Hello HSM and Barbara:
I would refer you to posts 19 and 34 in the CCCC thread.
Excerpt from #19:
Archbishop Lefebvre considered collaboration with the rallied/approved once-traditional groups like the FSSP or IBP impossible:
"And we must not waver for one moment either in not being with those who are in the process of betraying us. Some people are always admiring the grass in the neighbor's field. Instead of looking to their friends, to the Church's defenders, to those fighting on the battlefield, they look to our enemies on the other side. "After all, we must be charitable, we must be kind, we must not be divisive, after all, they are celebrating the Tridentine Mass, they are not as bad as everyone says"—but they are betraying us—betraying us! They are shaking hands with the Church's destroyers. They are shaking hands with people holding modernist and liberal ideas condemned by the Church. So they are doing the devil's work.
Thus those who were with us and were working with us for the rights of Our Lord, for the salvation of souls, are now saying, "So long as they grant us the old Mass, we can shake hands with Rome, no problem." But we are seeing how it works out. They are in an impossible situation. Impossible. One cannot both shake hands with modernists and keep following Tradition. Not possible. Not possible.
Now, stay in touch with them to bring them back, to convert them to Tradition, yes, if you like, that's the right kind of ecuмenism! But give the impression that after all one almost regrets any break, that one likes talking to them? No way! These are people who call us corpse-like traditionalists, they are saying that we are as rigid as corpses, ours is not a living Tradition, we are glum-faced, ours is a glum Tradition! Unbelievable! Unimaginable! What kind of relations can you have with people like that?"
http://sspx.org/en/two-years-after-consecrations (http://sspx.org/en/two-years-after-consecrations)
Excerpt from #34:
Archbishop Lefebvre and the old SSPX pulled no punches in teaching the faithful why the Ecclesia Dei communities had sold out the fight for tradition, and that therefore we ought not to attend their Masses:
"The Fraternity of St. Peter is founded upon more than questionable principles, for the following reasons:
Quote
to take away the Mass of all time (for the Novus Ordo Missae is not another form of this, question 5 (http://archives.sspx.org/SSPX_FAQs/q5_novus_ordo_missae.htm)),
to grant it to those only who accept the same Conciliar Church’s novel orientations (in life, belief, structures),
to declare non-Catholic those who deny this by word or deed (An interpretation of "Everyone should be aware that formal adherence to the schism [of Archbishop Lefebvre] is a grave offense against God and carries the penalty of excommunication." Ecclesia Dei Afflicata), and,
to professes itself in a certain way in communion with anyone calling himself “Christian,” and yet to declare itself out of communion with Catholics whose sole crime is wanting to remain Catholic (Vatican II, e.g., Lumen Gentium, §15; Unitatis Redintegratio §3).
Quote
they reject the Novus Ordo Missae only because it is not their “spirituality” and claim the traditional Latin Mass only in virtue of their “charism” acknowledged them by the pope,
they seek to ingratiate themselves with the local bishops, praising them for the least sign of Catholic spirit and keeping quiet on their modernist deviations (unless perhaps it is a question of a diocese where they have no hopes of starting up), even though by doing so they end up encouraging them along their wrong path, and
note, for example, the Fraternity’s whole-hearted acceptance of the (New) Catechism of the Catholic Church (question 14 (http://archives.sspx.org/SSPX_FAQs/q14_new_catechism.htm)), acceptance of Novus Ordo professors in their seminaries, and blanket acceptance of Vatican II’s orthodoxy (question 6 (http://archives.sspx.org/SSPX_FAQs/q6_vatican_ii.htm)).
They are therefore Conciliar Catholics and not traditional Catholics.
This being so, attending their Mass is:
- accepting the compromise on which they are based,
- accepting the direction taken by the Conciliar Church and the consequent destruction of the Catholic Faith and practices, and
- accepting, in particular, the lawfulness and doctrinal soundness of the Novus Ordo Missae and Vatican II.
That is why a Catholic ought not to attend their Masses."
http://archives.sspx.org/SSPX_FAQs/q13_fraternity_of_st_peter.htm (http://archives.sspx.org/SSPX_FAQs/q13_fraternity_of_st_peter.htm)
But that was the SSPX before the ralliement (or rather, before the ralliement was made public!).
Hello HSM and Barbara:
I would refer you to posts 19 and 34 in the CCCC thread.
Excerpt from #19:
Archbishop Lefebvre considered collaboration with the rallied/approved once-traditional groups like the FSSP or IBP impossible:
"And we must not waver for one moment either in not being with those who are in the process of betraying us. Some people are always admiring the grass in the neighbor's field. Instead of looking to their friends, to the Church's defenders, to those fighting on the battlefield, they look to our enemies on the other side. "After all, we must be charitable, we must be kind, we must not be divisive, after all, they are celebrating the Tridentine Mass, they are not as bad as everyone says"—but they are betraying us—betraying us! They are shaking hands with the Church's destroyers. They are shaking hands with people holding modernist and liberal ideas condemned by the Church. So they are doing the devil's work.
Thus those who were with us and were working with us for the rights of Our Lord, for the salvation of souls, are now saying, "So long as they grant us the old Mass, we can shake hands with Rome, no problem." But we are seeing how it works out. They are in an impossible situation. Impossible. One cannot both shake hands with modernists and keep following Tradition. Not possible. Not possible.
Now, stay in touch with them to bring them back, to convert them to Tradition, yes, if you like, that's the right kind of ecuмenism! But give the impression that after all one almost regrets any break, that one likes talking to them? No way! These are people who call us corpse-like traditionalists, they are saying that we are as rigid as corpses, ours is not a living Tradition, we are glum-faced, ours is a glum Tradition! Unbelievable! Unimaginable! What kind of relations can you have with people like that?"
http://sspx.org/en/two-years-after-consecrations (http://sspx.org/en/two-years-after-consecrations)
Excerpt from #34:
Archbishop Lefebvre and the old SSPX pulled no punches in teaching the faithful why the Ecclesia Dei communities had sold out the fight for tradition, and that therefore we ought not to attend their Masses:
"The Fraternity of St. Peter is founded upon more than questionable principles, for the following reasons:
Quote
Quote
They are therefore Conciliar Catholics and not traditional Catholics.
This being so, attending their Mass is:
- accepting the compromise on which they are based,
- accepting the direction taken by the Conciliar Church and the consequent destruction of the Catholic Faith and practices, and
- accepting, in particular, the lawfulness and doctrinal soundness of the Novus Ordo Missae and Vatican II.
That is why a Catholic ought not to attend their Masses."
http://archives.sspx.org/SSPX_FAQs/q13_fraternity_of_st_peter.htm (http://archives.sspx.org/SSPX_FAQs/q13_fraternity_of_st_peter.htm)
But that was the SSPX before the ralliement (or rather, before the ralliement was made public!).
And then there is this letter from Archbishop Lefebvre (and how well it describes the SSPX of the last several years!!):
A Letter from Archbishop Lefebvre, regarding Indult Masses
Let us put this docuмent in context: It was written several months after “Operation Survival,” the consecration of the four bishops on 30 June 1988, which was accomplished not only without the approval of Pope John Paul II, but also against his will. The Fraternity of St. Peter was created the day following the consecrations, and conciliar Rome was busy trying to ‘pull in’ the more or less traditional Catholics.
It is always good to reread Archbishop Lefebvre, particularly in order to understand that beyond some conciliatory steps and words towards the supreme authority (of the Church), he was not fooled. He was well aware of the Fight for the Faith that (unfortunately) it was necessary to lead against this authority.
Here is the text of his letter [bold emphasis is added by us]:
"Saint-Michel en Brenne, 18 March 1989
I am responding immediately to your kind letter which I received yesterday at Saint-Michel1 (http://www.dominicansavrille.us/indult-masses-archbishop-lefebvre-think/#sdfootnote1sym), to tell you what I think about those priests who have received a “celebret” from the Roman Commission2 (http://www.dominicansavrille.us/indult-masses-archbishop-lefebvre-think/#sdfootnote2sym) charged with dividing and destroying us.
It is evident that by putting themselves in the hands of the current conciliar authorities, they are implicitly accepting the Council and the ensuing reforms, even if they have received some privileges which remain exceptional and provisory.
Their speech is paralyzed because of this acceptance. The bishops are watching them! It is very regrettable that these priests are not aware of this reality. But we cannot fool the faithful.
The same may be said regarding these “traditional Masses” organized by the dioceses. They are celebrated between two conciliar masses. The celebrating priest says the new as well as the old. How, and by whom is Holy Communion distributed? What will the sermon be? etc.
These masses are scams which lead the faithful to compromise their principles! Many have already abandoned them.
What must change is their liberal and modernist doctrine. We must arm ourselves with patience and pray. God’s hour will come.
God’s blessings to you on this holy feast of Easter.
Best regards to you in Christ and Mary.
Abp. Lefebvre
1 (http://www.dominicansavrille.us/indult-masses-archbishop-lefebvre-think/#sdfootnote1anc) Saint-Michel en-Brenne is the Mother House of the sisters of the Society.
2 (http://www.dominicansavrille.us/indult-masses-archbishop-lefebvre-think/#sdfootnote2anc) Ecclesia Dei Commission"
http://www.dominicansavrille.us/indult-masses-archbishop-lefebvre-think/ (http://www.dominicansavrille.us/indult-masses-archbishop-lefebvre-think/)