Timeo Danaos Et Dona Ferentes
Pastor Angelicus, pray for us!
“I fear the Greeks, even when they bear gifts” is the literal translation of the brilliant Virgil’s verse.
In our case, the Trojan Horse we must pay attention to is the allegedly ventilated canonisation of Pope Pius XII.
Having read about Padre Pio’s hours-long vision of our beloved Pastor Angelicus in heaven the day that great Pope died, I would not be among those who cry scandal and heresy if such a decision were to be taken. Canonisations are infallible anyway, so one has to either believe the Sea is vacant or believe they are true.
I would, in fact, be overjoyed; not because of the news that Pius XII is in heaven – Padre Pio had no doubts, and this is good enough for me every day of the week – but because of the obvious repercussions within the Church. At first sight, this appears a great gift made to conservative Catholics and, clearly, to us Traditionalists.
On the other hand, I offer the following reflections:
I fear an homosexuality-condoning, liturgy-massacring, heresy-flirting, sodomite-buddying, humbleness-professing, canon-law trampling Jesuit even when he bears gifts. Actually, I fear him particularly when he bears gift.
You can call it mistrust if you want to. I call it life experience, and sound reasoning.
I also wonder whether this rumour has not been started – by the Bishop of Rome, or someone near to him – to persuade the growing phalanx of well awake Catholics to tone done the criticism a bit. If you behave, Uncle Jorge will give you a chocolate cookie. If not… He will have to get rid of Summorum Pontificum, and it will be all your fault, you naughty boys…
Thirdly, I wonder whether this might not be the novocaine the dentist gives to the patient before he starts to get to work in earnest. Imagine a total or substantial killing of Summorum Pontificum coupled with the announcement of the canonisation.
What now, skipper?
Anyway, relata refero. It might be all rubbish, or it might be the Bishop is thinking of a Beatification.
We will have to wait and see how this pans out.
In the meantime, I will continue to fear the Greeks.
Mundabor
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Posted on August 1, 2013, in Catholicism, Conservative Catholicism, Traditional Catholicism and tagged Canonisation, Pope Francis, Pope Pius XII. Bookmark the permalink. 15 Comments.
Mundabor's Blog 
I concur!
quidquid id est timeo danaos et dona ferentis
Isn’t it “ferentes”.
It’s the nominative/accusative plural, if memory serves.
Agreed. Both correct, ferentes or ferentis (long i).
Do the Brits spell it falanx? I thought it was phalanx. Gotta love that good Greek spelling!
Ah, the automatic spell check did not correct “falanx” so I did not give any thought to that, translating from the Italian “Falange”. A short google search persuaded me “phalanx” is the correct word.
I stand corrected and thank you for the useful hint.
M
Surely the sign of inarguable commentary, Mundabor, when discussion is limited to translation only.. eh? no?
On all of the above I am in agreement, just as I am profoundly grateful for this blog, your efforts and those of the other Catholic minds here and elsewhere who contribute from all quarters to illuminate the darkness of the times. To think that in a devastating era the Lord has provided such a means for communication, action and sustenance for the faithful, well .. it’s a sign of great mercy.
Personally, I’d hope to see the canonisation of Pius XII wait until a true spiritual successor holds the throne (and that is not intended to be read as sede vacantist), but in any case I would not put money on Francis following through with this. It does indeed seem an off-the-cuff sop to traditional quarters, in the same vein as other gestures or statements which may have in earlier, simpler times (March? April?) filled us with some hope. Or it is simply an empty thought-bubble (we have a better saying down here, which relates to flatulence of the mind).
The following may be of interest, on the possible resurgence of ‘liberation theology’ under Francis, as if there wasn’t enough in the pipeline:
http://traditioninaction.org/bev/158bev07_31_2013.htm
The pictures alone speak 10,000 words.
Many thanks for your kind and encouraging words.
Yes, without the Internet it would be very easy for the Francis of this world to blind entire generations of Catholics after they have dumbed them down to the point of not being recognisable as Catholics anymore.
I for myself would have never recovered my Catholic roots – I was a lapsed Catholic, having grown up in the age of the guitars and tofu instruction – if the Brompton Oratory and the Internet had not given me the instruments to, literally, discover Catholicism.
M
Now all this talk of phalanxes and Falanges, coupled with your post on Mussolini, reminds me of General Franco – I wonder if there is a cause open at Rome for him?
‘Pastor Angelicus’ indubitably will be made a Saint one day, I’m sure of it. We must, I think, pray that the other eventuality (that we might be back to ‘Agatha Christie’, God bless her) does not come to pass.
I wish there was… 😉
I doubt there is…
M
I shall still pray for one – I have no Spanish connection, but General Franco was a hero, he stood almost in the age of Roland, Turpin and Godfrey.
No, I doubt there is. ‘The buggering up of the Church is a great sorrow to me’.
This blog is indeed, a treasure trove of commentary and instruction. Do you post it in both English and Italian? Just wondering…
Only English.
M
Pity its not in Italian or Spanish too. Borgoglio does not favour English. I would love him to read it and know how many of us are not fooled by him. But I am glad it’s in English for selfish reasons.
I doubt a present Bishop of Rome or a future Pope will ever read this blog. This is but a grain of sand in the beach of traditional Catholicism.
I would be very happy if Bergoglio would listen to the likes of cardinal Burke rather than to the likes of Monsignor (or should I say: Mademoiselle) Ricca. In whatever language he may prefer.
M