While I think the sedevacantists got it wrong I do get their frustrations. Pope Francis has pushed my buttons too, and the easy ‘solution’ would be so say some version of ‘he is not the pope’. So I say he is the pope, not a good pope, but the one we have, the one we have to pray for. Pray hard.
The "easy solution" of sedevacantism appears to confirm to the liberals their worst fears about traditionalists, and in doing so makes them even more fervently rabid in their ways.
The harder solution is actually trusting in God, being faithful to traditions and to His vicars, and doing our part whatever that means to support them in truth. I don't like the phrase "recognize and resist" as I think it sends the wrong tone, but if it means something like the spirit of St. Catherine of Sienna who lovingly, very lovingly, admonished the popes of her time to do their duty, then I would say that's the position to take.
Thank you for this. I have family that follow these people and I just don’t understand how they can essentially choose despair! Since there are no licit sacraments what does it matter if we go to mass? Everyone is going to hell anyway according to them.
They get fear of God right and caution about our salvation, not being too assured of it. They are reacting to real problems, yet I believe they're overreacting out of a paranoid fear which takes the love out of the love of God, and turns it into a robotic, scrupulous fear.
When Protestants complain about Catholics being Pharisaical and missing the relationship with Christ, they are right, except that they're most properly referring to sedevacantists' approach to the Faith...
While I think the sedevacantists got it wrong I do get their frustrations. Pope Francis has pushed my buttons too, and the easy ‘solution’ would be so say some version of ‘he is not the pope’. So I say he is the pope, not a good pope, but the one we have, the one we have to pray for. Pray hard.
Absolutely. I don't think Peter's chair is vacant; I just wish Judas wasn't sitting in it.
With all due respect, just look at St. Peter...
Then look at the 14th and 15th centuries...
Then think about the fact that the Holy Spirit brought us past both of them...
What St. Catherine of Sienna said to the Popes of her time offers a great example of how to both correct them and submit in charity at the same time.
The "easy solution" of sedevacantism appears to confirm to the liberals their worst fears about traditionalists, and in doing so makes them even more fervently rabid in their ways.
The harder solution is actually trusting in God, being faithful to traditions and to His vicars, and doing our part whatever that means to support them in truth. I don't like the phrase "recognize and resist" as I think it sends the wrong tone, but if it means something like the spirit of St. Catherine of Sienna who lovingly, very lovingly, admonished the popes of her time to do their duty, then I would say that's the position to take.
Thank you for this. I have family that follow these people and I just don’t understand how they can essentially choose despair! Since there are no licit sacraments what does it matter if we go to mass? Everyone is going to hell anyway according to them.
I'm debating or talking to a pretty avowed sedevacantist (informally) tonight, so please pray for the Holy Spirit's light and truth, and aid there!
They get fear of God right and caution about our salvation, not being too assured of it. They are reacting to real problems, yet I believe they're overreacting out of a paranoid fear which takes the love out of the love of God, and turns it into a robotic, scrupulous fear.
When Protestants complain about Catholics being Pharisaical and missing the relationship with Christ, they are right, except that they're most properly referring to sedevacantists' approach to the Faith...