Dear Readers,

Some of you might be wondering why I should even bother to answer any questions on the subject of Religion?

Over the years, both in person, and by letter - before the days of the internet - many Catholics, even a few non-Catholics, asked me questions concerning various issues, problems, etc. which either they had or which a relative or a friend had and on whose behalf they wanted to know what the Truth is about such issues, problems, misunderstandings, etc., etc.

But now that we are in the age of the internet, it is much easier for people to ask their questions. Unfortunately, what might seem like a question that has a simple answer is usually not the case.  Why not?  Because the Laity, with a few obvious exceptions, have never had the opportunity to study their Catholic Faith in detail in formal classes like those which Seminarians are required to attend as part of the requirements for Ordination to the Holy Priesthood.

Usually, but not always, the primary reason why the answers to such questions are not "simple" or "brief" answers is because it is usually necessary to put the answer into proper context.  What does this mean?  It means that IF I was to simply give a one or two sentence answer, the answer most probably would not mean anything simply because most of the Laity have never studied the subject matter in which the answer is found, whether it has to do with a Church History which has not been re-written, or Canon Law, or Scholastic Philosophy, or Thomistic Theology, etc., etc.

Just is in other sciences, e.g. medicine, law, physics, etc., so also in Religion, there is a highly technical vocabulary - frequently in Latin - which means the average person today needs to have certain basic terms, and/or other parts of the context of the answer explained to them in some details in order for the answer to be much more easily understood by Catholics in particular and the public in general.

Most of the Laity do not understand the depths of the reality of the "Divine Commission" which every pre-Synod Vatican 2 Catholic Traditional Priest has received is to teach and to preach the unchangeable  Truths of the Catholic Faith.  One Saint has given everyone this ultra-brief explanation:

"Not on account of their own sins, but on account of the sins of others that they did not prevent, Priests are often condemned to Hell" (Saint John Chrysostom [b. Antioch, c. 347 A.D. - d. at Commana in Pontus on Friday, September 14, 407 A.D.], Patriarch of Constantinople [Thursday, February 26, 398 A.D. - Thursday, June 24, 404 A.D.], exiled from his See the 2nd time on Thursday, June 24, 404 A.D., Father and Doctor of the Catholic Church, Treatise on the Priesthood).

Perhaps some Readers may think that my efforts, while praiseworthy because of my desire to do what I can do to save souls, are really a waste of time since no one will pay any attention to what I take the time and the trouble to write?  Yet, I am comforted by this wise counsel:

“Cease labouring in vain and sowing upon rock many have been saying to me. But I hearkened to none of them.  For there is hope I said to myself that, God willing, my letter will accomplish something; but if that which We deprecate should take place, We shall at least have the advantage of escaping self reproach for keeping silence, and We shall not be worse than sailors on the sea, who, when they behold men of some other craft drifting on a plank, because their ship has been broken to pieces by the winds and waves, take down their sails, and cast anchor, and get into a boat and try to rescue the men, although strangers, known to them only in consequence of their calamity. But if the others were unwilling to be rescued, no one would accuse those of their destruction who attempted to save them. This is what We offer; but We trust that, by the Grace of God, YOU also will do your part” (Patriarch Saint John Chrysostom, Treatise on the Priesthood, Book I, An Exhortation to Theodoret after His Fall, Letter II, ¶ 5; emphasis added).

Another Holy Saint has summarized both the moral and Sacerdotal duty and obligation of all Catholic Traditional Priests and Prelates where he wrote in part:

"These latter days have witnessed a notable increase in the number of the enemies of the Cross of Christ, who, by arts entirely new and full of deceit, are striving to destroy the vital energy of the Church, and, as far as in them lies, utterly to subvert the very Kingdom of Christ. Wherefore, We may no longer keep silence, lest We should seem to fail in Our most sacred duty, and lest the kindness that, in the hope of wiser counsels, We have hitherto shown them, should be set down to lack of diligence in the discharge of Our Office" (Pope Saint Pius X, Giuseppe Sarto [Tuesday, August 4, 1903 - Thursday, August 20, 1914], Encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis, On the Doctrine of the Modernists -  Sunday, September 8, 1907; emphasis added).

Likewise, another Holy Catholic Saint, reminds Priests and Prelates that they must fulfill their respective duties:

"Do not be one of those timourous physicians who like their tranquility more than the saving of the sick... Even though Salome should dance before Herod, should ask for John's head and should obtain it from the detestable King, John's duty is to cry out: NON LICET! [It is not permitted!]” (Bishop Saint Ivo of Chartres, a.k.a. Yves, Ive, Yvo  [b. Beauvais, France or Auteuil, France, c. 1040 A.D. - d. Chartres, France, Tuesday, May 30, 1116 A.D.], Bishop of Chartres [1090 A.D. - Tuesday, May 30, 1116 A.D.], Letter # 24, To Bishop Hugh of Lyons, October, 1094 A.D.)!

Therefore, my duty is to cry out: NON LICET! and thereby to warn all Readers, regarding certain errors - called heresies - and various evils.

By the same token, on the positive side, I must also teach the beautiful Truths of the Holy Catholic Faith which includes explaining what they mean so that each person can better understand them.

The bottom line, it is all done for the Greater Honor and Glory of God and the Salvation of Immortal Souls.

Happy Reading!

God Bless You!

Father Michael

Thanks For Reading!