<![CDATA[The Catacombs - Sermons by Date]]> https://thecatacombs.org/ Sun, 17 May 2026 13:05:19 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko's 'famous' sermon at the 2012 'First Mass' of newly-ordained Fr. Reuter]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=4024 Wed, 27 Jul 2022 14:58:11 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=4024 Fr. Hewko's 'famous' sermon at the June 17, 2012 'First Mass' of newly-ordained Fr. Reuter in Winona 
that began Fr. Hewko's being censored and punished by the SSPX for repeating what Archbishop Lefebvre always taught.


]]> Fr. Hewko's 'famous' sermon at the June 17, 2012 'First Mass' of newly-ordained Fr. Reuter in Winona 
that began Fr. Hewko's being censored and punished by the SSPX for repeating what Archbishop Lefebvre always taught.


]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: Communism is Intrinsically Evil]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=682 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 12:32:36 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=682 Fr Hewko: First Sunday of Advent [November 29, 2020] "Communism is Intrinsically Evil" (Long Prairie, MN)

]]> Fr Hewko: First Sunday of Advent [November 29, 2020] "Communism is Intrinsically Evil" (Long Prairie, MN)

]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: Sedevacantism [2020]]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=451 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 22:41:47 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=451 'Abp. Marcel Lefebvre: A Resignationist? A Sedevacantist? Let Him Speak!'
An excellent sermon on the error of Sedevacantism - explaining and reminding how Archbishop Lefebvre always refused to usurp the authority of the Church's Magisterium by personally passing judgement on the Conciliar popes.



The 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia tells us the
Quote:"Magisterium is a teaching authority; it not only presents the truth, but it has the right to impose it, since its power is the very power given by God to Christ and by Christ to His Church. This authority is called the teaching Church. The teaching Church is essentially composed of the episcopal body, which continues here below the work and mission of the Apostolic College. ... At the head of this episcopal body is the supreme authority of the Roman pontiff, the successor of St. Peter in his primacy as he is his successor in his see."

This is why no "lay armchair theologian" nor "Father X,Y, or Z" can make declarations on who is Pope and who is not. This is one of the fundamental errors with the sedevacantist theories, including the resignationist theory.

Archbishop Lefebvre allowed for the possibility that one day these popes may be declared not to have been popes or that their teachings may very well be reversed, their new Rites reversed, etc. but he always reminded us that it is up to the Church's Magisterium to make these pronouncements. Not even he - an Archbishop of the Church - with certainly more authority than any one of us, refrained from making such declarations. Sedevacantism begins in anarchy and ends in anarchy.

God bless Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre for always thinking and acting as the Church thinks and acts! Let us imitate his prudent and humble example and beg Our Lord and Our Lady to guide us through these treacherous days, where 'even the elect may be deceived'!
Quote:When Pope Honorius was condemned, he was condemned as Pope. And yet, the Council of Constantinople – I believe it was Pope Leo II, although I’m not sure - condemned Pope Honorius for favoring heresy.

He didn’t say “he favored heresy, so he was no longer the Pope.” No. And neither did he say "since he was the pope, you had to obey him and accept what he said.” No, because he condemned him! So what did [Catholics] have to do then? Well, one had to admit that Pope Honorius was the Pope, but one did not have to follow him because he favoured heresy! Isn't that the conclusion then? That seems to me the normal conclusion. Well, we're in that situation. One day these popes will be condemned by their successors. One day the truth will return. (Archbishop Lefebvre, Conference on Sedevacantism and Liberalism, Econe, 1984)


+ + +

Most of us know that the prudence of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was such, that in these times of terrible assaults against the Faith, he never took upon himself an authority he did not have.

He strongly condemned the errors and heresies spawned in Vatican II by his words and actions. He did this by his words in giving sermon after sermon, conference after conference, and writing book after book, explaining how these errors rose up against the teachings of the true Catholic Church. He did this also by his actions when he erected the SSPX as a structure to counter those Conciliar errors, and the "reforms" that issued from them, to help ensure the perpetuance of the traditional Priesthood from which a flood of graces would flow.

But he did not claim the pope was not the pope. He simply said 'it is not for me to decide, the Church must decide.' This position is one that took great courage and even greater humility. Many souls are tempted to want to solve the problems afflicting us now. They do not want to practice the patience required in waiting for the Church to eventually condemn these evil popes. Instead, they rather usurp an authority they do not have and themselves declare this one is not a pope for this reason or that one is not a pope for another reason. This is anarchy disguised as piety, an angel of darkness masquerading as an angel of light.

One of the greatest and most eloquent rebuttals to the sedevacantist error comes from Our Lady Herself. For even Our Lady of Fatima recognizes and "waits" for the Church's Magisterium!

At Fatima She requested the solemn public Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart by the Pope and all the Catholic bishops of the world. The Pope in union with bishops of the world isthe Church's Magisterium!

[If Our Lady is 'forced' to wait for the Consecration of Russia until that time when there is a good Pope on the Throne of St. Peter, can we do any less? Are our individual needs and desires for a resolution to this Conciliar mess more important than Our Lady's request for the Consecration of Russia? Have we not been taught from our earliest days to imitate Her in Her virtues, particularly Her humility, which was so pleasing to the Blessed Trinity?

Dear friends, we are all struggling to hold onto 'the Faith of our Fathers, our Holy Faith.' Let us do so by fervently uniting ourselves to Our Lady and imitating Her sweet virtue of humility. It is this humility that Archbishop Lefebvre imitated and with it for his guide, he continues to guide us now. May we all be found faithful - clinging to the true Church, in Her true teachings, Her true Traditions,  Her true Sacraments, and Her true Holy Mass. - from the Archived Catacombs]]> 'Abp. Marcel Lefebvre: A Resignationist? A Sedevacantist? Let Him Speak!'
An excellent sermon on the error of Sedevacantism - explaining and reminding how Archbishop Lefebvre always refused to usurp the authority of the Church's Magisterium by personally passing judgement on the Conciliar popes.



The 1917 Catholic Encyclopedia tells us the
Quote:"Magisterium is a teaching authority; it not only presents the truth, but it has the right to impose it, since its power is the very power given by God to Christ and by Christ to His Church. This authority is called the teaching Church. The teaching Church is essentially composed of the episcopal body, which continues here below the work and mission of the Apostolic College. ... At the head of this episcopal body is the supreme authority of the Roman pontiff, the successor of St. Peter in his primacy as he is his successor in his see."

This is why no "lay armchair theologian" nor "Father X,Y, or Z" can make declarations on who is Pope and who is not. This is one of the fundamental errors with the sedevacantist theories, including the resignationist theory.

Archbishop Lefebvre allowed for the possibility that one day these popes may be declared not to have been popes or that their teachings may very well be reversed, their new Rites reversed, etc. but he always reminded us that it is up to the Church's Magisterium to make these pronouncements. Not even he - an Archbishop of the Church - with certainly more authority than any one of us, refrained from making such declarations. Sedevacantism begins in anarchy and ends in anarchy.

God bless Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre for always thinking and acting as the Church thinks and acts! Let us imitate his prudent and humble example and beg Our Lord and Our Lady to guide us through these treacherous days, where 'even the elect may be deceived'!
Quote:When Pope Honorius was condemned, he was condemned as Pope. And yet, the Council of Constantinople – I believe it was Pope Leo II, although I’m not sure - condemned Pope Honorius for favoring heresy.

He didn’t say “he favored heresy, so he was no longer the Pope.” No. And neither did he say "since he was the pope, you had to obey him and accept what he said.” No, because he condemned him! So what did [Catholics] have to do then? Well, one had to admit that Pope Honorius was the Pope, but one did not have to follow him because he favoured heresy! Isn't that the conclusion then? That seems to me the normal conclusion. Well, we're in that situation. One day these popes will be condemned by their successors. One day the truth will return. (Archbishop Lefebvre, Conference on Sedevacantism and Liberalism, Econe, 1984)


+ + +

Most of us know that the prudence of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was such, that in these times of terrible assaults against the Faith, he never took upon himself an authority he did not have.

He strongly condemned the errors and heresies spawned in Vatican II by his words and actions. He did this by his words in giving sermon after sermon, conference after conference, and writing book after book, explaining how these errors rose up against the teachings of the true Catholic Church. He did this also by his actions when he erected the SSPX as a structure to counter those Conciliar errors, and the "reforms" that issued from them, to help ensure the perpetuance of the traditional Priesthood from which a flood of graces would flow.

But he did not claim the pope was not the pope. He simply said 'it is not for me to decide, the Church must decide.' This position is one that took great courage and even greater humility. Many souls are tempted to want to solve the problems afflicting us now. They do not want to practice the patience required in waiting for the Church to eventually condemn these evil popes. Instead, they rather usurp an authority they do not have and themselves declare this one is not a pope for this reason or that one is not a pope for another reason. This is anarchy disguised as piety, an angel of darkness masquerading as an angel of light.

One of the greatest and most eloquent rebuttals to the sedevacantist error comes from Our Lady Herself. For even Our Lady of Fatima recognizes and "waits" for the Church's Magisterium!

At Fatima She requested the solemn public Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart by the Pope and all the Catholic bishops of the world. The Pope in union with bishops of the world isthe Church's Magisterium!

[If Our Lady is 'forced' to wait for the Consecration of Russia until that time when there is a good Pope on the Throne of St. Peter, can we do any less? Are our individual needs and desires for a resolution to this Conciliar mess more important than Our Lady's request for the Consecration of Russia? Have we not been taught from our earliest days to imitate Her in Her virtues, particularly Her humility, which was so pleasing to the Blessed Trinity?

Dear friends, we are all struggling to hold onto 'the Faith of our Fathers, our Holy Faith.' Let us do so by fervently uniting ourselves to Our Lady and imitating Her sweet virtue of humility. It is this humility that Archbishop Lefebvre imitated and with it for his guide, he continues to guide us now. May we all be found faithful - clinging to the true Church, in Her true teachings, Her true Traditions,  Her true Sacraments, and Her true Holy Mass. - from the Archived Catacombs]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: On St. Frances of Rome's Visions of Hell]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=446 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 21:33:54 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=446 Fr. Hewko: On St. Frances of Rome's Visions of Hell [Feast of St. Timothy - January 24, 2020]

]]> Fr. Hewko: On St. Frances of Rome's Visions of Hell [Feast of St. Timothy - January 24, 2020]

]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: On the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Virtuous Antidotes]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=445 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 21:30:00 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=445 Sermon of  the Fourth Week of Advent [2019] - On the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Virtuous Antidotes

]]> Sermon of  the Fourth Week of Advent [2019] - On the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Virtuous Antidotes

]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: In Defense of Infant Baptism]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=444 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 21:27:41 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=444 "In Defense of Infant Baptism" - Ember Friday in Advent [December 20, 2019] - in Massachusetts
]]> "In Defense of Infant Baptism" - Ember Friday in Advent [December 20, 2019] - in Massachusetts
]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: 'The Grandeur of the Ceremonies of the New Testament!']]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=443 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 21:24:40 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=443 Fr. Hewko's "The Grandeur of the Ceremonies of the New Testament!" is a powerful reminder of how the Priesthood and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass were both foreshadowed in the Old Testament and how they were both brought to their perfection in the New Testament. [2019]
]]> Fr. Hewko's "The Grandeur of the Ceremonies of the New Testament!" is a powerful reminder of how the Priesthood and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass were both foreshadowed in the Old Testament and how they were both brought to their perfection in the New Testament. [2019]
]]> <![CDATA[Sermons/Meditations on the Fifteen Decades of the Holy Rosary]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=431 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 18:38:31 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=431 First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation [October 25, 2019]


Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation [October 28, 2019]



Third Joyful Mystery: The Nativity [October 29, 2019]




Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation [November 5, 2019]




Fifth Joyful Mystery: Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple [November 7, 2019]

]]> First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation [October 25, 2019]


Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation [October 28, 2019]



Third Joyful Mystery: The Nativity [October 29, 2019]




Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation [November 5, 2019]




Fifth Joyful Mystery: Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple [November 7, 2019]

]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: 2020 Sermons on the Catholic Martyrs of England]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=429 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 18:23:41 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=429 "England was Catholic!"
See also: Elizabethan Catholics and the Mass - The Angelus - December 1982


"The Battle Lines are Drawn!"


"A Hunted Priest, St. Edmund Campion"
See also: St. Edmund Campion - Champion against Error


"St. Cuthbert Mayne, Priest & Martyr"


 "Benedictine Abbot, St. Richard Whiting, Martyr in 1539 A.D."


"Underground Priests, Fr Henry Garnet, S.J."


"St. Edmund Arrowsmith, Priest & Martyr"


"St. John Houghton Offers His Heart!"


"St. Robert Southwell, Priest, Poet & Martyr"
See also: What's New? Robert Southwell teaches us how to survive by Solange Strong Hertz
Saint Robert Southwell - The Angelus January 1979


 "Three Saintly Heroines, English Martyrs!"


"Bl. Richard Thirkeld"


"Blessed John Kemble, Priest & Martyr 1679 A.D."


"St. David Lewis" (Wales)
]]> "England was Catholic!"
See also: Elizabethan Catholics and the Mass - The Angelus - December 1982


"The Battle Lines are Drawn!"


"A Hunted Priest, St. Edmund Campion"
See also: St. Edmund Campion - Champion against Error


"St. Cuthbert Mayne, Priest & Martyr"


 "Benedictine Abbot, St. Richard Whiting, Martyr in 1539 A.D."


"Underground Priests, Fr Henry Garnet, S.J."


"St. Edmund Arrowsmith, Priest & Martyr"


"St. John Houghton Offers His Heart!"


"St. Robert Southwell, Priest, Poet & Martyr"
See also: What's New? Robert Southwell teaches us how to survive by Solange Strong Hertz
Saint Robert Southwell - The Angelus January 1979


 "Three Saintly Heroines, English Martyrs!"


"Bl. Richard Thirkeld"


"Blessed John Kemble, Priest & Martyr 1679 A.D."


"St. David Lewis" (Wales)
]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: 2020 Sermon on St. Anthony of Padua's 'Ten Degrees of Humility']]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=428 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 18:04:50 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=428 ]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: 2020 Sermons on Communism]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=426 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 17:59:47 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=426 A Small Collection of Sermons about the Dangers of Communism

Some Facts About Communism - May 10, 2020



Communism: Many Masks, Same Beast - May 19, 2020



Communism, Full Force! - June 28, 2020
]]> A Small Collection of Sermons about the Dangers of Communism

Some Facts About Communism - May 10, 2020



Communism: Many Masks, Same Beast - May 19, 2020



Communism, Full Force! - June 28, 2020
]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: 2020 A Short History of the SSPX]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=425 Sat, 12 Dec 2020 17:51:26 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=425 ]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: 2018 To Love the Truth Means You're Going to Fight for It.]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=402 Fri, 11 Dec 2020 14:41:43 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=402 ]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: 2019 'How Do I Meditate']]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=401 Fri, 11 Dec 2020 14:36:26 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=401 ]]> ]]> <![CDATA[Fr. Hewko: 2017 Fr. Hewko - The French Revolution and the Juring Priests]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=398 Fri, 11 Dec 2020 12:46:36 +0000 Stone]]> https://thecatacombs.org/showthread.php?tid=398
Fr. Hewko makes several important points in this excellent sermon:

He starts out by talking about the Vendée, he notes that there were three main tactics against the Vendée that were implemented when massacring and fighting them in the field were not successful.

The first was that they attempted to use their own priests against them. They convinced a few compromising priests to sign an oath to the Masonic French government. They then sent these 'juring' priests back to the Vendée– to preach peace to the Vendée people and get them to lay down their arms. But these good people would not receive these priests and would not attend their Masses. In our times, these were the Fraternity of St. Peter. They were sent to confuse and pull away souls from the SSPX. They would say the same Latin Mass, wear the same vestments, but they were wolves in sheep's clothing as they were infected with a modernist Conciliar Church spirit.

When this first tactic was not successful, the second tactic implemented was the Masonic government itself attempted to strike a peace agreement with the Vendée Catholics. This is similar to the Conciliar Church making overtures to the SSPX to get them to become regularized and stop fighting for Tradition.

The third tactic was to take out the leadership of the Vendée. They did this by making a massive manhunt for the last Vendée general, General Charette. With a wide swath of soldiers, they hunted and eventually caught General Charette and eventually executed him. This is the Conciliar Church trying to get the last of the Resistors. (Those priests and faithful who saw through the charade and speak out against it. - Any thoughts who these could be?)

[...]

I am pleased to hear him explain the details, to reveal the similar maneuvering now in Catholic tradition.

Just as U.S. American history school books and movies leave out the truth and important facts concerning the involvement of Freemasonry, so too in France, Spain, Mexico and no doubt other countries do too.

A 70 plus yr. old Novis Ordo Catholic neighbor who was born, raised, and educated in France was surprised when she recently read some books on the Vendée to learn about the uprising of the Catholics there. Her sister who still lives in the Vendée region wasn't aware of this part of their history. She knew when she read it, that it was true. She purchased more of the books to have her family read them to know the truth. Her grandson is a history teacher and he also wanted the same books as he told her he never read about the Vendée uprising in all his years of history study.

Unless people know history, they find it had to believe when it's happening right in front of them. However even if they do know the history, when they are attached to personalities of some people involved they can refuse to believe it.

Archbishop Lefebvre wrote of the parallel between the crisis in the Church and the French Revolution noting that it is not simply a metaphorical one, but because they do not see blood flowing, many do not believe.]]>
Fr. Hewko makes several important points in this excellent sermon:

He starts out by talking about the Vendée, he notes that there were three main tactics against the Vendée that were implemented when massacring and fighting them in the field were not successful.

The first was that they attempted to use their own priests against them. They convinced a few compromising priests to sign an oath to the Masonic French government. They then sent these 'juring' priests back to the Vendée– to preach peace to the Vendée people and get them to lay down their arms. But these good people would not receive these priests and would not attend their Masses. In our times, these were the Fraternity of St. Peter. They were sent to confuse and pull away souls from the SSPX. They would say the same Latin Mass, wear the same vestments, but they were wolves in sheep's clothing as they were infected with a modernist Conciliar Church spirit.

When this first tactic was not successful, the second tactic implemented was the Masonic government itself attempted to strike a peace agreement with the Vendée Catholics. This is similar to the Conciliar Church making overtures to the SSPX to get them to become regularized and stop fighting for Tradition.

The third tactic was to take out the leadership of the Vendée. They did this by making a massive manhunt for the last Vendée general, General Charette. With a wide swath of soldiers, they hunted and eventually caught General Charette and eventually executed him. This is the Conciliar Church trying to get the last of the Resistors. (Those priests and faithful who saw through the charade and speak out against it. - Any thoughts who these could be?)

[...]

I am pleased to hear him explain the details, to reveal the similar maneuvering now in Catholic tradition.

Just as U.S. American history school books and movies leave out the truth and important facts concerning the involvement of Freemasonry, so too in France, Spain, Mexico and no doubt other countries do too.

A 70 plus yr. old Novis Ordo Catholic neighbor who was born, raised, and educated in France was surprised when she recently read some books on the Vendée to learn about the uprising of the Catholics there. Her sister who still lives in the Vendée region wasn't aware of this part of their history. She knew when she read it, that it was true. She purchased more of the books to have her family read them to know the truth. Her grandson is a history teacher and he also wanted the same books as he told her he never read about the Vendée uprising in all his years of history study.

Unless people know history, they find it had to believe when it's happening right in front of them. However even if they do know the history, when they are attached to personalities of some people involved they can refuse to believe it.

Archbishop Lefebvre wrote of the parallel between the crisis in the Church and the French Revolution noting that it is not simply a metaphorical one, but because they do not see blood flowing, many do not believe.]]>