By What Authority Do The MHFM Preach
"But how are men to call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?" - Romans 10:14
In order to properly receive and hear the word of God, so that man may believe, there is a condition associated with it. Man cannot "believe in Him" unless they have heard it, receiving the word from a messenger, a teacher, a preacher.
Does this verse imply that anyone claiming to be a “preacher” fulfills the requirement?
No, definitely not; as is revealed in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15;
2 Corinthians 11:12-15
"But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we."
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ."
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
"Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
Holy Scripture teaches us that it cannot be just any “preacher”, but only one “sent” by God. The very next verse (Romans 10:15) confirms this:
“>And how can men preach unless they are sent?”
Sent? If someone has been “sent”, then logic dictates that "someone else” had to order the sending. And if someone ordered the sending, then the word “sent”, in this context, most assuredly implies someone with “authority”.
Thus the next logical question beomes … “sent by whom?”
The Greek word for "sent", as used in the book of Romans was written “apostello”; which means “to send out properly on a mission”. The word denotes a commission and authorization that is limited in time and is concerned only with the business at hand, not with the status of a person discharging it.
From “apostello” we get the Greek word "apostolos”, which means "he who is sent" and is used in the Bible as the word "Apostle".
So, who are the "they" who are sent, and by whom are "they" sent? It is no coincidence that the same same Greek word, "apostello", is used by Jesus Christ when He addressed His "Apostolos" in John 20:21;
"Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you'."
It should now be clear that those who were sent out (apostello) by God to preach (teach) were given a commission and the authority to do so by Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. Their teaching “authority” was bestowed upon them, directly, by Jesus Christ:
"And He appointed twelve, to be with Him, and to be sent out to preach..." - Mark 3:14
Thus, those who are sent, are sent with the full authority given to them by God. It should be evident, to all, that the only persons authorized to preach, at that time, were the Apostles, and afterwards that “authority” was passed on to those who followed these disciples of God, through a long line of legitimate succession.
Saint Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:8;
"So, if I brag a little too much about the authority which the Lord gave us, I'm not ashamed. The Lord gave us this authority to help you, not to hurt you."
The Most Holy Family Monastery (MHFM) in Fillmore, New York, under its controversial “Superior”, Frederick “Michael” Dimond, have yet to present any evidence indicating that they have been legitimately “sent” out to “preach”. Where is their proof of apostolic succession (i.e. ordination); by which is the ONLY legitimate way of acquiring the right to claim and act as a part of the “teaching authority”?
I ask you to ask yourselves ... by what authority do “the Dimond Brothers” of the MHFM preach? Who "sent" them?
The MHFM’s audacious and erroneous claim that “God told / instructed” Joseph Natale (the founder of their “self-identified” Order of Saint Benedict) to start their not-for-profit corporation can ONLY be considered, at the very most, a “private revelation”. And a “private revelation” is NOT a “public revelation”; and thus why would anyone, in their right mind, take such nonsense as “proof” and “believe” such a non-Catholic claim? History itself is filled to overflowing with the false claims of heretics, apostates, and theological reprobates who have conspired with the “Father of Lies” to find palpable “justification” to ensnare the unsuspecting; and profit from off their vainglorious works.
We must all remember ... God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Today, as in the past, He does not speak to His flock through those NOT in “authority", those who have NOT received the fullness of truth, those who have NOT received "Holy Orders" (i.e. legitimately ordained into the priesthood). Those are the "facts", the “rules” and they have not and will not ever change.
Of course, and in all fairness, the MHFM is NOT the only “breakaway” traditional Catholic sect, who has been successful in drawing away vast numbers of the “faithful” from receiving proper and legitimate “pastoral care” (i.e. the Sacraments and proper / full ecclesiastic instruction). These miscreants do not appear to be concerned with Christ’s promise, His warning, to those who harm his flock:
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” - Mark 9:42
The Dimond Brothers were NOT “sent” … they simply “went”. It's still not too late to repent, Brother Michael.
Beware of false Prophets, and false Teachers, who serve the "Father of Lies"...
Pax Tecum