THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 16 June 2013

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

Our Lord while He walked upon the dry land healed many people’s bodies by His touch and even by His very presence. The people pressed upon Him for this bodily healing, and in their eagerness for the advantages of their bodies they were missing out in a greater gift – the healing of their souls.

Very often we act in a very similar manner. We come to God only for material things or material blessings. We want: health, long life, wealth, peace, comfort, etc. In our eagerness and solicitude for the things of this earth we miss out on many graces. These bodily things are not evil, but they are by no means the greatest blessings.

In order to impart healing for the souls of the people, it was necessary that Jesus get into the boat leaving the people on the shore. He needed to separate Himself from them physically so that they might receive spiritual healing.

This same thing is true for us. God must often pull away from us in the many physical blessings that He so generously bestows upon us, so that we might be able to lift our hearts up out of this world and look for the greater spiritual gifts.

We find many in the world today that are Catholic but, they have only the desire for the physical blessings. When the Modernists took over the houses of God, many longed for the statues, the altars, the beautiful hymns, the solemnity, the Latin and so many physical or material good things, that were cast out. Those who call themselves “Traditionalists” sought (and still seek) out principally or only these material things. They fell into the errors of materialism, seeking out only the “Latin Mass,” unconcerned for truth and order. So many bandied out the phrase: “It is the Mass that matters” as if the outward ceremony were enough.

The saying: “The rule of praying is the rule of believing” is true and these material things are very important, but the indifference to the spiritual aspects of doctrine and discipline was a grave mortal mistake. “Traditionalists” run after the symbols regardless of all right order. They found no difficulty attaching themselves to men who were heretics or schismatics as long as they said the “Latin Mass.” There were even some men presenting themselves as priests that are not priests because their “ordinations” were invalid. “Traditionalists” did find the outward signs and symbols (the material goods) that they were seeking, but in their eagerness and enthusiasm they blocked and prevented themselves from ever receiving the spiritual graces for their souls. They found beautiful statues, churches, altars, Latin, music, processions, ceremonies, etc.; and since this is all they were looking for, it was all they got. They have everything – except grace!

God has pulled away from these sects, in an attempt to wake them up so that they will lift up their minds and hearts to higher spiritual things. Tragically, the majority seem content with only the material goods of the Church and not the spiritual ones.

We still find a lot of these material things as remnants of the previous faith in the Modernist churches. There is no doubt that they have in their possession beautiful buildings, statues, music, etc. Much of it is very inspiring, but what they do not have is grace. God has left them and is now in the boat trying to draw their attention to greater things, but they cannot hear Him because they are only focused upon the earthy things.

St. Francis, imitating Christ, became indifferent to these worldly things and espoused poverty and simplicity. At the expense of earthly material goods, he sought out higher and greater goods for the soul. Today in the true Church and in the true followers of St. Francis we see this humble simplicity of heart. It is not a disdain for the beautiful symbols of the faith, but it is a much greater and eager pursuit for the spiritual ones that guide us. And this is what causes so many to despise and reject the faith we bring in the name of Christ.

When we consider that at every true Mass, transubstantiation takes place, and God is made present both Body and Soul, we realize that, at that very moment Heaven is brought to earth, and there is no better or greater place to be. The beautiful churches in the Vatican, or any of the others in the possession of the Modernist, and even all those in the hands of Traditionalists have nothing in comparison. The simple friars in their humble chapels and shrines offering up the Sacrifice of the Mass in all spiritual truth and right order have more than all these and even than all the world combined.

May we ever seek to follow Christ in the boat, ready and eager to count all the good things of this earth as naught so that we may hear and receive all the good things of heaven and the soul. What do the Modernists or the Traditionalists have in buildings, artwork, and ceremonies, when they do not have grace?! It is as Solomon tells us “vanity of vanity and all is vanity;” it is emptiness. The Traditionalists chasing after these material things have nothing but a “case after the wind.”

The ark of Peter consists in the truth – right order and doctrines – and not in the physical material buildings and ceremonies. We must keep refocusing our attention upon the soul rather than the body. The Church uses the material gifts of God, but they are not the end in themselves. Let us not make the mistake of forgetting the soul and the right order of authority and doctrine, and only focusing upon the external physical material symbols of the Faith. Let us not despise the truth simply because it is presented to us humbly and modestly. The saving faith is no longer found in the grand churches but in the humble modern day Portiuncula (little portion) of the Franciscans.

May we imitate Jesus as we give thanks to God that He has hidden the Spiritual Truths from the proud and haughty of this world and has revealed them to the humble.