---

https://sspx.ca/en/spirit-sspx-archbishop-lefebvre-34073

Article no. 5
   The spirit of the Society is the spirit of the Church, the spirit of faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ and in His redemptive work. The entire history of the Church, over the last twenty centuries, reveals the fundamental principles of the Church as inspired by the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Our Lord.

   The priest is at the heart of this divine work of the renaissance of souls and their divinization in preparation for their future glory. All his thoughts, ambitions, and actions must be inspired by this spirit of faith. This spirit of faith is essentially a spirit contemplating the crucified and glorified Jesus. The Faith is the seed of the beatific vision, which is an eternally blessed contemplation.

   That is why the Church has always encouraged contemplative Orders and has placed them at the head of religious societies. Maria optimam partem elegit [Mary - as opposed to the active Martha - has chosen the greater part - Ed]. The Church also insists upon the prayer of the priest: his breviary, his daily meditation. It is obvious that if the Church officially prescribes this in Canon Law, in that the soul of the priest must belong entirely to Jesus Christ, then the priest must fulfill the four ends of prayer: adoration, thanksgiving, impetration and propitiation.

   If contemplation is a glance of love towards the crucified and glorified Jesus, then it places the soul in the hands of God - 'In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum'- and this cannot occur unless we completely abandon our will and place it in God’s hands. In other words, a consummate obedience to His holy will; a will indicated by God and those who legitimately participate in His authority and who use that authority correctly; a will that indicates God’s good pleasure in the course of events that affect the very heart of our existence; illnesses, trials… Let us meditate upon these great instructions of the Church and thereby apply their principles by putting them into practice in our own lives.

   This presupposes a deep humility; something that is seen in Benedictine spirituality, which is entirely based upon a progression in the virtue of humility. If the teaching that is contained in the liturgical life is so admirable and draws us towards an ever greater sanctification of soul, then the practical directives of the Church throughout its history, as well as its approval of the many foundations destined to sanctify souls, not to mention the examples of the saints, are all equally precious guidelines for our souls. In following them, according to the grace God grants us, we can be sure of not deceiving ourselves.

   Contemplation, obedience, humility, are all elements of one sole reality: the imitation of Jesus Christ and participation in His infinite love.

   May we be inspired by these sentiments! Consequently, whatever apostolate we may receive, whatever be the results of our efforts, whatever our limitations or weaknesses may be, we will have the consolation of participating in the joys and sufferings of Our Lord, who will also let us participate in His peace and serenity.
This is, and always will be, the secret fruitfulness of the priestly apostolate.

+Marcel Lefebvre

June 26, 1982