

Taking young people, particularly teenagers, to cemeteries to pray for the dead is a wholesome thing. Young people are not usually aware of their mortality. It’s a good thing to recognize the tombs of the dead…and pray for them.

Perhaps our culture’s fascination with death and horror movies is related to the fact that young people are isolated from death and prevented from attending funerals. Do you agree? Please leave a comment.

[1] Apostolic Penitentiary, Prot. N. 39/05/I (18 February 2005).

[2] If the latter detachment from sin is in any way less than perfect or if the prescribed three conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence will be partial only. In accordance with the canonical norms 34 and 35 of the Enchiridion of Indulgences (1968), a confessor or bishop can dispense someone of one or two of the norms above.

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About the Pope’s Secret Cardinals in pectore

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:11:00 +0000

The Pope is allowed to name secret cardinals or cardinals in pectore (Latin for “in the breast”), since only the Pope knows in his heart.

During the reign of Pope Martin V, cardinals were created without publishing their names until later, termed creati et reservati in pectore. Nevertheless, these were officially cardinals from the moment of their secret appointment. This entails that there are and could be cardinals out there who do not even know that they are cardinals!

However, in pectore cardinals can only function as cardinals when their appointment is made public. The practice is used today in order to protect hierarchs from hostile situations or tyrants (as is the case in China).

When political conditions change, the Pope then makes the appointment public. The secret cardinal would then rank in precedence with those raised to the cardinalate at the time of his secret in pectore appointment. However, if a pope dies before revealing a secret in pectore cardinal, the cardinalate expires.

We know that Pope Blessed John Paul II elevated at least four in pectore cardinals[1], but we only know the identity of three:

Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei, Bishop of Shanghai, People’s Republic of China – made cardinal 1979, revealed 1991, died 2000.
Marian Jaworski, Archbishop of Lviv, Ukraine – made cardinal 1998, revealed 2001.
Jānis Pujāts, Archbishop of Riga, Latvia – made cardinal 1998, revealed 2001.

The fourth cardinal was created in 2003, but was never revealed. This would mean that this cardinal’s tenure expired at the death of the Holy Father.

Question: Does Pope Benedict XVI have any rumored in pectore cardinals?

[1] “His Holiness John Paul II Short Biography.” Holy See Press Office. 30 June 2005.

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Vatican City Has the Highest Crime Rate in the World – Why?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 19:58:00 +0000

Vatican City, the small sovereign nation of the Pope in Rome has a higher crime rate than any other nation of the world – and that’s saying something since it is populated by the Holy Father, Cardinals, and nuns!

Vatican City has a reported 1.5 crimes per citizen. However, it is not the nuns and cardinals committing the crimes. Vatican City experiences an extremely high rate of crime on account of the fact that it is swarming with awestruck tourists and opportunist pickpockets. Due to its low population and high rate of theft, it has the highest crime rate.

HT: Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer of Papa Stronsay for this interesting fact. Their “Catholic Newspaper” is the best printed periodical on the planet earth. Subscribe to it ASAP by clicking here.

By the way, when I was once at the Vatican I left my camera at the security check point. When I went back for the camera it was gone. A security agent led me away from the Vatican a few blocks and then into an unmarked building. We went up some stairs and there I was in a secret security room with video monitors. My camera was there and it was returned to me.

As a I left and walked by St Anne’s Gate a black car drove up and the Pope Benedict XVI got out of it. I hollered “Viva Papa!” and he waved at me. True story. If I hadn’t lost my camera, that would have never happened. I was still an Anglican at the time. Perhaps Christ allowed me to see His Vicar that one time to push me over the edge.

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Special Coronation of Pope on Ascension Thursday in Medieval Times

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:15:00 +0000

In ancient days, when the liturgy of Roman Church was regal and glorious, a pious custom was observed on Ascension Thursday.

In Rome, Ascension Thursday was always celebrated at the Basilica of Saint Peter (the Vatican). The Holy Father the Pope would celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on the high altar over the tomb of Saint Peter.

After Holy Mass, the Cardinals would gather around the Pope for a coronation ceremony. The cardinals would solemnly crown the Pope as the Vicar of Christ on earth. Then the Pope and the cardinals would go to Saint John Lateran, the Cathedral Church of Rome, the Mother and Mistress of all Churches.

What does all this mean?

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the true King and High Priest of Heaven and Earth. He is the King of Glory. Now Our Lord appointed Saint Peter and gave him a divine name used for God in the Psalms: Rock or Petrus. He also committed to Peter the Keys of the Kingdom and gave to him universal jurisdiction of the entire earth: “whatever you bind on earth.” I would like to remind the separated Easterns that Peter was not merely the Patriarch of the West (Christ did not say, “whatever you bind in Europe”) but was the Supreme Pontiff over the entire earth.

So then, Ascension Thursday marks the earthly reign of the Saint Peter. When Christ leaves the earth by ascending to the right hand of God the Father, Saint Peter at that moment officially became the “Vicar of Christ on earth.” Vicar, of course, means “in the place of,” as in “Vice-President.”

So Peter is not God. He is not Jesus Christ. He is not even an angel. He is certainly not sinless. However, Peter is the divinely appointed chief of the Church of Christ on earth. He reigns for his Lord in Heaven. This is true for all the Popes who have succeeded Saint Peter in this office.

So then, the cardinals symbolically crowned the Successor of Saint Peter on this day to signify this profoundly biblical truth of Saint Peter’s office and role.

Let us pray that our rich liturgical tradition is resurrected to the greater glory of God.

ad Jesum per Mariam

Taylor

PS: There is nothing pompous or audacious about the Pope wearing a crown or papal tri-regnum. The Pope always wears a ceremonial hat (the mitre). It might as well be a hat that properly identifies his authority.

Here’s a video of the inaugural coronation of His Holiness Pius XII:

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How the Christ Hides Himself in Order to Reveal Himself

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 18:08:00 +0000

Christ in Agony Comforted by St Gabriel*

Christ our Lord is the hidden Savior. He is the opposite of a celebrity. He kept His ministry hidden. Even His public teaching is shrouded in parables. One might suppose that after His resurrection He would have gone to the Temple in Jerusalem and preached His inaugural sermon as the resurrected King of Glory. He did not. Rather we read that He often remain hidden and often alone in silence:

“And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone.” (Matthew 14:23, D-R)

“Then he commanded his disciples, that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.” (Matthew 16:20, D-R)

“And he saith to him: See thou tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the high priest and offer for thy cleansing the things that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” (Mark 1:44, D-R)

And he strictly charged them that they should not tell any man of him. (Mark 8:30, D-R)

“And it came to pass, as he was alone praying.” (Luke 9:18, D-R)

How does Christ communicate His love and grace to us most perfectly? Not in outward performances of power, but in hidden ways despised by the world.

Bread and wine are not fancy items and yet He is most present after transubstantiation in what appears to be bread and wine.

Old men are despised by our world, and yet these He has chosen as His vicars on earth. They represent Him.

A Jewish girl in her teens was lifted above all the angels and saints. In her stainless womb, He became man. Within the the Mother of God, He is rightly honored as the Word made flesh.

Murdered people are not celebrated, yet the martyrs are the glorious echoes of His redemptive suffering in the world.

To enter into a Catholic church is be confronted with imagery that contradicts what we assume about the majesty of God. The five senses see bread and wine, a picture of an old man living in Rome, a statue of a veiled girl, statues of murdered people and those who suffered in this life. Old ladies. Poor people. Only faith can communicate to our souls that God has chosen these things to communicate His grace and love. He hides Himself so that He can give Himself to those who truly love Him.

“Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou most beautiful among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside, and we will seek him with thee? My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the bed of aromatical spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I to my beloved, and my beloved to me, who feedeth among the lilies.” (Song of Solomon 5:17–6:2, D-R)

* There is a tradition that the angel that comforted Christ in His Agony in the Garden was Saint Gabriel. “And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer.” (Luke 22:43, D-R) The name Gabriel means strength of God or might of God.

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Communion on the Tongue and Pope St Leo the Great

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Today is the feast of Pope Saint Leo the Great (r. 440-461) who is one of the greatest Popes that the Catholic Church has ever enjoyed. He preserved stability during the collapse of the Roman Empire. He is perhaps most famous for his meeting with Attila the Hun.

He less well known for something very important to liturgical studies. He is one of the most ancient witnesses to the practice of Communion on the tongue. Notably, Saint Leo the Great read the sixth chapter of Saint John’s Gospel as referring to the Eucharist (as all the Church Fathers did). In a preserved sermon on John 6 (Sermon 9), Saint Leo says:

“Hoc enim ore sumitur quod fide creditur” (Serm. 91.3).

This is translated strictly as: “This indeed is received by means of the mouth which we believe by means of faith. “Ore” is here in the ablative and in the context it denotes instrumentation. So then, the mouth is the means by which the Holy Eucharist is received.

Another papal witness to Communion on the tongue is Pope Saint Gregory the Great. Pope Saint Gregory recounts the following story about a Christian man who was “an invalid who could neither speak nor stand up.” They brought this man to Pope Agapitus:

Agapitus turned immediately to prayer and so began the celebration of Mass, offering the Holy Sacrifice to Almighty God. As he left the altar after the Mass, he took the lame man by the hand and, in the presence of a large crowed of onlookers raised him from the ground till he stood erect. When he placed the Lord’s body in his mouth, the tongue which had so long been speechless was loosed. All those present were struck with wonder and wept for joy Fear and reverence filled their minds, for they saw what marvelous deed Agapitus had been able to accomplish by the power of God through the intercession of Saint Peter.

– Saint Gregory the Great, Dialogue III, 3.

According to my calculations, this miracle happened in AD 536 while Pope Agapitus was in Constantinople visiting Emperor Justinian.

Incidentally, Pope Agapitus also at this times declared that the Holy Orders of Arians were invalid. This Roman Pontiff is a canonized saint recognized by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

If you are interested in what other Church Fathers taught about Communion on the tongue, please see:

Did the Church Fathers Practice Communion in the Hand (Not Exactly)

…and if you want to learn how to properly receive Communion on the tongue, please see:

“Five Tips for Receiving the Communion on the Tongue”

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Can a baby be validly baptized with beer? (Pope Gregory IX)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:59:00 +0000

In July of AD 1241, a pressing matter was presented to Pope Gregory IX (reigned 1227-1241). The minds of Christendom were perplexed with a complicated theological problem: Would an infant baptized with beer be validly baptized?

Surprisingly, the question made it all the way to the Pope.

From the papal letter Cum sicut ex to Archbishop Sigurdof of Norway on July 8, 1241, Pope Gregory IX wrote the following:

Since as we have learned from your report, it sometimes happens because of the scarcity of water, that infants of your lands [Norway] are baptized in beer, we reply to you in the tenor of those present that, since according to evangelical doctrine it is necessary “to be reborn from water and the Holy Spirit” [John 3:5] they are not to be considered rightly baptized who are baptized in beer.

So there you have it. Although beer is mostly water, it doesn’t qualify as proper matter for the sacrament. Save the Pale Ale for the baptismal reception.

HT: Father Pio Maria Hoffmann, CFR

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Today the Popes gives the Pallium – So what is the pallium?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Pope Benedict imposing the pallium

On the feast of Saints Peter and Paul the Holy Father gives the sacred pallium to the world’s newest archbishops. What is the pallium? Where does it come from? What does it signify.

The word pallium is Latin for a traditional Roman cloak made from wool. It is a garment that only the Pope can confer and signifies the jurisdiction of a metropolitan archbishop and also the special communion that the recipient shares with the Pope and the Church of Rome. The earliest reference to the pallium derives from the reign of Pope Marcus (died 336) who conferred the pallium on the bishop of Ostia.

The pallium is still made from lamb’s wool. In fact, the lambs are are a gift from Trappist monks. The wool is then given to the nuns of the convent of Saint Agnes who weave the wool into the pallia. (The Latin word for “lamb” is agnus and this has long been a pun associated with Saint Agnes.) The connection with sheep also recalls “Christ the Good Shepherd” who carries the wandering sheep upon His shoulders. Similarly, the pallium is a reminder to the archbishop that he too should be a good shepherd ever mindful of the straying sheep. He is called to carry the sheep on his shoulders.

Last of all, the finished pallia are then placed over the relics of Saint Peter in the Vatican. Thus, each pallium is a third class relic of Saint Peter. So the Archbishop, when he wears his pallium is wearing a relic of Saint Peter!

So the pallium has a twofold symbolism. First is symbolizes that the archbishop carries the sheep on his shoulders. Second, it signifies his union with Saint Peter’s successor, the Bishop of Rome.

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Four Anathemas Regarding the Papacy

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:57:00 +0000

The Catholic Church, at the First Vatican Council in 1870, issued FOUR anathemas regarding heretical opinions regarding the Roman Papacy.

The first anathema regards Papal primacy.
The second anathema regards that the Peter will have perpetual successors until the end of time and that these successor are the Bishop of Rome. (Incidentally, this is the BEST argument against sedevacantists who allege that the Holy See has been vacant since Pope Pius XII. While we’re on the topic, here’s a great homily against the heresy of sedevacantism.)
The third anathema regards the “full and supreme power of jurisdiction” of the Pope over faith, morals, discipline, and government.
The fourth anathema regards the infallibility of the Pope whenever he speaks ex cathedra on faith and morals.

Here is the text of these four anathemas in an outline format so that you can better follow the argument. Remember, the anathema applies to those who affirm the incorrect doctrine on any of the four anathemas below. Incidentally, these canons show that Rome will never back down to the demands of the Russian and Greek Churches who officially believe these errors.

First Anathema

Therefore if anyone says that

blessed Peter the apostle was not appointed by Christ the lord as prince of all the apostles and visible head of the whole church militant; or that
it was a primacy of honour only and not one of true and proper jurisdiction that he directly and immediately received from our lord Jesus Christ himself:

let him be anathema.

Second Anathema

if anyone says that

it is not by the institution of Christ the lord himself (that is to say, by divine law) that blessed Peter should have perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole church; or that
the Roman pontiff is not the successor of blessed Peter in this primacy:

let him be anathema.

Third Anathema

if anyone says that

the Roman pontiff has merely an office of supervision and guidance, and
not the full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole church, and this
not only in matters of

faith and morals, but also in those which concern the
discipline and government of the church dispersed throughout the whole world; or that

he has only the principal part, but not the absolute fullness, of this supreme power; or that
this power of his is not ordinary and immediate both over all and each of the churches and over all and each of thepastors and faithful:
let him be anathema.

Fourth Anathema

we teach and define as a divinely revealed dogma that when the Roman pontiff speaks EX CATHEDRA, that is, when,
in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians,
in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority,

he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole church,
he possesses, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, that infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed his church to enjoy in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals.

Therefore, such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves, and not by the consent of the church, irreformable. So then, should anyone, which God forbid, have the temerity to reject this definition of ours:
let him be anathema.

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Resurrection Symbolism in the Holy Mass

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:20:00 +0000

Pope Benedict XVI ad orientem

Saint Thomas Aquinas, our Angelic Doctor, explains the mystical symbolism of the resurrection of Christ in ancient Roman liturgy of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

In the older rite, when the priest celebrates ad orientem, the priest turns around exactly five times to face the people. This, says Saint Thomas, signifies the five appearances of the resurrected Christ on Easter Sunday (see Augustine, De Consens. Evang. 3, for details on the fivefold appearance of Christ on Easter Sunday).

Here’s Saint Thomas on the liturgical resurrection symbolism of the “five priestly turns” toward the people:

“Five times does the priest turn round towards the people, to denote that our Lord manifested Himself five times on the day of His Resurrection, as stated above in the treatise on Christ’s Resurrection. But the priest greets the people seven times, namely, five times, by turning round to the people, and twice without turning round, namely, when he says, “The Lord be with you” before the “Preface,” and again when he says, “May the peace of the Lord be ever with you”: and this is to denote the sevenfold grace of the Holy Ghost. But a bishop, when he celebrates on festival days, in his first greeting says, “Peace be to you,” which was our Lord’s greeting after Resurrection, Whose person the bishop chiefly represents.” (Summa theologiae III, q. 83, a. 5, ad. 6)

If you have the opportunity to worship according to the Extraordinary Form of the Holy Mass approved by His Holiness Benedict XVI (1962 Missal of Pope John XXIII), you will be able to experience this ancient and rich detail of of the Roman liturgy.

It is also worth noting that the Catholic bishop himself especially signifies our resurrected Lord, as Thomas relates at the end of the quote above – this is because the bishop possesses the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders.

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Video: Rare 1896 Footage of a Pope Leo XIII (Horse Drawn Popemobile!)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:18:00 +0000

Last week Canterbury Tales featured a film of Pope Benedict’s priestly ordination video. This week we have another oldie-but-goodie…the first ever video recording of a Pope. It is footage of Pope Leo XIII in 1896 (the same year in which His Holiness declared Anglican holy orders as utterly null and void).

Note His Holiness’ old-school horse-drawn popemobile. It looks like somebody forgot to paint it white and install the bullet proof glass bubble…

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Video: 1951 Ordination of Pope Benedict to Priesthood!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:24:00 +0000

I just discovered this video of Pope Benedict’s ordination to the Catholic priesthood in 1951.

You can clearly see the young and skinny Father Ratzinger at exactly 4:52-4:55 in the video above.

Check it out. Viva Papa!

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Video: 1951 Ordination of Pope Benedict to Priesthood!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:24:00 +0000

I just discovered this video of Pope Benedict’s ordination to the Catholic priesthood in 1951.

You can clearly see the young and skinny Father Ratzinger at exactly 4:52-4:55 in the video above.

Check it out. Viva Papa!

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Video: Pope Benedict Receiving Ashes on Ash Wednesday

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 03:55:00 +0000

Notice that in Rome, the ashes are imposed on the crown of the head, not on the forehead.

Great music, by the way.

Godspeed,
Taylor

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Dash Thy Little Ones Against the Rock!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:01:00 +0000

Recently, I had a little exegetical epiphany while meditating on the Vulgate Psalms in Latin. Previously I’ve been troubled by Psalm 136{137}:9, which reads, “Blessed be he that shall take and dash thy little ones against the rock.” Being blessed for infanticide? Huh?

However, the Clementine Vulgate version opens itself to a very beautiful allegorical reading: “beatus qui tenebit et adlidet parvulos tuos ad petram.”

We are encouraged to dash the infants of our enemies “ad petram.”

Now couple this with the Vulgate version of Matthew 16:18

“et ego dico tibi quia tu es Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversum eam.”

To read it allegorically, we should be asking that the infants of our enemies be dashed against Peter and the foundation of the Catholic Church! For example, see the photo at that top of this post–that’s Pope Benedict’s hand baptizing an infant.

It’s edifying (nerdy Latin Vulgate pun intended) to pray Psalm 136 with Mt 16:18 in mind, and then intend that the children of our enemies (secularists, terrorists, haters of the Church, those who have hurt us) be thrown against Peter and the Church…that they be baptized, saved, and remain within the barque of Peter…

The Psalms are so rich. It’s too bad that Psalm 136:9 has been removed from the Liturgy of the Hours. A true pity.

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Pope Approves Padded Pipes for Mugging (Father Fessio)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:17:00 +0000

I got this from Father Z who got it from Father Fessio. It’s absolutely brilliant:

Here’s an example of this distinction that parallels what the Pope said.
Muggers are using steel pipes to attack people and the injuries are severe. Some muggers use padded pipes to reduce the injuries, while still disabling the victim enough for the mugging.

The Pope says that the intention of reducing injury (in the act of mugging) could be a first step toward greater moral responsibility. This would not justify the following headlines: “Pope Approves Padded Pipes for Mugging” “Pope Says Use of Padded Pipes Justified in Some Circumstances”, Pope Permits Use of Padded Pipes in Some Cases”.

Of course, one may morally use padded pipes in some circumstances, e.g., as insulated pipes so that hot water flowing through them doesn’t cool as fast. And one may use condoms morally in some cases, e.g. as water balloons. But that also would not justify the headline “Pope Approves Condom Use”, though in this case it could be true. But it would be intentionally misleading.

Now that’s a good analogy! Thank you Father Fessio! Please pass this along to your friends.

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Saint Clement: Pope, Theologian, Martyr (Bryan Cross)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:22:00 +0000

My buddy Bryan Cross put up an excellent post today entitled: St. Clement of Rome: Soteriology and Ecclesiology. Please check it out.

Here’s an excerpt:

Today, November 23, is the memorial of St. Clement I, pope and martyr. St. Clement was the third bishop of Rome, after St. Peter. He is known to us mostly through his famous letter to the Church at Corinth. Here I present a brief summary of what we know from later Fathers about St. Clement, and then examine what we learn from St. Clement concerning soteriology and ecclesiology.

Outline

I. What we know about St. Clement

II. St. Clement’s Soteriology

III. St. Clement Ecclesiology

Read the whole thing at Called to Communion: St. Clement of Rome: Soteriology and Ecclesiology

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Does the Vatican Understand the Internet Age?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Do we Catholics now understand that the media hates the Catholic Church?

Here’s a personal example:

A few weeks ago, a journalist for the major St Louis newspaper wanted to interview me about Jews and Catholicism – a very controversial topic. I told him that I would only do it he promised that the article wouldn’t be controversial and if I could see it before print.

He refused to make the promise, and so I refused to talk to him. He then turned around and pulled a bunch of quotes from my blog (completely out of context) and published them in the paper that week: “Catholics Actively Proselytizing Jews” or something like that.

The Church knows that she is at “enmity with the world,” but it seems that the Holy See has not yet adjsuted to the age of the internet. Moreover, it seems that the curia is still generally naive about the media and honestly believe expect non-Catholic journalists to be “fair and balanced.”

What we have is the City of Man against the City of God. We cannot expect a truce from the City of Man. The secular media is the calvary of the devil’s army and we need to be prepared for them to spin everything.

I think that the apparatus of the Vatican has not fully appreciated the moral viscousness and speed of the world-wide media.

Regensburg, the sexual scandals in Europe, and now the condom scandal show that the media will never be our friends.

As John Allen and George Weigel have stated, these PR debacles reveal that the Holy See needs a complete makeover. It appears perpetually confused and disordered.

People like to brag, “Well Rome moves slowly for the sake of prudence.” However, we live in a cyber-age. Delay tactics don’t work when your enemies are churning the media outlets with poison.

This isn’t the 16th century. It doesn’t take a year for news to get out – it takes 5 seconds. It took decades for Rome to respond to Martin Luther in the 1500s. Today, with the internet, we don’t have the luxury of decades to clean up a mess.

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Is French Kissing a Mortal Sin? (Pope Alexander VII)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:09:00 +0000

Does “making out” or “French kissing” constitute grave matter for people who are not married? I was recently asked this question and had to do some digging. I also checked out the Latin sources. Here’s what I found.

Pope Alexander VII

Apparently Pope Alexander VII (r. 1655-1667) was busy condemning not only French Jansensim, but also French kissing. Here’s the decree:

According to a decree of Pope Alexander VII in 1666, a kiss is not “merely a venial sin when performed for the sake of the carnal and sensible delight which arises from the kiss, even if the danger of further consent and pollution is excluded.”{1}

– Alexander VII, “Condemned Decrees” proclaimed on the 18th day of March in 1666 (Denzinger 2060, 1140 40).

So even if two people plan on preventing “further consent and pollution,” that is, they’re not going to engage in fornication, the kissing itself is gravely sinful if it elicits “carnal and sensible delight.”

Obviously giving someone a quick kiss or peck is does not cause “carnal and sensible delight.” However, prolonged kissing would. So what do we make of this? I suppose that this would be a very controversial topic in our day. Our culture and even our Church is concerned about all things sexual. What do you think? Please leave a comment.

{1} Here’s the Latin of Alexander VII. For the sake of clarity, the following opinion is not endorsed but is judged as false:

2060 1140 40. Est probabilis opinio, quae dicit, esse tantum veniale osculum habitum ob delectationem carnalem et sensibilem, quae ex osculo oritur, secluso periculo consensus ulterioris et pollutionis.

[reminder]

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Pius XII on the Missing Red Lamp of the Real Presence

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:40:00 +0000

I don’t know about you, but since I’ve become Catholic, I have been alarmed by the “dislocation” of the Holy Eucharist within Catholic churches. Sometimes I go into a church and I can’t find the tabernacle. It’s scandalous and heartbreaking. Why must He be hidden? “Where have they taken Him?”

I recently came across this quote from Eugene Cardinal Pacelli in 1931, the future Pope Pius XII. It’s profoundly prophetic and worth quoting and full:

“I am worried by the Blessed Virgin’s messages to Lucy of Fatima. This persistence of Mary about the dangers which menace the Church is a Divine warning against the suicide of altering the Faith, in Her liturgy, Her theology and Her soul…I hear all around me innovators who wish to dismantle the Sacred Chapel, destroy the universal flame of the true Faith of the Church, reject Her ornaments and make Her feel remorse for Her historical past.”

“A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, ‘Where have they taken Him?’”

Wow. Very powerful words. “A day will come when…Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them.”

If we claim to have Jesus at the center of hearts, isn’t it time we made sure that He is at the center of our churches? Return the tabernacles to the high altars!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

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Saint John Lateran…pray for us???

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:58:00 +0000

Ceiling of the Lateran Basilica

I once heard a humorous story about a group of Catholics that would meet in the morning for prayer. Every morning at the end of their prayers, they would invoke the saint commemorated that day, for example: “St Francis, pray for us.”

Well on November 9th, the person leading the prayers had checked the calendar and noted “St John Lateran,” so at the end of prayer, he said, “Saint John Lateran, pray for us.”

The problem is that “Saint John Lateran” is not a person, but a place! Most people don’t know this, but St Peter’s Basilica of the Vatican is NOT the cathedral church of Rome. Rather, the cathedral of Rome, the chief church of the entire world is (take a deep breath): “The Cathedral Archbasilica of the Most Holy Saviour and Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist at the Lateran.”

That’s a mouthful isn’t? The cathedral is simply called “St John Lateran” by those who aren’t able to rattle off the full title. The term “Lateran” refers to the church’s ancient origins as the the Lateran palace, which once belonged the Roman noble family of the Laterni. It was acquired by Constantine the Great and donated to the Pope in order to be the cathedral of the city.

As the cathedral of Rome, it is also referred to as the Sacrosancta Lateranensis Ecclesia Omnium Urbis et Orbis Ecclesiarum Mater et Caput “Most Holy Lateran Church, of all the churches in the city and the world, the mother and head”. This day (November 9th) commemorates the consecration of the Church and recalls the universal vocation the Church as the “New Jerusalem.”

My favorite thing about the Lateran Basilica is the “Holy Staircase” that’s just across the street. The Holy Staircase {scala sancta in Latin} is the staircase that once led to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. Saint Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine I, moved the staircase from Jerusalem to Rome where it has remained ever since. These are the stairs that Christ ascended before he was judged by Pontius Pilate. Pilgrims ascend the stairs on their knees for an indulgence. If you get to Rome, don’t miss the Holy Staircase. Also, the baptistry attached to the Lateran Basilica is simply amazing. Be sure to visit it, as well.

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The Origin of All Souls day…Voices from a Volcano

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:04:00 +0000

What is the origin of All Souls day? It started in the 900s with voices coming from a volcanic cave. But before that a little background on praying for the dead:

As we all know, the practice pf praying and sacrifice for the dead goes back to the Jewish custom of sacrifice for the dead. This custom of prayers and sacrifices for the dead predate the birth of our Lord Christ in Bethlehem.

We find an explicit Old Testament description and exhortation of prayer and sacrifice for the dead in 2 Maccabees 12:42-26. Moreover, all the Church Fathers testify to the practice of praying for the dead in the Eucharistic liturgy. Praying for the dead an example of one of the most ancient Christian customs – older than Christmas, older than church buildings, even older than the New Testament itself.

But what about this special day, All Souls, on which we pray and sacrifice for the dead in a special way? We find an account of its origins in the writings of Saint Peter Damian, who records the following story.

In the 900s, there was a French pilgrim returning from the Holy Land who was shipwrecked on an island with a cave from which belched heat and gas (a volcano of some sort). This pilgrim met a Christian hermit who lived near this cave. The hermit explained that he could sometimes overhear demons in the cave complaining about all the souls that are released from purgatory through the prayers and sacrifices of the monks in Cluny, France.

When the French pilgrim returned to France, he visited the monastery of Cluny and recounted the hermit’s story to the abbot of the monastery, then Abbot Odilo. The pilgrim testified to the great number of souls delivered from purgatory through the humble prayers of the Cluniac monks.

Odilo (died in 1048) was deeply moved by this and redoubled the monks efforts in assisting the souls in purgatory. Thus, he dedicated the day after All Saints Day (Nov 1) to all the souls still in purgatory (Nov 2).

Soon, the practice spread to the rest of France and then to the universal Church so that November 2nd became All Souls Day.

Saint Odilo, pray for us.

May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

To discover the Jewish origins for praying for the dead, please see my book The Crucified Rabbi.

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The Papal Tiara is Back! (Well, sort of…)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:02:00 +0000

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has modified his coat of arms. Whereas it used to sport what appeared to be a plain mitre (pointy hat of a bishop), it now incorporates a glorious version of the papal tiara – the crown formerly worn by pontiffs prior to Pope John Paul I.

You can see the changes in the video above.

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Is Jerome’s Latin Vulgate "free from error"? (Pope Pius XII)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:07:00 +0000

Saint Jerome assisted by angels while translating the Scriptures

Is Saint Jerome’s Latin Vulgate free from error?

The Council of Trent declared that his translation of the Scriptures into Latin is the standard translation for all Catholics:

“Moreover, the same Holy Council . . . ordains and declares that the old Latin Vulgate Edition, which, in use for so many hundred years, has been approved by the Church, be in public lectures, disputatious, sermons and expositions held as authentic, and so no one dare or presume under any pretext whatsoever to reject it.” (Fourth Session, April 8, 1546).

Most Catholic biblical scholars are aware of Pope Leo XIII’s monumental encyclical Providentissimus Deus on biblical scholarship, issued in 1893. It condemned the modern higher criticism techniques of the day (e.g. JEPD condemned). And nearly everyone knows the famous follow up encyclical by Pope Pius XII on biblical scholarship entitled Divino Afflante Spiritu (1943). Notably, Divino Afflante Spiritu stated that Saint Jerome’s Vulgate is “free from any error whatsoever in matters of faith and morals.”

However, few know of the “middle” document issued in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV entitled Spiritus Paraclitus about Sacred Scripture, celebrating the 1,500 anniversary of the death of Saint Jerome.

In Spiritus Paraclitus, the Vicar of Christ Pope Benedict XV states that Saint Jerome is:

“the Greatest Doctor divinely given to the Church for understanding the Bible”
“a strenuous Catholic, learned in the Scriptures”
“a teacher of Catholics”
“a model of virtue”
“the world’s teacher”

Pretty high praise for Jerome, eh?

Why not read this great encyclical on Scripture and Saint Jerome. You can find it here:

Spiritus Paraclitus (1920) Encyclical by Pope Benedict XV

Also, you can read the old Vulgate (Clementine edition) for free over at NewAdvent.org and compare it to the Greek and to the Douay-Rheims English translation:

NewAdvent Bible

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St Pius X and Communion with Russian Churches

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:00:00 +0000

This is from the Transalpine Redemptorists via Eric Sammons’ excellent Divine Light blog.

Apparently Pope Saint Pius X allowed communicatio in sacris (i.e. shared communion) with the Orthodox with the Russian Orthodox in certain cases:

Most Blessed Father!

Andrew Szeptycki, Metropolitan of Halycz, Metropolitan of Kiev and Administrator of all Russia at the foot of His Holiness most humbly asks that faculties may be conceded to himself and also to confessors in communion (capable of being communicated) for dispensing secular faithful from the law which forbids communicatio in sacris with the Orthodox as many times as they will judge it in conscience to be opportune.

Our Most Holy Father Pope Pius X deigned to sign with his own hand this document written by me with the words “May be tolerated”.

My only worry is that the document isn’t the original and that it doesn’t bear an official protocol number.

I’m not doubting the document, I’m only saying that people may find the document dubious without the actual signature or protocol number.

ad Jesum per Mariam,
Taylor

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St Pius X and Communion with Russian Churches

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:00:00 +0000

This is from the Transalpine Redemptorists via Eric Sammons’ excellent Divine Light blog.

Apparently Pope Saint Pius X allowed communicatio in sacris (i.e. shared communion) with the Orthodox with the Russian Orthodox in certain cases:

Most Blessed Father!

Andrew Szeptycki, Metropolitan of Halycz, Metropolitan of Kiev and Administrator of all Russia at the foot of His Holiness most humbly asks that faculties may be conceded to himself and also to confessors in communion (capable of being communicated) for dispensing secular faithful from the law which forbids communicatio in sacris with the Orthodox as many times as they will judge it in conscience to be opportune.

Our Most Holy Father Pope Pius X deigned to sign with his own hand this document written by me with the words “May be tolerated”.

My only worry is that the document isn’t the original and that it doesn’t bear an official protocol number.

I’m not doubting the document, I’m only saying that people may find the document dubious without the actual signature or protocol number.

ad Jesum per Mariam,
Taylor

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Is the Abp. of Canterbury Getting B16-Slapped?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 18:35:00 +0000

Is the Archbishop of Canterbury getting b-slapped, that is, B16-slapped?

It’s inconceivable that our Holy Father Pope Benedict would slap or lay hands on Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the world’s Anglicans. Nevertheless, as I watch scenes of the Holy Father walking around with the Queen or sitting in Westminster hall, I can’t help but notice the sheepish Archbishop of Canterbury keeping his head down in the background.

The power of the Pope in the presence of the Archbishop subtly mocks the established Protestantism of England. When you see the Successor of Saint Peter, Pope Benedict XVI, sitting enthroned at Westminster hall, you can’t help but think: “Yeah, all these churches, even the souls of the people, belongs by irrevocable right to the Holy Catholic Church. The traditions, the buildings, and even the anointed monarchy go back to England’s papist roots.

I wager that Rowan Williams (whom I believe is the second worst “Archbishop of Canterbury” after Thomas Cranmer) feels dwarfed. I also bet that he and others realize the Pope’s presence is a quiet judgment against a 500 year experiment that has failed miserably under Rowan’s watch: nationalized Protestantism in the form of Anglicanism.

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Revealed: Pope Benedict’s Official Vatican Portrait

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:56:00 +0000

Master artist Igor V. Babailov, M.F.A. has completed the new official portrait of HIs Holiness Benedict XVI (see photo of the painting above), entitled: “The Truth, The Way and The Life: A Portrait of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI,” Oil on Canvas, 72″ x 48″ ( 183 cm x 122 cm ).

I love it. It’s rather stunning. I would have opted away from the statue of Christ in the background and featured only the Holy Father on a dark background. Nonetheless, it’s well done.

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Number Analysis of Catholics in Great Britain

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:49:00 +0000

The Pope has arrived in Great Britain. England has been a Protestant nation for 500 years, yet Catholicism has gained a major foothold. I noticed that there seems to be general growth in numbers except for in two areas: marriages and Catholic schools.

The following interactive link allows you to examine the growth (and demise) of Catholicism in the UK over the past 30 years. Pretty interesting…

Catholicism in the UK in numbers: How Catholics and Catholicism in the UK in 2010 compare to the first Papal visit in 1982.

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Video: Pope Meets Queen Elizabeth

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:01:00 +0000

Kind of a bummer that the Queen of England greets the Vicar of Christ with only a handshake…

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Why is Pope Benedict emphasizing Latin?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:59:00 +0000

Damian Thompson’s wonderful blog notes that the Holy Father will celebrate John Henry Newman’s Beatification Mass in Latin (Novus Ordo) in order to emphasize the universality of Christ’s Church.

This follows news that the Holy Father and his personal assistant celebrate the Holy Mass according to the 1962 Missal in private as a private devotion. What does all this mean?

By using Latin the Holy Father stresses three things:

First, the use of Latin emphasizes the continuity of the Catholic Church over time – the Catholic Church did not become a “new Church” in the 1960s, nor did it imbibe a “new spirit.” It’s the same old Church – our Mother.
Second, the use of Latin emphasizes that the Church is truly universal. Latin is a “dead language” – but not really. It is used by the Church, but not in common discourse. This means that Latin belongs to no nation, and yet to every nation. When we use Latin, we place everyone on an even playing field. Latin discourages nationalism at the expense of our highest identity as Christians.
Third, Latin emphasizes the Roman-ness of Catholicism – it proclaims the universal jurisdiction of the Pope as Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Christ on earth. The Bishop of Rome is not merely “first among equals.” Rather, the Bishop of Rome holds a unique and divinely instituted office. Rome (not Constantinople, not Canterbury, not Moscow, not even Jerusalem) is the divinely appointed earthly capital of the Church.*

Personally, I think this is all very positive. There has been a general tendency to undermine the role and place of the Pope in an attempt to defend the sacramental and juridical role of the diocesan bishop. Moreover, as everyone knows, liturgical abuse is everywhere. Benedict seems to be making slight and subtle correctives in this regard.

Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Benedicto.

Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum,

et beatum faciat eum in terra,

et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.

Amen.

*My third book (due in 2011) in the “Origins of Catholicism” trilogy, entitled The Eternal City: Rome and Origins of Catholic Christianity explores the divinely instituted role of the city of Rome in the Old Testament and in the New Testament up until Constantine. It seeks to show the biblical and theological arguments for Roman supremacy.

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Amazing Photo of Pius XII before becoming Pope

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:35:00 +0000

I just found this photo of Pope Pius XII (Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli) in 1924. Pacelli was elected to the Throne of Saint Peter in 1939.

I thought that I’d pass it along…

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If you deny the Assumption of Mary, you have "fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith"

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:13:00 +0000

From the infallible Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus by Pope Pius XII defining “ex cathedra” (“from the chair” of Peter) the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Note how the decree declares, “Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.”

44. For which reason, after we have poured forth prayers of supplication again and again to God, and have invoked the light of the Spirit of Truth, for the glory of Almighty God who has lavished his special affection upon the Virgin Mary, for the honor of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages and the Victor over sin and death, for the increase of the glory of that same august Mother, and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church; by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma:

that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

45. Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.

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If you deny the Assumption of Mary, you have "fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith"

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:13:00 +0000

44. For which reason, after we have poured forth prayers of supplication again and again to God, and have invoked the light of the Spirit of Truth, for the glory of Almighty God who has lavished his special affection upon the Virgin Mary, for the honor of her Son, the immortal King of the Ages and the Victor over sin and death, for the increase of the glory of that same august Mother, and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church; by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma:

that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

45. Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.

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Popemobile Rides Victorious over Protestant Pedestrian?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:03:00 +0000

This is the strangest blog post that I’ve written in at least a month:

In the context of the Holy Father’s visit to Scotland, it was recently announced that an actor had been hired by the Catholic Church to portray the bearded John Knox who would then parade before the Popemobile.

Just in case you nodded off in class while your history teacher covered the Scottish Reformation, John Knox was a 16th century Catholic priest who became the chief Protestant ‘reformer’ in Scotland and fomented the abolition of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in 1560. Subsequently, stained glass windows were smashed out and churches were white-washed so as to avoid any other forms of “idolatry.” Knox is considered the father and founder of Scottish, English, and American Presbyterianism.

Ex-Priest John Knox

Knox, a great polemicist against the papacy, is rolling in his grave, I’m sure. Knox’s well-known hatred for the papacy and this recent “Knox actor” announcement raises a question: Is this a misguided attempt at saccharine ecumenism on the part of Rome or is it a tongue-in-cheek mockery of the Protestantism of Scotland in the person of Knox? Maybe it’s a little of both. Let me explain:

A) Either, Catholics in Scotland are trying to be “inclusive” in a predominately Protestant nation and so they’re giving John Knox (er…an actor dressed like John Knox) a place in the show.

B) Or, this is making a mockery of John Knox. Remember, John Knox had been a duly ordained Roman Catholic priest before he became a Protestant. Hence, Knox is a disgraced child of the Church of Rome.

Any theologically informed Catholic knows that Knox is a priest-turned-Protestant who banned the Catholic Mass from Scotland. Having a likeness of him march before the Popemobile reminds one of how vanquished enemies of the Roman Caesars were required to march in humility in front of the chariot of the emperor. It’s like the Pope comes to Scotland and rides victorious over the enemy. At last, Knox’s Protestantism is vanquished and the nation once again receives the Bishop of Rome.

Surely, none of the planners of the event are aware of the irony or they would not let it go on. However, I wonder if Benedict will be grinning as watches Knox skip before him as he rides victorious in the popemobile…

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Pope Benedict celebrates Latin Mass privately

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:16:00 +0000

Last week, our family officially registered at the local Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (Latin Mass) parish. This story about the Holy Father brings joy to my heart:

Damian Thompson, yet again, gives us a great headline and story:

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the Tridentine Mass privately, says head of SSPX

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite in private, according to the head of the Society of St Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay. Speaking at a gathering in Brazil this month, Bishop Fellay also claimed that an unnamed Italian bishop had threatened to resign if the Pope ever celebrated the traditional Latin Mass in public.

According to Fellay, the Holy Father’s secretary, Mgr Georg Gänswein, also uses the 1962 Missal; Father Z suggests that the Pope may sometimes serve Mass for him (in the older form, he implies, though this isn’t clear).

The rumours that Benedict XVI says the old Mass in his own chapel have been circulating for a long time; just last week, a senior Westminster priest with strong links to the Vatican told me he had reason to believe them. But Fellay is on the record here and I don’t think he would make such a claim unless he knew it to be true.

This cheers me up. I’ve deliberately stuck the word “Tridentine” in the headline to this post because, although it’s been largely superseded by “Extraordinary Form”, I want to remind all those English liberals who are hastily reinventing themselves as fans of the Holy Father that he profoundly loves the Mass they spent decades sneering at – and indeed celebrated it publicly when he was head of the CDF.

Read the whole article at the Telegraph.

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The Holy See’s Financial Debt: Silver and Gold I Have Not!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:29:00 +0000

Unlike others, the Holy See is rather transparent about their finances.

The Holy See’s press office released its 2009 financial report showing €250.18 million in revenues against expenses of €254.28 million. If you punch that into your calculator you’ll see that this means a deficet of 4.1 million Euros. At the current exchange, in US dollars that’s $5.2 million short.

This gives all new meaning to what Saint Peter, our first pope, said in the first century:

“But Peter said, “Silver and gold I have not!, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6).

So this year when your priest announces the annual “Peter’s Pence” collection (the collection for the Pope), remember that the pope is in the red – and I’m not talking about the liturgical rubrics…

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Pope Chooses Delegate for Legionaries of Christ

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:13:00 +0000

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Velasio De Paolis (head of the Holy See’s financial office) to serve as papal delegate for the Legionaries of Christ.

That’s a job I would never want to have. Here’s why: The Scandalous Life and Death of Marcial Maciel – Founder of Legionaries of Christ.

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Pope B16 commends Bl. John Duns Scotus as a Great Christian Theologian

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:14:00 +0000

See video above for details.

Blessed John Duns Scotus is finally getting the recognition he deserves. I’ve conspired with some Franciscans and we’re hatching a plot to get John Duns Scotus canonized as a saint – Maybe B16 is the man to do it. The plan is comical and provocative. Check back for details!

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Pope Benedict dedicates a new Vatican fountain to Saint Joseph

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:15:00 +0000

Watch video above:

“This beautiful fountain,” Pope Benedict explained, “is a symbolic reminder of the values of simplicity and humility in accomplishing God’s will every day, values which characterised the silent but invaluable life of the Custodian of the Redeemer.”

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Another Contradictory New York Times Attack on Pope Benedict

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:59:00 +0000

“In another New York Times article, with another front-page attack on Pope Benedict XVI, erases any possible doubt that America’s most influential newspaper has declared an editorial jihad against this pontificate. Abandoning any sense of editorial balance, journalistic integrity, or even elementary logic, the Times looses a 4,000-word barrage against the Pope: an indictment that is not supported even by the content of this appalling story. Apparently the editors are relying on sheer volume of words, and repetition of ugly details, to substitute for logical argumentation.”

Read the full story: Catholic Culture Article – Another vicious, inaccurate, and contradictory New York Times attack on Pope Benedict

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Pope Benedict XVI’s new devotion to Pope St Celestine V

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:26:00 +0000

If you’re looking for my most recent article on Pope Benedict’s abdication and his devotion to Saint Celestine V (a pope who also abdicated), please click here to read the latest updated article:

Pope Benedict’s Devotion to Saint Celestine Signaled His Resignation from the Papacy

“The Celestine Sign”
by Robert Moynihan Inside the Vatican

A little more than a year ago, on April 29, 2009, Benedict did something unusual. He left his own “pallium,” the sign of his episcopal authority and his connection to Christ, on a tomb in Aquila, Italy. The tomb held the remains of a relatively obscure medieval Pope named was Celestine V (1209-1296).

Why?

Celestine V was a holy monk. His model was John the Baptist. He wore hair-cloth and a chain of iron. He fasted every day except Sunday and each year he kept four Lents on bread and water alone. Many kindred spirits gathered about him eager to imitate his rule of life, and before his death there were 36 monasteries, numbering 600 religious, bearing his papal name (Celestini).

But he was not just a monk.

He was elected Pope in 1294, a time of great corruption and contention in the Church, after a conclave deadlocked for more than two years. He was elected at about the age of 80 (Benedict was 78 when he was elected Pope in 2005).

At Celestine’s election, some of the Spiritual Franciscans, who opposed the worldliness of the Church hierarchy, proclaimed that he was the first legitimate Pope in nearly 1,000 years, since Constantine had granted the Church huge territorial possessions in the 300s.

So the Church had a holy leader, and many devout Catholics at that time thought the Church would be reformed by this good man.

But the holy Celestine — who pleaded with the cardinals not to choose him as the Pope — could not manage to rule the powerful cardinals around him.

The cardinals of 700 years ago seem to have chosen Celestine almost humorously, as it were, not seriously, as if to say, “We can’t agree on a serious ‘Prince-Cardinal’ for Pope, so we will choose this holy, quiet, learned monk to be Pope, and watch with a certain amusement as he struggles mightily but in vain to guide the ungovernable bark of Peter.”

After five months, Celestine gave up, and resigned — the only Pope who has ever done so.

He thought he would end his life in peace, but his successor, Boniface VIII, fearing his opponents might use Celestine as a rallying point, ordered him confined, and some allege, executed (probably wrongly, since he was already approaching 90).

All of Celestine’s official acts were annulled by Pope Boniface VIII.

Now, Benedict is scheduled to travel this Sunday, on July 4, to Sulmona, not far from Rome. There, in the crypt of the cathedral, as the last act of his visit, he is scheduled to venerate relics of this same holy Pope, Celestine V. (See bottom for a news report on this upcoming trip.)

So Sunday, the Pope will pray before Celestine’s relics for the second time in 15 months.

I am not suggesting Pope Benedict XVI is thinking of following in the footsteps of the saintly Pope Celestine and resigning.

I am suggesting that the studious Pope Benedict and the studious monk-Pope are “connected” in a mysterious way.

I believe Benedict’s decisions to leave his pallium in Aquila, where Celestine’s tomb is located, and to schedule a prayer before his relics this coming Sunday, are not haphazard.

These decisions are indicators, ways of communicating truths through gestures. They contain a message the Pope cannot deliver any other way.

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Pope Benedict’s Devotion to Saint Celestine Signaled His Resignation from the Papacy

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Dante damned him to the Inferno…but the Pope canonized him (Saint Celestine V)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 20 May 2010 00:53:00 +0000

On the traditional calendar, today is the feast of Saint Celestine V, a holy hermit who is remembered as the Pope who abdicated Saint Peter’s throne in AD 1294. The reason? He felt unworthy.

Today, Father Gary Selin told me that Dante placed Celestine hell:

A persistent tradition identifies Celestine V as the nameless figure Dante sees among those in the antechamber of Hell, in the enigmatical verses: “I saw and recognized the shade of him Who by his cowardice made the great refusal” (Inferno, III, 59–60)

Here, the “great refusal” would be Celestine’s abidication. Despite Dante’s bold claim, the Church has confirmed and canonized Pope Celestine V as a holy saint of God in Heaven.

St Celestine, pray for us!

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Franciscan Popes?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:15:00 +0000

I’ve been able to find four Franciscan popes:

Nicholas IV OFM (1288-1292)
Sixtus IV OFM Conventual (1471-1484)
Sixtus V OFM Conventual (1585 – 1590)
Clement XIV OFM Conventual (1769-1774)

Are there any others that I missed?

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The Levites and Priests of the New Covenant (Words from Saint Leo the Great)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:26:00 +0000

Pope Saint Leo the Great,
Reigned from Peter’s Chair 440-61
Later in 2010, my new book The Catholic Perspective on Paul (Vol 2 in “The Catholic Origins of Catholic Christianity”) will become available. The new book seeks to defend the “old perspective on Paul” – not the “older perspective” of Luther and Calvin – but rather the “oldest perspective” of the primitive Catholic Church, namely, that Saint Paul is a theologian who is sacramental, a churchman who is hierarchical, a mystic who is orthodox.

The book contains a chapter on the sacerdotal priesthood as articulated by Saint Paul. Here’s a free podcast that I recorded if you’re interested in this subject: Was Paul a Catholic Priest?

Many scholars believe that that the idea of a Christian sacrificial priesthood developed later and was not apostolic. However, I seek to demonstrate that it is already present in the New Testament – primarily in Paul’s epistles.

This morning in the Office of Readings, I came across the following passage from Pope Saint Leo confirming the belief that Christian presbyters correspond to priests and that Christian deacons correspond to Levites. It’s quite beautiful and Christocentric.

Lord, you drew all things to yourself so that the devotion of all peoples everywhere might celebrate, in a sacrament made perfect and visible, what was carried out in the one temple of Judea under obscure foreshadowings.

Now there is a more distinguished order of Levites, a greater dignity for the rank of elders, a more sacred anointing for the priesthood, because your cross is the source of all blessings, the cause of all graces. Through the cross the faithful receive strength from weakness, glory from dishonour, life from death.

The different sacrifices of animals are no more: the one offering of your body and blood is the fulfilment of all the different sacrificial offerings, for you are the true Lamb of God: you take away the sins of the world. In yourself you bring to perfection all mysteries, so that, as there is one sacrifice in place of all other sacrificial offerings, there is also one kingdom gathered from all peoples.

Sermo 8 de passione Domini 6-8, Patrologia Latina 54, 340-342.

Any thoughts? Please leave a comment.

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St Pius X: Mary is the Neck, Christ is the Head

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:45:00 +0000

Do you remember that scene in the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding in which the Greek mothers teach the Greek girl that the Greek father is the “head” of household, but that the mother is the “neck”?

They may have been Greeks, but they were reading from a Roman script – because a similar thing was said by Pope Saint Pius X in his encyclical Ad diem illum of 1904 (and also by Saint Bernard before him). According to Saint Pius X, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the “neck” that connects Christ the Head to the Church as His Body.

But Mary as St. Bernard fittingly remarks is the ‘channel’ or, even, the neck, through which the body is joined to the head, and likewise through which the head exerts its power and strength on the body. For she is the neck of our Head, by which all spiritual gifts are communicated to His Mystical Body.

I have often heard our Immaculate Mother referred to as the “neck” of the Church, but I had no idea that the concept appeared in a papal/magisterial document.

Any comments?

Please also read:

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John Paul II: Remove the Bullet – Not My Scapular!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:14:00 +0000

As everyone knows, His Holiness John Paul II was shot in Saint Peter’s Square on 13 May, 1981 – the anniversary of Our Lady’s first apparition at Fatima.

Just before doctors were about to begin surgery in order to remove the embedded bullet, the Holy Father regained consciousness and instructed the doctors “do not remove my scapular” during the operation. John Paul II was, after all, Totus Tuus in his devotion to the Mother of God.

Beautiful story.

If you don’t wear the Scapular, why not be enrolled this Lent?

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John Paul II: Remove the Bullet – Not My Scapular!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:14:00 +0000

As everyone knows, His Holiness John Paul II was shot in Saint Peter’s Square on 13 May, 1981 – the anniversary of Our Lady’s first apparition at Fatima.

Beautiful story.

If you don’t wear the Scapular, why not be enrolled this Lent?

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Sandro Magister on the Conversion of Rabbi Zolli to Catholicism

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:19:00 +0000

The Jew, Jesus, Who Changed the Life of the Chief Rabbi of Rome

He changed it so much that Rabbi Israel Zolli had himself baptized in the Catholic Church. His book “Il Nazareno” has been reprinted and reviewed in “L’Osservatore Romano” by a Jewish scholar. And meanwhile, the second volume of the pope’s “Jesus of Nazareth” is going to the printer

by Sandro Magister. Read the whole thing here.

Remember the First Five Popes as "PLACE"

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Below are the oldest existing lists of the bishops of Rome following Saint Peter. As you can see, Saint Linus (mentioned in 2 Tim 4:21) is universally held as the immediate successor of Saint Peter in Rome. Clement (Phil 4:3) is also reckoned as a successor.

Linus, Cletus, Clemens (ca. A.D. 160, Hegesippus, ap. Epiphanium, Canon of Mass).

Linus, Anencletus, Clemens (ca. A.D. 170s, Irenaeus, Africanus ap. Eusebium).

Linus, Clemens, Cletus, Anacletus (220s-230s, Hippolytus).

Linus, Cletus, Anacletus, Clemens (ca. late 200s [?], Poem against Marcion).

Linus, Anacletus, Clemens (400s Jerome).

Linus, Clemens, Anacletus (400s Optatus, Augustine).[1]

It seems that there is some confusion about “Anacletus.” In the Anti-Marcionite poem and in Hippolytus, the name became redundant and mistaken for two different bishops: “Cletus” and “Anacletus.” The older lists indicate that Cletus and Anacletus are one and the same man – the former being an abbreviation of the latter.

The received tradition is easy to remember. I teach my students to simply remember Rome as the “PLACE” of the first five Popes:

P – Peter
L – Linus
A – Anacletus
C – Clement
E – Evaristus

[1] Catholic Encyclopedia, “Linus” (can be accessed at newadvent.org).

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The Ancient Church of Rome was Ruled by a Single Bishop (Rome’s Early Mono-Episcopate)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:20:00 +0000

Dissenting Catholic scholars love to trot out the “real story” about how the original Church of Rome was not ruled by a sole bishop, but by a council of presbyters. Of course, they create this version of church history so that they can dissent from the Pope who is the Bishop of Rome.

Their theory goes like this:

Even though Judaism was hierarchical, all “early Christians” in the first century were egalitarian and opposed to hierarchy. The Church of Rome in the first century also was egalitarian and was ruled by a council of elders or presbyters. The political structure of the “mono-episcopate” or “rule by one bishop” only developed in the second century when the church began to require institutional structure.

Dissenters appeal to two ancient sources in order to “prove” their opinion:

First, they appeal to the Epistle of Clement (written in AD 80s or 90s) and claim that the letter doesn’t mention a singular bishop of Rome. Instead, they claim that the Epistle of Clement is actually the “Letter of a Roman Committee to which Clement belonged.”

Secondly, they cite Ignatius of Antioch’s Epistle to the Church of Rome, which, unlike his other letters, fails to mention a singular bishop of Rome by name.

These two sources are supposed to be a slam dunk argument against the Catholic belief that Peter was the first “bishop of Rome” and that Peter was succeeded by Linus, Anacletus, Clement, Evarstus…John Paul II, and finally by Benedict XVI.

Well, I’ve got bad news for all of them. You wanna know why? Well, the Epistle of Saint Clement explicitly teaches that each city is ruled by a single bishop, surrounded by priests and his deacons. Did you get that? Saint Clement taught the mono-episcopate…

Don’t let the Protestants or Catholic dissenters fool you. If you actually read the Epistle of Clement, you’ll come across this passage where Clement discusses Christian worship. Here he explains that only one man (the bishop) fulfills “peculiar services” of Jesus Christ for the local church:

[Christ] has enjoined offerings to be presented and service to be performed to Him, and that not thoughtlessly or irregularly, but at the appointed times and hours. Where and by whom He desires these things to be done, He Himself has fixed by His own supreme will, in order that all things, being piously done according to His good pleasure, may be acceptable unto Him.

For his own peculiar services are assigned to the high priest, and their own proper place is prescribed to the priests, and their own special ministrations devolve on the Levites. The layman is bound by the laws that pertain to laymen” (1 Clement 40).

Here we find Clement describing the structure of the Church. We have a high priest to whom Christ’s “own peculiar services are assigned.” We have a plurality of priests. We have the deacons, who are often called “Levites” in the early church. Last of all, we have the laymen. This is the exact structure of every Catholic diocese on earth! We called it the “threefold order” of the bishop, priests, and deacons.

As to the the silence of Ignatius of Antioch (AD 108) regarding the name of the bishop of Rome – Ignatius does not say that there isn’t a bishop of Rome – he merely remains silent on the matter. This is for good reason. Rome is the capital of the pagan Roman Empire. It would be rather irresponsible to reveal the name of the Christian Roman leader, especially since the bishop of Rome lived there within its walls!

So next time you hear someone say, “Well, the Church of Rome didn’t really have a bishop in the early days,” immediately do three things:

Have the person read 1 Clement 40
Explain why it would have been imprudent for Ignatius to have mentioned the bishop of Rome by name

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Queen of England Has Affinity with Pope and is Frustrated With Anglicanism

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:20:00 +0000

There are some interesting rumors about the Holy Father’s trip to England – the second papal visit to England since Henry VIII broke with Rome and established the Church of England 500 years ago.

According to this report, Queen Elizabeth who is still officially the Gubernatrix (or Governess) of the Church of England, has become more frustrated with Anglicanism and perhaps interested in Catholicism. The Telegraph reports:

sources at the Vatican claimed the Queen’s sympathy for Catholicism had increased as she had become “appalled”, along with the Prince of Wales, at developments in the Church of England, of which she is Supreme Governor. The Queen, 83, is said to have an “affinity” with the Holy Father, who is of her generation.

Wow! Let’s hope that the queen’s “affinity” with the Holy Father grows during and after his visit to her realm. Can you imagine? What if the English monarchy reverted back to Catholicism?

Holy English Martyrs of England and Wales, pray for us.

HT: Dwight Lindley

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Venerable Pope Pius XII is a Hero for Jews – Not Hitler’s Pope

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:46:00 +0000

Despite the recent overtures made by the Catholic Church to ethnic and religious Jews, there is a growing body of secular literature claiming that Catholicism is anti-Semitic by its very nature. The accusations are made to varying degrees. Some understand Catholicism as inherently anti-Semitic because it claims that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and exclusive Savior of mankind (Jn 14:6). Others accuse the New Testament itself of anti-Semitism because Christ’s enemies are sometimes referred to collectively as “the Jews.” Others cite Catholic history and point to Catholic-led persecutions against Jewish victims.

More recently, some authors and journalists have accused Pope Pius XII of having been “Hitler’s Pope,” even suggesting that Pius XII assisted with the Nazi holocaust. Recent secular and Jewish scholarship however, has shown that this claim is false and inspired by anti-Catholic bigotry. I imagine that the accusations will continue now that Pius XII is moving forward in the process of beatification and sainthood.

John Cornwell’s polemical Hitler’s Pope (1999) was recently answered by Rabbi David G. Dalin’s book The Myth of Hitler’s Pope: How Pope Pius XII Rescued Jews from the Nazis (2005). Rabbi Dalin presents archival evidence demonstrating that Pope Pius XII rescued thousands of Jews during World War II. Rabbi Dalin even suggests that Pius XII be canonized by Yad Vashem (Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority) as a “Righteous Gentile” for his heroic work on behalf of the Jewish people.

Rabbi Dalin also notes that the primary polemicists against Pius XII are either ex-seminarians (Gary Wills and John Cornwell) or ex-priests (James Carroll). The rabbi expresses his frustration toward these lapsed Catholics who have manipulated the tragedy of the holocaust to grind an axe with the papacy and the Catholic Church.

You may also like:

Christ’s Great Hanukkah Sermon and How It Relates to the Maccabees

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Pope Benedict: Christmas is NOT a Fairy Tale

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:35:00 +0000

The Holy Father gave a great message today for the Fourth Sunday in Advent: Christmas is not a warm, fuzzy fairy tale – it’s the mystery of God’s love for us.

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Video about Pope’s Anglican Personal Ordinariates

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:23:00 +0000

Maybe the Catholic Church never had unity…huh?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:03:00 +0000

Over at Called to Commuunion, Chris Donato brought forth an idea that I had not previously pondered: “What if the Church had never been united?”

You can read his comment here at Called to Communion. He cites a new book by by Graham Ward entitled: The Politics of the Discipleship (Baker Academic):

There has never been a time when the church was one. The centralizing of the church around Rome and the papacy was a historical move emerging between the third and fifth centuries in an already divided and contested Christendom. “Each one of you says, ‘I belong to Paul,’ or ‘I belong to Apollos,’ or ‘I belong to Cephas,’ or ‘I belong to Christ,’” as Paul attests in one of his early epistles (1 Cor. 1:12). There has never been a Christendom in terms of a universal kingdom of Christ. While the Roman medieval church was extending both its powers and territorial domain from the eleventh century to the sixteenth, it became increasingly aware of its own smallness. . . . Even before the Reformation’s splintering, Christendom was an ideology only partly realized and internally contested. The church, then, is always to come. It is a promise that forms the horizon within which the churches seek to be and become more fully the church. (p. 25-26)

Let me make three observations:

1) Ward uses criteria that the Catholic Church has never used. It seems here that “unity” means that every single believing Christian was and is in full theological agreement on every matter. This is an impossible criterion, and so, of course, Ward “proves” his point against unity. It would be like an atheist stating, “No one has ever perfectly followed the teachings of Christ, therefore there has never been a “Christian” person. The definition presumes standards that cannot be met. He who creates the definition also creates the conclusion made from the definition…

2) Ward assumes that the observation of historical development undermines the development’s origin. For example, a man plants a sapling and 30 years later returns to find it as a thick and majestic oak tree. He then concludes that the sapling was never really an oak tree on account of “growth.”

Likewise, the fact that the papacy and doctrine “developed” or “grew” doesn’t mean that there wasn’t a sapling form in the beginning. Peter didn’t comprehend the papacy in the fully developed way in which Benedict XVI does. That doesn’t mean that Peter, Linus, Anacletus, and all the original bishops of Rome weren’t really popes.

By the way, Ward’s sort of thinking is Hegelian – it assumes that what develops later isn’t really an organic progression from what was established beforehand. Rather, the Hegelian assumes that change results from a merging of alien, even opposite presuppositions.

3) Ward refers to the Catholic Church or Christendom (it’s hard to see if he means the same thing here since I don’t have the context or the book before me) as “a universal kingdom of Christ” He writes:

There has never been a Christendom in terms of a universal kingdom of Christ.

As I Catholic, I fully agree. If that is what “Christendom” means, then no there never has been a “Christendom.”

Once again he is creating idealistic criteria that nobody holds. I don’t think that anyone has claimed that Christendom or the Catholic Church per se was or is “a universal kingdom of Christ.” The Church on earth manifests the kingdom of God, but it is not the same thing.

So here again Ward is purposefully creating criteria that cannot be met and then stepping back and saying: “Ha! You see, there never really has been true unity or anything called “Christendom.” According to his standards, he is correct and he is the toast of Geneva. However, his standards are falsely exaggerated. The Apostles, Church Fathers, and Medievals wouldn’t let him off the hook that easily…

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How to Answer Protestant Objections to Catholicism

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:11:00 +0000

Someone named Donald called into question my status as a Christian based on several misunderstandings of Catholicism. I’ve listed them below with my responses:

Donald wrote:

“You have given your conscience over to the Magisterial authority of the RCC, you believe, based on your works, that you can lose your salvation, then regain it, then lose it, and in theory all in the same day.”

Yes, Hebrews 6:4-6 teaches that “enlightened” Christians who have become “partakers of the Holy Spirit” can lose their salvation:

[4] For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
[5] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
[6] if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.

Moreover, Saint Paul says, “you have fallen away from grace” (Gal 5:4). And again:

Heb 3:12 “Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”

Donald wrote:

“You accept the idea that all graces come through Mary, have placed her as a mediator between man and Jesus Christ.”

All grace has come to us through the humanity of the Incarnate Son of God. He became incarnate through Mary. Without Mary, the grace of Christ would not have flowed out to humanity because she provided the substance of His body. And so all grace has come to us through Mary, though she’s not the source of grace – to say so would be blasphemy!

Donald wrote: “[You] are in defiance of Hebrews and daily sacrifice Christ.”

This is simply not true. The Sacrifice of the Mass isn’t a “daily sacrifice of Christ” but a re-presentation of that one and for all sacrifice.

Donald wrote: “you believe that a fallen human being, even one regenerate, has merits that can be transferred to someone else (reparation).”

Yes, this is all over the Bible. The friends of the paralytic brought the paralyzed man to Jesus. If they hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been healed or forgiven. 1 John 5 also teaches that we can pray for others, that their sins might be forgiven. Saint Paul even wrote:

“To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1 Cor 9:22).

Paul was a sinful man and yet God used him as an instrument “to save some.” This is biblical…and this is Catholic.

Donald wrote:

“you deny the merits of Christ because you think man has to save himself, and cleanse himself in purgatory, (sp) for thousands of years, unless you gain an “indulgence” from another fallen sinner (the pope),

The Catholic Church doesn’t teach that we “cleanse ourselves.” This isn’t true. Christ cleanses us. Saint Paul teaches in 1 Cor 3:15 that we will be cleansed “through fire” after we die. So again, it’s biblical…and Catholic. I don’t know where you got “for thousands of years.”

Oh, and an indulgence is simply a Church approved prayer or act that guarantees our progressive salvation. It is related to the explanation above about how we can help others gain the reward of eternal life.

Donald wrote:

and you think Mary has appeared in Fatima and other places, even though she has, according to RCC legend, uttered false doctrine and made blasphemous statements.”

No sure what to make of this. Has Mary appeared and uttered false doctrine? I can’t imagine her doing that!

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Did you know that Gluttony has Six Daughters?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:50:00 +0000

I just got back from vacation in South Carolina. A beautiful place with lots of great food (when you visit, be sure to order “shrimp and grits”). I ate a bit too much – gained a couple of pounds. So I was reading on the topic and here’s what I found.

Did you know that the “deadly sin” of Gluttony is the proud mother of six? According to Saint Gregory the Great (Moralia, 31, 45), the capital sin of gluttony (eating and drinking too much) has “six daughters”. The daughters of gluttony are:

excessive joy
unseemly joy
scurrility (levity in behavior)
uncleanness (related to vomiting and sexual impurity)
loquaciousness
dullness of mind as regards the understanding

On this topic, Saint Thomas Aquinas reminds us of this verse: “I thought in my heart to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind in wisdom” (Ecc 2:3).

Time to go eat my salad for lunch…

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Saint Gregory the Great on Purgatory

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:36:00 +0000

Gregory the Great was a saint, church father, pope, liturgist, theologian, and patron of missionary work in pagan lands.

In the passage cited below, Saint Gregory discusses purgatory. First, he states that there is “cleansing fire” that “purges” away “minor faults”. Second, he cites Scripture to substantiate the doctrine. Third, he makes a logical argument from the words of Christ demonstrating that sins can and will be forgiven in the world to come.

“Each one will be presented to the Judge exactly as he was when he departed this life. Yet, there must be a cleansing fire before judgment, because of some minor faults that may remain to be purged away.

Does not Christ, the Truth, say that if anyone blasphemes against the Holy Spirit he shall not be forgiven “either in this world or in the world to come” (Mt 12:32)? From this statement we learn that some sins can be forgiven in this world and some in the world to come. For, if forgiveness is refused for a particular sin, we conclude logically that it is granted for others. This must apply, as I said, to slight transgressions.”

Pope Saint Gregory the Great, Dialogues, 4:39 (A.D. 594).

What’s the take-home principle? It’s this. The Church Fathers already had a robust theology of post-mortem purgation by the sixth century and they found it justified in Sacred Scripture.

For more Scriptural proof for Purgatory visit: The Apostle Paul on Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead.

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Why does the Pope give the pallium to certain Archbishops?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The pallium is still made from lamb’s wool. In fact, the lambs come from Trappist monks. The wool is then given to the nuns of the convent of Saint Agnes who weave the wool into the pallia. The connection to sheep also recalls “Christ the Good Shepherd” who carries the wandering sheep upon His shoulders. Similarly, the pallium is a reminder to the archbishop that he too should be a good shepherd ever mindful of the straying sheep.

The pallium has an organic connection with the Eastern Orthodox omophorion and it looks similar to the Pope’s pallium. (See pic below.)

Pope Benedict XVI has returned to an ancient form of the pallium, which closely resembles the Orthodox pattern. The papal pallium is wider than the standard pallium. However, he has been seen recently wearing a version closer to the standard design. If any knows the significance of this, please share.

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Papal Caption Contest!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:47:00 +0000

“They shall roar together like lions; they shall growl like lions’ whelps” (Jer 51:38).

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The Fourteen (14) Articles of Faith according to Thomas Aquinas

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:10:00 +0000

In Summa theologiae III q. 1, a. 8, Thomas Aquinas states that the object of Christian faith consists in fourteen (14) articles of belief revealed in Sacred Scripture. Together they form the Apostolic deposit of faith. Saint Jude called this “for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). These articles divide up neatly into seven (7) articles concerning the Godhead, and seven (7) articles concerning the human nature of Christ.

The Seven Articles Pertaining to the Godhead

God is One “I believe in God”
Father “the Father Almighty”
Son “and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord”
Holy Spirit “I believe in the Holy Spirit”
Nature (Creation) “the Maker of heaven and earth”
Grace (Redemption) “the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins”
Glory (Glorification) “the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.”

The Seven Articles Pertaining to Christ’s Human Nature

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

These fourteen articles are articulated and arranged in the Apostles’ Creed which has been rightly and validly ratified as the true faith of Christ by the Sovereign Pontiff who has the duty of drawing up a Creed of what ought to be believed always and everywhere: “It belongs to the sole authority of the Sovereign Pontiff to publish a new edition of the symbol, as do all other matters which concern the whole Church such as to convoke a general council and so forth. ” (STh II-II, q. 1, a. 10).

These fourteen articles thus form the content of the everlasting Gospel of Christ.

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Is there a physical Chair of Saint Peter?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:18:00 +0000

Today (Feb 22) is the Feast of the Saint Peter’s Chair. The “chair” is an Old Testament sign of magisterial authority, as Christ Himself gave witness:

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice” (Mt 23:2-3).

Today’s commemoration honors the preeminent magisterial authority of Saint Peter to whom was given the Keys of the Kingdom. Peter’s office as the Vicar of Christ recalls the promise of God to the “royal steward” or “vicar” in the royal household of the Davidic king. This prophecy promises that the king’s steward will “become a throne of honor”:

“And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house” (Isa 22:22-23).

Yet did Saint Peter as the first Vicar of Christ have his own physical cathedra (Greek: “chair”)? There is a third century anti-Marcionite poem that seems to testify to this historicity of Peter’s cathedra:

Hac cathedra, Petrus qua sederat ipse, locatum
Maxima Roma Linum primum considere iussit.

– “Adversus Marcionem” (Patrologia Latina II, 1099)

The Latin translates:

“On this chair whereupon Peter himself sat
The great Rome placed Linus and commanded him to sit.”

Saint Linus is of course the successor of Saint Peter, that is the second pope of Rome. Is this “cathedra, Petrus qua sederat ipse,” a literally chair or is it merely a poetic illusion to Peter’s authority? I suppose that there is no way to know for sure – but Tertullian (cf. De præscriptione hæreticorum, 36) and others seem to suggest or assume that a true chair existed in Rome and had been employed by Peter at some point.

Regardless, the chair depicted above is the alleged “Chair of Saint Peter”. It is enshrined in the apse of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. I don’t know whether carbon dating has been performed on it. If you’re aware of any studies or archeological investigations, please send them my way.

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New Patriarch of Moscow open to a papal visit to Russia!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:52:00 +0000

A new Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow has been elected to replace the departed Alexy II – Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. Best of all, Kirill is rumored to be open to a papal visit to Russia. Axios!

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The Pope who smoked – Benedict XIII

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:00:00 +0000

I recently came across a rather humorous anecdote from Catholic history: the smoking pope Benedict XIII of blessed memory. Reminds me of the fidgety cardinal in Godfather III, the one always trying to make bank deals regarding “Immobilare”.

Way back in 1624, Pope Urban VIII spoke out against the evils of tobacco and threatened excommunication for anyone who smoked or snuffed in consecrated spaces (i.e. churches, shrines, convents). Pope Innocent X followed up with an anti-smoking bull in 1650.

And then there was Benedict XIII. He put Innocent X’s bull in his pipe and smoked it. Not literally, but he reversed the decision in 1725. I once heard a rumor that this pope used tobacco while he celebrated the Holy Mass, but I’m going to chalk that up as an apocryphal legend.

In 1863 Pope Bl. Pius IX of blessed memory built a cigar factory in Rome facing Mastai’s Square bearing this inscription:

PIUS IX OFFICINAM
NICOTIANIS FOLIIS ELABORANDIS
A SOLO EXTRUXIT
ANNO MDCCCLXIII

Translated, this reads:

Pius IX built this workshop
for the processing of nicotine leaves
from the ground up
in the year 1863

Pope John Paul II of blessed memory snuffed out this tradition when he banned all tobacco smoking on Vatican property on July 1, 2002. The only smoke allowed at St Peter’s is that wafting from the thuribles.

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Patriarch of Moscow Dies, Pope Laments

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:43:00 +0000

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 5, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI has sent a message of condolence to the Russian Orthodox Church upon hearing of the death of Patriarch Alexy II, calling him “courageous” in his efforts to promote Gospel values.

The Pope stated in the note that he “was profoundly saddened” to hear of the patriarch’s death, and that he wished to convey his “most sincere condolences” and to assure the faithful of his “spiritual closeness at this very sad time.”

Alexy II, 79, who had been the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church since 1990, died today at his residence near Moscow. No cause of death was given.

Full story from Zenit.

[Taylor: Let us pray for the repose of his soul. Aleksy II was a great voice in the pro-life cause and kept Orthodox attentive to the sin of contraception. May he rest and peace and may angels guide him to Father.]

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Did the pope predict US market crash back in 1985?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:27:00 +0000

From American Papist: Not Your Average Catholic! by Thomas Peters

So say some:

Pope Benedict XVI was the first to predict the crisis in the global financial system, a “prophecy” dating to a paper he wrote when he was a cardinal, Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti said.

“The prediction that an undisciplined economy would collapse by its own rules can be found” in an article written by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became pope in April 2005, Tremonti said yesterday at Milan’s Cattolica University.

German-born Ratzinger in 1985 presented a paper entitled “Market Economy and Ethics” at a Rome event dedicated to the Church and the economy. The future pope said a decline in ethics “can actually cause the laws of the market to collapse.”

Pope Benedict in an Oct. 7 speech reflected on crashing markets and concluded that “money vanishes, it is nothing” and warned that “the only solid reality is the word of God.” (Bloomberg)

Here is the text of the article of Cardinal Ratzinger’s that the report refers to.

Hat tip to Eric Wilson.

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Jewish Origins of Catholicism Podcasts by Taylor Marshall

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:39:00 +0000

A hearty welcome to all the new visitors who have come to this site after listing to “Does the Pope Wear a Yarmulke?” on Catholic Answers Live (5pm Central Sept 12, 2008). If you are looking for more information about Judaism and Catholicism, you may enjoy the podcasts (mp3) listed below. Simply click on the links and wait for the page to load. Then press the “triangle button” to play the file.

A special thanks to the Catholic Information Center for hosting these podcasts.

The Jewish Origins of Catholicism Podcasts
by Taylor Marshall

Catholic Apocalypse Podcasts
by Taylor Marshall

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Is the Papacy early or late?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:26:00 +0000

Martyrdom of Saint Clement
Is the Papacy found in the era of the early church Fathers (ante 500) or is it a medieval invention? Technically, this question is misguided from a Catholic point of view since the Papacy was founded by Christ in about AD 30. Its institution is did not begin sometime later, either earlier or much later.

That being said, we find that in A.D. 96, Clement (the fourth pope and also disciple of Saint Paul mentioned in Phil 4:3) believed that he had special authority over the entire Church. He writes from his place in Rome to the Christians in Corinth:

“If anyone disobeys the things which have been said by Him through us, let them know that they will involve themselves in transgression and in no small danger.” Clement of Rome, Pope, First Epistle to the Corinthians, 1, 59:1 (c. A.D. 96).

In the year A.D. 256, Pope Stephen was called: “Stephen, who announces that he holds by succession the throne of Peter.” Firmilian to Cyprian, Epistle 74/75:17 (A.D. 256).

The writings of Jerome (who lived in Rome and Palestine) testify to the universal authority of the Pope in Rome in the 300s. Writing in A.D. 375, Jerome said:

My words are spoken to the Successor of the Fisherman, to the disciple of the cross. As I follow no leader save Christ, so I communicate with none but your blessedness, that is, with the Chair of Peter.

For this, I know, is the rock on which the Church is built! This is the house where alone the Paschal Lamb can be rightly eaten. This is the ark of Noah, and he who is not found in it shall perish when the flood prevails.” (Jerome, To Pope Damasus, Epistle 15:1-2)

Jerome believes that Pope Damasus is the successor of Peter and that the Pope’s chair (apostolic see) is the locus of unity and communion for the universal Church. Keep in mind that all of these quotes were written before the canon of the books of the Bible had been selected and confirmed by Pope Damasus in A.D. 382.

In other words, the Papacy is older than the canon of Scripture. There was only one church in A.D. 382 and its chief pastor on earth was the Pope in Rome.

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Taylor Marshall on Catholic Answers Live this Friday at 5pm central, discussing "Does the Pope Wear a Yarmulke?"

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:01:00 +0000

I’ll be on Catholic Answers Live this Friday at 5pm central time discussing the topic “Does the Pope Wear a Yarmulke?” and the Jewish origins for Catholic customs and doctrines.

Does the Pope Wear a Yarmulke is the title of my forthcoming book on Judaism and Catholicism. Stay tuned for more details.

If you’re wondering whether the pope does wear a yarmulke (see picture above), the answer is no, he wears a zuchetto – but there are tons of Catholic customs that do come from Judaism. Listen on Friday for more on this.

Follow this link to find the Catholic AM station in your city. For those of you living in Dallas, that’s AM station 910.

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Museum defies Pope over the "Green Frog"

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:14:00 +0000

No photo this time, folks.
This is ridiculous. The Italian museum with the crucified green frog has refused to take down the blasphemy, even after the Holy Father has asked for its removal.

By ARIEL DAVID

ROME (AP) – An art museum in northern Italy said Thursday it will continue displaying a sculpture portraying a green frog nailed to a cross that has angered Pope Benedict XVI and local officials.

The board of the foundation of the Museion in the city of Bolzano voted to keep the work by the late German artist Martin Kippenberger, the museum said in a statement.

Earlier in August the pope had written a letter to Franz Pahl, the president of the Trentino-Alto Adige region that includes Bolzano, denouncing the sculpture.

It “has offended the religious feelings of many people who consider the cross a symbol of God’s love and of our redemption,” Pahl quoted the pope as writing in the letter.

(AP) In this photo taken June 2nd, 2008 protesters gather outside the “Museion” museum in Bolzano ,…
Full Image
Pahl himself has long opposed the display of “Zuerst die Fuesse” (“First the Feet” in German), even staging a hunger strike this summer and saying he would not seek re-election unless it was removed.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Pahl said he was outraged by the museum’s decision to keep the work, which he claims “pokes fun at the Catholic population and offends religion and the pope.”

Full story here.

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Museum defies Pope over the "Green Frog"

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:14:00 +0000

No photo this time, folks.
This is ridiculous. The Italian museum with the crucified green frog has refused to take down the blasphemy, even after the Holy Father has asked for its removal.

By ARIEL DAVID

ROME (AP) – An art museum in northern Italy said Thursday it will continue displaying a sculpture portraying a green frog nailed to a cross that has angered Pope Benedict XVI and local officials.

The board of the foundation of the Museion in the city of Bolzano voted to keep the work by the late German artist Martin Kippenberger, the museum said in a statement.

Earlier in August the pope had written a letter to Franz Pahl, the president of the Trentino-Alto Adige region that includes Bolzano, denouncing the sculpture.

It “has offended the religious feelings of many people who consider the cross a symbol of God’s love and of our redemption,” Pahl quoted the pope as writing in the letter.

(AP) In this photo taken June 2nd, 2008 protesters gather outside the “Museion” museum in Bolzano ,…
Full Image
Pahl himself has long opposed the display of “Zuerst die Fuesse” (“First the Feet” in German), even staging a hunger strike this summer and saying he would not seek re-election unless it was removed.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Pahl said he was outraged by the museum’s decision to keep the work, which he claims “pokes fun at the Catholic population and offends religion and the pope.”

Full story here.

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Origin of Saint Michael Prayer

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:30:00 +0000

Despite being just over one hundred years old, the Prayer to Saint Michael is a prayer almost as familiar as the Our Father, Hail Mary, or Glory Be. It’s history is interesting.

It is said that Pope Leo XIII had a vision at Holy Mass that terrified him. The tradition varies at this point. Either he saw devils congregating around the Holy See or he heard that it was granted to Satan to try to undermine the Church for the next one hundred years. Whichever it was (maybe both!), Pope Leo XIII composed this prayer and ordered in 1886 that it be recited after every Low Mass. This custom was suppressed in 1964.

The text of the prayer is as follows:

Sancte Michael Archangele,
defende nos in proelio.
contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium.
Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur:
tuque, Princeps militiae caelestis,
Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos,
qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo,
divina virtute, in infernum detrude. Amen.

And this is the commonly received English translation of the prayer:

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray:
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits
who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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Origin of Saint Michael Prayer

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:30:00 +0000

Despite being just over one hundred years old, the Prayer to Saint Michael is a prayer almost as familiar as the Our Father, Hail Mary, or Glory Be. It’s history is interesting.

The text of the prayer is as follows:

Sancte Michael Archangele,
defende nos in proelio.
contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium.
Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur:
tuque, Princeps militiae caelestis,
Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos,
qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo,
divina virtute, in infernum detrude. Amen.

And this is the commonly received English translation of the prayer:

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray:
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits
who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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Pope Benedict to visit China?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:28:00 +0000

This is huge. The Holy Father has been invited by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Church to visit China. The “patriotic” Church is technically in schism with the Holy See and controlled by the Chinese government – in other words it doesn’t officially recognize the Pope.

The fact that they are inviting the Holy Father for a visit, may be a sign that a reconciliation is imminent. I once heard Cardinal McCarrick say that almost all of the “patriotic” Catholic bishops have secretly sent messages to either John Paul II or Benedict XVI confessing their submission to the Holy See. This will be interesting to watch.

ROME – The Beijing bishop appointed by China’s state-controlled Catholic Church said in an interview Wednesday that he hopes Pope Benedict XVI will visit his country and that relations with the Vatican are improving.

“We strongly hope that Benedict XVI will make a trip to China,” Joseph Li Shan told Italy’s RAI state TV. “Relations with the Vatican are constantly improving. We can say that there are big developments.”

Full story from Yahoo.

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Can Popes Resign? (Canon 332)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:26:00 +0000

According to the Code of Canon Law 332 §2, “If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.”

There are three things worth noting.

1) First, the Pope may resign from his office as Pope.
2) Second, this resignation cannot be coerced by external agents.
3) Third, the Pope does not tenure his resignation to anyone one or to any corporate body.

Pope Celestine V resigned from the papacy in 1294. Pope Gregory XII resigned from the papacy in 1409.

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Great Picture of the Pope

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:42:00 +0000

I thought this picture was touching. Pope Benedict XVI looking into the eyes of a native Australian during the Holy Father’s visit to Australia.

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The Pope’s Ring of the Fisherman

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:58:00 +0000

The earliest mention of the “Ring of the Fisherman” worn by the popes is in a letter of Clement IV written in 1265 to his nephew, Peter Grossi. The writer states that popes were then accustomed to seal their private letters with “the seal of the Fisherman”, whereas public documents, he adds, were distinguished by the leaden “bulls” attached. From the fifteenth century, however, the Fisherman’s ring has been used to seal the class of papal official documents known as Briefs. The Fisherman’s ring is placed, by the cardinal camerlengo on the finger of a newly elected pope. It is made of gold, with a representation of St. Peter in a boat, fishing, and the name of the reigning pope around it.

“The Ring of the Fisherman.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912.

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Papal Dalmatic Alert!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:39:00 +0000

I hope that I don’t sound like a precious Catholic obsessed with liturgical garb, but I can’t help but pointing out that the Holy Father is wearing a pontifical dalmatic under his chasuble. Old school…

This symbolizes that the Pope as a bishop possesses the fullness of Holy Orders. He is a deacon, symbolized by the dalmatic. He is a priest, symbolized by the chasuble. He is a bishop, symbolized by the mitre.

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Caption Contest

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:35:00 +0000

“She ascended into the Popemobile and was seated at the right hand of the Holy Father.”

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Papa Bens Liturgy – It’s Good For Your

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:17:00 +0000

I like the how it says “some traditionalists may still be allergic”.

Hat tip: Rev. Jim Fraser.

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Pope Benedict receives a guest at Saint Peter’s

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:41:00 +0000

This is a picture of Pope Benedict XVI of Rome and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople praying together in the confessio of Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Look at the picture. Feel the power.

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Pope Benedict might make changes to Mass

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 02:37:00 +0000

The weekly Panorama reports that the Holy Father has asked the Congregation for Divine Worship to study the possibility of changes that would include using Latin in the Eucharistic Prayer and moving the Sign of Peace to the Offertory.
Read story here.

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Traditionalist Redemptorists Reconciled to Rome

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:27:00 +0000

Great news! The acumen of Pope Benedict XVI has reconciled yet another tradtionalists society. The Transalpine Redemptorists are a religious order based in Papa Stronsay in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. They had previously been affiliated with the schismat Society of Saint Pius X. They have announced on their blog that they are now in full communion with the Holy Father and the See of Rome.

The order has also initiated a new monastery in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The website of the Transalpine Redemptorists.

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The Devil, not Pope Benedict, wears Prada

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:21:00 +0000

During the Holy Father’s US visit, there was much buzz about the “fact” that the “pope wore Prada shoes”. Esquire magazine even named His Holiness as the “accessoriser of the year” for 2008. However, the pope does not wear Prada shoes, rather he wears what popes have traditionally worn for the last one hundred years: red leather loafers.

The Vatican newspaper, the Osservatore Romano explained: “The Pope does not wear Prada, but Christ. His worries are not about accessories, but the essential.” Nice!

By the way, if you thought Benedict has nice shoes, check out the ones worn by Paul VI:

Personally, I prefer those worn by Benedict. The shoes of Paul VI look like something that Elton John would wear.

More about the Osservatore Romano and the pope’s shoes from the Telegraph.

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Will President Bush become Catholic?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:42:00 +0000

Tony Blair did it. Why not George W.? Read the story here.

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Pope Benedict to meet with President Bush in a medieval tower

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:00:00 +0000

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict will unusually host talks with U.S. President George W. Bush in a restored medieval tower on Friday, to repay him for a warm reception at the White House, the Vatican said.
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The pope usually receives heads of state in his private study in the Apostolic Palace, overlooking St Peter’s Square.

But Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the change was to repay Bush for “the cordiality of the meeting at the White House” when the pope visited the United States in April.

Full story via Yahoo news.

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Pope Benedict XVI in Genova

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 19 May 2008 01:43:00 +0000

Pope Benedict XVI prepares for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at Piazza della Vittoria in Genova.

My only comment: the dalmatic of the deacon should not out-shine the chasuble of the Vicar of Christ.

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Pope Benedict to visit France in Sept 2008

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:14:00 +0000

The Pope will begin his visit in Paris, with his schedule including Vespers at Notre Dame cathedral, a meeting with young people and a public papal Mass. On September 13, Pope Benedict will travel to Lourdes for the anniversary observances there. The Holy See has not yet formally announced the timing of the papal trip. The Vatican traditionally reveals plans for a papal voyage only a few weeks before the trip takes place.

Full story from CWNews

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Christ or the Pope: Who is the High Priest of the Catholic Church?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:09:00 +0000

With the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States, many Protestants are again wondering about the place and role of the papacy in Catholicism. Is the pope the High Priest of the Catholic Church, or is Jesus Christ. What is meant by “Vicar of Christ.”

For anyone asking these questions, I recommend this mp3 podcast that I put together over at the Catholic Information Center: Jewish Levites and Catholic Clergy.

If you don’t have Quicktime, you can download it free at the bottom of the page at the CICpod site.

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Moscow Patriarch extends olive branch to Rome

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:58:00 +0000

More news from Patriarh Alexei II:

‘The romantic ecumenism’ personified by the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches is not viable, the bishop said. In his opinion, it would be much better to form bilateral strategic alliances or partnerships, for instance, between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.

“I don’t mean union, administrative merger or compromise in theological teaching, I mean strategical partnership,” the Moscow Patriarchate’s representative said.

Full story from Interfax.

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Pope back home in Rome

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:54:00 +0000

Sorry America. The Holy Father has gone back home.

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Music for Papal Mass in New York City

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:37:00 +0000

Here is the music for the Pope’s Mass in New York City. It looks great. The folks in New York are actually trying to welcome the Vicar of Christ. What a good idea!

Symphony No. 9 in D minor – Ludwig van Beethoven [the Holy Father will be pleased]
I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
II. Molto vivace

Entrance of the Holy Father
Hymnus Pontificius – Charles Gounod, arr. Alberico Vitalini [this is awesome!]
Dixit from Vesperae Solennes de Confessore – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Music for Mass
Jesus is Risen/ Cristo Jesús Resucitó – arr. John Rutter
Tu es Petrus – Dom Lorenzo Perosi
Kyrie, from Litany of the Saints – adapt. Richard Proulx [this is good, too]
Gloria, from Missa O Magnum Mysterium – Tomás Luis da Victoria

Psalm – Dr. Jennifer Pascual
Alleluia (VICTORY) – arr. Wm. Glenn Osborne
Credo III
Trilingual Intercessions – Michael Hay, orch. Wm. Glenn Osborne
How Lovely is thy Dwelling Place – Johannes Brahms
Sanctus from German Mass – Franz Schubert, adapt. Richard Proulx [the German Mass is not only good, it’s German!]
Christ Has Died/ Amen – Franz Schubert, adapt. Richard Proulx
Agnus Dei from Missa O Magnum Mysterium – Tomás Luis da Victoria
Panis Angelicus – Cesár Franck, Marcello Giordani, Tenor, Metropolitan Opera
Sicut Cervus – Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Ave Verum – Alexandre Guilmant, orch. Deborah Jamini
Amén. El Cuerpo de Cristo – John Schiavonne, orch. Carl Maultsby
Let Us Break Bread Together – arr. Carl Maultsby [could turn out alright]
This is the Feast – Richard Hillert, arr. Richard Kidd
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee/ Jubilosos te Adoramos – from Hymn to Joy Fantasy – Bruce Saylor [fantastic]

Symphony No. 9 in D minor – Ludwig van Beethoven [can’t go wrong]
IV. Presto

HT: Fr. Z at What does the prayer really say?

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Pope’s security rescue sick beaver

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:22:00 +0000

The Holy Father must be green. His presence in America has brought safety to a struggling beaver.

The ever-vigilant harbor security spotted the animal, which appeared to be having trouble breathing and struggled to swim, not far from the U.N., where the Pope was speaking.

Al Gore stated “Clearly, the Pope was trying to send a “green” message to the U.N. with this episode.”

Okay, Gore didn’t say that, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he did.

Full story from Fox.

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Today’s Papal Mass (and the Music)

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:22:00 +0000

I watched the Papal Mass with my Moral Theology class. I was moved by the Holy Father’s presence in America. I was also impressed with the Holy Father’s English and he gave an excellent Christ-centered homily. He even touched upon the sexual abuse of certain clergy in America, which surprised me.

However, I was embarrassed by the liturgy and embarrassed especially by the music. Who planned the liturgy and who chose the music? Did someone not receive a memo that the Pope is trying to return to a more traditional and somber celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. should have received complimentary copies of the his Spirit of the Liturgy. One girl in my class suggested that we right an apology letter to the Holy Father not planning a more reverent Mass.

Did anyone else notice the strange music?

Image and commentary from Fr. Z at What does the prayer really say.

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Papa et Americana

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000

He’s here! Watched it all on Fox News today. Absolutely incredible.

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What is Pope Benedict XVI’s favorite meal?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:36:00 +0000

Pope Benedict XVI’s favorite meal is Bavarian potato ravioli with pancake strips.

Sounds tasty.

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Pope Benedict to visit Synagogue in New York

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 02:27:00 +0000

It has just been announced that Pope Benedict will visit the Park East Synagogue in New York on April 18th on the eve of Passover! This is great news!

Many have criticized the late Pope John Paul II of blessed memory for visiting Jewish synagogues in his capacity as supreme pontiff and priest of the Catholic Church. However, it is clear from the book of Acts that the Apostles visited synagogues regularly. I applaud the Holy Father for reaching out to our elder brethren in the history of redemption.

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Americans think favorably of Pope Benedict XVI

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:36:00 +0000

According to CWN 58% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Pope Benedict XVI, while 13% hold a negative view of him.

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Happy Easter Holy Father!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:08:00 +0000

Happy Easter Holy Father!

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Pope Baptizes famous Muslim convert at Easter Vigil

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 01:32:00 +0000

I was just on my way to the Paschal Vigil when my friend Walker Dollahon sent this along to me:

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict led the world’s Catholics into Easter on Saturday at a Vatican service where he baptized a Muslim-born convert who is one of Italy’s most famous and controversial journalists.

Full story at Reuters by Philip Pullella.

Hat tip to my buddy Walker Dollahon.

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Pope Benedict’s new (but old) Pastoral Staff

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:01:00 +0000

The Holy Father has broken from his immediate successors and pulled a new pastoral staff out from Vatican storage. This “new” staff was used by Pope Pius XII and Pope John XXIII.Here’s the new one:

For those interested, here is the history of the old “John Paul II Staff”.

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Peter and the Origin of the Papacy

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:57:00 +0000

An investigation of the New Testament reveals that Peter is not just another apostle. Nor is he merely prima inter pares – first among equals. Rather, he seems to be deeply conformed to the work and mission of Christ. He is, as we would say, the vicar of Christ.

Peter’s name is mentioned 195 times in the New Testament – more than all the other Apostles combined.
Mt 16:18 – on this rock (Peter) I will build my Church
Mt 16:19 – I will give you the keys of the kingdom…whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven
Lk 22:32 – Peter’s faith will strengthen his brethren
Lk 24:34 – Peter is first apostle to see resurrected Christ
Jn 21:17 – Peter is Christ’s chief shepherd who “feeds the sheep”
Mk 16:7 – angel sent to announce resurrection to Peter
Acts 1:13-26 – Peter oversees election of Matthias
Acts 2:14 – Peter preaches first apostolic sermon
Acts 3:6-7 – Peter performs first apostolic miracle
Acts 8:21 – Peter excommunicates first heretic
Acts 10:44-46 – Peter baptizes first Gentile
Acts 15:7 – Peter presides over first apostolic council
Acts 15:19 – Peter pronounces first apostolic dogma
Gal 1:18 – Paul visits Peter after his conversion

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Nominalism and the Church with Ockham, Luther, and Hobbes

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:57:00 +0000

William of Ockham was a philosophical nominalist. William of Ockham sought to undermine papal authority through his dealings with the Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV of Bavaria.

Martin Luther was a philosophical nominalist. Martin Luther sought to undermine papal authority by appealing to the princes of Germany.

Thomas Hobbes was a philosophical nominalist. Thomas Hobbes sought to undermine papal authority by placing ecclesial authority in the arms of the state (see Book IV of Leviathan for details).

Here’s the question that I have been pondering. Is this a coincidence or does nominalist thinking lead its adherents to shake off the shackles of ecclesial authority? Is this a historical accident or is there a true connection?

My suspicion is that nominalism creates an epistemology of angst. It drives one to sacrifice balance for an extreme position.

Whether it be Ockham’s razor, Luther’s faith alone, or Hobbes’ absolute statism; each nominalist “solution” rejects communal consensus. If one rejects communal consensus, then one cannot truly believe in ecclesial authority, because the church is necessarily common.

In fact, in one is not a realist, then one cannot believe in true participation in any metaphysical sense. And if there is no participation there is no such thing as “being in communion”. It’s all fractured.

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Pope celebrating Holy Mass ad orientem

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 02:25:00 +0000

The Pope is turning the tables on everyone…literally.

In another significant liturgical turn at the very top, B16 will celebrate tomorrow’s annual Sistine Chapel Mass for the Baptism of the Lord in the ad orientem stance — that is, facing away from the congregation and toward the cross that stands at the chapel’s back wall.

Read it all at Whispers.

Hat tip to Mark Adams for making me aware of this.

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Don’t Forget to Watch the Pope’s Christmas Mass

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 21:48:00 +0000

The Holy Father’s midnight Mass for Christmas is rumored to be incredibly POD, that’s “Pious and Overly Devotional” for readers new to this blog. It will be televised on EWTN at 6pm with an encore presentation later tonight.

I’ve read that the Holy Father will be restoring some of the from the good old days. Apparently our pontiff was rummaging around in the papal attic and found some devotional items from years gone by – something about a special “papal throne”. I don’t pretend to know what that is, but it sounds cool.

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Rome and the Orthodox

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:00:00 +0000

For those who are interested, I’ve linked the full text of the “Ravenna Document” that was issued by the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.

This document signals the re-engagement of ecumenical dialog that briefly progressed under the pontificate of Pope Paul VI. Unfortunately, the fall of the Soviet Union and the presence of a Slav on the Chair of Peter put things on ice. The Ravenna Documents proves that things have thawed and relations are warming. (However, the Russian Orthodox took their ball and went home.)

I found paragraph 45 especially interesting:

45. It remains for the question of the role of the bishop of Rome in the communion of all the Churches to be studied in greater depth. What is the specific function of the bishop of the “first see” in an ecclesiology of koinonia and in view of what we have said on conciliarity and authority in the present text? How should the teaching of the first and second Vatican councils on the universal primacy be understood and lived in the light of the ecclesial practice of the first millennium? These are crucial questions for our dialogue and for our hopes of restoring full communion between us.

Full text of the “Ravenna Document” or ECCLESIAL COMMUNION, CONCILIARITY AND AUTHORITY.

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Does the Pope need an Image Consultant?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:47:00 +0000

Some of you may remember Franco Zeffirelli, the director of Romeo and Juliet and Jesus of Nazareth.

It’s really too bad that Baz Luhrmann overshadowed Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet with a new snazzy version starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. It’s also too bad that Mel Gibson overshadowed Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth with The Passion of the Christ.

Now Zeffirelli has some ideas for the Vicar of Christ whom he claims does not have “a happy image”.

“Coming after a media-savvy pope like John Paul II is a difficult task … Benedict XVI still communicates coldly, in a way that is not suited with what is happening around him,” Zeffirelli said.

“It’s an issue I have been discussing with people who have key roles in the Vatican,” said Zeffirelli, who has directed some Vatican television events.

“The Pope does not smile much, but he is an intellectual. He has a very rigid Bavarian structure,” he said.

Zeffirelli, 84, added that papal robes were “too sumptuous and flashy.” “What is needed is the simplicity and sobriety seen in the other echelons of the Church,” he said.

Read it all from Reuters.

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The Papal Pastoral Staff or Crosier

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:25:00 +0000

The pastoral crucifix staff has become one of the most identified emblems of the papal office. There is some confusion as to what is and is not a “crosier”. Usually, as crosier is a curved staff carried by a bishop. See picture below:

Etymologically, the term “crosier” refers to standard bearing a “cross”, hence “crosier”. So technically, a true crosier bears a cross.

While bishops have carried the curled shepherds crook depicted above, the Pope has traditionally carried a true crosier, that is a staff bearing a cross – a triple barred cross. See image below:

Pope Paul VI instituted the familiar silver crucifix crosier with the downward bending crossbeam. There have been some complaints over the years that this crucifix is modern and therefore not fitting of the papal office. However, I think that the silver crucifix has become so thoroughly accepted that it is now permanently “traditional”. John Paul II Magnus carried that standard across the globe. Moreover, it is in fact a traditional image. It is based on a rough sketch composed by St John of Cross who lived in the 16th century. See image below:

As you can see, the papal crosier closely resembles this rather traditional design. For all you art fans, Salvador Dali used this sketch by St. John of the Cross for his familiar painting, appropriately named “Christ of St. John of the Cross”. See below image:

It reminds me also of the famous altar piece painted by Matthias Grunewald. See image below:

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EP Bartholomew I Speaks of Sacramental Unity with Rome

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:36:00 +0000

Patriarch Bartholomew addresses the sorrowful millennium long schism between the Western and Eastern Churches:

“Therefore, the feast of this apostle provides the appropriate occasion for us to pray together more intently for the restoration of unity within the Christian world. The fracture of this unity has been the cause of so much trouble in humanity, while its consequences have proved tragic….”

“Today, then, it is our obligation more than ever to reclaim the Christian roots of Europe and the spiritual, sacramental and doctrinal unity that it enjoyed prior to the schism of our two Churches.”

Read it all from Zenit.

Hat tip to Sean Dollahon at You are Cephas.

Question for our Protestant brethren, especially the Anglicans:

If Constantinople and Rome returned to full doctrinal and sacramental union, would this cause you to seriously consider entering full communion with them?

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Pope Benedict XVI and the Traditional Anglican Communion

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 02:30:00 +0000

Vatican insiders say that Pope Benedict XVI is scrutinizing the matter very closely and believes that the Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) is setting out a path that other Anglicans will follow.

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The Title of the Pope vs. the Title of the Patriarch

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 21:24:00 +0000

Some of our Protestant readers may cringe at seeing the Pope referred to as “the Holy Father” or “His Holiness”. However, I just came across the title of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch:

His Most Godly All-Holiness Bartholomew I
Η Αυτού Θειοτάτη Παναγιότης

Wow. That’s a mouthful.

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German Benedict Reads the German Luther

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:56:00 +0000

In his new encyclical Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict XVI discusses the verse in the Epistle to the Hebrews: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the proof of things not seen”. The Holy Father comments:

To Luther, who was not particularly fond of the Letter to the Hebrews, the concept of “substance”, in the context of his view of faith, meant nothing. For this reason he understood the term hypostasis/substance not in the objective sense (of a reality present within us), but in the subjective sense, as an expression of an interior attitude, and so, naturally, he also had to understand the term argumentum as a disposition of the subject…Faith is not merely a personal reaching out towards things to come that are still totally absent: it gives us something.

H.H. Benedict XVI Spe Salvi, 7

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A great Christmas quote from Benedict XVI’s Spe Salvi

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 17:45:00 +0000

Here is a sweet little quote ready to be dropped into a homily and elaborated:

Paul illustrates the essential problem of the religion of that time quite accurately when he contrasts life “according to Christ” with life under the dominion of the “elemental spirits of the universe” (Col 2:8). In this regard a text by Saint Gregory Nazianzen is enlightening. He says that at the very moment when the Magi, guided by the star, adored Christ the new king, astrology came to an end, because the stars were now moving in the orbit determined by Christ.

H.H. Benedict XVI Spe Salvi, 5

Alas, I wish I were able to preach.

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The Pope’s New Encyclical: Spe Salvi

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 14:48:00 +0000

Here is a great picture of His Holiness issuing Spe Salvi. I look forward to reading it.

Read the full text of Spe Salvi. The title is taken from St. Paul’s words in Romans 8:24: “in hope we were saved”.

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Where is Saint Andrew’s Head?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:10:00 +0000

Recently in my Church History class, I have been discussing the Photian schism and the events leading up to the Cardinal Humbert’s delivery of a papal excommunication on the altar of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. All this formalized the growing tensions and produced a formal schism between the Catholic Church and what became the Eastern Orthodox Church. Humbert previously warned the Patriarch of Constantinople “Either be in communion with Peter or become a Synagogue of Satan.”

Since today is the Feast Day of Saint Andrew, I taught the class how Constantinople claims Saint Andrew as the “founder” of the see of Byzantium, that is Constantinople. We discussed the traditional relationship between St. Peter (Rome) being estranged from his brother St. Andrew (Constantinople).

We also discussed the lifting of the excommunications that occurred under Pope Paul VI before the close of the Second Vatican Council and the “handing over of the head”.

Few people know about the “handing over of the head”. There are four shrines surrounding the high altar in St Peter’s Basilica. Under the high altar are the bones of St. Peter. The four shrines surrounding the altar house Christendom’s four most coveted relics and are adorned with the statues of corresponding saints:

the largest portion of the true cross (St. Helena)
the miraculous veil of St. Veronica (St. Veronica)
the lance that pierced the side of Christ (St. Longinus)
the skull of St. Andrew (St. Andrew)

The statue of St. Andrew’s shrine is depicted in the photo above. However, the skull of St. Andrew is no longer housed in this shrine.

The skull originally made its way to Rome when it was to Pope Pius II in 1461 by Thomas Paleologos (brother of the last Byzantine emperor). It was placed in the shrine depicted above when the new Basilica of St. Peter’s was constructed. As an ecumenical gesture of good will, Pope Paul VI in 1964 had the skull removed from its place in St Peter’s and returned to the Greek Orthodox Church in Patras where it remains to this day. Thus, one of the four column shrines surrounding the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica is without its relic. This is because the head has been handed over to the Orthodox.

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The Pope to Purge Rome of Modern Music

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 13:36:00 +0000

The Holy Father Benedict XVI continues to “modify” things in Rome. This time it’s music.

When I was in Rome last year, my wife and I went to Vespers at St. Peter’s Basilica. I was disappointed. The choir was off, even dissonant. I had heard much better choral performances at my old Anglican parish. Worst of all, the piped the choir through speakers all throughout St. Peter’s so that a terrible multi-sourced echo reverberated in the Basilica. It seems that the Holy Father is taking his musical ear and making some changes. The following is from the Telegraph by Malcolm Moore:

Gregorian chant has been reinstituted as the primary form of singing by the new choir director of St Peter’s, Father Pierre Paul.

He has also broken with the tradition set up by John Paul II of having a rotating choir, drawn from churches all over the world, to sing Mass in St Peter’s.

The Pope has recently replaced the director of pontifical liturgical celebrations, Archbishop Piero Marini, with a man closer to his heart, Mgr Guido Marini. It is now thought he may replace the head of the Sistine Chapel choir, Giuseppe Liberto.

The International Church Music Review recently criticised the choir, saying: “The singers wanted to overshout each other, they were frequently out of tune, the sound uneven, the conducting without any artistic power, the organ and organ playing like in a second-rank country parish church.”

Mgr Valentin Miserachs Grau, the director of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, which trains church musicians, said that there had been serious “deviations” in the performance of sacred music.

“How far we are from the true spirit of sacred music. How can we stand it that such a wave of inconsistent, arrogant and ridiculous profanities have so easily gained a stamp of approval in our celebrations?” he said.

He added that a pontifical office could correct the abuses, and would be “opportune”. He said: “Due to general ignorance, especially in sectors of the clergy, there exists music which is devoid of sanctity, true art and universality.”

Read the rest of “Pope to purge the Vatican of modern music” by Malcolm Moore at the Telegraph.

Hat tip to John Boyden in Rome.

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Recent East-West Dialogue on Papal Primacy in Ravenna

Dr Taylor Marshall — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:02:00 +0000

The Ravenna dialogue between the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Catholic Church has yielded a statement.

However, the Ravenna document does not settle questions about the power the Pope enjoys as a consequence of that primacy. In fact, the members of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue noted in their concluding statement that Catholic and Orthodox theologians disagree “on the interpretation of the historical evidence from this era regarding the prerogatives of the bishop of Rome as protos,” or first among the patriarchs.

“While the fact of primacy at the universal level is accepted by both East and West,” the Ravenna statement continued, “there are differences of understanding with regard to the manner in which it is to be exercised, and also with regard to its scriptural and theological foundations.”

Cardinal Kasper told Vatican Radio that the Ravenna document will for the basis for further talks. In future meetings, he said, “we have have to go on to clarify the details.”

Read “Ecumenical talks reach partial accord on papal primacy” from Catholic World News.

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Pope Benedict XVI Falsely Accused of Nestorian Heresy

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:59:00 +0000

David Cassidy just brought this to my attention.

Some Eastern Orthodox bloggers at a “Nicene Truth” have accused the Holy Father of heresy – Nestorianism no less! They have found two quotations in Ratzinger’s God and the World (pp. 293-294) that they believe proves that Benedict XVI is heretical.

I took a look at the quotes and they are not as tight as one might expect, but I think that one should first check the English translation of the work. It may be just fine in the German. The Ratzinger zinger-line is this one, which does sound a little strange:

“[Mary] was in the sense of having been the mother of the man that was entirely at one with God.”

One would expect “the mother of the person” because “man” in English does not necessarily mean “person”. But we don’t know what it was in German. Also, we should be willing to grant that Cardinal Ratzinger was not being absolutely precise. I don’t think that makes him a formal heretic. I guarantee that if you asked him personally, the Holy Father would provide a beautiful and orthodox account of the incarnation.

For those unfamiliar with the Nestorian controversy, the Catholic Church teaches Christ’s “human nature was assumed, not absorbed”, in the mysterious union of the Incarnation, the Church was led over the course of centuries to confess the full reality of Christ’s human soul, with its operations of intellect and will, and of his human body. In parallel fashion, she had to recall on each occasion that Christ’s human nature belongs, as his own, to the divine person of the Son of God, who assumed it. Everything that Christ is and does in this nature derives from “one of the Trinity”. The Son of God therefore communicates to his humanity his own personal mode of existence in the Trinity. In his soul as in his body, Christ thus expresses humanly the divine ways of the Trinity…” (CCC, no. 470)

Anybody else wish to comment on the matter?

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Have There Been 265 or 266 Popes?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:45:00 +0000

I have been trying discover the “true number” of popes. I have basically found two contemporary lists.

Version A lists Peter as (1) and Benedict XVI as (265)

Versian B lists Peter as (1) and Benedict XVI as (266)

I started to research the matter, but I figured someone out there has the quick answer as to which is correct. Is Pope Benedict XVI #265th or #266?

Just a word of warning: Version A and Version B each appealing to the official Annuario Pontificio. However, both cannot be correct. I assume one is outdated. Anyone have access to the most recent Annuario Pontificio?

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Pope Benedict XVI Not Responding to Muslim "Dialogue"

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 02:10:00 +0000

Muslims are offended that Pope Benedict has yet to respond to their invitation to “dialogue.”

“the group was disappointed with what it saw as the Vatican’s relatively slow response.”

I think this is a good sign. The Catholic Church shouldn’t feel that she needs to have a chair at the ecumenical round table. The Holy Father is the Vicar of Christ, not the moderator of something like the Lutheran World Federation. Can you imagine a group of fifth century Manicheans sending an invitation to Pope Leo the Great and then expecting the pope to give a speedy response and then show up as a participant?

“The cardinal [Tauron] said Christians could not discuss theology seriously with Muslims because [Muslims] did not question the Koran. He also said any talks should discuss why some Muslim states limit church building while Muslims can build mosques in Europe.”

The Cardinal is not pulling any punches and I salute him. It’s not like Muslims and Christians are unaware of their differences, and the good cardinal tells it like it is. Great men and great institutions know what they are about and move forward. Viva Papa!

Full text of “Muslim scholars urge Benedict to back dialogue appeal” from Reuters Africa.

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Pope Benedict XVI Names Cardinal for Texas!

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 12:08:00 +0000

So it sounds like Archbishop DiNardo of Houston will need to exchange his cowboy boots for red ones to match his new cassock. That’s right folks, Texas is now the home of a cardinalatial see – Galveston Houston. Click here to read more about it.

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Pope Benedict and the Keys of the Kingdom

Dr Taylor Marshall — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 01:49:00 +0000

Occasionally you see a photo that says it all. Here is the Holy Father with the Keys of the Kingdom.

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New Pontifical Master of Ceremonies: Guido Marini

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 23:42:00 +0000

John Allen, Jr. explains how Guido Marini will replace Piero Marini as the pontifical Master of Ceremonies:

In a noteworthy change of personnel, if not of surname, the Vatican announced today that Monsignor Guido Marini will replace Archbishop Piero Marini as the pope’s Master of Ceremonies, meaning the official in charge of how the pope celebrates the Mass and the other rites of the church.

Read Allen’s article here.

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The Pope’s Visit to Russia and Alexei II

Dr Taylor Marshall — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 12:54:00 +0000

Patriarch of Russia, Alexie II told an Italian paper that a first meeting with Pope Benedict would only make sense if the Vatican gave up any missionary ambition to spread Catholicism in his country. (Alexander Natruskin/Reuters)

This is becoming ridiculous. Alexei II operates with a double standard. For Alexei, it is a cardinal sin of the Holy Father to have priests working in Russia. On the other hand, the Russian Orthodox Church is openly evangelizing people traditionally Catholic countries, such as Mexico, and rather ironically, Italy. If the Russian Orthodox are recruiting former Catholics, why is the Pope is accused of sheep-stealing. Moreover, why is Russia the only “off-limits” nation of the world?

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The Excommunication of Martin Luther

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:09:00 +0000

Pope Leo X identified forty heretical statements in the writings of Luther. In the bull Exsurge Domine, Leo X gave Luther sixty days to recant of these heretical statements.

On the sixtieth and last day of the probationary period, Luther publicly burned a copy of the bull. Technically, Luther excommunicated himself by not complying.

In response, Leo X issued Decet Romanum Pontificem on January 3, 1521, making the excommunication of Luther official.

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Vatican or Holy See?

Dr Taylor Marshall — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:05:00 +0000

The Vatican City State has a new website. For those who are wondering, the “Vatican” is a sovereign state. However, the “Holy See” refers to the chief apostolic “see” (i.e. seat) of Rome – the Pope’s diocese. The Holy Sees is the religious reality, and the Holy See governs the Vatican City State. The Holy See and the Vatican are thus two separate entities. The Vatican City State could disappear, but the Holy See would remain.

Newspapers usually refer to “the Vatican” and not to “the Holy See.” Whenever I see a report that reads, “Yesterday, the Vatican issued…” my first (rather uncharitable) thought right off the bat is, “This person doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Only the Holy See issues statements concerning the the practice, doctrine, liturgy, etc. of the Church. I may be wrong, but I believe the only things that the Vatican issues are postage stamps and paychecks.

Interestingly enough, the Holy See is a member of the United Nations not as “Vatican City” but as “the Holy See”. Also, all diplomatic relations with foreign nations are with “the Holy See” and not “the Vatican”. For example, the United States has an ambassador in Rome as “Ambassador to the Holy See”. The Pope sends an ambassador to the United States who is called the “Papal Nuncio” (not an ambassador).

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Roman Ecclesiology and Protestants

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:13:00 +0000

There has been a lot of confusion surrounding the recent document issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding the status of Protestant denominations. The document explains that these communities are not churches “in the proper sense of the word.” This isn’t new. It goes back to the Reformation and was restated in the 2000 document Dominus Jesus.

In Catholic parlance, Protestant denominations are officially “ecclesial communities” and not formal “churches”. This means that they are voluntary associations of real Christians.

If you think about it though, Protestant denominations explicitly define themselves as “voluntary associations”. It’s not like the Presbyterian Church in America or the Southern Baptist Convention has any real authority over its faithful. They only do if you agree they do. If you don’t like what they are doing or saying, they tell you that you’re free to go to a Methodist parish or an Evangelical fellowship. In other words, the denomination’s authority is based on volunteerism.

The Catholic Church claims to have authority over the baptized whether a person acknowledges it or not. E.g. the Pope believes that he is the Pope of every baptized person.

Moreover, the main point of the document is to reinstate the clear biblical doctrine that Christ instituted only one Church and not a plurality of differing denominations. I think we can all agree that Christ did institute only one Church – we just disagree on how that phenomenon is apprehended in the third millennium.

We might also remember that the Catholic Church defines the Church as a visible reality that is historically connected to Christ and His twelve Apostles through Holy Baptism and Apostolic Succession. The latter term refers to the unbroken chain of ordinations extending from the Apostles to the modern day bishops of the Church. This unbroken chain of ordinations ensures that these men receive the promises of Christ: 1) to “bind on earth” through doctrine and discipline; 2) to “forgive sins” (Jn 20:19-21); and to have authority to celebrate the Sacraments, chiefly the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Protestants reject all those things so they shouldn’t be offended that the Catholic Church says they are not “proper churches”. Protestants don’t want all that stuff, so they shouldn’t be offended when Catholicism points out to them that they don’t possess these gifts, powers, and authority. To be “Protestant” is to “protest” these things in the first place.

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Reading the Holy Father’s New Book

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:55:00 +0000

I started Pope Benedict’s new book Jesus of Nazareth today. His Holiness has some interesting thoughts concerning the Baptism of Christ. I’ll be attending the “book party” at the John Paul II Cultural Center this evening to hear the Papal Nuncio’s words about the new book.

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Reading the Holy Father’s New Book

Dr Taylor Marshall — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:55:00 +0000

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