March 20, 2007
vol 18, no. 79

Whatever principle is applied, opinion means nothing in the face of truth. Yet today so many are governed by opinion; so much so that Truth Incarnate is challenged in an effort to downplay, and even alter the infrangible fact that almighty God is the Author of all and He cannot change nor can His truths. The knowledge of that you can take to the bank!

Editor's Note: Even though Father James Francis Wathen has left us, we still have his words of wisdom not only on these pages with his past sermons and reflections in the series The Sense of Sensus Catholicus and his irrefutable landmark work The Great Sacrilege, but also transcriptions of his inspirational radio programs. Thanks to Carla Downey's tireless transcribing of his words and Maria Hughes providing them, they are now available for all. As the introduction says, "In an age when Catholic truth is no longer conveyed to Catholics, let alone non-Catholics, the friends of Christ the King have determined to establish in this city, the Apostolic truth that faith comes by hearing, and to allow Catholics and fallen away Catholics, the opportunity to hear a truly, extra-ordinary Catholic priest. It is our hope that you will hear him, and return to your true religion, the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic faith. So beautiful, so captivating, and so arresting to the soul." Now these are not just for the small market of northern Indiana where they were first presented, but for the world to read. Those interested in hearing his words can acquire tapes of Fr. Wathen's programs by contacting Gerald Bonnell at 1-574-643-9296. Tapes are $2.50 each.

"Scientists, who are atheists, or religious skeptics, are a greater marvel, than the natural wonders that it pleases us for them to uncover. Logically, such people, should be among God's most avid champions and worshippers. Because they are privileged to be among the closest observers of nature, and the first discoverers of the secrets which God has hidden in the world. Properly, they should consider themselves to be engaged in a great and unending Easter egg hunt. The Lord God has concealed great marvels, quaint and clever, astounding and amusing in nature. And it should be the scientists delight, to find them for us. If they be the people of faith, which they ought to be, every new discovery should provoke them to praise the infinite God in His power and imaginativeness and jolly good wit!"

    In this program, I continue to give you what I entitle, the First Principles, for the pursuit of the Truth. So far, I have given you four principles. The first principle is: the truth conquers all. Which means that all power is in the truth. Whatever it is and wherever it is to be found. The truth is what has been, what is and what inevitably will be. That is, what almighty God will unfailingly cause to happen. It is all powerful and invincible, inescapable and inexorable. A man may not deny it, ignore it, contemn it, or flee from it. In the end, the truth will triumph. The wise man therefore, makes the truth, the object of his life search, and his constant prayer.

    In the spirit of the psalmist, who entreated: "Show O Lord, Thy ways to me and teach me Thy paths. Direct me in Thy truth and teach me. For Thou art God my Savior, and on Thee have I waited all the day long." (Psalm 24-4B and 5).

    The second principle is: He who despises the truth, will pay the consequences. Perhaps here, most certainly hereafter. This principle obviously, follows from truth's deathlessness and invincibility. It is equally obvious that the man who despises the truth is a fool. As Solomon said, a fool laugheth at instruction. (Proverbs, 15:5). Indeed the wisdom literature of the scriptures identifies ignorance with foolishness, and foolishness with wickedness.

    The third principle is: Not only must one ignore one's own feelings in the pursuit of the truth, but one must also ignore those of everyone else. And one must ignore all other considerations. You must know from the beginning that those around you, even those who are dear to you, may possibly have no interest in the truth, and they will berate you for your avocation, question your sanity, lament your perseverance, and discuss you as if you had a frightful disease. You will lose old friends, but so we may hope, find new ones. Or perhaps, find yourself all alone. It is not important. Pursue the truth despite all. Again, to quote Holy Writ, concerning wisdom, which in this context is the same thing, receive my instruction and not money. "Choose knowledge rather than gold. I, wisdom, dwell in council, and am present in learned thoughts. But wisdom is better, than all the most precious things. And whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it. Council and equity are mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine. By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things. By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice. With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice." (Proverbs 8,10,12,14-16)

    The fourth principle is: We must be logical. This should be understood and at another time and place, perhaps it would be. But in our society, the logic and sense and sensibility, are all but lost. You the listener, may be sure that I shall make an Herculean effort to be severely logical. The question is, WILL YOU BE WILLING TO GO WHERE LOGIC LEADS US?

    The fifth principal is: ALL THINGS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Whether the men of this age rejoiced to be the disciples of Heraclitus the Ephesian, or Godfried Wilhelm Leibniz or Teilhard de Chardin, or are simply hopeless evolutionists, the conviction is abroad, THAT TRUTH ITSELF HAS NO PERMANENCE. Indeed there seems to be an ongoing effort afoot, as it were, some hidden force at work, THAT IS BENT ON PERSUADING ALL MEN AND ESPECIALLY THOSE STILL IN SCHOOL THAT WHAT THE MAJORITY THINKS IS TRUE. And second, THAT WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE TRUE IN THE PAST, IS NO LONGER SO. BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, DO NOT BELIEVE IT TO BE SO.

    Those who are engaged in re-writing history, or re-constructing values, or retro-fitting the human mind, or re-drawing the map of the world, are often heard to use expressions like: the latest thinking on the subject is, or, NEW FINDINGS INDICATE THAT, OR, RECENT STUDIES SHOW THAT, OR, SCHOLARS ARE MORE AND MORE COMING TO BELIEVE THAT. If the subject in question were about football strategies, or headache remedies, or laundry detergents, there would be no reason to object! But such expressions are used with regard to such things as: THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, THE NATURE OF COMMUNISM, THE MEANING OF THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION, WHY COLUMBUS SAILED WEST, AND WHETHER THERE BE A HELL!!! In other words, with regard to everything.

    A conspicuous example is: the newspapers tell us that most scientists now hold that the origin of the universe, as we know it, BEGAN WITH WHAT IS CALLED THE BIG BANG. Putting aside the question of whether the papers are telling us the truth, always a thing to be questioned, we know the opinion of some scientists has changed over the years, and we know that not a few scientists do hold for what they refer to as the big bang theory.

    We also know very well, that the opinion of the scientist, COUNTS FOR NOTHING REGARDING THIS MATTER, both because the opinion of scientists, cannot cause the origin of the physical universe to be anything different from what it actually was, and equally obvious, not a single scientist, has the slightest physical evidence, that there was anything like the big bang. Which is to say, there is absolutely nothing scientific about the whole idea. One suspects that what is being put forth as current scientific opinion, is really popular science fiction. Or rather, science fiction, marketed as science.

    But I am not here to discuss what is currently postulated as the origin of the universe. I trust that you the listener, like me, also consider such fantasies, to be undeserving of the serious mind. Our principle again is: ALL THINGS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CHANGE. The realities which I discuss in these programs, will generally not be subject to change, because they will be religious truths and historical facts. Our principle reminds you that the truth is not to be found in what men think.

    Because the truth is not founded on ephemeral, popular opinion. And the truth does not change because as times goes on, materialities of life may change. AND HERE WE TOUCH THE ROOT OF THE MATTER. The propaganda line is that because in some places, some members of the human race are making what is called material and technological progress, and by means of it, are able to transform, in a remarkable way, the manner of their physical lives, that they are making progress along every front of human endeavor and inquiry. That they are just as certainly making progress in philosophy and medicine, in psychology and theology, and politics and economics, and in art and poetry and music and everything else. And that those men and women, who boast that they no longer believe in God, and need none, and have neither moral standards, nor fear, do not pray, and more likely believe in re-incarnation than in heaven and hell, and that more as a fad than a conviction. That those are the PEOPLE OF THE NINETIES, AS THEY ARE CALLED. AND AS THEY FLATTER THEMSELVES.

    The people who have advanced beyond fable and superstition, and outdated conventions, at the thought of such bereft creatures, a particularly significant remark of Our Savior comes to mind. "THOU FOOL, THIS NIGHT DO THEY REQUIRE THY SOUL OF THEE" (Luke 12: 19). When I insist that all things do not change, I am assuring you that when you listen to these little radio essays, you can be sure that contentions made here will be quite traditional, founded on hard evidence, trustworthy testimony and well tested fact. Because the things I will speak of, must be believed as true. Not because of people's believing them, but because if a thing WERE EVER TRUE, IT IS TRUE STILL. AND IT IS THE TRUTH THAT MATTERS. Furthermore, the truth's that matter, cannot be caused, or altered by, or subject to ANYONE'S OPINION.

    Nothing here is being said against the writings of history, and a sane revisionism, something which must always continue. There is and always will be room for historical research, a better understanding of historical events and times, and for the corrections of popular mis-conceptions, and the exculpating lies of nations. I am saying that what is true will never be untrue. And what is false, can never be made true, no matter how hard the propagandists lie. Most of all, I am saying that the things that I speak of here, have already been probed, and questioned and challenged, and found incontrovertible.

    I feel compelled to add the following thought: science has its limitations. I call attention to this fact because, one cannot help observing, besides being the study of the physical world, science has become an oracle, in the minds of many. Modern scientific achievement is truly impressive. But we must caution others, that because a man is a scientist, or a teacher of science, he is not necessarily a reliable guide when he begins to give us his opinion about divine revelation, the morality of abortion, or the time of the Second Coming of Christ.

    Scientists, who are atheists, or religious skeptics, are a greater marvel, than the natural wonders that it pleases us for them to uncover. Logically, such people, should be among God's most avid champions and worshippers. Because they are privileged to be among the closest observers of nature, and the first discoverers of the secrets which God has hidden in the world. Properly, they should consider themselves to be engaged in a great and unending Easter egg hunt. The Lord God has concealed great marvels, quaint and clever, astounding and amusing in nature. And it should be the scientists delight, to find them for us. If they be the people of faith, which they ought to be, every new discovery should provoke them to praise the infinite God in His power and imaginativeness and jolly good wit!

    For a man or woman who has a view of the world, which we others do not have, not to give Him due credit, Who designed the universe up to the largest star and down to the tiniest microbe, and keeps it altogether and running on time, is as I say, a marvel beyond belief. Though not one to sing about. To make the point, once a man of science leaves his field of expertise, be it the stars above or the physiology of man, he is no more reliable an authority on the unseen world, than the next fellow.

Yours in Christ,

For past articles of Making Sense of Sensus Catholicus, see 2007ssc.htm Archives