Vatican II: An Occasion of Sin - Fr. James Marshall 05-20-25
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Fr. Marshall reflects on the Gospel account of Christ entering through locked doors to be with the Apostles, as interpreted by St. Thomas Aquinas: the Lord only enters souls that keep the “doors of the senses” shut. He warns that exposing ourselves to the occasions of sin is spiritually deadly, citing St. Alphonsus, St. Thomas, and others who emphasize that God may withhold grace from those who voluntarily enter such occasions.
The sermon explains the typical pattern of temptation—dialogue with the devil, engaging the senses, pondering sin, and acting upon it—and urges Catholics to flee even from remote occasions of sin, particularly in matters of impurity. Pride, he notes, is at the root of all sin.
Fr. Marshall then applies this principle to the Vatican II religion and its popes, accusing them of placing Catholics into occasions of sin by promoting “dialogue” that legitimizes heresy and by granting freedom of choice in doctrine, liturgy, and discipline. He denounces synodality as a prime example of fostering pride and subjectivism, contrary to the humble submission required by the true Catholic Faith. The faithful are urged to beg Our Lady to guide the election of a true pope who will close the door to Vatican II errors.
Key Quotes
“God withholds efficacious help from those who voluntarily expose themselves to the occasions of sin.” – St. Alphonsus Liguori
“If thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out… you must fly from all evil occasions.” – Our Lord (Matt. 5:29)
“The victory [over impurity] is gained by cowards… those who fly from the occasions of this sin.” – St. Philip Neri
“The council of avoiding the occasions of sin is the foundation of religion… the council of entering into them is the destruction of religion.” – St. Bernardine of Siena
“The Vatican II religion and its popes have placed many Catholics in occasions of sin… thus false.” – Fr. Marshall
Key Points & Takeaways
- Occasions of Sin are Spiritually Fatal
- Deliberately entering occasions of sin invites spiritual ruin and can cause God to withdraw special graces.
- Root of Sin is Pride
- The process of entertaining temptation stems from prideful self-reliance instead of humble flight from danger.
- Victory Comes from Fleeing
- Especially in impurity, saints counsel “cowardice” toward temptation—avoiding dangerous persons, places, and circumstances altogether.
- Vatican II Promotes Spiritual Danger
- Its doctrines and pastoral approaches, especially “dialogue” and “religion of choice,” are themselves occasions of sin, encouraging pride, relativism, and heresy.
- Synodality is a Pride Trap
- By treating revealed truth as a matter for discussion and consensus, synodality is an institutionalized occasion of sin against faith.
- Our Duty in the Crisis
- Avoid participation in the Vatican II sect, reject its teaching, and work for the restoration of a true pope.
Conclusion
Fr. Marshall draws a clear parallel between the moral law of avoiding near occasions of sin and the Church’s current spiritual crisis. Just as a Catholic must shun physical and moral situations that lead to temptation, the faithful must avoid the doctrinal, liturgical, and disciplinary errors of the Vatican II religion, which are themselves occasions of sin against the faith. The solution is not compromise or selective participation but total separation from the false religion, in humble fidelity to Christ’s immutable truth.
Sedevacantist, Pre-Vatican II Commentary
Fr. Marshall’s application is entirely consistent with the Church’s perennial teaching. Pre-Vatican II catechisms clearly warn against entering into the occasions of sin, whether moral or doctrinal. Vatican II’s ecumenical “dialogue” and its recognition of false religions as means of salvation are not merely imprudent—they are proximate occasions of sin against faith, placing souls in grave danger of heresy and apostasy.
Synodality institutionalizes what the saints warned against: engagement with error under the guise of charity. The true Church never grants freedom to “choose” doctrine; her members are bound to receive and profess the faith whole and entire. Thus, to “avoid the occasions of sin” in our time necessarily means avoiding the Vatican II sect altogether—its Masses, sacraments, governance, and teaching. Fidelity demands holding fast to the faith of all time, assisted by sacramental life in the remnant Church where valid clergy still serve.
Creators and Guests
Guest
Fr. James Marshall
Fr. James Marshall, a former Jesuit priest and prominent pro-life advocate, was conditionally ordained to the Catholic priesthood on December 14, 2024, by Bishop Germán Fliess of the Roman Catholic Institute, an organization led by Bishop Donald Sanborn. This ordination was performed "ad missam" (under condition), a practice undertaken due to concerns about the validity of sacraments administered under the Novus Ordo rites following Vatican II, a position held by the Roman Catholic Institute. Marshall, who had been ordained a priest in the Novus Ordo rite in 2003, left the Society of Jesus in 2022 after a growing realization of what he perceived as a lack of coherence in the post-Vatican II liturgy, particularly regarding the sacrificial nature of the Mass. He had previously served in parishes in Texas and New Mexico and was actively involved with Priests for Life, working on abortion counseling and organizing retreats. His ordination was assisted by Fr. Michael DeSaye, another former Novus Ordo priest who was also ordained by Bishop Sanborn. The Roman Catholic Institute holds the "Thesis" that the popes since Vatican II are legitimate designees to the papacy but lack jurisdiction due to an obstacle they pose to the reception of Christ's authority, a view that places them outside the mainstream of the Catholic Church.
