Deep, Spiritual Food for Thought, Thanks to Abbey Roads Blog

Hello Everyone,

Just wow on this one, courtesy of the Abbey Roads blog of Terry Nelson, and further credit to pre-Vatican II French Theologian Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange. O.P. (Dominican):

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Problems in the blogosphere some spiritual persons miss ...

Big mistake...

THE TENDENCY TO DERISION

Among the causes of tepidity in retarded souls, the tendency to derision should be particularly noted. St. Thomas speaks of the derider when he discusses the vices opposed to justice: insult, detraction, murmuring against the reputation of our neighbor. He points out that to deride or to ridicule someone, is to show that we do not esteem him; and derision, says the saint, may become a mortal sin if it affects persons or things that deserve high esteem. It is a grievous sin to ridicule the things of God, or our parents, or superiors, or good persons who lead a virtuous life. Derision may even become very grievous by reason of its consequences, for it may turn weak souls forever away from the practice of good. Job replied to his friends: "He that is mocked by his friends as I, shall call upon God; and He will hear him. For the simplicity of the just man is laughed to scorn."  But it is also said of deriders: "He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them."  The terrible irony of heaven will chastise that of earth. 

The derider is himself a retarded soul, holding others back and becoming, often without being aware of it, the instrument of the spirit of evil. His cast of soul, which is the direct opposite of evangelical simplicity, is the one most opposed to supernatural contemplation. The derider, who wishes "to play the rogue," ridicules the just man who tends truly to perfection; he emphasizes the latter's defects and depreciates his good qualities. Why is this? Because he feels that he himself has little virtue, and he is unwilling to admit his inferiority. Then, out of spite, he lessens the real and fundamental value of his neighbor and the necessity of virtue itself. He may greatly harm weak souls which he intimidates, and, while working his own ruin, he may labor at their perdition. - Three Ages of the Interior Life; Part II, Ch 37 

A big fat hat tip to you, Terry Nelson. Man I did not know you can get into some deep spiritual muck with all this. This is clearly one for all of us blogging online. 

Pax Tibi Christi, Julian Barkin.  

Highlight: Cardinal Arinze from the CDF on Mortal Sin with a Question for Parents

Wow.

So I was checking out my blogger feed, and found this from Fr. Z:

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2013/03/dont-believe-in-mortal-sin-card-arinze-explains-the-situation-to-you/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wdtprs%2FDhFa+%28Fr.+Z%27s+Blog+-+What+Does+The+Prayer+Really+Say%3F%29

In that link, he features a high-ranking Cardinal, who while he can't vote in the conclave due to being 80 or over, could just be our next pope. That Cardinal, is Cardinal Arinze, of the CDF. He is simply awesome and KNOWS the true teachings of the Catholic faith, and has done his best in a number of videos and conferences to dispel confusion and improper teaching of the truths (or intentional lies from false teachers, or mis-education) of the Catholic Faith.

This is a biggie that he covers: Mortal Sin. He covers it with reasoning, as well as one's Sunday Obligation, which IS under pang of Mortal Sin, should you not have important reason for absence (e.g. vital work such as taking a 24-hour on call shift as a Doctor/Resident in a hospital) and could absolutely not attend at any other time from Saturday evening to Sunday night.  No that teaching was not dropped from the Church. Ever.

Before the video, I must comment on something that is covered. Fr. Z says this about the content that Cardinal Arinze answers in the video:

``Card. Arinze (Cardinal Bishop of Velletri-Segni! HURRAY!) dismantles the notion that people can’t really commit a mortal sin unless they do something over and over again with the intent to separate from the God blah blah blah… the so-called “fundamental option” approach to sin.``

The ``fundamental option`` teaching on sin is NOT A JOKE. This is actually being taught to young people, including myself, still in the modern day and age, despite it being 2013 and having gone through the Papacies of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Thankfully, I know my Catechism on Mortal Sin and what the true teachings are on the matter. For those who have never opened a YouCat, a Catechism of either Baltimore, Pius X, or the current Catechism of the Catholic Church (including on-line), they are truly being left to their own devices in a harmful way with this fundamental option teaching, and deserve better through their schooling on ALL levels (including post-secondary) and youth minsitry.


In fact, if you are a parent sending your child to an ordinary catholic/separate secondary school , you should ask them yourself what, if anything, their teachers and youth ministers/counsellors are teaching them about sin. Do you know also about the teachings on mortal and venial sin? If you, or your kids don't know, Please do watch this video together, and even look up Sin, both venial and mortal in your Catechism, which you can easily access at the Vatican's website www.vatican.va/

The Video:

Pax Tibi Christ, Julian Barkin.