Re: Leo offering Charles a seat at a Papal basilica in Rome. Kudos to Archbishop Vigano for addressing the scandalous irony, namely imagining Pope Clement VII doing likewise for Henry VIII. Clement VII in fact initiated Henry’s excommunication proceedings (which were completed by his successor Paul III). We could add a similarly ridiculous picture of Pope Leo X (Clement’s cousin and predecessor) granting a place of honor to Martin Luther (i.e. the heretic whom he excommunicated in 1521).
To add to the absurdity, Leo and Charles plan a special earth worship service in the Sistine Chapel. But, little do they know, the condemnatory Clement VII will virtually be there too. Yes, he’s the pope who commissioned “The Last Judgment,” Michelangelo’s monumental altar piece and fearsome fresco which dominates the Sistine Chapel.
“Tuning out the new Quietism.” Jackson’s recent essay rightly admonishes us to do so. But we need to know that it’s not just a safety tip or brotherly suggestion; it’s not just a “zip it” precaution in an era of stupendous scandals. Quietism was summarily condemned as a heresy by Pope Innocent XI in 1687… although still “fashionable” among some French Catholic elite and Protestant Huguenot converts to Catholicism. Twelve years later, Pope Innocent XII duly renewed the anathema on Quietist heretics, their sermons and publications.
If we look at today’s runaway Synodal Church, it’s not hard to see the shameless revival of this heresy. Quietism holds that humans can attain such a degree of righteousness (i.e. perceived union with God) as to become sinless. The perfect state of Quietude is salvific unto itself. The results of this fantasy are obvious and timeless: no fear of hell, no essential need to fast and do penance or go to confession… no need for formal dogma or hierarchical traditions or particular sacerdotal rites. The Quietist soul “in direct communion” with God is imagined to be so separated from bodily affairs as to be absolved from responsibility and punishment for its sins and imperfections.
Re: Leo offering Charles a seat at a Papal basilica in Rome. Kudos to Archbishop Vigano for addressing the scandalous irony, namely imagining Pope Clement VII doing likewise for Henry VIII. Clement VII in fact initiated Henry’s excommunication proceedings (which were completed by his successor Paul III). We could add a similarly ridiculous picture of Pope Leo X (Clement’s cousin and predecessor) granting a place of honor to Martin Luther (i.e. the heretic whom he excommunicated in 1521).
To add to the absurdity, Leo and Charles plan a special earth worship service in the Sistine Chapel. But, little do they know, the condemnatory Clement VII will virtually be there too. Yes, he’s the pope who commissioned “The Last Judgment,” Michelangelo’s monumental altar piece and fearsome fresco which dominates the Sistine Chapel.
“Tuning out the new Quietism.” Jackson’s recent essay rightly admonishes us to do so. But we need to know that it’s not just a safety tip or brotherly suggestion; it’s not just a “zip it” precaution in an era of stupendous scandals. Quietism was summarily condemned as a heresy by Pope Innocent XI in 1687… although still “fashionable” among some French Catholic elite and Protestant Huguenot converts to Catholicism. Twelve years later, Pope Innocent XII duly renewed the anathema on Quietist heretics, their sermons and publications.
If we look at today’s runaway Synodal Church, it’s not hard to see the shameless revival of this heresy. Quietism holds that humans can attain such a degree of righteousness (i.e. perceived union with God) as to become sinless. The perfect state of Quietude is salvific unto itself. The results of this fantasy are obvious and timeless: no fear of hell, no essential need to fast and do penance or go to confession… no need for formal dogma or hierarchical traditions or particular sacerdotal rites. The Quietist soul “in direct communion” with God is imagined to be so separated from bodily affairs as to be absolved from responsibility and punishment for its sins and imperfections.