   TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC GIFTS |
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- Vatican II was a pastoral council which never defined any doctrines, did away with any doctrines, or ever proclaimed any change in doctrine. The idea that the Council changed what the Church believes in is a myth.
*(Pope John XXIII ) "The greatest concern of the Ecumenical Council is this: that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine should be guarded and taught more efficaciously. .... The salient point of this Council is not, therefore, a discussion of one article or another of the fundamental doctrine of the Church."
*(Pope Paul VI) "it was one of the programmed items of the Council not to give solemn dogmatic definitions."
*(Pope Paul VI ) speaking about the Council, "had avoided proclaiming in an extraordinary manner dogmas affected by the mark of infallibility."
*(Pope Paul VI) "Under no circumstances can we conceive of the possibility of change, of evolution, or of any modification in matters of faith."
*(Pope John Paul II ) "Nothing ever changes in the eternal Catholic doctrine."
- Some Catholics have been lead to believe that Vatican II diminished the importance of the saints. This notion is completely incorrect. The Council considered the saints to be a significant part of the faith.
"we seek from the saints "example in their way of life, fellowship in their communion, and aid by their intercession.' Lumen Gentium 51
"the saints have been traditionally honored in the Church and their authentic relics and images held in veneration. For the feasts of the saints proclaim the wonderful works of Christ in his servants, and display to the faithful fitting examples for their imitation." Sacrosanctum Concilium 111
"In the lives of those who, sharing in our humanity, are however more perfectly transformed into the image of Christ,God vividly manifests His presence and His face to men. He speaks to us in them, and gives us a sign of His Kingdom,..."t Lumen Gentium 50
- Many people believe that Vatican II changed Catholic moral teaching. This is completely untrue.
Murder, Abortion, Fornication, Stealing, Lying, Greed, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, Pride, Unjust Anger, Envy, Idolatry, Adultery, Masturbation, Cheating in Business, Suicide, Contraception, In-vitro Fertilization, Blasphemy, Incest, Divorce & Remarriage, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Simony, Physical or Mental Abuse of Another, Discrimination, Missing Sunday Mass, Slander, Pornography and Immodest Entertainment, Sterilization, Getting to Mass late and leaving early, Cursing, Presumption, Receiving the Sacraments in the state of Mortal Sin, Hatred, Sodomy,Entertaining Impure Thoughts and Desires, Homosexual Acts, Desiring the Death of an Another, Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain, Euthanasia, Racism, Joining Secret Societies, Superstition, Rash Judgment, Dishonoring thy Parents, Coveting thy Neighbor’s Wife or Goods, Detraction, Gossip, Dressing Immodestly, Gambling Excessively, Wasting Time at Work, Materialism, Refusing to Pay Debts, Not Supporting the Church Finically, Usury, Boasting, Cohabitation, Socialism, Prostitution, Surrogate Motherhood, Despair, Religious Indifference, Hedonism.
- Many Catholics falsely assert that Vatican II changed the Churches’ position on the sinfulness of contraception. The Church can not and will not change this teaching.
"the sons of the Church may not undertake methods of birth control which are found blameworthy by the teaching authority of the Church in its unfolding of the divine law." Gaudium et Spes 51
- Some Catholics actually think Vatican II stipulated that a parish liturgical committee or a priest could change the Mass as they please. Nothing could be further from the truth. There have been cases since the Council in which groups and individuals have taken the liberty to change the words of the Mass, told the faithful that they must stand during the consecration, allowed liturgical dancing during the Mass, had lay people and that includes nuns give homilies, and allowed lay people to clean the sacred vessels. All are considered liturgical abuses.
"Therefore, no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority." Sacrosanctum Concilium 3 A3
- Vatican II allowed different types of sacred music, but it never said Gregorian chant should be eliminated from the Roman rite. As a matter of fact, Gregorian chant was to be given a place of honor in liturgical services.
"The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman liturgy; therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services." Sacrosanctum Concilium 116
- The Mass has not changed since Christ instituted this sacrament. There is neither an “old” Mass nor a “new” Mass, but only the Mass. In fact what changed after Vatican II was not the Mass, but the liturgy. All of the comments of Vatican II concerning liturgical reform were directed toward the Tridentine rite. It must be noted that the Council never said anything about the priest facing the people, communion in the hand, multiple canons, or altar girls. The new liturgy, the Novus Ordo, was never discussed or outlined at the Council, but Pope Paul VI through the guidance of the Holy Spirit had the Novus Ordo created after the Council and ratified it in 1969. The Novus Ordo is valid and no Catholics should ever think other wise. It must be noted that the Vatican does allows the Tridentine liturgy to be celebrated and many bishops welcome this rite in their diocese.
- The Second Vatican Council called for the instruction of the faithful to be of the utmost of importance. The years following the Council saw unqualified and malcontent religious instructors let RCIA programs, CCD classes, and religious curriculums within Catholic schools fall into disrepair. Feelings became more important than doctrine and the result has been Catholics don’t know their faith. Pope John XXIII said, “The greatest concern of the Ecumenical Council is this: that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine should be guarded and taught more efficaciously.”
"They should also guard that doctrine, teaching the faithful to defend and propagate it. In propounding this doctrine they should manifest the maternal solicitude of the Church toward all men whether they be believers or not. ... They should also strive to make use of the various media at hand nowadays for proclaiming Christian doctrine, namely, first of all, preaching and catechetical instruction which always hold the first place, then the presentation of this doctrine in schools, academies, conferences, and meetings of every kind, ..." Christus Dominus14
"Bishops should take pains that catechetical instruction which is intended to make the faith, as illumined by teaching, a vital, explicit and effective force in the lives of men be given with sedulous care to both children and adolescents, youths and adults. In this instruction a suitable arrangement should be observed as well as a method suited to the matter that is being treated and to the character, ability, age, and circumstances of the life of the students. Finally, they should see to it that this instruction is based on Sacred Scripture, tradition, the liturgy, magisterium, and life of the Church. Moreover, they should take care that catechists be properly trained for their function so that they will be thoroughly acquainted with the doctrine of the Church and will have both a theoretical and a practical knowledge of the laws of psychology and of pedagogical methods." Christus Dominus14
- One of the most pervading myths many people believe about Vatican II is that Latin was to be eradicated from the Mass. The Council allowed the vernacular to be permitted, but Latin was to be maintained and never dispensed with.
"nevertheless steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them." Sacrosanctum Concilium 54
"Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites." Sacrosanctum Concilium 36. 1.
- Vatican II stated that priests are never to be in the service of human factions or ideologies. Faithful priests focus on saving souls and are never involved with the following pseudo Catholic organizations which champion humanistic and heretical positions. (Call To Action, Catholics For Free Choice, Pax Christi, Catholics for the Spirit of Vatican II, Celibacy Is the Issue, New Ways Ministry, Dignity, FutureChurch, Romero Institute, Renewal Coordinating Community, Women's Ordination Conference, CORPUS).
"In building the Christian community, priests are never to put themselves at the service of some human faction or ideology, but, as heralds of the Gospel and Shepherds of the Church, they are to spend themselves for the spiritual growth of the Body of Christ." Presbyterorum Ordinis 6
- Nowhere in the Council documents does it say that the priests and religious should dispense with religious habits, and it never said that habits should be the street clothes of the common man. Vatican II stated that habits are to be an outward sign of consecration. They need to be simple, modest, poor, becoming, and needed to be changed if they were unhealthy or not suited for today's needs. This is not a new idea, religious habits have changed throughout history, but for obvious reasons priests and nuns wearing secular apparel from a department store does not fit the bill. Pope Paul VI and John Paul II both have told priests and religious that they must wear their religious habit, but many have chosen to ignore the Papacy and the Second Vatican Council.
"The religious habit, an outward mark of consecration to God, should be simple and modest,poor and at the same becoming. In addition it must meet the requirements of health and be suited to the circumstances of time and place and to the needs of the ministry involved. The habits of both men and women religious which do not conform to these norms must be changed." Perfectae Caritatis17
- Vatican II did not rejected traditionally designed churches or solely endorsed a contemporary trend. The Council never said that any church had to remove or could not be built and remodeled with high altars, statues, shrines, tabernacles located in the central nave, communion rails, great works of art, beautiful confessionals, pews, and kneelers. Some individuals within the Church misrepresented what the Council stated or used non binding documents such as, "Environment and Art in Catholic Worship," to justify their agenda against traditional architecture and art.
"Ordinaries must be very careful to see that sacred furnishings and works of value are not disposed of or dispersed; for they are the ornaments of the house of God." Sacrosanctum Concilium 126
"The church has not adopted any particular style of art as her own. She has admitted styles from every period, in keeping with the natural characteristics and conditions of peoples and the needs of the various rites. Thus in the course of the centuries she has brought into existence a treasury of art which must be preserved with every care. The art of our own times from every race and country shall also be given free scope in the Church, provided it bring to the task the reverence and honor due to the sacred buildings and rites. Thus it is enabled to join its voice to that wonderful chorus of praise in honor of the Catholic faith sung by great men in past ages." Sacrosanctum Concilium 123
- Since Vatican II, countless Catholics were given the false impression that devotions and sacramentals were no longer promoted by the Church. The Council actually encourages the use of these instruments of holiness contrary to what many people may think. Eucharistic Adoration, Benediction, Divine Mercy, Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Litanies and Novenas to the Saints, Stations of the Cross, Rosaries, Scapulars, and Religious Medals are right in step with the Church and the Second Vatican Council.
"Popular devotions of the Christian people are to be highly commended, provided they accord with the laws and norms of the Church, above all when they are ordered by the Apostolic See. Devotions proper to individual Churches also have a special dignity if they are undertaken by mandate of the bishops according to customs or books lawfully approved. But these devotions should be so drawn up that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons, accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some fashion derived from it, and lead the people to it, since, in fact, the liturgy by its very nature far surpasses any of them. " Sacrosanctum Concilium1 3
"Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments: they signify effects,particularly of a spiritual kind, which are obtained through the Church's intercession. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy. Thus, for well disposed members of the faithful, the liturgy of the sacraments and sacramental sanctifies almost every event in their lives; they are given access to the stream of divine grace which flows from the Paschal mystery of the passion, death, the resurrection of Christ, the font from which all sacraments and sacramentals draw their power..." Sacrosanctum Concilium 60 & 61
- The Second Vatican Council stated that the placement of statues in churches was to be maintained. Vatican II was asking people to use common sense in using statues. The Council never intended for an elimination of all statues or a trend of minimalism. Some churches because of their size or traditional style can and should have considerably more statutes than a contemporary or small church.
"The practice of placing sacred images in churches so that they may be venerated by the faithful is to be maintained. Nevertheless their number should be moderate and their relative positions should reflect right order. For otherwise they may create confusion among the Christian people and foster devotion of doubtful orthodoxy." Sacrosanctum Concilium 125
"...Ordinaries must be very careful to see that sacred furnishings and works of value are not disposed of or dispersed; for they are the ornaments of the house of God." Sacrosanctum Concilium 126
- The idea that the Council taught that a person could follow the subjective dictates of their conscience on moral and religious issues and still be in good standing with the Church is false. Vatican II called for a knowing and objective conscience based upon God’s law, Church teaching, not one that relies upon feelings and blind impulses.
"In the formation of their consciences, the Christian faithful ought carefully to attend to the sacred and certain doctrine of the Church. For the Church is, by the will of Christ, the teacher of the truth. It is her duty to give utterance to, and authoritatively to teach, that truth which is Christ Himself, and also to declare and confirm by her authority those principles of the moral order ..." Dignitatis Humanae 14
"For man has in his heart a law written by God; to obey it is the very dignity of man; according to it he will be judged.”. .. Hence man's dignity demands that he act according to a knowing and free choice that is personally motivated and prompted from within, not under blind internal impulse nor by mere external pressure." Gaudium et Spes17
"Hence the more right conscience holds sway, the more persons and groups turn aside from blind choice and strive to be guided by the objective norms of morality. Conscience frequently errs from invincible ignorance without losing its dignity. The same cannot be said for a man who cares but little for truth and goodness, or for a conscience which by degrees grows practically sightless as a result of habitual sin." Gaudium et Spes17
"Undeniably, those who willfully shut out God from their hearts and try to dodge religious questions are not following the dictates of their consciences, and hence are not free of blame; yet believers themselves frequently bear some responsibility for this situation." Gaudium et Spes 19
- The Church has never adopted any particular form of art, but Vatican II proclaimed that art that does not up lift the faithful or is repugnant should be removed from the House of God.
"Ordinaries, by the encouragement and favor they show to art which is truly sacred, should strive after noble beauty rather than mere sumptuous display. This principle is to apply also in the matter of sacred vestments and ornaments. Let bishops carefully remove from the house of God and from other sacred places those works of artists which are repugnant to faith, morals, and Christian piety, and which offend true religious sense either by depraved forms or by lack of artistic worth, mediocrity and pretense..." Sacrosanctum Concilium 124
- Vatican II stated that there should not be any support for public or private organizations that try to control population that use means contrary to the moral law. Contraception, sterilization, abortion, and euthanasia are all against the moral law. Planned Parenthood, Call to Action, the United Nations, and National Organization of Women are perfect examples of such organizations.
"But there are many today who maintain that the increase in world population, or at least the population increase in some countries, must be radically curbed by every means possible and by any kind of intervention on the part of public authority. In view of this contention, the council urges everyone to guard against solutions, whether publicly or privately supported, or at times even imposed, which are contrary to the moral law. For in keeping with man's inalienable right to marry and generate children, a decision concerning the number of children they will have depends on the right judgment of the parents and it cannot in any way be left to the judgment of public authority." Gaudium et Spes 87
- Numerous Catholics since the Council have made the serious error of thinking that the Eucharist is just a symbol of Christ. The Second Vatican Council unequivocally reaffirmed the two thousand year old Church teaching of the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
"The Most Blessed Eucharist contains the entire spiritual boon of the Church. that is, Christ Himself, our Paschal and Living Bread, by the action of the Holy Spirit through His very flesh vital and vitalizing, giving life to men who are thus invited and encouraged to offer themselves, their labors and all created things, together with Him. In this light, the Eucharist shows itself as the source and the apex of the whole work of preaching the Gospel." Presbyterorum Ordinis 5
- Vatican II up help the supremacy of the Papacy and never conceded any Papal authority. The Council stated that the bishops are to work with the Pope, the supreme head of the Church, and never without him.
"In this Church of Christ the Roman pontiff, as the successor of Peter, to whom Christ entrusted the feeding of His sheep and lambs, enjoys supreme, full, immediate, and universal authority over the care of souls by divine institution. Therefore,as pastor of all the faithful, he is sent to provide for the common good of the universal Church and for the good of the individual churches. Hence, he holds a primacy of ordinary power over all the churches. The bishops themselves, however, having been appointed by the Holy Spirit, are successors of the Apostles as pastors of souls. Together with the supreme pontiff and under his authority they are sent to continue throughout the ages the work of Christ, the eternal pastor.." Christus Dominus 2
"The order of bishops is the successor to the college of the apostles in teaching and pastoral direction, or rather, in the episcopal order, the apostolic body continues without a break. Together with its head, the Roman pontiff, and never without this head it exists as the subject of supreme, plenary power over the universal Church. But this power cannot be exercised except with the agreement of the Roman pontiff." Christus Dominus 4
- The Second Vatican Council called for the unification of all Christians within the One True Church Jesus Christ established, the Roman Catholic Church. The Church is to accomplish this goal through dialog and explaining the Catholic faith. Catholics are never to dilute Catholic dogma for the sake of unity. Even though Protestants believe in Christ they are separated from the One True Church. They do not have access to the fullness of God's revelation, truth, and sacramental grace. In other words, Protestants sects have serious impediments to salvation.
"The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council. Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only. However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided. Such division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature." Unitatis Redintegratio 1
"It is, of course, essential that the doctrine should be clearly presented in its entirety. Nothing is so foreign to the spirit of ecumenism as a false irenicism, in which the purity of Catholic doctrine suffers loss and its genuine and certain meaning is clouded. At the same time, the Catholic faith must be explained more profoundly and precisely, in such a way and in such terms as our separated brethren can also really understand." Unitatis Redintegratio 1
"For it is only through Christ’s Catholic Church, which is “the all embracing means of salvation,” that they can benefit fully from the means of salvation." Unitatis Redintegratio 3
- Vatican II said celibacy should be embraced and esteemed as a gift for the priestly life.
"(Celibacy is to be embraced and esteemed as a gift.) Perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, commended by Christ the Lord and through the course of time as well as in our own days freely accepted and observe in a praiseworthy manner by many of the faithful, is held by the Church to be of great value in a special manner for the priestly life..." Presbyterorum Ordinis 16
"Students (seminarians) who follow the venerable tradition of celibacy according to the holy and fixed laws of their own rite are to be educated to this state with great care. For renouncing thereby the companionship of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matt. 19:12)" Optatam Totius 10
- Vatican II was not a call to do or believe what ever one wants as many misguided and misinformed Catholics think, but it was first and foremost a call to holiness.
"Therefore in the Church, everyone whether belonging to the hierarchy, or being cared for by it, is called to holiness, according to the saying of the Apostle: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification".(1 Thes 4:3, Eph 1:4)" Lumen Gentium 39
"The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and everyone of His disciples of every condition. He Himself stands as the author and consumator of this holiness of life: "Be you therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect".(Mt 5:48)" Lumen Gentium 40
"Thus it is evident to everyone, that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society." Lumen Gentium 40
- Vatican II never stated that the Catholic Church was not the One True Church. It never stated salvation could be found in Protestant sects or any non christian religion. As a matter of fact the Council stated over and over that the Church , the Mystical Body of Christ, is necessary for salvation.
"For it is only through Christ’s Catholic Church, which is “the all embracing means of salvation,” that they can benefit fully from the means of salvation." Unitatis Redintegratio 3
"Basing itself upon Sacred Scripture and Tradition, it teaches that the Church, now sojourning on earth as an exile, is necessary for salvation. Christ, present to us in His Body, which is the Church, is the one Mediator and the unique way of salvation. In explicit terms He Himself affirmed the necessity of faith and baptism and thereby affirmed also the necessity of the Church, for through baptism as through a door men enter the Church. Whosoever, therefore, knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by Christ, would refuse to enter or to remain in it, could not be saved." Lumen Gentium 14
"This missionary activity derives its reason from the will of God, "who wishes all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, Himself a man, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for all" (1 Tim. 2:4-5), "neither is there salvation in any other" (Acts 4:12). Therefore, all must be converted to Him, made known by the Church's preaching, and all must be incorporated into Him by baptism, and into the Church which is His body. For Christ Himself, "by stressing in express language the necessity of faith and baptism (cf. Mark 16:16; John 3:5), at the same time confirmed the necessity of the Church, into which men enter by baptism, as by a door." Ad Gentes 7
- The Council declared that seminaries are to teach sound doctrine, promote practices of piety, and instill discipline as a necessary part of formation. Vatican II also stated that men that are not qualified to be priests should not be ordained.
"Since the training of students depends both on wise laws and, most of all, on qualified educators, the administrators and teachers of seminaries are to be selected from the best men, and are to be carefully prepared in sound doctrine, suitable pastoral experience and special spiritual and pedagogical training." Optatam Totius 5
"The theological disciplines, in the light of faith and under the guidance of the magisterium of the Church, should be so taught that the students will correctly draw out Catholic doctrine from divine revelation, profoundly penetrate it, make it the food of their own spiritual lives, and be enabled to proclaim, explain, and protect it in their priestly ministry." Optatam Totius 16
"In the entire process of selecting and testing students, however, a due firmness is to be adopted, even if a deplorable lack of priests should exist, since God will not allow His Church to want for ministers if those who are worthy are promoted and those not qualified are, at an early date, guided in a fatherly way to undertake other tasks. The latter should also be given sufficient direction so that, conscious of their vocation as Christians, they might eagerly embrace the lay apostolate." Optatam Totius 6
"Those practices of piety that are commended by the long usage of the Church should be zealously cultivated;" Optatam Totius 8
"The discipline of seminary life is to be reckoned not only as a strong safeguard of community life and of charity but also as a necessary part of the total whole training formation." Optatam Totius 11
- Many people have been falsely lead to believe that Vatican II revoked the anathemas of the Council of Trent, nothing could be further from the truth. An anathema on an infallible statement can not be revoked, and is always binding; otherwise the statement is not infallible.Vatican II referred to Trent dozens of times, quoted Trent's proclamations as authority, and reaffirmed Trent on every hand. As a matter of fact, at the opening of the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII stated, "I do accept entirely all that has been decided and declared at the Council of Trent."
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TRADITIONAL CATHOLIC GIFTS |
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