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Dietrich von Hildebrand, called by Pope Pius XII "the 20th Century Doctor of the Church,” was one of the world's most eminent Christian philosophers. No other Catholic writer has so thoroughly echoed the message of Our Lady of the Roses than Dietrich von Hildebrand. The following is an excerpt from his book entitled The Charitable Anathema.
What should be one’s inner attitude toward practical decisions of the Pope,
decisions that seem ill-advised or dangerous in their consequences or even
decisions that seem to compromise with the spirit of secularism?
Such questions increasingly preoccupy Catholics striving to defend the true
doctrine of the Church against the onslaught of today’s innumerable heresies. In
order to answer them, in order to understand the nature of the authority of the
Church, we must, from the beginning, clearly distinguish between theoretical
and practical authority.
Theoretical authority is a guarantee of the truth of a statement. In the
natural, human realm we find only relative theoretical authorities. We accept
the truth of a generally admitted scientific discovery–the existence of cosmic
rays, for instance–although we ourselves are not able to verify it and still
less capable of grasping it as we grasp an evident fact. What is learned in a
school or university, and is not intelligible in itself (as is, for instance,
the fact that two plus two is four) is learned only through acceptance of the
teacher’s theoretical authority. But, obviously, this authority is only a
relative one: many scientific “truths” once universally accepted have
subsequently been discredited. It would be unreasonable not to accept what such
a theoretical authority teaches–it would even be foolish–but we know,
nevertheless, that this authority is not infallible, and thus is relative.
There is but one absolute theoretical authority: the Church in matters of
faith and morals. It is a basis of our Catholic faith that Christ has entrusted
His divine revelation to the Holy Church and that the Church under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit is infallible in matters of faith and morals–that she is an
absolute theoretical authority in these matters.
It is because of this absoluteness that we are obliged–even morally obliged–to
accept the Church’s word as true, to believe in it; whereas to accept the word
of human, natural–relative–theoretical authority is never obligatory. Not
to accept it may be unreasonable, but it is not morally evil. And obviously
belief in the teachings of the Church has the character of faith–that is, an
unconditional, solemn clinging to her teaching; whereas all belief in natural
theoretical authorities is a mere natural conviction and differs radically from
an act of religious faith.
Practical authority, on the other hand, appeals not to belief–to the acceptance
of a truth–but to obedience. We are obliged to obey an authentic practical
authority and to submit to its commandments. Whereas no natural theoretical
authority is obligatory, there are true and binding practical authorities
in the natural realm. Such is the authority of the parents over the child; such
is the authority of the state. The Church is a practical authority of a higher
order, because here the partial representation of God has a sacred character. It
is a sacred authority and, in all matters which belong to her realm and
competence, her commandments and administrative measures have a solemn and
morally binding character.
Thus we can see that the theoretical authority of the Church appeals to our
belief, while the practical authority of the Church appeals to our obedience.
Clearly, then, the infallibility of the Church applies only to the Church as a
theoretical authority.
Now, obviously, the essence of infallibility implies that there are never any
contradictions between a formerly defined dogma an a new authoritative
declaration de fide. At the moment such a contradiction comes to pass,
the infallibility of the Church would explode, would have been proved a mere
illusion on our part. Other possibilities do not exist. New dogmas may
differentiate and explain former dogmas, they may complement them, they may
refer to something which has never been defined before but was implicit in the
faith or its logical consequences, or in any case does not contradict a former
dogma. But no dogma, once authoritatively taught, can ever be authoritatively
denied. For instance, the rejection of Luther’s sola fides theory could
never be superseded by an affirmation of Luther’s theory. The consequence would
be a collapse of the Church’s infallibility.
In what concerns the practical authority of the Church, her positive
commandments, the question of infallibility simply does not apply. A positive
commandment, an administrative measure, or any prescription cannot be true or
false but only valid or invalid, good or evil, useful or useless. Truth is never
the theme in the positive commandments or laws of any practical authority. If in
a particular state the voting age is reduced from 21 to 18, we may find the
measure wise or unwise, felicitous or disastrous, but it makes no sense to call
it true or false. This applies also to the practical authority of the Church.
When a pope introduces changes in canon law, or when he splits one diocese into
two, or permits children to receive Communion at an early age, or changes laws
of fasting, it may be felicitous or unfortunate, it may be more adequate than a
former law or less adequate–but questions of infallibility and of truth are
irrelevant.
The history of the Catholic Church offers innumerable examples of changes made
according to the decisions of the practical authority of the Church; often, but
not always, the authentic spirit of the Church–that is, the spirit of
Christ–motivates her to revoke a former prescription and to introduce an
opposite one. In this case we are bound to obey the prescription or commandment;
we should accept it with the respect due it–but we are not obliged to find it
felicitous. We can regret it and pray that it may be again revoked....
In the case of the theoretical authority, the important question is whether a
teaching refers to matters of faith and morals and does not contradict the
deposit of Catholic faith. Here infallibility is in question when a teaching is
pronounced ex cathedra or de fide. A specific case may help to
illuminate the matter.
The
Second Vatican Council solemnly declared in its Constitution on the Church that
all the teachings of the Council are in full continuity with the teachings of
former councils. Moreover, let us not forget that the canons of the Council of
Trent and of Vatican Council I are de fide, whereas none of the decrees
of Vatican II is de fide; the Second Vatican Council was pastoral in
nature. Cardinal Felici rightly stated that the Credo solemnly proclaimed by
Pope Paul VI at the end of the Year of Faith is from a dogmatic point of view
much more important than the entire Second Vatican Council. Thus, those who want
to interpret certain passages in the documents of Vatican II as if they
implicitly contradicted definitions of Vatican I or the Council of Trent should
realize that even if their interpretations were right, the canons of the former
councils would overrule these allegedly contradictory passages of Vatican II,
because the former are de fide, the latter not. (It must be stressed that
any such “conflict” would be, of course, apparent and not real.)
Our belief in the teachings of the Church de fide must be an absolute and
unconditional one, but we should not imagine that our fidelity to the Church’s
theoretical authority is satisfied merely by acceptance of ex cathedra
pronouncements. We also must adhere wholeheartedly to teachings of the Church in
matters of morality, even if they are not defined ex cathedra. The
teaching of the encyclical Humanae Vitae, for example, is binding because
its content has always been part of the teachings of the Church; in it we are
confronted with the theoretical authority of the Church embodied in the
tradition of the ordinary magisterium. It is not a mere practical commandment of
the Church, like the commandment to go to church on Sunday. It is a statement
about a moral fact; that is, it states a truth: that birth control is sinful. It
is forbidden not because of the Pope’s policy, but because the theoretical
authority of the Church declares its sinfulness. Here, as in all cases of the
teaching of the theoretical authority, the old maxim applies: Roma locuta:
causa finita.
The situation is different when positive commandments of the Church, practical
decisions, are at stake. Here we are not faced with the infallible Church. While
we must obey such decisions and submit to them in reverence and deep respect, we
need not consider them felicitous or prudent. Here the maxim Roma locuta:
cause finita does not apply. If we are convinced that any practical change
or decision is objectively unfortunate, noxious, compromising, imprudent, or
unjust, we are permitted to pray that it may be revoked, to write in a
respectful manner about the topic, to direct petitions for a change of it to the
Holy Father–to attempt, in a variety of ways, to influence a reversal of the
decision.
"The Eternal City of Rome
shall pass through a great conflagration. Discipline must be restored.
Obedience, yes--but true obedience to their God and not the mores of man. Much
evil is being condoned, disguised under the guise of obedience. Let us, My
children, call this a false obedience, clouded by errors and satanism."
- Jesus, August 21, 1976
Our Lady of
the Roses Bayside messages:
These messages came from Jesus, Mary, and the saints to Veronica
Lueken at Bayside, NY, from 1968 to 1995.
SATAN WAS PRESENT
"You will not destroy My Son's House, Church, by consorting with the enemies of
My Son! You will not convert the enemy by lowering the standards. Your example
must be one of a steadfast faith.
"Change! What need is change when the foundation has stood through the test
of time? It is a dissatisfied man, a greedy and lustful man who seeks change.
Does he change to bring man to God? No! He changes to take man from God and give
him to Lucifer!
"Satan was present, he listened with careful ears at the great Council. He
awaited every move, and he placed his agents among you! Recognize and
reconstruct your path. You have been deluded. You are on the wrong road. Turn
about now, or you will sow the seeds for your own destruction!
"How many warnings will you receive before the hand of your Father will
descend upon you? No date do I give unto all mankind, but only to few. All those
who accept the grace given freely for the asking will not be caught unawares.
They will prepare themselves. All mankind upon earth should prepare for his
death.
"We look upon a world where mankind goes about defaming himself and the
Father, wallowing in all manners of lust and pleasure, abomination—even in the
House of God! He lives as though he never will die. No human flesh will be
eternal, but the soul is eternal and will live on forever." - Our Lady,
August 14, 1974
FOR GOOD
"Pastors, you shall be called and shall you stand before, in judgment, the
Eternal Father and say that your teaching has been pure in His sight? Better
that you fear your God than man! Obedience? Obedience is commanded by the
Eternal Father for good, not for evil!" - Our Lady, May 26, 1976
TO THE SLAUGHTER
"You will not be led into false obedience, for in this way you will be led
as sheep to the slaughter." - Our Lady, September 7, 1971
ONE MAJESTY
"Obedience, My child, obedience--how sad that the true meaning has met with
distortion. Satan has used the rule of obedience to bring about the destruction
of souls. There is, My child, only one majesty Who commands your obedience. This
is the Father--the Father, the most high God in Heaven, the Kingdom of light.
You must not honor man before your God. You must not sell your soul to man! For
you, therefore, are selling your soul to the devil." - Our Lady, December 6,
1974
TO YOUR ELDERS
"We ask obedience, My child, to your elders but not when it is misleading.
You must search out the sheep and the goats. We do not expect you to join the
goats. Remember, My child, all will be judged with a firm hand." - Our Lady,
October 2, 1974
CLOUDED
"The Eternal City of Rome shall pass through a great conflagration.
Discipline must be restored. Obedience, yes--but true obedience to their God and
not the mores of man. Much evil is being condoned, disguised under the guise of
obedience. Let us, My children, call this a false obedience, clouded by errors
and satanism." - Jesus, August 21, 1976
NO EXCUSE
"My pastors, you shall not give as your excuse for your false teachings, a
rule of obedience! And who are you being obedient to but satan? Shall you stand
before Me and say that your teaching has been pure in My sight? I say unto you,
I shall spit you out as vipers into the flames!" - Jesus, September 28, 1976
BISHOPS
"Bishops, awaken from your slumber! I repeat, My children, My bishops, shall
you be obedient to sin? Shall you unite and destroy your Faith? Shall you
compromise your Faith with the ultimate destruction of souls?" - Our Lady,
December 24, 1975
ONLY ONE MASTER
"Obedience, My child, places many restrictions. You will understand that
many pastors, many men of God, face restrictions. It may not be of their
decision. However, a guide to clergy and the lay people, My child, is truth. You
will not sacrifice in any way your soul for the things of your earthly world.
Man has one master only, the God who created him and his universe. Man will
answer to only his Master." - Our Lady, September 7, 1973
FALSE OBEDIENCE
"Many in My Son's Church have fallen away. Pray for your brothers and
sisters, My children. Pray for your bishops, your priests, who are under great
attack by reason of false obedience." - Our Lady, December 7, 1977
GOD NEVER CHANGES
"And God never changes. And neither must you change to please man. But you
must change always to please God. And obedience: there is a false obedience, if
you displease God, just to please man." - Our Lady, June 18, 1982
I HAVE CRIED
"I have wandered throughout the world crying to My children, and My tears
fall upon you, for as I have cried for obedience to your Eternal Father in
Heaven and, also, to Our Pope, Our poor Vicar, who suffers much on the hands of
the enemies of your God." - Our Lady, March 18, 1983
BLIND OBEDIENCE
"O My children, what more can I say to you? What more can the Eternal Father
do to awaken you--you who are apathetic, not caring until you are struck by
destruction; you who watch as the warnings go by, not caring until it enters
your home; and you who go by like ducks in the waters, not caring or wondering
or questioning why you proceed in that path; and you who, in your blindness; and
you who, in your blindness of blind obedience, have given yourselves to
destruction and destroying My Son's House in your obedience to man! No man shall
be obedient to satan." - Our Lady, November 20, 1976
COMPROMISE
"If you compromise by pleasing those who have set themselves to rule you,
and if you compromise without the love of God and accepting the will of God, and
replacing it for the will of man, in obedience that has been darkened by sin and
false obedience-blind obedience-no! You shall not cast aside your God to please
any man!" - Our Lady, September 13, 1975
ONLY PATH
"Man has set himself into the web of satan by straying from the path given
by the Father. Discipline, self-discipline and obedience to the rules of God are
the only path." - Our Lady, November 24, 1973
FIRST
"My child, there is much confusion in the world. We ask obedience-yes, We
ask, My child, obedience. But this story I must repeat to you. It is one of
truth. Your obedience is to the Father in Heaven. Abraham, directed to give his
son as sacrifice: it is the law of God, as written by Moses, that thou shalt not
kill; but when the Father had asked this sacrifice, he, Abraham, listened unto
God, and knew that the law of God first and above all is, 'Thou shalt honor the
Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole mind, and with thy whole
body.'" - Our Lady, April 13, 1974
D1 - The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass PDF
D63 - The Third Secret PDF
D77 - Obedience PDF
D85 - Tradition PDF
D125 - Ecumenism PDF
D127 - Vatican II PDF
D161 - The Great Apostasy PDF
D164 - Heresy PDF
D193 - Turn Back: You are on the Wrong Road PDF
Articles
Vatican II, part 1: Infiltration of the Church
http://www.tldm.org/News6/VaticanII-1.htm
Vatican II, part 2: Dark clouds forming before Vatican II
http://www.tldm.org/News6/VaticanII-2.htm
Vatican II, part 3: The satanic revolution gains momentum at the Council
http://www.tldm.org/news6/vaticanii-3.htm
Statistical decline of the Catholic Church since Vatican II
http://www.tldm.org/News6/statistics.htm
Fatimagate
http://www.tldm.org/FatimaGate.htm“Kneel before your God in the Eucharist”
http://www.tldm.org/News5/kneeling.htmShould women cover their heads in Church?
http://www.tldm.org/news6/veils.htmLatin, the universal language of the Catholic Church
http://www.tldm.org/news5/latin.htmThe case for the Latin Mass
http://www.tldm.org/news5/latinmass.htmPope John Paul II recommends praying the St. Michael Exorcism
http://www.tldm.org/news6/exorcism.htmRestore the main altar
http://www.tldm.org/news5/main%5Faltar.htm
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Revised:
April 09, 2018