Since the Church in her extraordinary magisterium, and many theologians (especially earlier ones), taught that material heretics are outside the Church, how can one be sure they have not fallen into material heresy?
If one obeys God’s commandments, God’s grace will keep him out of heresy. There is no need to worry as long as he prays and follow the right way. It is also important to know all the dogmas of the faith. It is a good idea to memorize Denzinger’s The Sources of Catholic Dogma (the version prior to Vatican II).
You often quote from old encyclicals. Why should we rely on the old papal encyclicals? Were they infallible? Did Vatican II have authority to reform their doctrine?
Even the encyclicals are infallible. The Pontiffs intended their teaching to stand for all time. Leo XIII declared in his encyclical Satis Cognitum that anyone who disagrees with even the authentic/legitimate papal magisterium is alien to the Church. This means, that even all who disagree even with the local authentic papal magisterium have fallen outside the Church, making the teaching of encyclicals ordinary and universal teaching. Further Pius XII declared that even encyclicals are the voice of Jesus Christ (Truth) Himself, and thus not subject to error.
The practice of the Church has always been the same, as is shown by the unanimous teaching of the Fathers, who were wont to hold as outside Catholic communion, and alien to the Church, whoever would recede in the least degree from any point of doctrine proposed by her authentic [Italian version “legittimo” or legitimate, Latin version “authentico” or authentic] Magisterium. Epiphanius, Augustine, Theodoret, drew up a long list of the heresies of their times. St. Augustine notes that other heresies may spring up, to a single one of which, should any one give his assent, he is by the very fact cut off from Catholic unity. “No one who merely disbelieves in all (these heresies) can for that reason regard himself as a Catholic or call himself one. For there may be or may arise some other heresies, which are not set out in this work of ours, and, if any one holds to one single one of these he is not a Catholic” (S. Augustinus, De Haeresibus, n. 88).-Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum #9, 1898.
Nor must it be thought that what is expounded in Encyclical Letters does not of itself demand consent, since in writing such Letters the Popes do not exercise the supreme power of their Teaching Authority. For these matters are taught with the ordinary teaching authority, of which it is true to say: “He who heareth you, heareth me”;[3] and generally what is expounded and inculcated in Encyclical Letters already for other reasons appertains to Catholic doctrine. But if the Supreme Pontiffs in their official documents purposely pass judgment on a matter up to that time under dispute, it is obvious that that matter, according to the mind and will of the Pontiffs, cannot be any longer considered a question open to discussion among theologians. -Pius XII, Humani Generis #20, 1950.
What is the status of Most Holy Family Monastery in Fillmore, NY?
The Dimonds of Most Holy Family Monastery/MHFM/vaticancatholic have often been treated unfairly by many evildoers and liars. They may end up being declared the two witnesses if they travel the right road and embrace law and the Apostolic See, which alone can fully legitimize the monastery canonically. Currently they are in schism and have approached the Apostolic See to claim membership in the Catholic Church. For a monastery to be valid it must be approved by the Supreme Pontiff or the local Catholic ordinary, and obviously Vatican II ordinaries do not count. Like James and John the Sons of Thunder, their full power can only come when they are joined with Kephas, so that they become the two pillars. Like Cyprian against Stephen they should be given time to reconcile with Boniface X and the Apostolic See, and understand how the laws of the Church are perfect. We pray for their conversion before the end.
The following areas must be agreed by them before the end if they wish to save their souls: (1) even material heretics are outside the Catholic Church; (2) Pius XII did not commit heresy in his address to the midwives or regarding evolution, abstaining from the conjugal act except during barren periods does not frustrate the natural “power and purpose” of the act since it is part of the natural power of the act to allow intercourse during those periods, although the overall outlook and will of not wanting children except for the gravest reasons discussed by Pius XII would be sinful separately, but not because NFP itself is intrinsically evil; further the Office of the Sacred Penitentiary allowed for abstinence during the barren periods for grave reasons as early as the 19th century; (3) baptism of desire and baptism of blood have been the law of the Church for centuries, and therefore are doctrines that cannot lead one into error (see Catechism on Baptism); (4) Boniface X is the true Pontiff according to the proof of jurisdiction and as Pius XII made clear in Vacantis Apostolicae Sedis, there is no other way to obtain a Pontiff.
If somehow they did not seem to qualify in the future to be the two witnesses, fear not- the LORD CAN RAISE UP FROM THE HARDEST STONES witnesses. Time shall tell.
Do the Two Witnesses appear as shadows in other places of scripture?
Regarding the Two Witnesses generally- James and John, the pillars who are brothers and the Sons of Thunder, symbols of the two witnesses, are listed immediately after Kephas in the list of the Apostles, and share with Kephas the administration. They sought to reign at the right and left hand of Christ, and He gave them a thing like to it, to reign at the right and left of Kephas the Rock. Thus also THE TWO WITNESSES shall be. “And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.”
Who shall stay the rain? Who shall bring the clouds of judgment? THE SONS OF THUNDER THE TWO WITNESSES. They shall measure the Temple of God which is the Church, and declare “you are outside” or again “you are inside”. They will also identify that part of the Temple which was TRAMPLED BY THE IDOLATERS.
“I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, ‘Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.’ 4 They are ‘the two olive trees’ and the two lampstands, and ‘they stand before the Lord of the earth.’ 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” -Apocalypse 11:1-6
Did Pius XII commit heresy with regard to Natural Family Planning also known as the rhythm method?
No, Pius XII did not commit heresy in his address to the midwives. Abstaining from the conjugal act except during barren periods does not frustrate the natural “power and purpose” of the act since it is part of the natural power of the act to allow intercourse during those barren periods, although the overall outlook and will of not wanting children, except for the gravest reasons discussed by Pius XII, would be sinful separately, but not because natural family planning itself is intrinsically evil or frustrating the act’s “power and purpose”; further the Office of the Sacred Penitentiary allowed for abstinence during the barren periods for grave reasons as early as the 19th century:
1853 — Sacred Penitentiary (Holy See) responsum on periodic abstinence — response to a dubium (moral query) reported in later documentary/theological literature. Date: March 2, 1853 How it treats NFP: Says spouses who limit marital relations to times thought naturally infertile are not to be disturbed, provided they do nothing to impede conception (i.e., no contraceptive act). This is one of the earliest Roman-level references tied to “infertile days.”
1880 — Sacred Penitentiary responsum (often cited as the “June 16, 1880” reply). Date: June 16, 1880. How it treats NFP: In later summaries, this reply is treated as permitting recourse to naturally infertile times, under caution and upright motives.
Can Mary be called Co-Redemptrix?
Only in a very specific sense. Jesus Christ is Our Sole Redeemer with respect to attributing causation. Yet, Pius X’s indulgence that mentions Mary as co-redemptrix is NO contradiction. In Italian and Latin it often implies “associate with”, thus designating the Mother of God as an associate without participating in the act of redemption itself. As Trent declared, Christ is our Sole Redeemer. Latin “co-” words that are association/status (not co-causing an act). For example, comes, comitis (“companion”) — from cum + ire (“to go with”): emphasizes accompaniment, not shared causation; consors (“sharer/partner/associate”) — con- + sors (“lot”): literally “sharing the same lot,” often used for associate/partner generally, without specifying an act. compater / commater — used in Latin/medieval ecclesiastical usage for ritual kinship (e.g., godfather/godmother relations), emphasizing relationship, not biological parenthood or shared “fathering.” Italian examples where it’s association/status (not necessarily participation) Italian uses co- and also con- a lot for this. Legal/administrative coimputato = “co-defendant” coindagato = “co-investigated person / co-suspect” These words often mean “joined in the same case,” and don’t, by the word alone, guarantee participation in the underlying act (someone can be charged/indicted and later found uninvolved). Social/status coinquilino = “roommate” (co-tenant) collega = “colleague” consorte = “spouse/consort” These are relations, not agent-claims.