TERRIBLE IS THIS PLACE!
On The Desecration of the Marian Shrine of Fatima
©Father Louis Campbell. Sermon delivered on 9th November 2003, at the Shrine of Saint Jude, Stafford, Texas. Dedication of the Arch-Basilica of Our Savior.
The Mass today is for the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, the Arch-basilica of Our Savior Jesus Christ. The Proper of the Mass for the Dedication is called
Terribilis, taken from the beginning Introit from Genesis 28: 17,
Terribilis est locus iste..., translated: "Terrible is this place: it is the house of God, and the gate of Heaven; and it shall be called the court of God." Now the meaning here of "terrible" is "awesome", calling for holy fear in the presence of the Almighty. Yet so many have forsaken reverence and holy fear, and treat devotion as nothing more than outmoded superstition which doesn't compute with modern thinking.
To us the word "terrible" generally means "awful", a word which best describes the state of the Church today. Yet, like the saints of old, we are not hopeless.
St. Paul, in chains in a Roman prison in the year 63 A.D., and soon to give witness to the Gospel by the shedding of his blood, makes a surprising reference to joy: "�I have you in my heart, all of you, alike in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, as sharers in my joy" (Phil.1:7). Such joy comes with unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.
On his way to imprisonment in Rome, Paul and his companions had suffered a violent storm and shipwreck off the island of Malta: "As we were being tossed about by the violence of the storm, the next day they threw some of the cargo overboard; and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship's gear overboard. As neither sun nor stars were visible for many days and no small storm was raging, all hope of our being saved was in consequence given up" (Acts 27:18-20).
But an angel assured Paul that all would be saved, and as the ship was breaking up on the rocks near the island some swam to safety, and "they brought the rest in, some on planks and others on various pieces from the ship. And so it came to pass that all got safely to land" (Acts 27:44).
The story sounds like a parable for our times. Think of the barque of Peter, being tossed on the stormy seas of this world, weighted down by excess baggage, much of which will have to be thrown overboard. We have not seen the light of true doctrine or valid liturgical practice for years, and we may fear that all is lost. We have been hearing of a
New Advent, a
New Pentecost, and a
New Church, hatched by a
New Mass, according to the principle: "Lex orandi, lex credendi," meaning that a new faith results from a new way of praying.
The New Church is above all an ecumenical church. We read from
The Portugal News, and I will quote most of this article so that you will know the full extent of the incredible horror we are facing:
"Delegates attending the Vatican and United Nations (UN) inspired annual interfaith congress 'The Future of God', held during October in Fatima, heard how the Shrine is to be developed into a centre where all the religions of the world will gather to pay homage to their various gods. The Congress was held in the Paul VI Pastoral Centre and presided over by the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon Jos� de Cruz Policarpo.
"The Shrine's rector, Monsignor Luciano Guerra, told the Congress that Fatima 'will change for the better.' Addressing Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox, Buddhist and African Pagan representatives he stated: 'The future of Fatima, or the adoration of God and His mother at this holy Shrine, must pass through the creation of a shrine where different religions can mingle. The inter-religious dialogue in Portugal, and in the Catholic Church, is still in an embryonic phase, but the Shrine of Fatima is not indifferent to this fact and is already open to being a universalistic place of vocation'...
"Monsignor Guerra pointed out that the very fact that Fatima is the name of a Muslim and Mohammed's daughter, is indicative that the Shrine must be open to the co-existence of various faiths and beliefs. According to the Monsignor: 'Therefore we must assume that it was the will of the Blessed Virgin Mary that this comes about this way.' Traditional Catholics opposed to the Congress were described by the Monsignor as 'old fashioned, narrow minded, fanatic extremists and provocateurs.'�
"One of the principal speakers, the Jesuit theologian Father Jacques Dupuis, was insistent that the religions of the world must unite. 'The religion of the future will be a general converging of religions in a universal Christ that will satisfy all', he said� The Belgium born theologian argued: 'The other religious traditions in the world are part of God's plan for humanity and the Holy Spirit is operating and present in Buddhist, Hindu and other sacred writings of Christian and non-Christian faiths as well.' In an impassioned plea he said: 'The universality of God's kingdom permits this, and this is nothing more than a diversified form of sharing in the same mystery of salvation. In the end it is hoped that the Christian will become a better Christian and each Hindu a better Hindu.'
"An official statement put out by the Congress called for a non-proselytizing approach by all religions [don't try to convert]. 'No one religion can irradiate another', it said 'or strengthen itself by downplaying others and an open dialogue is the way to building bridges and tearing down walls of centuries of hate. What is needed is that each religion be true to its faith integrally and treat each religion on the same footing of equality with no inferior or superiority complexes.'�
Delegates agreed that religious shrines, including Fatima, should be revamped every 25 years to reflect modern day trends and beliefs. The Shrine of Fatima is about to undergo a complete reconstruction with a new stadium-like basilica being erected close by the existing one built in 1921."
Perhaps we know now why the Vatican has disposed of the Third Secret of Fatima by making it a matter of past history-the attempted assassination of John Paul II in 1981. That troublesome prophecy had to be swept aside lest it interfere with the plans that were in the works for the Fatima Shrine-to make it a center for the New World Church, where the worship of some Cosmic Christ would "satisfy all". "Terrible is this place" indeed.
Like St. Athanasius, all we can say is, "They've got the buildings; we've got the faith." If half of what we read in this article is true, we are indeed seeing the barque of Peter run aground and breaking up under the violence of the sea. But of this be sure-even clutching to bits and pieces of what is left of the true Church we will come safely to our homeport. If clinging to the true faith means being "old fashioned, narrow minded, fanatic extremists and provocateurs," we should be proud to wear the label. "Blessed shall you be when men hate you, and when they shut you out, and reproach you, and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and exult, for behold your reward is great in heaven" (Lk.6:22-23).
©Father Louis Campbell. Sermon delivered on 9th November 2003, at the Shrine of Saint Jude, Stafford, Texas. Dedication of the Arch-Basilica of Our Savior.