Dear readers,

“Such false apostles are deceitful workmen, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder: for Satan himself transformeth himself into an angel of light.” (2 Cor. 11:13-14)

One of the gems of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius is no doubt his Rules for the Discernment of Spirits, so much needed in this time of diabolical disorientation.

“Satan into an Angel of light”? Yes. Not all that glitters is gold. Not all that seems good is good. Just as our modern world excels in copying, forging, and imitating anything, so does the devil, who is prince of the world and the father of lies. Today he is having a field day, harvesting on the ignorance of so many. But the saints have given us the weapons to see through him. “The evil spirit begins by suggesting thoughts that are suited to a devout soul and ends by suggesting his own” (Spiritual Exercises, n. 332). How many people are caught!

Examples of this deceitful light, this apparent good, are plenty.

“Let’s make the Holy Mass more understandable by using only the vernacular.” Yet, the Holy Mass will always remain a mystery which we can never fully understand—in any language! Thus they “throw out the Divine Baby and the bath water,” reducing the Holy Sacrifice to a mere celebration of man.

“Accept the traditional Mass, as long you also accept the New Mass and the ideas behind it, i.e., Vatican II.” Yet, these were the very causes of the demolition of the sacred liturgy!

“Let’s dialogue with heretics and schismatics, and let’s be friends.” Yet, this move is not aimed at converting and leading to the one true fold of Christ. The obvious result is a drastic drop in the number of conversions.

“We are for Tradition!” For them, this means “yes” when they mean the Living Tradition, that is, today’s modern errors; but “No” when they mean the pre-Vatican II teaching!

“Mercy!” Even that most divine reality has been gutted of its traditional meaning. Does it mean God’s grace pulling a soul out of sin to infuse in it the divine life, or merely a merciless condoning of the very state of sin?

Last October’s Synod asked for discernment. But this discernment is no longer to distinguish between good and evil; we are being asked to discern in order to approve evil. “Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil: that put darkness for light, and light for darkness!” (Is. 5:20)

Have mercy on us, O Lord! Exsurge, Domine!

 

Fr. Daniel Couture