Fear of The Lord - Bp. Donald Sanborn 8-16-98

Here is a detailed analysis of Bishop Donald Sanborn’s sermon titled “Few Are Chosen”, delivered on the feast of St. Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary:SummaryIn this powerful sermon, Bishop Donald Sanborn reflects on the virtue of the fear of the Lord, using the example of St. Joachim, the father of Our Lady. He distinguishes holy fear from servile or slavish fear and explains its role in the spiritual life. True fear of the Lord is not merely dread of Hell, but a reverent sorrow for sin and a deep horror at offending God. He ties this fear to virtues like hope, temperance, humility, and detachment from the world, and denounces human respect as a principal cause of widespread apostasy, citing the English Reformation as a tragic example. He exhorts the faithful to reject the desire to please men when it conflicts with pleasing God.Key Quotes“The beginning of all holiness and justice is the fear of the Lord.”“It is not even a fear of Hell... The fear of God’s punishments is not truly the gift of the fear of the Lord.”“Fear of the Lord is a fear of displeasing God and of being separated from Him.”“From this springs an ardent and earnest desire... [to avoid even the] occasions of sin.”“The opposite of fear of the Lord is human respect.”“All of England was lost by human respect... and look at the effect throughout the whole world.”“Let all other things pass away, but let the will of God be done.”Key Points and Takeaways1. What Fear of the Lord Is NotIt is not slavish dread, animalistic fear, or mere terror of punishment.It is not psychological scrupulosity or sadness over sin that originates from the devil.It is not even primarily the fear of Hell, although such fear can be useful.2. What Fear of the Lord Truly IsA holy fear of displeasing God or being separated from Him.It perfects the virtue of hope, directing the soul toward Heaven.It perfects temperance, detaching the soul from sensual pleasures.It fosters a lively sorrow for sin and vigilance against its occasions.3. Three Principal Acts of Fear of the LordVivid sense of God’s greatness: Reverence born from awe.Sorrow for the least fault: Even venial sins offend infinite Majesty.Vigilant care in avoiding occasions of sin: Like recoiling from a snake.4. Fear of the Lord and ReverenceTeaches proper reverence and boundaries, even in language.Opposes blasphemous jokes or casual treatment of holy things.Maintains respectful distance, lest familiarity breed contempt.5. Fear of the Lord vs. Human RespectHuman respect is the fear of offending men, rather than God.It is a common sin, responsible for scandal, compromise, and apostasy.Cites the English bishops' betrayal of the Faith under Henry VIII as a damning historical example.6. True Justice and HolinessThe just man—like St. Joachim—puts God’s will first.True holiness involves accepting hardship, sorrow, even death, for the love of God.ConclusionBishop Sanborn’s sermon offers a deeply moving meditation on true fear of the Lord, urging the faithful to adopt a reverent and humble disposition before God. This fear is not rooted in terror but in love—a holy dread of offending Divine Majesty. In contrast, human respect is revealed as a deadly vice that leads souls away from the truth and into moral compromise. The sermon culminates in the example of St. Joachim, whose household embodies justice, reverence, and grace, and who now rejoices in Heaven through his most blessed daughter.Sedevacantist Pre-Vatican II Catholic CommentaryFrom a true Catholic, pre-Vatican II standpoint, Bishop Sanborn’s sermon is a masterful exposition of traditional Catholic teaching on one of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost: the fear of the Lord.Faithful to the True FaithThe sermon is thoroughly consistent with Catholic doctrine, echoing the traditional catechisms (e.g., Baltimore Catechism Q. 137: "The gifts of the Holy Ghost are seven: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.")Bishop Sanborn upholds the doctrine of sanctifying grace, reverence for God, and the avoidance of sin and near occasions.Condemns Modernist AttitudesHis condemnation of joking about God is especially necessary in the irreverent post-Vatican II era, where casual, anthropocentric liturgy has desacralized worship.The “human respect” he criticizes is clearly seen in the Vatican II sect’s ecumenical compromises, interreligious gatherings (e.g., Assisi), and refusal to preach “Outside the Church there is no salvation.”Historical InsightHis example of the English bishops’ betrayal under Henry VIII serves as a prefiguration of today’s apostate hierarchy who, out of fear of worldly powers or “dialogue,” refuse to uphold truth, including rejecting traditional morality and doctrine.Call to Heroic VirtueTrue Catholics today must follow St. Thomas More’s example, fearing God above man, resisting even bishops and popes if they depart from the Faith, as St. Paul resisted St. Peter to the face (Gal. 2:11).Final ReflectionBishop Sanborn’s sermon is a clarion call to reject modern compromise, rediscover the holy fear of God, and live as counter-cultural Catholics in the face of apostasy. It is also a vindication of the sedevacantist position: that true obedience to God sometimes requires holy disobedience to heretical authorities—as when the bishops of England should have opposed the king, and as faithful Catholics must now reject the counterfeit Vatican II Church and all its irreverent, human-centered reforms.“Let all other things pass away, but let the will of God be done.” — This is the cry of the remnant. May we be found among them.