August
2006
Dear
faithful,
Allow
me to begin this first letter of my new term by thanking you for your
many prayers for our General Chapter. We indeed felt the spiritual support
that you gave to us throughout the whole Chapter, in an atmosphere that
was serene, but at the same time also intense.
I
would like to explain to you some of the fruits of your prayers and
of the Chapter.
First
of all were the elections. The Chapter then decided to entrust to me
once again, and this despite its length, a new term as Superior General.
I come to request of you an increase of prayers in order that, with
this precious help, I might better consecrate myself to the fulfillment
of this task that is at the same time burdensome and magnificent.
The
Chapter also elected two Assistants.
Father
Niklaus Pfluger, who has two brothers and two nephews as priests
with us, a third being a religious brother, without counting two religious
sisters! He is Swiss, to whom was entrusted the responsibility of District
Superior (in Switzerland and then in Germany) and Seminary Rector (Zaitzkofen).
He has thus acquired a great deal of experience, both in the formation
of priests, and also in the government of two districts.
Father
Alain Nély, first of all teacher at the school of Saint
Joseph des Carmes, then Prior in Marseilles, and finally District Superior
in Italy, has also acquired a profound knowledge of youth and of priests,
as well as the government of a district.
The
two Assistants will both reside at Menzingen in Switzerland, where our
General House has been since 1993. They will be invaluable collaborators
for the Society’s good functioning, and will have the opportunity
of traveling throughout the world, thus enabling the General Headquarters
to keep in closer touch with the Society’s members, as well as
with the faithful.
The
Chapter is not just a question of elections. It is also the opportunity
of assessing our situation, of analysing the weaknesses that ought to
be improved, of establishing rules in order that our priests might always
live their priesthood better according to our statutes, and thereby
obtaining more effectively grace and Heaven’s gifts. We also,
quite obviously, considered the state of our relationships with Rome.
Out of a desire for the greatest clarity possible, and also with the
intention of avoiding all false hope and every illusion, the Chapter
unanimously decided to make the declaration that you will find as an
annex.
Along
the same lines, the Chapter asks me to communicate to you the following
ambitious project: The Society has the intention of presenting a spiritual
bouquet of a million Rosaries to the Sovereign Pontiff for the end of
the month of October, month of the Rosary.
These
Rosaries will be recited for the following intentions:
- To obtain
from Heaven for Pope Benedict XVI the strength required to completely
free up the Mass of all time, called the Tridentine Mass.
- For the return
of the Social Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
- For the triumph
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
We
are calling you, therefore, to a true Crusade of the Rosary. This prayer
has been so many times recommended by the Most Blessed Virgin Mary herself,
and has been presented as the great means of support, of protection
and of salvation for today’s Catholics in this time of crisis.
For centuries, since the opposition between the world and the Church
has become more and more clearly apparent, this prayer has appeared
as the weapon given by Heaven for us to defend ourselves, to sanctify
ourselves, and to vanquish.
We
consequently request urgently that you begin without delay to bud forth
the spiritual roses for our bouquet. Shortly, the priests will give
you the directions required to put together this treasure.
By
this obviously symbolic quantity, we desire also to make it clear to
the authorities in Rome, as well as to Heaven, that we have the will
and the determination “to pay the price”.
Confident
that our good Mother in Heaven will hear the assiduous prayer of her
children, and that she cannot but be touched by the harshness of the
present time, as well as the spiritual misery that surrounds us, and
that sooner or later she will hear our prayer and respond to our cry,
we have entrusted all the Chapter’s decisions to the motherly
kindness of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to the protection of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, in order that He might bless them, and make them
more efficacious for the greater glory of God and for the salvation
of us all.
Nos
cum prole pia benedicat Virgo Maria*.
+
Bernard Fellay
July 16, 2006
On the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
*
May the tender Virgin Mary deign to bless us with her Child.
