The Suffering of Catholicism

There was an episode recently of the Avoiding Babylon podcast with Joshua Charles (@JoshuaTCharles on Twitter/X) on as a guest. The title was “Persecuted from Within” and dealt with the issues of persecutions coming for faithful Catholics from those within the Church. The hosts of the show are Anthony (@Catholicizm1 on Twitter/X) and Rob (@BWCACatholic on Twitter/X). It’s a great podcast and you should give their channel, Avoiding Babylon, a listen and consider subscribing.

This topic is so timely because it is something we need to understand if we are going to navigate this horrific time in the Church. The enemies of Christ inside the Church are worse than those who are outside the Church. Jesus promised us all a cross, and your cross is going to be bad. But the faithful need to know the internal persecution from the Judases in the Church will be worse than the persecution from those outside the Church. Traitors are worse than enemies. They claim to be friends when they are betrayers. Enemies outside the Church are at least honest about being your enemy.

Colossians 1:24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His Body, that is, the Church.

St. Paul was not kidding when he said that he was making up what was lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Protestants cannot explain this verse of Scripture because their theology cannot rationalize or understand it. Their doctrine of Faith Alone precludes them from understanding that salvation in the New Covenant is through faith AND works. So they fundamentally do not understand this verse.

This verse speaks to the reality that Christ’s Passion and Crucifixion on Good Friday were perfect, eternal and infinite. And at the same time, the salvation and merits of that sacrifice on Calvary has to be APPLIED to each of us. Salvation is not through just a mental assent but through loving obedience to God. Even the demons believe, as James 2:19 says. Belief and faith are not the only things required. Action on our part is required. We must DO the will of the Father, as Jesus says.

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in Heaven.

One of the great quotes that Joshua brings up in the episode is that “the Church must follow her Lord into His Passion.” As mentioned above, Christ promises a cross, not a pleasure cruise. We must be willing, like St. Paul, to make up what is lacking is Christ’s afflictions by willingly accepting the persecutions coming for us. We must willingly lay down our lives as Christ willingly laid down His life for us. Christ said to follow Him, and following Him means carrying our cross up to Calvary. These persecutions sift and test our faith. Faith is made perfect through testing.

Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him

A great point was made during the podcast that Pope St. Gregory the Great, in the late 6th century, wrote a commentary on the book of Job and how Job was a typology of the Church. The sufferings that Job endured must be endured by the Church. The Body of Christ must follow Christ into His suffering. The Body cannot separate from Him.

Matthew 27:28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, 29 and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on His head. They put a reed in His right hand and knelt before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 After mocking Him, they stripped Him of the robe and put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

Joshua also cited a great point that Gregory the Great made about what it will be like in the times of persecution for the Church. He said (paraphrasing) that the words of doctrine will fall silent. We are at that moment now. We have scores of enemies in the Church who know what the Church teaches and are trying to change it. We also see that the vast majority of priests for the last 5 decades have refused to preach on the doctrine of the Church. They refuse to proclaim any doctrines at all. They only preach sugary-sweet homilies about being nice to everyone rather than preach the Gospel of Christ.

Another insight from Gregory the Great was when he said that heretics don’t see the Church in her sufferings because they care too much for the things of the world. They are interested in the temporal power of the Church and the trappings of comfort it provides, but they do not want the Passion of Our Lord for themselves. They can’t see the glory of God being shown in the persecution the Church goes through.

Matthew 26:67 Then they spat in His face and struck Him; and some slapped Him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, You Messiah! Who is it that struck You?

We have to face and accept the humiliation of Christ. We have to be spit upon. We have to be slapped in the face and have our beards violently pulled out. How do you tell Protestants that the Catholic Church is the one and only Church that Jesus built, when the leadership of the Church is anti-Christian? We must endure them mocking us so that we can show the peace of Christ within us. Those outside the Church who are people of good faith will see and recognize the persecution we will be enduring. If we joyfully endure these hardships, we will make up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions and we will win over for Christ those who are willing to follow Him to the Cross.

Jude 1:17 But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.”

People remember part of the story about Noah and him building the Ark. But it is skimmed over by many and they miss important points about the story. First off, the Ark was big. It was three decks tall and almost 500 feet long. It was a huge boat. It was not built in a few days. In fact, it most likely took many years to build. Think about what the ungodly heathens were saying to and about Noah the entire time he was building it. They probably mocked him ruthlessly for building a massive boat where no large body of water existed. Noah endured all this and kept his faith in God.

2 Peter 3:3 First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!” 5 They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water, 6 through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.

One of the final great points made on the podcast episode was that the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI was probably the end of Christendom. We are watching Western Civilization and Christendom fall apart and crumble about us. It is highly unlikely that it will be rebuilt during our lifetimes. When empires fall, it takes a long time for civilization to be rebuilt. But we must hold our faith, hope and love in Christ and His Church. We must be willing to suffer for Him and to do the will of the Father.

Matthew 27:39 Those who passed by derided Him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the Temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the Cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him, saying, 42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him come down from the Cross now, and we will believe in Him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver Him now, if He wants to; for He said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” 44 The bandits who were crucified with Him also taunted Him in the same way.