So some persons will have got off fairly lightly then. Now if they can keep it up they might one day see the light and awake to reality, realising they have been lied to.
Loved what Fr Casey mentioned at 3:47. When a position offers power and riches it attracts a different set of people than the position that requires sacrifice without short term reward. This is so true.
Fr. Casey I have followed this channel for several years. You have grown so much in your ability to tell the truth of the Gospel in a clear, simple way, like St Francis himself. God bless you.
I went to mass for the first time today, as I emailed the priest, letting him know I wanted to talk to him about the belief of Sola Scriptura. During mass, the Gospel reading was out of Mathew 16. After mass, we went to his office, and we both had our bibles. Neither one of us opened them up trying to defend our belief because there was nothing to defend between the two of us. It turned into a conversation about how important the scripture is and how impacting it is to our lives. He told me he had countless people walk out of mass because his messages offended them.
And sola scriptura is the modus operandi of all heretics throughout history. St Irenaeus said in his books, Against Heresies, about heretics perverse the scripture to support their heresy
@@hollistantang9469 and yet Article 3 sections 109-117 of the catechism gives a clear framework of how to properly interpret the scripture through the Holy Spirit. Why would they have those sections in the catechism when section 119 basically states that the church has the only true interpretation and any other interpretation properly adhering to sections 109-117 annulled? Sounds like hypocrisy
I attended the Eucharistic Congress, and this reminded of a talk that I heard while I was there. The speaker brought up the imagery of Fortuna, the Roman wheel of fortune. It depicts the cycle of fortune through 4 men. One man is climbing the wheel rising up in power, one man is a king, one man is a fallen king, and the last is a peasant at the bottom. When our hearts are far from God, we ride the wheel. When we seek Jesus, our eyes are fixed on Him in the middle. No matter where we are on the wheel, we must seek Christ's kingdom first.
✅️THE GOSPEL OF THE WORD OF ALMIGHTY GOD "the Salvation of the last day that Christ brought in the second and last incarnation of the His new and holy name" (Behavior that cannot fully obey Me is betrayal. Behavior that cannot be loyal to Me is betrayal. Having many understandings and spreading them everywhere is betrayal. The inability to affirm My testimonies and interests is betrayal. These are all acts of betrayal that you have always been able to do, and they are common to you as well. None of you may think this is a problem, but I don't think so. You think that some act of treachery is only an occasional occurrence, not your characteristic behavior, and should not be discussed so seriously, in a way that damages your pride. To think like this is to be an example and example of rebellion. Man's nature is his life; it was a principle on which he depended to stay alive, and he could not change it. This is also the nature of betrayal---if you can do something to betray a relative or friend, it proves that it is part of your life and you were born with this nature. For example, if a person enjoys stealing from others, this "joy of stealing" is part of their life, although they may steal sometimes and not steal sometimes. Whether they steal or not, it cannot prove that their stealing is just a form of behavior. Rather, it proves that their thieving is a part of their life--that is, their nature. This is why I say that the source of this thought is not something that just breaks out from time to time, but is in this person's own nature.) Almighty God said BEHAVIOR that CANNOT FULLY OBEY Me is BETRAYAL. BEHAVIOR that CANNOT be FAITHFUL to Me is BETRAYAL. CHEATING on Me and USING LIES to DECEIVE Me is BETRAYAL. HAVING MANY UNDERSTANDINGS and SPREADING them EVERYWHERE is TREASON. The INABILITY to AFFIRM My TESTIMONIES and INTERESTS is BETRAYAL. OFFERING FALSE SMILES when the HEART is FAR from Me is BETRAYAL. These are ALL ACTS of BETRAYAL that YOU have ALWAYS been ABLE to DO, and they are COMMON to you as well. ☀️🙏 NONE of YOU may THINK this is a PROBLEM, BUT I DON'T THINK SO. I CANNOT TREAT SOMEONE'S BETRAYAL of Me as a SMALL MATTER, and I ESPECIALLY cannot ignore it. 🛑 Now, when I work among you, you act in this way---if the day comes when no one is there to watch over you, will you not be like bandits who have declared themselves kings? When that happens and you cause a major disaster, who will be there to fix the problem? You THINK that some ACT of TREACHERY is ONLY an OCCASIONAL OCCURRENCE, NOT your CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOR, and should NOT be DISCUSSED so SERIOUSLY, in a way that DAMAGES your PRIDE. If you really think like this, you lack common sense. To think like this is to be an example and example of rebellion. MAN'S NATURE is his LIFE; it is a PRINCIPLE on which he DEPENDS to STAY ALIVE, and he CANNOT CHANGE it. THIS is ALSO the NATURE of BETRAYAL--if YOU CAN DO SOMETHING to BETRAY a RELATIVE or FRIEND, it PROVES that it is a PART of your LIFE and you were BORN with THIS NATURE. 🛑 😪 THIS is SOMETHING that CANNOT be DENIED to ANYONE. For EXAMPLE, if a PERSON ENJOYS STEALING from OTHERS, this "pleasure to steal" is PART of THEIR LIFE, although they may steal sometimes and not steal sometimes. WHETHER they STEAL or NOT, it CANNOT PROVE that their STEALING is JUST a FORM of BEHAVIOR. Rather, it PROVES that their THIEVING is a PART of THEIR LIFE--that is, their NATURE. 🛑 Some people will ask: Since this is their nature, then why, when they see beautiful things, don't they sometimes steal them? The answer is very simple. There are many reasons why they don't steal. They may not steal something because it is too big to snatch from watchful eyes, or because there is no suitable time to act, or something is too expensive, too closely guarded, or maybe they are not particularly interested here, or notthey see how it will be of use to them, and so on. All of these reasons are possible. But anyway, whether they steal something or not, it cannot prove that this thought only exists as a fleeting and fleeting moment. On the contrary, it is a part of their nature that is difficult to change for the better. Such a person is not satisfied with stealing only once; such attitudes to claim other people's possessions as their own are formed whenever they encounter something beautiful, or a suitable situation. ☀️ This is the REASON WHY I SAY that the SOURCE of this THOUGHT is NOT a THING that just CUT off SOMETIMES, but is in this PERSON'S own NATURE. 🙏 From The WORD, Vol. I. The Manifestation and Work of God. A Very Serious Problem: Infidelity 1 📩 All who have "ears to listen" are led to what the Spirit of God is saying in His lowered and built kingdom/Church engraved with His new name, His totality, the ownership of this disposition, "THE CHURCH OF ALMIGHTY GOD "💐 fulfillment from what was said He to Peter 2,000 years ago recorded in (Matthew 16:18-19). His Coming is the fulfillment of all that was prophesied in the great book of Revelation, so the last "Salvation" He brought the whole truth, the way for eternal life. So the "victorious" ones who will receive them are the wise "virgins" because as recorded in the prophecy of His return no one knows it except the one who will receive it! So "come" and come to His kingdom/church standing in the holy place in the air/TH-cam! This is also a fulfillment from the book of (Isaiah 2:2/9:6) which He first fulfilled in His first incarnation. 📥 "They say with a loud voice, "Salvation comes from the Lamb, and from our God who sits on the Throne!" (Rev. 7:10). ... and (Isaiah 2: 2 / 9:6) "On the Last Day, the mountain on which Jehovah's temple stands will stand out above all the mountains. All nations will flock there. " . "For a baby boy is born to us. The rule will be given to him; and he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 💌
@@account2871 Respectfully, he's not talking about God's own authority in this context. What he means from a practical sense is that governmental heads have never successfully forced the people to *genuinely* turn towards God even on the occasions when that leader actually was rock-solid in their own faith. King Josiah in the Old Testament is a good example of the failure of top-down systems for turning people towards God. For whatever reason, people respond to their peers more readily than their bosses, governmental leaders, etc., when looking for inspirations of how to live their lives effectively.
@@jakecarter9920 Jeremiah 32:38, "They will be my people and I will be their God" Rulers must lead God's kingdom and we citizens must take God's orders. If you have the capacity to do either, then you must do either.
@@account2871 We aren't in disagreement. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying leaders don't have a responsibility. I'm saying that a faithful human leader cannot convert an unfaithful citizenry as effectively as their own peers can. Also Jeremiah is called "the Weeping Prophet" for a reason. The people of Judah did NOT listen to him. God sent the Judges, and the people didn't listen. God sent Kings, and the people worshipped other gods, God sent the Prophets, and the people ignored or killed them. God sent the post-exile Priests (not to be confused with modern church priests), and the people became more attached to the Law than to God. Only Christ himself who is the perfect Judge and King and Prophet, and Priest rolled into one is capable of changing the hearts of mankind. Christ chose and sent his apostles to convert people because they were like the people they were sent out to. They weren't "special" in the sense they were born to lead or from some upper political class. They were special precisely because they WERENT special before they came to know God. That is the message Father Casey is trying to convey.
"It is the duty of all Catholics to make use of popular institutions, as far as can honestly be done, for the advancement of truth & righteousness; to strive that liberty of action shall not transgress the bounds marked out by nature & the law of God." -Pope Leo XIII
Fr Casey, I'm a Spaniard and often have said that the Spaniards brought to the Americas and the Philippines, the Whip and the Gospels. Thank God for the Franciscans who tried to temper the greed and power of the Conquistadores. I studied with Benedictines who founded our HS in 1868. The most Catholic people, anecdotally, IMHO, are the Philipinos. In Spain the churches are empty aside from a handful of families and a bunch of old people like me (68). Love your channel and your thoughts. I was a member of a church in Herndon VA served by Franciscans, who I wish were more like you in their hearts. Pray for me. God bless.
It's true. Im Filipino and the Philippines is like a medieval society which are still very much controlled by church. Yet, the same catholics are so corrupt in the government. Crimes are also rampart. Being a catholic nation doesn't equate with becoming a just and equitable society.
I am a senior gay man who gave up on Catholicism almost 50 years ago and I am also a 'light' history buff. I first saw this video a few days ago and I cannot shake it. I will attend mass on Sunday for the first time in many years. I will not partake of the Sacraments since I believe from the bottom of my heart that I am not disordered but will respect the theology. But between you (and especially this video) and Father Richard Rohr, I no longer have a choice. God bless you and your loving community!
You are not disordered. The Roman Church, for all their wonderful fine qualities, are wrong about some matters of human sexuality. They do not understand gay people at all and their theology proves it. But they DO understand the glory and the wonder of the Sacraments, and especially the Eucharist.
Glad you are going back to church. It is not a question of being 'disordered' at all, but a question of being humbly yielded to God. I have had temptations all my life of a sexual nature, but I know that the word of God (the Bible) teaches me His will that I avoid yielding my body to those lusts. It's difficult, it really is, and sometimes I have stumbled, but I always knew I was doing something displeasing to God and I did not try to justify my actions; instead I repented and resolved to live that day & the next day in a way that would be more pleasing to my Lord. (My desires cannot be my lord unless I set them on a pedestal and convince myself that 'surely the desires are okay because I was made this way'.) You are not really any different from any other human being; every one of us has issues. It comes from being born into a cursed world, a world laboring under the curse and effect of Adam's sin. Every one of us was "made this way" (yearning to please ourselves instead of pleasing God) in our flesh, due to the fall of Adam. Only in the afterlife when we (who've trusted in Jesus as Savior) will receive our resurrection bodies, and when God creates a whole new universe for us to live in, will that curse be finally and fully eliminated. The proclivity toward sin resides in our mortal flesh, but we look forward to our immortal flesh (which will be free of that proclivity to sin) in the time to come. In the meantime, we are called to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, to God (Romans 12:1).
learn more about the faith, please read and learn about the gospels. Jesus Christ is calling you and wants you to be saved and to have the fullness of the faith.
Good on you! I'm arguably an atheist and I listen to him all the time! Listening to honest, intelligent, well-meaning people of any religion is nearly always a huge benefit, in my experience. They make it obvious that, even if someone thinks ultimate Truth comes from one religion, wisdom and love can come from anyone.
@@vurritochan_8949 you have missed Fr. Casey's point of this video... I was once a follower of Christianity but arrogance and a lack of compassion as well as fear mongering, which your response does all three, drove me away ..I don't believe in fear based religion and I dislike the arrogance of some christians thinking they're the only ones who have real faith or devotion to God...I'm very devoted to Narayana and I found so much joy and peace and love in it...things I never found in Christianity at all.. the reason I have come to love Fr. Casey is because he is what I think a real christian should be...he exemplifies the love of Jesus Christ through humility and compassion and caring about people not spreading fear and hatred
Hallelujah Brother!!!!! My convertion took place 11 Years ago in the chapel built by Saint Francis close to Assisi, I felt a strong loving precence and the old me died in that church! Poverty, chastity and obedience is the way of Christ 🔥🙏🔥
If you were to have our rulers be holy, men of intellect and faith, and people who serve the lord, you can. People love to follow. Why not have them follow people of faith instead of the degeneracy of the modern world? And have our men of faith follow Christ. This is how we used to run societies.
@@kevinkirby4305except politicians like to claim jesus out of one side of their moth when it suits them and helps them have power and people fall for it constantly
@@kevinkirby4305That’s called theocracy. Christian authoritarianism ends up inhibiting the self-determination of others and thus taking their freedom of choice.
@@Deng_Xiaoping_is_my_fatherWas not Josiah called righteous by God for destroying idols that Manasseh and his sons had allowed the people to worship? We have corrupted intellects and our corrupt minds will never comprehend the fullness of the Gospel
@@deusvult8340 I’m assuming you don’t like that people have different lifestyles from you. Still, you’re most likely not going to admit it and instead use god or scripture to justify authoritarianism under the pretext of making the world holy.
One minor point, the Edict of Milan did not grant toleration to Christians, that was granted by an Edict by Maxentius in 306. What the Edict of Milan did was confirm that freedom, and also restored any property confiscated from the Christian during the Diocletian persecutions.
The problem with these dates is that there isn't actually a clear line between toleration and persecution. Even before the 4th century, there were periods of relative toleration of Christians, with Gallienus' 'little peace of the Church' (260s-80s) being one example. Similarly, Maxentius may have promulgated an edict of toleration, but that did not mean official recognition as a religion, but only the cessation of active persecution. On the other side of the coin, Gratian and Theodosius' later promotions of Christianity did not mean paganism was immediately outlawed, but merely delegitimised from being a recognised religion. Subsequent bans of paganism in its entirety by later emperors were enforced to varying degrees in its practical applications.
Although we are not of this world, we Christians are still in this world and we are called to do good wherever we can. The US Constitution states that we, the people, are the rightful government of this country and that we have delegated certain types of authority to our elected representatives. That is why, as citizens of this country and the legitimate government of it, we Christian US citizens have a duty to exercise the powers and authority we have retained; we have a duty to do good, including through the exercise of the vote, of free speech, of seeking election to office, etc. Christians must not abdicate their duties (as both Christians and citizens), and should not set aside their beliefs and their right actions, just because of this little history lesson that power corrupted the church of Rome.
@@rexlion4510 Of course christians can be in politics and we have to bring Our ideas on, but politics are a mean like everything in this world, to realize the Kingdom. When politics stops to be a mean and becomes the aim, lust for power becomes central, we miss the point.
@@My10thAccount Constantine was not one of the apostles he was a temporal leader who was a murderer and used the power of Christianity for his own temporal advantage. On the year of his death he was planning to invade Peria using Christianity as justification for a Holy War to replace the Emperor of Persia with a "Christian" Emperor. He was an evil man.
I've been a Presbyterian Christian all my life, and this video echoes a lot of things I've heard throughout my life as a follower of Christ, even though I didn't know about this historical event! I've always heard that when Christianity is close to power, it always falls apart. God hates false conversions, so I can't think of something more abhorrent to the faith than forcing people to become Christian under threat of law.
I am also Presbyterian and on a previous video he did say the Roman church needs to Reform. Maybe he is coming to the point to possibly become a reformer himself. I don't agree with him on all he says but he may be coming closer each day.
The whole basis of having faith in the Lord is our free will. The same thing that can stray us to sin is what can leads us to salvation, willing to give ourself to the Lord.
Also Matthew 10: " 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. " Basically it is saying that we should not forcefully convert people, but leave them in peace if they do not believe. Forced conversions are counterproductive anyway. You may force someone to act as outwardly Christian, but inside he will hate you. You can't force belief inside the soul.
@@PatriceFriantwe catholic believe in fixing the true Church of Jesus from the inside, when we find errors and imperfections in the Church we need to direct our eyes to Him who is perfect. Separating from the church is almost a way of not trusting in God and His power
As a dedicated and faithful Protestant, I find that I do at times disagree with some of your perspectives, but I do agree with many. I find myself in wholehearted agreement with your comments in this video. 😊
We need a Church that is meek and humble, but also a Church that spreads the Gospel to the ends of the earth and does not compromise in its beliefs. How do we do both? I agree with your assessment and conclusion, Father, but I also wonder how we can be both small and evangelical.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NRSV-CI How better to structure your Church than with His words?
@RealBelisariusCawl No doubt we must place our trust in the Lord through all struggle, but what do we do to fulfill the Great Commission? I agree that when the Church is given too much power, it creates problems and even disaster, but a Church with too little influence can't evangelize, can it? That's my question: Where do we draw the line? Father Casey is probably right about a return to a poorer and meeker Church, but I want to know how such a Church is supposed to spread the Gospel.
@@insertnamehere3106 I suppose I’m not articulating things well. Consider this: Jesus didn’t even take collection. His ministry spread through the evidence of His words and works. If we do as He instructed, then He will ensure that we’re taken care of, just like He’s done since the birth of the church. I have faith that by emulating the Lord and keeping His instructions, the message will spread.
@RealBelisariusCawl Perhaps you're right. I guess I just see things a bit more worldly or cynically than that and feel a need for more "structural" and "societal" forces. But even if I am right, only time could show the truth of that. To try humility (as the Scriptures command) instead and keeping trust in the Lord as our influence weakens is certainly not a foolish path to take.
@@insertnamehere3106 If it helps at all, I’m not even Catholic (yet). Your church IS growing. It’s just hard to see because when you hear about or see someone move AWAY from God, it’s heartbreaking. I definitely sympathise.
I thank the Almighty Father for using Fr. Cassey's gifts of eloquence & holiness to win souls for GOD. May Jesus & the Holy Spirit continue to protect, inspire, & bless you, Fr. Millions of Filipinos are happy & grateful for your effective efforts in enlightening us & moulding us to be better Christians.
#1. This line of argument would have been preposterous when one considers the reign of Jewish kings, the return of the Jews to Israel to reestablish themselves, and the Jewish rebellion against the Greeks which established another kingdom. All of these events are in OT Scripture, predicted by the prophets via God, desired by God, and these theocratic monarchies are rebuked only when they do not do enough to curb the influence of unbelievers. Therefore, to say that Christianity should be the exact opposite of God's will during the OT at all times and all seasons is borderline Marcion heresy. #2. The line of argument violates the spirit of Ecclesiastes 3 which makes the commonsense argument that there is a time and a season for a great many things. A wise ruler will know when to wage war and when to wage peace, when to protect Christianity with zeal, and when to pull back. Thomas Aquinas made this argument when he warned that a severe punishment could, itself, become a greater sin than the sin it was punishing if it caused revolt. At the same time, he promoted Catholic monarchy. #3. This also violates the notion of the Body of Christ. Not all are called to live the ministry of Christ with near zero possessions in missionary work. Therefore, to be Christ-like is to distinguish universal morality from the specific life of Christ. Jesus may not have been the king of a nation, but a king can none-the-less understand the universal morality of Christ's teachings. Centuries ago, the Franciscans demanded to live a life of total poverty and essentially shamed anyone in the Church who didn't follow this lifestyle up to the very pope. This can lead to vanity and a persecution complex. #4. This violates the Great Commission which is to convert every soul on Earth with zeal. Practically speaking, being a persecuted minority is not going to get the same results as an empire. The spread of Christianity is due in most part to imperial conquest and trading. This is how Christianity became the dominant religion in the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Philippines, Siberia, Australia, and elsewhere. If Christianity remained persecuted and obscure, it would not be a third of the world's population but closer to the Jewish 1% of the world. We also see this same phenomenon with the rapid Islamic conquest that has made the world 2/3rds monotheistic. OP appears to not be concerned with these souls. Rather, he wishes to keep to a vain purity and allow billions of souls to be damned which he knows would be the consequence if not for Constantine the Great. #5. Seems rather obvious that if Christianity had not become an empire, it would have been sacked and nearly annihilated by Islam. The Christian religion could very well have been extinguished. The Christian empires defended the encroachment of Islam in France, Italy, the Balkans, and Russia. #6. Jesus predicted his ministry would put relatives against each other, a sword rather than peace. He knew there would be conflict. The end game is for Jesus to rule all nations via Revelation. This line of argument is also very protestant. We have a magisterium for a reason, to interpret the Scriptures on how to proceed in any given time and season. Who is OP to pass judgment on the Catholic magisterium of the 300s? To pass judgment on the magisterium that gave us the list of books to be in the Bible, the Ecumenical Councils, and the Creeds, all of which likely would not have occurred had Constantine not intervened. And who is OP to doubt the Christian symbol that led Constantine to victory and aided in his eventual conversion and decision-making? And who is OP to challenge Constantine named as a saint in Orthodoxy? And, his mother Helena, also a saint who aided in this conversion? #7. Finally, there is a failure to understand see the obvious Divine Providence of the rapid expansion of Christianity as a result of Constantine. This Divine Providence is the sign by which the Israelites also determined whether they were in God's favor. To object to God's divine providence is risky business that this video has not done enough to appreciate. Instead, there is a critical risk of promoting modernism that is already hostile to Church history and vain purity as actual theological truth.
1) nearly all of them abused their power also God at first did not even want monarch also also we dont have to follow the old testament ways we don't see people getting stoned to death anymore. 2) the time of monarchies is long gone so if that time and place existed it has passed the world moved on from the middle ages 3) not all have to be poor but not all have to aspire to be powerful and rich men 4) Christianity made up to 10% of roman population in 300s and was like you said at times peaceful and other times brutal I dont know why we would want to replicate the brutal or enforcing aspect today. 5) Islam might not have existed much of islam comes from other chirstian sects that fled the roman empire trying to impose orthodoxy 6) power slowly corrupted the church this only started with Constantine even then he was surprised the church ask him to settle the Donatist issue sure we all agree the good of the councils but what about later things like the schisms that did not heal in part due to roman politics? like the Chalcedonian schism or the conflicts of east and west which also included a lot of politics 7) the argument that you are correct because you had rapid success is a very slippery slope by that logic Islam accomplished in 100 years what it took rome from 300s to 500s to do, also you it goes with the ancient view that you being successful is a sing of god favor which Jesus and Paul did not always agree with
Let's not mistake meekness and weakness. Christ was meek, for he was all-powerful but sacrified himself, blessing those that tortured him. The weak is just defenceless, not meek. Catholics ought to be meek, not weak.
Amen, Father! God help us, as Christians in my country try to legislate faith and weild power over non-Christians! It's a betrayal of the spirit of the Gospel 😰
"15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice."
This is quite possibly the best video Fr. Casey has ever posted (and every one I’ve watched is really great) - and surely a must-watch for every Christian. Favourite quote: “…an approach to the faith that scoffs at the weakness of the Cross, because it refuses to be weak itself.” Wow! 🙏 Thank you so much for sharing this Fr, so much truth here 🙏❤️
I’d argue that maybe instead of rejecting what the church already has, we should “grow into it” so to speak. Power vacuums can be nasty things. Father Casey and many commenters brings up a very good point regarding complacency and worldliness. However, if we as a church can spiritually grow, we can responsibly use our power to do good. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s a world where the power held by the church is instead held by nobody. Someone is going to fill in whatever void the church leaves. Instead of running back underground, maybe, through the grace of God, the one institution founded by Christ can steady herself to shine all the brighter. "He that hath a talent, let him see that he hide it not; he that hath abundance, let him quicken himself to mercy and generosity; he that hath art and skill, let him do his best to share the use and the utility hereof with his neighbor." -St. Gregory the Great,
Dear Fr Casey, you hit it out pf the park with this reflection. The delivery of your messages is improving all the time. God bless you in your ministry.
There is no question that giving political power to the Church is a terrible idea with disastrous consequences. At the same time being Catholic does not mean we withdraw from the public square and partaking in its debates. Moreover, some Catholics will be called to enter politics and lead our society, and that leadership must be informed by the teachings of the Church. Our current situation is not due to seeking power, but, rather, allowing some Catholics to claim to be faithful even as they promote laws and policies directly contrary to the Gospel. When this happens the Church must call them to account for their actions. That is what good stewardship and shepherding demands.
In Britain once we get rid of the establishment of the Church of England, so that there will no longer be any ecclesiastical function in the government, we will probably be very well-placed to re-make the Catholic Church as an independent body, answerable only to God.
If you try to _force_ Christ on people, you’re not saving them. You’re sinning and making them sin by false profession of faith. If Jesus had wanted us to FORCE Him on others, wouldn’t He have done so Himself in His ministry? Be a people and a community that others want to be a part of, and the rest will follow with His help.
Conformity never works. That's why My Ancestors were exiled from England in the 1600s . They could not or would not conform to the Anglican Church (King Henry the 8ths reforms) . England exiled the Calvinist to the new world. Known as Puritans in those days. It Covered many different Groups. From Congregationalist , Presbyterians . Some just Puritans (today known as reformed Baptist). The Northern Colonies were mostly all Calvinist. Then Quakers by choice came over as did the Catholics who settled in Maryland (Mary-Land , Named after Queen Mary ) . And Even a Jewish settlement in today Rhode Island. Anglicans settled in Jamestown today Virginia to make big $$$$$$$$$ . The Arminianist/Wesleyan came later Evangelical Methodist Church, Church of the Nazarene, the Free Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Church, and the Salvation Army. Now to the Good Father here this history means very Little . He wants the US to be like Vicodin city??
@@rexlion4510 Referring to the times Fr. Casey was mentioning wherein Christianity was mandatory. It’s a comment on the video, not an attack on Fr. Casey or Catholicism. I apologise for the miscommunication.
@@Toreadorification I think we have to trust in God, that he knows what He's doing, and in His love for us, and follow Him as best we know how. I can't really do much about the amount of power the christian church does or doesn't have anyway.
Fr., this video was helpful for me. I've spent a good bit of time lately reading/watching material (including the time period in -question) attempting to understand "how we got to where we are" and you further facilitated my understanding. Thank you kindly.
Respectfully, there is an alternative view from this - what would have happened if Catholic armies hadn't won the Battle of Tours in 732? Or the Battle of Vienna 1683? Or the Battle of Lepanto in 1571? Just for your consideration.
I remember hearing Dr David Wood state it in this way "Rome became more Christian, but the Christian Church also became more Roman" The Empire adopted the morals and the goal of the Church, but the Church adopted the imperial power and the means and desire to enforce it of the Empire. I believe that this is the primary reason for the rocky relationship the Church had with Jews, the original inhabitants of the Americas, Africans (I'm one) and the original pagans that the ancient Christians lived with. Today people demonise the Church for actions done by the Spanish, Portuguese and British Empires, the Crusaders, various European nations and the Roman Empire, sometimes simply because the violence they propagated happened to coincide with the mass Christianisation of the regions they went to. But they forget that Christianity is not about what Christians do, but what they are supposed to do to show their love for the God who loved them first. And on the Church's side, many have gone the complete opposite direction, by compromising the faith for the sake of tolerance and a desire to show that they are not like the violent Christians of the past. Every body of true Christians needs to have these conversations, about how we can get back the original attitude of Jesus, and how we can wean ourselves off from the Imperial Roman-ness of the Church without becoming weak, easily swayed and oh so quick to compromise.
Father Casey, as a Secular Franciscan over the last quarter of a century, I daily ask for God’s grace in my effort, to firmly hold on to my faith and practice it to its fullest potential as God may see fit to permit me and to use me. I have in the past encountered priests with the gift of eloquent preaching and seen them having to bear with the “cult of personality” which builds around them. Your humility and words often give me clarity and/or validation. I listen for the Holy Spirit in your words. When, if for the sake of making a point, someone may use (intentionally or unintentionally) historical inaccuracies, shocking or simplistic/reductionist narratives I pray that the listener will understand the intent. I pray that the Holy Spirit continues to inspire you in your evangelizing ministry and that you continue to yield all good fruit. Pax et Bonum
ST. BERNARD (1090-1153) was an important medieval theologian and a major figure in the Cistercian Order of monks. He founded 68 monasteries. Though personally charitable and kind, he was a formidable opponent, and he spared no effort in attacking injustice, such as excessive luxury among the clergy and persecution of the Jews. Pope Eugenius III was a friend and a disciple of Bernard and was the first Cistercian to become pope. Pope Eugenius asked Bernard for his thoughts on the right manner of conduct for the successor of St. Peter. Bernard wrote: “That you have been raised to the pinnacle of honor and power is an undeniable fact. But for what purpose have you been so elevated? Here is a question that calls for your utmost consideration. It was not that you might enjoy the glory of lordship.... “What profit does the flock derive from magnificent pageants, with you, the supreme shepherd of the flock advancing majestically in gilded clothing? Do you think that Saint Peter loved to surround himself with this pomp and display, or Saint Paul? No. In all things that belong to earthly magnificence, you have succeeded not Peter, but the Emperor Constantine!"
This is wonderful. After decades of carrying my cross by following the Guidelines of Problacism, I have developed a personal relationship with the Divine through Jesus and I don't need anything or anybody to get in the way of my direct access to Him. I now live a totally fulfilled life, free from any worry, anxiety or fear of death.
The Olympic opening ceremony made me ask the question "for those offended, when was the last time you went to church?"... I looked within and found I was far more sinful than they were.
@@komnennosThis was manufactured controversy and did even remotely resemble the Last Supper. That said, Jesus would have invited everyone one of those people to His table. We are all sinners and none of us our worthy. He makes us worthy through the cross.
@@dumar11 the producer referred to it as a last supper, why is it that by finding something to be sacrilegious I'm suddenly horrible but people commiting said sacrilege are fine? Jesus would indeed invite them to to sup with Him, AFTER rebuking them and reminding them that mocking the holy mass is a bad idea and that they should repent and believe in the gospel.
@@komnennos I think that OP's meaning is that it is far worse to present yourself as a christian (i.e. having a personal relationship with God) and not respecting Him than being a lost soul and mocking Christ. Being a christian is about entering a love relationship with God through Jesus-Christ, and if you claim to be a christian, how can you skip hallowing and respecting God? It is like being married and forgetting about your wife, not visiting her, not talking to her, not respecting her. On the contrary, if you're a materialistic human, lost in the world, is it so unexpected to fall in the traps of the enemy and reject the Message, and fall into mocking the Divine?
I wish I could give you a hundred likes for this video, Father Casey. Note, by the way, that there IS a Church that has always remained a Church of the Catacombs: the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church. And what a faith and deep spirituality they have! Truly an inspiration and example for our future.
Exactly what happened to Shiaism. Im a Shia Kurd, but not iranian, but I have knowledge what is happening in there. Once in middle east Christians, jews, bahais, ezidis and others used to love us for being harmless, respectful and coexisting with them and they hated sunnis for being jihadi against them, now they dislike us too, cuz of irgc and shias taking power in iran, using it for persecution in name of Shiaism. Its good to mention, Shias themselves are the most persecuted group in iran.
But Shia Islam also believes in the Quran. A book that calls disbelievers the worst of creatures and tells Muslims to fight the unbelievers and to not make friends with them. And do Shia's not follow the example of Muhammed? A man who massacred 400 Jews in one day and called upon his followers to remove the Jews and Christians from Arabia. Can you be peaceful with such a holy book and such a prophet?
@@imperialhistory6120 I completely agree with your point. The thing is, We have a big difference with sunnis on historical takes and interpretations. They say holy Mohammad married a 6 yo, eliminated 700 jews, taught to not be friends with other faiths and etc. But according to more accurate history, We say that wife was 24 when she married Him. He executed 45 jews cuz they attacked women and children. When you look at their teachings, you see holy Ali calls a jewish man who criticized our faith "my jewish brother". Our other successor of prophet banished a disciple of his cuz he insulted a hindu servant's mother. Look, whether holy Mohammad, Qoran and etc were good or bad, our take on them is not bad. We have this potential to be harmless and coexisting with others.
@@Kurdishboy2698 I studied Islam for years but as you might understand this is very much focused on Sunni Islam. But I know that Shia's have diffrent hadith and use Ali as an example, who was a good person.
@@imperialhistory6120 yes unfortunately sunnism is the main stream and irgc is the bold thing about our faith. Im not trying to prove Shiaism is truth or better than other faiths. I just wanna say Shiaism is something peaceful and its very similar to Catholicism and Shias can be coexisting with others and also assimilate in western societies.
Youre onto something Friar, thats Deep. Really appreciate this perspective as I'm always worried about my power, becoming a doormat/push over to others. Your telling me now the doormat could become my Throne!, as it was good enough for the Lord. Thats mind bloggling humbling insight. 😢Thanks
I humbly but strongly disagree fr. Casey; that change was needed and good. Power has always been needed even in the old testament. David and Solomon created a great Israel kingdom and it was a gift from God. But people like you are needed to ground those who hold power, but God has appointed officers that will hold power and its much better if those in power have faith in Christ
I'm not sure it's a great idea to point to the Old Testament over the witness of Jesus. His life, death, and resurrection was a new covenant with his people, requiring something different of us.
@@BreakingInTheHabit Thanks for the replay Fr. Casey. The Old Testament is completely needed to understand Our Lord since He was there. Everything the Father gave to the old kings was from Christ as well. There is also testimony for what happens in power but the Lord did gave all those things for a reason. He also gave us those powers in earth for a reason. I am not naive to the fact that a lot of popes were hungry for power, but taken all power from the hands is not something we must strive for.
@@BreakingInTheHabitChrist did not abolish the old covenant however. The Old Testament prefigured the new. Why is it therefore wrong to say that Israel’s glory prefigured the glory of medieval European kingdoms?
I wouldn't call the kingdoms of David or Solomon a good thing or a gift from God. Saul, David, and Solomon each started as extremely faithful men who each ended their reigns in such sins as pride, murder, adultery, and idol worship. Even the most faithful of Christians can be corrupted by power, so I would not wish that burden on anyone. Remember how the Lord told the people through Samuel that having a king would be very bad for them? (1 Samuel 8:9-20). Remember how the people were ultimately scattered, enslaved, and killed because their kings led them astray? God freed His people from slavery in Babylon not through a great Jewish king, but through a Persian king, Cyrus the Great. God is powerful enough to use leaders for good no matter what faith they may or may not profess. It is much better to trust in God than to trust in those who believe in God, especially when some Christians who hold worldly power would use Christianity as a tool to consolidate their personal power at the expense of God's kingdom.
I´ve been thinking about the same thing over and over and over again, thinking I must be wrong or even evil for thinking this and this gave me so much peace
The trouble with a radical view in this way is: why did God allow the Church to get so big and powerful? Certainly He had some good in mind. And it was for more than a millennia.
@@alexrdy1986 Why did God allow His Son being crucified, or the Holocaust and so much more? The answer is in the question, but it's exactly there where most of us start turning the blind eye on it.
Man has free will. God won't interfere. If man chooses to this or that, God allows it. God was never going to stop all evil and only allow good things.
Buddhism, Chinese traditional religion, and I *think* Hinduism and Islam were all larger or equal to Christianity in size and power (and prosperity and technological development) up until the modern era with colonialism. The Church was almost entirely European until pretty recently, and Europe was pretty small and weak for most of history.
@@ewrvwergwergwergwerg Right. Christianity was a regional thing with some presence in outlying areas of the Roman Empire, including a small Roman outpost village called Londinium. That outpost eventually became London. Rome spread Christianity to the edges of its Empire. From there, the British Empire carried it all over the planet. (France, Spain, and Germany did also to a lesser extent).
Amen! I am reminded of another great error in the history of God's people. 1 Samuel 8:6-7 "Samuel was displeased when they said, 'Give us a king to rule us.' But he prayed to the LORD. The LORD said: Listen to whatever the people say. You are not the one they are rejecting. They are rejecting me as their king." I see here Israel not only rejecting God's kingship, but also separating the high priesthood and kingship. This error was amended by Christ when he rejoined the kingship and the high priesthood. So what now? Are we to cry to our spiritual leadership that we want a civil government so we can be like all the people around us? Or are we to trust in God and His Providence?
Hit the nail on the head. the minute you said 4th century, i knew where this was going. "If we want to truly do the work of God, we must give up our influence, stop trying to build kingdoms, and focus on the cross. If it was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for us." Keeping that for later use.
I was a bit too close to "traditionalism" for a few years. My oldest child began Catholic school. So, I started to go to the chapel frequently after dropping her off. Sometimes just sitting there looking at our Lord, sometimes reading one chapter of the Gospels and writing down what came to my heart. This video boils down the fruits of my reflections. I've also reflected that the Church, in a way, has followed the timeline of Israel. We were captive to our sins. We were liberated and led out of that life by Christ. Then we were persecuted on all sides for a time. Then we settled and had relative peace for a short time. Finally, we desired a king. This led to power struggles and eventually schism. Eventually, Christendom was wiped out and we went into exile. It's seems crazy for me to say this considering my perspective a few years ago, but it seems like the Second Vatican Council and the revival of charisms are God's way of bringing us back to where we belong so that we can worship Him is spirit and truth. St. Francis was a sign that we had it all upside down. I'm glad that even after 700+ years, we have a Pope that took his namesake and has given us an example of being about the work that Jesus himself did.
And yet the Church made the World much more Christian. It grew the word of the Lord to be the biggest religion on Earth. And most of all - when the Church was powerful, secular leaders had to be devout. When the Church was weak, the secular leaders were more depraved. Is the world more Christian now than it was 200 years ago? Hardly. There sure is a balance to be struck, between the Church being too powerful and too powerless, but I don't think the correct equilibrium lies in either extreme.
“Secular leaders had to be devout” biggest lol Why do you think the french revolution and other such things took place? The monarchs and the clergy were in bed together and were as corrupt as could be More people couldn’t be anything other than christian, it was mostly cultural. I wouldn’t say that is genuine Christianity
“Secular leaders had to be more devout” biggest lol Not only were they not devout, the clergy were LESS devout as a result because they were in bed with the monarchy. Absolute nonsense
The world may not be more Christian now, but hopefully the Christians are more Christian. If people are forced to be devout, it's pointless, they haven't made the choice themselves, they can hold resentment that they aren't free, and be far from God in their hearts. Of course we want more souls for the kingdom, just not like that. God doesn't want slaves. Even if sin is illegal, the problem won't be fixed because we sin in our hearts, we need Jesus.
Those devout leaders were guilty of every sin imaginable. People suffered horrific deaths in the name of rulers who styled themselves "his most Christian majesty" but had no qualms about slaughtering Christians on the battlefields in the interest of expanding their power. They were definitely not more devout, they were depraved in every way imaginable.
@@DeepJiesel Lol right what is this guy smoking. “More devout” as if the church wasn’t in bed with the monarchy. If anything it made the leaders MORE corrupt and the clergy LESS devout
As catholic, we always grew up, never to bad mouth our Church or our Church's history or Our Pope , which necessitates a confession of our sins, Here is a young troubled American priest FR. Casey who leads his flock astray and should be taken to task by the bishop in his jurisdiction. It reminds me of the famous exchange in history when Napoleon threatened the Pope, that he will destroy the church, to which Pius VII responded, “Oh my little man, you think you’re going to succeed in accomplishing what centuries of priests and bishops have tried and failed to do!” We know, down the long arc of two thousand years of history Our Beloved Church ensconced in this world had absorbed its filth and had gone astray, but it always in the end made its ways back home to our Lord ' there is more rejoicing in heaven for the sinners who repent than....." And Our church has used its power to bring millions in desolate places the message of hope and redemption of our Lord.. .Besides, our Church is the largest charity organization in the world, to carry out its mission it needs a structure and an organization and Nobody including a priest should demean or weaken its chain of command. Even in 16th century man born into wealth, power and castles, gave up everything to toil in our Lord's vineyard and in missions far away. So born into wealth and power should not be an excuse not to renounce it. Fr. Casey should pitch his tent among the homeless and destitute in California for at least a year...
Father Casey. I think you are fundamentally correct in diagnosing a key point of conflict and occasion for sin within the church's history. I think one of the biggest cause behind both the great schism and the rise of protestantism was power (bishop Barron i belive said something along the lines of "if there were different people in power we might have had a lutheran religious order instead of a lutheran church."). I also think there is a great temptation today to want to "go back to the glory days" of the middle ages (i confess i do feel like that a lot). However, I cannot help but feel upset and a bit disturbed by the way you frame this. Maybe it is because as a European i live in a context that evokes memories of these "glory days" with big beautiful cathedrals and such, while also seeing the repercussions of a de-christianized culture where the cathedrals are empty and christ i openly mocked, with very very few people of faith. My own bias made clear i cannot help but feel like it's spitting in the face of all the holy saints and martyrs who built, fought for, and died for christendom. I understand that you might wish to be provocative as the medium of youtube kinda demands, but I think it's wrong to say that "power is antithetical to the gospel", i'd say it's no more antithetical than wealth. I.e. that it can be a great temptation and of those whom much has been given much will be demanded. To condemn christendom outright and say that "the church betrayed christ" both goes against what doctors of the church taught such as Augustine and Aquinas, but also against the witness of saintly kings like St. Edward the confessor, St. Louis of france, St. Olav of Norway, and St. Erik of Sweden. Saints who, even though they were sinners, did not give up power but used it for the glory of god. You are right in saying that we shouldn't strive to re-establish christendom and that the kingdom of God is not of this world. That we cannot force people to follow the church and that many sins have been committed because people have been tempted to do this. We must humble ourselves. But in humbling ourselves, we must also recognize that christ is king and he knew what he was doing in calling Constantine the great, and he still knows what he is doing and reigns sovereign today as christendom becomes but a faded memory.
Please start to flesh this out, either in a book or video. You are exactly right and Christians of all denominations need to hear this. God bless you, Father Casey.
This is a brave argument, Father, and one that as far as I can see, right on and wholly consistent with the gospels. There is one additional thing I would add. The church should be the instrument that leads people to God. As a Byzantine rite Catholic I often feel that the Western Church tends to make itself the object, rather than the vehicle of religion. A Jesuit theologian, Fr. Bernard Philppot, has pointed out, one sad effect of the split between east and west is that the Western Church has gone the way of reason and clarity and lost much of the spirituality, that is the experience of God’s action in our daily lives, that the east, both Orthodox and Catholic has retained. Fortunately that’s not the case with Franciscan spirituality. - Ken T, OSF
I am glad I found your channel. I’ll be tuning in to begin catching up. Focus on the cross, not the buildings, the treasures, nor any man. Focus on Jesus!
I think you downplay the power of divine will in your approach. Clearly, something happened to Constantine in the hours prior to the battle of Milvian Bridge that made him put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Sure...there were negative consequences that sprung from that event's aftermath, but that's because we are human and are thus fallen creatures. However, to think that Christendom wasn't set in motion based in part on God's will is foolish when you put it into the context of Scripture. God promised Abraham that he would make his descendants as numerous as the stars. That prophecy was fulfilled by the birth of Christendom. By wanting the Church to return to a state of being more akin to what it was in the second and third centuries, I think you yourself are misplacing where you put your trust. Because without the Edict of Milan in 313 we probably don't get giants like Athanasius of Alexandria, Augustine of Hippo, John Chrysostoym, Jerome, Ambrose of Milan, and a number of other Church Fathers who were not just saintly men but men who advanced orthodox Christianity through their writings. Writings that would have never seen the light of day if not for the legalization of Christianity.
A similar thing happened when the Puritans fled Europe to seek religious freedom in America. As soon as they had power, they began persecting groups like the Quakers. People are predictable.. Great video!
Thank you for the video and explanation, Fr Casey. I agree with some points you're making, especially about the fundamental teaching that Jesus has brought to us. But, it seems to me that you are framing the whole history of the Catholic Church after 313 as a corrupt power hungry institution and God has left the development of the Church to the world. Are you trying to say that God have been absent during the whole development of the Catholic Church after 313, including in every good services that the Church has brought to the world up until today? I'm not denying the dark history of the Church, and how the authority of the Church has been abused in politics in the past. However, does it still persist up until today? Because, as a cradle Catholic living in SEA, i have never seen the Church used its authority to influence our nation's politics. The Church also never abuse Its authority in evangelization. On the contrary, the church missionaries and services has helped so many lives, especially for the marginalized groups in some remote areas in our country. Although, I understand that this is might not be the case in another regions, because of the difference in culture and political environment. Therefore, If i must suggest, it would be better if you can present more examples and deeper explanations of these kind of power abuse in the Church, not just what happened in the middle ages, but also more importantly in the current era. Because, without examples, the way i see it is that you're only presenting rhetoric here. Being critical is fine, but if you burn the whole house in doing so, it means nothing. Thank you very much. May God Bless your soul. 🙏🙏🙏
My wife attended Archbishop Blenk High School in metro New Orleans. During religion class, the teacher told the class that everything would work better of the state were run by the church. My wife (to be) blurted out, "they already tried that. It was the dark ages." The teacher gave her detention.
@Kevin_Beach To be fair to them, it wasn't like a Henry VIII with Constantine being declared Head of the Church or anything. They can certainly be criticized for their complacency and closeness with the government, but as institutions, Church and State still had, at least, a visible distinction from each other.
@Kevin_Beach Depending on which "civic authorities" you're talking about, that's certainly true. In the 20th century, I can think immediately of Ngo Dinh Diem in Vietnam and Duplessis in Quebec, and, probably most infamously, Francisco Franco in Spain. Since these regimes gave the Church certain freedoms and privileges, clergy were at best willing to negotiate and avoided criticizing the state, or at worst they began to sympathize or even warm up to these ideologies, to the detriment of the people.
As a Benedictine Oblate,and one who holds Master's degrees in both History and Theology, I'm going to have to call you out on your inadvertent, but still very real duplicity. Given the Incarnation and the Trinity, our emphasis should be on creativity, redemption and empowerment, as opposed to wealth, power and prestige. There, I said it. Being of human estate, the Church is subject to sin, which necessitated Jesus coming up with the parable of the wheat and the tares. Unfortunately, human beings are going to be human beings. There, I said it. The church has always reflected the times. By the 4th century, the Roman empire was on the decline, and as a united institution, would not continue in the west but for another century. Afterwards, the so-called dark ages would come, with its political, social, economic and linguistic upheavals. It would be the Catholic Church which would keep Western society and cultural intact. So cut Constantine some slack, he may not have been a saint, but his mother was. So, going back to my observation about your duplicity. Making derogatory remarks about prestige klinks ein bisschien falsche coming from a TH-cam personality and passing judgement on those who wield wealth, power and prestige is still passing judgement. Judge, and boy is this video an exercise in being judgemental, and ye shall be judged.
Very true and rarely mentioned and I would even say the overwhelming part of Christians and surely the representatives of the institution would not be able to agree with you. Yes, losing the power, and literally churches crumbling will allow us to refocus on Jesus as the sole way, truth and live without trying to becoming part of the world.
You kind of trashed the Church from Constantine on (the thumbnail says it all) just to make a valid point about spreading the gospel by serving others? Not sure why but this video left a weird bittersweet taste in my mouth. Maybe because if these words had come out from any anti-Catholic Protestant pastor out there, nobody would have found them surprising.
Well said, Fr. Casey. If one wants to see the hierarchy of the Roman Empire, look at the Roman Catholic Church's hierarchy. It made sense in Constantine's times, but as the old saying goes: power corrupts.
"The early church had to resolve so many disputes, answer so many unanswered questions. All those decisions fundamentally shaped the church and the faith. How do we know they made the right decisions?" We must have faith that the holy spirit was present and guiding them to ultimately make the right decisions that we hold true today.... except for one.
along the way the holy spirit seemed to have left many who claim to follow the catholic way . antrocities and literal anti Christ things have been done to others...
The mainstreaming of any nascent movement will eventually lead to is dilution. Strict adherence to the founder's principles will be relaxed in favor of winning over the masses. The movement goes from being one of conviction, perfectly content to be exclusionary to those who do not avowedly adhere to its truths, to being one that attempts to win popularity contests by compromising on those very principles. Its the history of nearly all movements that start out nobly. Christianity is no different that regard.
The power of being His yeast is that of being the best at being the least. He promises that when we willfully put ourselves in situations of complete service with no personal gain His spirit works in that medium when we most resemble Him. This behavior has an inherent attraction which can lead to sharing the good news. Ultimately the Spirit is going to find all He will to save. I pray our fruitfulness is fulfilled. All glory, honor and praise to Him forever.
I think this is why I've always felt uncomfortable with mandating the 10 commandments and prayer in schools. Christianity should always be preached organically, rather than forced onto people.
Thank you for this video father. I have been feeling for a while now that the focus of the church has been backwards. It is so inwardly focused on the sacraments. Bringing people to church. The Christian focus should be outward on those in need. Bring the church to people. Jesus calls us into action to build the kingdom here, not wait around for the Kingdom to come.
What do you suggest be done to the current church to bring about older Christian values? Reduce the power the church has as an entity/the power each individual has within it? The message I can infer from this video is that absolute power corrupts absolutely, regardless of the holiness of the person withholding it; I see no other solution to this problem.
Its not even that it corrupts individuals, but more that it corrupts instiutions, i.e. the inheritance of authority and position in individuals over time. Holy individuals by comparison are rarely corrupted if they have a decent foundation, rather they flee the corruption and live life in a different way.
@@benjaminblack91 CS Lewis: “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.”
Sure the weakness of the flesh shows itself in corruption. This has the tendency of killing the church and the holy becomes a wrong role model distracting weak members.
I don't see that the current church has much power, except the moral sort, and most people ignore that. The Church has plenty of older Christian values, though.
You are SO right! Thank you for saying what so many are thinking but so few saying out loud. The Church in the US particularly needs to rethink its political ambitions
Can someone please pray for me that i will leave pornography and use phone more productively and get out of my comfort zone. Pls pray for me because i tried so many times and couldn’t get off it for more than a month
I will pray for you. One thing that had helped me out was to remove all the things in my life that would put me in a situation of temptation or the near occasion of sin. Secondly, I would advise you to go to confession and pray for the Lord to help you move away from temptations and to rid yourself of vice and sin that is masturbation. Thirdly, if you happen to be giving into temptation. Ask yourself right before doing it- “Do you love Christ more than this?” Really helps people snap out of it and it has helped me. God bless
I have been thinking the same thing. Thank you Father Casey. Please remind the people of God too, that they need not fear the coming persecution because they can trust in Jesus. As He says “thy will be done.”
Thank you for the thoughtful reminder of Jesus' core teachings. Pope Francis recently visited my country, and his humility reminded me of the example Jesus set for us - to serve the weak and the poor, not to seek to build a kingdom, but to carry the cross. He also emphasized fraternity and compassion toward non-believers, which resonated deeply.
I live near Anabaptist, Mennonite Communities, the communities near me avoid most of what we take for granted, TV, mobile phones, etc. You never hear them going on about politics or the state of the world or the nation. If there is a disaster, natural or otherwise, they get their tools, show up, and go to work fixing things, mostly for folks who are not Mennonite. Locally I have seen this in action. And I have never seen Catholics or any other Protestant denominations, except the Salvation Army doing the same. They are not perfect, by any means, but for me are a better example of living the Gospel than myself certainly and most practicing Christians I know.
@@DoctorDewgong we are talking on an individual level. But I am sure God appreciates your help in pointing out who is fully, individually, living the gospel. Now “pick up a broom and help clean up” as advised by St. Teresa of Calcutta.
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.”
Gr8 saying
- St. Francis of Assisi
So some persons will have got off fairly lightly then. Now if they can keep it up they might one day see the light and awake to reality, realising they have been lied to.
Loved what Fr Casey mentioned at 3:47. When a position offers power and riches it attracts a different set of people than the position that requires sacrifice without short term reward. This is so true.
Fr. Casey I have followed this channel for several years. You have grown so much in your ability to tell the truth of the Gospel in a clear, simple way, like St Francis himself. God bless you.
I went to mass for the first time today, as I emailed the priest, letting him know I wanted to talk to him about the belief of Sola Scriptura. During mass, the Gospel reading was out of Mathew 16. After mass, we went to his office, and we both had our bibles. Neither one of us opened them up trying to defend our belief because there was nothing to defend between the two of us. It turned into a conversation about how important the scripture is and how impacting it is to our lives. He told me he had countless people walk out of mass because his messages offended them.
And sola scriptura is the modus operandi of all heretics throughout history. St Irenaeus said in his books, Against Heresies, about heretics perverse the scripture to support their heresy
@@hollistantang9469 and yet Article 3 sections 109-117 of the catechism gives a clear framework of how to properly interpret the scripture through the Holy Spirit. Why would they have those sections in the catechism when section 119 basically states that the church has the only true interpretation and any other interpretation properly adhering to sections 109-117 annulled? Sounds like hypocrisy
Tradition is not the same as the Word of God
@sird2333 and yet the number one thing Jesus warned the pharisees about was their man made traditions
@@hollistantang9469 That is not correct.
I attended the Eucharistic Congress, and this reminded of a talk that I heard while I was there. The speaker brought up the imagery of Fortuna, the Roman wheel of fortune. It depicts the cycle of fortune through 4 men. One man is climbing the wheel rising up in power, one man is a king, one man is a fallen king, and the last is a peasant at the bottom. When our hearts are far from God, we ride the wheel. When we seek Jesus, our eyes are fixed on Him in the middle. No matter where we are on the wheel, we must seek Christ's kingdom first.
Boethius.
✅️THE GOSPEL OF THE WORD OF ALMIGHTY GOD "the Salvation of the last day that Christ brought in the second and last incarnation of the His new and holy name"
(Behavior that cannot fully obey Me is betrayal. Behavior that cannot be loyal to Me is betrayal. Having many understandings and spreading them everywhere is betrayal. The inability to affirm My testimonies and interests is betrayal. These are all acts of betrayal that you have always been able to do, and they are common to you as well. None of you may think this is a problem, but I don't think so. You think that some act of treachery is only an occasional occurrence, not your characteristic behavior, and should not be discussed so seriously, in a way that damages your pride. To think like this is to be an example and example of rebellion. Man's nature is his life; it was a principle on which he depended to stay alive, and he could not change it. This is also the nature of betrayal---if you can do something to betray a relative or friend, it proves that it is part of your life and you were born with this nature. For example, if a person enjoys stealing from others, this "joy of stealing" is part of their life, although they may steal sometimes and not steal sometimes. Whether they steal or not, it cannot prove that their stealing is just a form of behavior. Rather, it proves that their thieving is a part of their life--that is, their nature. This is why I say that the source of this thought is not something that just breaks out from time to time, but is in this person's own nature.)
Almighty God said
BEHAVIOR that CANNOT FULLY OBEY Me is BETRAYAL. BEHAVIOR that CANNOT be FAITHFUL to Me is BETRAYAL. CHEATING on Me and USING LIES to DECEIVE Me is BETRAYAL. HAVING MANY UNDERSTANDINGS and SPREADING them EVERYWHERE is TREASON. The INABILITY to AFFIRM My TESTIMONIES and INTERESTS is BETRAYAL. OFFERING FALSE SMILES when the HEART is FAR from Me is BETRAYAL. These are ALL ACTS of BETRAYAL that YOU have ALWAYS been ABLE to DO, and they are COMMON to you as well. ☀️🙏
NONE of YOU may THINK this is a PROBLEM, BUT I DON'T THINK SO. I CANNOT TREAT SOMEONE'S BETRAYAL of Me as a SMALL MATTER, and I ESPECIALLY cannot ignore it. 🛑
Now, when I work among you, you act in this way---if the day comes when no one is there to watch over you, will you not be like bandits who have declared themselves kings? When that happens and you cause a major disaster, who will be there to fix the problem? You THINK that some ACT of TREACHERY is ONLY an OCCASIONAL OCCURRENCE, NOT your CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOR, and should NOT be DISCUSSED so SERIOUSLY, in a way that DAMAGES your PRIDE. If you really think like this, you lack common sense. To think like this is to be an example and example of rebellion. MAN'S NATURE is his LIFE; it is a PRINCIPLE on which he DEPENDS to STAY ALIVE, and he CANNOT CHANGE it. THIS is ALSO the NATURE of BETRAYAL--if YOU CAN DO SOMETHING to BETRAY a RELATIVE or FRIEND, it PROVES that it is a PART of your LIFE and you were BORN with THIS NATURE. 🛑 😪
THIS is SOMETHING that CANNOT be DENIED to ANYONE. For EXAMPLE, if a PERSON ENJOYS STEALING from OTHERS, this "pleasure to steal" is PART of THEIR LIFE, although they may steal sometimes and not steal sometimes. WHETHER they STEAL or NOT, it CANNOT PROVE that their STEALING is JUST a FORM of BEHAVIOR. Rather, it PROVES that their THIEVING is a PART of THEIR LIFE--that is, their NATURE. 🛑
Some people will ask: Since this is their nature, then why, when they see beautiful things, don't they sometimes steal them? The answer is very simple. There are many reasons why they don't steal. They may not steal something because it is too big to snatch from watchful eyes, or because there is no suitable time to act, or something is too expensive, too closely guarded, or maybe they are not particularly interested here, or notthey see how it will be of use to them, and so on. All of these reasons are possible. But anyway, whether they steal something or not, it cannot prove that this thought only exists as a fleeting and fleeting moment. On the contrary, it is a part of their nature that is difficult to change for the better. Such a person is not satisfied with stealing only once; such attitudes to claim other people's possessions as their own are formed whenever they encounter something beautiful, or a suitable situation. ☀️
This is the REASON WHY I SAY that the SOURCE of this THOUGHT is NOT a THING that just CUT off SOMETIMES, but is in this PERSON'S own NATURE. 🙏
From The WORD, Vol. I. The Manifestation and Work of God. A Very Serious Problem: Infidelity 1
📩 All who have "ears to listen" are led to what the Spirit of God is saying in His lowered and built kingdom/Church engraved with His new name, His totality, the ownership of this disposition, "THE CHURCH OF ALMIGHTY GOD "💐 fulfillment from what was said He to Peter 2,000 years ago recorded in (Matthew 16:18-19). His Coming is the fulfillment of all that was prophesied in the great book of Revelation, so the last "Salvation" He brought the whole truth, the way for eternal life. So the "victorious" ones who will receive them are the wise "virgins" because as recorded in the prophecy of His return no one knows it except the one who will receive it! So "come" and come to His kingdom/church standing in the holy place in the air/TH-cam! This is also a fulfillment from the book of (Isaiah 2:2/9:6) which He first fulfilled in His first incarnation. 📥
"They say with a loud voice, "Salvation comes from the Lamb, and from our God who sits on the Throne!" (Rev. 7:10). ... and (Isaiah 2: 2 / 9:6) "On the Last Day, the mountain on which Jehovah's temple stands will stand out above all the mountains. All nations will flock there. " . "For a baby boy is born to us. The rule will be given to him; and he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 💌
Bishop Barron has a number of videos on TH-cam where he talks about this.
Only God should be King and all government workers His servants.
"The way of the kingdom of God is not from above; it is always from below." You hit that one out of the park, padre.
It's actually from both because God created the heavens AND earth so...
@@account2871 Respectfully, he's not talking about God's own authority in this context.
What he means from a practical sense is that governmental heads have never successfully forced the people to *genuinely* turn towards God even on the occasions when that leader actually was rock-solid in their own faith.
King Josiah in the Old Testament is a good example of the failure of top-down systems for turning people towards God. For whatever reason, people respond to their peers more readily than their bosses, governmental leaders, etc., when looking for inspirations of how to live their lives effectively.
@@jakecarter9920 Jeremiah 32:38, "They will be my people and I will be their God"
Rulers must lead God's kingdom and we citizens must take God's orders. If you have the capacity to do either, then you must do either.
@@account2871 We aren't in disagreement. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying leaders don't have a responsibility. I'm saying that a faithful human leader cannot convert an unfaithful citizenry as effectively as their own peers can. Also Jeremiah is called "the Weeping Prophet" for a reason. The people of Judah did NOT listen to him.
God sent the Judges, and the people didn't listen. God sent Kings, and the people worshipped other gods, God sent the Prophets, and the people ignored or killed them. God sent the post-exile Priests (not to be confused with modern church priests), and the people became more attached to the Law than to God.
Only Christ himself who is the perfect Judge and King and Prophet, and Priest rolled into one is capable of changing the hearts of mankind.
Christ chose and sent his apostles to convert people because they were like the people they were sent out to. They weren't "special" in the sense they were born to lead or from some upper political class. They were special precisely because they WERENT special before they came to know God.
That is the message Father Casey is trying to convey.
St Girolamus said "Plebs Urbis, lex orbis" that translated Is like "poors of the city, law of the world". Between the last, the divine Order emerges
"It is the duty of all Catholics to make use of popular institutions, as far as can
honestly be done, for the advancement of truth & righteousness; to strive that
liberty of action shall not transgress the bounds marked out by nature & the law of God."
-Pope Leo XIII
Yep. I'm pretty sure that Fr. Casey is a closet Marxist.
Fr Casey, I'm a Spaniard and often have said that the Spaniards brought to the Americas and the Philippines, the Whip and the Gospels.
Thank God for the Franciscans who tried to temper the greed and power of the Conquistadores.
I studied with Benedictines who founded our HS in 1868.
The most Catholic people, anecdotally, IMHO, are the Philipinos. In Spain the churches are empty aside from a handful of families and a bunch of old people like me (68). Love your channel and your thoughts. I was a member of a church in Herndon VA served by Franciscans, who I wish were more like you in their hearts.
Pray for me. God bless.
Perhaps, but the most Catholic country is Poland
It's true. Im Filipino and the Philippines is like a medieval society which are still very much controlled by church.
Yet, the same catholics are so corrupt in the government. Crimes are also rampart.
Being a catholic nation doesn't equate with becoming a just and equitable society.
@@steffski1946 I'm probably going to regret asking, but based on what metric is Poland "the most Catholic country"?
71% of the Polish population declares itself Catholic, while 78% of the Philipino pop adhere to Catholicism.
Bless you！May Lord be with you, and with Thy Spirit！
I think this is my favorite video you've ever done! I was thinking of the Magnificat while watching. Thank you so much for this one
I am a senior gay man who gave up on Catholicism almost 50 years ago and I am also a 'light' history buff. I first saw this video a few days ago and I cannot shake it. I will attend mass on Sunday for the first time in many years. I will not partake of the Sacraments since I believe from the bottom of my heart that I am not disordered but will respect the theology. But between you (and especially this video) and Father Richard Rohr, I no longer have a choice. God bless you and your loving community!
You are not disordered. The Roman Church, for all their wonderful fine qualities, are wrong about some matters of human sexuality. They do not understand gay people at all and their theology proves it. But they DO understand the glory and the wonder of the Sacraments, and especially the Eucharist.
Glad you are going back to church.
It is not a question of being 'disordered' at all, but a question of being humbly yielded to God. I have had temptations all my life of a sexual nature, but I know that the word of God (the Bible) teaches me His will that I avoid yielding my body to those lusts. It's difficult, it really is, and sometimes I have stumbled, but I always knew I was doing something displeasing to God and I did not try to justify my actions; instead I repented and resolved to live that day & the next day in a way that would be more pleasing to my Lord. (My desires cannot be my lord unless I set them on a pedestal and convince myself that 'surely the desires are okay because I was made this way'.)
You are not really any different from any other human being; every one of us has issues. It comes from being born into a cursed world, a world laboring under the curse and effect of Adam's sin. Every one of us was "made this way" (yearning to please ourselves instead of pleasing God) in our flesh, due to the fall of Adam. Only in the afterlife when we (who've trusted in Jesus as Savior) will receive our resurrection bodies, and when God creates a whole new universe for us to live in, will that curse be finally and fully eliminated. The proclivity toward sin resides in our mortal flesh, but we look forward to our immortal flesh (which will be free of that proclivity to sin) in the time to come. In the meantime, we are called to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, to God (Romans 12:1).
@@Queezbo Thank you for your kind words of support
@@rexlion4510 Thank you for sharing your guidance and reflecting your empathy.
Welcome home to the catholic church dear one! ❤ may mother Mary be a mother to you, to guide n counsel.
Hail Mary...
I'm a Hindu woman addicted to listening to Fr. casey
learn more about the faith, please read and learn about the gospels. Jesus Christ is calling you and wants you to be saved and to have the fullness of the faith.
Kahan se ho aap?
Good on you! I'm arguably an atheist and I listen to him all the time!
Listening to honest, intelligent, well-meaning people of any religion is nearly always a huge benefit, in my experience. They make it obvious that, even if someone thinks ultimate Truth comes from one religion, wisdom and love can come from anyone.
@@vurritochan_8949learn the four vedas， the upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma sutras, Hinduism is calling you
@@vurritochan_8949 you have missed Fr. Casey's point of this video... I was once a follower of Christianity but arrogance and a lack of compassion as well as fear mongering, which your response does all three, drove me away ..I don't believe in fear based religion and I dislike the arrogance of some christians thinking they're the only ones who have real faith or devotion to God...I'm very devoted to Narayana and I found so much joy and peace and love in it...things I never found in Christianity at all.. the reason I have come to love Fr. Casey is because he is what I think a real christian should be...he exemplifies the love of Jesus Christ through humility and compassion and caring about people not spreading fear and hatred
Hallelujah Brother!!!!!
My convertion took place 11 Years ago in the chapel built by Saint Francis close to Assisi, I felt a strong loving precence and the old me died in that church! Poverty, chastity and obedience is the way of Christ
🔥🙏🔥
I do not believe that holiness can be attained through legislation of government.
If you were to have our rulers be holy, men of intellect and faith, and people who serve the lord, you can. People love to follow. Why not have them follow people of faith instead of the degeneracy of the modern world? And have our men of faith follow Christ. This is how we used to run societies.
@@kevinkirby4305except politicians like to claim jesus out of one side of their moth when it suits them and helps them have power and people fall for it constantly
@@kevinkirby4305That’s called theocracy. Christian authoritarianism ends up inhibiting the self-determination of others and thus taking their freedom of choice.
@@Deng_Xiaoping_is_my_fatherWas not Josiah called righteous by God for destroying idols that Manasseh and his sons had allowed the people to worship? We have corrupted intellects and our corrupt minds will never comprehend the fullness of the Gospel
@@deusvult8340 I’m assuming you don’t like that people have different lifestyles from you. Still, you’re most likely not going to admit it and instead use god or scripture to justify authoritarianism under the pretext of making the world holy.
Well said Fr. Casey. It seems that you have stirred a great deal of conversation. May it be fruitful. Blessings to all.
One minor point, the Edict of Milan did not grant toleration to Christians, that was granted by an Edict by Maxentius in 306. What the Edict of Milan did was confirm that freedom, and also restored any property confiscated from the Christian during the Diocletian persecutions.
@@SgtBrendanN and ensure toleration for all religions. The Christians were abusing traditional faiths and this controlled such too.
@@russellmiles2861 That was correctly noted as the Edict in Thessalonica in 380. Christians received freedom to worship in 306.
The problem with these dates is that there isn't actually a clear line between toleration and persecution. Even before the 4th century, there were periods of relative toleration of Christians, with Gallienus' 'little peace of the Church' (260s-80s) being one example. Similarly, Maxentius may have promulgated an edict of toleration, but that did not mean official recognition as a religion, but only the cessation of active persecution.
On the other side of the coin, Gratian and Theodosius' later promotions of Christianity did not mean paganism was immediately outlawed, but merely delegitimised from being a recognised religion. Subsequent bans of paganism in its entirety by later emperors were enforced to varying degrees in its practical applications.
In the eighth and ninth centuries the Roman emperors enforced the heresy of iconoclasm with brutal force.
When Christians seek political power, one reply might be, “You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Matthew 16:23)
Although we are not of this world, we Christians are still in this world and we are called to do good wherever we can. The US Constitution states that we, the people, are the rightful government of this country and that we have delegated certain types of authority to our elected representatives. That is why, as citizens of this country and the legitimate government of it, we Christian US citizens have a duty to exercise the powers and authority we have retained; we have a duty to do good, including through the exercise of the vote, of free speech, of seeking election to office, etc. Christians must not abdicate their duties (as both Christians and citizens), and should not set aside their beliefs and their right actions, just because of this little history lesson that power corrupted the church of Rome.
@@rexlion4510Truth.
@@rexlion4510 Of course christians can be in politics and we have to bring Our ideas on, but politics are a mean like everything in this world, to realize the Kingdom. When politics stops to be a mean and becomes the aim, lust for power becomes central, we miss the point.
@@rexlion4510 Trump worshiper.
@@JH-pt6ih You wrote: "Trump worshiper."
That makes about as much sense as if I were to call you a pope worshiper.
In some ways I would argue the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 when Constantine supposedly had a vision. God has always had a plan.
Joseph Smith had a vision, too. Lots of people have had visions.
@@rubiks6That Different！How can heresies compare to the visions of Constantine the Great？
@@simonyang8996 Constantine killed his own son and boiled his wife to death in a scalding bath.
@@AallthewaytoZ2
And St. Paul murdered dozens and martyred a lot of early Christians, what’s your point?
@@My10thAccount Constantine was not one of the apostles he was a temporal leader who was a murderer and used the power of Christianity for his own temporal advantage. On the year of his death he was planning to invade Peria using Christianity as justification for a Holy War to replace the Emperor of Persia with a "Christian" Emperor. He was an evil man.
I've been a Presbyterian Christian all my life, and this video echoes a lot of things I've heard throughout my life as a follower of Christ, even though I didn't know about this historical event! I've always heard that when Christianity is close to power, it always falls apart. God hates false conversions, so I can't think of something more abhorrent to the faith than forcing people to become Christian under threat of law.
I am also Presbyterian and on a previous video he did say the Roman church needs to Reform. Maybe he is coming to the point to possibly become a reformer himself. I don't agree with him on all he says but he may be coming closer each day.
The whole basis of having faith in the Lord is our free will. The same thing that can stray us to sin is what can leads us to salvation, willing to give ourself to the Lord.
Also Matthew 10: " 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. " Basically it is saying that we should not forcefully convert people, but leave them in peace if they do not believe. Forced conversions are counterproductive anyway. You may force someone to act as outwardly Christian, but inside he will hate you. You can't force belief inside the soul.
@@PatriceFriantwe catholic believe in fixing the true Church of Jesus from the inside, when we find errors and imperfections in the Church we need to direct our eyes to Him who is perfect. Separating from the church is almost a way of not trusting in God and His power
I agree 100 percent. It is so good to hear this articulated . Thank you.
This is the message we need to hear right now. God's really doing work through you.
You have helped me become a stronger catholic. Thank you. Love from Ireland
One of the ever decreasing few then.
As a dedicated and faithful Protestant, I find that I do at times disagree with some of your perspectives, but I do agree with many. I find myself in wholehearted agreement with your comments in this video. 😊
What are you Protesting?
We need a Church that is meek and humble, but also a Church that spreads the Gospel to the ends of the earth and does not compromise in its beliefs. How do we do both? I agree with your assessment and conclusion, Father, but I also wonder how we can be both small and evangelical.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NRSV-CI
How better to structure your Church than with His words?
@RealBelisariusCawl No doubt we must place our trust in the Lord through all struggle, but what do we do to fulfill the Great Commission? I agree that when the Church is given too much power, it creates problems and even disaster, but a Church with too little influence can't evangelize, can it? That's my question: Where do we draw the line? Father Casey is probably right about a return to a poorer and meeker Church, but I want to know how such a Church is supposed to spread the Gospel.
@@insertnamehere3106 I suppose I’m not articulating things well.
Consider this: Jesus didn’t even take collection. His ministry spread through the evidence of His words and works.
If we do as He instructed, then He will ensure that we’re taken care of, just like He’s done since the birth of the church.
I have faith that by emulating the Lord and keeping His instructions, the message will spread.
@RealBelisariusCawl Perhaps you're right. I guess I just see things a bit more worldly or cynically than that and feel a need for more "structural" and "societal" forces. But even if I am right, only time could show the truth of that. To try humility (as the Scriptures command) instead and keeping trust in the Lord as our influence weakens is certainly not a foolish path to take.
@@insertnamehere3106 If it helps at all, I’m not even Catholic (yet).
Your church IS growing. It’s just hard to see because when you hear about or see someone move AWAY from God, it’s heartbreaking. I definitely sympathise.
The Radical Reformers in the room are like, "Glad you've decided to join us."
I thank the Almighty Father for using Fr. Cassey's gifts of eloquence & holiness to win souls for GOD. May Jesus & the Holy Spirit continue to protect, inspire, & bless you, Fr. Millions of Filipinos are happy & grateful for your effective efforts in enlightening us & moulding us to be better Christians.
#1. This line of argument would have been preposterous when one considers the reign of Jewish kings, the return of the Jews to Israel to reestablish themselves, and the Jewish rebellion against the Greeks which established another kingdom. All of these events are in OT Scripture, predicted by the prophets via God, desired by God, and these theocratic monarchies are rebuked only when they do not do enough to curb the influence of unbelievers. Therefore, to say that Christianity should be the exact opposite of God's will during the OT at all times and all seasons is borderline Marcion heresy.
#2. The line of argument violates the spirit of Ecclesiastes 3 which makes the commonsense argument that there is a time and a season for a great many things. A wise ruler will know when to wage war and when to wage peace, when to protect Christianity with zeal, and when to pull back. Thomas Aquinas made this argument when he warned that a severe punishment could, itself, become a greater sin than the sin it was punishing if it caused revolt. At the same time, he promoted Catholic monarchy.
#3. This also violates the notion of the Body of Christ. Not all are called to live the ministry of Christ with near zero possessions in missionary work. Therefore, to be Christ-like is to distinguish universal morality from the specific life of Christ. Jesus may not have been the king of a nation, but a king can none-the-less understand the universal morality of Christ's teachings. Centuries ago, the Franciscans demanded to live a life of total poverty and essentially shamed anyone in the Church who didn't follow this lifestyle up to the very pope. This can lead to vanity and a persecution complex.
#4. This violates the Great Commission which is to convert every soul on Earth with zeal. Practically speaking, being a persecuted minority is not going to get the same results as an empire. The spread of Christianity is due in most part to imperial conquest and trading. This is how Christianity became the dominant religion in the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Philippines, Siberia, Australia, and elsewhere. If Christianity remained persecuted and obscure, it would not be a third of the world's population but closer to the Jewish 1% of the world. We also see this same phenomenon with the rapid Islamic conquest that has made the world 2/3rds monotheistic. OP appears to not be concerned with these souls. Rather, he wishes to keep to a vain purity and allow billions of souls to be damned which he knows would be the consequence if not for Constantine the Great.
#5. Seems rather obvious that if Christianity had not become an empire, it would have been sacked and nearly annihilated by Islam. The Christian religion could very well have been extinguished. The Christian empires defended the encroachment of Islam in France, Italy, the Balkans, and Russia.
#6. Jesus predicted his ministry would put relatives against each other, a sword rather than peace. He knew there would be conflict. The end game is for Jesus to rule all nations via Revelation. This line of argument is also very protestant. We have a magisterium for a reason, to interpret the Scriptures on how to proceed in any given time and season. Who is OP to pass judgment on the Catholic magisterium of the 300s? To pass judgment on the magisterium that gave us the list of books to be in the Bible, the Ecumenical Councils, and the Creeds, all of which likely would not have occurred had Constantine not intervened. And who is OP to doubt the Christian symbol that led Constantine to victory and aided in his eventual conversion and decision-making? And who is OP to challenge Constantine named as a saint in Orthodoxy? And, his mother Helena, also a saint who aided in this conversion?
#7. Finally, there is a failure to understand see the obvious Divine Providence of the rapid expansion of Christianity as a result of Constantine. This Divine Providence is the sign by which the Israelites also determined whether they were in God's favor. To object to God's divine providence is risky business that this video has not done enough to appreciate. Instead, there is a critical risk of promoting modernism that is already hostile to Church history and vain purity as actual theological truth.
@@steveempire4625 I think this is missing the point
@@louieabramic4290 Well, thank you for that informative reply.
1) nearly all of them abused their power also God at first did not even want monarch also also we dont have to follow the old testament ways we don't see people getting stoned to death anymore.
2) the time of monarchies is long gone so if that time and place existed it has passed the world moved on from the middle ages
3) not all have to be poor but not all have to aspire to be powerful and rich men
4) Christianity made up to 10% of roman population in 300s and was like you said at times peaceful and other times brutal I dont know why we would want to replicate the brutal or enforcing aspect today.
5) Islam might not have existed much of islam comes from other chirstian sects that fled the roman empire trying to impose orthodoxy
6) power slowly corrupted the church this only started with Constantine even then he was surprised the church ask him to settle the Donatist issue sure we all agree the good of the councils but what about later things like the schisms that did not heal in part due to roman politics? like the Chalcedonian schism or the conflicts of east and west which also included a lot of politics
7) the argument that you are correct because you had rapid success is a very slippery slope by that logic Islam accomplished in 100 years what it took rome from 300s to 500s to do, also you it goes with the ancient view that you being successful is a sing of god favor which Jesus and Paul did not always agree with
Let's not mistake meekness and weakness.
Christ was meek, for he was all-powerful but sacrified himself, blessing those that tortured him.
The weak is just defenceless, not meek. Catholics ought to be meek, not weak.
Amen, Father! God help us, as Christians in my country try to legislate faith and weild power over non-Christians! It's a betrayal of the spirit of the Gospel 😰
"15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice."
This is quite possibly the best video Fr. Casey has ever posted (and every one I’ve watched is really great) - and surely a must-watch for every Christian.
Favourite quote: “…an approach to the faith that scoffs at the weakness of the Cross, because it refuses to be weak itself.” Wow! 🙏
Thank you so much for sharing this Fr, so much truth here 🙏❤️
Lies more like. Fr. Casey is not a good priest
I’d argue that maybe instead of rejecting what the church already has, we should “grow into it” so to speak. Power vacuums can be nasty things. Father Casey and many commenters brings up a very good point regarding complacency and worldliness. However, if we as a church can spiritually grow, we can responsibly use our power to do good. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s a world where the power held by the church is instead held by nobody. Someone is going to fill in whatever void the church leaves. Instead of running back underground, maybe, through the grace of God, the one institution founded by Christ can steady herself to shine all the brighter.
"He that hath a talent, let him see that he hide it not; he that hath abundance, let him quicken himself to mercy and generosity; he that hath art and skill, let him do his best to share the use and the utility hereof with his neighbor."
-St. Gregory the Great,
Dear Fr Casey, you hit it out pf the park with this reflection. The delivery of your messages is improving all the time. God bless you in your ministry.
Reading the comments, it seems you really struck a nerve with some people. Once power is attained it's very hard to give it up.
There is no question that giving political power to the Church is a terrible idea with disastrous consequences. At the same time being Catholic does not mean we withdraw from the public square and partaking in its debates. Moreover, some Catholics will be called to enter politics and lead our society, and that leadership must be informed by the teachings of the Church. Our current situation is not due to seeking power, but, rather, allowing some Catholics to claim to be faithful even as they promote laws and policies directly contrary to the Gospel.
When this happens the Church must call them to account for their actions. That is what good stewardship and shepherding demands.
Exactly! Well put!
In Britain once we get rid of the establishment of the Church of England, so that there will no longer be any ecclesiastical function in the government, we will probably be very well-placed to re-make the Catholic Church as an independent body, answerable only to God.
Nah. Total seperation of church and state. If you disagree reread your post but insert Mormon or Baptist or Muslim for Catholic. Cheers.
@@kevinkelly2162except Baptist, Muslim and Mormon are not the same as Catholic.
@@anthonyhulse1248 Yes they are. A group of people who think they should be in a priveleged position because of their superstitions.
If you try to _force_ Christ on people, you’re not saving them. You’re sinning and making them sin by false profession of faith.
If Jesus had wanted us to FORCE Him on others, wouldn’t He have done so Himself in His ministry?
Be a people and a community that others want to be a part of, and the rest will follow with His help.
Conformity never works. That's why My Ancestors were exiled from England in the 1600s . They could not or would not conform to the Anglican Church (King Henry the 8ths reforms) . England exiled the Calvinist to the new world. Known as Puritans in those days. It Covered many different Groups. From Congregationalist , Presbyterians . Some just Puritans (today known as reformed Baptist). The Northern Colonies were mostly all Calvinist. Then Quakers by choice came over as did the Catholics who settled in Maryland (Mary-Land , Named after Queen Mary ) . And Even a Jewish settlement in today Rhode Island. Anglicans settled in Jamestown today Virginia to make big $$$$$$$$$ . The Arminianist/Wesleyan came later Evangelical Methodist Church, Church of the Nazarene, the Free Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Church, and the Salvation Army. Now to the Good Father here this history means very Little . He wants the US to be like Vicodin city??
Who, exactly, do you think is trying "to force Christ on people"? I don't see anyone doing that.
@@rexlion4510 Referring to the times Fr. Casey was mentioning wherein Christianity was mandatory.
It’s a comment on the video, not an attack on Fr. Casey or Catholicism.
I apologise for the miscommunication.
@@rexlion4510 Not now . But in 900ad
@@roboparks Today in the US we are far more likely to get a neo-Marxist virtual dictatorship than a theocratic one, though.
“The loss of power might actually be the very thing that saves us”
Or the very thing that crumbles us, to the point that only an extraordinary act of Providence will save us. How can we know?
@@Toreadorification I think we have to trust in God, that he knows what He's doing, and in His love for us, and follow Him as best we know how. I can't really do much about the amount of power the christian church does or doesn't have anyway.
Fr., this video was helpful for me. I've spent a good bit of time lately reading/watching material (including the time period in -question) attempting to understand "how we got to where we are" and you further facilitated my understanding. Thank you kindly.
Respectfully, there is an alternative view from this - what would have happened if Catholic armies hadn't won the Battle of Tours in 732? Or the Battle of Vienna 1683? Or the Battle of Lepanto in 1571? Just for your consideration.
This is exactly true. 313 was in God's plan...
I remember hearing Dr David Wood state it in this way "Rome became more Christian, but the Christian Church also became more Roman"
The Empire adopted the morals and the goal of the Church, but the Church adopted the imperial power and the means and desire to enforce it of the Empire.
I believe that this is the primary reason for the rocky relationship the Church had with Jews, the original inhabitants of the Americas, Africans (I'm one) and the original pagans that the ancient Christians lived with.
Today people demonise the Church for actions done by the Spanish, Portuguese and British Empires, the Crusaders, various European nations and the Roman Empire, sometimes simply because the violence they propagated happened to coincide with the mass Christianisation of the regions they went to. But they forget that Christianity is not about what Christians do, but what they are supposed to do to show their love for the God who loved them first. And on the Church's side, many have gone the complete opposite direction, by compromising the faith for the sake of tolerance and a desire to show that they are not like the violent Christians of the past.
Every body of true Christians needs to have these conversations, about how we can get back the original attitude of Jesus, and how we can wean ourselves off from the Imperial Roman-ness of the Church without becoming weak, easily swayed and oh so quick to compromise.
Father Casey, as a Secular Franciscan over the last quarter of a century, I daily ask for God’s grace in my effort, to firmly hold on to my faith and practice it to its fullest potential as God may see fit to permit me and to use me.
I have in the past encountered priests with the gift of eloquent preaching and seen them having to bear with the “cult of personality” which builds around them.
Your humility and words often give me clarity and/or validation.
I listen for the Holy Spirit in your words. When, if for the sake of making a point, someone may use (intentionally or unintentionally) historical inaccuracies, shocking or simplistic/reductionist narratives I pray that the listener will understand the intent. I pray that the Holy Spirit continues to inspire you in your evangelizing ministry and that you continue to yield all good fruit.
Pax et Bonum
ST. BERNARD (1090-1153) was an important medieval theologian and a major figure in the Cistercian Order of monks. He founded 68 monasteries. Though personally charitable and
kind, he was a formidable opponent, and he spared no effort in attacking injustice, such as excessive luxury among the clergy and persecution of the Jews.
Pope Eugenius III was a friend and a disciple of Bernard and was the first Cistercian to become pope. Pope Eugenius asked Bernard for his thoughts on the right manner of conduct for the
successor of St. Peter. Bernard wrote:
“That you have been raised to the pinnacle of honor and power is an undeniable fact. But for what purpose have you been so elevated? Here is a question that calls for your utmost consideration. It was not that you might enjoy the glory of lordship.... “What profit does the flock derive from magnificent pageants, with you, the supreme shepherd of the flock advancing majestically in gilded clothing? Do you think that Saint Peter loved to surround himself with this pomp and display, or Saint Paul? No. In all things that belong to earthly magnificence, you have succeeded not Peter, but the Emperor Constantine!"
Father, from this Eastern Orthodox: Axios! This is the best thing I’ve seen in a long time.
This is wonderful. After decades of carrying my cross by following the Guidelines of Problacism, I have developed a personal relationship with the Divine through Jesus and I don't need anything or anybody to get in the way of my direct access to Him. I now live a totally fulfilled life, free from any worry, anxiety or fear of death.
Always spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ... some days you might even have to use words!
If you don’t use WORDS then what are you using??? The GOSPEL IS THE WORD OF GOD
come again???
The Olympic opening ceremony made me ask the question "for those offended, when was the last time you went to church?"... I looked within and found I was far more sinful than they were.
So, you're more sinful than people desecrating the last supper? How is thaf supposed to teach anyone a lesson?
@@komnennosHumility?
@@komnennosThis was manufactured controversy and did even remotely resemble the Last Supper. That said, Jesus would have invited everyone one of those people to His table. We are all sinners and none of us our worthy. He makes us worthy through the cross.
@@dumar11 the producer referred to it as a last supper, why is it that by finding something to be sacrilegious I'm suddenly horrible but people commiting said sacrilege are fine? Jesus would indeed invite them to to sup with Him, AFTER rebuking them and reminding them that mocking the holy mass is a bad idea and that they should repent and believe in the gospel.
@@komnennos I think that OP's meaning is that it is far worse to present yourself as a christian (i.e. having a personal relationship with God) and not respecting Him than being a lost soul and mocking Christ.
Being a christian is about entering a love relationship with God through Jesus-Christ, and if you claim to be a christian, how can you skip hallowing and respecting God? It is like being married and forgetting about your wife, not visiting her, not talking to her, not respecting her.
On the contrary, if you're a materialistic human, lost in the world, is it so unexpected to fall in the traps of the enemy and reject the Message, and fall into mocking the Divine?
I wish I could give you a hundred likes for this video, Father Casey.
Note, by the way, that there IS a Church that has always remained a Church of the Catacombs: the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church. And what a faith and deep spirituality they have! Truly an inspiration and example for our future.
Exactly what happened to Shiaism. Im a Shia Kurd, but not iranian, but I have knowledge what is happening in there. Once in middle east Christians, jews, bahais, ezidis and others used to love us for being harmless, respectful and coexisting with them and they hated sunnis for being jihadi against them, now they dislike us too, cuz of irgc and shias taking power in iran, using it for persecution in name of Shiaism. Its good to mention, Shias themselves are the most persecuted group in iran.
But Shia Islam also believes in the Quran. A book that calls disbelievers the worst of creatures and tells Muslims to fight the unbelievers and to not make friends with them.
And do Shia's not follow the example of Muhammed? A man who massacred 400 Jews in one day and called upon his followers to remove the Jews and Christians from Arabia.
Can you be peaceful with such a holy book and such a prophet?
@@imperialhistory6120 I completely agree with your point. The thing is, We have a big difference with sunnis on historical takes and interpretations. They say holy Mohammad married a 6 yo, eliminated 700 jews, taught to not be friends with other faiths and etc. But according to more accurate history, We say that wife was 24 when she married Him. He executed 45 jews cuz they attacked women and children. When you look at their teachings, you see holy Ali calls a jewish man who criticized our faith "my jewish brother". Our other successor of prophet banished a disciple of his cuz he insulted a hindu servant's mother. Look, whether holy Mohammad, Qoran and etc were good or bad, our take on them is not bad. We have this potential to be harmless and coexisting with others.
@@Kurdishboy2698 I studied Islam for years but as you might understand this is very much focused on Sunni Islam. But I know that Shia's have diffrent hadith and use Ali as an example, who was a good person.
@@imperialhistory6120 bravo, well said!
@@imperialhistory6120 yes unfortunately sunnism is the main stream and irgc is the bold thing about our faith. Im not trying to prove Shiaism is truth or better than other faiths. I just wanna say Shiaism is something peaceful and its very similar to Catholicism and Shias can be coexisting with others and also assimilate in western societies.
Oh Lord, finally someone who covers this thematic. Btw this is an argument Baptists use to be Baptist. Is it also the reason why ur a friar?
Very well spoken. A topic of tremendous importance. Hopefully a lesson to learn for a successful, holy Church in the future.
Youre onto something Friar, thats Deep. Really appreciate this perspective as I'm always worried about my power, becoming a doormat/push over to others. Your telling me now the doormat could become my Throne!, as it was good enough for the Lord. Thats mind bloggling humbling insight. 😢Thanks
Thank you, many forget that Satan tempted Christ with empire. Christ rejected it, yet so many of us think that empire is the solution.
I'm a conservative Presbyterian minister. I agree with your take up one side and down the other. Good for you!
I humbly but strongly disagree fr. Casey; that change was needed and good. Power has always been needed even in the old testament. David and Solomon created a great Israel kingdom and it was a gift from God. But people like you are needed to ground those who hold power, but God has appointed officers that will hold power and its much better if those in power have faith in Christ
I'm not sure it's a great idea to point to the Old Testament over the witness of Jesus. His life, death, and resurrection was a new covenant with his people, requiring something different of us.
@@BreakingInTheHabit Thanks for the replay Fr. Casey. The Old Testament is completely needed to understand Our Lord since He was there. Everything the Father gave to the old kings was from Christ as well. There is also testimony for what happens in power but the Lord did gave all those things for a reason. He also gave us those powers in earth for a reason. I am not naive to the fact that a lot of popes were hungry for power, but taken all power from the hands is not something we must strive for.
@@BreakingInTheHabitChrist did not abolish the old covenant however. The Old Testament prefigured the new. Why is it therefore wrong to say that Israel’s glory prefigured the glory of medieval European kingdoms?
@@thedemon0843Because all of the crimes of the church in that period say otherwise.
I wouldn't call the kingdoms of David or Solomon a good thing or a gift from God. Saul, David, and Solomon each started as extremely faithful men who each ended their reigns in such sins as pride, murder, adultery, and idol worship. Even the most faithful of Christians can be corrupted by power, so I would not wish that burden on anyone. Remember how the Lord told the people through Samuel that having a king would be very bad for them? (1 Samuel 8:9-20). Remember how the people were ultimately scattered, enslaved, and killed because their kings led them astray? God freed His people from slavery in Babylon not through a great Jewish king, but through a Persian king, Cyrus the Great. God is powerful enough to use leaders for good no matter what faith they may or may not profess. It is much better to trust in God than to trust in those who believe in God, especially when some Christians who hold worldly power would use Christianity as a tool to consolidate their personal power at the expense of God's kingdom.
DUDE! I cannot even begin to tell you how good this is. All of is so true. You hit the mail on the head. Good job. God bless you.
Never imagined it from this perspective. Great eye opener.
I appreciate you and your videos immensely.
Best wishes from Iceland.
Fantastic video. The council of nicea and later councils also excluded half of eunuchs. A vulnerable minoritiy.
I´ve been thinking about the same thing over and over and over again, thinking I must be wrong or even evil for thinking this and this gave me so much peace
The trouble with a radical view in this way is: why did God allow the Church to get so big and powerful?
Certainly He had some good in mind. And it was for more than a millennia.
What does it All mean?
@@alexrdy1986 Why did God allow His Son being crucified, or the Holocaust and so much more? The answer is in the question, but it's exactly there where most of us start turning the blind eye on it.
Man has free will. God won't interfere. If man chooses to this or that, God allows it. God was never going to stop all evil and only allow good things.
Buddhism, Chinese traditional religion, and I *think* Hinduism and Islam were all larger or equal to Christianity in size and power (and prosperity and technological development) up until the modern era with colonialism. The Church was almost entirely European until pretty recently, and Europe was pretty small and weak for most of history.
@@ewrvwergwergwergwerg Right. Christianity was a regional thing with some presence in outlying areas of the Roman Empire, including a small Roman outpost village called Londinium. That outpost eventually became London. Rome spread Christianity to the edges of its Empire. From there, the British Empire carried it all over the planet. (France, Spain, and Germany did also to a lesser extent).
Amen!
I am reminded of another great error in the history of God's people.
1 Samuel 8:6-7
"Samuel was displeased when they said, 'Give us a king to rule us.' But he prayed to the LORD.
The LORD said: Listen to whatever the people say. You are not the one they are rejecting. They are rejecting me as their king."
I see here Israel not only rejecting God's kingship, but also separating the high priesthood and kingship. This error was amended by Christ when he rejoined the kingship and the high priesthood. So what now? Are we to cry to our spiritual leadership that we want a civil government so we can be like all the people around us? Or are we to trust in God and His Providence?
Hit the nail on the head. the minute you said 4th century, i knew where this was going.
"If we want to truly do the work of God, we must give up our influence, stop trying to build kingdoms, and focus on the cross. If it was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for us."
Keeping that for later use.
I was a bit too close to "traditionalism" for a few years. My oldest child began Catholic school. So, I started to go to the chapel frequently after dropping her off. Sometimes just sitting there looking at our Lord, sometimes reading one chapter of the Gospels and writing down what came to my heart. This video boils down the fruits of my reflections. I've also reflected that the Church, in a way, has followed the timeline of Israel. We were captive to our sins. We were liberated and led out of that life by Christ. Then we were persecuted on all sides for a time. Then we settled and had relative peace for a short time. Finally, we desired a king. This led to power struggles and eventually schism. Eventually, Christendom was wiped out and we went into exile. It's seems crazy for me to say this considering my perspective a few years ago, but it seems like the Second Vatican Council and the revival of charisms are God's way of bringing us back to where we belong so that we can worship Him is spirit and truth. St. Francis was a sign that we had it all upside down. I'm glad that even after 700+ years, we have a Pope that took his namesake and has given us an example of being about the work that Jesus himself did.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Hysterical
And yet the Church made the World much more Christian. It grew the word of the Lord to be the biggest religion on Earth. And most of all - when the Church was powerful, secular leaders had to be devout. When the Church was weak, the secular leaders were more depraved. Is the world more Christian now than it was 200 years ago? Hardly. There sure is a balance to be struck, between the Church being too powerful and too powerless, but I don't think the correct equilibrium lies in either extreme.
“Secular leaders had to be devout” biggest lol
Why do you think the french revolution and other such things took place? The monarchs and the clergy were in bed together and were as corrupt as could be
More people couldn’t be anything other than christian, it was mostly cultural. I wouldn’t say that is genuine Christianity
“Secular leaders had to be more devout” biggest lol
Not only were they not devout, the clergy were LESS devout as a result because they were in bed with the monarchy. Absolute nonsense
The world may not be more Christian now, but hopefully the Christians are more Christian. If people are forced to be devout, it's pointless, they haven't made the choice themselves, they can hold resentment that they aren't free, and be far from God in their hearts.
Of course we want more souls for the kingdom, just not like that. God doesn't want slaves. Even if sin is illegal, the problem won't be fixed because we sin in our hearts, we need Jesus.
Those devout leaders were guilty of every sin imaginable. People suffered horrific deaths in the name of rulers who styled themselves "his most Christian majesty" but had no qualms about slaughtering Christians on the battlefields in the interest of expanding their power. They were definitely not more devout, they were depraved in every way imaginable.
@@DeepJiesel Lol right what is this guy smoking. “More devout” as if the church wasn’t in bed with the monarchy. If anything it made the leaders MORE corrupt and the clergy LESS devout
As catholic, we always grew up, never to bad mouth our Church or our Church's history or Our Pope , which necessitates a confession of our sins, Here is a young troubled American priest FR. Casey who leads his flock astray and should be taken to task by the bishop in his jurisdiction. It reminds me of the famous exchange in history when Napoleon threatened the Pope, that he will destroy the church, to which Pius VII responded, “Oh my little man, you think you’re going to succeed in accomplishing what centuries of priests and bishops have tried and failed to do!”
We know, down the long arc of two thousand years of history Our Beloved Church ensconced in this world had absorbed its filth and had gone astray, but it always in the end made its ways back home to our Lord ' there is more rejoicing in heaven for the sinners who repent than....." And Our church has used its power to bring millions in desolate places the message of hope and redemption of our Lord.. .Besides, our Church is the largest charity organization in the world, to carry out its mission it needs a structure and an organization and Nobody including a priest should demean or weaken its chain of command. Even in 16th century man born into wealth, power and castles, gave up everything to toil in our Lord's vineyard and in missions far away. So born into wealth and power should not be an excuse not to renounce it. Fr. Casey should pitch his tent among the homeless and destitute in California for at least a year...
Father Casey. I think you are fundamentally correct in diagnosing a key point of conflict and occasion for sin within the church's history. I think one of the biggest cause behind both the great schism and the rise of protestantism was power (bishop Barron i belive said something along the lines of "if there were different people in power we might have had a lutheran religious order instead of a lutheran church."). I also think there is a great temptation today to want to "go back to the glory days" of the middle ages (i confess i do feel like that a lot).
However, I cannot help but feel upset and a bit disturbed by the way you frame this. Maybe it is because as a European i live in a context that evokes memories of these "glory days" with big beautiful cathedrals and such, while also seeing the repercussions of a de-christianized culture where the cathedrals are empty and christ i openly mocked, with very very few people of faith. My own bias made clear i cannot help but feel like it's spitting in the face of all the holy saints and martyrs who built, fought for, and died for christendom.
I understand that you might wish to be provocative as the medium of youtube kinda demands, but I think it's wrong to say that "power is antithetical to the gospel", i'd say it's no more antithetical than wealth. I.e. that it can be a great temptation and of those whom much has been given much will be demanded. To condemn christendom outright and say that "the church betrayed christ" both goes against what doctors of the church taught such as Augustine and Aquinas, but also against the witness of saintly kings like St. Edward the confessor, St. Louis of france, St. Olav of Norway, and St. Erik of Sweden. Saints who, even though they were sinners, did not give up power but used it for the glory of god.
You are right in saying that we shouldn't strive to re-establish christendom and that the kingdom of God is not of this world. That we cannot force people to follow the church and that many sins have been committed because people have been tempted to do this. We must humble ourselves. But in humbling ourselves, we must also recognize that christ is king and he knew what he was doing in calling Constantine the great, and he still knows what he is doing and reigns sovereign today as christendom becomes but a faded memory.
Very interesting!! The Holy Spirit will work through people in this ever changing world 🙏❤️☘️
Please start to flesh this out, either in a book or video. You are exactly right and Christians of all denominations need to hear this. God bless you, Father Casey.
Humility, poverty, meekness, sacrifice, mercy, forgiveness. This I could not have said better myself. Welldone padre.
Very happy to finally see someone else in the Church echo my sentiment, well done!
Casey, you were right all along about Mr Beast.
Fr Casey, you give hope for us. Thank you.
This is a brave argument, Father, and one that as far as I can see, right on and wholly consistent with the gospels. There is one additional thing I would add. The church should be the instrument that leads people to God. As a Byzantine rite Catholic I often feel that the Western Church tends to make itself the object, rather than the vehicle of religion. A Jesuit theologian, Fr. Bernard Philppot, has pointed out, one sad effect of the split between east and west is that the Western Church has gone the way of reason and clarity and lost much of the spirituality, that is the experience of God’s action in our daily lives, that the east, both Orthodox and Catholic has retained. Fortunately that’s not the case with Franciscan spirituality. - Ken T, OSF
I am glad I found your channel. I’ll be tuning in to begin catching up.
Focus on the cross, not the buildings, the treasures, nor any man. Focus on Jesus!
I think you downplay the power of divine will in your approach. Clearly, something happened to Constantine in the hours prior to the battle of Milvian Bridge that made him put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Sure...there were negative consequences that sprung from that event's aftermath, but that's because we are human and are thus fallen creatures. However, to think that Christendom wasn't set in motion based in part on God's will is foolish when you put it into the context of Scripture. God promised Abraham that he would make his descendants as numerous as the stars. That prophecy was fulfilled by the birth of Christendom.
By wanting the Church to return to a state of being more akin to what it was in the second and third centuries, I think you yourself are misplacing where you put your trust. Because without the Edict of Milan in 313 we probably don't get giants like Athanasius of Alexandria, Augustine of Hippo, John Chrysostoym, Jerome, Ambrose of Milan, and a number of other Church Fathers who were not just saintly men but men who advanced orthodox Christianity through their writings. Writings that would have never seen the light of day if not for the legalization of Christianity.
I doubt we get Francis either, as the battles Christianity won allowed the Franciscans to rise.
Father Casey, thank you for this video. I have made so many similar experiences, especially in online spaces of today.
A similar thing happened when the Puritans fled Europe to seek religious freedom in America. As soon as they had power, they began persecting groups like the Quakers. People are predictable..
Great video!
Excellent reminder Fr. Casey
Thank you for the video and explanation, Fr Casey. I agree with some points you're making, especially about the fundamental teaching that Jesus has brought to us. But, it seems to me that you are framing the whole history of the Catholic Church after 313 as a corrupt power hungry institution and God has left the development of the Church to the world. Are you trying to say that God have been absent during the whole development of the Catholic Church after 313, including in every good services that the Church has brought to the world up until today? I'm not denying the dark history of the Church, and how the authority of the Church has been abused in politics in the past. However, does it still persist up until today? Because, as a cradle Catholic living in SEA, i have never seen the Church used its authority to influence our nation's politics. The Church also never abuse Its authority in evangelization. On the contrary, the church missionaries and services has helped so many lives, especially for the marginalized groups in some remote areas in our country. Although, I understand that this is might not be the case in another regions, because of the difference in culture and political environment. Therefore, If i must suggest, it would be better if you can present more examples and deeper explanations of these kind of power abuse in the Church, not just what happened in the middle ages, but also more importantly in the current era. Because, without examples, the way i see it is that you're only presenting rhetoric here. Being critical is fine, but if you burn the whole house in doing so, it means nothing. Thank you very much. May God Bless your soul. 🙏🙏🙏
My wife attended Archbishop Blenk High School in metro New Orleans. During religion class, the teacher told the class that everything would work better of the state were run by the church. My wife (to be) blurted out, "they already tried that. It was the dark ages." The teacher gave her detention.
When the bishops pinned the Church to Constantine and his successors, they rendered unto Caesar the things that were God's.
@Kevin_Beach To be fair to them, it wasn't like a Henry VIII with Constantine being declared Head of the Church or anything. They can certainly be criticized for their complacency and closeness with the government, but as institutions, Church and State still had, at least, a visible distinction from each other.
@@insertnamehere3106. The Church seems to have jumped into bed with the civic authorities, though, like fellow travellers.
@Kevin_Beach Depending on which "civic authorities" you're talking about, that's certainly true. In the 20th century, I can think immediately of Ngo Dinh Diem in Vietnam and Duplessis in Quebec, and, probably most infamously, Francisco Franco in Spain. Since these regimes gave the Church certain freedoms and privileges, clergy were at best willing to negotiate and avoided criticizing the state, or at worst they began to sympathize or even warm up to these ideologies, to the detriment of the people.
I agree with every word of this. When we read Paul's letters, the original church is revealed.🌺🌿🙏
As a Benedictine Oblate,and one who holds Master's degrees in both History and Theology, I'm going to have to call you out on your inadvertent, but still very real duplicity.
Given the Incarnation and the Trinity, our emphasis should be on creativity, redemption and empowerment, as opposed to wealth, power and prestige. There, I said it. Being of human estate, the Church is subject to sin, which necessitated Jesus coming up with the parable of the wheat and the tares. Unfortunately, human beings are going to be human beings.
There, I said it.
The church has always reflected the times. By the 4th century, the Roman empire was on the decline, and as a united institution, would not continue in the west but for another century. Afterwards, the so-called dark ages would come, with its political, social, economic and linguistic upheavals.
It would be the Catholic Church which would keep Western society and cultural intact.
So cut Constantine some slack, he may not have been a saint, but his mother was.
So, going back to my observation about your duplicity. Making derogatory remarks about prestige klinks ein bisschien falsche coming from a TH-cam personality and passing judgement on those who wield wealth, power and prestige is still passing judgement.
Judge, and boy is this video an exercise in being judgemental, and ye shall be judged.
Very true and rarely mentioned and I would even say the overwhelming part of Christians and surely the representatives of the institution would not be able to agree with you.
Yes, losing the power, and literally churches crumbling will allow us to refocus on Jesus as the sole way, truth and live without trying to becoming part of the world.
You kind of trashed the Church from Constantine on (the thumbnail says it all) just to make a valid point about spreading the gospel by serving others? Not sure why but this video left a weird bittersweet taste in my mouth. Maybe because if these words had come out from any anti-Catholic Protestant pastor out there, nobody would have found them surprising.
Well said, Fr. Casey. If one wants to see the hierarchy of the Roman Empire, look at the Roman Catholic Church's hierarchy. It made sense in Constantine's times, but as the old saying goes: power corrupts.
"The early church had to resolve so many disputes, answer so many unanswered questions. All those decisions fundamentally shaped the church and the faith. How do we know they made the right decisions?"
We must have faith that the holy spirit was present and guiding them to ultimately make the right decisions that we hold true today.... except for one.
along the way the holy spirit seemed to have left many who claim to follow the catholic way . antrocities and literal anti Christ things have been done to others...
Wow.
Subscribed.
Can you do a video on the Eremitic Orders (Carthusian’s and Camaldolese Hermits)?
The mainstreaming of any nascent movement will eventually lead to is dilution. Strict adherence to the founder's principles will be relaxed in favor of winning over the masses. The movement goes from being one of conviction, perfectly content to be exclusionary to those who do not avowedly adhere to its truths, to being one that attempts to win popularity contests by compromising on those very principles. Its the history of nearly all movements that start out nobly. Christianity is no different that regard.
Quite possibly one of the most profound insights I've heard on TH-cam to date. Thank you so much for this, Fr. Casey. 🙏🏻❤️🔥
Best Catholic content on TH-cam.
After Taylor Marshall, that is
Amen. The lure of Power is one of the Devil's best tools to draw us away from The Way.
Second only to prejudice!
Well said. As my father would say: Don't tell me, show me by the way you live
The power of being His yeast is that of being the best at being the least. He promises that when we willfully put ourselves in situations of complete service with no personal gain His spirit works in that medium when we most resemble Him. This behavior has an inherent attraction which can lead to sharing the good news. Ultimately the Spirit is going to find all He will to save. I pray our fruitfulness is fulfilled. All glory, honor and praise to Him forever.
I think this is why I've always felt uncomfortable with mandating the 10 commandments and prayer in schools. Christianity should always be preached organically, rather than forced onto people.
Thank you for this video father. I have been feeling for a while now that the focus of the church has been backwards. It is so inwardly focused on the sacraments. Bringing people to church. The Christian focus should be outward on those in need. Bring the church to people. Jesus calls us into action to build the kingdom here, not wait around for the Kingdom to come.
What do you suggest be done to the current church to bring about older Christian values?
Reduce the power the church has as an entity/the power each individual has within it?
The message I can infer from this video is that absolute power corrupts absolutely, regardless of the holiness of the person withholding it; I see no other solution to this problem.
Its not even that it corrupts individuals, but more that it corrupts instiutions, i.e. the inheritance of authority and position in individuals over time. Holy individuals by comparison are rarely corrupted if they have a decent foundation, rather they flee the corruption and live life in a different way.
@@benjaminblack91 CS Lewis: “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.”
Sure the weakness of the flesh shows itself in corruption. This has the tendency of killing the church and the holy becomes a wrong role model distracting weak members.
I don't see that the current church has much power, except the moral sort, and most people ignore that. The Church has plenty of older Christian values, though.
You are SO right! Thank you for saying what so many are thinking but so few saying out loud. The Church in the US particularly needs to rethink its political ambitions
Can someone please pray for me
that i will leave pornography and use phone more productively and get out of my comfort zone.
Pls pray for me because i tried so many times and couldn’t get off it for more than a month
I will pray for you. One thing that had helped me out was to remove all the things in my life that would put me in a situation of temptation or the near occasion of sin. Secondly, I would advise you to go to confession and pray for the Lord to help you move away from temptations and to rid yourself of vice and sin that is masturbation. Thirdly, if you happen to be giving into temptation. Ask yourself right before doing it- “Do you love Christ more than this?” Really helps people snap out of it and it has helped me. God bless
I’ve struggled with that too. Praying
I have been thinking the same thing. Thank you Father Casey. Please remind the people of God too, that they need not fear the coming persecution because they can trust in Jesus. As He says “thy will be done.”
I have always contended that the Edict of Milan was the best and the worst thing to happen to the church.
No doubt a complicated mix.
Thank you for the thoughtful reminder of Jesus' core teachings. Pope Francis recently visited my country, and his humility reminded me of the example Jesus set for us - to serve the weak and the poor, not to seek to build a kingdom, but to carry the cross. He also emphasized fraternity and compassion toward non-believers, which resonated deeply.
I live near Anabaptist, Mennonite Communities, the communities near me avoid most of what we take for granted, TV, mobile phones, etc. You never hear them going on about politics or the state of the world or the nation. If there is a disaster, natural or otherwise, they get their tools, show up, and go to work fixing things, mostly for folks who are not Mennonite. Locally I have seen this in action. And I have never seen Catholics or any other Protestant denominations, except the Salvation Army doing the same. They are not perfect, by any means, but for me are a better example of living the Gospel than myself certainly and most practicing Christians I know.
How can they be living the Gospel while rejection the Eucharist and confession?
@@DoctorDewgong well like you they live the Gospel partially, not fully.
@@custisstandish1961 only the Catholic Church lives it fully
@@DoctorDewgong we are talking on an individual level. But I am sure God appreciates your help in pointing out who is fully, individually, living the gospel. Now “pick up a broom and help clean up” as advised by St. Teresa of Calcutta.
All of these historical processes were entirely unavoidable in their times and ages.