By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM
Part 5
(Editor’s Note: This is the fifth installment in a series by Wanderer contributor Raymond de Souza on Henry VIII’s book defending the seven sacraments against Martin Luther. De Souza edited this updated version of Henry’s work, which is presented to readers in this series.
(This series will appear on a regular basis, as space allows.)
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To The Reader
By Henry VIII
I do not rank myself among the most learned and eloquent. Yet, in order to avoid the fault of ingratitude and moved by fidelity and piety, I am obliged to defend my Mother, the Spouse of Christ. (1)
Would to God my ability to do it were equal to my good will!
Although the duty to defend the Church is incumbent upon the most learned — and this is a subject more copiously handled by others — I account it as much my own duty to oppose, with my utmost endeavours, the poisonous shafts of the enemy that fights against Her.
When no one assaulted the Church in the past, it was not necessary to resist. But the present state of things requires this of me at this point in time. (2)
Now the enemy, the most wicked enemy imaginable, is risen up: he spews out the poison of vipers against the Church and the Catholic Faith by the instigation of the devil, under pretext of charity and stimulated by anger and hatred.
It is necessary that every servant of Christ, of whatever age, gender, or order, should rise against this common enemy of the Christian Faith, so that those whose power does not avail anyone, may yet testify their good will by their good efforts. (3)
Therefore, it is now fitting that we arm ourselves with a twofold armour: one heavenly, and the other earthly.
A heavenly armour, so that he who by a feigned and dissembled charity destroys others and perishes himself may be gained by true charity.
Thus, being so gained, he may also gain others and be conquered by true Doctrine, since he fights by a false doctrine.
An earthly armour, so that if he is so obstinately malicious as to neglect holy Councils and despise God’s reproofs, he may be constrained by due punishments.
Thus, so that he who will not do good may stop doing mischief (Romans 13:3-4) and he that did harm by the word of malice may do good by the example of his punishments.
What plague so pernicious did ever invade the Flock of Christ?
What serpent so venomous has crept in, as the one who wrote the “Babylonian Captivity of the Church”?
It is he who:
Wrests Holy Scripture by his own sense, against the Sacraments of Christ;
Abolishes the ecclesiastical Rites and Ceremonies left by the Fathers;
Undervalues the holy and ancient Interpreters of Scripture, unless they concur with his sentiments;
Calls the most Holy See of Rome, “Babylon,” and the Pope’s authority, “tyranny”;
Regards the most wholesome Decrees of the Universal Church to be “Captivity”;
Turns the name of the most Holy Bishop of Rome, to that of “Antichrist”;
O, that detestable trumpeter of pride, calumnies, and schisms!
What kind of infernal wolf is he, who seeks to disperse the Flock of Christ (Matt. 7:15)?
What great a member of the Devil is he (John 8:44), who endeavours to tear the Christian members of Christ from their Head?
How infectious is his soul, who revives these detestable opinions and buried schisms, and adds new ones to the old?
He who, like Cerberus from hell, brings to light the heresies which ought to lie in eternal darkness?
He, who considers himself worthy to govern all things by his own word, opposes the judgments of all the Ancients?
Nay, also to ruin the Church of God! (4)
I do not know what to say of his malice, for I think neither tongue nor pen can express its enormity.
Wherefore, by the Name of Christ which we profess, I exhort, pray and beseech all Christians who are willing to look upon and read Luther’s works, especially the “Babylonian Captivity” — if he is its author — to do it cautiously, and very wisely.
Virgil said that he gathered gold out of the dross of Ennius; so Christians may likewise gather good things out of evil.
If anything pleases them, let them not be so absorbed by it so as to suck the poison with the honey, for it is better to be without both than to swallow both.
To prevent this danger, I wish the author may repent, be converted, and live (Ezech. 33:11).
In imitation of St. Augustine, whose Rule Luther professed, may he correct his books so filled with malice and revoke his errors.
If he refuses this and if Christian Princes do their duty, it will shortly come to pass that these errors may be burned in the fire and he himself, if he perseveres in them.
In the meanwhile, we thought it fit to expose to the readers some chief heads or chapters in the “Babylonian Captivity” which contain the most venom, whereby it will appear very clearly with what exulcerated mind he began this work, pretending the public good, but writing nothing but malicious inventions.
We need not seek any extraordinary testimonies to prove what we have said, for Luther, fearing that anyone should go up and down in search of such, uncovers himself and his mind of his own accord in his very beginning.
FOOTNOTES
1. [The Church] is called the “Bride of Christ” because the Lord Himself called Himself her “Spouse” (Mark 2:19). The Lord has loved the Church and has joined her to Himself in an everlasting covenant. He has given Himself up for her in order to purify her with His blood and “sanctify her” (Eph. 5:26), making her the fruitful mother of all the children of God. While the term “body” expresses the unity of the “head” with the members, the term “bride” emphasizes the distinction of the two in their personal relationship (Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 158).
2. The Christian faithful are those who, inasmuch as they have been incorporated in Christ through Baptism, have been constituted as the people of God; for this reason, since they have become sharers in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and royal office in their own manner, they are called to exercise the mission which God has entrusted to the Church. There exists a true equality among them in their dignity as children of God (Compendium, n. 177).
3. The laity participates in the prophetic office by welcoming evermore in faith the Word of Christ and proclaiming it to the world by the witness of their lives, their words, their evangelizing action, and by catechesis. This evangelizing action acquires a particular efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world (Compendium, n. 190).
4. The word Church refers to the people whom God calls and gathers together from every part of the earth. They form the assembly of those who through faith and Baptism have become children of God, members of Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit (Compendium, n. 147).
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Next article: Henry VIII refutes Luther on the issue of indulgences.
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The book is accompanied by two talks on CD: 1) The De-Christianization of the Western World and 2) The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It is available to Wanderer readers at $33.00 (shipping and handling free in the United States). Please make your check payable to: Sacred Heart Media, LLC and mail it to: P.O. Box 1144, Rochester, MN 55903.
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(Raymond de Souza KM is available to speak at Catholic events anywhere in the free world in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Please contact Chevalierdemalta@outlook.com or phone 507-450-4196.)
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