The Heresies in Benedict XVI’s 1981 Book Feast of Faith

 

By Bro. Peter Dimond, O.S.B.

*This is from my continuing study of Benedict XVI’s books.  For those who don’t know, Benedict XVI is Joseph Ratzinger.

 

Feast of Faith by “Cardinal” Joseph Ratzinger, 1981 (Ignatius Press, 1986)

 

Since there are so many heresies from Benedict XVI, I have limited myself to including only those heresies that are truly noteworthy.

 

HERESIES IN FEAST OF FAITH:

- BENEDICT XVI SAYS THAT LUTHER’S VIEW OF THE MASS CAN BE SYNTHESIZED WITH CATHOLIC TEACHING

-BENEDICT XVI SAYS THAT THE CUSTOMS OF PEOPLES SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE LITURGY (MODERNIST WORSHIP)

-BENEDICT XVI INSULTS THE COUNCIL OF TRENT’S DECREE ON THE EUCHARIST

-BENEDICT XVI PRAISES PROTESTANT WORSHIP AND SAYS IT’S BETTER THAN CATHOLIC

-BENEDICT XVI SAYS THAT CHRISTIANITY CAN LEARN FROM PAGAN RELIGIONS

 

BENEDICT XVI SAYS THAT LUTHER’S VIEW OF THE MASS CAN BE SYNTHESIZED WITH CATHOLIC TEACHING

 

“Cardinal” Joseph Ratzinger, Feast of Faith, 1981, p. 58: “I have reproduced the context of Gese’s study in some detail because I feel that its importance cannot be overestimated.  It puts the dispute over the question of sacrifice, which has separated Christendom for more than four centuries, in an entirely different light.  Surely there are new possibilities here for the ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Protestants?  For it gives us a genuinely New Testament concept of sacrifice that both preserves the complete Catholic inheritance (and imparts to it a new profundity) and, on the other hand, is receptive to Luther’s central intentions.  Such a synthesis is possible because the inner unity of both Testaments has been brought to light, a unity of which modern theology had increasingly lost sight, whereas the New Testament itself wished to be no more than the complete and full understanding of the Old Testament, now made possible in Christ.”

 

Martin Luther absolutely rejected that the Mass is a propitiatory sacrifice.  His view of the Mass is heretical and condemned by the Council of Trent.  But thanks to a new study, Benedict XVI tells us, the two views can be synthesized.  This is a disgusting perversion of Catholic dogma and a denial of the principle of non-contradiction.

 

BENEDICT XVI SAYS THAT THE CUSTOMS OF PEOPLES SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE LITURGY (MODERNIST WORSHIP)

 

“Cardinal” Joseph Ratzinger, Feast of Faith, 1981, p. 80: “First of all it must be said that both the Constitution on the Liturgy and the Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity explicitly allow for the possibility of far-reaching adaptations to the customs and cultic traditions of peoples.  To that extent the new Missal is only providing a framework for the mission lands.”

 

Benedict XVI is repeating the heretical teaching of Vatican II in endorsing the incorporation of customs of various peoples into the liturgy.  This is exactly what Pope Pius X solemnly condemned in Pascendi as Modernist worship.

 

Pope Pius X, Pascendi Dominici Gregis (# 26), Sept. 8, 1907, On the Worship of Modernists: “THE CHIEF STIMULUS IN THE DOMAIN OF WORSHIP CONSISTS IN THE NEED OF ADAPTING ITSELF TO THE USES AND CUSTOMS OF PEOPLES, as well as the need of availing itself of the value which certain acts have acquired by long usage.”

 

BENEDICT XVI INSULTS THE COUNCIL OF TRENT’S DECREE ON THE EUCHARIST

 

“Cardinal” Joseph Ratzinger, Feast of Faith, 1981, p. 130: “The Council of Trent concludes its remarks on Corpus Christi with something which offends our ecumenical ears and has doubtless contributed not a little toward discrediting this feast in the opinion of our Protestant brethren.  But if we purge its formulation of the passionate tone of the sixteenth century, we shall be surprised by something great and positive.”

 

Benedict XVI is referring to the Council of Trent’s infallible declaration on the Most Holy Eucharist in Sess. 13, Chap. 5.  He says that this declaration (Denz. 878), which confirms the Feast of Corpus Christi and discusses the triumph over falsehood and heresy, offends his ecumenical ears and that its “formulation” needs to be purged (which means to make clean or rid of objectionable elements)!  This is heretical.

 

BENEDICT XVI PRAISES PROTESTANT WORSHIP AND SAYS IT’S BETTER THAN CATHOLIC

 

“Cardinal” Joseph Ratzinger, Feast of Faith, 1981, p. 144: “It always impresses me that our Protestant brethren, in transforming the medieval liturgical forms, have achieved a real balance between, on the one hand, the relationship of the community to its leader and, on the other, their common relationship to the cross.  Their whole basic approach laid great weight on the community character of worship and the interplay of leader and congregation, whereas in the Catholic liturgy of former times this only consisted in the priest’s turning around for a brief ‘Dominus vobiscum’ or to invite the people to pray.  But when it is a question praying together, Protestants, people and leader, together turn to the image of the Crucified.  I think we should seriously try to learn from this.”

 

So, the way that the Protestants destroyed the Mass and replaced it with an invalid community meal service (which totally rejects that it is a propitiatory sacrifice) impresses him.  Oh, and we should learn from it, too. 

 

BENEDICT XVI SAYS THAT CHRISTIANITY CAN LEARN FROM PAGAN RELIGIONS

 

“Cardinal” Joseph Ratzinger, Feast of Faith, 1981, p. 24: “I believe that as far as religion is concerned, the present age will have to decide ultimately between the Asiatic religious world view and the Christian faith.  I have no doubt that both sides have a great deal to learn from each other.”

 

Notice that Benedict XVI doesn’t say that Christian people can learn from certain members of these religions, which is true.  For instance, if a non-Christian taught a Christian something true about a particular trade or the world.  No, Benedict says that Christianity itself can learn from a pagan religion, as if they are on an equal level.

 

A HERETIC CANNOT BE A VALID POPE

                   

It is a proven fact that Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI) is a non-Catholic heretic.  The Catholic Church teaches that a heretic cannot be validly elected Pope, since a heretic is not a member of the Catholic Church.  Ratzinger, who is now Benedict XVI, is a non-Catholic Antipope whose election was utterly null and void.

 

Pope Paul IV, Bull Cum ex Apostolatus Officio, Feb. 15, 1559: “6. In addition, [by this Our Constitution, which is to remain valid in perpetuity We enact, determine, decree and define:-] that if ever at any time it shall appear that any Bishop, even if he be acting as an Archbishop, Patriarch or Primate; or any Cardinal of the aforesaid Roman Church, or, as has already been mentioned, any legate, or even the Roman Pontiff, prior to his promotion or his elevation as Cardinal or Roman Pontiff, has deviated from the Catholic Faith or fallen into some heresy:

(i) the promotion or elevation, even if it shall have been uncontested and by the unanimous assent of all the Cardinals, shall be null, void and worthless;
(ii) it shall not be possible for it to acquire validity (nor for it to be said that it has thus acquired validity) through the acceptance of the office, of consecration, of subsequent authority, nor through possession of administration, nor through the putative enthronement of a Roman Pontiff, or Veneration, or obedience accorded to such by all, nor through the lapse of any period of time in the foregoing situation;
(iii) it shall not be held as partially legitimate in any way…

 (vi) those thus promoted or elevated shall be deprived automatically, and without need for any further declaration, of all dignity, position, honour, title, authority, office and power….

10. No one at all, therefore, may infringe this document of our approbation, re-introduction, sanction, statute and derogation of wills and decrees, or by rash presumption contradict it. If anyone, however, should presume to attempt this, let him know that he is destined to incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul.

Given in Rome at Saint Peter's in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1559, 15th February, in the fourth year of our Pontificate.

+ I, Paul, Bishop of the Catholic Church…”

 

St. Robert Bellarmine: “A pope who is a manifest heretic automatically (per se) ceases to be pope and head, just as he ceases automatically to be a Christian and a member of the Church.  Wherefore, he can be judged and punished by the Church.  This is the teaching of all the ancient Fathers who teach that manifest heretics immediately lose all jurisdiction.” (De Romano Pontifice, II, 30)

 

The Catholic Encyclopedia, “Papal Elections,” 1914, Vol. 11, p. 456: "Of course, the election of a heretic, schismatic, or female [as Pope] would be null and void."

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