September/October 2007

Magazine

The Centennial of the Encyclical Pascendi Against the Modernists Revolution and Counter-R evol ut ion

BY PLINIO CORRÊA DE OLIVEIRA

Relatively few books are truly enduring. Revolution and Counter-Revolution is among those few. Order today!  An inspired perspective on history, politics, the Catholic Church and the present process of decay in our society  A clear and concise framework for quickly and accurately understanding today’s events as they break around us  A prognosis for civilization, but not a death sentence, if we heed its call  A manifesto for Catholic conservatives A new Swiss Guard swears allegiance to the pope with the traditional gesture of three “The author’s analysis of the extended fingers to signify faith in Revolutionary process is most the Trinity. impressive and reveals, by its grasp

ri of reality and profound knowledge o Ma Artur of history, how the decadence of the end of the Middle Ages pre - pared the climate for the paganiz - ing Renaissance and the pseudo- reformation, thence for the terrible Be Ye Therefore Wise French Revolution and, thereafter, for atheistic Communism.” Father Anastasio Gutiérrez, as Serpents and CMF, Papal theologian * Simple as Doves “I especially appreciated the sec - grade, intolerant, but pay ond part of [the] book, highlighting The following is an no heed to the derision the efficacy of Catholic doctrine excerpt of a Pastoral and mockery of the and the spiritual remedies the Letter written by Saint wicked. Have courage; Church possesses to combat and Pius X on September 5, you must never yield, nor vanquish the forces and errors of 1894: is there any need to yield. the Revolution.” Let priests take care You must go into the Archbishop Romolo Carboni, not to accept from the Forgotten attack whole-heartedly, former Papal Nuncio in Peru and Italy Liberal any ideas which, Truths not in secret but in pub - under the mask of good, lic, not behind barred pretend to reconcile doors but in open, in the Revolution and Counter-Revolution Justice and Iniquity. Softcover, 211 pages view of all.  Liberal Catholics are B43 ...... $9.95 wolves in sheep’s cloth - * Matt. 10:16. ing. The priest must unveil to Father Hieronymo Dal-Gal, Pius X the people their perfidious plot, (Wesminster, Md., The Newman Press, Call toll free today! their iniquitous design. You will 1954), 74. ( 8 8 8 ) 3 1 7 - 5 5 7 1 be called Papist, clerical, retro - Contents September/October 2007 Cover: Pope Saint Pius X with the St. Peter’s Basilica in the background.

TFP IN ACTION Up to the Challenge in Louisiana 4 COMMENTARY No Happy Ending for Abortion 6 COVER STORY  The Centennial of the Encyclical Pascendi Against the Modernists: “A Move as Important as the Victory in Lepanto” 8  “Mama, I Am Healed!” 13 COMMENTARY The Myth of Our Immense Stability 15 Page 4 Challenging boys to REVOLUTION AND COUNTER- REVOLUTION IN HISTORY be chivalrous and Clash of Cultures strong Catholics. Part Three: Subjugation of the Aztecs 20 TFP IN ACTION Where will YOU be on October 13? Join a Public Square Rosary Rally Near You! 24

Women’s Clinic 1 n L34 a j u a t l w e a g b n i r a / j / m m o o c . c . o t o t ps o cli o on h rti h bo p a p no k t) k Crusade Magazine is a publication of The American Society for the rofi c p c (no o t o Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP). Direct all t S i S i ©

requests and inquiries to: Crusade Magazine , P.O. Box 341, © Hanover, PA 17331 or e-mail to: [email protected] . Web: www.TFP.org , Tel.: 888-317-5571, Fax: (570) 450-6352. © 2007 by Page 15 Is America The Foundation for a Christian Civilization, Inc. This publication Page 6 Hollywood and includes images from iStockphoto™ which are protected by abortion: No lights, no camera, immune to the great copyright laws of the U.S. and elsewhere. ISSN 1096-3782 no action. catastrophes that toppled LCCN 98-641433 ancient empires? M-89

CRRUSADEUSADE The American TFP ® The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, twofold function: individual and social. The TFP’s Editor: C. Preston Noell III Family and Property (TFP) was founded in 1973 to words and efforts have always been faithfully at the Associate Editors: John Horvat II, Michael Drake, confront the profound crisis shaking the modern service of Christian civilization.The first TFP was Earl Appleby, Michael Whitcraft world. It is a civic, cultural and nonpartisan founded in Brazil by the famous intellectual and Photography: Gary Isbell, Michael Gorre organization which, inspired by the traditional Catholic leader Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira in Foreign Correspondents: Charles E. Schaffer, Austria; teachings of the Supreme Magisterium of the 1960. His work inspired the formation of other Jose Carlos Sepulveda, Brazil; Philip Moran, England; Roman Catholic Church, works in a legal and autonomous TFP sister organizations across the Benoit Bemelmans, France; Beno Hofschulte, peaceful manner in the realm of ideas to defend globe, thus constituting the world’s largest Germany; Juan M. Montes, Italy; David Nash, and promote the principles of private ownership, anticommunist and antisocialist network of South Africa; Felipe Barandiaran, Spain family and perennial Christian values with their Catholic inspiration. TFP In Action

UUpp ttoo tthhee CChhaalllleennggee iinn LLoouisianaa 2007 TFP Boys Summer Camp

BY JOHN HORVAT II

ith bagpipes blazing and a large such gentlemen? The repeated answer was they American flag towering above, a are Catholic boys from the nearby Call to Above : Participants of the W massive crowd made way for the Chivalry Camp, ages 12–18, who traveled from 2007 Call to Chivalry Camp in curious sight of two long lines of boys marching afar to attend the program that seeks to provide Louisiana before attending Sunday Mass at Saint Agnes behind the flag to watch the Fourth of July fire - the right mix of informative talks, action-packed Church in Baton Rouge, La. works aboard the U.S.S. Kidd anchored on the games and manly piety. Below : Roark Mitzell mesmerizes camp participants Mississippi River in Baton Rouge. From all sides From the morning bagpipe reveille to the with his medieval warfare and came questions: Who are these boys who act like nightly Rosary procession, the Call to Chivalry swordsmanship demonstration. Camp is an incredible sight. Co-sponsored by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP), St. Louis de Montfort Academy and Tradition, Family, Property—Louisiana, this year’s camp was held at the Feliciana Retreat Center in Norwood, La., from June 27, 2007–July 5, 2007. The ten-day program, whose theme was that of Catholic Spain from the Reconquest to the Carlist Wars to the Spanish Civil War, was packed with activities that delighted young men and boys. There was a grueling day hike, a protest at an abortion clinic, a music recital, archery, paint- ball games, skeet shooting, rock climbing, self- defense classes, a treasure hunt, swimming, chess tournaments and seminars where the boys heard about the exploits of Don Pelayo, El Cid, Saint Ferdinand and so many others.

4 Crusade September/October 2007 Top left : Camp participants had an authentic taste of Spain with a meal of “Paella.” Center : A talk on the Four elders or praying before a relic of the True Cross Revolutions given by John Ritchie. Top right : The Rosary during a “vigil of arms,” the young knights were A healthy mixture of procession leading up to the Medieval Banquet ( lower spiritual, mental and athletic right ). Lower left : Talks were enlivened by skits such as expected to behave like young gentlemen and activity helped make the one portraying the Siege of the Alcazar of Toledo. strive for excellence. camp a success. Below : A TFP members also provided a special Fourth of game of “French July program for the fathers who joined their sons Football.” Bottom : Tug-of-war Piety is always an essential element in the for the day. The fathers heard about at the Medieval Games. camp program, where prayer, the Rosary and today’s Cultural War and the Islamic Holy Communion are the spiritual arms of doctrines before joining their sons for a these modern-day knights. In addition, they traditional barbecue. Fathers are always learned that knights are not just historic figures encouraged to attend part or the entire and participants are challenged to adopt the camp with their sons. same code of chivalry in their modern-day lives. On the program’s final day, parents Whether at the games, learning to respect their

Participants learned that knights are not just historic figures and they are challenged to adopt the same code of chivalry in their modern-day lives.

Crusade September/October 2007 5 No Happy

Commentary Ending for Abortion

BY JOHN HORVAT II

In the early days of women’s American conservatives have “liberation,” many activists saw fought a long and relentless abortion as a necessary and even Cultural War with Hollywood desirable component of the sexual over its regular and shameless revolution of the sixties. “Freed” fare of violence, profanity, sex and from childbearing, women could nudity. Because of this, huge por - engage in numerous sexual rela - tions of middle America have tionships without consequences. abandoned the movie theater that

The rock-climbing wall tested the boys’ determination However, like many of the tenets they once frequented. Hollywood and endurance. of feminism itself, such attitudes responded by simply writing no longer prevail. In the grueling them off. came for the final festivities. They could see for battle over abortion, there is grow - The interesting news from the themselves the results of the united efforts of ing public antipathy to this mon - front is that Hollywood is steering so many friends, families and supporters in strous practice, and there is a clear of abortion, a development Louisiana who made the camp possible. growing remorse surrounding that seems to suggest that more Parents could watch their sons at the Medieval abortion that even its most ardent than conservatives are disturbed Games where their individual and team effort supporters find difficult to ignore by the portrayal. skills were put to the test, especially in the final and overcome. In her June 10 article, “On grueling and muddy obstacle course. That growing remorse is a Abortion, Hollywood Is No- After the boys cleaned up from the games, psychological victory on the part Choice,” 1 New York Times writer they all came in a Rosary procession to an of those pro-life forces whose Mireya Navarro reveals a skittish outdoor pavilion turned banquet hall where a tireless efforts have put a tiny film industry tiptoeing around large statue of Our Lady of Fatima presided. human face on abortion. They the abortion controversy. She The camp was pleased to have as guest of have turned the debate into a reports that film characters who honor Monsignor Robert Berggreen of St. moral problem that gnaws at the become pregnant rarely resort to Agnes Parish in Baton Rouge who came fre - nation’s conscience. It is a mat - abortion. They hardly utter the quently to the camp to say Mass and to hear ter for which there is no happy word. Writers will often have their confessions. Several fathers cooked a magnif - ending. characters conveniently miscarry icent Louisiana-style feast that only added to or even keep the baby to avoid the the unforgettable atmosphere of the occasion. Cultural War in Hollywood A-word solution. Speeches of farewell and gratitude ended the One area where this attitude is official program. reflected is Hollywood, a produc - A Change of Heart? However, the boys still have much work to er of happy and tidy endings. Such portrayals hardly represent a do. They must resist the horrible and relentless pressures of today’s culture. They must find others who will join them in upholding Despite all the rhetoric about “celebrating Catholic values and they must get involved already at their young age in the cultural fight choice,” feminists have been unable to erase the to uphold the values of Christian civilization so tragedy that inevitably follows abortion. They threatened today.  cannot shake the stigma that comes attached.

6 Crusade September/October 2007 change of heart. However, it is indica - niche. Rather, it reflects a much tive of a national uneasiness about broader public perception that wor - abortion that is so sensitive that even ries the film industry. Unlike so many “almighty” Hollywood dares not push Women’s Clinic other countries who have matter-of- the envelope. factly accepted abortion as a “medical In her article, Mireya Navarro men - matter,” America is different. tions, “directors of feel-good movies 1 Hollywood trembles because of the don’t want to risk portraying their L34 American people’s deep ambivalence

heroines as unsympathetic charac - n about abortion. Despite all the rhetoric u t l e ters.” She quotes Jonathan Kuntz, an g about “celebrating choice,” feminists n a j /

American film history professor at the m have been unable to erase the tragedy o c .

ps o University of California, Los Angeles, n cli t that inevitably follows abortion. They rtio o o abo h n ) p rofit k as saying, “It’s something that’s going (no p c cannot shake the stigma that comes o t S i

to turn off people on both sides unless © attached. Even the most ardent pro- you do it just right. It’s no surprise abortion political candidates must cast Hollywood avoids it.” She notes that abortion as a sad and unfortunate even in films that do feature abortion, Abortion is simply not necessity that is best avoided. such as The Cider House Rules , the big box-office matter. This happened because an extremely women do not fare well in their portray - active and vocal pro-life movement has als. Abortion is simply not big box-office Even television where kept the moral reality of abortion before matter. Even television, where the mar - the public. By fearlessly opposing the ket is more fragmented, avoids the topic the market is more killing of unborn human life, abortion of abortion to avoid alienating advertis - fragmented avoids has taken on a moral dimension that has ers, affiliates and viewers. divided the nation. However, even more Indeed, Mireya Navarro cites writers abortion to avoid importantly, it has divided the pro-abor - who have no problem broaching contro - tionists and their sympathizers who versial topics, like nudity, premarital sex alienating advertisers, now express misgivings and doubts and homosexual “relationships.” However, affiliates and viewers. about the barbarous practice. when it comes to taking out abortion ref - While the battle to end abortion is far erences, writers curiously do not scream from over, the silence in “no-choice” censorship but seem spinelessly resigned Making Hollywood Tremble Hollywood screams volumes.  to stay clear of the subject. One writer News of Hollywood’s refusal to deal with even meekly defended a network decision abortion has set the feminist blogosphere Notes: to pull an episode of his work as, “the best ablaze with recriminations at the film 1. Mireya Navarro, “On Abortion, Hollywood Is No-Choice,” New York Times , June 10, 2007, we could figure out under the circum - industry for caving in to the conservative http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/fashion/10 stances.” and religious right. One commentator Knockedup.html?ex=1339128000&en=0f2c7cba2 Christopher Keyser, co-creator of the even accused Hollywood of fostering a 04dee92&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rs Fox drama Party of Five , credits the “destructive pro-life culture.” s. vibrant pro-life movement as one reason However, avoiding abortion on film is 2. J. Pender Zane, “Hollywood Tiptoes Around Abortion,” Raleigh News & Observer , June 12, 2007. for this attitude. “Even though a majori - not about conservatives or their agenda. ty may favor abortion rights,” he mistak - Hollywood has long ignored that market enly affirms, “the minority position is extremely active and vocal.” In fact, not only is abortion avoided but the opposition to abortion is grow - ing. “In the twenty-first century, abor - tion is at the top of the taboo heap,” said Robert Thompson, a professor of televi - sion and popular culture at Syracuse University, N.Y. “Abortion is not only at the top of it, but it’s climbed higher, where other taboos have fallen off the The annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Thanks to the extremely active and vocal pro-life movement, mountain.” 2 abortion is a moral reality in America.

Crusade September/October 2007 7 The Centennial of the Encyclical

Cover Story Pascendi Against the Modernists:

BY LUIZ SÉRGIO SOLIMEO

hundred years ago, on to Modernism. A month earlier, the September 8, 1907, Pope Congregation of the Holy Office had A Saint Pius X (1903–1914) published the Lamentabili Sane published the Encyclical Pascendi Decree condemning 65 distinct mod - Dominici Gregis (Feeding the Lord’s ernist propositions. Thus, it is fitting Flock) against the devastating doc - to celebrate the centennial of this trines of Modernism. great document that changed the It was the culmination of an offen - Church’s history. sive that caused irreparable damage Historic Revisionism and Political Correctness Pascendi was the In these times of historic revisionism culmination of an and political correctness, it becomes all the more necessary to celebrate offensive that caused the centennial of this great document since there are those who downplay irreparable damage to the importance of Pascendi by deny - Modernism. ing the very existence of a Modernist conspiracy or even the errors Saint Pius X condemned. They claim the whole controversy was a misunder - standing caused by the pope’s exces - sive zeal. To their view, the saintly Pontiff simply did not understand the “genial” ideas of the new Church reformers who proved true precur - sors of the new times. For example, one Catholic Web site notes: [T]oday it is possible for us to have quite a different view [from Pascendi ’s] about the Modernist crisis as a whole . . . it becomes ever clearer that the “conspiracy” evoked by that encyclical never existed. The times of the Modernist crisis were times of mutual incomprehension between

In his capacity as Shepherd of the Universal Church, Pope Saint Pius X defended his flock from the wolves of Modernism by issuing his Encyclical Pascendi Dominici Gregis .

8 Crusade September/Oct ober 2007 The Centennial of the Encyclical Pascendi Against the Modernists: ‘A Move as Important as the Victory in Lepanto’

those who proposed to renew Catholic thinking in its different aspects, exegesis, philosophy, dog - matics and spirituality, [and the Pope]. It also becomes ever clearer that the modernist system, as a sys- tem, was nothing but a construct of Pascendi.1 Saint Pius X, a Sentinel on the Lord’s Tower However, truth is not found in political - ly correct historic revisionism. Rather, it is found in a serious study of the docu - ments of the time about the Holy Pontiff and the modernists. 2 Saint Pius X’s unparalleled grandeur stands out by doing such an analysis. One can apply to him the words of Scripture, “I am upon the watch-tower of the Lord, standing continually by day: and I am upon my ward, standing whole nights”; 3 “The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up.” 4 One can apply to Saint Pius X the words of Scripture: Modernism and Catholic Liberalism “I am upon the watch-tower of the Lord, standing Modernism did not appear suddenly, continually by day: and I am upon my ward, nor was it an isolated episode in the Church’s history. It was an integral part standing whole nights.” of the Church’s great struggle against those who sought to adapt the Church’s teachings and ways of being to the ideas 1864, condemning modern naturalism ‘Divine revelation is imperfect, and and political regimes stemming from and rationalism; Imortale Dei, Libertas therefore subject to continuous and the Enlightenment and the French Praestantissima and Satis Cognitum , indefinite progress, which corresponds Revolution. written by Pope Leo XIII in 1885, 1888 to the progress of human reason.’” 5 Pascendi builds upon the themes of and 1896, respectively, against the philo - its immediate predecessors, Mirari vos sophical, political and theological foun - The Conspiracy Is and Singularis nos , written by Pope dations of liberalism. Published as a Novel Gregory XVI in 1832 and 1834, respec - Thus, Saint Pius X affirms that the The plan to reform the Church was not a tively, against the errors of religious “Modernists offer nothing new—we find construct of Pascendi . It could be found indifference; Quanta Cura and the it condemned in the Syllabus of Pius IX, in the works of the modernist move - Syllabus , written by Pope Pius IX in where it is enunciated in these terms: ment and even in its literature.

Crusade September/October 2007 9 In 1905, Antonio larger following in the selves, let us now see how Saint Pius X Fogazzaro, an Italian Church for the cause described it: “ Modernists . . . recruit writer endowed with of liberty.” 10 followers to the extent of forming a great literary talent, Father Alfred secret society (clandestinum foedus ) . . published the novel Il Loisy (1857–1949), . are injecting the virus of their doc- Santo (The Saint ). It was excommunicated by trine into the veins of Christian socie- placed on the Vatican’s Saint Pius X, stated, ty.” 13 The modernist tactic, the pope Index of Forbidden “The avowed mod - said, was to unleash “bitterness and Books the following year. ernists form a fairly hatred [up]on Catholics who zealously Notwithstanding the definite group of fight the battles of the Church” by prohibition, an English thinking men united accusing them of “ignorance or obsti - translation was pub - in the common nacy.” At the same time, “they seek to lished in the United In 1905, Italian writer and modernist desire to adapt make a conspiracy of silence around States the following year. 6 Antonio Fogazzaro put Modernism’s Catholicism to the them to nullify the effects of their In his novel, the author ideas and goals in his novel Il Santo . intellectual, moral attack” and turn into a martyr any of gradually expounds the and social needs of their friends who is punished by legiti - principal ideas and goals of the modernist today.” 11 And elsewhere, “The funda - mate authority. For this reason, the conspiracy. For example, a character par - mental principle of modernism is, ‘the pope emphasizes, “[t]he young, excited ticipating in a meeting of reformist priests possibility, the necessity and the legiti - and confused by all this clamor of and laity from several countries explains: macy of evolution in understanding the praise and abuse, some of them afraid Well ... there are many Catholics dogmas of the Church, including that of of being branded as ignorant, others in Italy and outside of Italy who, with papal infallibility and authority, as well ambitious to rank among the learned, us, desire certain reforms in the as in the manner of exercising this and both classes goaded internally by Church. We wish them to be brought authority.’” 12 curiosity and pride, not infrequently about without rebellion, and be the Hence there cannot be any doubt surrender and give themselves up to work of the legitimate authorities. We about the modernist conspiracy’s exis - Modernism.” 14 And, the saintly pope desire reforms in religious instruc- tence and its ultimate nefarious goal. continues, “What efforts do they not tion, ceremonies, clerical discipline, make to win new recruits! They seize and reforms even in the highest Saint Pius X Unveils the upon professorships in the seminaries sphere of ecclesiastical government. Modernist Conspirators’ Tactics and universities, and gradually make of To obtain these ends, we need to cre - Having looked at the conspiracy as them chairs of pestilence.”15 ate a current of opinion strong described by the modernists them - enough to induce the legitimate authorities to act in conformity with our views, be it twenty, thirty, or even Prominent Modernists fifty years hence.7 Among the standard bearers of the (1857–1940), a rationalist exegete Later on, another conspirator modernist movement are, from excommunicated in 1908; lay philoso - speaks and ironizes about the work England: Father Georges Tyrrell, S.J. phers E. Le Roy (1870–1954) and they are carrying out, “ Catholic (1861–1909), excommunicated in Maurice Blondel (1861–1949); Father freemasonry? Yes, the freemasonry of 1907; the Austrian-Scottish Baron Herbert Marcel (1851–1916), also a the catacombs.” 8 Further ahead in the Friedrich von H ?gel (1852–1925), a philosopher who left the Church in plot, two priests walk down a dark polyglot with European contacts who 1902; Father Lucien Laberthonnière street looking for a house where the served as the movement’s interna - (1860–1932), Oratorian, philosopher conspirators are gathering. As one of tional coordinator; Miss Maude D. of religion; Father J. Turmel them hesitates, doubting whether they Petre (1863–1943), a former nun and (1859–1942), historian of dogmas; find themselves before the right house, Tyrrell’s confidante; from Italy: Father Father Albert Houtin (1867–1926), the other exclaims, laughing, “Go in, go R. Murri (1870–1904), founder of historian of religions who also left the in! There is an odor of Luther in the air; Italian Christian Democracy, excom - Church; Monsignor Louis M. O 9 it must be here.” municated in 1921; Father S. Duchesne (1843–1922), early Church Minocchi (1869–1903); Father historian, director of the French “A Silent and Secret Work” Ernesto Buonaiuti (1881–1946), College in Rome who mentored the In a letter of August 24, 1908, Father excommunicated in 1908; writer French priests mentioned supra ; and Georges Tyrrell, S.J., explained, “We must Antonio Fogazzaro (1842–1911); from from Germany: Herman Schell wait for the day when, thanks to a silent France: Father Alfred Loisy (1850–1906). and secret work, we will have gained a

10 Crusade September/October 2007 consciousness of Christ, who was a man Conspiracy Theory? of the choicest nature, whose like has In dealing with historical conspira - tions or movements of people who never been, nor will be.” cies, there are two errors. One is the gather not only to discuss their inter - “30. [T]hey proclaim that Christ, simplistic error of reducing everything ests but to coordinate their efforts for according to what they call His real his - to mere conspiracies. The second is to victory. History has seen all kinds of tory, was not God and never did any - also deny, a priori , the possibility of conspiracies, cabals, political machi - thing divine, and that as man He did and any conspiracies. By his very nature, nations, military plots, theologians’ said only what they, judging from the man tends to associate with those factions, and so forth. Thus, speaking time in which he lived, can admit Him to who think like him or share the same of a modernist conspiracy whose goal have said or done.” interests or goals, as the old Latin is to change the Church is hardly “31. [T]hey oppose the history of adage says, similis simili gaudet (like absurd. Saint Pius X himself speaks of the faith to real history precisely as real. rejoices in like). This natural tendency a “secret society.” Thus we have a double Christ: a real often gives rise to groups, organiza - Christ, and a Christ, the one of faith, who never really existed[.]” Dogmas are fruits of sentiments Modernist Doctrines all will readily perceive what becomes of and evolve Below are quotes that summarize the Natural Theology, of the motives of credi - “12. Thus, We have reached one of doctrine denounced in the Encyclical bility , of external revelation .” the principal points in the Modernists’ with subtitles to facilitate understanding. Religion is reduced to an irrational system, namely the origin and the The fundamental error: An alliance sentiment, the supernatural to a “reli- nature of dogma. . . . of false philosophy with theology gious experience” and the divinity of “To ascertain the nature of dogma, “41. Their whole system, containing Christ to a psychological phenomenon we must first find the relation which as it does errors so many and so great, “7. However, this Agnosticism is exists between the religious formulas has been born of the union between only the negative part of the system of and the religious sentiment. This will be faith and false philosophy.” the Modernist: the positive side of it readily perceived by him who realizes It is an evolutionist, agnostic consists in what they call vital imma - that these formulas have no other pur - philosophy that denies the value of nence . . . . [R]eligion . . . is due to a cer - pose than to furnish the believer with a human reason and the supernatural; tain necessity or impulsion; but it has its means of giving an account of his faith and destroys the basis of theology that to himself.” are the motives of credibility “13. Hence it is quite impossible to “35. Thus do they argue, not per - “They proclaim that maintain that they express absolute ceiving that their determination of the Christ, according to what truth: for, in so far as they are symbols , primitive germ is only an a priori they are the images of truth, and so assumption of agnostic and evolutionist they call His real history, must be adapted to the religious senti - philosophy, and that the germ itself has ment in its relation to man .... been gratuitously defined so that it may was not God and never Consequently, the formulae too, which fit in with their contention.” did anything divine.” we call dogmas, must be subject to these “6. Modernists place the founda - vicissitudes, and are, therefore, liable to tion of religious philosophy in that doc - change. Thus the way is open to the trine which is usually called origin, speaking more particularly of life, intrinsic evolution of dogma.” Agnosticism . According to this teaching in a movement of the heart, which Not only dogmas must evolve, but human reason is confined entirely with - movement is called a sentiment. ” also Church structures and the liturgy in the field of phenomena , that is to say, “10. Therefore the religious senti - “38. From all that has preceded, to things that are perceptible to the ment , which through the agency of vital some idea may be gained of the reform - senses, and in the manner in which they immanence emerges from the lurking ing mania which possesses them: in all are perceptible; it has no right and no places of the subconsciousness, is the Catholicism there is absolutely nothing power to transgress these limits. Hence germ of all religion, and the explanation on which it does not fasten .... it is incapable of lifting itself up to God, of everything that has been or ever will Regarding worship, the number of exter - and of recognizing His existence, even be in any religion. . . . even supernatural nal devotions is to be reduced, or at least by means of visible things. From this it is religion; it is only a development of this steps must be taken to prevent their fur - inferred that God can never be the direct religious sentiment . Nor is the Catholic ther increase, though, indeed, some of object of science, and that, as regards religion an exception; it is quite on a the admirers of symbolism are disposed history, He must not be considered as an level with the rest; for it was engendered, to be more indulgent on this head. historical subject. Given these premises, by the process of vital immanence , in the Ecclesiastical government . . . [has to be

Crusade September/October 2007 11 in] spirit with the public conscience, because it corresponds more fully with which is not wholly for democracy; a the origins of Christianity. That these share in ecclesiastical government consequences flow from the premises should therefore be given to the lower will not seem unnatural to anybody.” ranks of the clergy, and even to the laity, Modernism is the synthesis of all and authority should be decentralized.” heresies, destroys the notion of religion In moral matters, Modernists follow and already contains atheism, to which Americanism it leads “38. With regard to morals, they “39. And now, can anybody who adopt the principle of the Americanists, takes a survey of the whole system be that the active virtues are more impor - surprised that We should define it as the tant than the passive, both in the esti - synthesis of all heresies? What remains, mation in which they must be held and then, but the annihilation of all reli - in the exercise of them.” gion—atheism?” Destroying priestly celibacy “6. But how the Modernists make “38. The clergy are asked to return Pope Saint Pius X in full pontifical regalia. the transition from Agnosticism , which to their ancient lowliness and poverty, Among many other errors, Modernism seeks is a state of pure nescience, to scientific and in their ideas and action to be guid - to democratize the Church’s government. and historic Atheism , which is a doc - ed by the principles of Modernism; and trine of positive denial[?] . . . Yet it is a there are some who, echoing the teach - without paying any heed to its wishes, fixed and established principle among ing of their Protestant masters, would its counsels, its orders—nay, even in them that both science and history like the suppression of ecclesiastical spite of its reprimands. To trace out and must be atheistic: and within their celibacy.” prescribe for the citizen any line of con - boundaries there is room for nothing Faith must be subject to science duct, on any pretext whatsoever, is to be but phenomena ; God and all that is “17. On the side of science the inde - guilty of an abuse of ecclesiastical divine are utterly excluded.” pendence is indeed complete, but it is authority, against which one is bound to “39. The first step in this direction quite different with regard to faith, act with all one’s might. The principles was taken by Protestantism; the second which is subject to science . . . .” from which these doctrines spring have is made by Modernism; the next will Likewise, the Church must be been solemnly condemned by our pred - plunge headlong into atheism.” subject to the State ecessor Pius VI in his Constitution Modernism is nothing but a form “24. In the same way . . . as faith and Auctorem fidei [against Jansenists].” of pantheism science are strangers to each other by All religions are good because “39. For if all the intellectual ele - reason of the diversity of their objects, they express religious sentiment; the ments, as they call them, of religion are Church and State are strangers by rea - Catholic religion may be more perfect, pure symbols, will not the very name of son of the diversity of their ends, that of but not the only true religion God or of divine personality be also a the Church being spiritual while that of “14. [W]ith such theories, . . . the symbol, and if this be admitted will not the State is temporal. Formerly it was way is opened wide for atheism. [O]nce . the personality of God become a matter possible to subordinate the temporal to . . given this doctrine of experience unit - of doubt and the way opened to the spiritual and to speak of some ques - ed with the other doctrine of symbolism , Pantheism? And to Pantheism that tions as mixed , allowing to the Church every religion, even that of paganism, other doctrine of the divine immanence the position of queen and mistress in must be held to be true. What is to pre - leads directly. For does it, We ask, leave the same, because the Church was then vent such experiences from being met God distinct from man or not? If yes, in regarded as having been instituted within every religion? In fact that they what does it differ from Catholic doc - immediately by God as the author of the are to be found is asserted by not a few. trine, and why reject external revela - supernatural order. But his doctrine is And with what right will Modernists tion? If no, we are at once in Pantheism.” today repudiated alike by philosophy deny the truth of an experience affirmed Moral causes of Modernism: and history. The State must, therefore, by a follower of Islam? With what right Curiosity and pride be separated from the Church, and the can they claim true experiences for “40. That the proximate and imme - Catholic from the citizen. Every Catholics alone? . . . In the conflict diate cause consists in a perversion of Catholic, from the fact that he is also a between different religions, the most the mind cannot be open to doubt. The citizen, has the right and the duty to that Modernists can maintain is that the remote causes seem to us to be reduced work for the common good in the way Catholic has more truth because it is to two: curiosity and pride. . . . he thinks best, without troubling him - more living and that it deserves with “[I]t is pride which exercises an self about the authority of the Church, more reason the name of Christian incomparably greater sway over the soul

12 Crusade September/October 2007 to blind it and plunge it into error, and basis of the sacred sciences. . . . And let Rigorous selection of candidates to pride sits in Modernism as in its own it be clearly understood above all things the priesthood house, finding sustenance everywhere in that the scholastic philosophy We pre - “49. [D]iligence and severity are to its doctrines and an occasion to flaunt scribe is that which the Angelic Doctor be used in examining and selecting can - itself in all its aspects. It is pride which has bequeathed to us . . . . [L]et didates for Holy Orders. Far, far from the fills Modernists with that confidence in Professors remember that they cannot clergy be the love of novelty! God hates themselves and leads them to hold set St. Thomas aside, especially in the proud and the obstinate.” themselves up as the rule for all, pride metaphysical questions, without grave Bishops’ vigilance over new writings which puffs them up with that vainglory detriment.” “50. It is also the duty of the bishops which allows them to regard themselves as the sole possessors of knowledge, and makes them say, inflated with presump - ‘Mama, I Am Healed!’ * tion, We are not as the rest of men , and MIRACLES! which, to make them really not as other From the numerous miracles Saint Pius X performed during his life, we men, leads them to embrace all kinds of choose these examples as told by Father Dal Gal’s biography of Saint Pius X: the most absurd novelties; it is pride A young Irish girl had her head covered with sores. “If you bring me to which rouses in them the spirit of dis - Rome to the Holy Father,” she often said to her mother, “I shall be healed, obedience and causes them to demand a because if Jesus gave His apostles power to work miracles, why should He not compromise between authority and lib - have given it to His Vicar on earth?” The child’s importunity finally prevailed erty; it is pride that makes of them the upon her mother who, against the doctor’s advice, decided to undertake the reformers of others, while they forget to journey to Rome. The brave woman, standing in the midst of an Italian crowd and holding reform themselves . . . .” her little daughter’s hand, whose head was almost covered with bandages, pre - Intellectual causes: Abandonment sented a pitiable sight to the saintly pope as he moved slowly through the gen - of Scholastic philosophy eral audience. When he saw the little girl, he put his hand on her head, blessed “41. If we pass from the moral to the her and smiled gently at her mother. Suddenly the child called out, “Mama, I intellectual causes of Modernism, the am healed!” It is difficult to imagine that Irish mother’s astonishment and joy first which presents itself, and the chief as she rolled off the bandages from her daughter’s head to find not even the one, is ignorance. Yes, these very slightest trace of the sores. Modernists who pose as Doctors of the Church, who puff out their cheeks when The same Father Dal Gal writes: they speak of modern philosophy, and Among the charismata given by God to Pius X was his power of reading the show such contempt for scholasticism, secret thoughts of men. . . . One day, the superior of the Roman Trappist have embraced the one with all its false Monastery of Tre Fontana, faced with a momentous decision, went to the Pope glamour because their ignorance of the to ask for advice. He had just fallen to his knees before the Holy Father when other has left them without the means the superior was given detailed direction and counsel as to the course he of being able to recognize confusion of should follow, before he had spoken a word on the subject. . . . thought, and to refute sophistry. Their Apart from the gift of miracles and reading the secrets of the heart, the Holy Pontiff had the power of prophecy. This was declared at the diocesan and whole system, with all its errors, has apostolic processes for the beatification. . . . been born of the alliance between faith On an occasion, the pope was giving the Sacrament of Confirmation to sev - and false philosophy.” eral schoolgirls. He noticed one of them was crying and asked her what was “42. They recognize that the three the matter. The girl explained that her parents had separated and that now chief difficulties for them are scholastic there was no one to look after her. The pope put his hand on her head and con - philosophy, the authority of the fathers soled her by saying, “Have courage, my child, when you go home you will find and tradition, and the magisterium of things all right.” After the ceremony, the schoolgirl returned home to be greet - the Church, and on these they wage ed by her father and mother who had reconciled. . . . unrelenting war. For scholastic philoso - phy and theology they have only ridicule Pius X keenly felt the approach of the death and destruction soon to befall and contempt.” Europe and often referred to it with a tremor in his voice. “I see a great war coming,” he often said to his sisters who tried to console him, admonishing Remedies him not to think of such things. But he refused to be consoled and added Study of Scholastic philosophy gravely, “Yes, but it will be a very great war.”  “45. In the first place, with regard *Adapted from Father Hieronymo Dal-Gal’s Saint Pius X (Dublin, Ireland: M.H. Gill and Son, to studies, We will and ordain that 1954), 208–222. scholastic philosophy be made the

Crusade September/October 2007 13 to prevent writings infected with with you by her prayers. And Modernism or favorable to it from We, as a pledge of Our affec - being read when they have been tion and of divine assistance in published, and to hinder their adversity, grant most affec - publication when they have not. tionately and with all Our No book or paper or periodical of heart to you, your clergy and this kind must ever be permitted people the Apostolic to seminarian or university stu - Benediction.” dents. The injury to them would be equal to that caused by A Move as Important immoral reading—nay, it would as the Victory in Lepanto be greater for such writings poi - It is fitting to close this article son Christian life at its very with the following commen - source.” tary, written by Professor Bishops must forsake Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, to prudence of the flesh and act commemorate the fiftieth fearlessly anniversary of the Encyclical: “51. [T]he Bishops, putting “If Saint Pius X had not ful - aside all fear and the prudence of minated the Modernist heresy, the flesh, despising the outcries of The Battle of Lepanto by Paolo Veronese. Just as the victory of the Catholic fleet at Lepanto in 1571 greatly hindered Islam’s the world would have quickly the wicked, gently by all means advance in Europe, so did Pascendi delay the spread of marched toward pantheism but constantly, do each his own pantheism and atheism and provided great obstacles to the and atheism. As a result, the share of this work.” march of communism. whole action of communism all “55. Let [the Bishops] combat over the earth would not have novelties of words remembering the modern soul, on a new vocation of the met the enormous obstacles it admonitions of Leo XIII. (Instruct. S.C. clergy, on a new Christian civilization .” did. NN. EE. EE., 27 Jan., 1902): It is impossi - Protection from Our Lord Jesus “The condemnation of Mod- ble to approve in Catholic publications of Christ and Our Lady, who alone ernism was, therefore, an historical a style inspired by unsound novelty which crushed all heresies event as important as the victory in seems to deride the piety of the faithful “58. May Jesus Christ, the author Lepanto. Thus, [by canonizing Saint Pius X] Pius XII must be eternally and dwells on the introduction of a new and finisher of our Faith, be with you by remembered by mankind since he has order of Christian life, on new directions His power; and may the Immaculate given us such a great saint as model of the Church, on new aspirations of the Virgin, the destroyer of all heresies, be and protector.” 16 

Notes: 1. Pierre Colin, Modernisme et g=PR19&lpg=PR19&dq=petre+ms+ 1176067246.pdf&doc=589. www.newadvent.org/cathen/10415a crise moderniste , http://www.esprit- maud+d&source=web&ots=t2AReK 3. Isaias 21:8. .htm. et-vie.com/breve.php3?id_breve=63 A87D&sig=SbcoMGjgqxrRT36I_bBr 4. John 2:17. 12. Ibid . (emphasis added) (author’s transla - sT-mF0#PPP1,M1; Thomas T. 5. Pope Pius IX, Syllabus , section I, 13. Saint Pius X, Motu proprio , tion). McAvoy, C.S.C., The Great Crisis in “Pantheism, Naturalism, and Sacrorum Antistitum , Introduction 2. Cf . Émile Poulat, Histoire, American Catholic History—1895- Absolute Rationalism,” note 5, (September 1, 1910) (emphasis dogme et critique dans La Crise 1900 (Chicago: Henry Regnery Welcome to the Catholic Church on added). Moderniste (Paris: Casterman, 1962); Company, 1957); Francis CD-ROM, CD-ROM, version 2.00, 14. Pope Pius X, Pascendi Father Arthur Veermerch, “Mod- Beauchesne Thornton, The Burning Harmony Media Inc., 2001. Dominici Gregis , “On the Doctrines ernism,” at http://www.newad Flame—The Life of Pope Pius X (New 6. Antonio Fogazzaro, The Saint of the Modernists,” ¶ 42, vent.org/cathen/10415a.htm; James York: Benzinger Brothers, 1952); (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/ M. Egan, O.P., S.T.D., Pius X and the Father Hieronymo Dal-Gal, Saint 1906). pius_x/encyclicals/documents/hf_p Integrity of Doctrine , in Episcopal Pius X (Dublin: M.H. Gill and Son, 7. Ibid . 52 (emphasis added). -x_enc_19070908_pascendi-domini Committee of The Confraternity of 1954); Igino Giordani, Pius X 8. Ibid . 68 (emphasis added). ci-gregis_en.html. Christian Doctrine, A Symposium on (Milwaukee, WI: The Bruce 9. Ibid . 285 (emphasis added). 15. Ibid. ¶ 43. All subsequent the Life and Work of Pope Pius X , Publishing Co., 1954); José-Maria 10. Quoted by J. Rivière, paragraphs numbers are indicated at (Washington, DC: Confraternity of Javierre, Pi?o X , (Barcelona: J. Flors, Modernisme , in Vacant-Mangenot- the start of each quotation. Christian Doctrine, 1946), 56; James 1951); José-Maria Javierre, Merry del Aman, Dictionnaire de Théologie 16. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, “O J. Kelly, ed., The Letters of Baron Val (Barcelona: J. Flors, 1961); Catholique , t. X, deuxieme partie, cinqüentenário da Pascendi ,” Friedrich Von Hugel and Maude D. Alberto Caturelli, “La Pascendi col. 2042 (Paris: Letouzey et Ané, Catolicismo (São Paulo, Brazil, Petre: The Modernist Movement in Dominici Gregis, una encíclica 1929) (author’s translation). September 1957). England , http://books.google. profética,” e-aquinas (April 2007), 11. Cited by Father Arthur com/books?id=7osQKEmnxLEC&p http://e-aquinas.net/file.php?url= Veermerch, “Modernism,” http://

14 Crusade September/October 2007 The Myth of Our Commentary Immense Stability

BY JOHN HORVAT II

The recent legislative refusal in Massachusetts Shocking moral to put homosexual “marriage” on the ballot has degradation in news prompted some to question the need to oppose headlines are frequent and the lack any measures involving public morality. After all, of apparent Divine they reason, life goes on regardless of the outcome. intervention is As one prominent Catholic couple, rejoicing perplexing to many. over the ballot initiative’s defeat, wrote in a Boston Herald editorial, “On May 17, 2004, the day marriage was made legal for everyone in Massachusetts, we looked out our window to see—contrary to apocalyptic predictions—that the sun had actually risen. Life went on quite normally not only that day, but every day since.” 1 Indeed, those who defend public morality seem given to apocalyptic predictions. They see dire consequences in a future that never seems to arrive, and through it all life goes on. So many appear willing to live and let live as the most hor - rible, aberrant lifestyles co-exist along with tradi - scenes of so-called Gay Pride parades where the tional families. most disgusting displays offending Christian morality and public decency are witnessed, and The Issue of Homosexuality where unnatural vices are seen as sources of This impression of stability is especially true in “pride.” These celebrations are but a way to make the debate over homosexual “marriage” or the this “pride” manifest before all. acceptance of homosexual behavior. Controversy rages, yet society seems immune to the effects of The Catholic Position moral decadence. The Catholic Church’s consistent teaching There is great opposition to homosexual about homosexuality aggravates the gravity of “marriage” in the United States as evidenced by such offenses even more. Not only is the prac - petitions, amendment votes and other tradition - tice of the homosexual act “intrinsically disor - al marriage initiatives that have shown an amaz - dered,” as the Catechism affirms, but it is also ing capacity on the part of grassroots activists to grievously sinful. Saints, moralists and theolo - stop such “marriages” from becoming law. gians have reaffirmed the extra gravity of this However, these efforts face great obstacles. Activists fight a confrontational subculture that “The day marriage was made legal for uses every artifice of manipulation in the arena of public opinion to achieve its goals, and desen - everyone in Massachusetts, we looked out our sitizes Americans by pushing the envelope to ever more shocking levels. And yet through it all, window to see—contrary to apocalyptic the sun still rises. predictions—that the sun had actually risen.” Thus, annually, cities worldwide are the

Crusade September/October 2007 15 g n a l a m k e r a / m o c . o t o h p k c o t S i

© ©iStockphoto.com/arekmalang The malls and supermarkets, full of material goods, give the sin against nature throughout the Church’s rotations and the seasons that normally follow superficial man a 2000-year history. their course. misleading idea of unshakable stability. And yet many Catholics, by yielding to this Of course, disasters do happen on earth, but However, the man of abhorrent subculture, defy openly the Church’s these are the exceptions and not the rule. faith, knows that true position with apparent and disconcerting Overflowing rivers subside eventually, volcanoes and lasting stability is impunity. In so doing, they adopt an intimidating return to their slumber and earthquakes desist in only guaranteed in the fidelity to Him Who attitude toward the Holy See and seek to make their rattling. In this way, the order of the uni - revealed Himself to Moses the Church retreat in face of this sin and prevent verse presents an enormous stability to man by as, “I am Who Am.” the Church from accomplishing its teaching and returning to the mean. sanctifying mission. It is only proper that this stability should fill In fact, it can be observed that, in face of all men with respect, admiration and security. God this controversy, ordinary life in America goes created this stability for man to feel secure. In inexorably on. Nothing seems to shake the His infinite goodness, He wanted all men to have impression of an immense stability and prosper - during their short time on Earth this feeling of ity that has so dominated American life. security that provides the environment for the normal development of the individual and the A Real Order of Stability practice of virtue. Such an overwhelming sensation of stability cre - This regularity finds resonance inside man ates the impression of futility in opposing moral himself. All that is orderly inside man exults deviation. Those who promise fire and brimstone upon seeing the surrounding order of the uni - as punishment are always disappointed, for these verse. All the senses feel great joy and well-being, rarely smite offenders. perceiving an order that corresponds to a pro - There is an element of truth in America’s found order inside man himself. immense stability. It is rooted in that the Universe’s very order is enormously stable and Taking Conclusions normally does not suffer catastrophic disasters. From this stability, man comes to understand Observing the heavens, the personal experience that he can know science through reason, of all is a prodigious order that, since creation, which in turn allows man to understand and moves with incredible regularity. On its part, harness nature to serve him and improve his the earth mirrors that same regularity in its life. Regular objective observation is the basis

Modern materialists developed a technical notion of progress. They reduced the material advantages derived from their understanding of the universe into an end rather than a means.

16 Crusade September/October 2007 The stable order just described is real but it can also be precarious. It depends on man’s fidelity to God and the natural order He established. It is enough for man to break with this natural order for that stability, which seemed so unshakable, to come tumbling down to the ground. of all development and true progress of man. link with virtue, through, for example, the vice of Yet from this observation, one can easily make drug addition, stability can easily degenerate into the wrong conclusions. permanent personal disorder. The same can be Based on this stable empirical order, modern said for personal adherence to civil law. The materialists developed a technical notion of minute a person puts himself seriously outside progress. They reduced the material advantages the law, his stability, which seems so unshakable, derived from their understanding of the universe is lost and his life is precipitated into disorder into an end rather than a means. The stability of and drastic change. reason and science led to the idea of universal And so it is with morality in society, that is to progress so much a part of secular modernity. It say, the regulation of free actions with the view of was a naturalist notion of an order of the uni - perfecting man’s rational nature. As long as the verse maintained without God. From this was links with God and the natural order are main - deduced the conclusion that progress, despite tained, one can expect stability. However, the occasional inconveniences, will never be minute society gives in to its disordered passions derailed. and vices, that order comes tumbling down Despite the instability of these post- toward ruin and death. September 11 times, this attitude still prevails. It Some might object that moral law is knowable is a notion of stability that is based on individual to reason and therefore it is not necessary to be experience; it is little reasoned but profoundly linked to God. However, the Church has affirmed felt. It is this strong feeling of stability that so that religion and morality are linked. Without confounds the activist who defends public religion, the complete observance of moral law is morality, and reasons logically and correctly that impossible because part of the moral law pre - acts have consequences. scribes duties to God Himself and helps man sense the obligations imposed by the Divine will. Another Notion of Stability In addition, man’s fallen nature causes him to Thus, it is true that the impression of an enor - lack complete control over his passions, thus mous stability has some basis in reality. inclining him to sin, so that unless man is sup - However, it is not the entire story. There is ported by Divine aid, man is unable to observe another aspect of this stability that is profound - the full moral law for any length of time. ly reasonable and explains the need to defend Indeed, once society breaks that precarious public morality, and that aspect is that the idea link, all things are possible. Scriptures says, “deep of an eternal stability is an illusion. The stable calleth on deep.” 2 History is full of examples of order just described is real but it can also be pre - decadent societies that crumbled. Seemingly carious. It depends on man’s fidelity to God and undefeatable empires were reduced to ruins. It is the natural order He established. It is enough for unreasonable to think that America, which has man to break with this natural order for that sta - always assumed that it is immune against disas - bility, which seemed so unshakable, to come ter, cannot also fall victim to catastrophe. tumbling down to the ground. A Broken Link? Examples Given One might further object that the present state This is something that can be verified on a per - of morality has reached such a deplorable state sonal level. Men’s normal lives are stable as long that the precarious link with God and the natu - as one makes a reasonable effort to practice ral order has already been broken. While it is true virtue. However, that stability is precarious when that iniquity appears to reign everywhere, it is vice is introduced. By seriously breaking one’s also true that things often take a long time to

Crusade September/October 2007 17 Mindful of the lessons of history, the activist is consumed with zeal to maintain the delicate link between God and society, and fights tooth and nail to prevent any advance, no matter how small, which would jeopardize this stability.

collapse. For example, the human body can show judged and punished for his sins individually in amazing resilience in resisting years of abuse the afterlife. However, since nations have no before finally succumbing to death. So also soci - afterlife, the collective sins of nations are pun - eties can be mired in decadence for decades ished on earth. 3 Thus, when the sins of nations before collapsing. Yet the fact remains that after reach an apogee, God exercises His justice upon a long deterioration there often is a breaking them. As Our Lady of Fatima warned, the pun - point in the link with the natural order that ishments for sin include war, famine and the per - determines a breakdown. secution of the Church. That same God Who is the creator and main - The Activist’s Role tainer of the enormously stable universal order It is here that the activist is vindicated for holds that order in a delicate balance depending defending a higher moral law. The activist is on the solidity of man’s fidelity to Him. motivated to fight in view of avoiding an To the activist, the fact that the sun rises with impending danger caused by abandoning regularity is not a proof of God’s indifference morals. While the activist may use apocalyptic toward man’s transgressions. Rather, the activist imagery to persuade, the activist actually seeks is filled with admiration and respect for God’s to maintain the link with God and the order He goodness. However, the activist has a lively and established and thus keep society from tum - continuous notion of the precariousness of the bling down. order of things. The activist interprets events On a practical level, the effect of sin is disorder through the prism. Mindful of the lessons of his - Saint Augustine teaches that the collective sins since it places man outside the order proper to tory, the activist is consumed with zeal to main - of nations are punished his nature. The greater the number and the tain the delicate link between God and society, here on earth. The degree of sin, the greater is the concrete effect and fights tooth and nail to prevent any advance, effects of sin send upon society as a whole. no matter how small, which would jeopardize tremors through society, and God exercises His However, beyond these mere practical consid - this stability. justice when nations erations, Saint Augustine teaches that man is Thus, in the present Cultural War, it is not and societies turn enough to be concerned only with individual sins. against Him. The Catholic must work to prevent the nation from abandoning natural and divine law. One must fight to maintain the moral infrastructure of customs, laws and institutions that safeguard public morality. And when iniquity prevails, the prayers of the faithful must rise up to God asking Divine aid and implore His mercy lest that precar - ious link be severed and that immense and benevolent stability be shattered. 

Notes: 1. Peter Meade and Rosanne Bacon Meade, “Social Evolution Starts in Mass.,” Boston Herald , June 12, 2007, http://news.bostonherald.com/editorial/view.bg?articl eid=1005992 2. Ps. 41:8. 3. Cf . Saint Augustine, The City of God , http://www.new advent.org-/fathers/120101.htm. The thesis that nations are rewarded or chastised in this earthly life is an underlying thesis found throughout The City of God , but particularly in Books IV and V.

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Crusade September/October 2007 19 Chapter XXII

Revolution and Clash of Cultures counter- revolution in History Part Three: Subjugation of the Aztecs

BY JEREMIAS WELLS

In the forefront of his mind, Cortes The March Inland gage, set out for Tenochtitlan (modern always maintained a vision of where he On August 8, 1519, Cortes with close to Mexico City). He left behind him a hun - wanted to go and how to utilize all avail - 400 conquistadors, 15 horses, 6 artillery dred-man garrison at Vera Cruz, mostly able means to get there. While his sol - pieces and approximately 1000 the older and less robust, for it was rec - diers were constructing the town of Vera Totonacs, used chiefly to carry the bag - ognized that the physical demands of Cruz, the diplomatic and shrewd con - the expedition would be beyond what quistador forged an alliance with the the ordinary soldier could endure. In Totonacs, an Indian tribe located along Though a sinner, Cortes front of him, he faced unchartered ter - the Gulf Coast that deeply resented the had faith in victory for he ritory, difficult terrain, abrupt weather exploitation of the Aztecs. changes and millions of ferocious, can - When five Mexica tax-gatherers was spreading the Faith nibalistic natives. Along their 250-mile arrived at their capital city of Cempoala journey, they would have to pass to collect the annual tribute and the and conquering territory through three mountain ranges with usual levy of sacrificial victims, Cortes for the Christian volcanic peaks between 14,000 and advised the Totonac cacique to have 17,000 feet high that flanked passes them arrested. Eventually, he saved Empire—to him the same 10,000 feet high and arrive at an exten - them from execution and returned to sive inland lake complex, itself 7,000 Moctezuma thus maintaining an open thing—and God was on feet high. channel of communication with the their side and to Him Toward the end of the third week, the powerful emperor. But the astute com - Spanish entered the land of the mander had also forced the Totonacs to nothing was impossible. Tlaxcalans, a fiercely independent tribe rely on Spanish protection, for without that refused to submit to Aztec authori - that protection Moctezuma would cer - ty. Nevertheless, they were equally suspi - tainly have retaliated. cious of the Spanish and attacked their Cortes had complete control over his advance guard as it crossed into their emotions and allowed only one excep - territory. tion to affect his usual self-control: He Both sides brought their main forces vehemently despised human sacrifice quickly into action. The Spanish had and the resulting cannibalism. After the augmented their small numbers with alliance was cemented at Cempoala, hundreds of friendly locals collected the Christian general ordered the along the route. The Tlaxcalans num - cacique to destroy his idols. Not only bered between thirty and forty thou - did the cacique refuse but ordered his sand. Both the Spanish cavalry and the troops to assemble. A military con - infantry fought in compact units, allow - frontation was avoided as Doña ing them to hold a small perimeter; and Marina, the Indian translator, reminded their weaponry, cannon, arquebuses, the Cempoalans of Moctezuma’s wait - crossbows and Spanish steel carried the ing vengeance. The hideous images day despite the overwhelming numerical were then sent smashing down the odds against them. Three days later, the sides of the temple that was then Indians tried again with even more dev - cleaned, whitewashed and adorned astating results due to a lack of unified Portrait of Moctezuma attributed to Antonio with an altar, a cross and an image of Rodriguez, c. 1680-1697, Museo degli Argenti, leadership and coordination. With casu - the Blessed Virgin. Florence. alties climbing, they sued for a halt to

20 Crusade September/October 2007 Gulf of Mexico

Map showing Hernando Cortes’ march to Tenochtitlan, capital of the dreaded Aztec Empire.

the fighting and agreed to the Spanish already been killed and they were in a The March Continues terms, realizing that they had a common precarious position, but that it was bet - The Spaniards rested a few weeks and interest: detestation of Moctezuma and ter to die as courageous men than to live resumed their journey on October 13 to the Aztecs. without honor. Moreover, there was less the fabled capital of the Aztecs. Cortes After the victory, Cortes remained in risk in going forward than in retreating. took a calculated risk by choosing a his field camp for about a week where he He closed by remarking that he, though route that passed through Cholula, a city entertained ambassadors from both a sinner, had faith in victory for he was of 100,000, friendly to Moctezuma, and a Aztecs and Tlaxcalans and eventually spreading the Faith and conquering ter - risk it was, for an elaborate trap had accepted the hospitality and friendship been set for him. of the latter. This proved to be a momen - After a night’s rest in the center of the tous occurrence of inestimable value, for Of all the great city, 2,000 Cholulans entered the Tlaxcala was not only a large city that Spanish camp to serve as escorts, but in bitterly resented the oppression of the confrontations between reality to set up an ambush as the Aztecs but also the capital of an Indian the most illustrious Spanish attempted to leave. But Cortes, federation that included 500 square already forewarned, encircled them and miles and 150,000 families. leaders in history, none with sword and musket cut them to However, the soldiers were tired out pieces. The Cholulans waiting outside to physically and psychologically. Yes, once exceeded this one in spring the trap rushed in to help, but again Cortes had judged the situation pageantry and splendor. Cortes anticipating the move had placed perfectly, chosen the proper response his cannon in a position that command - and flawlessly executed his strategy. But ed the avenues and mowed them down. how long could this successful streak ritory for the Christian Empire—to him At the sound of gunfire 5,000 Tlaxclan last? One miscalculation or some the same thing—and God was on their allies charged into the city to finish the unforeseen adverse circumstance, and side and to Him nothing was impossible. massacre. When the dust and smoke they all would wind up on the cutting The strength of Cortes’ faith and the cleared, 6,000 Cholulan warriors lay dead block, sacrificial victims for the demon- depth of his confidence along with his along with a number of priests who had god Huitzilopochtli. exceptional persuasiveness once again committed suicide by setting them - Several of the leading officers came to convinced his soldiers to follow him. selves afire in their chief temple, because his tent and suggested that they return Three weeks later, to get some rest, the they felt their gods had forsaken them. to Vera Cruz and find their way back to Spaniards moved into Tlaxcala, where Cortes rebuilt the temple as a shrine to Cuba. The resourceful commander rose close proximity and mutual admiration the Blessed Virgin Mary. once again to the occasion with confi - bonded the two forces together. With When word of the disaster that had dence and his powerful presence. He the addition of the new allies, the odds befallen his allies reached Moctezuma, answered that indeed fifty-five men had against success narrowed considerably. his ambivalent, superstitious nature

Crusade September/October 2007 21 caused him to become immobilized and his officers on an inspection tour of Huitzilopochtli that knocked off his gold - with uncertainty. He ordered many the great temple in the center of the city. en mask. The situation escalated as rein - human sacrifices and locked himself up When the Catholic captain-general forcements arrived from both sides along in the great temple for days, fasting, went inside the main shrine at the top to with Moctezuma who once again negoti - praying and drawing blood from all Huitzilopochtli and saw inches of dried ated a solution favorable to the Spanish. parts of his body. Finally he sent permis - blood on the walls, pools of blood drying The Aztecs themselves would remove the sion to Cortes to visit him in his sump - on the floor and braziers of recently pagan images, carefully and methodically tuous, ornate island-city on the lake. ripped out hearts sitting on the altars to avoid any further damage. The shrines before demonic images, his usual self- were scrubbed down with lime. After a Arrival at Tenochtitlan control vanished. He denounced the solemn procession where a Te Deum was Of all the great confrontations between Aztec culture in the severest terms. sung, one was dedicated to Our Lady and the most illustrious leaders in history, After his words were translated, the furi - the other to Saint Christopher. none exceeded this one in pageantry ous priests made menacing threats and Owing to the volatile situation, an and splendor. And yet it proved to be the Spanish officers went for their interruption to this progress could be one of the most curious, for the two expected from several quarters, but it is groups had almost nothing in common sad to relate that when it came, it came other than the fact that they were both Cortes leaped to the top from another Spaniard: his old nemesis, human. The depravity of the Aztec life Diego Velasquez, who became obsessed had virtually extinguished the notion of of the altar with an iron with a spirit of vengeance. He sent right and wrong, good and evil, among bar in his hand and took Panfilo Narvaez, a rather nasty individ - its people. The Spanish on the other ual, with 900 men and close to a hundred hand represented the spear point of a smashing blow to the horses to find Cortes and hang him. He Western civilization, not always perfect, left 120 men in Tenochtitlan and raced to occasionally immoral, but nevertheless head of Huitzilopochtli intercept the new threat. However, the advanced guard of those ideals that knocked off his meanness is no substitute for intelli - imbedded in civilized life. gence and craftiness. As both sides nego - Cortes and his men were quartered in golden mask. tiated through emissaries, Cortes was a spacious palace that had once able to buy off half the opposing army. In belonged to the emperor’s father. In the the battle that followed, Narvaez was following days several meetings took weapons. Moctezuma with great diffi - easily overwhelmed and captured place between representatives of the culty kept the antagonists separated opposing cultures. Moctezuma men - and Cortes left. He now realized neither The Sad Night tioned how ancient Mexican folklore side ruled Mexico, Huitzilopochtli did. Unfortunately, Cortes’ absence gave the told about a powerful sovereign who With tensions mounting in Mexico Aztecs an opportunity to breakdown his ruled over his ancestors and one day left City, Moctezuma began to cause prob - fragile control over the Valley of Mexico. during a dispute. He went on to declare lems among the Spanish allies on the Pedro de Alvarado, left in charge at the that he firmly believed that eventually coast. To alleviate the pressure, Cortes capital, had none of Cortes’ diplomatic descendants of that sovereign would countered by resorting to another bold skills and provoked a general uprising of return from the direction of the rising maneuver: He abducted the intriguing the nobles during which Moctezuma sun and subjugate their lands. monarch and brought him quietly but was killed and Alvarado was forced to Cortes cleverly confirmed the story forcefully to Cortes’ palace. With momen - barricade himself in the Spanish palace- and claimed he had come in the service of tum behind him and Moctezuma as his compound. The Captain-General with a great lord to convert the Mexicans and puppet-emperor the Catholic command - his army augmented by the new arrivals save their souls. The devout commander er moved against his principal enemy and dozens of horses rushed back by a went on to say that the Aztecs must Huitzilopochtli. forced march to extricate his fellow renounce their idols and end human sac - Two wooden shrines sat at top of the countrymen from certain death. With rifice, cannibalism, sodomy and other great temple, a blue one for the god of water and food dwindling, they fought vices. The Aztec monarch responded that rain and one painted blood-red for the their way over the western (Tacuba) politically he would recognize the Spanish demon-god. Cortes with a handful of causeway and out of the city. During the King as his lord, that materially whatever men climbed the steps and entered the escape, known as La Noche Triste , (The they wanted was theirs, but that religious - latter and was immediately confronted Sad Night) Cortes had lost over half his ly he adamantly refused to retreat one bit; by several priests. An argument ensued, army, with only 500 men and 23 horses his priests would not allow it. whereupon he leaped to the top of the surviving. He worked his way around the During the first week, the emperor altar with an iron bar in his hand and northern lake (Zumpango) in the valley and chief priests accompanied Cortes took a smashing blow to the head of system, fought another pitched battle

22 Crusade September/October 2007 and finally reached Tlaxcala. Despite the devastating setback, the implacable commander was determined to retake the Valley of Mexico. He trust - ed that God would not allow them to perish and lose such a great and noble land. During the next few weeks, several ships arrived from the Caribbean and Spain carrying soldiers, horses, supplies and powder. Whatever their original destination, Cortes enrolled the men into his army and sequestered the hors - es and supplies. Methodically and with singular determination, the farsighted com - mander tightened the noose around Tenochtitlan by subjugating all the cities and towns bordering the lake system to his authority. He built 13 brigantines armed with cannons to control the lake. In late May 1521, with the island-city completely blockaded, Cortes accompa - nied by 86 horsemen, 118 soldiers carry - ing crossbows or arquebuses, 700 swordsmen, 75,000 Tlaxcalans and other natives began the assault against at least 250,000 Aztecs. Dividing his land forces in three columns, he attacked along three of the causeways against fierce opposition. Success was measured by the number of feet gained per day. Finally the Spaniards and their allies penetrated the city and moved toward the center from three dif - ferent directions. Carnage, destruction, disease and famine reigned supreme. The Tlaxcalans, whom Cortes had trouble controlling in the heat of battle equaled the Aztecs in violence. The conquistador commented that no race, however sav - Map of the lake district of the Aztec capital, showing the causeways leading to Tenochtitlan. age, had ever practiced such fierce and unnatural cruelty as the natives of these parts. In mid-August 1521, after eighty Friars to evangelize and educate the Immaculate Conception. Five years days of brutal fighting, the new emperor Indians on the other belongs to the his - later, the Church recorded that over five was caught trying to flee, which effective - tory of the various nations involved. million Indians had been converted to ly ended the siege. Catholicism.  The very qualities that contributed to Epilogue Cortes’ success in bringing Christianity On December 12, 1531, Our Lady of Bibliographical Note: and Western civilization to the New Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego at a We largely used three sources for the conquest of Mexico: Bernal Diaz del Castillo, trans. A.P. World militated against any enjoyment location two or three miles northeast of Maudslay, The Discovery and Conquest Mexico of that success in a complicated story Mexico City. In order to authenticate her (New York, 1956); Salvador de Madariaga, Hernan that we end here. The effort by the new request to Bishop Zumarraga that a Cortes (New York, 1969); Hammond Innes, The government to bring a balance between church, eventually a famous basilica, be Conquistadors , (New York, 1969); For the the colonizers to exploit the land on the built there, she left on his cloak a mirac - European attitude toward the discovery and set - tlement of this hemisphere see J. H. Elliot, Empires one hand and that of the Franciscan ulous image of herself as the of the Atlantic World (Yale University Press, 2006).

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1 Where will YOU be on October 13?

r r e e Where will you be and what will you be doing on b b October 13, 2007? Please consider changing your plans o o and honor the ninetieth anniversary of Our Lady’s t apparition at Fatima by joining a Public Square c c Rosary Rally in your town on this special day? O O Join a Public Square Rosary Rally Near You! In 1917, Our Lady appeared at Fatima, Portugal, with a message for the world: do penance, amend your life and pray the Rosary. Did we listen? Did we pay attention? That is why America Needs Fatima is organizing the Public Square Rosary Rally ! Thousands of Catholics in cities across the America will pray the Rosary publicly at noon on October 13, 2007, exactly ninety years since the miracle of the sun at Fatima, Portugal. R R o o s s a r r y y

R R a l l l y y

To find the Public Square Rosary Rally nearest you, call toll free (866) 584-6012 or go to www.TFP.org and click on the Rosary Rally Campaign Central.