WILL LUTHER BE THE NEXT CANONIZED ‘SAINT’? - When
I read about the jubilant commemorations that the Conciliar Church will sponsor
together with the Lutheran World Federation at the end of October in Sweden, I
wondered whether Francis is preparing to surprise the world by canonizing the
revolted monk of the 16th century as another manifestations of his
“mercy.” Indeed, after he has canonized immorality and Woodstock lifestyle with Wojtyla, has beatified homosexuality with
Montini and enshrined religious indifferentism with Teresa of Calcutta, why could he not canonize
heresy – blatant and furious heresy – with Luther?
Some reader may think that I am “off the wall” with
this comment. Unfortunately, I am not. The foundation for my hypothesis relies
on some precedents, which we should keep in mind if we want to understand the
events in Sweden this coming October / November:
1970 – When the same Lutheran World Federation met
at Evian, Card. Jan Willebrands, then president of the Secretariat for
Promoting Christian Unity, spoke of Luther in terms that Catholics usually
reserve for St. Thomas Aquinas. The latter justly deserves the title of “common
master” or “common doctor,” meaning that he should be respected by all
theological schools in the Church. Yet, Card. Willebrands praised Luther in his
official speech, applying to Luther the title “common master.” (1)
1983 – As the 500th anniversary of the birth of
the heresiarch approached, John Paul II wrote a letter to Card. Willebrands
paying homage to Luther by calling him “doctor,” bringing to mind the praise of
Willebrands quoted above. These were Wojtyla’s words: “November 10th is
the 500th anniversary of the birth of Doctor Martin Luther of Eisleben. On this
occasion numerous Christians remember that theologian who … contributed
substantially to the radical change of ecclesiastical and secular reality in
the West. Until today our world feels his great impact on History.”
Further in that letter, JPII responded to the Protestant request for dialogue and praises Luther: “I welcome this intention with satisfaction, seeing it as a fraternal invitation to achieve a more profound and complete vision of historical events and a critical analysis of Luther’s multifarious heritage through a common effort. Indeed, the scientific research of evangelical and Catholic scholars, which has already led to many points of convergence, have made a more complete and nuanced picture of Luther’s personality, as well as a more complex interlacing of the historical, political and ecclesiastical reality in the … 16th century. These results have given visible proof of the profound religiosity of Luther, who was moved by an ardent passion for the question of eternal salvation.” (2)
Further in that letter, JPII responded to the Protestant request for dialogue and praises Luther: “I welcome this intention with satisfaction, seeing it as a fraternal invitation to achieve a more profound and complete vision of historical events and a critical analysis of Luther’s multifarious heritage through a common effort. Indeed, the scientific research of evangelical and Catholic scholars, which has already led to many points of convergence, have made a more complete and nuanced picture of Luther’s personality, as well as a more complex interlacing of the historical, political and ecclesiastical reality in the … 16th century. These results have given visible proof of the profound religiosity of Luther, who was moved by an ardent passion for the question of eternal salvation.” (2)
1984 – In an ecumenical speech delivered at Bari,
Card. Willebrands summarized what the Conciliar Church had done thus far to
satisfy the demands of Martin Luther: “In addition to recovering the central
role of Scripture in the Church and the live of the faithful, since Vatican II
Catholics are increasingly willing to reassess the common priesthood of the
faithful and the co-responsibility of laymen in the whole life of the Church;
to recognize the character of the Pilgrim Church on earth; to reevaluate local
churches; to accept liturgical reform with the introduction of national
languages; to concede to having Communion under the two species and accept the
declaration of religious liberty.” (3)
As the year 2000
approached, John Paul II tried to establish a common martyrology for Catholics,
Schismatics and Protestants. (4) With this aim, he made eulogies of Jan Hus,
Zwingli and Calvin, giving the impression they would be included along with
Luther in that list of saints. (5) The common martyrology did not fly. A strong reaction among traditionalists and muted internal
resistance in the Roman Curia boycotted the initiative. This does not mean that
Progressivism has changed its plan; on the contrary, its partisans are seeking
an opportunity to make these heretics “saints.”
Let us not forget that in 1999 Card. Raztinger,
today Benedict XVI, was the one who penned the Catholic-Lutheran Augsburg
Accord (See Here and here) on the
doctrine of justification, which saved the ecumenical relationship with the
Protestants from a complete shipwreck.
These are data from the past that speak in favor of
a sensational gesture that could come from Francis regarding Luther either this
October or sometime later.
Now, regarding the events planned for the end of October in Sweden, the news
communiqué reports:
“The Lutheran World Federation – LWF – has released details of the two-day
Joint Ecumenical Commemorations from October 31 to November 1 in Lund and Malmö
in Sweden that will mark the official start of the 2017 Reformation Jubilee.
The commemorations, which Pope Francis will attend, are jointly hosted by the
LWF and the Catholic Church.” (6)
So, 51 years after the closing of Vatican II, the Conciliar Church has
infiltrated the Catholic Church so forcefully that the teaching of the Council
of Trent and the First Vatican Council, which uniformly reflect the perennial
mind of the Church, were changed so radically that today Martin Luther, the
heretic per antonomasia, is accepted as a great model to be followed. His
act of revolt will be celebrated by a conciliar Pope in a public act before the
whole world.
Does this not incline one to conjecture that Luther can be declared a “saint”
of this apostate Church next month or sometime soon?
Who cannot see all these festivities as a clear proof that this Church hardly
has anything Catholic in it?
References
1. Cf. Jan Willebrands, “Lecture delivered at the 5th
Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation, July 15, 1970, La Documentation
Catholique, September, 6, 1970, pp. 765-766, apud Quo Vadis Petre?,
Los Angeles: TIA, 1999, pp. 17-20.
2. John Paul II, Letter to Cardinal Willlebrands of
October 1983, published under the title “La verità storica su Lutero alimenti
il dialogo per unità,” L’Osservatore Romano, November 6, 1983, apud
ibid. pp. 21-22.
3. J. Willebrands, Speech about Luther at the St.
Nicolas Institute of Bari, published under the title “Il Card. Willebrands
inaugura il corso dell’Instituto S. Nicola,” L’Osservatore Romano,
February, 5, 1984, p. 6, apud ibid.pp. 20-21.
4. Cf. Tertio millennio adveniente (1994, § 37); Ut
unum sint (1995 § 48).
5. Cf. Quo Vadis Petre? pp- 10-26
6.The Tablet, September 3, 2016, p. 26.
______________________
BY Atila Sinke Guimarães and Presented by Malachy Mary Igwilo, Feast of St. Placid and his companions, 5th October, 2016
Yeah I am waiting for this by the end of this month, which would be particularly fitting after we've had the sign in the Heavens of Apocalypse 12 as well as the 100th anniversary of Fatima and the novus ordo is supposed to celebrate 500 years of Luther banging his theses at Wittenberg on Halloween. God help us all
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