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October
2004
Dear
Faithful,
Saturday, September 25, was held the annual pilgrimage
to the Martyrs Shrine in Midland for the intentions of
our district. It was attended by seven priests and 300 faithful,
representing our parishes from all across Ontario, in addition
to pilgrims having travelled from Quebec and the states of
Michigan and New York. The best attendance yet! The spirit
of prayer and recollection was obvious and general.
This year however we had a special grace. Father Yves le Roux,
rector of St Thomas Aquinas seminary in Winona, Minnesota,
came accompanied by Father James Doran, and 36 seminarians
and brothers. Our friend Father Stephen Somerville celebrated
the solemn high Mass assisted by Father Sulzen and the seminarians,
who also provided the beautiful Gregorian chant. Once again
the Martyrs provided us with a beautiful day. At first it
looked somewhat like the possibility of rain, but the sky
cleared and we had marvellous weather.
There was one hitch however. The Jesuits forbade us to offer
the Mass on the spot where St Jean de Brébeuf and St
Gabriel Lalemant were martyred. In a way this is a good sign,
it is a sign they still consider us Catholic, because if we
had been Protestants, they probably would have extended “ecumenical
hospitality” and let us use it. So we had to rent the
nearby protestant summer camp right next to St Ignace II for
Mass and the picnic lunch after.
After lunch the pilgrims organized according to their chapel
for the 5 kilometre walk to the Shrine. At the Shrine, despite
fears that the Jesuits might prevent us from entering, all
was calm. The pilgrims entered the basilica in order to venerate
the relics. It was an impressive sight to see the pilgrims,
some with babes in arm, pushing a stroller, filing in for
about 45 minutes, young and old to kneel before the relics
of the foundations of the Catholic Church in Canada and afterwards
take their place in the pews of the basilica which was half
full. After, to manifest that we have the same faith they
brought to our country and died for, we sang the Creed. A
grace filled day for all.
You have surely read about the recent suspension of Father
Stephen Somerville by the archbishop of Toronto for helping
the SSPX. The exchange of correspondence has been published
by “The Remnant”. All of Father Somerville’s
legitimate questions have yet to be answered. I doubt they
will be. What can they answer? He is simply told to be quiet
and obey. I’ve also been told of a recent article, which
I haven’t read yet, in a so-called Catholic magazine
which seems to be a reply to Father Somerville and which bring
up the accusations of schism and excommunication against the
SSPX again. What of it?
Here is what Father Bouscaren S. J., a recognized authority
in canon law, says in his book: Canon Law, A Text and Commentary.
He is schismatic who “rejects the authority of the Supreme
Pontiff or refuse communion with members of the Church who
are subject to him."
We do not reject the authority of the Pope. On the contrary,
we are not the ones who, for ecumenical purposes, want to
“find a way of exercising the primacy which, while
in no way renouncing what is essential to its mission, is
nonetheless open to a new situation.” (JP II Ut
Unum Sint #95) We do not believe that “in the future
the Petrine ministry has to be exercised in line with the
changing needs of the Church.” (Cardinal Kasper)
We want the papacy to be exercised as it always was; to
guard sacredly the revelation transmitted through the apostles
and the deposit of faith, and faithfully set it forth. (Vatican
I, Pastor Aeternus)
As for communion with those members subject to him, they are
the ones who reject us because of our stand on Tradition.
We are not the ones who have changed. They are.
Concerning the excommunication, I challenge any one to produce
a sentence of excommunication pronounced against the Society.
No such declaration exists. Maybe one could argue that such
a sentence was pronounced against Archbishop Lefebvre and
the bishops consecrated by him, but it was never extended
to the Society. We of course dispute the Archbishop’s
excommunication based on the code of canon law of 1983. We
are not the only ones. Among many who do, Father Gerard Murray,
a priest of the archdiocese of New York successfully defended
the same thesis (that neither Archbishop Lefebvre or the bishops
consecrated by him were excommunicated) in Rome for his license
in canon law. This is the canon law they made. They must live
by it. If it doesn’t apply to Archbishop Lefebvre it
doesn’t apply to anyone. You can’t have it both
ways. But the myth, not to say the lie, of the excommunication
continues. So be it.
We are Catholics and we are in full communion with
the Apostolic See because we have the full apostolic faith.
What makes a Catholic is not an arbitrary decision from a
Roman congregation or some monsignor in a diocesan chancery
or even from a writer in a so-called Catholic magazine. What
makes a Catholic is objectively determined by whether or not
one has the Catholic faith. And again this is not arbitrarily.
It is determined by the fact one professes the Catholic faith
found in the catechism. It doesn’t matter what anyone
says or thinks. This is why we are and should be in peace
and not worry about the false accusations against us.
We certainly are not in full agreement with what is being
done. But this is another matter. If, however, this is sufficient
to make one a schismatic then there are many bishops, priests
and laity, in “good standing” who are schismatics:
all those who disagree with the Pope regarding women priests,
abortion, contraception, gay rights, the nature of marriage.
By the way, we applaud the US bishops who have the courage
to stand up against the desecration of marriage, and pro-abortion
and gay-rights promoting politicians. It’s not perfect
but it is good to finally see Catholic bishops who stand up
for something. Please God we had some of these bishops on
this side of the border.
We do not reject the Pope’s authority, but we do question
its obligation when it comes to matters, which according to
the teachings and condemnations of previous popes, are contrary
to the faith of always such as ecumenism, the Assisi prayer
meetings, or are at least scandalous such as the visit to
the synagogue, the visit to the Lutheran temple, the kissing
of the Koran, the papal apologies, to name only a few.
H. E. Bishop Fellay will pay a quick visit in Toronto and
Western Canada in November.
You will find enclosed the November envelopes. Write the names
of your dearly departed you want remembered during the Masses
in November and send them back to us. These envelopes are
placed on the altar during the entire month and the souls
mentioned on them are especially remembered at each Mass.
Be thanked for your continued prayerful and financial support.
Both are needed and appreciated. In return be assured of our
daily prayers and a special remembrance of all our benefactors
at daily Mass. As usual the monthly Mass for friends and benefactors
will be offered on the last Sunday of the month.
With my blessing,
Father Jean Violette |
