One of the best things that Saint Pope John Paul II said, concerning the papacy, is that he had no authority or power to change the doctrines and dogmas of the three-fold nature of the Sacrament of Holy Orders (deacons, priests and bishops).
He stated authoritatively that the dogmas and doctrines of Holy Orders is a part of the Ordinary Magisterium of the Church and no pope (or council or synod for that matter) could change these doctrines and dogmas.
It will do Pope Leo well to continue this kind of humility in the face of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Magisteriums of the Church in the areas of all doctrines and dogmas, meaning the faith and morals of the Church.
As well, Pope Leo would do well to state that the theological concept of the development of doctrine does not mean changing doctrines or dogmas but deepening their orthodox meanings and making these dogmas and doctrines more comprehensible for modern minds corrupted by false egalitarianism. In other words, an apologetic to help the Church go deeper into the meaning of dogmas and doctrines is needed, not a change in doctrines or dogmas.
What apologetics could the Synod give to the pope and bishops in union with him, meaning a synod that includes laity along with the selected bishops with the pope in attendance? Here I recommend that all round table discussion focus on the best apologetics for the modern world and their modern minds corrupted by modernism.
1. Clarify and make meaningful the full understanding of Humanae Vitae as it concerns chastity according to one’s state in life; that the marital act is oriented to the natural use of the sex organs to unite a man and woman in Holy Matrimony and the support of their marital love and begetting children. Any other use of the sex organs is not natural (disordered and of disordered affections) according to the perfections of God.
2. Clarify the symbol of marital sexuality of Holy Orders, that of the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) in relationship to His bride, the Church, meaning all the baptized souls (anima) of the Church. The marital union in the natural sense of a man and a woman needs to be clarified and appreciated. These forbids same sex unions in sacramental celebrations, (even the semblance of blessing disordered unions) especially in the configuration of Holy Orders and the Church.
3. Enable the Church to evangelize the world with the Splendor of Truth and that everyone is called to the perfections of God, to be as perfect as God, which begins in this life by the Grace of God and finds its zenith in the life of heaven, only by the Grace of God. Make clear the nature of the True Church and the need for all in the world to be configured to the True Church of Christ with the Pope as the Vicar of Christ and the bishops in union with the Vicar of Christ.
Any other suggestions for the synod as refined by Pope Leo XIV?
3 comments:
To me, this post is one of your more significant.
To me, perfection/theosis is dependent upon grace. Worldliness is antithetical to the reception of graces, remaining in that state of grace leading to theosis.
Synodality should focus solely on our responsibilities as initiated Catholic Christians, receiving and maintaining that state of grace while striving for theosis in thoughts, words and deeds.
The Roman Church, in a state of upheaval particularly since the Second Vatican Council would do well to shake off the headiness, the ideology while refocusing itself on the aforementioned. The people aren't at peace (many are, in a very tepid way) and are souls being lost through our own fault?
The liturgy is the source and summit of our lives - Catholic teaching. Why then, where the ancient liturgy produced the overwhelming majority of saints and martyrs, would bishops ever consider preventing access that grace? Why then, would the bishop of Charlotte desire to evangelize initiated Catholics "outside of traditional Church settings" and with a heterodox priest no less? Source: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/charlotte-bishop-invites-popular-heterodox-influencer-fr-casey-cole-to-evangelize-diocese/?fbclid=IwY2xjawK6X91leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFmdHBYcEE2WDN0QXNJOTZTAR4zZxuiXzHGgyxDQsk2N0q-JGWAAcTIWPhIr2eRQ--4N1wjSd3ciGilj_yWpQ_aem_MsTg7Qp-mh9oEWhzg5dc3g
Last, why would the bishop of Detroit in addition to denying existing and generous access to the ancient mass, now will prevent priests from ad orientem turning towards the Lord? Source: https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/ Note: The courage to weed out preference-driven bishops as well as the heterodox is needed as well.
The malaise that descended aside, perhaps the Church owes Francis a debt of gratitude. By causing such division, confusion, upheaval, misery, disruption and so forth, Francis made plain how dysfunctional, unfocused in mission the Church has become.
Synodality, if it is to continue in some form, needs, as you suggested Fr. AJM, to reaffirm teachings and truths, weed out heresy doctrinally and refocus on the liturgy. To me, and only then, can a eucharistic revival truly occur, can we adequately save souls, strengthen and retain believers then looking outside of ourselves to evangelize productively. Sure, size and might allows all this to occur here and now. Are we really doing it well is the question?
My recommendation would be to shut it down, period. The money that would be saved could be donated to the needy. The participants would make better use of their time reading the Catholic Catechism and acting on it. The elephant in this phony process is that TLM types are totally cut out of the process.
Or, what TJM said.
The Church needs to get its act together, regain its focus and save souls - strive for that perfection in all things. Otherwise, and when we approach the fearsome judgement seat of Christ, much atonement will likely follow. Time is being wasted. Fortunately, I have confidence that our new pope will right things.
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