Saturday, March 05, 2016

Fr Serafino Lanzetta: Spiritual Combat


Here are two talks by the noted Franciscan theologian Fr Serafino Lanzetta which were given here last Saturday. Our studio's equipment is pretty basic so the sound quality isn't that good but the quality of both talks is, so it is worth making the effort to listen.
Fr Serafino said he wanted to talk about Spiritual Combat but most of the first talk is about Truth and Nominalism, which brings 'Spiritual Combat' down to the most basic theological and philosophical level: Truth must always be exalted and sought, Nominalism must always be opposed!

If you listen to the talks, you will understand why Bishop Egan was so enthusiastic in inviting Fr Serafino into his diocese.

9 comments:

Liam Ronan said...

Thank you for the opportunity to hear these talks of Father Lanzetta, Father Blake. I will listen to them attentively.

Unknown said...

Might there be transcripts coming ? Thanks !

Nicolas Bellord said...

Dear Father, I have listened to the first one. It is quite tough going and there were some bits I could not quite hear. Any chance of a transcript?

I would have loved to have been there but being able to replay the video does help in dealing with fairly dense matter.

However what an enlightening talk and how relevant in these days when words like mercy, love etc are chucked about endlessly without any real meaning. Many many thanks. Things are really beginning to happen on the South Coast where as I think Damien Thompson once said there was a certain miasma coming off the sea!

Has Father Serafino written a book?

Fr Ray Blake said...

I don't have time to prepare a transcript.
I understand the publishing house that might have published Father's book closed suddenly!

Liam Ronan said...

Are there any private transcription services listed in the golden pages were you are, Father? If so, you might get an estimate of what the cost would be and, if reasonable, send the recordings off to be typed-up. I would imagine, with Father Lanzetta's approval or that of his order, the finished product might sell for a reasonable asking price.

Nicolas Bellord said...

I wonder whether the publishing house that closed suddenly was that of the FFI themselves closed down by Pope Francis's minions.

Sandpiper said...

I've listened to the first talk. Father Lanzetta is very good. One must listen very, very closely and not get distracted lest one lose the thread and the nuggets of truth. He develops an idea over long stretches and for instance, when pointing out Luther's errors, starts making rhetorical statements that a non-observant listener may take to mean are truth. A little confusing. I'm sure it's the result of his keen intellect getting ahead of the way the English speaking mind receives large chunks of data.

He recounts a chilling statement made by a Catholic statesman in Italy who voted in favour of sodomy by saying it was the "merciful" thing to do, thus illustrating the immense damage the "Year of Mercy" is spreading because the new mercy is NEVER linked to repentance, thus it is a false mercy being promulgated. It is a nominalistic interpretation of mercy.

I look forward to the second talk.

M. Prodigal said...

I am excited to listen to this holy Franciscan who has known some persecution in the present atmosphere of the Church.

Mary Kay said...

Thank you so much, Father Blake, for posting these wonderful talks. I've been a bit ill the past couple of weeks and haven't been able to take part in my Parish Lenten devotions. I was so happy to hear these excellent talks this evening. It has helped give me new hope in my Lenten journey. May God reward Fr. Lanzetta and you.

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