"The victory over communism came thanks to the shipyards and thanks to the Holy Father. But now, nobody mentions the Holy Father."
Lech Walesa
Interview to Der Spiegel (Nov. 6, 2009)
The events of 1989 are an example of the success of willingness to negotiate and of the Gospel spirit in the face of an adversary determined not to be bound by moral principles. These events are a warning to those who, in the name of political realism, wish to banish law and morality from the political arena. Undoubtedly, the struggle which led to the changes of 1989 called for clarity, moderation, suffering and sacrifice. In a certain sense, it was a struggle born of prayer, and it would have been unthinkable without immense trust in God, the Lord of history, who carries the human heart in his hands. It is by uniting his own sufferings for the sake of truth and freedom to the sufferings of Christ on the Cross that man is able to accomplish the miracle of peace and is in a position to discern the often narrow path between the cowardice which gives in to evil and the violence which, under the illusion of fighting evil, only makes it worse.
...
[M]an, who was created for freedom, bears within himself the wound of original sin, which constantly draws him towards evil and puts him in need of redemption. Not only is this doctrine an integral part of Christian revelation; it also has great hermeneutical value insofar as it helps one to understand human reality. Man tends towards good, but he is also capable of evil. He can transcend his immediate interest and still remain bound to it. The social order will be all the more stable, the more it takes this fact into account and does not place in opposition personal interest and the interests of society as a whole, but rather seeks ways to bring them into fruitful harmony. In fact, where self-interest is violently suppressed, it is replaced by a burdensome system of bureaucratic control which dries up the wellsprings of initiative and creativity.
When people think they possess the secret of a perfect social organization which makes evil impossible, they also think that they can use any means, including violence and deceit, in order to bring that organization into being. Politics then becomes a "secular religion" which operates under the illusion of creating paradise in this world. But no political society — which possesses its own autonomy and laws — can ever be confused with the Kingdom of God. The Gospel parable of the weeds among the wheat (cf. Mt 13:24-30; 36-43) teaches that it is for God alone to separate the subjects of the Kingdom from the subjects of the Evil One, and that this judgment will take place at the end of time. By presuming to anticipate judgment here and now, man puts himself in the place of God and sets himself against the patience of God.
Through Christ's sacrifice on the Cross, the victory of the Kingdom of God has been achieved once and for all. Nevertheless, the Christian life involves a struggle against temptation and the forces of evil. Only at the end of history will the Lord return in glory for the final judgment (cf. Mt 25:31) with the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth (cf. 2 Pt 3:13; Rev 21:1); but as long as time lasts the struggle between good and evil continues even in the human heart itself.
John Paul II
24 comments:
Pope John Paul II clearly states in his encyclical 'Centisimus Annus' that the events of 1989 show the "Gospel in the face of an adversary determinied not to be bound by moral principles." An apt description of an adversary playing god with the revealed order of the one,true God. Nothing but deceit, self-interest motivated the 'red bloc' that perpetuated the attitude of 'bearing false witness' or the invariable LIE distinct from Christ who said "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE." Christ is the only "Redemptor Hominis", not the party of the collectivist society, bent on evil, false accusation and suppression. It is good that John Paul II called the bluff of the adversary who tried, but rightly failed to keep people locked up in boundaries, since the human being is made by God for a culture of LIFE [pro-vitae], not to disappear into a nameless kingdom of death.
The alleged "victory" over communism has not occurred. This is a characteristic piece of hyper-real fiction. Communism is incubating perfectly in rampant universal materialism; the onward march of abortion & other means of artificial birth-control on demand and as a health care right; the alliance of socialist Latin American countries with a financially revived Russia under the virtual dictatorship of Putin and his clique which is rapidly rearming. To the east is communist China with some of the trappings of capitalism but essentially still under the dictatorial control of a party elite. To the west America weakens and Europe falls prey to moral decline and complete loss of its Christian identity.
There was no triumph over communism. This is a mediatised lie. The Berlin Wall has fallen but it has allowed the communist East to buy some time and to renew the struggle for world domination of atheistic materialism with centralised control. There is no longer a barrier to remind us that the enemy exists always and has to be resisted.
How can this falsehood be accepted in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary? Our Blessed Lady admonishes us to fulfill certain preconditions in order for there to be conversion and a period of true peace but this is still being ignored by those responsible for its implementation. Without this, compromise and division is all mankind will receive as a return.
And Pope John Paul II did not say anything different from that: the struggle, he reminds us here, will last until the end of time. Our concern is in Heaven, after all (cf. today's Epistle).
Though the final triumph over Communism is not yet achieved, it not true that Russia is a Communist country, and the importance of the liberation of Eastern Europe from Communism 20 years ago cannot be emphasised enough. The world is still threatened by Communism and materialistic capitalism, but the fact remains that many peoples who formerly were enslaved and imprisoned in their own countries by Communist tyranny have been liberated from that tyranny. To deny that is to foster a falsehood in face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
As for Fatima, there is more than one possible interpretation of those visions. The one that seems to be most popular among traditionalists is not necessarily the correct one.
I am not contradicting JP II (RIP). However, the overexaggerated claim that he helped overthrow communism that has circulated the media ever since the fall of the wall is unadulterated nonsense. But far too many people believe this.
As stated, communism is incubating very well at present and the western countries are doing their utmost to complete its programme of atheism, materialism, anti-life centrally controlled superstate. The Berlin Wall was an obstacle to this and had to fall to accommodate political objectives. This was nothing to rejoice over and the church in those areas supposedly liberated has not profited either.
Note to Leon,
Very well said sir! Thank you for your keen analysis of the continuing existence of communist ideology. Our Blessed Mother is truly the only hope for the world.
The Frankfurt School doing well in Europe nowadays is rather different flavour of marxism than classical communism.
Every candidate for episcopacy had to be more or less approved by the communist regime. It doesn't mean collaboration, it means that negotiations were taking place every time.
Rumours circulate that Fr Wojtyla was 7th candidate presented for approval, only because communists threatened with sanctions if one of the initial six will be ordained.
He was being perceived as a progressive, and as a man of relatively shallow involvement in political matters (in comparison with primate Wyszynski, for example) - that's why he was allowed to study in Rome (in an evil, imperialist, capitalist country in the rotten West!) and to go back to Poland (his Polish colleague with whom he was studying in Rome was given one-way-ticket by the communists).
The Church in the Soviet Block was not as heavy separated from the world as in China (TLM only, until 1990!) - NOM was introduced, but liturgical life was very conservative, following rubrics, kneeling communion on tongue only, which has changed a bit after the fall of communism. But still Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine have most conservative and conforming rubrics Novus Ordo masses.
Nevertheless, the very fact that the Pope was a man from the Soviet Block had a great impact. It has just given strength and hope for the people - not to mention boosting national pride, and was a real pain to the communist leaders - they were simply unable to ignore him, as the Church was the only institution not controlled by the communists, so all dissidents naturally rallied around her.
Holy Father had not needed to act much - although he had some diplomatic and financial involvement.
Just see the videos from his pilgrimages to Poland, his hundreds of thousands to 1.5 million people Masses.
In a few words: aggiornamento referred to the blurring of the Church by adjusting to the West. In the East the background was different. Problems of the West were not problems of the East.
Personally I remember that the sermons were full of allusions to the situation of the state. And it was just what the people wanted. Churches were full. Catecheses were packed with stories from the pre-Constantine period. The atmosphere in the churches in Poland in the 1980s was inimitable. The Church was a refuge from the hopeless reality of gray streets and a state in martial law.
For people who have to stand for half a day in a queue to buy some stinking old cheese there are more important problems than the Latin Mass.
LeonG: I beg to disagree with your assertion re: JPII and his role in the collapse of the communist regimes of the eastern block.
May I suggest that you take some time to read any work by George Weigel on the topic. As the Holy Father's official biographer, he has had access to the archives of the Vatican & Poland, not to mention many hours of conversation on the subject with JPII himself.
His arguments are persuasive that it was JPII's call to stand up in good conscience to these atheistic regimes that inspired and supported the citizenry of those oppressive regimes to peacefully cast those governments aside.
Whereas I have no problem with your contention that the moral drives of materialism that were the underpinnings of Communion still threaten our society today, those European governments that comprised the Soviet Empire were most certainly brought to ruin by the simple call to "Be not afraid"; a call that was rooted in our Catholic understanding as being created in the image and likeness of God, a truth that could not be suppressed by the forces of materialist atheism that marked the communist governments which fell 20 years ago.
Sincerely
Fr.Tim Moyle
Mattawa, Ontario
Note to LeonG:
Communism does not equal secular humanism or bad governance.
Whatever Russia is becoming (and it is surely more dictatorial than it was even a few years ago), it is not a return to Marxist-Leninism. If anything, Russia is witnessing a return to old-fashioned Nationalism and Czarism. Moreover, far from promoting historical materialism, Putin's regime has co-insided with a reinvigoration of Russian Orthodoxy and has promoted a cozy relationship with the the Russian Orthodox Church.
Similarly, while communism can still be found in segments of the Chinese population, the majority of the people merely adhere to a consumeristic, secular humanism that has been the established orthodoxy in the West for at least a generation. The "party elite" of China seems more concerned with expanding the financial influence of China (and lining their own pockets) than serving as the vanguard of the proletariat.
Yes, it's true; the fall of the Berlin Wall did not usher in some sort of Catholic paradise in Eastern Europe, which apparently is what you're holding out for. But just because a victory is incomplete (every victory in this world will be incomplete), doesn't make it any less a victory.
--crouchback
Atheist materialism maybe communist or not - it's the same, umm, stuff.
But think about Romania.
There were no dissidents there. Not even fake dissidents, like in Bulgaria.
Catholic Church was of Greek rite, murdered up for a long time. There were remnants of the Orthodox.
Nevertheless Ceausescu was murdered and communism fell in Romania.
Who did it?
Secret services. His own generals. Was it different in Bulgaria?
Who took power in ex-Soviet republics? Former party cadres.
In Poland communist general Jaruzelski changed his uniform to a suit and became president. Communists changed name of their party and were still in power for a long time.
Just like in Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia..
Roughly the same people with a bit different attitude towards economy. They have learned that they can get rich easier when the restrictions on trade are relaxed.
How can we expect that they will not embrace secular humanism?
Fatima apparitions were approved in 1930 by Pope Pius IX and since that time no the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart was still in waiting mode for several more decades. Finally, Pope John Paul II consecrated the whole world and it is ridiculous claim that this action has little contribution to sudden, miraculous and totally unexpected disappearance of Communist rule in Europe. It is mean and uncharitable to say so, but sadly represent typical bitterness of some Traditionalists, who had no idea how it was to live in policy state, under constant surveillance without passport, telephone, with constant shortage of food. I am astonished sometimes at blindness and selfishness of some self-righteous critics.
Thanks so much!
John Paul comes in for a lot of criticism by traditionalists--it's nice to see such a limpid and substantive and inspiring excerpt posted on one of the very finest traditionalist blogs.
LeonG I fully agree with you.
Jay, while Our Blessed Mother may have had something to do with the fall of the wall the Concecration to the WORLD was not what She asked - She asked for Consecration of RUSSIA by the Holy Father and all the Bishops of the world. This has not been done and as She promised a time of world peace it is obvious to all that it has not been done. With all the wars around we certainly do not have "world peace". I read once the JPII did not mention Russia as he did not want to upset the Russians!!!! This is nothing to do with "typical bitterness of some Traditionalists". It is about facts.
Personally I believe Putin is one of the most dangerous men in the world but will get away with so many atrocities as people believe Communism is dead. "There is none so blind as those who do not want to see".
The Fatima seers, however, never said that if Russia is consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a period of world peace would result or would immediately follow. The words of the revelation are:
"But in the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father (and the remaining bishops) will consecrate Russia to Me. Russia will be converted and a period of peace will be given to mankind."
and --
"The moment has come in which God asks the Holy Father in union with all the Bishops of the world to consecrate Russia to My Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means."
Our Lady never said specifically how the conversion of Russia would come about, except that it would be through the means of the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart -- nor did She say how much time would pass from the consecration of Russia until Russia is converted, nor how much time until a period of world peace would begin. All we can tell from the prophecy is that Russia's conversion and a period of world peace will come at some point after the consecration of Russia.
Jordanes:
Our Lady's intercession is powerful indeed. I think that it's safe to assume that great fruits will follow immediately after the Consecration is done according to her instructions. Exactly what they will be and if they will include this period of peace is, I agree, unknown. But I think that the revelation should be understood in terms of the current situation. In purely human terms, the Church is headed for a rapid decline and fall. Something tells me that this decline will begin to be opposed once the Consecration is done--and I don't think that this "something" is a bit of undigested cheese. The devil is hurt by prayer: he will surely be wounded grievously by this Consecration.
We should all pray hard that the Rosary Crusade is a success.
P.K.T.P.
The consecration of Portugal to the Immcaculate Heart of Mary by its bishops was a prototype of what She requested for Russia even though unsolicited by Her. It did not take long for Portugal's Masonic government to be replaced by Antonio Salazar after this plea to Our Lady.
A.M. LaPietra
Dear Gabrielle, I think Pope John Paul upset Russia enough as they arranged via Bulgarian secret services to get rid of him when Ali Agca pulled the trigger one day in 1981, and I do not think he was afraid of upsetting Russians more. I do not know what is the source of this conviction - in my opinion - and this is only my opinion, he did consecration in this particular way because the errors of Russia spread well all over the world and did a lot of damage everywhere. This may be his intention rather than fear of upsetting Russians, Communists were supposed to be atheists?. As for the puppets that stayed in power after the fall of Communism, well, general Jaruselski had his trial, and in other countries things are better now.
By what our Lord revealed to Sr. Lucia, it can be surmised that the conversion of Russia to the Catholic faith will come very quickly after that nation's consecration. Why? Because Our Lord told Sr. Lucia that he wanted the whole world to acknowledge our Lady's role, and thus, to have the Church place devotion to Her Immaculate Heart alongside devotion to His Sacred Heart.
One proof that the consecration of the world in 1984 was NOT the consecration requested by God,- aside from a carefully reading of documents - is that our Church hierarchy has NOT even made as much as a suggestion of such a parallel devotion. A few years ago, some of us presented petitions to our bishop to have the diocese consecrated to Our Lady, and we were ignored.
No! No one will convince me that the consecration of Russia has been done.
For those who doubt 'instantaneous' conversions of entire peoples, just remember the millions who were converted in 1531 in New Spain. That was through the power of the Virgin! She did it before, and God wants her to intervene once more. When Russia is properly consecrated, then there will be no debating, no doubt whatsoever! We will know that she has conquered over the atheistic errors of Russia, and we will live that era of Godly peace; and the entire Church, from the Head on down, will propagate devotion to the TWO Hearts!
Fr Tim
While it is your privilege, and one I would defend, to disagree with me on some points regarding JP II (RIP) there is no doubt that Weigel is overawed by his subject and is not able to give a adequately objective critique at the same time -"the man with arguably the most coherent and comprehensive vision of the human possibility in the world ahead". Many critics would beg to differ on that one. Also, he is not sufficient of a psychologist to get inside his subject who insists this is how we ought to understand him: the interior man. Thus, it is incumbent on the observer to comprehend the nature of phenomenology and anthropological approaches to this in order to succeed in this respect. JP II may have had some conservative views on subjects such as all male priesthood and abortion, among others, but he was essentially a modernist philosophically speaking. Thus, there are many areas left uncovered. Enough said there.
It is interesting to note that the author is a Reaganite pro-capitalist and justifies a strong American global presence. This is in sharp contrast to the object of his biography who sometimes illustrated a certain kindly ambivalence toward marxist analysis and was certainly critical himself of American policies, such as the disastrous venture into Iraq for which he deserves enduring praise.
Where Fatima is concerned it is clear here that the nature of these apparitions goes beyond private revelation, strictly speaking, and therefore requires to be analysed from a different perspective. Fortunately, not all good Roman Catholics have been deluded into thinking the official line on Our Blessed Lady's admonishments, prophecies and requests that go with it. It time some people removed their blinkers and awoke from slumber where that is concerned. Bertone has given the game away already. It is often the same people who have swallowed the liturgical and scriptural myths that have abounded in the post-conciliar era.
As an addendum to my previous post,
People read the Remnant entry "Pravda: 'EU is Reincarnation of Soviet Union'"
When will people wake up? After they are kicked in the teeth by a soviet boot?
No one will convince me that the consecration of Russia has been done.
One wonders if you would be convinced even if the consecration were done (or re-done as Sister Lucia would say).
For those who doubt 'instantaneous' conversions of entire peoples, just remember the millions who were converted in 1531 in New Spain.
There were no instantaneous conversions in 1531. That was the year of the Guadalupe apparitions. The conversions came in the years and decades after the apparitions, not all in the same year.
Anyway, it's not that God can't effect mass conversions. It's that the Fatima visions do not mention anything about the Russian people undergoing a dramatic, sudden mass conversion after the Pope and the Bishops gather for a solemn consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. That is only one possible interpretation of the visions.
Also, [Weigel] is not sufficient of a psychologist to get inside his subject who insists this is how we ought to understand him: the interior man.
Weigel wrote THE comprehensive biography of John Paul II, and had access to him that no other writer had. Overawed of his subject or not, Weigel relates the actions and words of John Paul II that sustained and inspired the peoples of Eastern Europe. His contribution to the downfall of Russian Communist hegemony in Eastern Europe is a historical fact.
Thus, it is incumbent on the observer to comprehend the nature of phenomenology and anthropological approaches to this in order to succeed in this respect.
John Paul II was not a phenomenologist -- no phenomenologist would think so.
JP II may have had some conservative views on subjects such as all male priesthood and abortion, among others, but he was essentially a modernist philosophically speaking.
Right. As if a modernist could have written Veritatis Splendor or Fides et Ratio.
You simply have no understanding at all of John Paul II's philosophical views if you seriously believe something so laughable as that he was essentially a philosophical modernist.
It is interesting to note that the author is a Reaganite pro-capitalist and justifies a strong American global presence.
There are worse things one could be. But Weigel's views on these matters have no bearing on whether or not the events he describes really happened.
This is in sharp contrast to the object of his biography who sometimes illustrated a certain kindly ambivalence toward marxist analysis and was certainly critical himself of American policies, such as the disastrous venture into Iraq for which he deserves enduring praise.
Well, it was certainly disastrous for Saddam Hussein and for France, who was violating UN sanctions in their dealings with Hussein's regime. It has also been disastrous for the Christian communities of Iraq.
So which is it? Was Weigel overawed by his subject, or was he objective enough to be able to disagree with his subject on various matters of debatable policy and international relations?
Where Fatima is concerned it is clear here that the nature of these apparitions goes beyond private revelation, strictly speaking, and therefore requires to be analysed from a different perspective.
There is public revelation and there is private revelation. Does the Church know of any kind of revelation that is not public but is a step above private?
No, JP 2 was a phenomenologist, see
http://www.nfpoutreach.org/Hogan_Theology_%20Body1.htm
No, he wasn't a phenomenologist, though Father Hogan seems to be. The purpose of his essay is apparently to convince people that John Paul II's Theology of the Body depends on insights and a methodology derived from phenomenology -- but Father Hogan lets slip that, while the Holy Father did write a study of Husserl's disciple Scheler, he criticised Scheler extensively.
Father Hogan's essay does a much better job of trying to interpret the Theology of the Body through the lens of phenomenology than it does of showing that the Theology of the Body is really phenomenological or depends in any way on Husserl's ideas. The pope did study and derived insights from phenomenology, though, as did St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Dietrich von Hildenbrand. That's not the same thing as being a phenomenologist, however.
As Catholics we are exhorted by the Church to regard apparitions with caution. Apparitions – even approved ones – are not de fide. “Christian faith cannot accept ‘revelations’ that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such ‘revelations’" (CCC 67). Our feelings can be used dangerously against us – and apparitions can feed into these feelings. It’s significant that the dual charisms of indefectbility and infallibility do not lie with La Salette, Fatima, Akita, Bayside, Medjugorje, or with Christopher Ferrara of “The Secret is Still Hidden,” or Fr. Gruner, or John Vennari of Catholic Family News. The devil, the master of both deception and disobedience, has used apparitions and prophecies to help tear some of the faithful away from Peter – the same way that sins pull us away from God.
No quote from any saint or mystic in Yves Dupont’s "Catholic Prophecy" is de fide with the authority to bind our conscience. The traditionalist exegesis of Revelation becomes almost indistinguishable from the version offered up by the Tim LaHaye/Left Behind/Evangelical crowd -- as if the "faithful remnant" of those who worship according to the '62 Missal and reject the Second Vatican Council will be raptured into Heaven while everybody else burns. If that isn't a contemporary version of Jansenism, I don't know what is. What's worse is that this very exegesis makes a mockery of Christ's promise to His Church. If you believe Christ is a liar and the gates of Hell prevailed, why be a Catholic at all? The dual charisms of indefectbility and infallibility do not belong to the “faithful remnant” of Fatima adherents, but only to the Bishop and See of Rome. That's Vatican I. That's de fide. Catholics don't have the freedom to believe otherwise.
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