Steady Principles for Unsteady Times - Concerning interpreting Archbishop Lefebvre's Writings, Conferences, Interviews etc
From my point of view, quoting a sentence of Archbishop Lefebvre from this or that sermon or conference is not a reliable means of understanding his thoughts since the selection of quotes is possibly guided by what we want to find.
For example, one year after the consecrations Archbishop Lefebvre said:
Two years after the consecrations Archbishop Lefebvre said the following:
Four quotations from two interviews given a year apart from which we have a variety of possible interpretations.
Do the latter words negate the former? I don't think so because the 'let them first make us such an offer' and 'when they have come back to their Traditional Faith' occur in the same interview.
Secondly, the demonstration of the vitality of Tradition is what convinced Rome to negotiate, I am thinking of the Rome pilgrimage of 2000.
Thirdly, what constitutes 'come back to their Traditional Faith'? Is it just the Pope or all of the Church? This does not really provide a good guideline since it is too subjective.
The same arguments can be made for the 'Conciliar Church' statements, bandied about as a reason for even not interacting with Rome. The 'resistance' logic behind this stance is that any canonical regularization 'joining' the SSPX to the 'Conciliar Church', which is not the Church [of Christ], is tantamount to joining the 'Conciliar Church' in schism.
So how to resolve these conflicting interpretations?
By measuring any interpretation of Archbishop Lefebvre's words against a true standard: Catholic Dogma, Doctrine and Principles.
There's a lot to work through but here's a summary:
If a person's interpretation of a statement by Archbishop Lefebvre causes them to contradict the above or any teachings/principles of the Church, then I believe that they are misinterpreting the Archbishop.
I believe the Archbishop to have been to well trained a theologian to have made such errors. Furthermore, he did say that he simplified his mode of address depending upon whom he was talking to.
In my experience, I have yet to find a point where he has deviated from them when taking into account the full context.
I have, however, encountered a number of people who engage in unending quote wars and who are unable to reconcile their interpretation of his words with the doctrines I listed.
That is why I turned to doctrinal principles as a means of debate and discussion. It provides an objective point of reference.
An objective point of reference is absolutely necessary in these unsteady times.
P^3
Prayer
Penance
Patience
For example, one year after the consecrations Archbishop Lefebvre said:
"... You wish to bring us round to the Council in a reconciliation, and what we want is to be recognized as we are. We wish to continue Tradition as we are doing."
"... actions speak louder than words. When we open a seminary or when we create priories, or when we open schools, when the sisters swarm and the convents multiply, that is the only way of forcing Rome to negotiate. It's not a question of my being there, it's a question of the works we
do. At Rome, they're well aware that what we're doing is not nothing. The bishops get a little annoyed when we implant ourselves here and there, and so they complain to Rome and Rome knows what's going on."
Two years after the consecrations Archbishop Lefebvre said the following:
"... Someone was saying to me yesterday, "But what if Rome accepted your bishops and then you were completely exempted from the other bishops' jurisdiction?" But firstly, they are a long way right now from accepting any such thing, and then, let them first make us such an offer! But I do not think they are anywhere near doing so..."
"However, one day they will be obliged to recognize that the Society represents a spiritual force and a strength of the Faith which is irreplaceable and which they will have, I hope, the joy and the satisfaction to make use of, but when they have come back to their Traditional Faith."
Four quotations from two interviews given a year apart from which we have a variety of possible interpretations.
Do the latter words negate the former? I don't think so because the 'let them first make us such an offer' and 'when they have come back to their Traditional Faith' occur in the same interview.
Secondly, the demonstration of the vitality of Tradition is what convinced Rome to negotiate, I am thinking of the Rome pilgrimage of 2000.
Thirdly, what constitutes 'come back to their Traditional Faith'? Is it just the Pope or all of the Church? This does not really provide a good guideline since it is too subjective.
The same arguments can be made for the 'Conciliar Church' statements, bandied about as a reason for even not interacting with Rome. The 'resistance' logic behind this stance is that any canonical regularization 'joining' the SSPX to the 'Conciliar Church', which is not the Church [of Christ], is tantamount to joining the 'Conciliar Church' in schism.
So how to resolve these conflicting interpretations?
By measuring any interpretation of Archbishop Lefebvre's words against a true standard: Catholic Dogma, Doctrine and Principles.
There's a lot to work through but here's a summary:
- The Church is "A body of men united together by the profession of the same Christian Faith, and by participation in the same sacraments, under the governance of lawful pastors, more especially of the Roman Pontiff, the sole vicar of Christ on earth" (Bellarmine, De Eccl., III, ii, 9) - Catholic Encyclopedia
- This Church includes both the good and the bad. Even if the hierarchy, is 'debased by crime' they are still within the Church and retain their authority - Catechism of the Council of Trent
- There are degrees to heresy with 'heresy - proper' being the 'pertinacious' denial of a defined de fide teaching (238 ish teachings). This degree of heresy must be manifested by the individual publicly and pertinaciously in order for the separation from the Church noted above to be in effect. - Catholic Encyclopedia
- Following this a Catholic material heretic remains 'in the Church' as their error is presumed to be temporary and that they would submit when corrected by the Church - Catholic Encyclopedia
- In anything less than an explicit denial of a de-fide truth, a compentent authority has to render a judgment. - Robert Siscoe quoting Canon Hesse.
- The sin of schism has the same effect as heresy, in that it renders the responsible person outside of the Church. Simple disobedience does not constitute schism, unless it includes a denial of the authorities 'Divine right to command'. As such the refusal of submission to a legitimate command can imply such a denial. - Catholic Encyclopedia
- "The Church is indefectible, that is, she remains and will remain the Institution of Salvation, founded by Christ, until the end of the world. (Sent. certa.)" Ott - Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma
- The Church is visible, and the foundation of both its visibility and unity is the Pope - Ott and First Vatican Council
- Because of indefectibility the Church, even now, retains the four marks (One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic). Following the principle of indefectibility and the special infallibility afforded to the Church in her discipline and laws, the new sacraments as promulgated are valid and provide grace under the normal conditions (form, matter, intention).
- Obedience due to a superior is required if the command falls within the scope of authority and are not 'against God'. Disobedience in this condition is sinful - Summa 2,2, Q104, A5
- Correction of a superior can be done in charity and must be done 'in a becoming manner, not with impudence and harshness, but with gentleness and respect' - Summa II II Q.33, a.4, ad 2m
If a person's interpretation of a statement by Archbishop Lefebvre causes them to contradict the above or any teachings/principles of the Church, then I believe that they are misinterpreting the Archbishop.
I believe the Archbishop to have been to well trained a theologian to have made such errors. Furthermore, he did say that he simplified his mode of address depending upon whom he was talking to.
In my experience, I have yet to find a point where he has deviated from them when taking into account the full context.
I have, however, encountered a number of people who engage in unending quote wars and who are unable to reconcile their interpretation of his words with the doctrines I listed.
That is why I turned to doctrinal principles as a means of debate and discussion. It provides an objective point of reference.
An objective point of reference is absolutely necessary in these unsteady times.
P^3
Prayer
Penance
Patience
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