In
my last post the author of "The Persecution of Orthodoxy" (10-5-17), used
the degradation of Plato's Academy as an introduction to what he believes is a
current crisis within the Catholic Church: an internal assault on Catholic
orthodoxy.
The
following selection is from yet another article that focuses in on the
perceived ongoing assault on Catholic orthodoxy (though posted today, it is
dated 11-1-17). This contribution utilizes a quotation from St. Vincent of
Lerins as a platform for his reflections. Note the following:
A crisis of doctrine, such
as the one through which the Catholic Church is now passing, has several sad
effects. Most obviously, the truth is obscured, with unthinkable consequences
for the salvation of souls. Heretical movements often unleash immoderate rage
against orthodox believers (look at the ongoing clampdown on theological debate, and the
well-grounded fears of the clergy). But the most obvious result
is the very evident grief among faithful Catholics. I keep hearing or reading
things like, “It’s so tempting to just give up,” or “I don’t know how to
explain this to my kids.” It may be only a small minority who are aware of the
crisis, so far, but that minority is growing. The other day I bumped into an
acquaintance who I can’t remember previously saying a thing about Vatican
politics. Almost the first words out of his mouth were: “It’s terrible, isn’t
it?”
St. Vincent of Lerins referred to this as a “great
trial” for Catholics: to keep one’s faith when it is coming under
attack—hardest of all, when it is being attacked by distinguished teachers. How
agonizing, for instance, for Origen’s followers, when he began to teach error.
No one was more learned, more virtuous, more courageous, more inspirational,
than Origen—and then he started to teach heresy! “Truly,” St. Vincent writes,
thus of a sudden to seduce the Church
which was devoted to him, and hung upon him through admiration of his genius,
his learning, his eloquence, his manner of life and influence, while she had no
fear, no suspicion for herself—thus, I say, to seduce the Church, slowly and
little by little, from the old religion to a new profaneness, was not only a
trial, but a great trial.
The article concludes with:
I do not know what the correct
response is. But in this time of anxiety, the words of St. Vincent of Lerins
may offer some comfort. If a heresy spreads and acquires strength, St.
Vincent says, it is
“because the Lord your God does make trial of you, whether you love Him or
not.” St. Paul said that “there must needs be heresies, that they who are
approved may be made manifest among you.” So each doctrinal crisis, St. Vincent
tells us, is a chance to renew our love for Our Lord: “If the authors of
heresies are not immediately rooted up by God … [it is] that it may be apparent
of each individual, how tenacious and faithful and steadfast he is in his love
of the Catholic faith.”
[Full article online HERE.]
Grace and peace,
