…judges Francis’ attitude towards public sinners, changing Vatican protocol
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When Our Lord mercifully visited others, it was to impart His own righteousness to them
Saint Luke, the physician of souls rather than of bodies, represents therefore our Lord and Savior most mercifully visiting others, as it follows, And he went into the Pharisees’ house, and sat down to meat. Not that He should share any of his faults, but might impart somewhat of His own righteousness. (Saint Gregory Nicene quoted by Saint Thomas Aquinas. Catena Aurea on Lk 7:36-50)
…judges Francis’ idea that Koran is a book of peace
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If we have Christ as peace, let us kill the enemy in ourselves – when the flesh’s prudence is subject to the divine law, we are transformed into a new peaceful man
By understanding Christ as peace we will manifest the true name of Christian if we show Christ in our life by his peace: he destroyed the enemy, as the Apostle says (Eph 2.14). Let none of us hand over life to this enemy; rather, let us exhibit his death in our lives. Let us never incite to our soul’s detriment what God has slain for our salvation through anger and the recollection of injuries. If we followed this path, we would bring about a bad resurrection of what has been put to death. But if we have Christ who is peace, let us kill the enemy in ourselves; by believing in him we will follow him in our lives. Christ destroyed the intervening wall and formed one man in himself out of two, thereby making peace (Eph 2.14). Let us hasten to reconcile not only those fighting outside us but those rebelling within, that the flesh may no longer lust against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh (Gal 5.17). With the flesh’s prudence subjected to the divine law, we may enjoy peace within, having been transformed into one new peaceful man and with the two becoming one. The definition of peace is harmony of discordant elements. When the civil war in our nature is destroyed, we become peace by cultivating it and by showing the true, proper name of Christ. By understanding Christ as the true light (Jn 1.9) which has no part in falsehood, we learn that the rays of the true light must enlighten our lives. Virtues are the rays of the sun of righteousness emanating for our illumination. They banish works of darkness enabling us to walk becomingly in the day (Rom 13.12-13) after having renounced hidden, shameful works. With all our actions done in the light we become light itself so that we may illumine others about what befits the light. (Saint Gregory of Nyssa. Treaty on the perfect model of a Christian: PG 46, 259-262)
…judges Francis’ idea on our sins drawing us close to Jesus
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Faith without works of justice is not sufficient for salvation
Paul, joining righteousness to faith and weaving them together, constructs of them the breastplates for the infantrymen, armoring the soldier properly and safely on both sides. A soldier cannot be considered safely armored when either shield is disjoined the other. For faith without works of justice is not sufficient for salvation, neither however, is righteous living secure in itself of salvation, if it is disjoined from faith. (Saint Gregory of Nyssa. Homilies on Ecclesiastes, no. 8)
…judges Francis’ idea that the Virgin Mary was capable to rebel against God
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United to Christ not only in prosperity, but also sorrows
Though these things are said of the Son, yet they have reference also to His mother, who takes each thing to herself, whether it be of danger or glory. He announces to her not only her prosperity, but her sorrows… (Saint Gregory of Nyssa quoted by St Thomas Aquinas. Catena Aurea, Gospel of Saint Luke 2: 33-35)
