Vatican II: The Sadness of Disobedience - Fr. James Marshall 05-20-25
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Fr. James Marshall addresses why God continues to permit the Church to be without a pope for over sixty years since Vatican II. He rejects the despairing notion that God has abandoned His Church, explaining instead that every misfortune is foreseen and permitted by divine providence for the sake of our sanctification. Drawing from the Gospel, he shows that what appears as loss can become the greatest blessing, just as Christ’s departure from the Apostles brought the coming of the Holy Ghost. He stresses that sanctity consists in doing the will of God perfectly, not in multiplying external devotions or penances without fulfilling one’s duties. He identifies disobedience as the primary vice of the Vatican II religion, which has replaced obedience to Christ’s immutable teachings with a “religion of choice” and heretical ecumenism. Citing St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, he explains that the Holy Ghost is the soul of the Church and cannot animate “separated communities,” exposing Vatican II’s contradiction to the Creed’s profession of “one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.” He calls the faithful to reject Vatican II errors, cultivate virtue, and obey God perfectly, trusting in His providence.
Fr. James Marshall addresses why God continues to permit the Church to be without a pope for over sixty years since Vatican II. He rejects the despairing notion that God has abandoned His Church, explaining instead that every misfortune is foreseen and permitted by divine providence for the sake of our sanctification. Drawing from the Gospel, he shows that what appears as loss can become the greatest blessing, just as Christ’s departure from the Apostles brought the coming of the Holy Ghost. He stresses that sanctity consists in doing the will of God perfectly, not in multiplying external devotions or penances without fulfilling one’s duties. He identifies disobedience as the primary vice of the Vatican II religion, which has replaced obedience to Christ’s immutable teachings with a “religion of choice” and heretical ecumenism. Citing St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, he explains that the Holy Ghost is the soul of the Church and cannot animate “separated communities,” exposing Vatican II’s contradiction to the Creed’s profession of “one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.” He calls the faithful to reject Vatican II errors, cultivate virtue, and obey God perfectly, trusting in His providence.
Key Quotes
“Sixty years of Vatican II darkness and confusion with its false doctrines, disciplines, and worship.”
“Sanctity consists in the perfect fulfillment of the will of God.” — St. Alphonsus Liguori
“The primary vice that the Vatican II religion fosters is disobedience… a religion of choice.”
“The Holy Ghost is the soul of the Catholic Church.” — St. Augustine & St. Thomas Aquinas
“I believe in one and only one, holy Catholic and apostolic Church.”
Key Points and Takeaways
- Divine Providence in Trials – Every misfortune is foreseen and permitted by God for eternal good.
- Sanctity Defined – True holiness is perfect conformity to God’s will, not merely external devotions or penances.
- Vatican II’s False Religion – Promotes disobedience, religious relativism, and heretical ecumenism.
- Holy Ghost and the Church – The Holy Ghost cannot animate communities severed from the Catholic Church.
- Call to Action – Reject all forms of disobedience, cultivate virtues, trust God’s providence, and pray for a true pope.
Conclusion
Fr. Marshall exhorts the faithful not to be saddened by the long papal vacancy or the dominance of the Vatican II sect, but to see this trial as a call to greater holiness. Vatican II’s errors on the nature of the Church, its acceptance of “freedom of religion,” and its ecumenical heresies contradict the very foundation of Catholic faith. Sanctity is found in perfect obedience to God’s will, sustained by grace and the intercession of Our Lady, regardless of the state of the hierarchy.
Fr. Marshall exhorts the faithful not to be saddened by the long papal vacancy or the dominance of the Vatican II sect, but to see this trial as a call to greater holiness. Vatican II’s errors on the nature of the Church, its acceptance of “freedom of religion,” and its ecumenical heresies contradict the very foundation of Catholic faith. Sanctity is found in perfect obedience to God’s will, sustained by grace and the intercession of Our Lady, regardless of the state of the hierarchy.
Sedevacantist Commentary
From a pre-Vatican II, sedevacantist perspective, Fr. Marshall’s sermon correctly identifies Vatican II as a counterfeit religion, incompatible with the indefectible Catholic Church. His emphasis on God’s providence dispels despair, reminding the faithful that the Church’s visibility and sanctity remain in the remnant that has not defected to the Novus Ordo. The critique of “subsists in” language aligns perfectly with Pius XII’s Mystici Corporis, reaffirming that the Church of Christ is the Catholic Church, and that salvation is found nowhere else. His call for obedience to God’s immutable truth strikes at the root of modernist disobedience disguised as reform. This message is essential in sustaining the remnant through the current apostasy, keeping the focus on salvation, virtue, and fidelity until God restores a true pope.
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.
