RED-C Presents

Last Letter of Benedict XVI

Please note, this episode was recorded prior to the death of Pope Benedict XVI.
On this episode, your hosts look at Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's gracious and insightful letter to participants in an October 2022 conference at Franciscan University convened to study and discuss the thought of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI. The Deacon and the Doc especially tried to use this letter to get a sense of the late pope's sense of Vatican II's legacy and of the Church's life in the current moment. 

The Pavone Affair

We began the show reviewing the facts of the laicization of Frank Pavone, averring that this incident has a long backstory and has less to do with abortion politics than it does with the integrity of the Catholic Church qua the Catholic Church. To that end, we looked at Chapter III from the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, promulgated by the Second Vatican Council in 1964. It is absolutely vital to understand that the hierarchical nature of the Church is divinely ordained. For a priest or bishop to flaunt that structure is a scandal and it leads to division and disunity, which is the goal of the Evil One. Furthermore, it should be added that a priest only derives his teaching authority from his bishop. It is by sharing in his bishop’s teaching power that gives the teachings of a priest any weight. Separated from his bishop, a priest’s statements are merely his opinions. The Deacon and the Doc ended by stating how damaging it is when bishops fail in their duties to preach and teach and defend the faith. The Doc went so far as to suggest that most of the problems in the Church today can be tied to failures of episcopal witness or episcopal authority and that renewal of the apostolic college will need to be a project for this entire century.
 
Relevant Articles:
"Zurek Letter Explained Pavone Laicization Plan" - The Pillar
"New Disciplinary Action Looming for Father Pavone?" - Catholic Culture (12/2014)
"Priest for Life? A Frank Pavone Explainer" - The Pillar

The Life and Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI

On this episode of The Deacon and the Doc we reflected on the incredible life of Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger in 1927. We began with sharing when and where we got the news of his death, then how we first learned of him as an intellectual figure. We looked back at his role as as a peritus at the Second Vatican Council and then his work, alongside Pope John Paul II, in securing the legacy of the council and what he eventually termed the "reform of the reform." Dcn. Mike emphasized Pope Benedict's heroic efforts to maintain the unity of truth and love in the face of the modern world's efforts to separate and distort them. We concluded by marveling at the sheer range and brilliance of the late Holy Father's intellectual deposit, including his friend Cardinal Christoph Schönburn's assessment, who puts "the works of Pope Benedict next to the works of Saint Augustine." 

Reclaiming Sacrosanctum Concillium

Sacrosanctum Concillium (SC), the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, was the first document produced by the Second Vatican Council; promulgated on December 4, 1963. It is also the first document that Fr. Blake Britton analyzes in his book, Reclaiming Vatican II. The Deacon and Doc discussed how Fr. Britton's framework of worship, reconciliation, and divinization, bring out the power and majesty of SC and of the Mass. They also included responses from some seminar participants to the chapter as well as some critiques of Britton's method.

A Chapp-ed Hide

Dr. Larry Chapp blogs at Gaudium et Spes 22 and has emerged in the last several years as a vigorous apologist for Vatican II. He recently published an essay at Our Sunday Visitor doing just that. The Deacon and the Doc read it, digested it, and had quite a spirited discussion over it—complete with moments of civil disagreement. The episode is a bit longer than usual, but we hope you stick around for the whole thing!

First Impressions

The RED-C Apostolate offered in-person seminars during the fall of 2022 to study the teachings and legacy of the Second Vatican Council. Fr. Blake Britton's book, Reclaiming Vatican II, formed the basis for the groups that met in Bryan-College Station.  The Deacon and the Doc surveyed some of the participants' reactions to its initial chapters in this episode.

Behind the Scenes

In the months leading up to Second Vatican Council, the French Jesuit, Fr. Henri de Lubac, kept a journal documenting his role as a peritus (theological expert) in the initial deliberations and discussions. De Lubac continued his private commentary during the council itself. The Deacon and the Doc availed themselves of excerpts from De Lubac's journal, which are on offer at Catholic Culture, accompanied by excellent commentary by the site's founder, Dr. Jeff Mirus. The Deacon and the Doc are grateful to Cardinal De Lubac (may he rest in peace) for letting us see "how the sausage was made" at the council. Why? Because it only increases one's faith in the action of the Holy Spirit and gives one hope in the midst of any current confusion or controversy. 

Magnify - LIVE RED-C Broadcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz 10/27/22

RED-C Catholic Radio was honored to bring to our listeners this LIVE broadcast of St. Mary's Catholic Center's Magnify event with special guest speaker, Fr. Mike Schmitz.  This event took place on Thursday, October 27th, 2022 in Rudder Auditorium on the campus of Texas A&M University to an audience of 2000 attendees.