Smoke of Satan in the Church – Part 2
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him. In love He destined us for adoption to Himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of His will, for the praise of the glory of His grace that he granted us in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)
On the evening of Thursday, 29 June 1972, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, in the presence of a considerable multitude of the faithful coming from every part of the world, the Holy Father celebrated the Mass and the beginning of the tenth year of his Pontificate as the successor of Saint Peter.
In His Homily referring to the situation of the Church today, the Holy Father affirms that he has a sense that “from some fissure the smoke of Satan has entered the temple of God.”
“Protestants are taking the Bible literally and Catholics symbolically.”
To know, love and serve God is every Catholic’s duty, we were created for this reason, and to accomplish this task. At the time of the first covenant the role of the apostles of only true God was handed to Abraham and his offspring, the Israelites. Today this role is on the shoulders of every Catholic. The Catholic Church is the new Israel, built on the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, His saints and martyrs, and stands on two pillars: Bible and tradition.
It is hard to love and serve somebody whom we do not know, how can we do the job we are assigned to do if we don’t take time to listen to the one for whom we are supposed to work, serve, and fulfill his requirements to receive a reward. Many Catholics today don’t attempt to get to know God, by studying His word, Sacred Scripture- the best manual for individual and societal life, guide to heaven, only historical book showing our past mistakes and providing flawless solutions crucial to mankind.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church in part one “The Profession of Faith” section one chapter two article 3 paragraph II line 105 says: God is the author of Sacred Scripture. “The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:4 points out how essential for our lives is God’s word; “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
Anybody who has read the writings of Saints must acknowledge their great understanding of the Bible.
Saint Basil the Great Bishop, Doctor of the Church, would recall peace and happiness He had enjoyed, singing Psalms, studying Scripture, keeping vigil in prayer, and disciplining his flesh by manual work, from the days of being hermit.
Saint Bede the Venerable, Doctor of the Church, considered the most learned man of his time, spent his life in prayer, observance of the monastic discipline and study of the Sacred Scriptures. It was to the study of the Divine Word that he devoted the whole energy of his soul.
St Benedict Joseph Labré Beggar of Rome, His only possessions, besides his ragged clothes, were two rosaries, and three books: A New Testament, a Breviary, and The Imitation of Christ.
The Church recognized the importance of reading Holy Scripture, only half an hour is required to receive Plenary Indulges. We all are called to sanctity, so why do many Catholics today avoid reading the Bible?
We may blame priests.
But let no one accuse, let no one rebuke; with you is my dispute, priest! You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will stumble with you at night; I will make an end of your mother. My people are ruined for lack of knowledge! Since you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest; Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against me, I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of my people, and are greedy for their iniquity. Like people, like priest: I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their deeds. /Hosea 4:4-9/
We may blame people; parents, friends, ourselves, joining Pope St. Pius X Who once said: “All the strength of Satan’s reign is due to the easygoing weakness of Catholics.”
But a lot has to do with the crisis of a smoke of Satan in the temple of God.
The Smoke of the devil is distorting the teachings of the Church, and is influencing our approaches to Holy Scripture.
It is popular among clergy opinion that; Protestants are taking the Bible literally and Catholics symbolically.
If this statement is truthful, all Protestants would recognize the consistency of the Bible and teachings of Catholic Church and become Catholics.
They would learn that Our Lord chose apostles “I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on me.” (Luke 22:29), and through them created the entire structure of the Catholic Church on earth with Her head, Vicar of Christ St. Peter, bishop of Rome and first Pope and His successors, “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church”. (Matthew 16:18)
They would recognize that from those roots grows today’s Catholic Church. Today every ordained Catholic priest can be linked to one of twelve apostles, inheriting duties and powers coming with priesthood. Protestant churches, by breaking away from the Catholic Church, rejected the order established by Our Lord Jesus Christ, broke this continuation, and created a division among Catholics (divide and conquer) and for this reason can’t enjoy streams of God’s mercy, accessible to Catholics through the Catholic Church.
If protestants are taking the Bible literally than they would recognize the consecrated bread as the Body of Christ and consecrated wine as His blood. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28)
If they are reading Bible and taking literally they would accept and practice the sacrament of penance the way Catholics do, recognizing the powers given to apostles and through them passed on to priests: [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:21-23)
Based on the Bible they should honor and cherish Our Lady Virgin Mary because She is mother of Son of God.
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. (Luke 1:26-35)
Idea of Protestants taking Bible literally and Catholics symbolically is the smoke of Satan and manipulation used to divide Christians, to build up pride, keep protestants enslaved in their religious groups, and to deceive Catholics.
Sadly, many priests, under impression of this misleading assertion proclaimed themselves the one who have a monopoly on understanding, and interpretation of the Holy Scripture. This is dangerous “second-hand smoking.” It is the truth that God called chosen ones to the priesthood so they will be saintly shepherds of His people, but God doesn’t need priests to communicate with His children, especially those who love Him and want to serve Him.
In the most popular book after the Bible, The Imitation of the Christ, Thomas A Kempis, book 3 chapter 43 is passing message from God:
“When thou hast read and learned many things, thou must always return to one first principle.
I am He that teaches man knowledge, and I give unto babes clearer knowledge than can be taught by man. He to whom I speak will be quickly wise and shall grow much in the spirit…“I am He who in an instant lift up the humble spirit, to learn more reasonings of the Eternal Truth, than if a man had studied ten years in the schools. I teach without noise of words, without confusion of opinions, without striving after honour, without clash of arguments.
The voice of books is one, but it informeth not all alike; because I inwardly am the Teacher of truth, the Searcher of the heart, the Discerner of the thoughts, the Mover of actions, distributing to each man,
as I judge meet.”
St. Therese of Lisieux in her autobiography “The story of a soul” is saying: “The path I trod was so bright and straight that I felt I needed no guide but Jesus. I considered spiritual director were like mirrors which faithfully reflected the light of Jesus into souls, but I thought that God needed no intermediary where I was concerned. He dealt with me direct!”
Many priests unknowingly are suppressing the reading of the Holy Scripture and promoting the rule “don’t try this at home” applied to the Bible. In effect, many Catholic won’t read the Bible, and many have a great excuse to not read, even among clergy there are many who didn’t read the entire Holy Scripture.
A little professional pride creating so much damage.
St. Ephrem Doctor of the Church who had not studied and knew only his own language, but he had absorbed Holy Scripture and profited from his intelligence of it. It is he who wrote:” You do not understand all that you read there? If you were traveling and, being thirsty, came upon a spring of fresh water, would you be incensed because you could not drink all of it? No, you would be happy that, on another journey, the spring would still be there to quench your thirst.”
What a beautiful and encouraging statement.
Holy Scripture should be read in search for truth, wisdom, and a way to serve God, with pure intentions and pure harts, keeping in mind important warnings:
Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation. (Peter 1:20)
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! (Galatians 1:8)
To be continued.