Free Republic

OP-ED: The Enemy's Three Enemies. The Real Reasons for the Trouble Triggered by the Mother of Godby Professor Massimo Viglione*TOTA PULCHRA ES MARIAYears ago, I wrote that the predictable outcome of Conciliar Gnostic Ecumenism would be the progressive, steady, but definitive and unavoidable expurgation from the formerly Catholic (but now hyper-modernist) religion, of the three essential elements forming the Church's Divine and human nature. In ascending order:1) Mary Most Holy2) The Eucharist3) The Most Holy TrinityThese three elements, in fact, are absolutely and inveterately, unreconcilable with interreligious “dialogue” and principally, with its main goal, i.e. the creation of a Gnostic,...

Fr. Heimerl: Of course the Blessed Mother is ‘Co-Redemptrix’The pious tradition of the Church has always known this and always understood it correctly. Is the Blessed Virgin Mary “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix of Grace”? Of course she is, I would say, because it was only through Mary’s “Fiat” that the only redemption through her Son became possible, and it was only through her that God gave us the fullness of grace in Jesus Christ.The pious tradition of the Church has always known this and always understood it correctly. No one would seriously have thought of “deifying” Mary or denying Christ’s unique...

The quickest way to start an online argument is to mention a topic where the stakes are highest and/or the diagreement is the most passionate. The proper Christian perspective on Mary, mother of Jesus is just such a topic. For Roman Catholics, she is beloved, adored, even revered. It shows up in the way they pray, in the traditions they celebrate, and the stories about her that they share with one another. It stems, in part from the greek phrase Theatokos, which was formally adopted in the Council of Ephesus (431 AD) to affirm the Deity of Christ in opposition...

[Catholic Caucus] Vatican rejects Marian titles ‘Co-Redemptrix’ and ‘Mediatrix’ in new doctrinal noteMater Populi Fidelis, approved by Pope Leo XIV, rules the expressions inappropriate and theologically 'unhelpful.'The Vatican has declared the Marian title “Co-Redemptrix” to be both inappropriate and theologically “unhelpful.” The statements came in a doctrinal note titled Mater Populi Fidelis (“Mother of the Faithful People of God”), issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on November 4 and signed by its prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández. The document was approved by Pope Leo XIV on October 7.“When an expression requires many, repeated explanations to...

Op-Ed: Mary, the Co-Redemptrix and Mater Populi FidelisThe document Mater Populi Fidelis of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, specifically in numbers 17 and 18 gives a undeservedly over-simplified overview of this important doctrine of the Catholic Faith. The fact that Our Lady cooperated in the work of the Redemption, at least mediately, is a de fide teaching. To doubt it would incur theological censure.For a clear and comprehensive overview of the main lines of this teaching and its historical development, I refer the reader to J. A. de Aldama, S.J., “De Corredemptione,” in Sacrae Theologiae Summa,...

Vatican document on Mary’s cooperation in salvation expected to address title ‘Co-Redemptrix’The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has announced that it will present a new doctrinal note “referring to Mary’s cooperation in the work of salvation.”The document is titled Mater Populi Fidelis (“Mother of the Faithful People”), with the Italian subtitle Nota dottrinale su alcuni titoli mariani riferiti alla cooperazione di Maria all’opera della salvezza. It will be unveiled from 11.00 to 12.30 in the morning at the Jesuit General Curia, with free entry and a reception to follow. The Vatican Press Office will release the full...

During a July 16 episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show” on “Real America’s Voice,” Kirk explained that he believes Protestants do not venerate or talk about Mary enough. He said she “is the solution” to “toxic feminism in America.” But let me first say, I think we as Protestants and Evangelicals under-venerate Mary. She was very important. She was a vessel for our Lord and Savior...I think that we, as Evangelicals and Protestants, we've overcorrected. We don't talk about Mary enough. We don't venerate her enough. Mary was clearly important to early Christians. There's something there. In fact, I believe...

The Holy Rosary, the Hope of Lepanto, of Europe, of the World…Today we celebrate Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, a feast instituted by Pope Saint Pius V in commemoration of the great victory at Lepanto on October 7th in 1571, when the Christian fleet led by Don Juan of Austria crushed the invading, and seemingly invincible, navy of the Ottoman Turks, who had turned the Mediterranean into an Islamic lake. They had never been defeated, and the last stronghold, the fortified town of Famagusta on Cyprus, fell in 1571. Lala Kara Mustapha Pasha had promised safe surrender for...

Why awe is the right response to Our Lady of SorrowsHere's why Our Lady of Sorrows is about more than having pity on the Mother of God – and why she is called the ‘co-redemptrix.’Many meditations on Our Lady of Sorrows emphasise the suffering she endured at the foot of the Cross.For instance, the excellent Practical Meditations for Every Day of the Year offers the following parallel as a way of understanding Our Lady’s suffering:“To understand in some measure how much she suffers, we must conceive the idea of a mother, the tenderest of mothers, who loves nothing so much...

Charlie Kirk and His Surprising Sentiments Toward the Catholic ChurchThere is a lot of evidence that Charlie Kirk was leading his family towards the Catholic Church; not least of all, his public call to venerate the Mother of God.The news of Charlie Kirk’s murder has had a shocking impact in the world of faith and politics. Known widely as a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, Kirk often appeared in the public eye as a firebrand commentator, someone eager to spar in debates over politics, culture, and the future of America. Yet, beneath the sharp-edged persona, there was...

[Catholic Caucus] PHOTOS: Jesus Adored on the Bayou on Assumption Solemnity11th-Annual Fête-Dieu du Teche: The Eucharistic Flotilla in Cajun CountryI Am Going to See Her One Day is a hymn woven into the consciousness of South Louisiana Cajuns. The reality that heaven is our true homeland is generally intuited by all Catholics, but it resonates deeply within Cajun culture. Often forgotten is the story of the French Catholics expelled from Nova Scotia by the British 260 years ago. After a 30-year exile filled with unimaginable hardship, the scattered Acadians were welcomed into Louisiana by the king of Spain, as it...

The Miracle That Gave the Miraculous Medal Its NameAlphonse and Theodore Ratisbonne were born in 1802 and 1814, respectively, into a prominent banking family in Alsace, France. The Ratisbonne family was a nominally Jewish household that seemed focused on worldly success, and it would seem that such success was expected of both Theodore and Alphonse. However, at age 22, Theodore met Louise Humann, a devout Catholic and catechist. Under her guidance, he studied the New Testament and other Scriptures and was baptized Catholic in the year 1826. He went on to be ordained a priest just four years later.Theodore’s conversion...

[Catholic Caucus] The Miracles of the Rosary & Marian Apparitions (Miracles pt. 7)This article is the seventh in a 10-part series that will explore miracles as proof of the truths of Catholic doctrine. In this installment, we consider some of the numerous miracles attributed to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary including those attributed to the Holy Rosary as well as some of her many apparitions on earth.Father John Hardon defines a miracle as follows: “A sensibly perceptible effect, surpassing at least the powers of visible nature, produced by God to witness to some truth or testify to someone’s sanctity.” Along...

Isn’t honoring Mary a Roman Catholic thing? This general ethos can cause Evangelicals to get particularly squeamish around the language of “theotokos” the Mother of God… In the garden of Eden, after Adam had disobeyed God and before he was forced out of the garden, God promised in Genesis 3:15 that a seed would come from the woman, who would crush the head of the Serpent, thereby turning back the curse and putting an end to the enmity between man and God. This Seed, therefore, would need to be a new Adam—a new head of a new human race, since...

It is a dogma of the Catholic faith that the Blessed Virgin Mary was not only a virgin when she conceived and bore Jesus but that she remained a virgin ever after. Most Protestant Christians today deny this – but do they know that many of their early leaders believed it? Here are 5 examples of major Protestant leaders who rejected huge swaths of Catholic dogma, but – you may surprised to learn – defended the perpetual virginity of Mary: 1) Martin Luther is usually considered to be the person who sparked the Protestant Reformation. He rejected core Catholic dogmas...

Cecil B Demille’s 1927 film, King Of Kingz, is a visual feast, one of the most unremittingly great depictions of the story of Jesus I have ever seen. Ave Maria for Mary and Waltzing Matilda for Peter. AVE Matilda.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 395 – The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God’s reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries – of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature- to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human...

Why the Church’s enemies hate the Immaculate Conception(TFP) — The following text on the Immaculate Conception is adapted from a lecture Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira [the founder of Tradition, Family, Property] gave on June 15, 1973. It has been translated and edited for publication without his revision. Note, in this text, he uses the words “Revolution” and “Counter-Revolution” as he defined them in his book Revolution and Counter-Revolution. In this sense, the Revolution is a centuries-old process, motivated by pride and sensuality, and therefore egalitarianism and liberalism, that dominates the modern world and seeks to destroy Christian civilization. “Counter-Revolutionaries”...

[Catholic Caucus] Chief architect of Notre Dame reveals devotion to Our Lady inspired him to rebuild her cathedral'I spent five years saying nothing about this because I'm a civilian, serving in a secular republic,' chief architect Philippe Villeneuve revealed. 'But now I have to reveal that yes, I have a particular devotion to the Virgin Mary.'PARIS (LifeSiteNews) — The chief architect of Notre Dame Cathedral revealed that he has a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.In a December 9 interview with the Eternal Word Television Network’s (EWTN) Colm Flynn, Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect charged with rebuilding Notre Dame...

[Catholic/Orthodox Caucus] The primacy of Mary as Immaculate Conception - By Fr Serafino M. LanzettaIn omnibus Ipsa primatum tenensThe primacy of Mary as Immaculate ConceptionBy Fr Serafino M. LanzettaChrist is firstIn order to execute a project, or to turn a vision into action, one first needs to have an idea or a plan. The idea precedes the action, as the intention precedes the actual achieving of the goal. Likewise, an artist, to give an example very expressive of this reality, must first conceive in mind what he wants then to depict on a canvas. If his intelligence is uninspired, it...