http://tradcatresist.blogspot.ie/By: Tradcatresist
Due to the actions of Pope Francis (and arguably Bishop Fellay's trajectory i.e the refusal of the SSPX to loudly condemn those actions) sedevacantism has made great gains throughout tradition over the last couple of years.
Personally, I have never known as many people question a Pope's legitimacy, and never expected that even conservative Catholic's would be asking the same thing.
Perhaps due to a combination of a conspiratorial nature, and
ahem "quirkiness" that one finds in the resistance, the question of sedevacantism has now begun to divide cleric and layman alike. This is only to be expected, if one has left behind a "comfortable" existence with the SSPX for
'refusing to compromise with error' then one can hardly blame people for '
blowing a gasket' when they find themselves fighting
needless arguments within a remnant of a remnant.
The question of how to deal with this problem is difficult indeed. Some obviously believe that to argue publicly helps sedevacantists achieve their aim. There is a logic to this, many traditionalists are historically open to easy black and white solutions Also, many laymen are ignorant of the issues involved and susceptible to those with convincing reasoning. I myself was shocked when I left the SSPX by the quite incredible lack of understanding of basic SSPX arguments by the average member of the laity. To give one example, supplied jurisdiction. (
Indeed, many people attending should not be, as they are only doing so for geographical reasons, rather than a necessity for supplied jurisdiction. They would be just as content at a local diocesan Latin Mass.)
On the other hand, how are people ever going to be convinced of error if they are not debated. I hope that this is the aim of Fr Chazal's new work and concede that forums are not
always the best avenue. Particularly, when they seem to attract people with a seemingly limitless time to cut and paste but not enough time to reflect that what one says to another member of Christ's mystical body is there for all the world to see now and forever. However, without such forums would we have been made aware of GREC, Krah, the letter of the three Bishop's etc etc? The moderator of the most popular resistance forum rarely says something I disagree with, indeed I sometimes am shocked at the response he gets when he simply states truths that were common place in every SSPX parish fifteen years ago. However, some regular contributors need to ask themselves what is in their heart when they argue their point, love for souls or destroying an opponent?
Possibly, a part of the problem is a lack of direction from above. Small positive initiatives can often distract laity from their 'bug-bears' and I do believe that not enough is being done to encourage laity in this way. In Ireland one such small initiative is streaming a fortnightly Mass by Fr Edward MacDonald. This will enable those unable to attend Mass that day to unite with those in attendance. (
see here) Only a small initiative but a positive one to help souls in need.Could we not put sermons onto audio CD's for others? Could we ourselves not print off interesting articles for non-internet savvy elderly parishioners? Could we offer to help a large family struggling with the demands of small children? Even a lift somewhere, a meal or a kind word can be all that is needed. Or perhaps a fund raising drive for a missionary effort can often unite those in conflict. I am sure that a certain Brazilian monastery, or a bamboo seminary would not say no.
One of the most charitable clerics in these situations is perhaps the most hated and vilified by those who do not know him (
and sometimes by those who do, to their shame) Bishop Richard Williamson. Whilst publicly disagreeing with their non-una cuм position he still recognises souls in need and will help them in his capacity as Bishop if necessary.
Fr Roy, one of those misguided in conflict over this unnecessary issue, recently said -
"Of course, making the decision to leave the Society of St. Pius X is something serious. Despite the very serious reasons that convinced the various priests to take this step and probably because of the inertia of so many other confreres, we always wonder a little if we made the right decision. As time passes and in front of a situation that has been worsening within the fraternity in recent years, it is clear that this was the right thing to do. In fact, if you speak with most priests who have left, they will tell you that they consider their departure as a great grace.
Providence does not fail to give us clear signs either. A few weeks ago, for example, the ceremonialist who was assisting me in Montreal at the Mass on April 17, 2016 (the date of my first compromising sermon), was getting married in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in front of the modernist priest of the Novus Ordo parish, before the amazed eyes of the priest of the Society of St. Pius X, serving as a flower pot and preparing to celebrate the Mass under the eyes of the amazed modernist priest. The marriage of two young traditionalists, but the marriage especially of two churches. Alice in Wonderland! Priest of the Brotherhood tell me who you frequent, I will tell you who you are
. Nothing really surprising about this is the arrangements made by Pope Francis and accepted with boundless gratitude by Bishop Fellay. The principle being accepted, the practice will gradually follow, when the spirits will get used to it. Nothing new under the sun. The mechanisms of the revolution are known. Only those who will oppose the whip will survive as always. The others
will become accustomed to this umpteenth compromise, the compromise in these domains being a lack of love for God and his Church, and the lack of love being always punished by the blindness of the mind and the lukewarmness of the heart.
Like all those who have lived in closed worlds, the fact of being outside also allows us to consider things with a little more hindsight and to make a more just judgment. Many, seeing us leave the Society of St. Pius X, behave with us as if we had left the Church. In fact, we have left a religious congregation and continue to serve the Church where Providence guides us. The Fraternity is a means permitted by God and not an end, and if this means is corrupted and becomes an obstacle to the good of Tradition and souls, we must know how to detach ourselves from it. It is Ignatian indifference:
I will only use creatures to the extent that they guide me towards the end that God has given me, and I will detach myself from them to the extent that they become an obstacle to this end. How many priests should practice what they preach in the Spiritual Exercises!
The fact of leaving the Society also brings us into contact with a small world that abounds outside of it and allows us to open our eyes to a different reality: no, the Brotherhood is not the Church and is not Tradition, contrary to what many members seem to preach. She is one of them, but the flock of the Lord is at this moment truly scattered all over the earth, and everywhere are souls of good will who remain faithful to God as best they can. There is no shortage of rising voices or gestures that arise within what is called "Resistance" and that tend to recreate a small world just as cloisonné and impervious. This could only be done to the detriment of the souls of the faithful and we pray Providence to give everyone "a heart as wide as the sand that is by the sea." 1 Kings, 5.9"
A good point well made. Let us all make an effort to act with charity towards one another and recognise what this crisis
has done to us all. I end with the words of a former sedevacantist, reaching out to former friends, talking sense as always, who all should listen to due to his experience and love of souls.
Don Curzio Nitoglia
Topic: CONFLICT (Read 1279 times)