Editorial of Fr. Pierre-Marie Laurencon, in the French magazine Fideliter,
November-December 2000

At Rome in traversing the streets filled with History, in entering the basilicas, in praying there, diverse sentiments moved our hearts. It seems to me that one can summarize them in three words: marvel, sadness and determination.

First of all, what joy, what enthusiasm, what happiness inundated our souls as we entered in procession into the Roman basilicas, to there proclaim our faith, to there sing our love for Our Lord Jesus Christ, to there amass the fruits of His Redemption, to there manifest our unfailing attachment to Rome, mother of our Catholic and apostolic faith! What poet knows how to express these unforgettable moments of emotion? Willingly we would repeat with Clovis as he addressed himself to Saint Remigius, while entering the church of Reims, all arrayed for the baptism: "Father, is this already the Paradise which you promised me?"

After millions of pilgrims from all the history of the Church, after so many saints, holy men and women, we were at the feet of the Apostles, to receive the indulgence of salvation. We were in these churches, magnificently built and decorated, churches which sing of the glory of Christ and the splendors of the Catholic Church.

In fact, the Official Committee of the Jubilee, presided by Cardinal Etchegaray, had the courtesy to open the doors of the basilicas to us, and we would particularly like to thank them publicly.

In the midst of this intense spiritual joy, however, how could we not also be filled with a great sadness, in pondering the disastrous situation of the Roman Church, our Mother? Even though these basilicas may have come to life with the singing of our faith, deeply rooted in Tradition, how could we help but be saddened at recalling the very serious doctrinal errors and the most improper liturgy with which they are daily sullied?

We had found ourselves in a Rome that was devastated by new barbarians, occupied by the worst enemies of the Church, the modernists, enemies from within, as St. Pius X called them. And amidst such great joy, our hearts did not fail to be often torn apart: the crisis in the Church is far from being over and, with such doleful initiatives as the repentance or the "ecumenical" martyrs, this jubilee of the year 2000 has just made the situation worse.

However, this sadness does not discourage us, quite the contrary! If our Mother is so profaned, we have the grave duty to do all that we can for her restoration. Of course, it is not we who will "save the Church". Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Leader, the only Master, the only Saviour. But ordinarily, Providence makes use of human instruments to carry out its designs.

"Heaven has for you its plans of mercy", was said by the angel to the children of Fatima. We may truly believe, and this magnificent pilgrimage of August 2000 is a new indication, that Heaven has for us its plans of mercy and that, according to our vocation, following the designs of Providence and without believing that we are working at it alone, we have an important mission to fulfill for the recovery of the Church.

Therefore, it is with a humble but strong determination to continue the combat for Catholic tradition, for the true Mass, for the abolishing of error, for the sanctification of souls, for the propagation of the Reign of Christ, that we returned from Rome, though convinced that it is only through the grace of God that this combat will one day be victorious!