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“Even if the Pope were Satan incarnate, we ought not to raise up our heads against him” (Cath Cauc)
WDTPRS ^ | April 29, 2016 | Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Posted on 04/29/2016 3:45:06 PM PDT by NYer

FULL TITLE

: “Even if the Pope were Satan incarnate, we ought not to raise up our heads against him” – St. Catherine of Siena

Today is the – in the post-Conciliar, modern, non-traditional – Ordinary Form – Novus Ordo Calendar – Feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Patroness of Europe and named by Paul VI as Doctor of the Church. Thus, her life and works reflect something of the Church’s own role as Teacher.  Her head may be venerated in Siena and the rest of her in Rome in the Church Santa Maria sopra Minerva (near the ecclesiastical tailor Gammarelli where we are having vestments made – PLEASE CONTRIBUTE!)

I warmly recommend this volume containing Benedict XVI’s General Audience series on the Doctors of the Church.

Benedict XVI gave a wonderful general audience address about here.  HERE

During my recent exile/sojourn in New York City, and during one of my visits to the Met, I spotted three little paintings depicting moments in the life of this great saint.  These panels, tempera and gold leaf on wood, were part of an altarpiece commissioned after Catherine was canonized in 1460.  They are based on her biography by Bl. Raymond of Capua (+1399), who was Catherine’s spiritual director.  Think about that, Fathers!  There are two more of these panels in another part of the Met, but it was closed off the day I was there.

IMG_3368

This panel shows a common theme for Catherine, her “mystical marriage” with the Lord, as he places a ring on her finger.

IMG_3369

According to Bl. Raymond, Christ appeared to Catherine holding a human heart in his hand. He opened her side and put the heart into her saying, “Dearest daughter, as I took your heart away from you the other day, now, you see, I am giving you mine, so that you can go on living with it for ever”.  Thus, Catherine experience what St. Paul wrote, “And I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me. And that I live now in the flesh: I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered himself for me.” (Gal 2:20).  She has the mystical-cloud, floating-above-the-rooftops thing going on and, from His gestures, you can tell that the Lord is talking to her.  For her part, she gestures to herself, as if to say, “Unworthy me?”

IMG_3370

Again according to Bl. Raymond:

“For the seven year period prior to her death, Saint Catherine of Siena took no food into her body other than the Eucharist. Her fasting did not affect her energy, however. She maintained a very active life during those seven years. As a matter of fact, most of her great accomplishments occurred during that period. Not only did her fasting not cause her to lose energy, but became a source of extraordinary strength, she becoming stronger in the afternoon, after having received our Lord in His Eucharist.

In Rome there is a chapel where Catherine received Communion in this manner and priests can say Mass there.

NB: Talk about “turning your back to the people!”  I always enjoy these old depictions of Mass.  You can see interesting details, such as vestments, etc.

IMG_3371

So, there is a little touch of Catherine for you today.

I will also call to your minds something she wrote about Popes.

Even if the Pope were Satan incarnate, we ought not to raise up our heads against him, but calmly lie down to rest on his bosom. He who rebels against our Father is condemned to death, for that which we do to him we do to Christ: we honor Christ if we honor the Pope; we dishonor Christ if we dishonor the Pope. I know very well that many defend themselves by boasting: “They are so corrupt, and work all manner of evil!” But God has commanded that, even if the priests, the pastors, and Christ-on-earth were incarnate devils, we be obedient and subject to them, not for their sakes, but for the sake of God, and out of obedience to Him.
— Saint Catherine of Siena in St. Catherine of Siena, SCS, p. 201-202, p. 222.

And, to Florentines, who were rebelling against Pope Gregory XI:

“He who rebels against our Father, Christ on earth, is condemned to death, for that which we do to him, we do to Christ in heaven – we honor Christ if we honor the pope, we dishonor Christ if we dishonor the pope… I tell you that God will and has so commanded that even if the priests and the pastors of the Church and Christ on earth were incarnate devils, it is seemly that we are obedient and subject to them, not for their sake, but for the sake of God, out of obedience to Him, for He wills that we should act thus.
“Know that the son is never in the right against the father, even if the father is ever so evil and unjust, for so great is the good which he has received from the father, that is, life itself, that he can never repay him for it. And we have received the life of grace from the Church, which is so great a benefit, that we can never, by any kind of homage or gratitude, pay the debt we owe.”
From Anne Baldwin’s Catherine of Siena: A Biography. Huntington, IN: OSV Publishing, 1987, pp.95-6



TOPICS: Catholic; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: nonsense
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To: vladimir998
I don’t think it is what you wanted to know, but ask ebb tide. Oh, that’s right: no guts. Questions only get asked by anti-Catholics when they can be used against Catholics. When an anti-Catholic (who does nothing but bash the Catholic faith) encounters a supposed Catholic (who does nothing but bash the Catholic pope) suddenly there is common cause between them and questions that might separate those new found buddies don’t get asked. No guts. Right, Karl?

Wow, what a tour de force of contempt, aggression, hatred, even dehumanization. In fact, it's literally rage. You really are Silas. I guess that why everything you say is blasted at labels, that's how it works, doesn't it? You don't have to deal with particulars, just the labels - and oh, how you hate those labels! Anti-Catholic, straw man, heretic... Add them together and you can just dispense with respect, consideration, all of it, and just go to war. And that's what you share with Silas - you're both at war.

But you're really not, Vlad - you're not at war. Its just all in your head. I'm not your enemy, and I don't hate the Church - you just need me to, so you can hate me.

That's why you need to get help, Vlad - so you can stop acting like Silas. So you can stop needing the hatred so much. You know something is wrong with you, and you're obviously intelligent, so use that intelligence to get the help you need to heal. Stop indulging in contempt and rage - it's like a drug that you're addicted to, destroying you.

I will pray for you. Even though you no doubt believe my prayers are worthless, I think God will accept them anyway to help you. God bless you, Vlad.

61 posted on 05/02/2016 10:04:56 AM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: Talisker

“Wow, what a tour de force of contempt, aggression, hatred, even dehumanization.”

That’s quite the imagination you apparently have there, Karl. Projection is a common problem among anti-Catholics apparently.

“In fact, it’s literally rage. You really are Silas. I guess that why everything you say is blasted at labels, that’s how it works, doesn’t it? You don’t have to deal with particulars, just the labels - and oh, how you hate those labels!”

Your theory would make more sense if it had some facts to it. Everything I posted was true. I answered your question in my first post. You have yet to deal with it in any substantive way and that will, undoubtedly, continue. This won’t stop you, however, from saying erroneous things such as “You don’t have to deal with particulars, just the labels...” The particulars were dealt with. You just can’t seem to handle that fact.

“Anti-Catholic, straw man, heretic... Add them together and you can just dispense with respect, consideration, all of it, and just go to war. And that’s what you share with Silas - you’re both at war.”

No. Again, I have no enemies here. You keep posting these things of pure fantasy. Where did I call you a “heretic” in this thread? I didn’t. That’s just a fantasy on your part. Also, for you to talk about “respect, consideration” only makes you look hypocritical, Karl.

“But you’re really not, Vlad - you’re not at war.”

Exactly. I’m not. But you just said I was and now you say I’m not. You apparently can’t make up your mind.

“Its just all in your head.”

Nope. Clearly - since you’re the one claiming I’m at war (before you deny I’m at war) - it’s your fantasy and not mine at all.

“I’m not your enemy,”

I already said that - long before you did.

“and I don’t hate the Church - you just need me to, so you can hate me.”

I don’t hate you. I pity you. Whether or not you hate the Church is shown in your posts - one way or another.

“That’s why you need to get help, Vlad - so you can stop acting like Silas.”

Karl, you need to get help so you can be honest with yourself if no one else.

“So you can stop needing the hatred so much.”

I don’t hate and I certainly don’t “hate so much”. But an anti-Catholic with a very active fantasy life might feel otherwise, right Karl?

“You know something is wrong with you, and you’re obviously intelligent, so use that intelligence to get the help you need to heal.”

Oh, there’s something wrong with everyone I’m sure. But between your posting nonsense and ignoring already answered questions, sharpening mower blades is not the way to go, Karl.

“Stop indulging in contempt and rage - it’s like a drug that you’re addicted to, destroying you.”

Nope. I am not only NOT “indulging in contempt and rage” but I am not “destroying” myself. But I can see why an anti-Catholic with an apparently active fantasy life might dream up comments like that - especially if he simply can’t make any argument whatsoever.

“I will pray for you.”

Great! We can all use prayers. I’ll pray for you too. Hopefully you’ll put down the mower blades while you pray.

“Even though you no doubt believe my prayers are worthless,”

And see, there you are being wrong again. You just can’t help it apparently. You make error after error and this one can only be a product of imagination as far as I can see. I have NEVER said anything that would lead a rational person to make such a comment. An anti-Catholic, one with an apparently active fantasy life, however, who apparently projects (out of desperation?) might say something like that, Karl.

“I think God will accept them anyway to help you. God bless you, Vlad.”

Get help, Karl. Anyone who apparently imagines as much as you do really needs it. I will pray for you. May He give you the grace you need to stop making things up.

Now, I have every reason to suspect that you will keep posting even though you’ve said you were done, through, or whatever other word you used that you apparently did not mean.


62 posted on 05/02/2016 3:19:21 PM PDT by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: Talisker; vladimir998

Are you two still at this?


63 posted on 05/02/2016 3:58:42 PM PDT by piusv (The Spirit of Christ hasn't refrained from using separated churches as means of salvation:VII heresy)
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To: piusv
Are you two still at this?

I'm still trying to determine what "this" is. Apparently I'm a devious heretic, undermining Catholic beliefs with satanically calculated straw man questions which will shatter your faith if you even consider them.

So you're warned.

Beware...

64 posted on 05/02/2016 5:53:01 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: piusv; Talisker

“Are you two still at this?”

One of us is “still at this”. Karl/Talisker keeps posting - even after he said he was done.


65 posted on 05/02/2016 6:06:35 PM PDT by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: Talisker; piusv

“Apparently I’m a devious heretic,”

Show me where I said that. Oh, that’s right, you can’t - because I never said it. I already point this out to you but you keep posting this sort of falsehood anyway. It’s what you do.

“undermining Catholic beliefs with satanically calculated straw man questions which will shatter your faith if you even consider them.”

Except I considered and answered your question - in my very first post in this thread. Here again is the answer which you keep ignoring in post after post after post:

“Jesus was talking about setting a man against his father in His own day and metaphorically later on. He was not discussing what Catherine said. Jesus was talking about faith in Him setting a man against his father. Catherine was talking about a man being obedient to his father because of faith in Christ.”

So, knowing - and everyone can see that this is the truth - that your question was answered and answered in the very first post I put up in the thread (post #10) and I have repeatedly posted this answer whenever you said your question wasn’t answered or what have you, yet you still make this claim over and over again, one has to question why you keep posting something which the WHOLE WORLD could see is objectively false. Why do you do it, Karl?

“So you’re warned. Beware...”

And you’ll keep posting even though you said you were done. You apparently can’t stop yourself. Please get help, Karl.


66 posted on 05/02/2016 6:13:27 PM PDT by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: vladimir998
And you’ll keep posting even though you said you were done.

Now, I have every reason to suspect that you will keep posting even though you’ve said you were done, through, or whatever other word you used that you apparently did not mean.

...then why do YOU keep posting to me after you said you would stop? Clearly you can’t.

And yet you keep posting to me - even after you say you’re done.

Deal with it.

67 posted on 05/02/2016 6:47:47 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: Talisker

“Deal with it.”

You said you were done. Yet here you are posting again. Every time you post you prove me right.

Keep doing it.


68 posted on 05/02/2016 7:02:40 PM PDT by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: Talisker
LOL, you know, I was raised in the Church and left it ...

This is a Catholic Caucus thread; are you Catholic ?

69 posted on 05/02/2016 7:34:56 PM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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To: NYer

Well I agree with St Catherine of course.My motto don’t read anybody who is not over 100 years old and a Saint.Jesus hungers for Souls.Do the First Friday devotions and you will feel it.Most Souls are simple and their prayers are simple.Shame on the elitist who pull these Souls down to question their Faith and is some cases to leave the church.Listen to the Saints.


70 posted on 05/02/2016 7:56:36 PM PDT by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: af_vet_1981
This is a Catholic Caucus thread; are you Catholic ?

What's a Catholic? Do you agree with the teachings of the current Pope? Do you obey them? If not, are you a Catholic?

I had a question about the Catholic saint who is the topic of this thread, concerning Catholic teachings in this matter, in reference to direct biblical teachings by Christ.

Where else should I ask my question?

And what Catholic authorization do you have to judge the answer - or are you one of those Catholics who decides for himself what parts of Catholicism apply, and what don't? Like, concerning Pope Francis maybe? In which case, how are we different?

So are YOU a Catholic? Would the Pope agree with your assessment of yourself?

71 posted on 05/02/2016 8:59:58 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: ebb tide

Who should we pay attention too.Michael Voris who produced an lesbian orgy movie.Oh he’s OK he confessed his sin or he would have been outed by the bad guys.Would like to see the bad guys sue.You -who posts links for funds from sites who don’t believe any Pope was real since the 60’s.I ‘ll take St Catherine anyday.


72 posted on 05/02/2016 9:18:47 PM PDT by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: fatima

Poor Michael already produced a movie and had his former male lovers posting on other sites and he has the nerve to blame the Archdiocese of outing him.Why not just come out and tell the truth before he started his ministry.Money.
“In 1997 he began operation of an independent television production company called Concept Communication, LLC. This limited liability company was registered by co-owners Gary Michael Voris and John Fitzpatrick Mola with the State of Michigan on July 8, 1997.[5] Shortly thereafter on July 23, 1997, Voris and Mola registered a video with the US Copyright Office titled “Double Trouble”.[6]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Voris


73 posted on 05/02/2016 9:53:04 PM PDT by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: fatima

Gee that was really hard to find.It’s listed in his life story with Wikipedia.Sure hope the the bad guys didn’t read that online for everyone to see.

Double Trouble (1997)
Adult | Video
Add a Plot »
Star: Kimberly Jade
IMDb Picks: May
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Credited cast:
Kimberly Jade Kimberly Jade
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Add Full Plot | Add Synopsis Plot Keywords: sex | hardcore | See All (2) »
Genres: Adult
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74 posted on 05/02/2016 10:04:36 PM PDT by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: fatima

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160226/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_38
Kimberly Jade
Kimberly Jade
Actress | Director
Will not post the names of the movies.Michael had his named removed as of 5 days ago.why didn’t he mention the movie in his confession.Used car salesman.With his public and movie personality Michael was out there.Why did the Archdiocese have to look .Public knowledge.Where was his confession of the orgy?Why should we listen to half ass Catholics.Listen to the Saints which is pleasing to God.


75 posted on 05/02/2016 10:23:05 PM PDT by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: fatima

Found It.Michael should give a refund until his confession-just sayin.
Double trouble
Type of Work:
Motion picture or filmstrip
Registration Number / Date:
PA0000859824 / 1997-07-23
Date of Publication:
July 22, 1997
Date of Creation:
1997
Title:
Double trouble.
Description:
Videocassette ; 1/2 in.
Copyright Claimant:
Gary Michael Voris & John Fitzgerald Mola
Names:
Gary Michael Voris
John Fitzgerald Mola

Read more: http://www.copyrightencyclopedia.com/double-trouble-ive-got-a-twenty-room-house-mind-your-own/#ixzz47ZN6tfx1


76 posted on 05/02/2016 10:54:24 PM PDT by fatima (Free Hugs Today :))
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To: Talisker
What's a Catholic?

Do you affiliate with a NonCatholic faith community ? If you do not know that you are a Catholic, a Catholic Caucus thread is not the appropriate forum for you at this time. Do you attend Mass ?

77 posted on 05/03/2016 4:38:47 AM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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To: af_vet_1981; Talisker

Do you see the moral and philosophical rot in the responses you’ve been getting? “What’s a Catholic?” How is that any different that what Pilate asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38)?


78 posted on 05/03/2016 5:41:56 AM PDT by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: fatima

What are you babbling about now?


79 posted on 05/03/2016 7:20:33 AM PDT by ebb tide (We have a rogue curia in Rome.)
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To: af_vet_1981
Do you affiliate with a NonCatholic faith community ? If you do not know that you are a Catholic, a Catholic Caucus thread is not the appropriate forum for you at this time. Do you attend Mass ?

What I don't do is answer to you about the status or legitimacy of my faith. Caucus threads are meant to be a safe space for a specified faith, not an allowance for an egomaniacal inquisition. I asked a respectful Catholic question about an issue in Catholicism which concerned me. I asked it here based on my judgement that the level of involvement I have with Catholicism is adequate for me to ask the question. Your assessment of my relationship with Catholicism is therefore utterly irrelevant. And to prove it, you can answer my question to you about your obedience to the Pope.

80 posted on 05/03/2016 9:52:52 AM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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