Tradicat

+ JMJ This interview is notable for a number of reasons. Firstly, because of the insights provided by Bishop Tissier are useful in understanding the motivations of Archbishop Lefebvre. Secondly, because it provides some insight to the Archbishop's 'sine qua non' conditions for a regularization (near the end of the article). P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.ca

+ JMJ Periodically, I lurk around the 'resistance' websites to observe their inevitable bickering and splintering. It didn't take long as the first cracks appeared in 2013 and the chasms keep on growing. The latest is a rambling letter written by Fr. Chazal complaining that some people in Australia have kicked them out because of Bishop Williamson, that they've been having problems with entry visas etc. Oh well, if they turn on the Superior General of the SSPX with a 'non-serviam' based on their own judgement, casting the principle of obedience along with the Doctrine of the Church onto the trash heap, what is to stop the laity from doing the same to them? Nothing. P^3

+ JMJ When I was looking about for an examination of conscience, I came across the following link (Examination of Conscience in Light of Catholic Social Teaching)  on the USCCB website.  There are other ones - but I can't stomach them right now. Looking at this ... examination ... I can see why the Church is in trouble when it looks at things from a 'social justice' point of view. The angel said Penance, Penance, Penance for a good reason and I suspect this stupidity (ie cultural dissonance definitely in effect) was one of the reasons. I just read the " Seven Themes Of Catholic Social Teaching "  ... it deserves its own post. P^3

+ JMJ The sacraments are all channels of grace and the Sacrament of Penance has the distinction of being able to be received worthily when in a state of sin and restoring a state of grace. Use it often! P^3 Courtesy of SSPXasia Another examination can be found here .

+ JMJ I have been reading The Soul of the Apostolate by Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard - OCSO, and it has struck me that one of  the roots of the crisis of the Church (emphasis - one of ) is the lack of an interiour life in the members of the Church. I think that the following words are very applicable to this age: May these humble pages go out to the soldiers of Christ, who, consumed as they are with zeal and ardor for their noble mission, might be exposed, because of the very activity they display, to the danger of not being, above all, men of interior life! For such men, when the day comes for this deficiency in their lives, to be punished, by failures no one seems able to explain and by serious spiritual collapse, may well be tempted to give up the fight and retire, in discouragement, behind the lines. The thoughts developed in this book have helped us, ourselves, to fight against an excessive exteriorization through good works. May they help others, also, to escape such...

+ JMJ Mr. Archbold puts forward an interesting point - in 50 years what will we think about Summorum Pontificum? What effect will it have had on the Church? Taken out of its context, one would see it as simply a further liberalization of Ecclesia Dei adflicta and the earlier indult. However, the full context is that this was a pre-condition set out by the SSPX, for the life of the Church in order for graces to flow. P^3 Courtesy of the Remnant

+ JMJ Given today's liturgy  - I thought this would be an appropriate cogent commentary. P^3 Courtesy of LMS Chairman

+ JMJ This is the day, 25 years ago, that Archbishop Lefebvre passed on to his eternal reward. I know that he has as many (perhaps even more) critics than admirers.  For example I still remember Fr. Paul Nicholson's screed in which he shouted from the top of his webpage: "To die excommunicated - how horrible". I'll leave aside Fr. Nicholson's ignorance on the matter as in the grand scheme of things, his impact on the life of the Mystical Body of Christ, which IS the Roman Catholic Church is no greater than that of Michael Voris etc. Archbishop Lefebvre and the work he founded (ie Fraternal Society of St. Pius X ) have had a significant impact. Let us list of few from greatest to smallest: Consistent and constant Catholic perspective on the crisis of the Church from the halls of the Second Vatican Council to the Synod on the Family (and beyond!) Summorum Pontificum and Universae Ecclesiae : By which the restoration of the sacramental life of the ...

+ JMJ One of the 'Four Points' of contention that keep the SSPX in  'not full communion'  is the word 'subsistit'. From my point of view, if the Catholic Church is NOT the Church of Christ, then what's the point? Well the point is the following: If we would define and describe this true Church of Jesus Christ - which is the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church (see notes) 11. Cf. Vat. Council,  Const. de Eccl ., prol. 12. Cf.  ibidem ,  Const. de fide cath. , c. 1. Source: Mystici Corporis The Son of God, redeemer of the human race, our lord Jesus Christ, promised, when about to return to his heavenly Father, that he would be with this church militant upon earth all days even to the end of the world [3] .  Hence  never at any time has he ceased to stand by his beloved bride, assisting her when she teaches, blessing her in her labours and bringing her help when she is in danger. Source: Documents of the First V...

+ JMJ I imagine that Pope Francis will definitely foster academic discussion on how to handle a heretical Pope. So for reference and education - here's a discussion ... P^3 Courtesy of the Remnant

+ JMJ I have placed this under the 'crisis of the Church' because I believe that ultimately the woes of our society are due to the failure of the Catholic Church, her hierarchy and members. P^3 Source: Reuters

+ JMJ If a Bishop of the SSPX lets fall the word 'regularization' in the middle of a deserted forest, does anyone hear it? Answer: Yes. Nothing seems to spark a lively debate as the possibility of the SSPX being regularized without accepting the outmoded Second Vatican Council. At the rate of novelty in the Church, soon those adhering to that laudable council will be treated as 'Traditionalists'. The irony is not lost on me!!! Anyway, just to reinforce the position the SSPX and clarify any misunderstandings - Bishop Fellay has made another interview to DICI. End point: Accept as we are ... no problem. P^3 Courtesy of DICI

+ JMJ As I've stated at the start of the 'resistance' agitation, their disobedience is based on an erroneous belief of the constitution of the Church. As the 'resistance' continues to splinter, the arguments that they hurl against each other provide an exposition of their thought.

+ JMJ Updated with 'logic' correction! I understand that Bishop Fellay gave an interview with a belligerent attack reporter. While it is questionable as to the prudence of giving the interview, here is was TCW wrote about it:  It would seem that Pope Francis is not the only one capable of giving a disastrous interview. The leader of the Society of St. Pius X comes off terribly in an interview with Tim Sebastian of Deutsche Welle. I wonder why this interview has not been covered by the Catholic media? After all, the Pope's various controversial interviews have been. An example:  a great many hear about the papal comments from the back of a plane, but few have heard about Fellay's interview. This interview really brings into question Bishop Fellay's competence and leadership. A bishop should be able to handle, tough - even harsh, provocative and yes - dishonest and confrontational questions from a secular journalist. It may be time - after 22 year...

+ JMJ It is a testimony to the severity of this crisis, that the possible regularization of the SSPX creates such a irrational fear driven response from the 'miberals and lodernists'. P^3 Courtesy of DICI

+ JMJ Periodically, a 'conservative' Catholic feels the need to criticize 'Traditional' Catholics.  I guess its like someone who, to prove his manhood and / or superiority, picks are fight with the 'wimp'. I know bad analogy - but really people, can't they get their facts straight? Oh well, you know what to do: P^3 Remnant: The Remnant demands a retraction from fr. longenecker The Remnant Newspaper - Has Father Longenecker Retracted Yet?   Fr. Longenecker: Fighting the Fundamentalists…

+ JMJ Well, Cardinal Mueller continues to attempt to contain the problems created by a Pope gone rogue. At this point, the only shining light that I see if that a rogue Pope won't be worried about performing a unilateral recognition of the SSPX. P^3 Courtesy of LifeSiteNews

+ JMJ Theoretical Models are pretty when written down in a research paper.  Their real worth is whether or not they function in the real world. As it turns out Pope Francis has providentially provided an opportunity to apply the model to a fresh real-life example. So what did Pope Francis say? Abortion is not the lesser of two evils. It is a crime. It is to throw someone out in order to save another. That’s what the Mafia does. It is a crime, an absolute evil. On the ‘lesser evil,’ avoiding pregnancy, we are speaking in terms of the conflict between the fifth and sixth commandment. Paul VI, a great man, in a difficult situation in Africa, permitted nuns to use contraceptives in cases of rape. ... On the other hand, avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil. In certain cases, as in this one, such as the one I mentioned of Blessed Paul VI, it was clear. I would also urge doctors to do their utmost to find vaccines against these two mosquitoes that carry this disease. This...

+ JMJ This is a nice prayer in honour of Our Lady. P^3

+ JMJ The Catholic Church has undergone a wreck-o-vation since shortly before the Second Vatican Council. Surprised? Yes, the change in the visible aspects (Artifacts) have changed dramatically and it started before the Council. There was already tinkering with the Mass, Architecture etc.  This change in artifacts migrates down into the Values and eventually becomes sub-conscious. After 50 years, this is why 'Modern' or 'Novus-Ordo' Catholics don't recognize the 'Modern' artifacts as Catholic and the 'Novus-Ordo' as non-Catholic. Southern Orders here  and here  has a good before/after post on the changes in a highly visible artifacts: Architecture and Uniforms! Enjoy (or wail ...)! P^3

+ JMJ So as usual - the reports of an imminent regularization were grossly exaggerated. Then the 'conciliar' Bishops need to spin the statement as a refusal. Rorate: Bishop Fellay denies any reconciliation imminent Rorate: Swiss Bishops distort Bishop Fellay's Statement P^3

+ JMJ The internet is rife with speculation about the Pope performing another seemingly random act of kindness by regularizing the SSPX by a unilateral Papal Act. This of course has the 'resistance' in a tizzy saying 'I told you so'.  Which actually isn't true because they said that the SSPX was going to compromise. I guess they have short term memory loss due to a the cerebral embolism they had when Bishop Fellay didn't compromise in 2012. Oh well, all I know is that the SSPX hasn't compromised on the principles and that if the Pope unilaterally regularizes them ... then they still haven't compromised. P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.org

+ JMJ Dr. Shaw points out some clear distinctions that are definitely worth pondering! To sum up: Once a baby is conceived, it is mortally sinful to take action directly to end the baby's life.  Note well that this includes abortifacients as well as surgical abortion. It is likewise mortally sinful if a couple performs the marital act with the intention of frustrating the ends (procreation) of the act. This can be done by pharmacological, surgical and mechanical means. In the case of rape, action taken to prevent conception is allowed (see below for a more complete discussion). Now what is clear is that the Pope in referring to the urban legend of Paul VI, takes the latter case and tries to apply it to the second case. Sorry, that pig doesn't fly. Courtesy of LMS / Joseph Shaw P^3

+ JMJ There is a tactic employed by Bishops in reference to the Tridentine Mass or as they prefer to call it the 'Extraordinary Form' or even the 'Latin Mass'. They are silent on the presence of the SSPX in their dioceses.  . I presume the real reasons is that they don't want to draw attention to the alternative to the various types of Masses that are offered in their dioceses

+ JMJ While Sedevacantists will (as usual) dance about trying to make the Pope fall from his Office, the SSPX continues plodding along being Catholic. P^3 Courtesy of DICI