Jorge's Exhortation of Self-Justification Before Men: Another Brief Overview

Although the process of writing a rather systematic review of key paragraphs within the text of Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s exhortation of self-justification before men, Amoris Laetitia, is well underway, I am not yet at the point of publishing a commentary on some paragraphs within the first half of the document. Another twelve to fifteen hours of sustained work on the current section under review is necessary before the commentary will be completed.

For the moment, however, having read the entirety of this completely Modernist document that distorts and misrepresents both Sacred Scripture and the writings of various Church Fathers and Doctors while blaspheming God and making a mockery of an adherence to doctrines (which are dismissed as “rules”), I thought it useful to highlight just one paragraph, number seventy-eight, and to contrast the false “pope’s” call for openness to those Catholics who are divorced and civilly “remarried” without the benefit of a conciliar decree of marital nullity with the work of a missionary saint. Readers can decide for themselves who had the better approach to dealing with divorce and “remarriage.

Here is paragraph seventy-eight from Amoris Laetitia, March 19, 2016:

78. “The light of Christ enlightens every person (cf. Jn 1:9; Gaudium et Spes, 22). Seeing things with the eyes of Christ inspires the Church’s pastoral care for the faithful who are living together, or are only married civilly, or are divorced and remarried. Following this divine pedagogy, the Church turns with love to those who participate in her life in an imperfect manner: she seeks the grace of conversion for them; she encourages them to do good, to take loving care of each other and to serve the community in which they live and work… When a couple in an irregular union attains a noteworthy stability through a public bond – and is characterized by deep affection, responsibility towards the children and the ability to overcome trials – this can be seen as an opportunity where possible, to lead them to celebrate the sacrament of Matrimony”.78 

79. “When faced with difficult situations and wounded families, it is always necessary to recall this general principle: ‘Pastors must know that, for the sake of truth, they are obliged to exercise careful discernment of situations’ (Familiaris Consortio, 84). The degree of responsibility is not equal in all cases and factors may exist which limit the ability to make a decision. Therefore, while clearly stating the Church’s teaching, pastors are to avoid judgements that do not take into account the complexity of various situations, and they are to be attentive, by necessity, to how people experience and endure distress because of their condition”.7 (Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Amoris Laetita, March 19, 2016.)

Yes, everything must be “complex” and “nuanced.” Those living in states of Mortal Sin, a phrase that Jorge Mario Bergoglio himself has said should not be used lest the tender sensibilities of people steeped in unrepentant sinners have their “self-esteem” wounded (“Ralph, you wound me!”—if you don’t know the reference, there is no need to strain your brain) by any hint of an exercise of the Spiritual Work of Mercy to admonish the sinner, must be “welcomed” without judgments.

After all, nothing is “black and white” for the Argentine Apostate except things like “global warming” and special rights for those are engaged in illegal invasion of sovereign nations in full disregard of just laws regulating migration. Those things are “non-negotiables.” Matters of Faith and Morals must be nuanced into oblivion by having recourse to the Modernist heresy of the evolution of dogma and simple, old-fashioned moral relativism of the sort that was taught by Protagoras and the Sophists who put Socrates on trial for corrupting the youth of Athens.

Bergoglio believes that no non-Catholic must be exhorted to convert to the Catholic Faith, and he believes that hardened sinner must be upbraided for his life of sin or told that he runs the risk of eternal perdition. Such people are to be accepted uncritically in the hope of a “gradualism” that does nothing but scandalizes believing Catholics while giving non-Catholics and hardened sinners a false reassurance that they are in no danger at all of losing their immortal souls to eternal hellfire.

The false beliefs expressed in Amoris Laetitia, which was written by Victor Manuel Fernandez for his mentor and countryman, Bergoglio, stand in stark contrast with the work of Saint Peter Claver, S.J.

Saint Peter Claver was a true son of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, a zealous missionary to the Negro slaves who were brought in captivity to New Grenada and to all non-Catholics who ventured into Carthagena, New Grenada (now Colombia) between 1610 and the time of his death on September 7, 1654, at the age of seventy-three. Here is an account of his work to convert the souls of two Dutch Calvinists and of a “prelate” of the Anglican sect:

It was in the hospital of St Sebastian that Father Claver was so successful in bringing back heretics to the bosom of the Church, that few could resist him. Amongst many examples, we will selected a few of the most remarkable. In one of his usual visits to the poor sick, he met a Calvinist, so obstinate that after an attempt of several days, he failed to convince him of his error. Thinking that his endeavors might be more useful elsewhere, he accosted another invalid, whom he found animated with such an implacable hatred against an enemy, that he determined to kill him. To all the persuasions of the zealous missionary his only answer was, that when the Calvinist renounced his heresy, then he would forego his desire for revenge. At these words Father Claver fell on his knees, and addressed a fervent prayer to God. A person hastened to tell him that the Calvinist was converted, and wished to make his confession before he died. At this happy news he turned to the other man, and said to him with much kindness, “Do you not see my son, that God will have you, no matter at what price? Yes, He intends to save two sinners at once; let us go to His feet and thank Him!” The man was astounded, and scarcely believing what he heard, he ran to learn the truth from the heretic. This prodigy completely changed him. He humbly three himself at the feet of the holy man, placed all his affairs in his hands, and became sincerely reconciled to his enemy.

But the most illustrious conversion and the one which led to the conversion of many others, was that of an English prelate. To make this circumstance more clear we must revert to an earlier date. For several years, English and Dutch privateers had infested the seas of America. Having long threatened the kingdom of New Grenada, they at length took possession of the islands of St. Christopher and St. Catherine, where they established colonies, and incessantly attack the Spaniards. They captured the vessels laden with Negroes, Mahomedans, and other slaves, whom they employed to cultivate their own lands. His Catholic Majesty was informed of the injuries done to his subjects by their troublesome neighbors, and sent out a fleet against them, with strict orders to Don Frederick of Toledo, to expel them at any cost from those islands. This officer executed his commission so well, that he not only made himself master of the islands, but captured nearly all the English and the Dutch, together with the slaves whom they had carried off. He put them in ships and conveyed them to the Bay of Carthagena. But lest they should ascertain the strength and the fortifications of the palce, or spread their heresies in the country, he obliged them to remain on board. Full of confidence in God, and animated with his usual zeal, Claver asked the permission of his superior and the officer, to visit the fleet, and repaired thither, with the proper requisites for the celebration of holy mass. He entered a ship in which were more than six hundred English, guarded by some Spaniards; the latter received him with great joy, and begged him to say mass for them, which they had not heard since their departure from the islands. No request could have been more agreeable to him. His devotion and modesty while celebrating, and the majesty of the Church ceremonies, struck the heretics, who flocked in crowds to witness a spectacle so novel to them. After mass the Spaniards invited the father to dine with them. He accepted the offer with pleasure, because he hoped to gain souls for God; and he had the example of Jesus Christ, who, in order to win sinners, sat at table even with publicans. At the end of the repast, some of the English, already half gained by his mild and amiable manner, asked him whether he would not like to see their prelate, as they called the Arch-Deacon of London, who was with them. The holy missionary hoping to gain the head, and thus all the rest to the Catholic faith, answered that he would consider it an honor. Thereupon a venerable old man appeared. His beard and hair had grown quite long, and his deportment was serious and modest. The father arising at this entrance, saluted him with much respect, and according to the English custom very politely drank to his health. This evidently pleased the prelate who immediately asked in Latin to have a private interview with Father Claver. While the other Jesuits were conversing with the English on matters of religion, these two remained together until evening, discussing all those points controverted between Catholics and Protestants. The Englishman often saw the truth in spite of himself. He was convinced, but obstacles too difficult to surmount—his wife and his children—would not admit of his conversion. If he changed his religion he would leave them without resources. His courage failed him, and his temporal interests overbalanced those of his religion. All that the father could gain from him was a protest, that for the rest of his life he would be a Catholic in heart, and that at his death he would publicly declare himself, and be reconciled to the Church; but, for the interest of those so dear to him he must exteriorly profess the Anglican creed. Grieved at this obstinate resistance of heart, the father was on the point of quitting him, when he suddenly recollected that the festival of St. Ursula occurred on that day. Immediately he turned to the prelate, and like a man inspired, thus addressed him, “Sir, this day is the feast of an illustrious virgin, the honor of your country; who with her companions sealed with her own blood that Catholic religion the truths of which you yourself acknowledge. St. Lucius, King of Britain, the model of a truly Christian king, sent annually to the Holy See presents worthy of a monarch, as a tribute of gratitude and as a mark of his attachment to the Church. From his time, all your sovereigns followed his example and his piety, up to the unfortunate Henry VIII. And had not this very price written in defence of the Church, and of the primacy of St. Peter’s chair? What then induced him to forsake the ancient religion and establish a new one? What is not to contract a scandalous and adulterous marriage with Anne Boleyn, after he had repudiated his lawful wife, in defiance of all laws, both human and divine? These were the abominations that produced your religion: judge them the effect from the cause. Ah! how can a sensible and conscientious man prefer a law, the offspring of adultery, to that announced by the Apostles, and confirmed by the blood of so many martyrs; defend by your illustrious virgins and honored for so many ages by your noble ancestors? Shall the authority of a king, notorious for vice, outweigh that of so many others, distinguished for their piety? What! can the religion introduced by the piety of a Lucius be false, and the one founded on the adultery of a Henry be true? If this prince could sustain his crimes, only by the support of a new religion, why must you, who are not guilty of the same crimes, adhere to the same religion! You say that on your deathbed you will repent and declare yourself. It may then be with you as it was with him. Are you not terrified at the awful words with which he expired? ‘Omnia perdimus!—We have lost all!’ He sought to be reconciled with the Church, but he had not the opportunity! Who has assured you that the same may not happen to you? Will not your property, your wife and children, present the same difficulties then as now? Blush, that you have not the courage enough to sacrifice such things, while so many young virgins courageously sacrificed their lives. Your first interest, Sir, is yourself. Do not expose yourself to eternal torments for a few transitory goods which you must soon leave to others.” The aged prelate was so moved at these words, that with tearful eyes he begged Father Claver to pray for him—a request which was readily promised—and thus they parted. The holy missioner redoubled his prayers and penances, and the week following the festival of All Saints, as he was entering the hospital of St. Sebastian, he perceived that a sick man was being carried thither in a sedan chair. It was the English prelate! At the sight of Father Claver he exclaimed, “It is time, father, it is time for me to accomplish the promise I made to God and to you. I wish to embrace the religion of my ancestor—the faith of the holy Roman Church.” He begged him at the same time not to abandon him, because he felt very ill. No words could express Father Claver’s joy at a conversion so much desired, yet so little expected. The prelate made a public abjuration of his errors, and became at once a both submissive disciple and an enlightened doctor of truth. In the most lively and moving terms he exhorted all around him to imitate his example, for salvation could be not be hoped for out of the Roman Church. He made his confession with an abundance of tears, received the sacraments with exemplary piety, and died soon after whilst sweetly conversing with his Saviour. The father who assisted him throughout his illness, but performed his funeral obsequies in the most honorable manner possible. (John R. Slattery, The Life of St. Peter Claver, S.J.: The Apostle of the Negroes, published originally by H. L. Kilner & Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1893, and republished by Forgotten Books in 2015, pp. 115-121.)

Saint Peter Claver, S.J., sought the conversion of all others with urgency, knowing that death could befall upon a non-Catholic or a Catholic who had apostatized or fallen into Mortal Sin at any time. He did not use conciliarism's language of "encounter" or "dialogue" or "entering into the other." He even warned the Anglican what would happen to him if he died outside the bosom of Holy Mother Church as he had done with the Dutch Calvinists. 

The likes of Jorge Mario Bergoglio and Victor Manuel Fernandez are anti-apostles, if you will, who are content to lead souls gradually into hell with themselves. The conciliar revolutionaries are simply drunk with pride in what they believe is the “novelty” of their “openness.” Yet is that their “openness” is not all new. It is as old as Original Sin itself.

Saint Peter Claver compared the holy Saint Lucius (a figure many scholars consider to be merely legendary, an assessment with which Saint Peter Claver did not agree, obviously) with the lecherous Henry VIII, whose desire to “marry” his mistress, Anne Boleyn, took England out of the true Church and resulted in a barbarous persecution of Catholics who remained faithful to Rome. 

The conciliar revolutionaries would have us believe that Pope Clement VII and Paul III (who convened the Council of Trent in 1545) were too “judgmental” against the lecherous and murderous tyrant, Henry VIII, who should be “understood” rather than excommunicated.

Such are the differences between truth and falsehood.

Indeed, the dilemma faced by the Englishman who waited to convert to the true Faith because of fear of what would happen to his wife and children (and his own reputation, of course) is also what holds back many Catholics from even considering the fact that the counterfeit church of conciliarism is not the Catholic Church. There is just too much to “lose,” and this is a special problem with many conciliar presbyters who talk the talk behind the scenes with each other but will not give up their pensions and pastoral perquisites to seek conditional ordination and to state publicly that what appears to be the Catholic Church is but her counterfeit ape.

Well, today is the Feast of Pope Saint Leo the Great, who singlehandedly saved Rome from the barbarity of the Huns:

Leo was an Etruscan who ruled the Church at the time when Attila, king of the Huns, whose surname is the Scourge of God, invaded Italy, and after a siege of three years, took, sacked, and burnt Aquileia. Thence he was hurrying to Rome, on fire with anger, and his troops were already preparing to cross the Po, at the place where that river is joined by the Mincio, when he was met by Leo, moved with compassion at the thought of the ruin which hung over Italy. By his God-given eloquence, Attila was persuaded to turn back, and when he was afterwards asked by his servants why, contrary to his custom, he had so meekly yielded to the entreaties of the Bishop of Rome, he answered that he had been alarmed by a figure dressed like a Priest, which had appeared at the side of Leo while he was speaking, holding a drawn sword, and had made as though to kill the king unless he consented. And so he returned into Pannonia.

While Leo went back to Rome, where he was received with rejoicing by all men. A while later, Genseric entered the city, but Leo, by the power of his eloquence and the authority of his holy life, persuaded him to abstain from fire, insult, and slaughter. When Leo beheld how the Church was assailed by many heresies, and in dire trouble through the Nestorians and Eutychians, to purify the same and establish her in the Catholic Faith, he called the Council of Chalcedon, where, in an assembly of six hundred and thirty Bishops Nestorius was again condemned, along with Eutyches and Dioscorus; the decrees of which Council were confirmed by the authority of Leo.

After these matters, this holy Pope set himself to the restoration and building of Churches. By his advice that godly woman Demetria built the Church of St Stephen upon her farm on the Latin Road, at the third milestone from the city. He himself built another Church upon the Appian Way, which Church is called that of St Cornelius. He restored likewise many other Churches, and the holy vessels used therein. He built Clergy -houses at the three Basilicas of Peter, Paul, and Constantine. He built a monastery hard by the Basilica of St Peter. He appointed for the graves of the Apostles certain keepers, whom he called the Chamberlains of the said Apostles. He ordained that in the action of the Mystery should be uttered the words An holy sacrifice, an offering without spot. He ordered that no nun should have the covering of her head blessed 4 until she had made trial of her virginity for forty years. After doing all these and other illustrious works, and after he had written much that is both godly and easy to be understood, he fell asleep in the Lord on the eleventh day of April, in the year 461. He held the Papal See for twenty years, one month, and thirteen days. (From the readings for Matins, The Divine Office, Feast of Pope Saint Leo the Great.)

Pope Saint Leo the Great wrote much during his twenty years on the Throne of Saint Peter, including on the very nature of the papacy and about the fact that the jaws of hell will never prevail against the Catholic Church:

When the Lord, as we read in the Evangelist, asked His disciples Who did men, amid their divers speculations, believe that He, the Son of Man, was; blessed Peter answered and said Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father, Which is in heaven and I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Thus therefore standeth the ordinance of the Truth, and blessed Peter, abiding still that firm rock which God hath made him, hath never lost that right to rule in the Church which God hath given unto him.

In the universal Church it is Peter that doth still say every day, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, and every tongue which confesseth that Jesus is Lord is taught that confession by the teaching of Peter. This is the faith that overcometh the devil and looseth the bands of his prisoners. This is the faith which maketh men free of the world and bringeth them to heaven, and the gates of hell are impotent to prevail against it. With such ramparts of salvation hath God fortified this rock, that the contagion of heresy will never be able to infect it, nor idolatry and unbelief to overcome it. This teaching it is, my dearly beloved brethren, which maketh the keeping of this Feast to-day to be our reasonable service, even the teaching which maketh you to know and honour in myself, lowly though I be, that Peter who is still entrusted with the care of all other shepherds and of all the flocks to them committed, and whose authority I have, albeit unworthy to be his heir.

When, therefore, we address our exhortations to your godly ears, believe ye that ye are hearing him speak whose office we are discharging. Yea, it is with his love for you that we warn you, and we preach unto you no other thing than that which he taught, entreating you that ye would gird up the loins of your mind and lead pure and sober lives in the fear of God. My disciples dearly beloved, ye are to me, as the disciples of the Apostle Paul were to him, (Phil. iv. 1,) a crown and a joy, if your faith, which, in the first times of the Gospel, was spoken of throughout the whole world, Rom. i. 8, abide still lovely and holy. For, albeit it behoveth the whole Church which is spread throughout all the world, to be strong in righteousness, you it chiefly becometh above all other peoples to excel in worth and godliness, whose house is built upon the very crown of the Rock of the Apostle, and whom not only hath our Lord Jesus Christ, as He hath redeemed all men, but whom also His blessed Apostle Peter hath made the foremost object of his teaching. (Pope Saint Leo the Great, as found in Matins, The Divine Office, Feast of Pope Saint Leo the Great.)

Well, it is all there, isn’t it?

One must engage in all kinds of intellectual gymnastics to believe that the contagion of heresy is not rife within the counterfeit church of conciliarism, which is why all those who are not yet convinced of the truth of our ecclesiastical situation in this time of apostasy and betrayal should re-read these words:

This is the faith which maketh men free of the world and bringeth them to heaven, and the gates of hell are impotent to prevail against it. With such ramparts of salvation hath God fortified this rock, that the contagion of heresy will never be able to infect it, nor idolatry and unbelief to overcome it. (Pope Saint Leo the Great, as found in Matins, The Divine Office, Feast of Pope Saint Leo the Great.)

Jorge Mario Bergoglio has esteemed the symbols of idolaters. So have Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI and “Saint John Paul II” before his own election as the head of the false conciliar sect on March 13, 2013, and Bergoglio has shown repeatedly that he has no belief in the integrity of the Catholic Faith. So have his predecessors in the past fifty-seven and one-half years.

We need to pray to Pope Saint Leo the Great drive out the Huns who occupy Rome and the institutions of the Catholic Church during this time of conciliarism.

We need to beg Our Lady, especially through her Most Holy Rosary, and her Most Chaste Spouse, the Patron of the Universal Church and the Protector of the Faithful, to help us to preserve to our dying breaths in the truths of the true Faith no matter what it may cost us in earthly terms.

We are here to please God, not to curry the favor of men by hiding what we know to be true because we fear being ostracized or ridiculed as being “extreme” and “disloyal.”

May the examples of Saint Peter Claver and Pope Saint Leo the Great inspire us to see wolves disguised as “shepherds,” and to flee from these false shepherds once and for all.

Vivat Christus Rex! Viva Cristo Rey!

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.

Saint John the Evangelist, pray for us.

Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us.

Saint Gabriel the Archangel, pray for us.

Saint Raphael the Archangel, pray for us.

Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us.  

Saints Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, pray for us.

Pope Saint Leo the Great, pray for us.

Saint Peter Claver, S. J., pray for us.