Our Lord, Jesus Christ, says that he will not leave us orphans. The Holy Family has great compassion on the fatherless, and will grant many supernatural graces to those who come under obedience to Christ, especially with the intercession of the Blessed Mother.
Many things this priest says here I have already considered and wondered about, but knew that so many people would not accept them. This is true what this loyal priest says about fantasy and neo-Gnosticism/modernism.
Wow!!! My mind is blown with this homily, I actually started crying after hearing it! I never considered gnosticism being fatherless but it's so true and it makes so much sense today especially with all the chaos going on. Thank you so much for posting this and God bless the priest, I will pray for him for sure.
Lux Sit said it all - I bailed ats the 10 minute mark when the great works of JRR Tolkien and the enjoyable CS Lewis books were deemed to '...we should destroy them.." Good bye!
Fatherless, Godless. Thank you so much for the informative video clip. God bless you. Praise be to God creator of Heaven and Earth..... creator of the visible and invisible. #Abba #Father #OrthodoxCatholic #CatholicPrivilege I love my Catholic Privilege. Thank God Almighty for our Catholic Privilege. 🙏🙏👼😇❤️❤️💙💙🔥🔥🔥🇭🇳🇺🇸
With all due respect, I wouldn't take the word of a gnostic reviewer (Harold Bloom) that lumps Tolkien and C.S. Lewis into gnostic fantasy. Of course an unbeliever, gnostic or atheist will see what they want in a literary work, art, commentary, concept or history. That is the nature of a flawed belief system - it creates a flawed perspective. However, contrary to Bloom's classification, each of those writers' works have led many people to seek Christianity and the Church. Yes, other fantasy writers are clearly gnostic, atheist, or even satanic. But the difference is night and day for anyone who has read many different fantasy fiction authors, along side Tolkien and Lewis. LOTR and Lewis' Narnia series are literally polar opposites of the rest of the field. The books are of course, far better representations than the popular films. I stopped reading most other fantasy authors after becoming Catholic for exactly the reason presumed in this homily - I could see the anti-Catholic influences, though not all are gnostic. There are many other belief systems that infect fantasy. Though lest we single out one genre, Godless escapism is even more apparent in science fiction and secular fiction. But after becoming Catholic, Tolkien and C.S. Lews, especially Narnia, took on a much deeper meaning in how both writers pointed to the unseen spiritual battle, God's infinite and undefeatable grace, salvation, faith that God will triumph in the end, and the glory of heaven. Also, physics (quantum, astrophysics, cosmology) does have its clear atheistic influence, and some of that tends towards gnosticism; but ironically, physics is frequently avoiding a reality it is uncovering piece by piece - that there can only be one answer: God is the creator of all and the origin of the universe. The "big bang" has no catalyst without God. Matter, energy and time have no absolutes without God; and that is reflected in assumptions made by astro- and quantum physicists, even if some are flawed. Yes, there are many signs of faithlessness, but there are also signs that God is speaking clearly to humanity to repent and believe, even through the most faithless. But all too many are spending every ounce of energy to avoid the obvious conclusion. The warning against neo-gnostic influences is of course very wise and necessary, especially in these dangerous times. But our faith should be informed, believed and lived to an extent that we can, by the grace of God, spot and avoid the deceptions, temptations and distractions without casting all of literature, art and culture out the proverbial stain glass window. Most, maybe, but certainly not all.
Since all this writing - be it fantasy, science or other is British/English in origin you don't have to look far for the influence of English Protestantism (historical haters of Roman Catholicism) for the errors. Once you look for it, you see it everywhere. As the British Empire and then the American Empire are the perpetrators of the growing dominance of the English language worldwide, the English mindset is dominating both thought and industry. The inherent diversion from the teaching of the One True Church wends its way throughout its Christianity and its Atheism. Love your comment. There's a danger in fervent religiosity to educate away from errors of thought instead of teaching the faithful how to spot, discern and understand the errors when confronted with them. Then again, that's not the interest or gift of billions of people. Therefore the banning of bad influences by the Church. A good Catholic education as we had years ago was invaluable in this area!
I think you would agree thought that the constant superhero movies are turning really repetitive. I think it really started with Star wars, you see how the father (Darth Vader) is the enemy. Starwars is also immersed in a dualism (the force). These ideas were influenced by Joseph Campbell's research in comparative religions. I read some Campbell in high school, he in turn was influenced by the Gnosticism of Carl Jung. These ideas have been rehashed in recent years by Jordan Peterson.
Most excellent sermon Father - you really excel on these topics! And we sense the presence of the Holy Spirit fire within you! :) We THANK GOD for true priests such as yourself. I only wish Father had gone 1 step further when saying quit playing footsy with neo-gnosticism, as quit playing footsy with the DEVIL THROUGH neo-gnosticism. I believe it was inferred, but some people, especially with the rigor everyone's under, just can't get take in the details unless they're spelled out. Also - as you bring it up Father - if YOU are asked to be Bishop - PLEASE... for all our sakes - ACCEPT (!) and reign down fire & brimstone as needed, as the Father's of Mercy do, or however God instructs you. Please, please, please. Someone has to help the few standing GOOD bishops fight the evildoing bishops. Praying for you all daily. May God bless you abundantly again & again.
Bilbo, although not biologically, is clearly a father in the literal sense of the word to Frodo. A gnostic misreading does not trump the clear Catholicity of Tolkien and the deep Christianity of Lewis.
May the Lord have mercy on the fatherless and the widow; for "God, himself, is the father of the fatherless and husband of the widow...". Fatherless children are not father-haters. Men who abandon children are the fatherhood haters. Blaming the victims is very common-place within the Church, but is never appropriate, as Isaiah pointed out. "Woe into him who perverteth the judgement of the fatherless & the widow..."(Isaiah). Men are no longer fatherly: They are not fit for marriage & pro-creation. They are as, anathema. They are not hated without cause. Oh Lord, restore our society, today.
Idk, in this week the pope said St Paul was too rigid, endorsed Fr Martin, and moved to suppress the TLM. Seeing how the church has been so thoroughly subverted, I'm struggling to keep the faith.
In humility and reverence... I find it confusing that the talk on gnosticism verges on Jansenism! Holiness is in the mean of everything good. Demons love extremes to detract from God's good. Some of the best orthodox conversations on the Faith were spurred by analysing Tolkien and Lewis. If anything, they are parables that reflect Truth. Should I stop reading thumballina, aesops, brothers Grimm to my children? How about wind in the willows? Are Chestertons mysteries off limits because they dont interject scripture? Ancient mythology and the classics? What exactly CAN we read? No. Sorry. I completely agree fantasy, like alcohol or tobacco etc needs to be discerned and moderated, but I think it is a dangerous proposition to start blacklisting Tolkien as neo gnostic or modernist. I'll take St Phillip Neri over Girolamo Savonarola.
Those who have known the Truth of our Faith, wont be affected by such reading (nor they care to read it, as St. Paul said) but those who are yet to sufficiently know of our Faith (or assured of salvation) gets easily distracted by such readings. (ex: the modern spiritual thinking of all religions leads to same God etc). Most of the professed Catholics are not fully convinced about the whole creed, that is why we often flirt with the spirits of the world, which are too many and controlling ALL who are are not saints, Chesterton included. BTW, Chesterton has been highly regarded in various sermons in this channel.
@@mathewjoseph5987 understood. Agree on all fronts. However, that is not how this priest, who I greatly respect, btw, articulated this. He clearly says Tolkien and Lewis are neo gnosticm. I refute that no, they are not. Alcohol and a cigar can be a dangerous slope for some and perfectly fine for those who can practice moderation. I think that's my point: For those of a temperate orthodox constitution, fantasy can be nothing more than an occasional glass of wine. For those with no grounding or sound parental guidance ,it can be a dangerous form of escape.
I’m not going to turn away from this particular Father because he says we should destroy all Fantasy. He didn’t even mention the Arthurian Legends, Robin Hood, or The Canterbury Tales which are Fantasy based in their own right with their tropes distinctly Christian in origin. Even if the Gnostics and Neognostics use such things in their own works, they would be using Christian symbolism first of all which means you can discern what is true versus what is false.
I’ve this said before. Idk about cs Lewis. My one problem is the assertion that Tolkien was gnostic. I’ve read the trilogy and found it be perfectly Christian. Gandalf was magic because he represented an angel. Not unlike the work of Gods angels or the saints.
If you think I’m burning my leather bound, Lord of the Rings trilogy in one volume, written by a Catholic, because of the writings of some Gnostic, you are insane, utterly ridiculous.
Father isn’t talking about Tolkien. He’s talking about all the horrible fantasy literature that followed Tolkien, and he’s right. Most fantasy literature has NOTHING to do with the genre of literature Tolkien wrote in. Tolkien and Lewis cannot be categorized with what people nowadays call “fantasy” literature. Game of Thrones is no The Hobbit...
@@supergene256 - I agree. Looking at the sci-fi/fantasy of Heinlen, Assimov, Clarke and others (of which I read widely) the assertion of gnosticism (and atheism) is most definitely true. Tolkien and Lewis were writing on a much different plane, which they both describe in their letters, et cetera. Quinn apparently (though I have not read anything by him) fails to discriminate between the forms. I suppose reading some Quinn is something to which I must attend.
@@michaelibach9063 - I agree with your reference, but do not accept that it was a condemnation of either. I took it as more an example of carrying the concept to the extreme. Look at either authors works and you shall find serious reverence towards fatherhood; whilst the other-worldly characters, invariably evoke other creatures created by the FATHER, though it remains unsaid in a direct sense.
What he is saying here about all concerns being worldly is so true. If one looks around in the Catholic Church, from its high level prelates in the Vatican to your local parish council, all of their concerns are about this world. The knowledge of God and the salvation of souls don't exist for them. Tolkien was not a gnostic. I learned a lot about how to apply the Catholic Faith to my life in this world from the Lord of the Rings. There is a difference between the Lord of the Rings and something like Harry Potter. The Lord of the Rings is clearly a fictional world that, though it resembles this world, is clearly not this world. But Harry Potter and that genre mix fantasy with the real world. These works very much confuse the mind and make everything very self involved. The Lord of the Rings is not that way.
@@newt1834 Are you the priest who gave this homily? Because there were certainly a few negative mentions of it in there. In any case the Lord of the Rings, like any good thing in this world, has its limits and should not be taken beyond them. Our Lord Himself used fictional stories to make some of his best points. He knows what we need and we need songs and stories, even non divinely inspired ones sometimes, to lift us out of ourselves from time to time. Man does not live Saint Thomas Aquinas and Scholastic philosophy alone.
@@brianmurphy9570 The world of the Lord of the Rings is the world of Christendom that has been lost through distrust, division, self centeredness, and treachery which is why there is so much sadness in it. It is a mirror of our world dressed up in fantasy clothes.
Ummmmm why can't the father point to the father. I'm Catholic and I get we should honor Mary but it's beyond confusing how much she is talked about and relied upon. God is not the author of confusion and this makes me suspicious. Didn't Jesus teach us to say when we pray our father who art in heaven? Again I know we are asking Mary to pray for us but again seems like it's wayyyy to much for me.
culturewars.com/podcasts/logos-rising-tolkiens-failed-quest. Here is an in depth examination of the problem with Tolkien. I do not think that fantasy is bad though in moderation. The problem is when fantasy is used to construct identity aka LARPing.
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, says that he will not leave us orphans. The Holy Family has great compassion on the fatherless, and will grant many supernatural graces to those who come under obedience to Christ, especially with the intercession of the Blessed Mother.
Thank you,God Bless You
AMEN AND AMÉN 🙏🙏👼😇❤️❤️💙💙
Ark of the new covenant pray for us 😇😇😇
Amen...I’m going to hug my Dad tomorrow. He is 82 and has Parkinson’s. Please pray for us
PLEASE GOD AND OUR LADY OF FATIMA CLAIM YOUR VICTORY SOON AND PROTECT US FROM OUR ENEMIES
❤🌹🕊
Many things this priest says here I have already considered and wondered about, but knew that so many people would not accept them. This is true what this loyal priest says about fantasy and neo-Gnosticism/modernism.
Wow!!! My mind is blown with this homily, I actually started crying after hearing it! I never considered gnosticism being fatherless but it's so true and it makes so much sense today especially with all the chaos going on. Thank you so much for posting this and God bless the priest, I will pray for him for sure.
Excellent God bless you father!
I love J.R.R Tolkien. A true story teller. And a catholic hero.
Lux Sit said it all - I bailed ats the 10 minute mark when the great works of JRR Tolkien and the enjoyable CS Lewis books were deemed to '...we should destroy them.." Good bye!
Fatherless, Godless. Thank you so much for the informative video clip. God bless you. Praise be to God creator of Heaven and Earth..... creator of the visible and invisible. #Abba #Father #OrthodoxCatholic #CatholicPrivilege I love my Catholic Privilege. Thank God Almighty for our Catholic Privilege. 🙏🙏👼😇❤️❤️💙💙🔥🔥🔥🇭🇳🇺🇸
With all due respect, I wouldn't take the word of a gnostic reviewer (Harold Bloom) that lumps Tolkien and C.S. Lewis into gnostic fantasy. Of course an unbeliever, gnostic or atheist will see what they want in a literary work, art, commentary, concept or history. That is the nature of a flawed belief system - it creates a flawed perspective. However, contrary to Bloom's classification, each of those writers' works have led many people to seek Christianity and the Church. Yes, other fantasy writers are clearly gnostic, atheist, or even satanic. But the difference is night and day for anyone who has read many different fantasy fiction authors, along side Tolkien and Lewis. LOTR and Lewis' Narnia series are literally polar opposites of the rest of the field. The books are of course, far better representations than the popular films.
I stopped reading most other fantasy authors after becoming Catholic for exactly the reason presumed in this homily - I could see the anti-Catholic influences, though not all are gnostic. There are many other belief systems that infect fantasy. Though lest we single out one genre, Godless escapism is even more apparent in science fiction and secular fiction. But after becoming Catholic, Tolkien and C.S. Lews, especially Narnia, took on a much deeper meaning in how both writers pointed to the unseen spiritual battle, God's infinite and undefeatable grace, salvation, faith that God will triumph in the end, and the glory of heaven.
Also, physics (quantum, astrophysics, cosmology) does have its clear atheistic influence, and some of that tends towards gnosticism; but ironically, physics is frequently avoiding a reality it is uncovering piece by piece - that there can only be one answer: God is the creator of all and the origin of the universe. The "big bang" has no catalyst without God. Matter, energy and time have no absolutes without God; and that is reflected in assumptions made by astro- and quantum physicists, even if some are flawed. Yes, there are many signs of faithlessness, but there are also signs that God is speaking clearly to humanity to repent and believe, even through the most faithless. But all too many are spending every ounce of energy to avoid the obvious conclusion.
The warning against neo-gnostic influences is of course very wise and necessary, especially in these dangerous times. But our faith should be informed, believed and lived to an extent that we can, by the grace of God, spot and avoid the deceptions, temptations and distractions without casting all of literature, art and culture out the proverbial stain glass window. Most, maybe, but certainly not all.
Agree, especially what you said about Science.
🎯 *Astute*
May God bless your studies.
Since all this writing - be it fantasy, science or other is British/English in origin you don't have to look far for the influence of
English Protestantism (historical haters of Roman Catholicism) for the errors.
Once you look for it, you see it everywhere.
As the British Empire and then the American Empire are the perpetrators of the growing dominance of the English language worldwide, the English mindset is dominating both thought and industry. The inherent diversion from the teaching of the One True Church wends its way throughout its Christianity and its Atheism.
Love your comment. There's a danger in fervent religiosity to educate away from errors of thought instead of teaching the faithful how to spot, discern and understand the errors when confronted with them. Then again, that's not the interest or gift of billions of people. Therefore the banning of bad influences by the Church.
A good Catholic education as we had years ago was invaluable in this area!
Very nice thank you.
I think you would agree thought that the constant superhero movies are turning really repetitive. I think it really started with Star wars, you see how the father (Darth Vader) is the enemy. Starwars is also immersed in a dualism (the force). These ideas were influenced by Joseph Campbell's research in comparative religions. I read some Campbell in high school, he in turn was influenced by the Gnosticism of Carl Jung. These ideas have been rehashed in recent years by Jordan Peterson.
EXCELLENT teaching, very enlightening.
Most excellent sermon Father - you really excel on these topics! And we sense the presence of the Holy Spirit fire within you! :) We THANK GOD for true priests such as yourself. I only wish Father had gone 1 step further when saying quit playing footsy with neo-gnosticism, as quit playing footsy with the DEVIL THROUGH neo-gnosticism. I believe it was inferred, but some people, especially with the rigor everyone's under, just can't get take in the details unless they're spelled out. Also - as you bring it up Father - if YOU are asked to be Bishop - PLEASE... for all our sakes - ACCEPT (!) and reign down fire & brimstone as needed, as the Father's of Mercy do, or however God instructs you. Please, please, please. Someone has to help the few standing GOOD bishops fight the evildoing bishops. Praying for you all daily. May God bless you abundantly again & again.
Mother of our surrogate pray for us
Bilbo, although not biologically, is clearly a father in the literal sense of the word to Frodo. A gnostic misreading does not trump the clear Catholicity of Tolkien and the deep Christianity of Lewis.
Except he's more of a peterpan than a father figure
May the Lord have mercy on the fatherless and the widow; for "God, himself, is the father of the fatherless and husband of the widow...". Fatherless children are not father-haters. Men who abandon children are the fatherhood haters. Blaming the victims is very common-place within the Church, but is never appropriate, as Isaiah pointed out. "Woe into him who perverteth the judgement of the fatherless & the widow..."(Isaiah). Men are no longer fatherly: They are not fit for marriage & pro-creation. They are as, anathema. They are not hated without cause. Oh Lord, restore our society, today.
Thank you Father💜💜🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸
Idk, in this week the pope said St Paul was too rigid, endorsed Fr Martin, and moved to suppress the TLM. Seeing how the church has been so thoroughly subverted, I'm struggling to keep the faith.
In humility and reverence... I find it confusing that the talk on gnosticism verges on Jansenism! Holiness is in the mean of everything good. Demons love extremes to detract from God's good. Some of the best orthodox conversations on the Faith were spurred by analysing Tolkien and Lewis. If anything, they are parables that reflect Truth. Should I stop reading thumballina, aesops, brothers Grimm to my children? How about wind in the willows? Are Chestertons mysteries off limits because they dont interject scripture? Ancient mythology and the classics? What exactly CAN we read? No. Sorry. I completely agree fantasy, like alcohol or tobacco etc needs to be discerned and moderated, but I think it is a dangerous proposition to start blacklisting Tolkien as neo gnostic or modernist. I'll take St Phillip Neri over Girolamo Savonarola.
Those who have known the Truth of our Faith, wont be affected by such reading (nor they care to read it, as St. Paul said) but those who are yet to sufficiently know of our Faith (or assured of salvation) gets easily distracted by such readings. (ex: the modern spiritual thinking of all religions leads to same God etc). Most of the professed Catholics are not fully convinced about the whole creed, that is why we often flirt with the spirits of the world, which are too many and controlling ALL who are are not saints, Chesterton included. BTW, Chesterton has been highly regarded in various sermons in this channel.
@@mathewjoseph5987 understood. Agree on all fronts. However, that is not how this priest, who I greatly respect, btw, articulated this. He clearly says Tolkien and Lewis are neo gnosticm. I refute that no, they are not. Alcohol and a cigar can be a dangerous slope for some and perfectly fine for those who can practice moderation. I think that's my point: For those of a temperate orthodox constitution, fantasy can be nothing more than an occasional glass of wine. For those with no grounding or sound parental guidance ,it can be a dangerous form of escape.
Could have. Not. Been said better
This priest had his faculties taken away by his new mod bishop.
I’m not going to turn away from this particular Father because he says we should destroy all Fantasy. He didn’t even mention the Arthurian Legends, Robin Hood, or The Canterbury Tales which are Fantasy based in their own right with their tropes distinctly Christian in origin. Even if the Gnostics and Neognostics use such things in their own works, they would be using Christian symbolism first of all which means you can discern what is true versus what is false.
I’ve this said before. Idk about cs Lewis. My one problem is the assertion that Tolkien was gnostic. I’ve read the trilogy and found it be perfectly Christian. Gandalf was magic because he represented an angel. Not unlike the work of Gods angels or the saints.
If you think I’m burning my leather bound, Lord of the Rings trilogy in one volume, written by a Catholic, because of the writings of some Gnostic, you are insane, utterly ridiculous.
Father isn’t talking about Tolkien. He’s talking about all the horrible fantasy literature that followed Tolkien, and he’s right. Most fantasy literature has NOTHING to do with the genre of literature Tolkien wrote in. Tolkien and Lewis cannot be categorized with what people nowadays call “fantasy” literature. Game of Thrones is no The Hobbit...
Usdertort Undise Father literally read an excerpt from Quinn’s book listing C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. TS 9:40
Well said Michael Ibach.
@@supergene256 - I agree. Looking at the sci-fi/fantasy of Heinlen, Assimov, Clarke and others (of which I read widely) the assertion of gnosticism (and atheism) is most definitely true. Tolkien and Lewis were writing on a much different plane, which they both describe in their letters, et cetera. Quinn apparently (though I have not read anything by him) fails to discriminate between the forms. I suppose reading some Quinn is something to which I must attend.
@@michaelibach9063 - I agree with your reference, but do not accept that it was a condemnation of either. I took it as more an example of carrying the concept to the extreme. Look at either authors works and you shall find serious reverence towards fatherhood; whilst the other-worldly characters, invariably evoke other creatures created by the FATHER, though it remains unsaid in a direct sense.
What he is saying here about all concerns being worldly is so true. If one looks around in the Catholic Church, from its high level prelates in the Vatican to your local parish council, all of their concerns are about this world. The knowledge of God and the salvation of souls don't exist for them.
Tolkien was not a gnostic. I learned a lot about how to apply the Catholic Faith to my life in this world from the Lord of the Rings. There is a difference between the Lord of the Rings and something like Harry Potter. The Lord of the Rings is clearly a fictional world that, though it resembles this world, is clearly not this world. But Harry Potter and that genre mix fantasy with the real world. These works very much confuse the mind and make everything very self involved. The Lord of the Rings is not that way.
I am not talking about Lord of the Rings, but I know the Road to Hell is full of good intentions.
@@newt1834 Are you the priest who gave this homily? Because there were certainly a few negative mentions of it in there. In any case the Lord of the Rings, like any good thing in this world, has its limits and should not be taken beyond them. Our Lord Himself used fictional stories to make some of his best points. He knows what we need and we need songs and stories, even non divinely inspired ones sometimes, to lift us out of ourselves from time to time. Man does not live Saint Thomas Aquinas and Scholastic philosophy alone.
@@brianmurphy9570 The world of the Lord of the Rings is the world of Christendom that has been lost through distrust, division, self centeredness, and treachery which is why there is so much sadness in it. It is a mirror of our world dressed up in fantasy clothes.
i hear you brother...
vaxz would've been good topic as a real world example rather than BLM idk man. thanks for the tough love. God is great..
Ummmmm why can't the father point to the father. I'm Catholic and I get we should honor Mary but it's beyond confusing how much she is talked about and relied upon. God is not the author of confusion and this makes me suspicious. Didn't Jesus teach us to say when we pray our father who art in heaven? Again I know we are asking Mary to pray for us but again seems like it's wayyyy to much for me.
culturewars.com/podcasts/logos-rising-tolkiens-failed-quest. Here is an in depth examination of the problem with Tolkien. I do not think that fantasy is bad though in moderation. The problem is when fantasy is used to construct identity aka LARPing.
Fatality of Freemasonry
It is true. Immersion in the fantasy worlds is not healthy for young, developing minds. It really is a waste of time anyway.
All the heros in these fantasies are Fatherless. BOOM!