Month: June 2015

Comments on Bishop Fellay’s Interview

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In the interview below, Bishop Fellay makes some interesting statements.
 

When referring to Pope Francis, he states “So we have no choice but to think that he does consider us Catholic.” The implication is that this is a good thing – our Holy Father, who really does not grasp what it means to be Catholic, accepts the SSPX as Catholic. This does not set off alarm bells?
 

When referring to Pope Benedict, he states “He truly wished to put the entire traditional liturgy, not only the Mass, at the disposition of the priests and the faithful; …”. The Pope who has not changed his Liberal views since before Vatican II, truly wanted to do this? Therefore, Bishop Fellay accepts that Pope Benedict also was a supporter of the SSPX and this view is not dangerous to the SSPX.
 

Bishop Fellay comments on his appointment by the Vatican as a judge of first instance “That is nothing new; it has been the case for over ten years. ” So the cooperation with the Vatican has been going on for at least ten years. This cooperation fits well with the analogy of the “boiling frog”, but he either does not see it or (purposely?) refuses to apply it.
 

The reaction of the bishops appointed by the Vatican to visit the SSPX seminaries: “They were very satisfied.” Why, what is wrong with the seminaries if these bishops are satisfied?
 

The question is asked “Is the Society’s role as a counterweight within the Church important?” and he answers “This role is nothing new. Archbishop Lefebvre started it, and we are continuing it… ” He misrepresents the position of the Archbishop who insisted that Rome converts before discussions/recognition/agreement could take place.
 

The main problem of the SSPX is identified as “The risk of separation is serious. Look at the caricature of Tradition that calls itself the “Resistance”, for example: it is a non-Catholic spirit that is almost sectarian. ” He does not discuss the origin of the risk of separation – his variation from the Roadmap of the Archbishop. He calls the Resistance a caricature of Tradition, the Tradition that he is deviating from. Sectarian – who is really the one leading a sect, a sect that is deviating from his Order’s founder?
 

When asked about the idea of inserting the proper Offertory into the NOM, he says “I think it would be a great step forward” . Most of us would prefer to forbid the NOM outright, not change it piece by piece.
 

Why are the supporters of the nSSPX still supporting the nSSPX? Has this bishop not made his position clear enough?
 

The Archbishop made his position clear:
 

 

 

 

Bishop Fellay Calls the Resistance a “Caricature of Tradition”

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Rorate Caeli pubished today a post regarding a recent interview with Bishop Bernard Fellay in which His Excellency, amongst other things, calls the Resistance a “caricature of Tradition”.  Here is the quote of interest:

 

“Look at the caricature of Tradition that calls itself the ‘Resistance’, for example: it is a non-Catholic spirit that is almost sectarian. We wish to have nothing to do with it; it is a movement that is withdrawn into itself, with people who think that they are the only good and just men on earth: that is not Catholic.”

 

Bishop Fellay must be really confused.  He has directed the term “caricature of Tradition” to the Resistance when in fact it is his neo-SSPX that is the “caricature of Tradition”.  It is his neo-SSPX that has betrayed Catholic Tradition by accepting Vatican II in the light of Tradition.  It is his neo-SSPX that has betrayed the saintly Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre by seeking a canonical recognition from Modernist Rome prior to a doctrinal resolution.  It is his neo-SSPX that is now in the same genus as the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and the other Ecclesia Dei communities.

 

How can Bishop Alfonso de Galaretta and Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais continue to play along with such treacherous neo-SSPX leaders?  How can those neo-SSPX priests who ought to know better continue to remain publicly silent in light of the tsunami of evidence available of Bishop Fellay’s betrayal?  How can those faithful who ought to know better continue to assist at neo-SSPX Masses?  It is truly a mystery.

 

May God have mercy on them all!

Peer Pressure

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Paul, a father of five, noticed one day at the family dinner that his oldest, 14-year-old Angela, was upset.
So, at the first opportunity he asked her kindly but pointedly:
“Angela, what is upsetting you? Are you feeling okay?”
“It is nothing, Dad…”
But Paul knew better, so he pressed, “Come on my dear, what is the matter? There is something bothering you, and I want to help.”
Angela trusted her dad, so she quickly gave in, saying,
“It’s school…It used to be nice, but now…it’s…it’s…horrible!”
“How so?” asked the concerned father.
“I feel pushed to do what I know is not right, I’d like to do the right thing but, at the same time… I hate displeasing people…” concluded Angela.
“Oh my dear, that’s called peer pressure. You see, God made us social beings, and that’s a good thing. We are called to live in society and bond with our fellow human beings. But there is a down side to this social instinct when we feel that to get along with a particular group, we need to agree with everything they say and do.”
“That’s it! That’s how I feel. Did you have that problem when you were my age, Dad?’
“Oh yes, peer pressure goes back centuries… It is as old as the Old Testament.”
“And how did you deal with peer pressure, Dad?” asked Angela.

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Seeing he had Angela’s full attention, Paul settled deeper into his chair.
“Well, here is a little lesson I learned from my wise mother. It is pretty simple and it works. But it takes determination and courage.”
Angela was all ears.
“You take two pieces of paper and you make two lists. On list A you write the names of the friends in school that you can say NO to. On list B you write the names of the ones you can’t say NO to.”
Paul continued, “Once you have your A names and your B names, you make a DECISION to only associate with those on list A, and you only begin associating with the people on list B once you feel strong enough to do so–not before.”
And Paul added:
“As simple as this seems, it will still take courage and humility…courage to do it and put it into practice: and humility to admit that you are not strong enough in yourself and in your Faith to deal with those on list B. Sometime in the future this may change, but for now, stick to the plan. It works!”
Angela thanked her dad, a slow smile spreading across her face.
“I…think…I can do that!”
And skipping dessert, she went straight to her room to write her A and B lists

 
 

Contributed by Bernadette
 
 

The Third Order and the Catholic Lay Apostolate

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The Third Order Secular of St. Francis and Catholic Action, the co-operation of the Catholic laity with the clergy in their efforts to establish the reign of Christ in the hearts of men, go hand in hand.  Article 81 of the Constitutions of the Third Order Secular states the following:

 

“In  keeping with the mind of the supreme pontiffs, the directors and the members of the Seraphic Order shall readily support and carry out, in full co-operation with the ecclesiastical superiors, the projects proposed by them in their respective nations, regions, dioceses, or parishes, and in particular the work of Catholic Action.”

 

The idea of involving Franciscan tertiaries with Catholic Action was not invented under the reign of Pope Pius XII during which time the Constitutions were promulgated.  Rather, it stretches back decades to Pope Leo XIII and Pope St. Pius X.

 

Here is an article taken from the September 1914 issue of the Franciscan Herald that briefly discusses this topic.

 

A great combination today would be the Third Order Secular of St. Francis and the League of Christ the King.  Both are under the auspices of the SSPX-Marian Corps.  Please do consider joining.