I wish I knew what my grandmother knew. But as long as we pray for our loved ones, that is all that matters. They pray for us too which is such a comfort.
Your post rings so true for me. My g-ma was SSPX, but not sure about sede (if you think the Chair is filled, but with a questionable sort, what is that?). I grew up knowing of problems between my family members, but my g-ma (who passed just before 9/11), was always at peace, praying incessantly, even though her rare Mass attendance (huge drive) caused "issues" with her children's families and the in-laws (incl. my mom, just like yours!). Then my Mom passed this year, and I'm following my husband, and we're reading up on stuff. Huge.
NOW, even to Daddy, it looks like g-ma was right. She never pulled us into a corner and whispered things, and my mother found indie priests after our home parish fell (and I do mean, "fell"), but I too WISH I would have asked my g-ma a lot more, as well. She had collected all these books and clippings, had old prayer books; she and her brother, both. And it was ALL auctioned off except pictures. (She was an old g-ma for me: my parents didn't marry until near 40, so I remember only one g-parent, and she was constantly needled about ++Lefebvre and being schismatic or whatever. She
did not care, and was very prayerful and at peace. Now I wish I knew her secret. (Well, praying the rosary and trusting in God, but I missed the 60s/70s, and was young in the 80s, so I don't know much.)
We know of parishes listed as Diocesan but are not; we're already "underground", after a fashion. We weren't sure at first, reading an old missae, but it all looked right (esp compared to clown masses and kids dancing on the altar at the large NO mass cathedrals and parishes!) —God's watched over us well, but our priest is in his mid-80s... Scary out there.
So I'm reading everything I can get my hands on. I know I have to be IN the Church, but away from the Conciliar Church, and finding that thin line, much less walking it, is nerve-wracking.
(I'm still enjoying the drama in Windswept, but MM's really making JP2 out to be a saint, which makes me nervous. And the Russia stuff, I haven't gotten there yet, but that makes me nervous, as well, unless MM is going to suggest that JP2 or BXVI pulled off some sort of consecration that we don't know about, maybe explaining some positive-seeming developments in Russia.)
My Mom just passed this year (accident, long agonizing process); my Dad won't talk about Church, just shuts the priests up and takes the Sacraments and pays up.
So I'm doing this study on my own. Since January. I'm finding, (1) there are people are like me, not satisfied with dealing with the Conciliar Church, but unsure what to do, and (2) LOTS of "Jesus is here; Jesus is there" conspiracy theorists that wig me out. (One is like, the Most Holy Family Monastery, but they don't like anyone). I'm sure many are false witnesses, and it's hard to figure out who to trust. That's why I'm being careful with MM, though I'm glad many here seem to think he's legit.
—If JP2
is a saint, oh man do I have some repenting to do
(I never cursed him or anything, but I definitely questioned his actions in my mind. But I honored him as the Pope, because what else can you do? Pope
Michael?! But I can't hang with some of JP2's actions. MM is going to have to wind a huge explanation for me to trust that JP2 listened to the Holy Spirit. Because I'm not judging him, but you have to see the fruit, and the fruit is rotten.)