[Greek] ὁμολογέω (homologeō), [Latin] confitere, [German] confessor

[Greek] ὁμολογέω (homologeō), [Latin] confitere, [German] confessor: to confess, to assent, to admit, to acknowledge; 25 scriptures

Pope Leo XIII reminds ALL FUTURE POPES to hold on to the true historic Catholic faith which was handed down by the Apostles. In contrast, Pope Leo is holding on to the Catholic conciliar (and Synodal) faith which started after Vatican II.

Background information:

Greek Hellenism: This term means to admit, to agree, to bear witness, to concede, to acknowledge, to allow, and to promise.

Andocides’ On the Mysteries 1.29: “I have never admitted guilt and that I have not a single offense against the two goddesses.”

Herodotus’ The Histories 4.154: “Now begins the part in which Therean’s and Cyrenean’s stories agree.”

Herodotus’ The Histories 2.18: “The response of the oracle of Ammon in fact bears witness to my opinion.”

Plato’s Phaedrus 231d: “They confess that they are insane, rather than in their right mind, they know they are foolish.”

Old Testament: This term, used quite extensively, means to praise, to give thanks, to confess, to vow, to promise, to give something to God, to swear, and to take an oath.

New Testament: This term means to declare, to profess, to acknowledge, to swear, to admit, and to confess.

Mt.7:23: I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you evildoers’. (This becomes a criticism against those evil and morally corrupt disciples. Even they will not gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven.)

I will tell them plainly: This is a direct and unambiguous communication from Jesus. Jesus is addressing those who claim to follow Him but do not truly live according to His teachings. This is divine judgment.

I never knew you: The word “knew” implies an intimate relationship with Jesus. This highlights the importance of a true relationship with Christ, beyond mere outward appearances or actions.

Depart from Me: This signifies a significant separation from Christ’s presence. This underscores the spiritual gravity, severe judgment, and eternal repercussions of rejecting Christ.

You workers of lawlessness: This refers to those who act contrary to God’s laws and commandments. It is a severe warning that mere verbal expression of faith is insufficient without a life that reflects God’s righteousness.

Jn.1:20: “He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, ‘I am not the Messiah.'” (John’s confession was instrumental for preparing the way for Jesus. John’s boldness allows for a clear understanding of the truth in proclamation of God’s message. John’s denial points to Jesus the true Messiah in fulfilling Isa. 40:3 and Mal.3:1)

Jn.9:22: “The blind man’s parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews agreed that if anyone who acknowledged Him as the Messiah, he would be expelled from the seminary.” (The parents were fearful of the repercussions of acknowledging Jesus as Messiah. The religious authorities held significant power and influence. The fear of being ostracized from the community was real.

Why did Jesus heal this blind man? Jesus stated that neither the blind man nor his parents had sinned. It was so that the works of God might be made visible to others. Jesus came into the world that the physically blind and spiritually blind might see. Jesus also refers to Jewish authorities who will remain blinded in their spiritual pride and self-reliance.

Ostracism: Being publicly recognized for following Jesus could potentially lead to being expelled from the synagogue. This was a form of excommunication that severed individuals from the religious and social life of the Jewish community. The early Church faced similar charges (in Acts) where the apostles encountered opposition from the Jewish authorities.

Jn.12:42: “Nevertheless, many, even among the authorities, believed in Jesus, but because of the Pharisees they did not acknowledge it openly in order not to be expelled from the synagogue.” (Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were such leaders who secretly believed in Jesus. There was a high social and religious pressure to conform to established norms. Confession of faith in Jesus would be seen as a direct challenge to Pharasaic authority and interpretation of the Law.)

Acts 24:14: “But this I do admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors.”

1. Paul, speaking before Governor Felix, openly and willingly confesses his faith, practices, and beliefs.
2. Paul, aligning himself with the Jewish tradition, states that Christianity is not a new religion but a fulfillment of the Jewish faith.
3. The Way was an early term for the Christians, reflecting the belief that Jesus is the way to salvation.
4. The Jewish leaders viewed Christianity as a heretical movement within Judaism. This reflected the tensions between the early church and Jews and pagans.
5. Paul points out his respect for the Mosaic Laws and that it points to Christ, fulfilling its prophecies and requirements.
6. Paul acknowledges the prophetic writings about the coming Messiah. This highlights Jewish tradition with the prophetic anticipation of Christ.

1Tim.6:12: “Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (Christians are likened to athletes who must run the Christian life (spiritual battle). This imagery suggests perseverance and struggle against spiritual adversaries and forces. The many witnesses refer to Christians’ support, public gatherings, communal gatherings, and the cloud of witnesses in heaven.)

Tit.1:16: “They [rebels, idle talkers, and deceivers] claim to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him. They are vile, disobedient, and unqualified for any good deed.”

1. In the early Church, there were those who claimed to have a relationship with God, but lacked genuine faith. They do NOT do the will of the Father.
2. Their lack of actions (deeds) illustrate that faith without works is dead. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy.
3. Crete had a reputation for deceit and immorality. This is in stark contrast to the life of integrity expected by followers of Jesus.
4. Vile and detestable actions describe idolatry and pagan practices which are offensive to God.
5. Disobedience is linked with sin, arrogance, and idolatry. This is in contrast with the obedience of Christ.
6. Lack of usefulness or fruitfulness suggest moral corruption and self-indulgence. This makes individuals ineffective in promoting the gospel and doing good works.

1Jn.1:9: “If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.” (Denial of the existence of sin is self-deception. There is also the continual possibility and recurrence of sin. Forgiveness and deliverance from sin through Christ is assured through acknowledgement of them.)

Recognizing Pope Leo XIV’s priorities and mindset on the SSPX:

1. The SSPX continuing to uphold traditional practices will become a schismatic act. (Traditional Catholicism is schismatic according to Synodality. Let that sink in!)
2. He is giving more moral weight to Vatican II rather than the preceding twenty Councils. (This illustrates the Modernists’ and Synodalists’ animosity toward Tradition.)
3. He is more antagonistic against Tradition. He is more open to meeting with scandalous and heretical clergy than traditional clergy.
4. He has just admitted that there is a different Catholicism after Vatican II.
5. He is leading a new Synodal Church different from traditional Catholicism.

Recognizing Pope Leo XIV’s priorities and mindset on sexual ethics:

1. He believes that social “moral” issues are important than individual moral and character issues. Justice, equality, freedom of men and women, freedom of religion are more important.
2. This reinforces the notion that MOVING WITH THE WORLD/SEEKING FAVOR WITH THE WORLD take precedence over BRINGING SOULS INTO HEAVEN, objective moral teachings, sin, forgiveness, and conversion of heart.
3. He has little or no interest in upholding traditional Church teachings against homosexuality.
4. He continues to allow Fr. James Martin and other scandalous clergy to promote their “outreach” the LGBTQ community and to the Church.
5. He has no interest in clamping down on the homosexual lifestyles and proclivities of the clergy.
6. He has no interest in stopping Synodal study groups which continue to “push the doctrinal and moral envelope” (homosexuality is no longer sinful). If Pope Leo was interested in doing so, he would have immediately shut down these Synodal study groups.
7. Pope Leo’s silence, tacit acceptance, and belief that attitudes can change doctrine all perfectly explain his attitudes that sexual ethics must be secondary and adaptable.
8. Pope Leo continues to support Fiducia Supplicans, allowing for “non-liturgical blessings” for same-sex unions. This becomes a slippery slope for allowing formal blessings.

Recognizing the Vatican’s new guidelines for Marian apparitions:

1. An apparition that “creates division within the Church” will NOT be approved.
2. This essentially means just undermines and ignores all the past approved Marian apparitions warning of punishment and chastisement.
3. This reflects more of the Vatican’s effort to downgrade Mary’s status and importance of Marian apparitions.
4. This reflects that the Vatican is more concerned with controlling the narrative that Marian messages reflect negatively on the Church (clergy and laity).

Conclusion:

Confide, confidence, confess, confess, homologue

Early Christianity: confessing Jesus as Lord was quite dangerous in the first century

Update: Our current secular society: Christians who profess Jesus’ teaching (and pro-life teachings) may experience peer pressure, shame, persecution, opposition, and martyrdom

On wonders if Jesus would even recognize this worldly Synodal Church, made in the image of man. What would Jesus say about this Synodal Church’s tolerance of sinful and questionable behavior.

Workers of lawlessness: clergy and laity who ignore, pay lip service, reject, or even celebrate sin of homosexuality. What would Jesus say about those saying but not believing?

The SSPX and other clergy often face the repercussions of criticizing or opposing the Synodal Church leadership. This may lead to expulsion, excommunication, and removal of faculties.

The Synodal Church has essentially become a new worldly Church (religion) after Vatican II made in the image of man and his lived experiences.

Many conservative and traditionally minded Catholics continue to be marginalized by the the spiritually blind Synodal church leadership through Traditiones Custodes and the removal of altar rails.

Fortunately, more and more people are critically examining the problems, liturgical abuses, and heresies from Vatican II. Synodality is essentially continuing what Vatican started.

Modernist and Synodal hard-heartedness and spiritual blindness: It seems that the Synodal Church is UNABLE to hold back or stop this organic Holy Spirit-inspired movement toward Tradition and doctrinal clarity. Employing Traditiones Custodes seems to be the only remaining tool in the Synodal tool-belt to restrict the the thriving TLM. 

Cardinal Kasper, one of the leaders of the German Synodal Church shockingly acknowledged that the German Church is in deep crisis. At the age of 93, perhaps he is coming to terms of the harm that the German bishops caused in Germany.

Rather than proclaiming a bold and truthful proclamation of God’s message, Synodality instead proclaims doctrinal and liturgical confusion and ambiguity.

Warning signs of Synodality: Pope Leo XIV prefers to use Vatican II (and Synodality), not traditional Catholicism, as the moral basis to potentially excommunicate the traditional SSPX Catholic order.

“The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.” St. Augustine

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St. Augustine.

“The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose, it will defend itself.” St. Augustine