Episode 3113: He Loved Us First: Pentecost Monday - Morning Episode

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Book Recommendation of the Day
"Life of St. Columba" by Adomnán of Iona
• Original Title: Vita Columbae
• Written by: Adomnán, the 9th abbot of Iona (c. 679–704)
• Overview: This is the primary and most authoritative biography of St. Columba, written about a century after his death by someone within the Iona monastic community. It includes accounts of Columba’s miracles, prophecies, and his monastic leadership.
• Editions:
o Penguin Classics Edition (translated by Richard Sharpe)
o Oxford World’s Classics edition (more scholarly, with notes)
Before getting started, I want to cover two separate matters.
First, the blog Traditio known for its sedevacantist or sedeprivationist (seh-dee-PREV-uh-nist) (is a theological position held by some traditional Catholics who believe that the current pope (and recent popes) are materially but not formally popes.

In other words:
- They occupy the office of the papacy legally (materially),
- but do not exercise papal authority (formally) because of heresy or error,
- and thus lack the necessary intention or disposition to be true popes in the fullest sense.
leanings has expressed views questioning the validity of post-Vatican II ordinations and sacraments.
Specifically:
• The authors of Traditio have repeatedly claimed that the post-1968 Rite of Ordination, promulgated under Pope Paul VI, is defective or doubtfully valid.
• They argue that changes to the form and intent of the sacramental rites especially for Holy Orders, Confirmation, and even the Mass cast serious doubt on the validity of the sacraments conferred by priests ordained in the new rite.
• The site often states that many (or even most) Novus Ordo priests are not validly ordained, and therefore, their Masses and confessions are invalid or at best highly doubtful.
• They also criticize the use of vernacular languages, lay involvement, and ecumenical intent as further corruptions affecting validity and licitness.
It’s important to note:
• This position is not accepted by the Catholic Church.
• The Church holds that ordinations and sacraments celebrated according to the post-Vatican II rites are valid, provided they are performed with the correct matter, form, and intent.
• The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under Cardinal Ratzinger and subsequent Prefects, has reaffirmed the validity of the new sacramental rites.
Traditional Catholic groups like the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) or Institute of Christ the King (ICKSP), while attached to the pre-Vatican II liturgy, do not reject the validity of the post-Vatican II sacraments unlike Traditio.
The Latin phrase plenitudo potestatis translates to "fullness of power" or "fullness of authority" in English.
In the context of the Catholic Church, especially in canon law and ecclesiology, it refers specifically to the supreme and complete authority held by the Pope. This concept means that the Pope, as the successor of St. Peter and the Vicar of Christ, has full, supreme, and universal power over the entire Church.
Examples of Usage:
• Papal documents often use the term to affirm the Pope’s authority to govern the Church.
• Pope Innocent III and later Pope Boniface VIII used the term to assert the unique governing power of the papacy, especially over bishops and secular rulers.
It is a key idea behind the doctrine of papal primacy and jurisdiction in the Catholic Church.
When a Pope exercises his plenitudo potestatis (fullness of power) to canonize a saint, he is making use of his supreme apostolic authority in a formal and binding way. This authority is considered infallible under specific conditions.
Here’s how it works in the context of canonization:
Canonization: An Exercise of Plenitudo Potestatis
The canonization of a saint is the official declaration by the Pope that a person is in Heaven and worthy of public veneration by the universal Church. This declaration is irreformable and considered an act of papal infallibility, meaning it is free from error in faith and morals, because:
1. It pertains to a matter of faith (that the person is in Heaven).
2. It is declared ex cathedra (from the chair of Peter).
3. It is for the universal Church.
The Canonization Process (Overview)
Although the Pope has the fullness of power to canonize directly, in practice, the process has several structured steps to safeguard discernment and truth:
1. Servant of God – The cause begins; the local bishop investigates the person's life.
2. Venerable – The Pope (via the Congregation for the Causes of Saints) recognizes the person's heroic virtue.
3. Beatification – One verified miracle is required (unless the person is a martyr). The person is declared Blessed and may be venerated locally.
4. Canonization – A second verified miracle is usually required (again, unless the person is a martyr). The Pope then issues a Papal Bull of Canonization, which is a solemn declaration that the person is a Saint.
Why It's a Use of "Plenitudo Potestatis"
Because:
• The Pope alone has the authority to bind the entire Church to venerate someone as a saint.
• No bishop, council, or local authority can canonize universally.
• In declaring someone a saint, the Pope is not just making a recommendation; he is using his supreme, apostolic, and infallible authority to pronounce something about the divine order namely, the presence of the soul in Heaven.
Example:
When Pope Pius XII canonized St. Maria Goretti in 1950, he said:
“We decree and define that the Blessed Maria Goretti is a Saint and we enroll her in the catalog of the saints, commanding that she be honored as such by the whole Church.”
That phrase “we decree and define” reflects the Pope’s use of his plenitudo potestatis.
So even if a popes acts as pope are later determined to heretical that pope is a saint because the successor pope decrees so?
This is a very deep and important theological question especially from a traditional Catholic perspective, where reverence for the Church’s infallibility is balanced with caution toward modern innovations and potential errors. Let’s unpack your question carefully and clearly.
If a Pope, who in his lifetime taught or acted in ways later determined to be heretical, is canonized by a future Pope, is he still considered a saint simply because the Pope decreed it?
The Traditional Catholic Teaching:
According to traditional Catholic theology, the canonization of saints by a Pope is held to be infallible, provided that the canonization meets the proper criteria. This is because the canonization declares:
• That the person is in Heaven (a matter of faith),
• That the person is worthy of public veneration by the universal Church.
This is based on the Church’s teaching that the Pope, when acting ex cathedra on matters of faith and morals, cannot err due to the protection of the Holy Ghost.
St. Thomas Aquinas taught that canonizations are acts of the Church's jurisdiction and fall under the assistance of the Holy Ghost, so they are considered infallible.
So what if the Pope lived or acted heretically?
This is where things get controversial especially today. Here are the key distinctions:
If the canonization is validly declared, then:
• The subjective sanctity of the person (whether they truly are in Heaven) is affirmed infallibly.
• Their objective actions or teachings on Earth even if confusing, scandalous, or seemingly heretical do not invalidate the canonization if the Church declares them a saint.
However, traditional theologians (e.g., Cajetan, Bellarmine, Suarez) have noted:
• Canonizations assume that the person's life and doctrine were not heretical at death.
• If a pope was truly a heretic, and never repented, then by the logic of the Church's own teaching, he could not be in Heaven and therefore, canonizing him would be a grave error, contradicting the infallibility of the act.
What Do Traditional Catholics Say Today?
Many traditional Catholics question the recent canonizations of certain modern popes (e.g., John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II), arguing:
• These popes promoted teachings or practices (e.g., religious liberty, ecumenism, Assisi interfaith gatherings, etc.) that contradict previous magisterial teaching.
• The post-Vatican II canonization process is much shorter, less rigorous, and more political.
• Therefore, some doubt the infallibility of modern canonizations or at least question whether they meet the criteria for infallibility.
In Summary:
• Yes, if a canonization is validly decreed by a Pope acting with plenitudo potestatis, it is traditionally held to be infallible.
• However, if the canonization process itself is flawed (rushed, politicized, or lacking due diligence), then many traditional theologians believe that it is legitimate to question whether the act was truly guided by the Holy Ghost.
• The heretical actions of a person canonized do not change the declaration but they do raise serious theological concerns about whether the canonization was truly just or prudent.
Would you like a short write-up of what Fr. Chad Ripperger, Abp. Lefebvre, or traditional theologians like Dom Prosper Guéranger say about this topic?
Here's a brief but rich summary of what Fr. Chad Ripperger, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, and Dom Prosper Guéranger have taught or what can be inferred from their traditional theology regarding papal canonizations, infallibility, and the possibility of error, especially when the subject canonized may have lived or taught heretically.
Fr. Chad Ripperger — Exorcist, Thomist, Traditional Theologian
Fr. Ripperger holds firmly to traditional Thomistic theology and speaks cautiously but clearly about modern canonizations:
Key Points from His Talks & Writings:
• Fr. Ripperger distinguishes between absolute theological certainty (e.g., canonizations of older saints) and moral certainty, which he says is more applicable to recent canonizations.
• He has stated that if the canonization process is changed, it could affect the level of theological certitude we can have regarding the declaration.
• He holds that infallibility may apply, but only if the proper conditions are met including due investigation, historical scrutiny, and clear heroic virtue.
• When asked about certain canonized modern popes, Fr. Ripperger has said:
“People are right to question the process. They are not wrong to be hesitant.”
Summary:
Canonizations are infallible in principle, but not all modern canonizations necessarily meet the required conditions for the act to be considered an exercise of papal infallibility.
Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre: Founder of the SSPX
Abp. Lefebvre was deeply troubled by the post-Vatican II crisis and was one of the earliest to raise questions about modern canonizations.
His Warnings and Observations:
• He publicly questioned the sanctity of popes like Paul VI, pointing out their involvement in what he called the "auto-demolition of the Church" through liturgical and doctrinal innovation.
• Lefebvre emphasized that the new canonization procedures were less rigorous and more political.
• He taught that saints must be models of faith and doctrine and a pope who publicly promoted confusion or error could not be a credible model of heroic virtue.
• Lefebvre once said:
“What they present to us as saints now would have been condemned as modernists fifty years ago.”

Summary:
Archbishop Lefebvre believed that modern canonizations could be invalid if they were based on a corrupted or compromised process, and that such acts may not fulfill the conditions necessary for infallibility.
Dom Prosper Guéranger — Liturgical Theologian, Abbot of Solesmes
Writing in the 19th century, Dom Guéranger upheld the infallibility of canonizations, but he also recognized the serious responsibility and conditions attached to such acts.
Teachings on Canonization:
• He called canonization “a solemn judgment of the Church” and linked it to the exercise of the Church’s magisterium under the protection of the Holy Ghost.
• He emphasized that the Church, in declaring someone a saint, intends to bind the faithful to venerate that person publicly.
• However, he also held that such judgments are based on comprehensive and rigorous investigations not simply pious opinions or political motives.

Summary:
Guéranger believed canonizations were infallible when carried out according to the Church’s long-standing, rigorous procedures. He would likely have been critical of the modern shortened process and the lack of juridical formality.
Final Summary — Traditional Catholic Perspective:
Point Traditional Teaching
Canonizations Infallible if properly executed as a solemn, magisterial act.
Modern Process Shortened and politicized processes may not guarantee infallibility.
Canonizing a Heretical Pope? Theologically impossible if the pope was truly heretical and unrepentant at death.
Fr. Ripperger Warns about lowered certainty in recent canonizations.
Abp. Lefebvre Rejects modern canonizations that contradict traditional models of sanctity.
Dom Guéranger Affirms infallibility, but only under strict traditional conditions.
"He Loved Us First: Pentecost Monday, the Outpouring Continues"
INTRO
Welcome to today’s episode of Traditio Fidei, where we embrace the faith of our fathers and the richness of the Traditional Roman Rite. Today is Monday after Pentecost, June 9, 2025, and the Church continues to rejoice in the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles.
Epistle – Acts of the Apostles 10:34, 42-48 (abridged for emphasis)
"Peter, opening his mouth, said: In very deed I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons. … And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was appointed by God to be judge of the living and of the dead. … While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word. And the faithful of the circumcision … were astonished, for that the grace of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles also."
Gospel – John 3:16-21
"For God so loved the world, as to give His only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. … For God sent not His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by Him. … But he that doth truth, cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest."
Epistle Reflection
The Acts of the Apostles shows Peter finally realizing the universality of salvation. Though salvation was offered first to the Jews, the Holy Ghost now falls on the Gentiles, breaking down the ancient wall of division. Peter is astonished, and so should we be God’s mercy extends beyond borders, beyond ethnicity, beyond the “expected.” Pentecost is not just a Jewish feast anymore; it becomes Catholic, universal, for all time.
We are reminded of this: The Holy Ghost descends where there is humility and openness to truth, not pride in heritage. The great missionary mandate of the Church is to preach to all nations, and on this second day of the Octave of Pentecost, we reflect on how we continue the apostolic mission of conversion and sanctification.
Gospel Reflection
John 3:16 is perhaps the most quoted verse in Scripturebut how often is it truly meditated upon? “God so loved the world…” It is a love that gives, sacrifices, and saves. But we must never sever the love of God from His justice. Christ Himself says that the world is already judged and that those who do not believe are condemned because they have rejected the light.
This passage makes clear: Salvation is offered but not automatic. It requires belief, reception, and conversion. Those who "do truth" come into the light. Traditional Catholicism understands this not as a mere emotional response to love, but a daily fidelity to grace, sacraments, and obedience. The light is Christ. The darkness is sin. There is no neutral ground.
SAINTS OF THE DAY – JUNE 9
According to the traditional Roman calendar, today is the feast of St. Columba of Iona, abbot and missionary (†597). A great Celtic saint and founder of monasteries, St. Columba converted many of the Picts in Scotland. He exemplifies the missionary fire of Pentecost, having left behind noble rank to embrace monastic poverty and zeal for souls.
Also commemorated are:
• St. Primus and St. Felician, martyrs of the early Church, reminding us of the cost of Christian fidelity in an unbelieving world.
QUOTES & THEMES
• St. Augustine: "The New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old is unveiled in the New. Pentecost fulfilled the ancient type of the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai."
• Theme: The universality of salvation, divine love and justice, the missionary mandate, and the interior light of truth.
CLOSING PRAYER
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
O Holy Ghost, Spirit of Truth, Light of the Apostles, inflame our hearts with the fire of Thy divine charity. Enlighten our minds that we may know the truth, embrace it with docility, and boldly proclaim it in a world darkened by unbelief.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost, and St. Columba, zealous missionary of Thy truth, grant that we may live as true disciples of Christ, rejecting the darkness and walking always in Thy marvelous light.
We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Father, world without end. Amen.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Thank you for joining this episode. Stay rooted in the truths of Holy Mother Church, and let the Holy Ghost guide you to all truth. God bless you.