Although baptized, we still fall ill. Although baptized, we feel the relentless attacks of concupiscence. Although baptized, we suffer the vicissitudes of a life subjected to sin. And, most importantly, although baptized, we are subject to death. If Adam and Eve, before the fall, were not touched by any of the evils of this life, how can we say that, through the Holy Sacrament of Baptism, “We are somewhat already in Paradise”? It is time to answer, as much as possible, this challenging question.

In order to do this, we need to reflect, using as vivid and expressive imagery as possible, on the human condition before the fall, so that we can contemplate our situation after the fall. Only when these aspects are clarified, can we revisit the topic of Holy Baptism and discuss the effects it has on those saved “by the laver of regeneration” (Titus 3:5).

Pius XII’s Humani Generis from 1950 was the last major encyclical warning Catholics about the dangers facing the Church prior to Vatican II. In it, he denounced what he termed the “imprudent zeal for souls” that led some Catholics to question the necessity of belonging to the Catholic Church:

“Some say they are not bound by the doctrine, explained in Our Encyclical Letter of a few years ago, and based on the Sources of Revelation, which teaches that the Mystical Body of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church are one and the same thing. Some reduce to a meaningless formula the necessity of belonging to the true Church in order to gain eternal salvation. Others finally belittle the reasonable character of the credibility of Christian faith. These and like errors, it is clear, have crept in among certain of Our sons who are deceived by imprudent zeal for souls or by false science.”

To someone not initiated into the symbolic universe of the Roman Catholic Church, the liturgy, the Sacraments, and the interior of a church building mean nothing. Invisible to physical eyes, their profound and coherent meanings remain inaccessible. Comparing this situation to a foreign language doesn’t help because someone seeing a page written in, let’s say, Japanese, knows for sure that there is a language he does not understand. Yet, it is a language that, even if not comprehended, is rich with meanings. In the case of the sacred symbols, however, a profane observer sees only elements made from familiar materials: water, oil, fire, bread, wine, etc. These are things he could even use without realizing he is committing sacrilege because all of these are commonplace in the profane context of our everyday lives. So, an observer whose mind is not attuned to perceive their meanings will see nothing more than that. The only intelligible things, partially, to an accidental participant in a Sacrament or the celebration of the Holy Liturgy, would be the words spoken by the celebrants of the sacred mysteries. But even those words do not fully reveal their meanings.

At this point in Francis’s Synod on Synodality, most rational Catholics who have paid attention have seen enough to know that it is a deliberate attack from hell on the Catholic Church. In hindsight, this ought to have been clear from Francis’s opening address of the Synod over two years ago, when he announced his intention to create a different church:

“Father Congar, of blessed memory, once said: ‘There is no need to create another Church, but to create a different Church’ (True and False Reform in the Church). That is the challenge. For a ‘different Church,’ a Church open to the newness that God wants to suggest, let us with greater fervour and frequency invoke the Holy Spirit and humbly listen to him, journeying together as he, the source of communion and mission, desires: with docility and courage.”

New from RTV...

This edition of The Remnant Underground comes straight from London, England, where Michael Matt addresses the Family Life International Conference. In this important talk, Michael leans heavily on his own upbringing to share ideas on how to raise Christocentric children in a Christophobic world.

Of course, nobody likes to be told how to raise their children, and so Michael goes out of his way NOT to do that. He simply shares 10 points on what worked for his wife and him as they raised their seven children in the traditional Catholic Faith.

This one should be shared far and wide, but especially with adult children, grandchildren, and anyone just starting out in married life.  Michael goes into detail on what parents can do with iPhones, television, pop music, movies, education, and friends that do not share our family’s Christian values.

“Faith of our Fathers! Holy Faith! We will be true to thee till death.” (Faith of Our Fathers, Fr. Frederick William Faber)

The sign of Jonah

The confrontations of Our Lord Jesus Christ with the priests became all the more intense as His earthly life approached its end. After presenting Him as a dangerous sorcerer who performed exorcisms with the help of demons (Luke 11:15), they began to continuously tempt Him with questions designed to give his adversaries the opportunity to incriminate Him. Mockingly, they even asked Him for miracles: “Master, we would see a sign from thee.” (Matthew 12:38) However, knowing the hardness of their hearts, the Savior only offered them one sign: “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.” (Matthew 12:39)

In his February 25, 2019 address on the fiftieth anniversary of Cardinal Augustin Bea’s death, Francis praised Bea’s ability to foster unity among all people as well as his immense influence at Vatican II: 

“[The Cardinal Bea Centre for Judaic Studies], in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Center for the Study of Christianity in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is commemorating Cardinal Augustin Bea by a series of scholarly lectures marking the fiftieth anniversary of his death. You thus have an opportunity to reconsider this outstanding figure and his decisive influence on several important documents of the Second Vatican Council. The issues of the Church’s relationship with Judaism, Christian unity, and freedom of conscience and religion, remain significant and extremely timely.”

New from RTV...

In this Remnant Underground, Michael Matt connects the dots on the agenda behind the Synod on Synodality.

Wonder why the push for homosexual and divorced/re-married couples to receive Church blessings and Holy Communion?

Here’s why.

Catholic Identity Conference Videos: https://videos.catholicidentityconference.org/

Family Life International Conference: https://eventcatholic.com/event/catholic-conference-on-the-family-2023/

Rome Life Forum: https://romelifeforum.com/

We shot this last year, and it picked up a half million views. But I honestly think it's more relevant now than then. If you want to know what the Synod is all about, please watch and share:

Here is the long-awaited mystery guest of the 2023 Catholic Identity Conference: His Excellency, Bishop Joseph Strickland. This was the best night in CIC history, and you'll see why!

From Michael Matt's introduction to the prayer and blessing which closed it and the longest standing ovation you've ever heard, this was an evening of inspiration and confirmation in the Faith.

God bless Bishop Strickland, who is standing faithfully by the foot of the Cross as the Church undergoes Her passion. A solitary figure we all look to for strength, not unlike those who stood by the Cross of Christ that first Good Friday, and who must have been so edified to see at least one Apostle -- St. John (one of the first bishops) -- had not abandoned his Lord.

Please watch and share His Excellency's talk. Let him show you what it looks like when a bishop simply does his job and defends the Deposit of Faith from the wolves who seek to devour it. 

Watch the full conference online through January 2024:
https://videos.catholicidentityconference.org/