The Catholic News Agency (CNA) reports on a Maronite “Mass” celebrated at Syria’s ancient St. Maron’s Shrine after a 15-year hiatus. The event, organized by the Maronite Scouts, drew 80 participants who visited war-damaged sites including St. Simeon Stylites’ Church. Father Ghandi Mahanna allegedly preached that “the true presence of God is found in every human heart,” reducing Catholicism to sentimental humanism while Syrian security forces provided escort. This saccharine display exemplifies the conciliar sect’s betrayal of sacramental theology for naturalistic performativity.
Naturalization of the Supernatural
Mahanna’s assertion that “the true presence of God is found in every human heart” constitutes outright theological modernism condemned by Pascendi Dominici Gregis (1907): “Modernists place in human experience the foundation of religious faith” (§14). This contradicts the defined dogma that God’s substantial presence resides exclusively in the Blessed Sacrament (Council of Trent, Session XIII, Chapter 4). By equating God’s omnipresence with Eucharistic presence, Mahanna commits the heresy of panentheism – precisely what St. Pius X censured as dissolving “the notion of the divine personality into a crude pantheistic conception” (Lamentabili Sane, Proposition 26).
Erasure of Sacramental Economy
The article’s silence about valid sacraments proves symptomatic. No mention is made of:
- Whether Mahanna holds valid Holy Orders (doubtful given post-1968 Maronite ordinations)
- If the “Mass” followed the infallibly defined Maronite Qurbono or the invalid Novus Ordo adaptation
- Pilgrims receiving sacramental absolution before Communion
This omission fulfills Pius IX’s warning in Quanta Cura: “The will of God’s enemies succeeds when they try to separate the Church’s teaching from heavenly things and direct it only to earthly life” (§3). The focus on architectural tourism (“Dead Cities”) and interfaith sites (Muslim-guarded ruins) reduces Catholicism to cultural anthropology.
Ecumenical Subversion of Martyrdom
The reference to “St. Simeon Stylites’ Church” without noting its Chalcedonian Orthodox ownership whitewashes schism. True Catholic pilgrims would emulate Pius XI’s Mortalium Animos: “The unity of Christians cannot be otherwise fostered than by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those separated from it” (§10). Instead, the conciliar Maronites practice the syncretism condemned in the Syllabus of Errors: “Good hope at least is to be entertained of the eternal salvation of all those who are not at all in the true Church of Christ” (Proposition 17).
Geopolitical Servility
Reliance on Syrian regime security forces exposes the conciliar sect’s moral bankruptcy. While true martyrs like St. Maron defied persecutors, neo-Maronites collaborate with Bashar al-Assad’s regime – responsible for slaughtering 500,000 Syrians including countless Christians. This confirms Pius IX’s condemnation: “The Roman pontiff can, and ought to, reconcile himself with progress, liberalism, and modern civilization” (Syllabus of Errors, Proposition 80). Their cry “Syria was beautiful, and still is” echoes Judas’ betrayal kiss – excusing genocide for temporary safety.
Symptomatic Silence on Actual Persecution
The article ignores:
- Ongoing Muslim Brotherhood attacks on Syria’s remaining Christians
- Forced conversions under sharia courts in Idlib
- Systematic confiscation of Christian properties
Instead, it promotes the modernist myth that coexistence with Islam is possible – directly opposing Pius XI’s Quas Primas: “When men recognize Christ the King, society will at last receive great blessings” (§19). This deliberate blindness fulfills Masonic strategy to neutralize Catholicism’s counter-jihad witness, as documented in our internal file on False Fatima Apparitions.
Conclusion: Dead Faith in Dead Cities
This sacrilegious pantomime confirms the conciliar sect’s apostasy. As the true Church teaches through Pius XII: “The Mystical Body of Christ is the Catholic Church governed by the successor of Peter” (Mystici Corporis Christi, §13). These modernist ceremonies in ruined churches symbolize their spiritual desolation: Ecce desertum facta est – “Behold, she has become a desert” (Jeremiah 12:10). Only return to the unchanging Mass and doctrine before 1958 can restore Syria’s Christian heritage.
Source:
Mass celebrated again at ancient St. Maron’s Shrine in Syria after 15-year silence (catholicnewsagency.com)
Date: 09.11.2025