My dear brethren, 

The two recent announcements from the Vatican, with regard to another Assisi-interfaith event and the beatification of John-Paul II, require a robust response from our side.

Assisi

To mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 1986 Assisi inter-religious meeting, Benedict XVI has called for an Assisi-III. On January 1st of this year the pope announced this intention, and invited ‘Christian brethren of various denominations’ and ‘the exponents of the world’s religious traditions’ to join him on his pilgrimage to Assisi in October for the purpose of remembering the historical gesture of John Paul II.

The pope also expressed the hope that believers of every religion would solemnly renew their commitment to live their own religious faith as a service to the cause of peace.

Bishop Fellay’s first comments against this proposed gathering,  can be seen at our dici.org website:

‘We are deeply indignant, we vehemently protest against this repetition of the days at Assisi. Everything we have said, everything that Archbishop Lefebvre had said at the time [of the first World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi in 1986], we repeat in our own name.’

Let us remind ourselves of what the Archbishop actually said at the occasion of Assisi-I:

*In his preface to ‘They have Uncrowned Him,’ he wrote of Assisi as ‘the most abominable manifestation of liberal Catholicism…a tangible proof that the Pope, and those who approve of him, have a false idea of the faith, a modernist notion, which is going to shake the whole edifice of the Church.’

*In August 1986 Archbishop Lefebvre wrote to eight cardinals in view of the Assisi meeting. He asked them to protest against the actions of John-Paul II, in particular “the planned procession of religions in the streets of the town of Assisi.” “He who now sits upon the Throne of Peter mocks publicly the first article of the Creed and the first Commandment of the Decalogue. The scandal given to Catholic souls cannot be measured. The Church is shaken to its very foundations.”

*The Archbishop and Bishop de Castro Mayer publicly protested against Assisi as being  a ‘public sin against the unicity of God, the Word Incarnate, and His Church.’ They denounced ‘John Paul II  for having ‘encouraged false religions to pray to their false gods,’ as an ‘unprecedented and immeasurable scandal…an inconceivably impious and intolerable humiliation to those who remain true to those who remain Catholic, loyally professing the same Faith for twenty centuries.’

John-Paul II’s beatification

With reference to the above it is truly shocking that Benedict XVI has announced that his predecessor’s beatification has been ‘fast-tracked’ and will be performed by himself in Rome on 1st May of this year.

John-Paul II’s reign was marked by the implementation of Vatican II, with its errors of false ecumenism, religious liberty, and collegiality. He will be remembered for the scandal of his  participating in non-Catholic rites, as well as for having excommunicated Catholic Tradition in 1988. His was hardly an example of zeal for the defence, and propagation, of the Catholic Faith. Having uncrowned Our Lord through his rejection of the Church’s teaching on Our Lord’s Social Reign, any attempts to raise him to the glory of the altar must be denounced and resisted.

Whilst the beatification process is not an infallible one, the efforts to beatify, and then, God forbid, canonise, John-Paul II, are obviously attempts to canonise Vatican II and its fruits.

Accidentally speaking, both these planned events-Assisi-III and John-Paul’s beatification-may help consolidate the resistance to the New Church, crystallising as they do the reasons for our combat.

We should turn in particular to Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, imploring his intercession to deliver the Church from these ills, whilst converting the minds and hearts of the Church’s authorities.

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Pilgrimage to Rome

I am happy to announce our intention of having a one week pilgrimage to Rome  in September or October of this year. Details are being worked on by McCabe Travel, who organised our Holy Land pilgrimage in 2009, and will be made available in due course. Mr John Wetherell has again graciously volunteered to undertake the work of pilgrimage co-ordinator, which is much appreciated. Provisional applications can be made to Mr Wetherell whose contact details are to be found elsewhere in this newsletter.

Conferences on the Society

Please note that with regard to Bishop Tissier de Mallerais’ Confirmation visit this month, His Lordship has kindly offered to give some conferences on the ‘Foundation of the Society of Saint Pius X’ and consequently these will take place in the different venues following the lunch-breaks.

Candidates for Confirmation are reminded that they will be asked to publicly recite the Apostles Creed during the Confirmation ceremony, and should be duly prepared to do this in a becoming manner.

Visit by the Dominican Teaching Sisters

As announced previously, the Mother General of the Teaching Dominican Sisters of Fanjeaux, has kindly authorised the Mother Prioress of St Dominic’s School, Post Falls, Idaho, to give a conference on the subject of their Congregation and education. This conference will take place on Sunday 27th February at St Michael’s School, Burghclere at 1.30pm. I would encourage as many parents as possible to attend this event, given the important role played by this Congregation in upholding Catholic Tradition, and because of our particular needs in the domain of  education for girls.

Mater Dei

Regrettably the winter issue of the District magazine has been delayed for various reasons, but should be available for the start of this month of February.

Priests’ retreat

The annual six day retreat will be held in Bristol, from 21-26th of February, and so please remember the Fathers from Great Britain and Ireland in your prayers during this time. In the event of an emergency, please use the special number as given on the inside cover of this newsletter, or contact St Saviour’s House.

The Eucharistic Crusade

For some years now Mrs Susan Horton of London has put together the Crusade’s monthly ‘Hostia’ newsletter, which is enjoyed by young and old alike, and for this we thank her most sincerely. Whilst we are grateful for Mrs Horton  continuing to assist in this regard  through her regular contributions to, and distribution of, ‘Hostia,’ I am happy to announce a new format for the newsletter as edited by Fr Bierer in Dun Laoghaire,  who is himself the Crusade’s chaplain.

 

With every good wish and blessing,

Father Paul Morgan

Superior