Great Apostasy, by Rev. Michael DeSaye
Summary
Rev. Michael DeSaye's sermon on the last Sunday of the liturgical year reflects on the eschatological events that must precede the End of the Age. These events include:
The Preaching of the Gospel to all nations.
The Great Apostasy, where the faithful depart from the true Church.
The Rise of the Antichrist, accompanied by persecution of the faithful.
The Final Conflagration, when the world will be consumed by fire.
Rev. DeSaye draws heavily from Scripture, particularly St. Peter’s warning about the last days and the Apostasy as mentioned in 2 Thessalonians. He highlights how the Novus Ordo (New Mass) is the fulfillment of the prophesied apostasy, warning Catholics that this new form of worship is leading souls away from the true faith. DeSaye also stresses the importance of maintaining courage, wisdom, and vigilance in the face of modern secularism and the challenges it presents to faithful Catholics.
The sermon concludes with a hopeful reminder that despite the apostasy and the chaos of the present world, Christ will return, and the faithful will be rewarded. True Catholics must persevere in their devotion, pray for courage, and reject the compromises of the modernist Church.
Key Quotes and Their Significance
"As cockle therefore is gathered and burnt with fire, so it shall be at the end of the world."
(Matthew 13:40): A clear reference to the final judgment, where the wicked will be cast away.
Sedevacantist Perspective: The Novus Ordo, by deviating from traditional Catholicism, will face judgment.
"The wickedness of men was great on the earth, and all the thought of their heart was bent upon evil at all time."
(Genesis 6:5): This passage draws a parallel between the moral decay before the Flood and today’s world.
Sedevacantist Perspective: The pre-Vatican II Church is seen as the true remnant resisting this moral decay, while the Novus Ordo Church has succumbed to it.
"It is referring to a calamitous apostasy, the likes of which history affords no precedent."
The Great Apostasy: The collapse of faith described by St. Paul is understood to have been realized in the modernist revolution of the Church.
Sedevacantist Perspective: Vatican II is the fulfillment of this prophecy, as it introduced error into the Church and led many away from traditional Catholic doctrine.
"There can be no doubt that the Novus Ordo is the apostasy spoken of by Saint Paul."
The sermon firmly asserts that Vatican II's liturgical reforms and doctrines constitute the prophesied apostasy.
Sedevacantist Perspective: The Novus Ordo Mass is seen as a deviation from the true faith, leading souls away from the path to salvation.
"Many will come in my name saying I am Christ and they will seduce many."
(Matthew 24:5): Christ's warning about false prophets is applied to modern leaders within the Church.
Sedevacantist Perspective: The conciliar popes (from Vatican II onwards) are seen as false teachers, misrepresenting the faith and misleading millions.
"These seducers who make up the public face of this apostasy are preparing the way for the Antichrist."
The post-Vatican II reforms are said to be creating religious indifference, which paves the way for the Antichrist.
Sedevacantist Perspective: Modernist clergy are complicit in this demonic scheme, promoting false ecumenism and religious tolerance while abandoning traditional Catholic doctrine.
"Be uncompromising when it comes to the doctrines of the faith."
A call to remain steadfast in the traditional faith, rejecting modernism in all its forms.
Sedevacantist Perspective: Catholics must remain faithful to pre-Vatican II traditions and resist the apostate hierarchy of the modern Church.
"He that will persevere to the end will be saved."
(Matthew 24:13): This quote is a reminder that perseverance in faith is the key to salvation.
Sedevacantist Perspective: Persevering in the true Catholic faith—which is identified as pre-Vatican II tradition—is essential for salvation.
Analysis
Vatican II as the Fulfillment of Prophecy
Rev. DeSaye's sermon frames Vatican II as the prophesied apostasy that the Church warned about for centuries. According to his interpretation, the Novus Ordo Mass, with its ecumenical focus and relaxed doctrines, is not just a mere deviation from the Church’s tradition but a global apostasy led by those who hold the Papacy.The Novus Ordo is a Tool of the Antichrist
The sermon places emphasis on the novusordo (New Mass) as a tool designed by modernists within the Church to undermine the true faith. This modernist liturgy, with its emphasis on worldly inclusiveness and dilution of traditional doctrine, is seen as a preparation for the reign of the Antichrist.False Ecumenism
Ecumenism, as promoted by the post-Vatican II Church, is labeled as a false doctrine, enabling the spread of relativism and secularism. The call for unity with other religions is viewed as part of the broader apostasy and leads away from the true Catholic faith.The Antichrist’s Reign is Imminent
The rise of apostasy within the Church is directly linked to the coming of the Antichrist. The faithlessness of the modern world, combined with the compromise of Church leaders, is seen as preparing the way for the Antichrist to deceive many.Courage and Wisdom are Key
The sermon stresses the need for spiritual resilience in the face of modernism. Catholics must reject the comfortable, compromising attitudes of the post-Vatican II era and instead embrace a life of sacrifice and penance.The Need for Traditional Catholicism
Sedevacantists hold that the only true form of Catholicism is that which adheres to pre-Vatican II doctrine and the traditional Latin Mass. Modern sacraments and teachings, especially those post-Vatican II, are seen as invalid and dangerous to the soul.
Key Takeaways
Vatican II and the Novus Ordo Mass are Apostate
The Novus Ordo Mass is not just a deviation but an apostasy, leading souls away from the true faith and towards religious indifference.The Church is in Crisis
The current Church hierarchy, led by the conciliar popes, is seen as part of the great apostasy, compromising with the modern world and preparing the way for the Antichrist.Perseverance in Traditional Catholicism is Essential
Catholics must remain faithful to the pre-Vatican II traditions and reject the modernist Church. This is the only path to salvation in these dark times.Spiritual Courage is Vital
In the face of the apostasy, Catholics must remain courageous, rejecting the compromises of the modern world and living out the faith with conviction and clarity.
Rev. Michael DeSaye's sermon serves as a clear warning to traditional Catholics about the dangers of modernism, urging them to resist the seductions of the modern world and remain firmly grounded in the unchanging truths of the pre-Vatican II faith.