[Greek] ἀφορίζω (aphorizō), [Latin] separare, [Latin] segregare, [French] isoler: to separate, to exclude, to appoint, to set apart; Mt.13:49, Mt.25:32, Lk.6:22, Acts 13:2, Acts 19:9, Rom.1:1, 2Cor.6:17, Gal.1:15, Gal.2:12
Pope John Paul II rightly points out that God’s moral truth gives meaning and direction in one’s life. Otherwise, unhappiness results from this separation and isolationfrom God.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to mark off, to establish, to border on, to define, to separate, to exclude, to bring to an and, and to banish.
Isocrates’ To Phillip 5.120: “What opinion must we expect the world will have if you actually do this undertaking to establish cities in this region.”
Plato’s Timaeus 24a: “You see how the priestly class is separated from the rest: craftsmen, shepherds, and farmers, each distinguished and separate.”
Plato’s Greater Hippias 298d: “Did you make the distinction that in the category of the pleasing that which is beautiful, whereas, you say that that which is pleasing according to other senses.”
Old Testament: This term means to separate, to divide, and to cleave. Israel is separated from the world. The lepers, unclean, and unholy are to be separated from the community. The Levites are to be a separated priesthood.
New Testament: This term means to separate, to disperse, to exclude, to set apart.
Mt.13:49-50: “Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace.” (The righteous (sheep) will receive eternal life. The wicked (goats) will receive everlasting punishment.)
Mt.25:32: “The Son of Man will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” (The criterion of judgment is ultimately the acceptance or rejection of Jesus.)
Lk.6:22: “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.” (Being excluded: persecution, being deposed, being marginalized, and being excommunicated. Being insulted: being accused as heretics, apostates, and enemies [to the law or the Jews]. Being denounced as evil: being perceived as hateful and intolerant, being countercultural, and being monsters.)
Acts 19:9: “When some in their obstinacy and disbelief disparaged the Way before the assembly, Paul withdrew and took his disciples with him and began to hold daily discussions in the Tyrannus lecture hall.” (The truth had no impression on their opponents as they were not persuaded by the Way’s message. Therefore, it was necessary for Paul to find another place to hold daily discussions.)
Gal.2:12: “Peter used to eat with the Gentiles; but when the Jewish Christians came, Peter began to draw back and separated himself, because he was afraid on the circumcised.” (Because of peer pressure, Peter walked away from the Gentiles. Since Peter’s actions were in public, Paul rebuked Peter in public. The Jerusalem Council recognized the freedom of Gentile Christians from the Jewish law.)
Aphorism: This is a term describing and in important in a short or pithy sentence.
Aphorisms/Quotes:
“Be attentive to yourself, so that nothing destructive can separate you from God.” St. Isaiah the Solitary
“Evil talks a lot of tolerance when it is weak. When evil is strong, real tolerance gets kicked out the door.” Archbishop Charles Chaput
“God leads every soul by a separate path.” St. John of the Cross
“For it is a master-stroke of Satan to get Catholics to disobey the whole of Tradition, in the name of obedience.” Archbishop Lefebvre
“To separate tabernacle from alter is to separate two things which by their origin and nature should remain united.” Pope Pius XII
“The apostolic life does not exclude contemplation but encompasses to know better the eternal truths it must proclaim.” St. Vincent de Paul
What does Pope Pius X say about the Modernists’ desire to democratize Church authority? (From Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1907):
- Modernists claim that is was a common error that authority came to the Church from without [directly from God].
- This view was rightly held that the Church was autocratic.
- Church and Church authority now is a vital emanation of the collective consciences (in the minds of people). The Church is subject to this.
- It is for the ecclesiastical authority to shape itself to democratic forms.
- The Modernists seek to find a way of conciliation between the authority of the Church and the liberty of believers.
By Fr. Joachim Heimerl: “Can Pope Francis excommunicate his opponents”?
Can the pope use the power to bind and loose as he pleases? No. Peter received this power primarily as a positive power (to shepherd the flock and NOT to exclude anyone from the flock).
What is an example of a proper use of excluding someone? This is a situation where one separates himself from the flock. This person causes schism when he claims that Francis is not the real pope. The pope has the right and power to excommunicate that person.
What are some examples in which excommunication should not be applicable? When there is no apostasy (departing from faith in Christ). When there is no serious case of fornication and incest. This is when someone denied the authority of the papacy as a whole.
Does questioning the legitimacy of a pope merit excommunication? No. This is NOT apostasy, NOT heresy, and NOT schism! This does not apply when one questions and rejects the heterodox teachings of Pope Francis and legitimacy of his papacy.
What have been the actions of Pope Francis? He elevates obvious heretic to high positions. Pope Francis overlooks the real schism and heresy of the German bishops.
Why are Pope Francis’ excommunications considered to be political? Pope Francis is removing his opponents. Pope Francis’ opponents state traditional teachings and oppose synodality. Examples include Bishop Strickland and Archbishop Vigano. Pope Francis’s actions make him look like a dictator on the chair of Peter.
Why are clergy hesitant or fearful from speaking out against Pope Francis? There is a great possibility that one would be severely punished by Pope Francis. This can mean sanctions, removal, laicization, and excommunication.
What can be concluded from Pope Francis’s excommunications? Some like Archbishop Vigano view this a “badge of honor” or upright Catholics. These actions also make Pope Francis looks petty and shallow. These excommunications will be looked upon as absurd.
Who are these “pope-splainers”? These are hyper-papalist lackeys who defend and support Pope Francis, using verbal gymnastics and scouring the internet to support what Pope Francis really mean.
Conclusion:
Separate, separation, aphorism, segregate, segregation, isolate isolation
Update: Pope Francis’ Traditiones Custodes seeks to eventually shut down the Traditional Latin Mass. This is essentially seeking to marginalize and exclude Traditional and conservative Catholics.
Pope Francis and his inner circle continue to exclude Jesus’ command to sin no more (Jn.8:11) pertaining to homosexual lifestyle. These clergy are failing in their duty to properly catechize the LGBTQ community. These clergy are putting many people’s eternal mortal souls in peril.
Jesus associated with sinners in order to save and forgive them. Jesus’ mercy is dependent on one’s need for conversion and forgiveness. Jesus did not come to sinners in order to accept and tolerate their sinful lifestyles, but to save them.
We are living in a time in Pope Francis’ papacy where conservative (traditional) bishops are being cancelled, reassigned, and deposed for being are too Catholic. Bishop Marc Aiullet of the diocese of Bayonne may next to follow in the path of Bishop Strickland. We continue to live under the Bergoglian Reign of Terror.
Pope Francis criticizes [traditionally minded people] who “create bad feeling within the Church and disorientation among the faithful, and who turn to the bete noir of ‘clericalism'” which creates distance between priests and people. In other words, setting apart the clergy from the laity creates separation. Pope Francis seeks to democratize and blur the differences between the clergy with the laity!
God will also separate those wicked, unfaithful, and clergy who do not properly fulfill their responsibilities to bring souls into heaven. As a result, there will be some clergy and pastors in hell.
It has been said by some that Fiducia Supplican (offering non-liturgical blessings to same-sex unions) has become a new “mill-stone moment” in the Church for the great serious nature of blessing sin (evil.)
At the end of the day, it does not matter what we think we is right or wrong. Ultimately, each of us will have to stand in judgment before God.
It is important to not that God will remain faithful to those clergy and laity who persecuted, marginalized, and cancelled in remaining faithful to Him.
In light of the restrictions from Traditiones Custodes, more and more traditional Catholics are find themselves having to withdraw to fewer venues to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass.
Modernist seeks to separate objective supernatural reality (authority comes from God) from what is vital emanence (what is perceived in one’s mind).