Gregory the Great and Christmas in the Year 590

At the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Gregory the Great delivered his first sermon on Adventus, the coming of the Lord, speaking of the Second Coming, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as Judge.

By Roberto de Mattei *

It was in December of the year 590. One hundred years had passed since the fall of the Roman Empire in the west (476 AD). Another three centuries would pass before the Restauratio Imperii, where the re-establishment of the Christian Empire would be possible in the year 800. The Italian peninsula had been devastated by the armies of the Byzantines, the Goths and the Lombards. In the late spring, the Lombard armies, led by King Agilulf, stood at the gates of the Eternal City. Everywhere there were traces of disaster and tribulation. On the chair of Peter sat a Roman, Gregory I, the descendant of an old senatorial family. His predecessor, Pelagius, had been killed by a terrible plague raging in the city of Rome. The war, hunger, and disease plagued the country, as has happened so often in history.

On the second Sunday of Advent, at the beginning of his pontificate, the Pope delivered his first sermon on the Gospels. He described the calamity of his time and linked it with the passage in Luke 21: 25-33, where Jesus speaks to his disciple of the signs of the end times:

And there shall be signs in the sun, moon and stars, and on earth the nations will be dismayed and perplexed by the raging and thundering of the sea. 
People will die of fear in the expectation of things coming over the earth; for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 
Then the Son of Man will be seen coming on a cloud with great power and glory. 
When that begins, straighten up and raise your heads; because your salvation is near. 
And he made a similitude and said: Look at the fig tree and the other trees: as 
soon as you notice that they bring forth their fruit, you know that the summer is near. 
Similarly, you should know when you (all) see this happening, that the kingdom of God is near. 
Amen, I tell you: this generation will not pass until everything arrives. 
Heaven and earth will pass, but my words will not pass away.

The pope said:

"The Lord and our Savior, dear Brothers, announce the evils which the declining world will meet, because he will find us ready, to stop us loving them. He reveals to us the scourges that announce the coming of the End, because we fear God not in peace, so that we at least fear the approaching judgment, even under the weight of the evils that are breaking over us. The reading of the Holy Gospel, which you, brethren, have just heard was sent by the Lord just before: 'One people will rise up against the other, and one kingdom against the other. One people will rise up against the other and one kingdom against the other. There will be tremendous earthquakes and in many places plagues and famines; terrible things will happen and in the sky you will see huge signs."

Gregory the Great (590-604)

The end of the world, which the Pope called for reflection, is not only the end of history, the parousia, the second return of Jesus Christ on earth, to repay everyone according to his works, and to establish the heavenly Jerusalem. It is also the end of a certain historical epoch which is judged and punished by the Lord for their sins. In this sense, the downfall of Jerusalem is both an allusion to the end of the world and all the punishments God has always used to punish humankind: wars, epidemics, hunger and natural disasters. Any punishment is a preliminary interpretation of the Final Tribunal, and any act of faithfulness to God in times of crisis is an allusion to the testimony that the elect have given to God in the time of the Antichrist.

"We see tribulations in our day that is coming all over the country. Often we have received news from other parts of the known world of earthquakes that are destroying countless cities. We endure the plague without end. We do not yet openly see extraordinary signs of sun and moon and stars, but by changing the air we can sense that they are not far off. Before Italy was handed over to the foreign sword, we saw flaming lightning in the sky, like the living blood of the human race that was to be shed. "

Because of this terrible calamity, the Pope called for the head to be raised, the hearts lifted, and the spirit lifted to the joys of the heavenly home.

"Those who love God must rejoice and rejoice over the end of the world, for surely they will soon meet those whom they love, while the world soon passes away that they have not loved. Therefore it should not be that the believer, who urges to see God, weeps over the scourges of the world, which he knows to be destined to end among them. It is therefore written: Whoever wants to be a friend of the world, makes himself an enemy of God. So who does not rejoice over the approaching end of the world, shows to be her friend, and has proven to be an enemy of God. Those who have planted their roots of the heart in their love for her, those who seek no future life, and those who can not even imagine such a life cry for the destruction of the world. "

Gregory the Great recalled the words of the gospel:

"'Heaven and earth will pass, but my words will not pass away.' It is as if he would openly say that whatever sustains you has no endurance for eternity, while all that is seen passing by remains the same and unchanging, as my passing word pronounces truths that remain and without change. Therefore, my brothers, we experience the fulfillment of what we have heard. The world is being driven down every day by new and greater evils. You yourself can see how many there are left of an innumerable population. Every day we are plagued by new scourges, sudden suffering oppresses us, new and unforeseen catastrophes plague us. Therefore, my brothers, do not love this world, which you can see will not last long. Keep in heart the apostolic commandments with which the Lord admonishes us by saying: Do not love the world and not the things of this world! If one loves the world, the love of the Father is not with him. "

The Pope recalled how a few days earlier in Rome some ancient trees had been knocked down by a cyclone:

"We have to keep in mind that the invisible judge, in order to put these things into practice, moved the breeze of a gentle wind and from a single cloud igniting a storm that shook the earth and numerous buildings to their foundations, so that they were almost made ruins. So what will this Judge do when He Himself comes and His wrath is inflamed in the punishment of sins, when we are unable to bear it when He met us through a harmless cloud? Paul says, looking at the strictness of the judge who is about to come: it is terrible to fall into the hands of the living God. Therefore, dear brothers, keep that day in mind, and what seems grave to you now will be easy for you in comparison. What shall we say of the terrible events of which we are witnesses, if not that they are messengers of the future wrath? It is necessary to see that the present ones are distinct from that extreme tribulation in proportion as the power of the heralds differs from that of the Judge. So remember, dearest brothers, with the utmost attention to that day, change your life, change your behavior, conquer the temptations of evil with all your strength, and punish the sins committed with your tears. You will recognize the coming of the Eternal Judge at the right moment the more you prepare yourself for it today in fear of its severity."

With these words, the Holy Pope Gregory the Great prepared the citizens of Rome in December 590 for Christmas. This is how many of the greatest shepherds spoke in the darkest ages of humanity. Their voice penetrates from a distance to us like the light of a distant star illuminating the darkness of the night, proclaiming in our hearts and in society, the birth of the Divine Savior.

* Roberto de Mattei , historian, father of five, professor of modern history and history of Christianity at the European University of Rome, President of the Lepanto Foundation, author of numerous books, most recently in German translation: Defense of Tradition: The Insuperable Truth of Christ, with a foreword by Martin Mosebach, Altötting 2017. (Not available in English yet)

Translation: Giuseppe Nardi 
Image: Wikicommons / Corrispondenza Romana
Translation: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

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Cardinal Müller Denies He is an Antagonist to the Pope

Cardinal Müller does not want to be stylized as a pope's adversary "I'm not an antipode to the Pope on principle, and certainly not from an ideological point of view, whether it's called conservative or progressive, right or left"

Hamburg (www.kath.net) 
The German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller does not want to become a pope's rival, according to the Pope Francis' recent criticism of the Curia. In present "time" Müller said, "In no case, would I like to be styled in the German press to a rival of the Pope!" After the Pope's Christmas address there was speculation that Francis meant especially Müller as confidant of the former Pope Benedict XVI. [Who recently praised him in the Herald.] To the unusually clear criticism of Francis to intrigues in the Vatican, Müller says: "In any case, intrigues and plots are incompatible with the professional honor of a clergyman."

Müller himself had to resign from the office of Prefect of Faith last summer. In addition he said that at the time, he was surprised, "because neither objective nor subjective reasons were mentioned." He admits that he criticized the Pope's style, but: "It was not about me, I had protected three of the best collaborators in my congregation, who had been dismissed without notice, without any reason, if that was improper or unwise I am a priest and not a courtier, Basta!" 

He does not see himself as Francis' conservative antagonist: "I'm not an antipode to the pope in principle, and certainly not from an ideological point of view, be it conservative or progressive, right or left." Pope Francis is neither liberal nor conservative and does not need an opponent, neither conservative nor progressive."

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
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Cardinal Maradiaga Financial Scandal: Pope Has Ordered Investigation

(Rome) Last Thursday was not very pleasant for all those present in the Sala Clementina of the Apostolic Palace, and really not desirable for anyone.

For the curia workers, because they had to anticipate, the new "gift" of a renewed chastisement from the Pope for Christmas. But also for Pope Francis, because on the same morning the weekly magazine L'Espresso (comparable to the Spiegel/Time Magazine) with a dossier of one of the closest pope confidants and personal friends, the Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, this was anything but good.

Cathedral of Tegucigalpa

While Francis did in the Sala Clementina, that which the Curials had already feared - bludgeoning them for the fifth year in a row, talking about "traitors," "intrigues," "disloyalty," and "cancerous ulcers," was one of his own closest advisers in the spotlight of a "new scandal", as L'Espresso wrote.

The weekly magazine revealed that Cardinal Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa in Honduras, was president of Caritas International and co-ordinator of the C9 Cardinal Council wanted by Francis in Rome, to make extra payments to his official remuneration.

600,000 extra and the "disappeared" millions

As archbishop, he is automatically also the Grand Chancellor of the local Catholic University. As such, Maradiaga had to pay nearly $ 600,000 annually from the university in recent years. More than 41,000 dollars or the equivalent of 35,000 euros flowed additionally monthly in return for nothing in Maradiagas pockets. In the month of December, he even paid himself out more than $ 60,000 as a Christmas bonus. Whoever can will. Maradiaga could because he is in the requisite power position.

The matter is generally extremely unpleasant for Pope Francis, who is particularly concerned about his own image. The thing is very dire because, since the beginning of the pontificate of Francis, Maradiaga has not only acted as a kind of vice-pope, especially in Latin America, but is also one of the most vociferous advocates of a "poor Church for the poor." At the same time he maintained a link to the restless globalist US multi-billionaire George Soros.

Maradiaga's pauperism has turned out to be a mere frippery with the L'Espresso piece. An action of the Pope was unavoidable with his Christmas scolding of the curia and the Maradiaga dossier.

Pope orders investigations - Cardinal Maradiaga not mentioned

As Vatican spokesman Greg Burke announced on the 24th of December, Pope Francis had "personally" arranged investigations into "alleged irregularities in the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa," said EFE [A Spanish international news agency created in 1939 by Spain's former minister of the press and propaganda Ramón Serrano Súñer and Manuel Aznar Zubigaray].

Auxiliary Bishop Pineda

Burke did not make a direct connection with Maradiaga. According to L'Espresso, the "irregularities" do not concern the extra payments made to the Cardinal, but rather "conspicuous" millions of euros in money transfer, for which the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, Juan Jose Pineda, is responsible.

It was also unequivocally implied that Pineda could hardly effect the money transfers without the knowledge of Cardinal Maradiaga. This was probably even done on his behalf. They are related to London financial services providers, including Leman Wealth Management. The millions were deposited in German banks. Part of the money should now be "gone".

According to Vatican spokesman Greg Burke, the Pope has given the order to go in search of the money.

Cardinal Maradiaga positioned himself last spring as a potential successor to Pope Francis. This should be, as much as can be foreseen at least now, no longer the case.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi 
Image: Youtube / Wikicommons / Annus fidei
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
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Pope Intimate and Poverty Poser Receives $600,000 a Year to Do Nothing

Pauperist Maradiaga, Pope intimate and coordinator of the C9 Cardinal Advisory, has received 600,000 dollars yearly as a "bonus" without consideration.

"35,000 euros a month for the Cardinal. New scandal in the Vatican for Pope Francis. The friend and advisor of Francis, Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, preached pauperism, but received half a mission a year from a University of Honduras. "

The weekly L'Espresso magazine reported on the extra income of one of Pope Francis' closest confidants, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, former chairman of Caritas International, who under the current pontificate, considered himself a particularly intense poverty preacher of a "poor church for the poor."  He additionally even put himself in position as a potential successor to Pope Francis.

The weekly magazine unveiled the "new scandal" yesterday coinciding with the Christmas address of the Pope to the Roman Curia, which again became a verbal attack against the central office of the universal Church.

According to L'Espresso, Cardinal Maradiaga receives $ 41,600 a month from the Catholic University of Tegucigalpa , of which he is the Grand Chancellor. In December, he even received $ 64,200 as a "Christmas present". In 2015 alone, the total amount that Maradiaga received for his "services" as Grand Chancellor amounted to "nearly $ 600,000." The Office of the "Grand Chancellor" is automatically linked to that of the Archbishop and has the purpose of ensuring the solidarity of the University with the Church. The office has primarily representative functions and also control oversight. Work or services are not associated with it. The payments to Cardinal Maradiaga are an "extra" to his ordinary income, which  the cardinal as the highest official has availed to himself to a certain extent. You could also say self service.

The cardinal with the wire to George Soros

Soros donation for Pope's visit to the United States and the UN Sustainable Development Summit

Maradiaga had already been accused in the summer of 2016, following DC Leaks revelations, in connection with the Pope's visit to the United States in 2015, to have concluded a deal with the left-wing activist and billionaire multi-billionaire George Soros. A payment of $ 650,000 from Soros for financing the Pope's visit is attested. Since then, the question has been raised as to which influence Soros and his network were able to exert on the Pope's visit. It was speculated that Pope Francis was silent in return for topics such as the mass murder of unborn children through abortion and "gay marriage", two "holy cows" of the political left.

Maradiaga also proved to be a particularly keen club-swingers against any criticism of the administration of Pope Francis. He was particularly underhanded against the Cardinals who presented Pope Francis in autumn 2016 with the Dubia (doubt) to the controversial post-synodal letter Amoris laetitia. Maradiaga's speech for Italian Switzerland's television was a shameful train wreck, for which the Honduran neither apologized nor did Pope Francis demand such from him. Maradiaga had said:

"First and foremost, I think they did not read Amoris laetitia, because unfortunately that is the case! I know the four and say: you are already retired. How come they say nothing to those who make weapons? Some are in countries that produce and sell weapons for the genocide that takes place in Syria - for example. Why? I do not want to be, let's say, too harsh: only God alone knows the conscience of men and the inner motives, but seen from the outside, this seems to me a new pharisaism. They were wrong, they better do something else. "

Text: Giuseppe Nardi 
Image: L'Espresso (screenshot) / InfoVaticana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

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Game of Hide and Seek Around the Confirmation of ++Gänswein and +Marini

Francis with the Master of Ceremonies from Benedict XVI., Guido Marini

(Rome) The strange game of hide-and-seek whether Curia Archbishop Georg Gänswein as Prefect of the Papal Household or Msgr. Guido Marini Pontifical Master of Ceremonies have been confirmed.

In the past week rumors had arisen that both close collaborators of Pope Benedict XVI. and Pope Francis may no longer be confirmed in office. They would face the same fate that met Cardinal Gerhard Müller as Prefect of the Congregation of the Faith last June .

On December 15, Guido Horst, the Rome correspondent of the Tagespost wrote:

"But is now the mystery of the Vatican more transparent? The technology is becoming more modern. But Glasnost does not mean that. Three examples: The Internet had speculated on whether the pope would extend the term of office of Archbishop Georg Gänswein as Prefect of the Papal Household and that of the Master of Ceremonies Guido Marini. As insiders confirm with certainty, Francis did that."

Horst did not refrain from making a swipe at the less transparent information policy of the Holy See:

"Why did you not know this? A note in the Vatican Bulletin would have been enough and the rumors would end."

External middleman "confirms" Master of Ceremonies in office

This note to put an end to the rumors, but had not been published in the Vatican Bulletin. Instead of the direct route that Guido Horst had called for, a strange path was chosen. A middleman was rushed forward. This is the House and Court Vaticanist of Pope Francis. Without a doubt, Andrea Tornielli is a close confidant of the ruling church leader, but without official function.

Tornielli published on the coordinated by him news platform Vatican Insider the article:

"The Pope confirms his ceremoniar Guido Marini".

It says:

"Pope Francis has renewed the commission of the Genoese Prelate for five years, who Benedict XVI. had called to the Vatican. Possibility of a change refuted. "

Tornielli continues:

"In the past few weeks, when the confirmation had already been given to the person concerned, indiscretions circulating in the Vatican palaces spread about a possible change. In reality, the relationship between the Pope and his Master of Ceremonies remains fixed, and Francis appreciates the faithfulness of Msgr. Marini, who has the task of overseeing every papal liturgy."

Strangely enough, Santa Marta uses an external middleman to make such a statement official, as the Vatican daily bulletin is responsible for. Or as Guido Horst said:

"A note in the Vatican Bulletin would suffice."

Apart from that, the Vatican Insider message only concerns Mgr. Guido Marini. For the time being, not even the papal middleman Tornielli knows the fate of Curial Archbishop Georg Gänswein.

Katholisches.info wrote on December 18 to the whole thing:

" Glasnost was Michael Gorbachev. Pope Francis it is not. "

Text: Giuseppe Nardi 
Image: Vatican Insider (screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link...

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Jesuit General Kolvenbach's Disappeared Report: "Bergoglio Not Fit to Become Bishop"

(Rome) The book "The Dictator Pope" (Il Papa dittatore) by Marcantonio Colonna, a pseudonym of the unknown author, has been causing much discussion for days, and not only in Rome. It also describes the rise of Jorge Mario Bergoglios. The daily La Verità conducted an interview with the author by e-mail.

The book The Dictator Pope 

Marcantonio Colonna was one of the three victors of the Battle of Lepanto, who stopped the Islamic encroachment against Europe at sea in 1571. Colonna was commander of the papal troops and later viceroy of the Spanish Habsburgs in the Kingdom of Sicily.

"The little book attracts half the world's interest," according to the daily La Verità. Media around the world have already reported it. After the Italian edition, an English has appeared. Further translations are planned. A German edition is in preparation.

La Verità: Why did you decide to write this book? And why do you use a pseudonym for this?

Marcantonio Colonna: Basically, the media image that Pope Francis has benefited from over the past five years is one of the most extraordinary scam stories of the present day. Everyone who works in the Vatican knows the profound difference between image and reality and one should not be surprised that somebody reveals this truth at some point. 

I wrote my book under the name of Marcantonio Colonna because he was a great military leader of the 16th century Catholic Church. Anyone who reads the book will see that it is in no way an attack on the Church. The intention is to prevent the Church from making another such mistake, that of choosing a little-known cardinal to be the pope [He was certainly well-known by the Sankt Gallen group who had tried to elect him in the Conclave following John Paul II's death], who then turns out to be quite different from what he appeared to be. The pseudonym was necessary because, as the book says, Pope Francis mercilessly avenges himself on those who oppose him. The three assistants of Cardinal Müller, who were dismissed in October 2016 for alleged criticism of the Pope, are an example of this.

Church variant of Juan Peron

Marcantonio II. Colonna

La Verità: In your opinion, why is Bergoglio a "dictator"?

Marcantonio Colonna: The meaning of the word "dictator" is that of a sovereign exercising his personal while disregarding law and order. This is quite different from the legitimate authority that traditionally belongs to the head of the Catholic Church. I could refer again to Cardinal Müller. He tried to defend his three subordinates when they were dismissed. He received the answer from the Pope: "I am the Pope and I owe no explanation for any of my words." This is not the way in which the popes traditionally exercise their authority. In calling Pope Francis a dictator, I also wanted to show the close parallels between his style and that of Juan Peron, the dictator of Argentina in Bergoglio's youth. His influence is crucial to explain the style of Francis. As I say in the book, it is the ecclesiastical implementation of Juan Peron.

The disappeared report of the Jesuit Father General

La Verità: In the book you tell a little known episode from Bergoglios past. It concerns the Jesuit Father Kolvenbach. Who is this? How did you hear about the episode?

Jesuit general Peter Hans Kolvenbach (1983-2000)

Marcantonio Colonna: In 1991, when Father Jorge Bergoglio was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Argentina, a report by the Superior General of his Order, Father Kolvenbach, was needed. The response of Father Kolvenbach, based on the opinion of other members of his order, was that Bergoglio was not fit to be appointed bishop. Pater Kolvenbach claimed that Bergoglio's psychological balance was lacking, that he had a deceitful character and that during his time as Provincial, he had divided Argentina. This report was then distributed among the former members of the Congregation for the Bishops and therefore became known to a rather large number of people. Bergoglio hurried to make it disappear when he became pope. The copy, which was in the official archives of the Jesuit order in Rome, has disappeared.

La Verità: How did you collect the material for your book?

Marcantonio Colonna: Various journalists have written of my book that it contains little new. In fact, much of it relies on articles published in the past four years, for example, by Sandro Magister. It was just about putting the material together. Nevertheless, I think that my book, with its second chapter, is an important contribution that describes the past of Jorge Bergoglio in Argentina, where he was known as a cunning politician and manipulator in the Peronist tradition. Again, there is nothing new for an Argentine, but it is about making these facts known to the rest of the world. I was just the instrument who translated it across language barriers. Once again, the revelations about the resistance to reform and the rule of fear that now prevail in the Vatican are familiar to anyone working there, but it was necessary for someone to publicly tell what was already known in secret.

The mafia of Sankt Gallen

Godfried Cardinal Danneels

La Verità: How was Bergoglio Pope?

Marcantonio Colonna: My first chapter describes the action of the Cardinals' group for the 2013 Conclave, which became known as the "Mafia of St. Gallen" to ensure Bergoglio's election. This description comes from a member of the group itself, the Belgian Cardinal Danneels, who was so proud to have planned Bergoglio's choice that he told all his biographers. And let me add that the name "Mafia von Sankt Gallen" also comes from Danneels. He was obviously unaware that he was thus announcing a grave violation of canon law prohibiting any form of conspiracy to influence a conclave. The group of Sankt Gallen met for years, secretly, before the conclave of 2005, where they tried to prevent the election of Cardinal Ratzinger to Pope Benedict XVI. The candidate presented at the time was Bergoglio. When Benedict unexpectedly abdicated in 2013, they seized the opportunity to resume the failed attempt eight years previously.

The strangled reform of the Church

La Verità: What do you think about the reforms of Bergoglio?

Marcantonio Colonna: The third chapter is called "Reforms? What reforms?" It describes in detail how the reforms of powerful curia representatives, with whom Francis had allied, were completely blocked. First and foremost, the reform of the Curia was canceled out by the State Secretariat, that Cardinal Parolin is more powerful than ever. Secondly, the broken promise to take action against the scandal of pedophile priests: there are cases of well-known priests who are protected by senior representatives of the Curia. Thirdly, the complete cessation of the financial reform that was expected when the new Economic Secretariat, headed by Cardinal Pell, was set up. It was fought by a small circle of Cardinals who did not want to give up their control, and they managed to defeat them. The dismissal of the Vatican general auditor, Libero Milone, was another victory for those who oppose the reforms. Why did this happen? Because Pope Francis, who was elected to reform the Church, has come to the conclusion that he can control the Curia much more efficiently by the corrupt figures who depend on him for power. They obey him blindly.

La Verità: Was there any reaction from the Vatican to your polemic?

Marcantonio Colonna: My book did not please the Vatican. There were immediate attempts to find out who wrote it. They thought they'd figured on the author being someone who was in England and harassed him with telephone threats. What they are unaware of is that the book is not a one-on-one opinion but expresses the concerns of many people, in the Vatican and beyond, who want the truth to be known.

Translation: Giuseppe Nardi 
Image: Wikicommons / MiL
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Katholisches...
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