#66:
June 18, 2004
Dear
Friends and Benefactors,
How
happy we are to tell you from time to time about the joys of our apostolate!
Each day that passes we are privileged to witness miracles of grace.
Let us remember to thank Almighty God, and let us be full of gratitude
for the graces afforded us by the intercession of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary. We dare say that the life of the SSPX is indeed a permanent
miracle. It expresses the intervention of God in our small history,
the intervention of Our Lady, of the holy angels, of this whole world
that surrounds us, that wishes us well. Our heavenly friends, whom we
see not and on whom, unhappily, we think so little, are so close, so
ready to help us, so effective! They are indeed real, they are part
of our lives and their sometimes tangible assistance compels us to accept
the marvelous reality of the communion of saints. When we compare our
own powers with the results of our efforts, we are indeed obliged to
recognize that these results do not come from us.
A
great many new buildings and chapels throughout the world, in the Philippines,
in India, North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe are also
signs of an impressive vitality of grace. Experience has taught us that
even the opposition of the clergy, generally strongest in areas where
we have become established fairly recently, serves the good cause. “Everything
comes together for the good of those who serve God.”
We
would also like to share some pains and concerns with you.
First
of all, in the Ukraine. These last months the priests whom we support
in the Fraternity of St. Josaphat have been subjected to the furious
attacks of their bishop, Cardinal Husar. The cardinal took to the airwaves
to make a grand declaration of excommunication against Father Wasil
and his companions, on the grounds that he has associated himself with
a schismatic movement…
This
is the gravest censure in the canon law of the Eastern Church. It was
issued without due process. Once Father Wasil appealed to Rome the cardinal
undertook to observe the legal formalities. The whole process was designed
to fill the juridical void in order to justify a ready-made sentence.
Nihil novi sub sole [there is nothing new under the sun].
The
ecclesiastical authorities are also trying to take back the churches,
including those built by Father Wasil. This is undoubtedly a harsh blow
for them, and your prayers are asked to support them in this new struggle.
Up to now they have had to defend their faith against a terrible enemy,
atheistic communism, but now it is their own pastors who are attacking
them. Up to now, the priests have resisted bravely with the support
of the faithful. But each attack unsettles souls; some turn away in
disgust and give up. A familiar pattern.
And
from the side of Rome?
Let
us begin with Fatima. Last year the construction of a new building for
the use of different religions was announced.
Even
if the official publication of the shrine keeps silent about the nature
of the project, public actions go even further. On May 5, a group of
Hindus invaded the place of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin, naturally
with all the official authorizations. They made this sacred place, so
dear to Catholics, the forum for their idolatry. “It is a
unique event, without precedent in the history of the shrine. The Hindu
priest, or Sha Tri, recited at the altar the Shaniti Pa, the prayer
for peace. The Hindus can be seen removing their sandals before approaching
the balustrade of the sanctuary, while the priest pronounces the prayers
at the altar in the sanctuary. The bishop and the rector of the shrine
were themselves decked out in Hindu prayer shawls... a fine affair.”
What a provocation against Christianity!
Now,
are we to speak of reaching an accord?
So
long as the Roman authorities tolerate such abominations or, worse still,
support them, they are distancing themselves from any accord with Tradition.
We shall never give way to such affronts perpetrated against Our Lady
of Heaven, the Mother of God. One sometimes wonders whether not only
the faith has been lost, but common sense as well. Deus non irridetur
(God is not mocked).
Such
actions demand reparation. We are seriously thinking of inviting you
to an act of solemn protest at Fatima next year.
As
concerns Rome more directly, Rome demands that we accept their proposition
of a “personal jurisdiction.” The problem lies not in the
juridical formulation, which seems acceptable to us in principle, although
we do not know the concrete elements and implications of such a “juridical
formula.” The problem remains as always on the level of doctrine,
of the Christian spirit that does or does not inform (and that is the
whole question) ambiguous texts and reforms that have been disastrous
for the supernatural welfare of the faithful. We do indeed perceive
more and more sympathy from certain bishops, also in Rome. It seems
to us that we are moving forward, that Tradition is making progress
in the Catholic world. But that is not yet sufficient. We recently made
an official request that the decree of excommunication be withdrawn
as a first concrete step on the part of Rome. That would change the
climate and we could better see how things develop. One thing is certain:
we do not want the situation in which the Fraternity of St. Peter and
the majority of the Ecclesia Dei groups have been placed. They are constrained,
and it is barely permitted them to say the Tridentine Mass. Most of
the time they find themselves in truly odious situations. Cardinal Castrillon
is perfectly right to claim for traditionalists a status better than
that of second-class citizen.1 But is it not up to Rome first of all
to change this state of affairs?
These
are all so many intentions for prayer, dear benefactors. Be assured
of our profound gratitude for all your sacrifices, so precious, so pleasing
to God, and which help us greatly in our apostolate. May God reward
you, may the Sacred Heart bless you, and may his most Holy Mother protect
you and your families.
18
June 2004,
Feast of the Sacred Heart
+
Bernard Fellay
