[Greek] ὑπομένω (hypomenō), [Latin] perseverare, [Latin] sustinere, [Latin] permanere, [Latin] remanere, [Latin] patiens, [Latin] sufferere, [French] persister, [French] continuer, [French] maintenir, [French] endurant

[Greek] ὑπομένω (hypomenō), [Latin] perseverare, [Latin] sustinere, [Latin] permanere, [Latin] remanere, [Latin] patiens, [Latin] sufferere, [French] persister, [French] continuer, [French] maintenir, [French] endurant: to resist, to endure, continue, to stay behind, 18 scriptures

At the beginning of the Great Western Schism, St. Catherine called upon Pope Gregory XI to return back to Rome on Jan. 17, 1377.

Background information:

St. Catherine of Siena:

1. She resisted her parents’ plans to marry her off. Instead, she chose to fast and cut off her hair to make her less desirable.
2. She resisted plans to enter a convent to become a lay third order Dominican.
3. She spent several years in near isolation, spending her day in dialogue with Christ. She heard Christ calling her to a more public life.
4. She began to serve the poor and soon became known for her charitable works.
5. She became more connected in public and political life and in tune with the happenings in the Church.
6. She was drawn into Church politics because she loved the Church as she loved God.
7. She corresponded with papal representatives and Pope Gregory XI in Avignon, France.
8. She personally met Pope Gregory XI and referenced part of the pope’s dream.
9. She convinced Pope Gregory XI to return back to Rome.

Greek Hellenism: This term means to stay behind, to stand still, to hold out, to wait, to be patient, to stand firm, to bear, and to suffer. This term involves an active and energetic resistance to hostile powers.

Plato’s Laws 9.879c: “An old man should quietly endure his anger, and thus store up honor for the time of his own old age.”

Homer’s Iliad 5.498: “So they rallied and took their stand with their faces toward the Achaeans.”

Plato’s Laches 194a: “Let us too be steadfast and enduring in our inquiry. Might we perchance find that this very endurance is courage.”

Xenophon’s Memorabilia 2.1.3: “And to which shall we give the habit of not shirking a task, but undertaking it willingly? And to which would the knowledge needful for overcoming enemies be more appropriately given?”

Homer’s Odyssey 10.232: “Only Eurylochus remained behind, for he suspected there was a snare.”

Old Testament: This term means to wait on God, to cleave to God, and to have hope (confidence) in God. Attention is directed to God. The righteous person endures on God, rather than on one’s own courage and steadfastness.

New Testament: This term means to endure, to bear, to remain behind, and to persevere. I will leave behind the less noteworthy scriptural examples. ☺☺☺

Scriptures:

Mt.10:22: “You will be hated by all because of My name, but whoever endures to the end [death] will be saved.” (Jesus states that a faithful disciple may (will) be hated [experiencing opposition, persecution, or even martyrdom]. One should not be afraid of those who kill the body. But one must be afraid of the one (God) who will condemn one’s body and soul to eternal damnation [because of one’s actions].)

Lk.2:43: “After they had completed its days, as Joseph and Mary were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it.” (Jesus was faithfully raised up in the traditions of Israel, fulfilling what the law requires. This episode ends Jesus’ infancy narrative.)

Rom.12:12: “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.”

1. One is called to hate what is evil and to hold on to what is good.
2. One must not be lukewarm (lacking in zeal), but fervent in spirit to serve the Lord.
3. One must bless those who persecute you (also oftentimes difficult to do).
4. One must not be wise in your own estimation.
5. One must not repay anyone with evil or seek revenge. Allow for God to seek vengeance if it is needed.
6. One must conquer evil with good and one must not be conquered by evil.

2Tim.2:12: “If we persevere we shall also reign with Him. But if we deny Him, He will deny us.” (The Christian life includes endurance, witness, persecution, suffering, and even martyrdom. Jesus will be true to those who are faithful to Him. Jesus will disown those who deny Him.) 

Heb.12:1-2: “Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us.”

Burdens (sins) that cling to us: Actions and behaviors that weigh us down, hold on to us, hinder our path, slow us down, and hang on to us.

Running the race: The Christian is likened to an athlete who must prepare himself for the difficult race of Christian life. The Christian seeks to reach the finish line to win the imperishable crown of glory, the victory won by being faithful to Christ.

Heb.12:7: “Endure your trials as discipline; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline.” (Like a human father, God may discipline sons and daughters with trials and difficulties. We are called to persevere in running the [Christian] race that lies before us, while keeping our eyes on Jesus. )

Jas.1:12: “Blessed is the one who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life.” (In the commission of a sinful act, no one is tempted by God. One is tempted by his own passion. When consent is given by one’s passion, the sinful act occurs.)

1Pet.2:20: If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God.” (One’s patient suffering [often through no fault of their own] is compared to Jesus’ suffering. It can also be said that one suffers in union with Christ. This suffering can be offered up for the salvation of souls.)

This is what many faithful and traditional Catholics (Christians) are enduring and facing:

Vatican II:

1. Although perhaps well intended, Vatican II’s efforts in “renewing” and “reforming” the Church has led to the Church being MORE ENTRENCHED in the world.
2. The consequences of Vatican II: Loss of vocations, church sexual abuse and coverups, churches closing, changing Church teachings, liturgical sacrilege, declining Catholic identification, poor Mass attendance, and poor catechesis, etc).
3. It has been even said that Vatican II was sabotaged by Pope Paul IV’s “gate keeper” Archbishop Bugnini’s who sought “Protestantize” Vatican II.
4. Not surprisingly, Pope Paul VI famously stated, “the smoke of Satan has entered in through a crack in the Church.”

Current situation:

1. We now have Modernists and Synodalists seeking to “double down” [BEING MORE ENTRENCHED IN THE WORLD AND BRINGING IN MORE SMOKE] on Vatican II’s efforts.
2. Accompanying has now replaced conversion and upholding traditional ways.
3. Synodality (lived experiences), often taking precedence over Church teachings, is being raised up as a IDOL.
4. False compassion, tolerance and “inclusion” have replaced true compassion and doctrinal Truth.
5. The Vatican has increased its LGBTQ “outreach”, but has failed to state to publicly state Church teachings against homosexuality. The Vatican, choosing to be “inclusive”, is putting the LGBTQ community’s souls in eternal moral peril.
6. The German Church is further “reforming” and “renewing” itself, into schism, doctrinal heresy, decline, and irrelevance.
7. The Church, rather than changing the culture, is being been changed by the culture, through the efforts of Vatican II and Synodality.
8. Vatican II and Synodality has NOT been the cause for this Holy Spirit-guided lay movement toward Tradition and reverence.
9. This Holy Spirit-guided Catholic Traditional rejuvenation has occurred in response AGAINST Synodality.
10. This Catholic Traditional rejuvenation has become a younger generational counter-response against the older generations of Vatican II and Synodality.
11. The many conservative and Traditional Catholics are hoping that Pope Leo XIV will encourage this movement back toward Tradition
12. Tradition is true reform and true renewal for the Catholic Church.

“We do not want a Church that will move with the world. We want a Church that will move the world.” GK Chesterton

Conclusion:

Persevere, perseverance, sustain, permanent, permanence, suffer, suffering, maintain, maintenance, remain, endure, endurance, patient, patience, continue, continuance, persist, persistence

The Old Testament culture reminds us that we all must put our confidence in God and not just rely on ourselves. This confidence allows one to have perseverance during difficulties.

Update: With our new pope, it would nice if Traditional and conservative Catholics if were no longer called “rigid” and having a “disease of nostalgia”.

At least so far, many Catholics are now seeing some encouraging signs that Pope Leo would be favorable to Tradition and the TLM.

Bishop Strickland, along with other faithful clergy, was removed because he stood up for Traditional Catholic Church teachings. Bishop Strickland has become a white martyr.

Bishop Strickland also provides with an example of enduring in faithfulness.

Many of us often had difficulties in seeing perseverance and affliction can be forms of discipline from God.

Trophies can refer to bones, relics, and objects of martyrs.

Encouraging signs: The younger generations of priests and seminarians are become more conservative and traditionally minded. These younger men are now wearing the traditional priestly garments (cassocks). This is in contrast to the older generations of Modernist and progressive clergy who are retiring and dying out.

It is very plain to see the Modernists’ stubbornness in response to many of the faithful Catholics’ opposition and alarm to these Modernists changes to Jesus’ Church. Yet, the Modernists continue to uphold their ideology. One can certainly claim that these Modernists are “true believers in their cause.”

I think G. K. Chesterton said it best:

“What we want is a religion that is right where we are wrong. We do not want a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world.” (A Church that remains true to its Traditions and teachings!)

What is best way for the Church to endure?  ==> to go back to Tradition

1. The German Synodal Church is “reforming” and “renewing” itself into schism, heresy, and decline. This is a dying Church. This is a sign of things to come with Synodality.
2. The Church is growing because the youngers generation are coming into the Church because of Tradition.
3. Synodality has Not contributed to the growth of the Church, despite its efforts to “reform” and “renew” into a different Church made in the image of man.
4. Tradition will provide true reform and renewal in the restoration of the Church. Archbishop Lefebvre prophetically and wisely predicted that Tradition would eventually renew the Church.

“Our future is our past. ” Archbishop Lefebvre