Do you happen to know how far in advance the four were announced back in 1988?
I don't, but this post from another thread suggests that it was even less than two weeks before the event:
https://laportelatine.org/formation/crise-eglise/sacres-1988/histoire-des-sacres-episcopaux-1988-annonce-des-sacres
+ Lefebvre was asking for ONE bishop from Ratzinger, taken from the ranks of the SSPX. May 5, 1988 seems that was still the basic plan.
(then THREE)
"...Moreover, the Fr. of Chalard having confirmed the intention of the founder of Ecône de consecrate three bishops on 30 June, the cardinal asked him to transmit an invitation to return to Rome. A new meeting is then scheduled for 24 May..."
( Original French text."...De plus, l’abbé du Chalard ayant confirmé l’intention du fondateur d’Ecône de sacrer trois évêques au 30 juin, le cardinal lui demande de transmettre une invitation à revenir à Rome. Une nouvelle
rencontre est alors prévue pour le 24 mai...")
...since "we thought that you would give us the means to continue and develop the works of tradition, especially by giving me some coadjutors, at least three, and also giving the Roman organism a majority to Tradition". For it is always a question of remaining “without any progressive and conciliar influence”. Archbishop Lefebvre did not change this point.
(again THREE bishops)...
Finally, Archbishop Lefebvre takes matters into his own hands:
“That is why, to our great regret, we are obliged to ask you that, before the date of 1 June, you clearly indicate to us what the intentions of the Holy See are on these two points: consecration of the three bishops applied for 30 June and majority of the members of the Tradition in the Roman Commission. Without replying to these requests, I will publish the names of the candidates that I will be devoting on 30 June with the assistance of S. Exc. Monsignor de Castro Mayer. My health, the apostolic necessities for the growth of our works, no longer allow for additional time.”
“That is why we will give ourselves the means to continue the work that Providence has entrusted to us, assured by the letter of His Eminence Cardinal Ratzinger of 30 May, that the episcopal consecration is not contrary to the will of the Holy See, since it is granted by 15 August. We will continue to pray that modern Rome, infested with modernism, will return to Catholic Rome..."
Finally, the Press conference June 15 ?, 1988, + L speaks of FOUR bishops.
We must place the events that are taking place today that are going to happen in the near future – particularly the episcopal consecration of four young bishops on 30 June – in the context of our difficulties with Rome, not only since 1970, since the founding of Fraternity, but since the Council...
(Il faut placer les événements qui se passent aujourd’hui et qui vont se passer demain – particulièrement la consécration épiscopale de quatre jeunes évêques le 30 juin – dans le contexte de nos difficultés avec Rome, non seulement depuis 1970, depuis la fondation d’Écône, mais depuis le Concile.)...
Source: https://www.cathinfo.com/sspx-resistance-news/the-original-four/msg979772/#msg979772
Topic: Five new bishops for the SSPX? (Read 11040 times)