An Antidote To Modernism

Sacred Scripture

Several years ago I was reading an article by John Salza where he talks about the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas. He points out that St. Thomas is the antidote to modernism. What Salza says is very true but there is one problem, how many people study the writings of St. Thomas? To my knowledge, the only people who read St. Thomas are traditional seminarians and priests. Those people don’t need to be convinced that modernism is evil since they are already traditional.

You can’t simply approach a modernist and tell him to read all five volumes of the Summa Theologica. Aside from the fact that you’d probably need prior knowledge of Aristotle, Dionysius the Areopagite, Augustine and others, most people simply don’t have the time to read his extensive writings.

If not St. Thomas, than what do we use as an antidote to modernism? A good place would be to start with the scriptures themselves. Most Catholics have not read the scriptures so introducing them would certainly help. As I have pointed out before, the Douay-Rheims Bible is the best version to get. Tell the modernist to start with the New Testament.

The Scriptures are anything but modernist. Within the pages of scripture, we see modern abominations such as false ecumenism, dishonest religious dialogue, religious liberty, and many other novelties condemned.

Here are some of the quotes that exposed these heresies, which are the bastard children of modernism:

But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men, for you yourselves do not enter in; and those that are going in, you suffer not to enter. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: because you devour the houses of widows, praying long prayers. For this you shall receive the greater judgment. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you go round about the sea and the land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, you make him the child of hell twofold more than yourselves.

-Matthew 23:13-15

Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe, and slew them: think you, that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem? No, I say to you; but except you do penance, you shall all likewise perish.

-Luke 13:4-5

Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.

-John 14:6

Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.

-Acts 4:12

Now whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry. He disputed, therefore, in the synagogue with the Jews, and with them that served God, and in the marketplace, every day with them that were there. And certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics disputed with him; and some said: What is it, that this word sower would say? But others: He seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods; because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

-Acts 17:16-18

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.

-Galatians 1:8

Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today; and the same for ever.

-Hebrews 13:8

Modernists don’t like these verses and one can easily see why. They fly right in the face of their modern novelties. These are also easily accessible to anyone with a Bible. If they don’t have a Bible, you can direct them to the website drbo.org.

The Old Testament works just as well but that will have to be for another post. It’s hard to read the scripture and not conclude that its all or nothing with God. The more a modernist reads the scriptures, the more it will be apparent that Christ himself wasn’t a modernist.

As correct as Salza was about St. Thomas, the scripture is a better antidote due to its accessibility. This is especially true since you can direct them to the website drbo.org. Other antidotes to modernism exist and I will talk about them in future posts, but what is important to know is that the scripture can stop modernism in its tracks. Use it!

For the word of God is living and effectual, and more piercing than any two edged sword; and reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit, of the joints also and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

– Hebrews 4:12