Wow...
You know, that whole story sounds -very- familiar, like, what could have happened to Saint Michael's hadn't the people up here been wise to what the diocese was up to.
The community did not just show up out of thin air at the whim of the diocese. This community actually started back in the 1970s on a privately built chapel. At one point a bishop declared the community a schism. It actually came into good standing with the Church by agreeing to locate on property owned by the diocese and having diocese clergy. Some of the families have invested tens of thousands of dollars into the property.
Now I'll tell you how Saint Michael's got here (and before the SSPX took it over.)
A man here was putting men through seminary. Couldn't have children of his own, and spent his money wisely. He went to a more "conservative" parish at the time, and when one of those priests came to celebrate Mass here (the novus ordo in its early years) he recognized that sermon he gave as entirely modernist. When approaching the young priest about his non-Catholic sermon, the priest replied that "we have to get with the times," and other insane modernist drivel.
After being thoroughly disappointed, he went to the bishop with some friends of his (early JBS members, genuine ones, not what it is now or even was a few years after its foundation) to tell him that "We want our Mass back!" To which the bishop predictably replied, "No."
The men, after being turned down, got together and tried to figure out how to get Mass "the old way." This man had a very nice piece of property overlooking the river, with a few buildings on it, including a garage, which was turned into the church (over the years was added onto twice, too.)
They looked for a priest, and found (little did they know, was in league with the bishop to shut the whole operation down before it even started) a diocesan priest who said that he would step in and provide Mass for them "the old way."
EXACTLY as this says here:
So you have a diocesan priest? How do you know you are receiving hosts consecrated in the True Mass? I know for a fact in some places rebel new church "priests" still say "for all" rendering the consecration doubtful at the least.
THIS happened, and amazingly, someone found out, and lo and behold, he was found out.
Numerous times this priest had approached the man that owned the property, asking him to turn over the property to him, IN HIS NAME, so that it would be "safe." After it was uncovered that he was altering the consecratory prayers to reflect the ICEL novus ordo prayers, he was told to leave. It was only after the electricity and water were turned off, and only after a subpoena was given to the bishop himself, that the priest finally left the premises.
The church continued to get bigger, and of course, that "no" answer the bishop had given the man that demanded, "We want our Mass back!" began to seem like a bad idea. How to draw people away... hmm. Give them permission on DIOCESE property to have the Mass since the trickery didn't work. If people are actually "recognized" by the diocese, it'll make them seem legitimate, and money will continue to come in, and the ideas of the novus ordo religion can still be preached from the pulpits, continuing the incrementalism that began in the 1950s.
So, what happened? Lots of people were allured by being "under the bishop" and not some "fanatics" that have "their own church... like the protestants."
But Saint Michael's survived through all that with people coming and going, the Devil trying to throw a wrench into the congregation every few years, only to see it become stronger.
I truly, truly pray that this gigantic wrench the Devil has thrown into our congregation can be thrown right back in his face, when the SSPX is asked to leave sometime soon.
It's all about control, crossbro. It's all about control.
The bishop has no control over Saint Michaels, but now they have another problem. The SSPX is trying to get Saint Michael's to hand control over the property to them, for seemingly practical reasons.... such as... insurance reasons, and to make sure there are "authorized" priests that come onto the property to "protect" the congregation from "nutty independent priests" (I really hope they don't forget that Father Bolduc (RIP) was one of those) like Father Hewko. God forbid that he should be able to set foot on the property and *gasp* maybe cause people to use their heads and see what's actually happening.
There are many that are from that original group from the 1970s that you describe, that still attend the "indult." They compromised with the novus ordo. Every priest that has Mass there MUST say that the Novus Ordo is just as good as the ancient received and approved rites (which they stupidly call the "extraordinary form") of the Church, and they must accept Vatican II (last I heard.)
If you're comfortable with that, then you just go right ahead. As for me, I'm not going to compromise.
The SSPX is wanting to make an agreement with Rome. They're closing Mass locations that are 30+ years old, and selling them to go into debt building a new facility. These were privately owned, before the SSPX cashed in, promising the safety of these properties in their hands. Consecrated ground... for sale? Well I guess if the Novus Ordo can do it, then so can the SSPX, eh?
I have three choices here. Wanna hear?
1) I could go down to the diocesan "latin mass" here. It's the "bishop's private chapel." The people have been threatened for years that the diocese would shut them down unless they donated more money. (Of course they would never do that because then people wouldn't go back to the Novus Ordo, they would go back to Saint Michael's, and then they would see no money. All empty threats, but that's how the diocese maintains control, through fear.) Meanwhile, in the pews are "ladies" wearing pants and nothing on their heads, low cut shirts, et cetera, with not a peep coming from the pulpit about it. (Believe me, I started out at the "indult.") Then you have the novus ordo being celebrated there, where they roll out the big chopping block when Mass is over, and move it away before Mass starts. How do I know those hosts are coming from the "latin mass" priest, or the novus ordo priest? See? I don't.
Nice first option, eh? Here's the second.
2) I could go to Saint Michael's. The SSPX is there now, and despite the popular belief in the beginning, they're not using Father Bolduc's missal (despite the fact even that they said they were.) This was actually supposed to be enforced by the board, but nope. People on this board generally know the gigantic holes in Father Themann's arguments (who is the parish priest at Saint Michael's now) regarding the "Resistance to What?" but besides that, his belief that Quo Primum is "part disciplinary and part dogmatic" is enough to keep me away.
Great second option, hmm? Well here's the third.
3) I go and spend $300+ in gas costs to drive 5+ hours to either Lamont, IL, or Minneapolis, MN, for Mass, once a month. (Will be longer since I just had Alma on the 23rd.) God understands why I can't make it every Sunday. And I continue to pray that the Resistance priests make it up here regularly, as soon as possible. I pray that somehow, the SSPX will be asked to leave Saint Michael's and I can go back (although I don't deserve that result, pitiful person that I am.)
So there you have it. Your situation is "between a rock and a hard place." That's how mine is. Welcome to the club.
Topic: Reasons I wont go SSPX (Read 4456 times)