ADULTERY, FORNICATION, DIVORCE, AND CHASTITY ACCORDING TO SACRED SCRIPTURE

Catholic teaching on chastity, adultery, fornication, and the indissolubility of marriage, with the necessary clarifications to ensure that the statements correspond precisely to Sacred Scripture.

1. Adultery

Adultery consists in engaging in sexual relations with someone other than one's own spouse when a valid marriage exists. It is a sin gravely contrary to marital fidelity and to the Sixth Commandment: “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18).

Our Lord Jesus Christ confirms the gravity of this sin:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27–28).

Christ condemns not only the external act but also deliberate inward consent to impure desire.

Saint Paul clearly teaches that adultery is incompatible with salvation as long as the sinner voluntarily persists in it:

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10).

And again:

“For be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or covetous person—that is, an idolater—has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God” (Ephesians 5:5).

Scripture, therefore, does not present adultery as a minor or merely private failing. It is a grave sin which, if deliberately persisted in without repentance, excludes a person from the Kingdom of God.

2. Fornication

Sacred Scripture frequently uses the term fornication to designate illicit sexual relations outside marriage.

Saint Paul says:

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to possess his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God” (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5).

And he adds:

“For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7).

Therefore, sexual relations between people who are not united in a valid marriage contradict the order established by God. Marriage is the proper context for sexual union.

Saint Paul is absolutely explicit:

“Flee from fornication. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have received from God, and that you are not your own? You were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18–20).

For this reason, the unmarried Christian is called to live chastely, abstaining from sexual relations and refusing deliberate consent to impure desires.

3. The Chastity of the Unmarried

Christian chastity does not mean merely refraining physically from sexual relations. It also includes ordering one's thoughts, desires, glances, conversations, and actions according to the will of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ taught:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27–28).

Saint Paul exhorts us:

“Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).

And also:

“But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among saints. Let there be no filthiness, nor foolish talk, nor crude joking, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:3–4).

The unmarried Christian, therefore, is called to live chastely, keeping both body and soul for God and deliberately avoiding whatever leads to sins against purity.

4. Marriage and Fidelity

Marriage is not merely a romantic relationship. From the beginning, God established a union between man and woman characterized by exclusivity and fidelity.

Genesis states:

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

Our Lord Jesus Christ uses this very text to teach the indissolubility of marriage:

“Have you not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4–6).

Marriage, therefore, requires fidelity for as long as both spouses are alive.

5. Divorce and a New Union

The teaching of Jesus Christ is particularly clear:

“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery” (Luke 16:18).

Saint Mark conveys the same teaching:

“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery” (Mark 10:11–12).

And Saint Paul teaches:

“To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband)—and that the husband should not divorce his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:10–11).

Separation between spouses may occur under certain circumstances, but separation does not automatically make someone free to marry another person if that individual remains bound by a valid marriage.

Therefore, as long as one's spouse is alive and the valid marriage bond remains, a new sexual or marital union constitutes adultery.

Saint Paul explains this by means of an analogy involving the marriage bond:

“Thus a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies she is released from the law concerning her husband. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress” (Romans 7:2–3).

6. “Until Death Do Us Part”

Sacred Scripture presents the marriage bond as enduring throughout the spouses' lives.

Saint Paul states:

“A married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives” (Romans 7:2).

And regarding Christian marriage:

“For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control” (1 Corinthians 7:4–5).

Marital fidelity, therefore, is a serious obligation before God.

7. Can an Unmarried Person Have Sexual Relations with a Divorced Person?

Here it is necessary to distinguish carefully between different situations.

If a divorced person was truly married and that marriage remains valid because the spouse is still alive, civil divorce does not, by itself, dissolve the marriage bond before God. Sexual relations with that person constitute an illicit union and involve adultery in relation to the existing marriage bond, in addition to constituting fornication on the part of the person who is not married to them.

Christ's teaching is precisely this:

“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery” (Luke 16:18).

However, simply being in the company of, speaking with, or SOCIALIZING with a divorced person is not a sin. Sin occurs when there is consent to or action contrary to chastity: sexual relations, deliberate sexual acts, or, depending on the circumstances, other gravely disordered acts.

8. Civil Marriage and Sacramental Marriage

In any case, Sacred Scripture establishes that the marriage union must be respected and that civil divorce cannot be used as automatic authorization to enter into a new union while a valid marriage remains in force.

Therefore, when a particular case arises, it is necessary to determine canonically whether a valid marriage bond truly exists.

9. Masturbation

Sacred Scripture does not explicitly use the modern word “masturbation,” but it condemns impurity, lust, and sexual acts contrary to the order willed by God.

Saint Paul teaches:

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to possess his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God” (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5).

And:

“Flee from fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Also:

“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8).

Catholic doctrine considers masturbation a GRAVELY DISORDERED act against chastity. In determining subjective moral culpability for mortal sin (the act is objectively grave matter), one must recognize that the matter is always grave, while also considering full knowledge and deliberate consent.

10. Pornography

Pornography is radically contrary to human dignity and the virtue of chastity. Although the Bible does not use the modern term “pornography,” Our Lord condemns even a deliberately lustful gaze:

“Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

Job expresses the need to guard one's eyes:

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1).

And Saint Paul commands:

“But fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among saints” (Ephesians 5:3).

Also:

“Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor adulterers, nor the impure will inherit the Kingdom of God” (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Ephesians 5:5).

Consequently, deliberately seeking pornographic images or videos, with knowledge of their nature and consent to viewing them, constitutes grave matter against chastity.

11. Impurity Excludes a Person from the Kingdom of God if There Is No Repentance

Saint Paul repeats this teaching with striking clarity:

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10).

And he immediately adds something extremely important:

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

This demonstrates that Christian doctrine does not merely condemn sin: it also offers the path of conversion, forgiveness, and sanctification.

12. The Solution: Live Chastely According to One's State in Life

The Christian response is not to seek exceptions to justify sin, but to live according to the vocation received from God.

Saint Paul says:

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

And:

“Flee from fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

He also teaches:

“The body is not meant for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body” (1 Corinthians 6:13).

A married person must remain faithful to his or her spouse. An unmarried person must practice continence and chastity. A widowed person must also live chastely. A person who is separated must respect the marriage bond as long as it remains in force (the death of a spouse dissolves it). All are called to order their lives according to God.

13. The Interior Struggle Against Impure Thoughts

Chastity also requires resisting bad thoughts to which one deliberately consents.

Saint Paul teaches:

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

And:

“Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness” (Colossians 3:5).

Not every involuntary thought constitutes a sin. Temptation is not sin as long as it is not deliberately accepted. Sin arises when there is voluntary consent to a disordered thought or desire.

14. God Calls Us to Holiness of Body and Soul

The profound reason for Christian chastity is that the human body belongs to God.

Saint Paul declares:

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have received from God, and that you are not your own? You were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

For this reason, Christian sexual morality is not simply a set of prohibitions. It is a call to recognize the dignity of the human body, the holiness of marriage, fidelity between spouses, and purity of heart.

15. Summary of Biblical Teaching

Adultery: Sexual relations with someone other than one's own spouse when a valid marriage exists. Scripture expressly condemns it: Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 20:10; Matthew 5:27–28; Matthew 19:4–9; Mark 10:11–12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:2–3; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Hebrews 13:4.

Fornication: Sexual relations outside marriage. Fundamental passages: Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20; 1 Corinthians 10:8; Galatians 5:19–21; Ephesians 5:3–5; Colossians 3:5–6; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8; Revelation 21:8.

Divorce and a new union: Matthew 5:31–32; Matthew 19:3–9; Mark 10:2–12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:2–3; 1 Corinthians 7:10–11.

Chastity: Genesis 39:7–12; Job 31:1; Matthew 5:27–30; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8; Ephesians 5:3–5; Colossians 3:5–6; Philippians 4:8.

Masturbation and impurity: Although masturbation is not explicitly named in the Bible, its principles concerning bodily holiness, continence, purity, and mastery over the passions are found especially in Matthew 5:27–30; Romans 6:12–13; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20; Galatians 5:16–24; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–8.

Pornography and lustful looking: Matthew 5:27–28; Job 31:1; Psalm 101:3; Philippians 4:8; Ephesians 5:3–5; Colossians 3:5.

Conclusion: Sacred Scripture teaches unequivocally that Christians must practice the virtue of chastity and that adultery and fornication are grave sins. Our Lord Jesus Christ confirms the holiness and permanence of marriage, and Saint Paul warns that those who deliberately persist in fornication, adultery, and impurity will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Yet the same Scripture proclaims that the sinner can be converted: “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Therefore, in the face of sexual sin, the Christian path is repentance, a firm purpose of amendment, confession to a priest, conversion, struggle against temptation, and a chaste life according to one's state in life.

THE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY OF LIVING IN GOD'S GRACE

 — No, it is not death that will come for me, but God Himself. Death is not a phantom, nor a horrible specter, as it is depicted in pictures.

It is written in the catechism that death is the separation of the soul and the body—nothing more. Well then: I do not fear a separation that is to unite me with God for all eternity.

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus.

OCTOBER 2: THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS

The primary mission of all the Angels is to adore the Divinity unceasingly; hence the Church permits us to unite our voices with theirs in praising, exalting, adoring, and glorifying Him. But, in addition to this, they have received another special mission with regard to men. For, as the Church, the Saints, and Catholic Doctors teach us, at least from the moment of our birth, each of us has an angel appointed to watch over us and defend us against the snares of our enemies, both visible and invisible, the demons. Thus, neither pagans, nor heretics, nor sinners are deprived of this heavenly protector. And not only individuals, but also societies and institutions are entrusted to the care of angels, so that families, parishes, dioceses, provinces, nations, religious communities, religious orders and congregations, and even the Church herself have their own special Guardian Angel.

The Guardian Angels preserve us from many harms and dangers; they keep occasions of sin far from us; they inspire holy thoughts; they sustain us in temptations; they comfort us in afflictions; they encourage us when we are discouraged; they awaken remorse in us when we do not act rightly; they intercede for us before the divine mercy; and so forth. Finally, they enlighten and sustain us in illness, and above all at the hour of death.

Saint Bernard sums up our duties toward our Guardian Angel in three words: they deserve our respect because of their presence, our love because of the benefits they bestow upon us, and our confidence because of our docility to their good inspirations.

THE LIE OF "SOLA SCRIPTURA"

The Bible itself distinguishes between the Word of God transmitted in writing and that transmitted orally. It does not say that everything the Apostles taught was recorded in Scripture.

The Bible itself shows that apostolic teaching was not limited to what was written.

First, St. John affirms that not everything Jesus did was written down: “There are also many other things that Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (Jn 21:25).

Second, St. Paul explicitly commands the faithful to preserve both oral and written teachings: “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thess 2:15).

Third, St. John himself demonstrates that apostolic communication did not depend exclusively on letters: “Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face” (2 Jn 12). And again: “I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face” (3 Jn 13–14).

Therefore, the Bible does not teach “Scripture alone.” It teaches the importance of faithfully preserving apostolic teaching, received both in writing and by word of mouth. This is in keeping with St. Paul's exhortation: “Hold fast to the traditions” (2 Thess 2:15).

DON BOSCO’S PROPHETIC DREAM: THE MISUSE OF MOBILE PHONES

 In 1865, Saint John Bosco dreamed of a tall, black-skinned, horned man holding a "magic lantern" with which he entertained young people. 

 Through this "magic lantern," the young people could see entertaining things, soccer matches they had missed, distant towns, books, family members, friends, past vacations, money owed to them, and even "sinful scenes," among other things. 

 Don Bosco recounted that this device entertained them so much that it drew these young people away from the sacraments, especially confession and Holy Communion. 

 This text is well-documented and available for anyone wishing to read it in G. B. Lemoyne, *Memorie Biografiche di San Giovanni Bosco*, Vol. VIII, p. 110.

SUPPLICATION

Behold, O Lord, prostrate at Thy feet, him who hath made so little account of Thy gifts and of Thy chastisements… Woe is me! Hadst Thou not, O my Jesus, taken pity upon me, many years ago should I have been in that loathsome furnace, where so many sinners like myself shall burn for ever.

Ah, my Redeemer! How could I ever again offend Thee? Let it not be so, O Jesus, my Life; rather, send me death. And since Thou hast begun the work, bring it to completion. Since Thou hast drawn me forth from the mire of my sins, and so lovingly invitest me to love Thee, grant now that all the time Thou shalt give me may be spent in Thy service.

How greatly would the damned desire but one day, one hour, of that time which Thou dost now grant me!… And what shall I do? Shall I continue to squander it upon things that displease Thee?…

No, my Jesus, suffer it not, for the sake of the merits of Thy most Precious Blood, which until now hath delivered me from hell. I love Thee, O Sovereign Good; and because I love Thee, I grieve that I have offended Thee, and I purpose never more to offend Thee, but to love Thee for ever.

Thy Blood and Thy death, O my Jesus, are my hope. Thou hast died to deliver me from eternal death. And who, O Lord, hath had greater part in the merits of Thy Passion than this miserable sinner, who so many times deserved hell?… Permit me not to continue ungrateful for the many graces which Thou hast bestowed upon me.

In delivering me from hell, Thou didst will that I should not burn in its everlasting flames, but in the sweet fire of Thy love. Help me, then, that I may accomplish Thy designs. Had I been in hell, I could not have loved Thee.

But since now I may love Thee, I desire to love Thee… I love Thee, O Infinite Goodness; I love Thee, my Redeemer, Who hast loved me so greatly. How could I have lived so long forgetful of Thee? I thank Thee exceedingly, O Lord, that Thou hast not forgotten me. Hadst Thou done so, I should now be in hell, or else I should have no sorrow for my sins.

This sorrow of heart for having offended Thee, this desire which I feel to love Thee exceedingly—these are gifts of Thy grace, which sustaineth and giveth me life… Thanks be to Thee, O my God.

I hope to consecrate to Thee the remainder of my life. I renounce all things, and desire henceforth to think only of serving Thee and pleasing Thee. Impress deeply upon my soul the remembrance of the hell which I deserved, and of the grace which Thou hast granted me; and suffer me not, by turning away from Thee once more, to condemn myself again to the torments of that prison…

Thou art, then, O my God, the Sovereign Good, the Infinite Good; and I, of my own free will, have so often lost Thee?… I knew that by my sins I offended Thee and forfeited Thy grace, and yet I committed them!… Ah, Lord! Were I not assured that, nailed to the Cross, Thou didst die for me, I should not dare to ask for, nor hope to obtain, Thy pardon!…

O Eternal Father! Look not upon me; look upon Thy beloved Son, Who pleadeth for me. Hear Him, and forgive me.

Many years ago I deserved to behold myself in hell, without hope of ever loving Thee or recovering the grace I had lost. From the depths of my heart, O my God, I am sorry for the offenses I have committed against Thee, by renouncing Thy friendship and despising Thy love for the vile pleasures of the world… Would that I had died a thousand times rather!… How could I have been so blind and so foolish?…

I thank Thee, O Lord, for giving me time in which to repair the evil I have done. Since by Thy mercy I am not in hell, and may yet love Thee, I desire to love Thee, O my God. I will no longer delay my sincere and steadfast conversion.

I love Thee, O Infinite Goodness; I love Thee, my Life and my Treasure, my Love and my All… Remember always, O Lord, the love which Thou hast borne me; and remind me of the hell in which I ought now to be, that this thought may kindle within me the fire of Thy love, and move me to repeat a thousand times that I truly love Thee…

Queen and Mother of us all, Most Holy Mary, pray to Jesus for me, and obtain for me the gifts of perseverance and divine love.

O Mother of God, pray for this repentant sinner! Thy intercession hath delivered me from hell. Deliver me also from sin, the only cause which can bring upon me a new condemnation.

O Mary, our Queen, our Hope, and our Mother, if I were in hell, I could not love Thee either!…

But now I love Thee, my Mother, and I hope that I shall never cease to love Thee and my God. Help me, and pray to Jesus for me.

Amen.

TAKEN FROM: PREPARATION FOR DEATH, BY ST. ALPHONSUS MARIA DE LIGUORI

"THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ARE ONE AND THE SAME THING":PIUS XII

 

SPEECH BY ANACLETO GONZÁLEZ FLORES

"Many Catholics fail to grasp the gravity of the moment and, above all, the causes of the disaster; they are unaware of how the three great enemies—Protestantism, Freemasonry, and the Revolution—work tirelessly, driven by an alarming and well-organized program of action.

These three enemies are defeating Catholicism on every front, at every hour, and in every possible way. They wage battle in the streets, in public squares, in the press, in workshops, in factories, and in homes. It is a widespread conflict; they have drawn their swords and deployed their battalions everywhere. This is a fact. Christ does not reign in the public square, in schools, in parliament, in books, in universities, or in the public and social life of the Nation. It is the Devil who reigns there. In all those environments, one breathes the very breath of Satan.

And what do we do? We have contented ourselves with praying, going to church, and practicing a few acts of piety, as if that were enough 'to counter the immense conspiracy of God's enemies.' We have left everything else to them: the streets, the press, and the teaching posts at every level of education. In none of these places have they encountered serious opposition. And when we have acted, we have done so so poorly, so feebly, that it could be said we have not fought at all. We have sung in our churches, yet we have not sung to God in the schools, the public squares, or parliament, having sidelined Christ out of fear of the prevailing atmosphere.

To reduce Catholicism to secret prayer, to fearful complaint, to trembling and terror before public authorities—even as they kill the national soul and butcher the Nation in the open street—is not merely cowardice or excusable confusion; it is a historic, religious, public, and social crime that deserves utter execration.

....Souls are suffering from diminishment and anemia."  ...spiritual. We have become beggars, renouncing our role as masters of our own destinies. We have been driven out of everywhere, and we have abandoned everything.

Until now, most of us Catholics have done nothing but ask God to act, to work, to bring things about—to do something, or indeed everything, regarding the fate of the Church in our homeland. Consequently, we have limited ourselves to prayer, waiting for God to intervene. And all this under the guise of a supposed "prudence." We need the imprudence of Christian boldness.

Moreover, there are many Catholics who dare to label as imprudent anyone who asserts their rights in the face of their persecutors. This situation of isolation, estrangement, and national fragmentation must end once and for all. We must, without delay, seriously consider how we—the Catholics of our homeland—can cease being a mere heap of disconnected particles and instead become an immense body with a single program, a single head, a single mindset, and a single organizational banner to confront our persecutors.

Speech by Anacleto González Flores, martyr.

BEWARE, EXERCISE GREAT CAUTION! ⚠️

"Everyone should avoid familiarity or friendship with anyone suspected of belonging to Freemasonry or groups affiliated with it. Know them by their fruits and avoid them. All familiarity must be shunned—not only with those godless libertines who openly promote the sect's character, but also with those who hide behind the mask of universal tolerance, respect for all religions, and a desire to reconcile the maxims of the Gospel with those of the revolution. Such men seek to reconcile Christ and Belial, the Church of God and the godless state."

POPE LEO XIII, Encyclical Custodi di quella Fede.

THE LAST JUDGMENT ACCORDING TO SACRED SCRIPTURE

The Last Judgment will take place after the resurrection of the dead. Jesus Christ Himself will judge all people: "When the Son of Man comes in His glory... all the nations will be gathered before Him" ​​(Mt 25:31-32). God will publicly reveal the truth about each person—their good and bad deeds, and even what remained hidden: "God will judge the secret actions of men" (Rom 2:16).

This will not be because God needs to learn anything—for He knows our hearts perfectly—but rather to manifest His justice before all. "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Cor 5:10). "Those who have done good will rise to life, and those who have done evil will rise to condemnation" (Jn 5:29).

Then Christ will definitively separate the righteous from the sinners (Mt 25:33) and pronounce the eternal sentence: "Come, you who are blessed by my Father" (Mt 25:34), or "Depart from me, you who are cursed" (Mt 25:41).

The Pope Said It

 

MEEKNESS, THE MARK OF THE TRUE CHRISTIAN

 

 Meekness, together with humility, is the distinctive mark of true Christians and deeply pious people. Our Lord Jesus Christ chose to present Himself to us as the model of these two virtues: "Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29). 

 Meekness is neither weakness nor cowardice. It is the virtue that keeps the soul serene and self-possessed, even amidst offenses, contradictions, and suffering. The true Christian knows how to defend the truth and fulfill his duty with firmness, yet without hatred, inner violence, or a desire for revenge. 

 The serenity characteristic of meekness accompanies Christians even in martyrdom. We see this admirably in Saint Stephen, who, while being stoned, prayed for his executioners: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:60). In this way, the disciple imitates his Master, who said from the Cross: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34). 

 Meekness, united with humility, causes the soul to become increasingly like Jesus Christ and enables it to remain at peace even during the greatest trials. That is why the Lord said: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Mt 5:5).

MILLIONS OF CORRUPTED CONSCIENCES

 And to God’s question, "Where is your brother?" we have replied: 

 "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" 

 Just as happened with Cain, God holds us responsible for the blood of our brothers—the little ones murdered in their mothers' wombs. Unlike other crimes, almost everyone participates in abortion: the mother and father who conceived the child, the grandparents who consented to it, the friends who recommended it, those who manufactured the surgical instruments, the doctors who performed the procedure, the politicians who pushed for the law, the judges who decriminalized it, those who promote it, the Catholic laypeople who support it, the priests who fail to denounce this crime, those who believe it is justified in certain circumstances, and those who remain silent. 

 That is why abortion is the most execrable crime of all: because it not only kills millions of human beings, but also corrupts millions of consciences. We are speaking of millions of souls lost every day. 

 Whatever God sends us, we richly deserve...

PRAYER FOR A HAPPY DEATH

 "Holy Virgin, come to my aid at the hour of death: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a sinner, now and at the hour of my death; in You, Lady, I have placed my trust; let me not be confounded forever. Good Saint Joseph, my protector, obtain for me a holy death. My Guardian Angel, Archangel Saint Michael, defend me from the devil in the final battle. And you, Saints of Paradise, you, O my defenders! Come to my aid in that final moment. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I have you by my side at the hour of my death."

 Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

They are plotting the ruin of the Church from within.

 

THE REASON FOR THE CATHOLIC MASS ACCORDING TO THE MISSAL OF HIS HOLINESS SAINT PIUS V

THE REASON FOR THE CATHOLIC MASS ACCORDING TO THE MISSAL OF HIS HOLINESS SAINT PIUS V

By: Lic. Oscar Méndez Casanueva

The Catholic Mass was codified by His Holiness Saint Pius V in the year 1570. This means that this Pontiff did not invent a rite, but rather established the structure of the Mass while respecting the uninterrupted Tradition of Christ, the Apostles, the Holy Fathers, the first centuries of Christianity, and the preceding Pontiffs. Since its origins go back to the Apostles themselves, it is also known as the Apostolic Mass, or the Tridentine Mass, because this codification resulted from the ordering of the dogmatic Council of Trent.

All Catholic priests of the Latin Rite who were ordained more than thirty years ago celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with this missal, at least until the end of the 1960s, when the liturgical reform took place. This Mass remained in force for many centuries in the Catholic Church and produced great saints and enormous fruits throughout the history of Christendom.

THIS RITE IS IN FORCE

This rite, contrary to what some poorly informed people might think, remains in force because of its centuries-old antiquity, in accordance with Canon 28 of the New Code (Canon 30 of the previous Code), which states that a new law does not revoke centuries-old or immemorial customs unless they are EXPRESSLY mentioned. Since it was not explicitly abrogated in the Apostolic Constitution Missale Romanum of His Holiness Paul VI, the traditional rite—which was praised by Paul VI himself—continues to be in force. Furthermore, His Holiness Saint Pius V, in his Bull QUO PRIMUM, decrees in perpetuity that it may always be used in the Church and that, therefore, no priest may—at any time—be sanctioned for its use. This Bull can easily be found at the beginning of all the missals that priests have used to celebrate this rite. Confirming its full validity, His Holiness Benedict XVI published his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum on July 7, 2007, in order to dispel any pre-existing doubt. Moreover, Cardinal Castrillón, as President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, stated that the Pope's desire was for it to be celebrated in all the parishes of the world, and this had already begun at the Roman Basilica of Saint John Lateran under Cardinal Cañizares.

IT CLEARLY AND MAJESTICALLY EXPRESSES CATHOLIC DOCTRINE

The rite, according to the missal promulgated by Saint Pius V, has demonstrated throughout the centuries that it is a bulwark against doctrinal distortions, because it expresses with complete clarity and beauty the Catholic doctrine of the Mass:

· It is the same and identical sacrifice of Calvary, celebrated in an unbloody manner (without the shedding of blood), in order to apply its saving power to the remission of our sins. It is not merely a commemoration of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ, but a true and proper sacrifice.

· It is the same priest, Jesus Christ, represented by His minister, who, through his priestly ordination, acts in the person of Christ Himself. In a certain sense, he “lends Christ his tongue and offers Him his hand.”

· It is the same victim of Calvary: the Divine Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Through the double consecration, the mystical separation of the Body and Blood of Christ is represented, while He is wholly present—with His divinity, soul, blood, and body—in the consecrated species. It is therefore not merely a spiritual presence.

The ends are the same:

1) To adore and glorify God

2) To give thanks to God

3) Expiation and Propitiation (Christ offered Himself as a propitiatory victim to make satisfaction for our sins. In the Mass, the fruits of His Redemption are applied).

4) Impetration (to ask God for graces, favors, and blessings).

All this doctrine, infallibly defined and safeguarded by the Catholic Church, is expressed in an exceptionally clear and majestic manner in the liturgy codified by His Holiness Saint Pius V, whose rubrics have for centuries served as a bulwark against error and anarchy in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

THE USE OF LATIN: A SIGN OF UNITY

The use of Latin follows the official language of the Church, the same language used by the Pope in Rome, and represents a sign of unity among Catholics. It is false that its abolition was decreed by Vatican II, which merely recommended the use of the vernacular in certain parts of the liturgy, while its use was especially useful for the readings of the Epistle and the Gospel. Today, when Latin has practically fallen into abusive disuse, the Catholic faithful—contrary to what was intended—do not know what the Mass is. It is enough to ask the faithful for their definition of the Mass and its purposes to witness the tremendous ignorance that exists. When Latin was used throughout the world, no foreigner felt like a stranger at Mass; the faithful learned and understood the ritual through bilingual missals, and there was uniformity among the clergy throughout the world. Furthermore, the serious problems and errors in translations did not arise.

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION:

- In a state of sanctifying grace, through sacramental confession

- Being a member of the body of the Catholic Church

- Dressed modestly

- Kneeling and on the tongue.

At this Mass, Christ is received—in Holy Communion—while kneeling, because if Sacred Scripture prescribes that at His name every knee should bow, it is clear that when receiving His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, this is the outward devotional posture most consistent with an inward attitude of adoration. It is also the posture indicated by Christ in the parable of the Pharisee who proudly prayed standing and the publican who, humbly both inwardly and outwardly, prayed while kneeling. The latter, Christ teaches, was the one who left the temple justified. Furthermore, the faithful—modestly dressed and cleansed of all mortal sin through sacramental confession—receive the sacred Host respectfully on the tongue because they do not have hands consecrated as the priest does; moreover, by not taking the Host in the hand, the falling of consecrated particles (in which Christ is truly present) onto the ground, or any possible profanation, is thereby avoided.

THIS RITE PREVENTS LITURGICAL ANARCHY

Today, when liturgical anarchy is clearly evident to the Catholic faithful, with each priest and each temple adding or removing prayers according to individual discretion; now that the doctrine of the same sacrifice is denied and secondary matters are emphasized in order to silence or deny the fundamental truths of the doctrine of the Holy Sacrifice; today, when we are told that the Mass is merely a memorial, a remembrance, a simple supper, or merely another assembly presided over by a minister, our Catholic conscience requires us to proclaim the true and eternal doctrine infallibly defined by the Church, as well as the due respect and devotion that must exist in the liturgy. We therefore make use of this centuries-old rite, which has demonstrated its effectiveness throughout history in producing fruits of holiness and thus avoiding the liturgical anarchy that, unfortunately, we suffer today. We base ourselves on the authority of the Catholic Church and of the Roman Pontiff, who has permitted and promulgated this Catholic rite in perpetuity.

MANY PRIESTS CELEBRATE WITH THE MISSAL OF SAINT PIUS V

Finally, it is important to consider that not only has it been used throughout the centuries with great fruits, and that the majority of the saints canonized by the Catholic Church celebrated with it or attended this rite, but even after the liturgical reform it continues to be used in almost every country by many Catholic priests.

Thus, for example, we can cite the famous case of Padre Pio, who during his lifetime manifested in his body the very wounds of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and who, in the 1960s, when the precursors of the liturgical reform were introduced, recognizing the dangers that are evident today, maintained the use of the Missal of Saint Pius V. This priest, recognized throughout his life for his holiness, was beatified in 1999 by His Holiness John Paul II. We could cite other cases, but we will only recall that Cardinals Bacci and Ottaviani continued to use it after the liturgical reform until the end of their lives. Cardinal Ottaviani—to whom His Holiness Paul VI referred as “my teacher,” and whom His Holiness John Paul II praised greatly upon his death, pointing to him as an example of “exemplary fidelity” (*)—was highly renowned for his theological knowledge and precisely for his fidelity to the Church. He was, moreover, none other than the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Faith, one of the most important bodies within the Vatican (the same position that would later be held by Cardinal Ratzinger). These eminent cardinals clearly foresaw all the theological and liturgical risks that were approaching—and which are clearly manifested today—and they recorded them in their now-famous document, “A Brief Critical Analysis of the Novus Ordo.”

CONCLUSION:

This fully Catholic rite is recognized for its antiquity within the Church, since it respects the uninterrupted Tradition of Christ, the Apostles, the Holy Fathers, the first centuries of Christianity, and the Roman Pontiffs. Its missal was promulgated by a Pope as the result of a Council and remains fully in force in the Catholic Church. Its fruits of holiness are more than recognized: the majority of canonized saints celebrated with it—if they were priests—or were sanctified through their attendance at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass—if they were laypeople. It clearly and unequivocally manifests the true Catholic doctrine concerning the Holy Mass and has demonstrated its effectiveness against liturgical anarchy, errors, and abuses. It requires from the faithful the due respect and devotion owed to the same and identical sacrifice of Calvary, which is celebrated on the altar so that the fruits of Christ’s Redemption may be applied to us, He being truly and really present with His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the consecrated species.

(*) NOTE. See the quotation by clicking on this link:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/1979/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19790806_esequie-card-ottaviani_sp.html

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INTERNAL ENEMIES

  “We no longer face adversaries ‘in sheep’s clothing’ within our own house, but rather declared and brazen enemies who, having struck a pact with the Church’s principal foes, are determined to destroy the Faith (…) They wish to renew it, as if it were consumed by decrepitude; they wish to expand and adapt it to the World and its progress and comforts, as if it stood opposed not merely to the frivolity of some, but to the well-being of society.” 

 Saint Pius X. *Sacrorum Antistitum*

PRAYER

 

 

PURIFY THE INNER SELF FIRST – by Saint Augustine

"Consider what John recommends to us: 'By this we shall know that we belong to the truth'—when we love through deeds and in truth, and not merely in word and with the tongue—'and we shall have a quiet conscience before God.' What does 'before God' mean? It means where God sees. That is why the Lord Himself says in the Gospel: 'Do not do good so that men may see you, for then your heavenly Father will not reward you.' What is the meaning of the precept 'do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing' (Mt 6:1, 3), if not that the right hand represents a pure conscience while the left represents greed? Many people do many admirable things out of the lust of the eyes; in that case, the left hand is acting, not the right. It is the right hand that ought to act, yet without the left hand knowing, so that the lust of the eyes does not interfere in the slightest when we do something good out of love. And how do we know this? Stand before God and question your heart; look at what you have done and ask whether your aim was your own salvation or mere human vainglory. Look within, for a man cannot judge what he cannot see. If we are to quiet our hearts, let us quiet them before God. For 'if our conscience condemns us'—that is, if it accuses us inwardly because we are not doing things as we ought—'God is greater than our conscience and knows everything.' You, who are able to hide the depths of your heart from others, try doing the same with God—see if you can. How could you hide it from Him of whom a sinner, filled with fear and repentance, once said: 'Where can I go far from Your spirit? Where can I flee from Your gaze?' He sought a place to flee to escape God's judgment, yet found none; for is there any place where God is not? 'If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I lie down in the abyss, there I find You' (Ps..." 138:7–8). Where will you go? Where will you flee? Do you want some advice? If you wish to flee from Him, flee *to* Him. Flee to Him by confessing to Him—not by hiding from Him, for you cannot hide from Him, but you *can* confess all your sins to Him. Say to Him: "You are my refuge" (Ps 31:7), and nourish love within yourself—the only thing that leads to life. 

 Commentary on the First Letter of Saint John, VI, 3; SC 75.

The Sacrilege of Receiving Communion in Mortal Sin (Without Confession)

 

THE TABERNACLE AND THE PULPIT

 

Bossuet says: “The tabernacle and the pulpit are the two august places in the temple of God; at the one, petitions are made, and from the other, commands are issued; at the one, men speak of God, while at the other, it is God who speaks; at the one, Jesus Christ receives adoration in the reality of His Body, while at the other, He makes Himself known in the truth of His doctrine. They are the two places from which heavenly nourishment is distributed: at the former, the Word is preached in silence, and at the latter, it is taught by the living voice; at the former, the Holy Spirit, through mystical words, transforms the bread into the divine Body, and here, the same power transforms the faithful into members of Christ. Saint Augustine said: ‘Which do you consider more important: the Word of God or the Body of Christ? If you wish to answer truthfully, you will be compelled to reply that the word of Jesus Christ is no less precious than His Body; therefore, we must exercise the same care to ensure that the word of Christ preached to us does not fall from our hearts as we do to ensure that the Lord’s Body does not fall to the ground when it is given to us. For he who listens negligently to the holy word is no less culpable than he who, through his own fault, lets the Lord’s Body fall.’”

SAINT JOHN BOSCO WITNESSED A GATHERING OF DEMONS AND DISCOVERED SOMETHING TERRIFYING

In 1885, Saint John Bosco had a dream that left a deep impression on him.

What he saw appeared to be a terrifying scene...

He found himself in a vast hall where a multitude of demons were holding a congress.

The objective?

To find a way to destroy the Salesian Congregation.

And so, they began to propose their strategies...

FIRST PROPOSAL: GLUTTONY

One demon proposed using gluttony to incite:

Lethargy in doing good

Corruption of morals

Scandal

A lack of the spirit of sacrifice

Neglect of the youth

But another demon replied that such a strategy would not be enough.

SECOND PROPOSAL: THE LOVE OF RICHES

The demon explained that if the love of money took hold, the following would also enter in:

A desire for creature comforts

A breakdown of charity

Neglect of the poor

A preoccupation with living a more comfortable life

But this, too, failed to convince everyone.

THIRD PROPOSAL: MISUNDERSTOOD FREEDOM

The strategy would be to get the Salesians to start:

Disregarding the rules

Shunning difficult tasks

Creating divisions among superiors

Seeking excuses to abandon their obligations

But then, another demon appeared...

And he presented what he considered the most dangerous weapon of all.

FOURTH PROPOSAL: TURNING KNOWLEDGE INTO AN END IN ITSELF

The idea was to make the Salesians study solely to gain fame and recognition.

Much knowledge...

But little service.

The goal was to make them look down on the poor and the uneducated, and to cast aside the very things for which they had been called:

Catechism for children.

Education of the poor.

The confessional.

Service to souls.

And something more: that the priests would devote less and less attention to their sacred ministry.

No more festive oratories.

No more catechism for children. No more classes to instruct the poor and abandoned.

No more long hours in the confessional.

Instead, they would devote themselves only to occasional and fruitless preaching, seeking not the salvation of souls, but the praise of men.

This proposal was met with applause by the demons.

Don Bosco then understood the danger:

Knowledge can turn into pride when it ceases to be at the service of God and one's neighbor.

And then...

One of the demons discovered that Don Bosco was there, watching everything.

He shouted and pointed at the Saint.

All the demons rushed toward him!

Don Bosco cried out:

"Leave me alone! Help!"

Finally, he woke up, exhausted from all the shouting.

The next day, he understood the message he had received:

The danger does not always lie in suddenly abandoning what is good.

Sometimes it begins when the means become the ends.

Knowledge ceases to serve one's neighbor and begins to serve pride.

Material goods cease to be a means and become an objective.

Freedom ceases to seek the good and turns into rebellion.

And rules cease to be an aid to the spiritual life.

This dream of Don Bosco remains a powerful warning:

It is not enough to know a great deal.

It is not enough to have resources.

It is not enough to be free.

Everything must be directed toward God and the service of others.

Dream 131 — Year 1885

Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco, Volume XVII, pp. 385-387.

Saint John Bosco, pray for us.