Tradicat

Another excellent link provided by a reader. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Fr. Peter Scott, June 2005 Source Q. Is it true to say that now there is a "conciliar" Church? The term "conciliar" is an adjective that has long been used to describe those things that relate to the Second Vatican Council, such as the documents, commissions, or novel teachings such as Religious Liberty and Ecumenism. The question raises the objection as to whether this adjective can be used to describe the Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Council.

This article was linked in a comment in my article examining the ecclesiology of the Church, SSPX, and 'resistance'.  As it shows the complete consistency of the SSPX concerning the use and meaning of the phrase 'Conciliar Church', I have reproduced it here to demonstrate once again who has changed and who has not. Source

With the Blue-On-Blue engagement of Church Militant.TV against the SSPX, I think this article is timely. Courtesy of the SSPX What comes first: obedience or fidelity? February 27, 2014  District of the US This article shows how the proper practice of obedience to authorities predicated on fidelity to the Catholic Faith has caused a difference of principle between the SSPX and Ecclesia Dei Communities, despite that both adhere to the traditional Roman Mass. We are pleased to offer this article by Brian McCall which ably demonstrates the distinctive difference in how the SSPX has responded to the post-conciliar crisis versus the Ecclesia Dei Communities.

Further on the theme of the 'conciliar Church', we have the following article from Fr. Stehlin responding to an accusation that the SSPX is going 'soft' on modernism. He recounts five principles that he uses to guide his actions. Courtesy of sspx.org

Church Militant.TV has lobbed an accusation of sedevantism against the SSPX. Here is their response. P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.org

+ JMJ Eventually, the Church will emerge from this Crisis. This is the 'what', as in 'what will happen'. How this will occur, is not exceptionally clear at this point in time. Personally, I am convinced that as this problem started at the penultimate peak of the Church (ie the Vicar of Christ), it is there that the solution will eventually take root. Whether it will be a rapid or gradual recovery is up to the Providence of God. The question for all Catholics (Traditional et al) that recognize that there IS a crisis, is what are we doing to understand it (from leaves to roots) and to help the Church to overcome it. Divine Providence has given all of us unique gifts to put at the service of God and His Church. Likewise, Divine Providence will throw people in our path (sometime literally). Think of this as a mini examination of conscience: Are we ready for the conversations that should entered into when this happens?   Are we strong both in unders...

If anyone wants to know what is at the root of the disagreement between Rome and the Society of St. Pius the Tenth, here is it in the words of its founder: The orders being given us clearly express that they are being given us in order to oblige us to submit without reserve to the Second Vatican Council, to the post-conciliar reforms, and to the prescriptions of the Holy See, that is to say, to the orientations and acts which are undermining our Faith and destroying the Church. It is impossible for us to do this. To collaborate in the destruction of the Church is to betray the Church and to betray Our Lord Jesus Christ. As I wrote in another post, the similarity between what the FFI is being required to accept and what the SSPX was asked to accept are more than just similar.  They are practically identical. They represent the two cultural lines that cannot be crossed if a person or group wants to have the 'Vetus Ordo'.  The 'accept the council' mantra is in full f...

There is a lot happening as the crisis of the Church moves towards what may or may not be a climax: The Canonization of Pope John Paul II. Instead of putting together a single post for each one (as my time is limited these days), I've put together a digest.  These articles highlight some of the ebbs and flows in the crisis or point out some of the cultural norms that stand at odds with the current dominating culture within the Church.

Reblogged from Tradicat I was on my way to the forum one day when ... In some recent discussions about the documents of Vatican II, I recently encountered an interesting aspect of human behaviour. The whole argument started when I stated that one way the Church could solve this crisis would be a correction (rewriting) of the documents of the Council.

+ JMJ Based on previous discussions, I am confident that a number of people would present objections to some of the statements that I made in this article. Here are the ones that I have anticipated and my repsonse. Part 1 P^3

Courtesy of SSPX.org As defined by Archbishop Lefebvre, the Society of St. Pius X's resistance to Modernism is not based on the spirit of rebellion or controversy, but upon a love for Holy Mother Church. We present this editorial of Fr. Michel Simoulin from the February 2014 issue of Le Seignadou , the newsletter of the SSPX's priory of St. Joseph-des-Carmes in Montreal de l'Aude, France. The Association of Fr. de Chivre has just published its 39th paper on the topic of “the Church”. These sermons by Fr. de Chivre date back to the time before, during and after the last Council. It seems to me that meditating on them can help us to “remain level-headed”. For several months now actually, it has seemed that a wind of madness is blowing in our circles, and this wind is so violent and irrational that it has caused some priests or laypeople to fall—too many, but fortunately not as many as they would like you to think. Some fall to the left, finding Bisho...

+ JMJ Providence placed this chapter before my eyes today. May we all profit by the wisdom contained in these words. P^3 Prayer Penance Patience We must not be easy in giving credit to every word and suggestion, but carefully and leisurely weigh the matter according to God.  Alas! such is our weakness, that we often more readily believe and speak of another that which is evil than that which is good.  But perfect men do not easily give credit to every report, because they know man's weakness, which is very prone to evil and very subject to fail in words.  It is great wisdom not to be rash in our doings; nor to maintain too obstinately our own opinion: Nor should we believe every man's word; nor presently tell others the things which we have heard or believed.  Consult with the wise and conscientious man (Tobias VI 19) and seek rather to be instructed by one who is better, than to follow thine own inventions.  A good life makes a man ...

Was all calm after the Council or did the crisis burst to the surface immediately? One year after the Council was concluded, the errors that would become common today were already coming into the light of day. P^3 Prayer Penance Patience Courtesy of SSPX.org

Mr. Verrecchio has pointed out one solution to this crisis that is a dream of many Traditional Catholics of my acquaintance: The complete obliteration of the Novus Ordo Missae. If this were to occur, undoubtedly a revolt would occur within the Church, but the battle lines would be much clearer.  I assume that a lot of material heretics would make the transition to being formal heretics. P^3 Prayer Penance Patience Courtesy of Louie Verrecchio A recent article by Fr. Thomas Kocik on the New Liturgical Movement website,  Reforming the Irreformable? , is getting some well-deserved attention in traditional circles. (Do yourself a favor and read it in its entirety if you haven’t already.)

Courtesy of DICI 27-06-2013 Filed under  Documents During the Pontifical High Mass celebrated in honour of the 25 th  anniversary of the episcopal consecrations, Bishop Bernard Fellay read the declaration signed by the bishops of the Society of St. Pius X, which he introduced in these words: If we are assembled here together today, it is to thank the good God, firstly for the action taken here already twenty-five years ago by our venerated founder, Archbishop Lefebvre, together with Bishop de Castro Mayer: the episcopal consecrations, which the Archbishop called at the time “Operation Survival”. Looking back over these twenty-five years we can see now to what extent his words not only were, but indeed are true. And so our thanksgiving, our gratitude to the Archbishop, to Divine Providence and to all its instruments is very great today.

+ JMJ Providence has cast this prayer in my path twice in the last week.  I decided to post it here in order to have a copy handy. P^3 Prayer Penance Patience Source Intro Prayer With the condition of affairs in the cultural, political and physical world in a state of disarray we enter Lent - Ash Wednesday - February 25th - 2004 - more compelled then ever to pursue, diligently and faithfully, our personal road to holiness. It is a long, difficult path each of us treads, however, we do know the journey can be sweeter and more blessed if we travel it with others. Jesus has told us: "Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I am with you." And there are many other biblical passages, as well, that urge us to love and help one another. A 'Thirty Day Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary ' was said by many Catholics during troubled times in their lives up until Vatican II. While looking through old stored away boxes, I came across a small white prayer b...

+ JMJ What constitutes a legitimate command? According to St. Thomas a legitimate command is issued by a superior to an inferior, within the scope of their authority and does not go against the Divine Law. Much of the conflict within the SSPX is due to a mistrust of those in positions of authority in the hierarchy. It is true that they have done little to earn the trust of traditionalists, the plight of the Franciscans Friars of the Immaculate continues to reinforce that lesson. However, St. Thomas did not include trust in his explanation of the principle of obedience in the Summa.

The pending canonization of Pope John Paul II will cause a number of dilemma's. Not the least of which is the implications for the Indefectibility of the Church. The storm clouds are thickening, stay fast!!! P^3 Prayer Penance Patience Courtesy of SSPX.org A dilemma: canonizing Pope John Paul II February 14, 2014  District of the US If Pope John Paul II is declared a saint, false ecumenism will be canonized. How then should we view saints such as Edmund Campion and Fidelis of Sigmaringen, or others—uncanonized—who have upheld the True Faith in the face of adversity?

Shining the light of Church Teaching on the doctrinal positions of the SSPX and the Resistance. Principles are guides used to aid in decision making.  It stands to reason that bad principles will lead to bad decisions. The recent interactions between Rome and the SSPX has challenged a number of closely held cultural assumptions of people in both sides of the disagreement. This has resulted in cultural skirmishes in both Rome and the SSPX. Since it is the smaller of the two, the skirmishes have been more evident within the SSPX.  The cultural fault-line that Bishop Fellay crossed appears to be linked to two points of Catholic Doctrine: Ecclesiology and Obedience.  The cultural difference of view points is strong enough that it has resulted in the expulsion of a number of members.  It should also be noted that some other priests expelled since the beginning of the latest interactions (starting in 2000) held the same view points and have joined with the l...

While many of traditionalists, having seen what Pope Francis is doing to the FFI, have concluded that he would do the same thing with the SSPX - Mr. Matt has asked a more pertinent question. P^3 Prayer Penance Patience Courtesy of the Remnant What Would Jesus Do...With the SSPX  Written by   Michael Matt | Editor The following letter was sent to The Remnant a couple of weeks ago. It is not atypical of the thousands like it that we’ve received in recent months, posing similar questions. Perhaps posting it here will help instigate a constructive exchange of ideas about the question every one of us must answer, sooner or later: Where do we go from here?  Editor,  The Remnant : I am grateful for your strong defense of this order on Remnant TV  http://youtu.be/tn2nF_b76WA . It has dismayed me to learn of their dismantling under the Vatican’s Fr. Volpi. Your perspective and defense of the friars has helped me to deal with this blow. ...

I believe this interview is the one that was on Cardinal Levada's desk when Bishop Fellay walked into his office, for what he believed would be the meeting to conclude the Canonical Regularization of the SSPX. I have highlighted a couple of points, but I would like to note that this same interview is the one that contained a test of the Pope's resolve. What I believe was a necessary test to determine if the criteria of obedience (St. Thomas) were present in the desire of the Pope for the SSPX to accept a regularization. The key phrase: What has changed is the fact that Rome no longer makes total acceptance of Vatican II a prerequisite for the canonical solution.   The acceptance of the council - carte blanche - had been something of a mantra (which has been re-established in the reign of Pope Francis). This was a key change and had it been lasting, would have led to a very different situation in the Church today - just as the FFI. Courtesy of DICI Interview w...