[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 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 24.549: “Bear thou up, neither wail ever ceaselessly in thy heart.”

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?”

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 expects or foretells that a faithful disciple may (will) be hated (experiencing opposition, persecution, or even martyrdom). Enduring to the end requires does not mean being lukewarm or indifferent in one’s faith.)

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.” (One must continue to hate what is evil, to hold on to what is good. One must not be lukewarm (lacking in zeal), but be fervent in spirit to serve the Lord.)

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.

Heb.12:3: “Consider how He endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.” (Reflection on Jesus’ sufferings should give His followers courage to continue the struggle, if necessary even to the shedding of blood.”)

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.)

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.)

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

Vatican II:

1. Although perhaps well intended, Vatican II’s efforts in response to the culture has turned into a spiritual and pastoral disaster.
2. (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 have now a Modernist leaders fully embracing (“doubling down”) on Vatican II’s efforts.
2. Accompanying has now replaced conversion and upholding traditional ways.
3. Questionable ecumenical efforts with other “faiths” have replaced the one true path to salvation.
4. The Modernists now claim that the Church theology has changed.
5. False compassion, tolerance and “inclusion” have replaced true compassion and doctrinal truth.
6. Pope Francis’ papacy continues to leave behind a legacy of confusion, restrictions, syncretism, liturgical sacrilege, heretical “creep”, and synodal walking on spiritual “land mines.”
7. The Church, rather than changing the culture, has been changed by the culture, through the efforts of Vatican II and the Modernists.

“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: Traditional and conservative Catholics have endured being called “rigid” and having a “disease of nostalgia”.

Many Catholics have been discouraged and alarmed at what Pope Francis and Modernists are doing to Jesus’ Church.

Many Catholics have become alarmed that that these Vatican synods are become like theological land minds, creating more controversy and confusion.

Persevering faithful Catholics and Christians can take some encouragement about the pushback and opposition to Traditiones Custodes and Fiducia Supplicans. Many are clamoring for traditional liturgy (TLM) and traditional teachings (opposition to non-liturgical blessings to same-sex unions).

These faithful Catholics, standing up for Christ and for traditional Church teachings, will receive their reward their eternal reward.

Some clergy, standing up for traditional Church teachings, have been deposed, removed, and laicized because of the Modernist Bergoglian Reign of Terror. Bishop Strickland and Archbishop Vigano have become white martyrs for standing up for the faith.

Very encourage 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.

I can imagine many of the younger priests claim that it is a “badge of honor” to be called “rigid”, “clerical”, and a “scandal” by this Modernist Pope Francis.

Evidently, these older clergy are unable to stop this trend. This is an indication that there is real hope for Jesus’ Church!

Personal note:

1. The Holy Spirit is clearly present [behind the scenes] at work in truly renewing and reviving Jesus’ Church.
2. If the Modernists [who are in power] can only use legalities and regulations to try to stop this movement, then the Modernists will ultimately lose.
3. Traditional teaching (Tradition), being part of 90% of the Church’s history, is slowly making a comeback and true renewal.
4. The younger generations of Catholics are seeking to find a deeper meaning (substance) in their faith. They are becoming attracted to Tradition and the TLM.
5. The younger generations of Catholics are not finding this in the Novus Order Mass.
6. There is now coming a clash between Tradition and Modernism in the Church. The Holy Spirit is permitting this to happen for all to see.
7. The Holy Spirit is allowing the Modernists to remain hard-hearted. This is allowing many of the faithful to wake up and see the liturgical confusion and chaos continuing in the Church.
8. Modernist ideology (doctrine) will be eventually exposed for what it is: an accommodation to the secular world. This ideology ultimately leads to practical atheism in which the Church moves with the world.
9. There will eventually have to be an honest re-evaluation of Vatican II’s disastrous spiritual and pastoral consequences.
10. This provides further affirmation for Archbishop Lefebvre prophetic statement: “Our future is our past.” (The Church must remain true to its Tradition to truly renew itself.)

It is very plain to see the Modernists’ stubbornness in response to many of the faithful 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!)