These “guardians of tradition” will long outlive the iconoclasts in the Vatican who falsely claim to be such.
Source: https://x.com/CatholicArena/status/1792197825981190625
More views of the Pentecost Sunday Mass for pilgrims en route to Chartres
Source: Rorate Caeli via Twitter
By David Warren
Scientia potentia est – “Knowledge is power” – was launched upon the world by Francis Bacon, and entered flight with Thomas Hobbes. The phrase was among the watchwords of the new, post-Catholic, “scientific” order, or “Reformation” as its exponents came to call themselves. They had a new, nominalist, appreciation of technology.
Yet the phrase, or some near variant, may be found in the Hebrew Book of Proverbs, and here and there over the many intervening centuries. The difference was that Bacon, and his secretary, Hobbes, used it like thugs. They meant political power – the power over others. They did not mean the power to fuel virtue.
That “information” is power was a decisive step down, into mediocrity. It seems to have come about when the generations of advertising salesmen co-opted the phrase, and began using it in their promotions.
“Information is power” was among the clichés by which my little mind was poisoned, when I was very young. This was towards the end of the 1960s, and for a few years thereafter. Even today, I still hear it – this deathless cliche – though often from a speaker who is trying to be droll.
I will concede some specialized application. When a piece of information is discovered, that can serve as blackmail bait, I must allow that the knowledge has potential power. If the victim is Christian, however, he may refuse to pay, to save the blackmailer from Hell – making the knowledge useless.
Read the rest: https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2024/05/17/knowledge-is-powerless/
Harrison Butker Commencement Address*
Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
May 11, 2024
Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2024, I would like to start off by congratulating all of you for successfully making it to this achievement today. I’m sure your high school graduation was not what you had imagined. And, most likely, neither was your first couple years of college.
By making it to this moment through all the adversity thrown your way from COVID, I hope you learned the important lessons that suffering in this life is only temporary. As a group you witnessed firsthand how bad leaders who don’t stay in their lane can have a negative impact on society. It is through this lens that I want to take stock of how we got to where we are and where we want to go. As citizens. And yes, as Catholics.
While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it
is not unique. Bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major
life issues; things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a
growing support for degenerate cultural values and media, all stem from the
pervasiveness of disorder. Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and
proudly proclaims his Catholic faith, but at the same time is delusional enough
to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally. He has been so vocal
in his support for the murder of innocent babies that I’m sure to many people,
it appears that you can be both Catholic and pro-choice. He is not alone.
From the man behind the COVID lockdowns to the people pushing dangerous gender
ideologies onto the youth of America, they all have a glaring thing in common.
They are Catholic. This is an important reminder that being Catholic alone
doesn’t cut it. These are the sorts of things we are told in polite society to
not bring up; you know, the difficult and unpleasant things. But, if we are
going to be men and women for this time in history, we need to stop pretending
that the Church of nice is a winning proposition. We must always speak and act
in charity, but never mistake charity for cowardice.
It is safe to say that over the past few years, I’ve gained quite the
reputation for speaking my mind. I never envisioned myself nor wanted to have
this sort of a platform. But God has given it to me so I have no other choice
but to embrace it and preach more hard truths about accepting your lane and
staying in it.
As members of the Church founded by Jesus Christ, it is our duty and ultimately
privilege to be authentically and unapologetically Catholic. Don’t be mistaken.
Even within the church, people in polite Catholic circles will try to persuade
you to remain silent. There even was an award winning film called “Silence”,
made by a fellow Catholic, where one of the main characters, a Jesuit priest,
abandons the church and was an apostate when he died to sin, grasping a
crucifix, quiet and unknown to anyone but God.
As a friend of Benedictine College, His Excellency, Bishop Robert Barron, said in his review of the film it was exactly what the cultural elite want to see in Christianity, private, hidden away and harmless. Our Catholic faith has always been counter cultural. Our Lord, along with countless followers, were all put to death for their adherence to his teachings. The world around us says that we should keep our beliefs to ourselves, whenever they go against the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion. We fear speaking truth, because now unfortunately, truth is in the minority. Congress just passed a bill where stating something as basic as the biblical teaching of who killed Jesus could land you in jail.
But make no mistake, before we even attempt to fix any of the issues plaguing
society, we must first get our own house in order. And it starts with our
leaders. The bishops and priests appointed by God as our spiritual fathers must
be rightly ordered. There is not enough time today for me to list all the
stories of priests and bishops misleading their flocks, but none of us can
blame ignorance anymore, and just blindly proclaim that “that’s what Father
said”. Because sadly, many priests we are looking to for leadership are the
same ones who prioritize their hobbies, or even photos with their dogs and
matching outfits for the parish directory. It’s easy for us laymen and women to
think that in order for us to be holy, that we must be active in our parish and
try to fix it. Yes, we absolutely should be involved in supporting our
parishes. But we cannot be the source for our parish priests to lean on to help
with their problems. Just as we look at the relationship between a father and
his son, so too should we look at the relationship between a priest and his
people. It would not be appropriate for me to always be looking to my son for
help when it is my job as his father to lead him. St. Josemaría Escrivá states
that priests are ordained to serve and should not yield to temptation to
imitate laypeople, but to be priests through and through.
Tragically, so many priests revolve much of their happiness from the adulation
they receive from their parishioners. And in searching for this, they let their
guard down and become overly familiar. This undue familiarity will prove to be
problematic every time because, as my teammates’ girlfriend says, “familiarity
breeds contempt.”
St. Josemaría continues that some want to see the priests as just another man,
that is not so they want to find in the priests those virtues proper to every
Christian, and indeed every honorable man understanding justice, a life of
work, priestly work in this instance, and good manners. It is not prudent as
the laity for us to consume ourselves and become an amateur theologian so that
we can decipher this or that theological teaching. Unless of course, you are a
theology major. We must be intentional with our focus on our state in life and
our own vocation. And for most of us that says married men and women.
Still, we have so many great resources at our fingertips, that it doesn’t take
long to find traditional and timeless teachings that haven’t been ambiguously
rewarded for our times. Plus, there are still many good and holy priests, and
it’s up to us to seek them out. The chaos of the world is unfortunately
reflected in the chaos in our parishes, and sadly in our cathedrals. Our
cathedrals too, as we saw during the pandemic, too many bishops were not
leaders at all. They were motivated by fear, fear of being sued, fear of being
removed, fear of being disliked. They showed by their actions, intentional or
unintentional, that the sacraments don’t actually matter. Because of this,
countless people died alone without access to the sacraments. And it’s a
tragedy we must never forget.
As Catholics, we can look to so many examples of heroic shepherds who gave
their lives for their people, and ultimately, the Church. We cannot buy into
the lie that the things we experienced during COVID were appropriate. Over the
centuries there have been great wars, great famines, and yes, even great diseases,
all that came with a level of lethality and danger. But in each of those
examples, Church leaders leaned into their vocations, and ensured that their
people receive the sacraments. Great saints like St. Damien of Molokai, who
knew the dangers of his ministry, stayed for 11 years as a spiritual leader to
the leper colonies of Hawaii. His heroism is looked at today as something set
apart and unique, when ideally, it should not be unique at all. For as a father
loves his child, so a shepherd should love his spiritual children, too.
That goes even more so for our bishops. These men who are present day apostles,
or bishops once had adoring crowds of people kissing their rings and taking in
their every word, but now relegate themselves to a position of inconsequential
existence. Now, when a bishop of a diocese or the Bishops Conference as a whole
puts out an important document on this matter, nobody even takes a moment to
read it, let alone follow it. No. Today, our shepherds are far more concerned
with keeping the doors open to the Chancery than they are saying that difficult
stuff out loud.
It seems that the only time you hear from your bishops is when it’s time for
the annual appeal. Whereas we need our bishops to be vocal about the teachings
of the Church setting aside their own personal comfort and embracing their
cross. Our bishops are not politicians, but shepherds. So instead of fitting in
the world by going along to get along, they too need to stay in their lane and
lead.
I say all of this not from a place of anger, as we get the leaders we deserve.
But this does make me reflect on staying in my lane and focusing on my own
vocation, and how I can be a better father and husband and live in the world,
but not be of it.
Focusing on my vocation while praying and fasting for these men will do more
for the church than me complaining about our leaders. Because there seems to be
so much confusion coming from our leaders. There needs to be concrete examples
for people to look to and places like Benedictine, a little Kansas college
built high on a bluff above the Missouri River, are showing the world how a
ordered, Christ-centered existence is the recipe for success. You need to look
no further than the examples all around this campus, where over the past 20
years enrollment has doubled, and construction and revitalization are a
constant part of life and people, the students, the faculty and staff are
thriving.
This didn’t happen by chance. In a deliberate movement to embrace traditional
Catholic values, Benedictine has gone from just another liberal arts school,
with nothing to set it apart, to a thriving beacon of light. And a reminder to
us all that when you embrace tradition success, broadly and spiritual, will
follow. I am certain the reporters at the AP could not have imagined that their
attempt to rebuke and embarrass places and people like those here at
Benedictine wouldn’t be met with anger, but instead that with excitement and
pride. Not the deadly sin sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to
it. But the true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the Holy Ghost to
glorify Him.
Reading that article now shared all over the world, we see that in the complete surrender of self and a turning towards Christ, you will find happiness. Right here in a little town in Kansas, we find many inspiring lay people using their talents. President Minnis, Dr. Swofford, and Dr. Zimmer are a few great examples right here on this very campus that will keep the light of Christ burning bright for generations to come. Being locked in with your vocation and staying in your lane is going to be the surest way for you to find true happiness and peace in this life. It is essential that we focus on our own state in life, whether that be as a layperson or priests, or religious.
Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2024, you are sitting at the edge of the
rest of your lives. Each of you has the potential to leave a legacy that
transcends yourselves and this era of human existence. In the small ways by
living out your vocation, you will ensure that God’s Church continues and the
world is enlightened by your example.
For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you, how many of you are sitting here now about to cross the stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you’re going to get in your career.
Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world. But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife, Isabelle, would be the first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife. And as a mother. I’m on this stage today and able to be the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation. I am beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me. But it cannot be overstated, that all of my success is made possible because the girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith, become my wife and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.
She’s a primary educator to our children. She’s the one who ensures I never let football or my business become a distraction from that of a husband and father. She is the person that knows me best at my core. And it is through our marriage that Lord willing, we will both attain salvation.
I say all of this to you because I’ve seen it firsthand how much happier someone can be when they disregard the outside noise and move closer and closer to God’s will in their life. Isabelle’s dream of having a career might not have come true. But if you ask her today if she has any regrets on her decision, she would laugh out loud without hesitation and say, “heck no”.
As a man who gets a lot of praise and has been given a platform to speak to audiences likethis one today, I pray that I always use my voice for God and not for myself. Everything I am saying to you is not from a place of wisdom, but rather a place of experience. I am hopeful that these words will be seen as those from a man not much older than you who feels it is imperative that this class, this generation, and this time in our society must stop pretending that the things we see around us are normal. Heterodox ideas abound, even within Catholic circles. Let’s be honest, there is nothing good about playing God with having children, whether that be your ideal number or the perfect time to conceive. No matter how you spin it, there is nothing natural about “Catholic birth control”.
It is only in the past few years that I have grown encouraged to speak more boldly and directly, because as I mentioned earlier, I have leaned into my vocation as a husband and father and as a man. To the gentleman here today, part of what plagues our society is this lie that has been told to you that men are not necessary in the home or in our communities. As men, we set the tone of the culture. And when that is absent disorder, dysfunction and chaos set in. This absence of men in the home is what plays a large role in the violence we see all around the nation. Other countries do not have nearly the same absentee father rates as we find here in the US. And a correlation can be made in their drastically lower violence rates as well. Be unapologetic in your masculinity. Fight against the cultural emasculation of men, do hard things, never settle for what is easy. You might have a talent that you don’t necessarily enjoy. But if it glorifies God, maybe you should lean into that over something that you might think suits you better.
I speak from experience as an introvert who now finds myself as an amateur public
speaker, and an entrepreneur; something I never thought I’d be when I received
my industrial engineering degree. The road ahead is bright, things are
changing, society is shifting, and people young and old, are embracing
tradition. Not only has it been my vocation that has helped me and those
closest to me, but not surprising to many of you should be my outspoken embrace
of the traditional Latin Mass. I’ve been very vocal in my love and devotion to
the TLM and its necessity for our lives. But what I think gets misunderstood is
that people who attend the TLM do so out of pride or preference. I can speak to
my own experience. But for most people I have come across within these
communities. This simply is not true.
I do not attend the TLM because I think I’m better than others or for the smells and bells, or even for the love of Latin. I attend the TLM because I believe just as the God of the Old Testament was pretty particular and how he wanted to be worshiped, the same holds true for us today. It is through the TLM that I encountered order and began to pursue it in my own life.
Aside from the TLM itself, too many of our sacred traditions have been relegated to things of the past. When in my parish, things such as Ember Days — days when we fast and pray for vocations and for our priests — are still adhered to. The TLM is so essential that I would challenge each of you to pick a place to move where it is readily available.
A lot of people have complaints about the parish or the community, but we should not sacrifice the Mass for community. I prioritize the TLM even if the parish isn’t beautiful, the priest isn’t great, or the community isn’t amazing. I still go to the TLM because I believe the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is more important than anything else. I say this knowing full well that when each of you rekindle your knowledge and adherence to many of the church’s greatest traditions, you will see how much more colorful and alive your life can and should be.
As you move on from this place and enter into the world know that you will face many challenges. Sadly, I’m sure many of you know of the countless stories of good and active members of this community who after graduation and moving away from the Benedictine Bubble have ended up moving in with their boyfriend or girlfriend prior to marriage. Some even leave the church and abandon God. It is always heartbreaking to hear these stories, and there’s a desire to know what happened and what went wrong.
What you must remember is that life is about doing the small things well. So setting yourself up for success and surrounding yourself with people who continually push you to be the best version of you. I say this all the time, that iron sharpens iron. It’s a great reminder that those closest to us should be making us better.
If you’re dating someone who doesn’t even share your faith. How do you expect that person to help you become a saint? If your friend group is filled with people who only think about what you’re doing next weekend, and are not willing to have those difficult conversations, how can they help sharpen you?
As you prepare to enter into the workforce, it is extremely important that you actually think about the places you are moving to. Who is the bishop? What kind of parishes are there? Do they offer the TLM and have priests who embrace their priestly vocation? Cost of living must not be the only arbiter of your choices. For a life without God is not a life at all. And the cost of salvation is worth more than any career.
I’m excited for the future. And I pray that something I’ve said will resonate as you move on to the next chapter of your life. Never be afraid to profess the one holy, Catholic and apostolic Church. For this is the Church that Jesus Christ established, through which we receive sanctifying grace.
I know that my message today had a little less fluff than is expected for these speeches. But I believe that this audience and this venue is the best place to speak, openly and honestly, about who we are and where we all want to go, which is heaven.
I thank God for Benedictine College, and for the example it provides to the world. I thank God for men like President Minnis who are doing their part for the Kingdom. Come to find out, you can have an authentically Catholic College and a thriving football program.
Make no mistake, you’re entering into mission territory in a post-God world. But you were made for this and with God by your side and a constant striving for virtue within your vocation, you too can be a saint. Christ is King! To the heights.
* As corrected for punctuation by blog editor.
When Pope Francis uses the term “living tradition” he in fact means actually departing from tradition while “creatively” trying to maintain an appearance of adhering to it.
“For you know, venerable brothers, that these bitter enemies of the Christian name, are carried wretchedly along by some blind momentum of their mad impiety; they go so far in their rash imagining as to teach without blushing, openly and publicly, daring and unheard-of doctrines, thereby uttering blasphemies against God. They teach that the most holy mysteries of our religion are fictions of human invention, and that the teaching of the Catholic Church is opposed to the good and the prerogatives of human society.” (Blessed Pope Pius IX, Qui Pluribus)
In his May 10, 2024 address to members of the International Network for Societies for Catholic Theology (INSeCT), Francis discussed three guidelines for his theology:
"I would like to point to three guidelines for theology: creative fidelity to tradition, a cross-disciplinary approach and collegiality. These are the essential ‘ingredients’ of the vocation of Catholic theologians in the heart of the Church.”
What did Francis mean by “creative fidelity to tradition”? In his description of each of the three guidelines, he replaced the “creative fidelity to tradition” phrase with the concept that “tradition is living”:
“As we all know, Tradition is living. Consequently, it must increase and incarnate the Gospel in every land and in all cultures.”
Many Traditional Catholics have heard this concept before — usually expressed as “living tradition” — and may even know about its pre-Vatican II theological origins. In equating “living tradition” with “creative fidelity to tradition,” though, Francis effectively admitted what the proponents of the Vatican II revolution have denied since the Council: he made it evident that when the innovators use the term “living tradition” they mean that they are actually departing from tradition while “creatively” trying to maintain an appearance of adhering to it.
John Paul II’s Ecclesia Dei provided a concrete example of how the innovators actually implement their “creative fidelity to tradition”.
In this light, we can better interpret the most contentious use of the concept of “living tradition,” which John Paul II included in his 1988 apostolic letter, Ecclesia Dei, relating to the “excommunication” of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre for his consecration of four bishops without approval from Rome:
“The root of this schismatic act can be discerned in an incomplete and contradictory notion of Tradition. Incomplete, because it does not take sufficiently into account the living character of Tradition, which, as the Second Vatican Council clearly taught, ‘comes from the apostles and progresses in the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit. There is a growth in insight into the realities and words that are being passed on. This comes about in various ways. It comes through the contemplation and study of believers who ponder these things in their hearts. It comes from the intimate sense of spiritual realities which they experience. And it comes from the preaching of those who have received, along with their right of succession in the episcopate, the sure charism of truth.’”
From the perspective of Archbishop Lefebvre, John Paul II was using “living character of tradition” in the same way that Francis spoke of “creative fidelity to tradition.” If John Paul II had used the latter phrase, though, he would have lost all credibility with many who ultimately agreed with him.
