Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:01 This morning, we're going to spend some time considering a topic about which there currently seems to be a lot of confusion before we actually turned the topic. We'll spend a few minutes, making sure we have a clear grasp of the principles involved and to do that. We'll turn to the greatest doctor, the church st. Thomas Aquinas. It's usually I'll just do a lot of cutting editorial comments throughout. Okay. Let's start st. Thomas House, where the ceremonies, the old law, the mosaic law ceased at the coming of Christ. And the answer is yes, are completely over and done with at that time. Why? Because the Saint Thomas points out when we're dealing with the worship of God, our external acts must correspond to our internal beliefs. It's a really important principle when we're dealing with the worship of God, our external acts must corresponder internal beliefs. We already know that.
Speaker 0 00:00:56 That's why when we're here in the presence of our Lord and most blessed sacrament, because we believe he's really their body blood soul and divinity. We express that internal belief, our external department, you know, on Sundays where no Sunday bursts, the way we can, you flag being quiet, following the rubrics and so forth. Anyway, we know that the important point for our purposes today is that the situation with regards to the interior act of our faith is significantly different than the interior act people or the old covenant. They looked forward with anticipation to the coming of Christ. And currently we're after the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, because those interior acts of looking forward to Christ coming and recognizing his, having already come are not the same. The external expressions, which are the liturgical ceremonies cannot be the same st. Thomas explained, quote, the ceremonies, the old law, which foreshadowed the new covenant and the joys of heaven had to cease at the advent of the new covenant and other ceremonies had to be introduced, which would be in keeping with a state of divine worship for that particular time close quote, the ceremonies all lost ceased and other ceremonies took their place.
Speaker 0 00:02:18 For example, the Sabbath, which was meant to remind the old Testament, faithful about the creation of everything by God. In the beginning, the Sabbath was replace by Lord's day, which is meant to remind us the new Testament, faithful about the resurrection of our Lord and his new creation. All things have been made new in Christ. Okay? We can not st. Thomas SAS, whether since Christ passion, the ceremonies of the law, the mosaic law can be observed without committing mortal sin. Saint Thomas quote, all religious ceremonies are professions of faith in which the interior worship of God consists. Now, man can profess his inward faith by deeds as well as by words. And in either profession, if he makes a false declaration, he sins, mortally paranthetically remark. Everybody already knows this. That was the whole issue with so many of the early martyrs who refuse to burn a pinch of incense to a statue, you know, to the genius of Caesar.
Speaker 0 00:03:18 Why? Because they understood clearly. And so did the pagans that were persecuting him that by burning that incense, they're making it fashion of faith. Cesar was in some sense, divine. And at the same time that external profession of placing a pinch would mean a mortal sin, anterior against the true faith, right? Lots of martyrs for that. Okay. Back to st. Thomas, all religious ceremonies are professions of faith in which the interior worship of God consists. Now, Matt can professors inward faith by deeds, as well as by words and an either profession. If he makes a false declaration, he sins mortally. Now, though, our faith in Christ is the same as that of the fathers of the old Testament. Yeah. Since they came before Christ, we come after him. The same faith is expressed in different words by us. And by them, for example, they used to say, behold old, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son using verbs in the future tense.
Speaker 0 00:04:19 But we refer to the same event using verbs in the past tense. When we say that she conceived and bore in like manner, the ceremonies of the old law point forward to Christ as having yet to be born and yet to suffer. But our sacraments signify him as having been born and having suffered. Therefore just is, it would be a mortal sin for any professors' faith. Nowadays used to sit at Christ is yet to be born, which the fathers of the old covenant said devoutly and truthfully. So also it would be a mortal sin nowadays to observe those ceremonies, which the fathers of the old covenant fulfilled with devotion and fidelity close quote st. Thomas Justice would be a mortal sin for anyone professing his faith nowadays, to say that Christ is yet to be born, which the father is the old covenant said devoutly and truthfully.
Speaker 0 00:05:15 So, so it would be mortal sin nowadays to observe those ceremonies, which the fathers of old fulfilled with devotion fidelity, quick review, whatever we've seen, we've seen it when we're worshiping God or external acts most correspond to our internal beliefs, which is why the ceremonies, the old law, which looked forward to the coming of Christ had to pass away after the public promulgation, the gospel, after the public announcement that Christ had indeed been born and suffered die for us, we've seen it. All religious ceremonies are outward professions of the man's interior faith, and it, since a man can profess his faith by either words or deeds, if he makes a false declaration about his faith in either word or deed, in either case he sins, mortally and applying these principles to the ceremony of the old law, we've seen, it would be a mortal sin objectively speaking for anyone nowadays to say that Christ is yet to be born.
Speaker 0 00:06:10 It would also be a mortal sin objectively speaking for anyone nowadays to participate in a religious ceremonies of the old covenant. K all that's easy enough to understand. Now let's turn to today's topic. It's a problem that breaks out every spring and actually is beginning to involve a lot of very good Catholics who most likely are completely unaware of the issues. The problem is Catholic participation, the Seder, or in so-called Catholic or Christianites Seder. So let's get started by making sure we know what a Seder is. And then we'll look at the so called Catholic or Christianize Seder. What is a Seder? Seder is a Jewish religious ceremony. Psychobiotic Britannica explains to the Seders quote, a ritual meals served on the first night of the Passover commemorating the flight of the Jews from Egypt presided over by the head of the family. The Cedar falls, a liturgy that reminds participants of the story of the Exodus.
Speaker 0 00:07:05 The ritual includes blessings, the pouring of wine and Richard questions about the meaning of the event. They're asked by the youngest child present the meal includes unleavened bread and breeder. Herb's close quote, other sources, point out that quote the wards and rituals with Sarah primary vehicle for the transmission of the Jewish faith from one generation to the next close quote. So it's a Jewish, uh, ritual meal. Okay. What is the origin of this Jewish ritual meal that follows a liturgy? The encyclopedia of Judaism answers that quote in the biblical and temporal periods, the observance of the Passover was concentrated on the Pascal sacrifice. Nice following the destruction of the second temple in 70 a D they don't use a D, but we will following the destruction of the second temple in 78 D the rabbis had to recast the observance of Passover without the Pascoe sacrifice.
Speaker 0 00:08:01 The development of the post temple Seder took place gradually closed, quote, encyclopedia, Judaism, other Jewish sources explain the basic ritual was established by about the middle of the third century Ady, but that the first mentioned the Seder plate is about 1,080. Although it may have been part of the ritual by about the fifth century, a D on the state of plate among other things. There's a shank bone of a lamb, sometimes used a chicken bone, as well as a roasted or a hard boiled egg shank bone symbolize the Pascal lamb offered and sacrifice in the temple. The egg symbolizes yet another temple sacrifice. One of the cups of wine, the cup for Elijah is associated with messianic hope of looking forward to the coming of Christ and or the messianic age. Okay. It's enough. Back on, understand what it is now, let's ask ourselves a question, given that in the first place, the Seders at Jewish, right, used a hand on Judaism from one generation to the next.
Speaker 0 00:09:00 And furthermore, given that certain aspects of the state are point towards the sacrifices in the temple, which are ceremonies of the old law, which prefigured our Lords once for all sacrifice and Calvary. And given that certain aspects of the theater or shows created with the future coming of the Messiah as if Christ had not yet come given all that. And also given that it would be a mortal sin for a Catholic to participate in ceremonies, in which either the words or the deeds point for decry as if he is yet to come given all that can any Catholic possibly participate in such ritual without at least objective speaking, being guilty of a mortal sin. It's obvious the answer's obvious, objectively speaking. It's impossible for Catholic to participate in a Seder without committing a mortal sin. Now let's turn to the so called Catholic Seder and deal with that issue.
Speaker 0 00:09:56 We'll limit ourselves to two examples. First example is taken from a book published by literary training publications of the archdiocese of Chicago in cooperation with anti defamation league. It's entitled the Passover celebration, a Haggard. I'm sorry if I'm mispronouncing that for the Seder quote in large and small groups, Christians have begun to celebrate the Seder meal.dot dot. We do not come to the Seder as to a history lesson or to a restaging. The last supper of Jesus. We come to Seder just as it is celebrated by Jews close quote. Well, if we come to the Seder just as it's celebrated by Jews, then objectively speaking as Catholics, we commit a mortal sin. It's actually a serious sin against the first commandment. It's a serious sin of superstition, which might surprise some people. It's safe to say that most Catholics don't have a clear idea of exactly what superstition is.
Speaker 0 00:10:55 This is specific sin, a superstition called false worship. Here's a brief explanation from the first commandment section of a moral theology book. Quote, superstition is false worship of the true God or true worship paste to a false God. One sins by false worship. If one worships God by the ceremonial rights to the old Testament, these are grave sins, close quote, second. And last example, I'm just using a typical example of the argument used by people in good faith that are actually trying to be good Catholics. This example was taken from an announcement written by a priest who by all accounts is probably very well meaning. This is from a bulletin put out by a priest. This Seder meal will be a Christianized celebration of the Passover meal Christ ate throughout his life. And for the last time, what they pass parcels in the upper room, this is not a communion service, nor is it meant to be.
Speaker 0 00:11:49 We're remembering the Jewish traditions that we can grow closer to the Jewish carpenter who gives his life for our salvation close quote. Hmm. Okay. The priest tells us this will be a Christianized celebration of the Passover meal Christ ate throughout his life. And for the last time with the apostles and upper room, but it will not be a communion service, nor is it meant to me before we discuss the morality of the ceremony, let's briefly review some historical facts. First 0.1 historical fact that needs to be emphasized because there's so much confusion about this point is that Judaism as it exists today, modern Judaism, rabbinic Judaism is not biblical Judaism. Rabbinic. Judaism is not biblical Judaism. The temple is gone. The old Testament priesthood is gone. The Jewish priest physic state modern Judaism is a different religion than biblical Judaism. And it did not even come into existence till after the destruction of the temple at its very earliest rabbinic.
Speaker 0 00:12:50 Judaism didn't even exist to the reign of our second Pope and may not come and existence until the reign of our third or fourth pole. And Israeli is converted to Christianity. Israel Shamira expands on this point. The brilliant Israeli scholar professor Israel, Yuval of Hebrew university will use Jewish source here prove that the Judaism that we know of rabbinic Judaism came into existence. In the end of the first century after Christ Christianity actually superseded biblical Judaism and became the faith of millions. It's still a small band of man challenged it's advent. We call them farracies that's historically who they were still a small band of men, challenged it's advent and offered an alternative rabbinic. Judaism, rabbinic, Judaism produced its own Holy books, the mission and Tom wood as Christiani produced the new Testament. Professor Yuval wrote biblical Judaism died, and two religions claim to be the legitimate heir Christianity and her Bennet Judaism.
Speaker 0 00:13:46 Thus, the Judaism we know of is a cellist sister, not a mother. Faith to Christianity. It's practitioners are not the people who remain faithful to the old religion as a biblical Judaism with its sacrifices, Jerusalem, temple ritual, parody ties and priests disappear 2000 years ago. It is a new faith explicitly made to fight Christianity, close quote, biblical Judaism died. Rabbinic Judaism as a cellist sister, not a mother faith, the Christianity it's a new faith explicitly made to fight Christianity. The historical reality is when someone is present at a Seder, any Seder is not going to be remembering the biblical Jewish traditions that you can grow closer to the Jewish carpenter who gave us life. First salvation, as we've seen Jewish sources, explicitly state, this particular ceremony was developed by the rabbis after the destruction of the temple in 78. And at the earliest, it achieved its current general form centuries centuries after Lord's death centuries, after our Lord's death centuries, plain historical fact is our Lord in the has never, ever had anything whatsoever to do with his ceremony.
Speaker 0 00:15:05 That's the first point second point. What on earth can this priest possibly talking about? When he States the Seder will be a Christianized celebration of the Passover. It's not a communion service, but it's not meant to be council of Trent quote. After Lord had celebrated the ancient feast of the Passover, which we've just made the point has nothing to do with the current Seder after alerted celebrate the ancient feast of the Passover. He instituted a new Passover close quote, the concept Trent, after our Lord celebrated the ancient feast of Passover Institute, new pass over, and guess what? That's exactly what we're doing here today. And every day on all the altars through the world, we're celebrating that new Passover feast. He's the Pascal lamb. That's what HCI does stay behold. The lamb of God. That's what this is all about. This is the Christianized Passover feast.
Speaker 0 00:16:07 In other words, the Holy sacrifice, the mass is the Christianized celebration. The Passover meal that Christ ate for the last time with the apostles in the upper room, this is the Christianized celebration of pass or meal. And it's the only Christianized celebration, the Passover meal. And it was given to us directly by God himself. All right. Remember that if a man makes a false declaration about his faith by the word or deed he sends morally. So, which is the correct expiration of our faith. The one true faith in both word, indeed. Is it a Christianized Seder meal or is it the Holy sacrifice of the mass as it was taught in <inaudible> by the council of Trent? Which one is it? Look, the Catholics involved in this sort of thing. Probably have absolutely no idea how unbelievably offensive this is to God. Now we have to make some distinctions here. Obviously we're talking about objectively offensive. We're not judging the interior disposition of anyone. That's up to God, but we're Catholics. It's not like we're some group of well meaning, but confused. Protestants whose ancestors left the true church centuries ago and who in perfect good will, are trying mistakenly to recreate what happened at the last supper. It's not as if we're Jews who don't know who Christ is. And so this is a ceremony that we learned from our ancestors. It's not like that we're Catholics. We don't have to make anything out there.
Speaker 0 00:17:40 We're Catholics. We can offer the true worship to God and no one else can, don't forget that no one else can no one. It's an unbelievable dignity. It's an unbelievable gift. We've been given no amount of whitewash and cover up the reality that objectively speaking Seder meals or even Christianized Seder meals are simply false worship paid to the true God, which means we can't have anything to do with them. It's the first commandment issue let's close with a prayer Lord. We give you thanks for having instituted the new Passover and for ever invited poor sinners like us to participate. We profoundly adore the present and the most blessed at SAC and of the altar by this adoration. We wish to atone for the many thoughtless acts of false worship, committed by Catholics at Seder meals. Amen. Our lady of reparation, pray for us and hang the father and the son and the Holy ghost. Amen.
