Refutation of The TFP to a Frustrated Onslaught

 

Part 1: Three Letters
Theological Opinion by
Fr. Victorino Rodriguez, O.P.
Professor of Theology and Prior of the Convent of Santo Domingo el Real (Madrid
)

 

 

 

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Refutation of The TFP to a Frustrated Onslaught
Translated into English by
Marian T. Horvat, Ph.D.

First Published in Portuguese in June 1984 São Paulo: Artpress - Papéis e Artes Gráficas
The first collaboration of “Three Letters” (pp. 15-202 of 256) in this first volume is copyrighted in the U.S. Library of Congress by Atila Sinke Guimarães
#
Posted online by Tradition in Action, Inc., Los Angeles, California, October 2019 Publication authorized by A.S. Guimarães

Note: Since the Brazilian Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP), in whose defense this three volume work titled Refutation to a Frustrated Onslaught was first published in 1984, continues to be divided into factions and counter-factions, A.S. Guimarães made the decision to post the first volume of this work online with the aim of defending the good names of Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira and Dona Lucilia Ribeiro dos Santos Corrêa de Oliveira. Indeed, the same old slanders that are rebutted in this work continue to be widely spread online in English-speaking countries by circles linked to the Society of St. Pius X. To silence these defamations, Guimarães resolved to make public his refutation, which constitutes the preponderant part of Volume I. He hopes that the two other authors – Mr. Gustavo Antônio Solimeo and Mr. Antônio Borelli Machado – who collaborated in the first volume of this work will agree with his decision and permit their contributions to be online, thus allowing the public to know the truth about Prof. Plinio, his venerable Mother, Dona Lucilia, and what was the then glorious TFP.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Opinion by Fr. Victorino Rodriguez y Rodriguez O.P. - 11

Spanish Original - 12

Authentification - 13

Spanish Original - 14

PART 1: THREE LETTERS

By Atila Sinke Guimarães

Preamble - 15

Prior Considerations - 17

1. If there was a lack of passion in the accusations of Mr. O.F.-17

A. If the temperamental state of Mr. O.F. permitted a lack of passion - 17

B.   If there was an absence of self-love - 18

C.   If Mr. O.F.'S longing for honors was manifested within just limits - 19

D.   If there was the absence of presumption - 20

E.   First conclusion - 23

2.  If there was intellectual competence in the accusations of Mr. O.F. - 23

A.   Foundation for the accusations - 23

B.   Of the coherence of the reasoning  - 26

- Antecedents - 27

- Consequence - 27

- Analysis of the reasoning - 28

C.   Second conclusion - 28

3.  If there was coherence in the Catholic position of Mr. O.F. - 28

A.   Concerning the respect due to great Catholic men - 29

B.   Concerning respect for the name of God - 30

C.   Third conclusion - 31

Chapter I – The Anne Catherine Emmerick issue and its context within the TFP - 33

1.  A secondary and fleeting issue compared with the broad but defined field of action of the TFP - 33

2.  What took place in the TFP is in complete conformity to the general customs in Brazilian Catholic circles - 35

3.  Innocuousness of the errors of Anne Catherine Emmerick in an ambience

permeated by fidelity to the Immutable Magisterium of the Church - 36

4.  The studies of Mr. O.F. – Position of the Holy See in relation to

the writings at Question – Statement of Dr. Plinio - 36

5.  An obsolete theme transformed into an instrument of attack - 37

Chapter II – Inerrancy and infallibility, a play on words in the diatribe of Mr. O.F. - 39

1.  The concept of inerrancy in the deformed vision of Mr. O.F. - 39

2.  Mr. O.F.'s anxiety in condemning Anne Catherine Emmerick - 41

3.  Mr. O.F.'s interior crisis problem concerning Anne Catherine Emmerick and the notion of inerrancy - 42

4.  Inerrancy and prophetism in relation to Anne Catherine Emmerick - 43

5.  A ridiculous and completely baseless conclusion - 45

Chapter III – Rich diversification in the use of the word infallibility - the diverse concepts of infallibility - 47

1.  Common usage of the word ‘infallibility’ - 47

2.  The concept of 'infallibility' in scientific, philosophical and theological language - 48

1st application:  Infallibility of the human-intellectual conscience - 48

2nd application: Infallibility of the human senses - 48

3rd application: Infallibility of man concerning first principles - 48

4th application: Infallibility that comes from the upright use of the natural faculties - 49

5th application: Infallibility of scientific and human laws - 49

6th application: Infallibility of prayer - 50

7th application: Infallibility of the virtue of obedience - 52

8th application: Infallibility of the wise man - 52

9th application: Infallibility of the charism of wisdom and of the discernment of spirits. Wisdom and prudence - 54

10th application: Inerrancy or infallibility of Sacred Scriptures - 56

11th application: Infallibility of the Pope and of the Church - 57

12th application: Divine infallibility - 58

3. Absolute infallibility, relative and imparted - 58

Chapter IV – The notion of inerrancy applied within the TFP - 61

1.  How the notion of inerrancy was born within the TFP - 61

2.  Why the notion of inerrancy was not directly addressed in the response to the French Rapport - 62

3.  Conformity of the notion of inerrancy with Catholic Doctrine - 64

4.  The doctrine of inerrancy in the practice of the TFP - 66

5.  The climate of confidence and respect surrounding the doctrine of inerrancy in the practice of the TFP - 71

6.  Conformity of this filial confidence with the teaching of the Church - 74

7.  Conclusion of this chapter - 75

Chapter V – Supposed dethronement of Our Lady in the TFP - 77

1.  Ways that the term ‘dethronement’ of Our Lady could be taken - 77

2.  Personal devotions of TFP members and cooperators to Our Lady - 79

3.  Devotions of the TFP as an entity to Our Lady - 80

4.  Other devotions to Our Lady in the TFP - 81

5.  If there was 'physical' dethronement of Our Lady in the TFP - 82

6.  Another supposed manifestation of 'dethronement' aggravated by the 'sin of simulation' - 85

7.  Conclusion of this chapter - 90

Chapter VI – The doctrine of the Church concerning the cult in general and the cult of dulia in particular - 91

1.  Notion, types and forms of cult - 91

A.  Notion of cult - 91

B.  Civil cult and religious cult - 92

C.  Natural religious cult & supernatural cult - 93

D.  Supreme cult & subordinate cult: Latria & dulia - 93

- Hyperdulia & protodulia - 93

E.  Absolute cult and relative cult - 95

F.  Internal cult & external cult - 98

G.  Public cult & private cult - 98

2.  The doctrine of St. Thomas concerning the cult of dulia - 99

A.  Concerning justice & the virtues annexed to it: religion, piety & respect (observance) - 99

B.  Concerning respect (observance): Honor & worship (cult) - 100

C.  Concerning dulia: Honor, praise & glory - 100

D.  Worship (cult), devotions & religion - 101

3.  Present-day theological language concerning the cult of dulia - 102

4.   Application of this doctrine to the case at point - 105

5.   Exterior acts of the cult of dulia rendered to living persons - 106

Chapter VII – What constitutes private cult to the Saints & the Blessed, & what is permitted for those who have died but are neither canonized nor beatified - 109

1.  Public cult and private cult in canon law - 109

2.  Specifications of private cult - 111

3.  Public cult to the Saints & to the Blessed - 111

4.  Private cult to the Servants of God who are not canonized or beatified - 112

A.  Licitness of this cult - 112

B.  Necessity for this cult - 114

C.  Normal proceedings for beatification - 115

D.  Acts of private cult -  116

E.  Common practices to honor the Servants of God who are not canonized or beatified - 119

5.   Some concrete examples of cult to the Servants of God who died in the odor of sanctity - 121

A.  Dom Frei Maria Gonclaves de Oliveira O.F.M., Cap., – Bishop of Olinda - 121

B.  Father John Baptista Reus, S.J. - 122

C.  Father Rodolfo Komorek, Salesian - 124

Chapter VIII – Of the perfect legitimacy of devotion to Da. Lucilia as it is practiced in the TFP - 125

1.   The Absurd 'Ave Lucilia' - 125

2.   The Litany to Dona Lucilia - 129

A.  The Microformas Episode - 132

B.  Prohibited to have, but not prohibited to pray - 132

C.  Novena in Praesto Sum - 132

D. ‘Perpetual’ Novena in Rio Grande do Sul and teaching to "a very young enjolras" - 133

E.  Copy of the Litany possessed by a cooperator in São Paulo - 133

F.  The Mother of two cooperators of Rio Grande Do Sul - 133

3.   Memorare to Dona Lucilia - 135

4.   Other invocations to Dona Lucilia - 136

5.   The incensing of a picture of Dona Lucilia - 139

6. Cult to Dona Lucilia: Proof of Heterodoxy? - 142

7.  Conclusion of this chapter - 143

8.  A necessary Supplement: It is not improper for a child to praise his parents - 144

Chapter IX – Of the supposed manifestations of illicit cult to Dr. Plinio - 147

1.  The non-existent 'altar-oratory' at Jasna Gora - 147

2.  Oratory in the Hermitage of São Bento - 149

3.  The songs at the Hermitage of São Bento - 149

4.  The 'Litany of the Prophet' and asking the intercession of living persons - 155

5.  'More than 200 cases of cult' - 161

Chapter X – The multiple & merited reasons for the veneration & respect paid to Dr. Plinio in the TFP - 165

1.  Concerning respect due to superiors - 165

2.  Founder and president of the National Council of the Brazilian TFP - 166

3.  Catholic leader - 168

4.  Spiritual guide - 169

5.  Teacher - 169

6.  Political analyst - 171

7.  Acclaimed writer & journalist - 171

8.  Man of action - 173

9.  Other aspects omitted here for the sake of brevity - 174

10.  By way of conclusion - 174

Chapter XI – Various scattered accusations - 177

1.  The danger of 'the Overshadow' - 177

2.  Reading newspapers is considered superfluous & detrimental in the TFP - 180

3.  It is necessary & sufficient in the TFP only to study the Life and examples of Dr. Plinio - 181

4.  In the TFP they place 'things above the Creed & the Gospels' - 183

5.  'The Gnostic Mountain of the Prophets' - 184

A.  If there could be a Mountain of the Prophets & if Elias could be there - 186

B.  If St. John could maintain some type of relationship with Elias - 187

C.  If such a place could provide graces for men - 191

6.  'Crazy Conclusions' with regard to Dr. Plinio - 191

7.  'The Judaic chair of Elias' - 192

8.  Mental reservations - 193

9.  The practice of 'underlining' - 194

10.  The 'external' finality of the TFP:  To combat communism - 196

11.  'Orchestrated cult' - 197

12.  Conclusion of this chapter - 200

13.  Final conclusion - 200

Final Words - 201

PART 2: AN ANTI-TFP COMMENTARY STUDY BY GUSTAVO ANTONIO SOLIMEO

Analysis by Rev. Fr. Victorino Rodriguez O.P. - 204

Letter of Mr. Orlando Fedeli to Bishop Antonio de Castro Mayer - 205

Response to Mr. O.F. by Bishop Antonio de Castro Mayer - 207

Study on an Opinion about a Litany by Gustavo Antonio Solimeo - 209

I.  If the Litany is contrary to Canon Law - 211

1.  Vague and generic character of the Opinion - 211

2.  Confusion concerning the concepts of public cult and private cult - 212

3.  A false premise: 'Cult only to a person not canonized or beatified' - 213

4.  The Church recommends invoking all the 'Servants of God Reigning with Christ, and to venerate their relics and images' - 14

5.  Litanies do not need ecclesiastic approval to be recited - 215

A.  More confusion of language and concepts - 215

B.  Ambiguity as well as confusion - 216

C.  Neither canon 1259 § 2 nor the "Commentary of the BAC" supports the Opinion - 216

-  Canon 1259 § 2 does not "support" the Opinion - 217

- The "Commentary of the BAC" also does not "support" the Opinion - 217

6.  Need for approval for the printing and publishing of prayers - 221

7.  A canon that is not applied to the simple faithful - 221

8.  It is licit to compose litanies in honor of persons who are not canonized or beatified - 222

II.   If the Litany touches on blasphemy - 223

1.  Seriousness of the blasphemy - 23

A.  Concept of blasphemy, according to canonists and moralists - 223

B.  Criteria that characterizes the sin and the crime of blasphemy - 223

C.  Application of these criteria to the concrete case - 224

D.  A parallelism in the Inquiry contingent to the Response - 225

2.   It is in conformity with the laws and customs of the Church to apply to others invocations and prayers directed to Our Lady - 225

A.  Adaptations of invocations from the Litany of Loreto - 225

B.  Adaptation of the Memorare - 226

C.  Adaptations and paraphrases of the Hail Mary - 227

III.   If the Litany contains errors against the Faith - 228

1.  The invocation 'fountain of Light' - 228

A.  Vague and imprecise accusation...  - 228

B.  ...a faulty reasoning - 228

C.  The word 'light' can be applied not only to God, but also to creatures. Some examples - 229

2.  The invocation 'Mediatrix of all Our Graces' - 230

A.  A secondary mediation of the Saints would not oppose the Universal Mediation of Mary Most Holy - 230

B.  A pious custom: To consecrate oneself to a Saint - 231

3.  The invocation 'Mother of the Ineffable' - 232

A.  Generalization, simplification, one-sidedness - 232

B.  Injurious accusation - 232

C.  The invocation analyzed in text and in context - 232

- The text - 232

- The context - 234

4.  The title 'Doctor of the Church' - 234

A.  Illogical Reasoning - 234

B.   Lay Doctors of the Church - 235

5.  Grave accusations lacking any proof - 235

IV.  Concerning the merit of the Inquiry - 237

A CONCRETE EXAMPLE

How the Holy See analyzes the writings of candidates to the honor of the altars - 241

Judgment of the Theological Censor About the Writings of the Servant of God, Therese of the Child Jesus - 242

Response to observations of the Rev. Father Promoter-General of the Faith - 246

PART 3: POSTFACIO

BY ANTONIO AUGUSTO BORELLI MACHADO

Quae Cum Ita Sint... - 251


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