Wednesday, October 28, 2009

SUPERIOR GENERAL’S LETTER TO FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS #75



Dear Friends and Benefactors,

The enthusiastic response to the Rosary Crusade we encounter throughout the world fills us with consolation and prompts us to take up this theme once again with you. If we are petitioning Heaven with this multitude of Aves, it is because the hour is indeed grave. We are sure of Our Lady’s victory because she herself foretold it, but the events that have been unfolding for nearly a century—since this triumph was announced at Fatima—oblige us to suppose that all kinds of other woes could yet befall mankind before this victory.

Yet the rules given at Fatima by the Mother of God were quite simple: if the world does not convert, it will be punished: “There will be a second war, more terrible than the first.” The world did not convert. And God’s answer was not long in coming. Since the Second World War, the world still has not converted. And if people think Russia has converted, they will have to explain to us in what it has converted, and to whom— economic liberalism?

Almost one hundred years later, we observe that the world has surely not become better; quite the contrary. The war of the unbelievers rages harder than ever, but it has taken an unexpected turn: the demolition of the Church is being carried out especially by subversion, by infiltrating the Church. Our holy Mother the Church is in the process of being transformed into a pile of spiritual ruins while the exterior façade remains more or less intact, thus deceiving the multitude about its real condition. And it has to be admitted that this subversion acquired an unexpected increase of efficacy on the occasion of the Second Vatican Council. It doesn’t take an advanced degree in theology to figure this out; today it is an historical fact.

What part of the responsibility should be attributed to the Council itself? This is a difficult question, but it is clear that this Council was not without effect, and its consequences have been well and truly disastrous. Because of it, the Church fell in step with the world. “We, too, in fact, we more than any others, honor mankind,” said Paul VI at the Council’s conclusion. And the man-centered orientation of Vatican II was harped on by John Paul II. But this orientation is indeed odd for the Church of God, supernatural in its essence, having received from Our Lord Jesus Christ not only its constitution and means, but first and foremost its end, which is nothing else than the continuation of His own redemptive and salvific mission: “Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned.” (Mk. 16:15-16).

And now, here is the tragedy: the divine mission of the Church has been replaced by a purely human one. It is a great mystery that leaves one astounded. Salvation now comes second, to say the least.

Few men—very few men, unfortunately—understand that the terrible crisis of the Church since the Second Vatican Council is a chastisement more terrible than any other, for this time the catastrophe is spiritual: what is wounded, what is noiselessly killed in the midst of an indifference worse than death, are souls. The loss of grace in a soul is the most terrible harm that can happen to it because it makes no noise, it is not felt. And the voice of the watchmen has fallen silent. The call to conversion, to penance, to the flight from sin, temptations and the world has given way, if not to indulgence, then at least to sympathy with the world. There is a real will to make peace with the modern world.

The mission of salvation has given way to a new sort of humanitarian mission; it is a matter of helping men of every condition and religion to live well together on earth.

There is no doubt that everything connected in the message of the Blessed Virgin of Fatima, what is referred to as the Secret of Fatima, has not yet come to an end. Certainly, what we are living is per force part and parcel of the events that will end one day, eventually, with the triumph of Mary. What will happen? How will we recognize it? In any case, it will at least entail the conversion of Russia according to the very words of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1917 at Rome, the foes of God were celebrating the 200th anniversary of Freemasonry and the 400th anniversary of Protestantism with parades of special violence against the Holy See. The demonstrators boisterously proclaimed the reign of Satan over the Vatican and the Sovereign Pontiff. Maximilian Kolbe, still a seminarian, witnessed these painful events and said:

This mortal hatred of the Church, of Christ, and of His Vicar on earth is not just an outburst of misguided individuals, but rather a systematic action that proceeds from the principle of Freemasonry: the destruction of all religion, but especially the Catholic religion. [Pisma Ojca Maksymiliana Marii Kolbego franciszkanina, Niepokalanow, maszynopsis, 1970; English tr. from The Immaculata Our Ideal, by Fr. Karl Stehlin (Warsaw, 2005), p. 39]….

Is it possible that our enemies should deploy so much activity so as to attain superiority while we stay idle, or at best apply ourselves to prayer without getting to work? Might we not have more powerful arms—the protection of Heaven and of the Immaculate Virgin? The Immaculata, victorious and triumphant over all heresies, will not yield to the advancing enemy if she finds faithful servants obedient to her command: she will bring off new victories even greater than can be imagined. We have to put ourselves like docile instruments into her hands, employing all lawful means, getting the word out everywhere by the diffusion of the Marian press and the Miraculous Medal, and enhancing our action by prayer and good example. [Testimony of Fr. Pignalberi reported during the process of canonization].

He founded the Militia of the Immaculata just a few days after the October 13th apparition of Our Lady at Fatima, when the great miracle of the sun took place. It was in fact on October 16, with six fellow seminarians, that he consecrated himself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the purpose of leading the whole world to God by the Immaculata.

One cannot but be struck by the affinity between the message of Fatima and the response of the Polish Franciscan while reading his act of consecration:

O Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth, Refuge of sinners, our most loving Mother, to whom God deigned to entrust the entire order of mercy, behold I, N., an unworthy sinner, cast myself at Thy feet and humbly ask Thee to deign to accept me completely and utterly as Thy property and possession; and do with me as it pleases Thee: all the faculties of my soul and body, my entire life, my death and my eternity. Dispose of me as Thou willst, so that what has been said of Thee might be fulfilled: ‘She will crush the head of the serpent,’ and also, ‘Thou alone hast vanquished all heresies throughout the world.’ Make of me an instrument in Thy immaculate and merciful hands, which serves Thee, in order to increase reverence for Thee as much as possible in so many fallen-away and lukewarm souls. Thus the benevolent reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will spread more and more. For whatever place Thou enters, Thou shalt implore upon it the grace of conversion an d sanctification, for all graces come to us from the Sacred Heart of Jesus only through Thy hands. [Scritti di Massimiliano Kolbe, new ed. (Rome: ENMI, 1997), Vol. I; Eng. version, The Immaculata Our Ideal]

Very dear faithful, it is in this same spirit that we launched the Rosary Crusade. But prayer is only a part of it: let us not forget the other two very important elements, penance and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. By mortification, we wish to make reparation for the insults given to Mary, and in union with her sorrowful Heart we wish to associate ourselves as closely as possible to the sacrifice of the Cross of our Lord, because by it our salvation is effected. Thus we are at the heart of the message of Fatima: “God wishes to introduce devotion to my Immaculate Heart.” Perhaps not enough emphasis is given to this aspect, which seems to us even more important than the consecration of Russia and which is the second condition indicated by Mary to the pope for her triumph: consecrate Russia and promote devotion to her Immaculate Heart.

In this month of October we are going to enter into a new phase in our relations with the Vatican, that of the doctrinal discussions. What is at stake is very important, and we recommend them to your prayers. Undoubtedly that also is a part of our Crusade, and obviously this intention is included in the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary we all desire. That also completely outstrips all our own powers, and it would be folly pure and simple to undertake such an enterprise were it not sustained by the power of the supernatural means such as prayer and penance.

We do not want to conclude this letter without also thanking you for your generosity, which enables our work to develop throughout the world. There is one thing, though, that slows us down: the harvest is abundant, but workers for the harvest are lacking. Our Lord has already said it and has shown the remedy: pray for vocations! How we should like to come to the aid of all the faithful who only have the Mass once a month, or only on Sundays, unable to benefit from normal pastoral care… Yet the good Lord has gratified us this year with 27 new priests, and we expect an even slightly larger number next year. But even that is not enough, so great is the demand worldwide.

You are deeply thanked for all your efforts. May God reward you with the abundant graces and blessings we implore on you all, your families, your children. May Our Lady of the Rosary, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, protect you.

On the Feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, October 11, 2009.

+ Bernard Fellay
Superior General

Groundwork Laid for St. Pius X Society Talks, 1st Session Identifies Main Doctrinal Differences

27-October-2009 -- ZENIT.org News Agency


http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=98425

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 26, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The first meeting between the Society of St. Pius X and the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei served to identify the main doctrinal questions to be examined, a Vatican statement reported.

The first of a series of study sessions was held today at the Palace of the Holy Office, which serves as the headquarters of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

A communiqué issued at the conclusion of the meeting affirmed that the sessions aim to examine "the doctrinal differences still outstanding between the society and the Apostolic See."

"In a cordial, respectful and constructive climate, the main doctrinal questions were identified," the note stated.

The Vatican communiqué reported that the questions to be examined will "concern the concept of Tradition, the Missal of Paul VI, the interpretation of Vatican Council II in continuity with Catholic doctrinal Tradition, the themes of the unity of the Church and the Catholic principles of ecumenism, the relationship between Christianity and non-Christian religions, and religious freedom."

The noted said future sessions will be held "over coming months," and added that there could be as many as two sessions a month.

The Vatican representatives included Monsignor Guido Pozzo, secretary for the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, and Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Also present were three consultors of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Dominican Father Charles Morerod, secretary-general of the International Theological Commission; Father Fernando Ocariz, vicar general of Opus Dei; and Jesuit Father Karl Josef Becker.

Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the St. Pius X Society, named as representatives Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, rector of Our Lady Co-Redemptrix Seminary in La Reja, Argentina; Father Benoît de Jorna, director of the International Seminary of Pius X in Ecône, Switzerland; Father Jean-Michel Gleize, professor of ecclesiology at the seminary of Ecône; and Father Patrick de La Rocque, prior of the Priory of St. Louis at Nantes, France.

Bishop Galarreta is one of the four bishops consecrated by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1988, an act the Holy See deemed to be "unlawful" and "a schismatic act."

Benedict XVI lifted the excommunication of the four bishops in January.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Vatican announces start of dialogue with traditionalist group

VATICAN-SSPX Oct-15-2009 (490 words) xxxi

By John Thavis
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican announced the start of a long-awaited dialogue aimed at repairing a 21-year break with a group of traditionalist Catholics.

The first encounter between the leaders of the Society of St. Pius X and Vatican experts will take place Oct. 26 at the Vatican, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said Oct. 15.

The announcement came a few days after the head of the traditionalist society, Bishop Bernard Fellay, reiterated a list of objections to the Second Vatican Council and said he hoped the dialogue would help dispel "errors" in the church.

Pope Benedict XVI has named a commission under the authority of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to conduct the delicate dialogue with the society, saying the remaining problems with the society are mainly doctrinal in nature. The head of the commission is the doctrinal congregation prefect, U.S. Cardinal William J. Levada.

The Vatican said the initial talks would focus on the unresolved doctrinal issues, and that the contents of the meeting would remain "strictly private." A statement will be issued at the end of the meeting, it said.

The pope cleared the way for reconciliation talks last January when he lifted the excommunications of four society bishops ordained against papal orders in 1988. The pope later said that full communion for the group's members would depend on "true recognition of the magisterium and the authority of the pope and of the Second Vatican Council."

In a recent interview with the African magazine Tradition, Bishop Fellay said the goal of the dialogue with the Vatican would be to clarify church teaching in recent years and "help dispel the errors or the severe ambiguities that have since been spread with full hands throughout the Catholic Church."

Bishop Fellay said the modern church was in crisis, and that "the solution to the crisis is a return to the past." He said the society's main objections to Vatican II were its teachings on religious liberty, ecumenism and collegiality, but added that other problems included the influence of modern philosophy, liturgical novelties and a "worldly spirit" that "has run rampant throughout the church."

He said the talks with the Vatican could take a long time, and that the "restoration of the church" may take a century.

The bishop praised Pope Benedict for emphasizing the importance of continuity in church practice and teaching. But he said the pope acts as if the changes introduced by Vatican II are not a break with the past, and that this presents "a very sensitive issue."

The Vatican did not provide a full list of participants in the dialogue, but said they would include Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, secretary of the doctrinal congregation; Msgr. Guido Pozzo, secretary of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei"; Msgr. Fernando Ocariz, vicar general of Opus Dei and a consultor to the doctrinal congregation; and Jesuit Father Karl Becker, a consultor to the doctrinal congregation.

VATICAN AND SSPX TO START TALKS OCTOBER 26

The first in a number of scheduled meetings between the Vatican and the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, known as SSPX, will take place Monday morning, October 26, according to Fr. Federico Lombardi, head of the Holy See Press Office, who made the announcement on Thursday.

Among those taking part in the meeting will be Msgr. Guido Pozzo, secretary of the “Ecclesia Dei” commission, which was set up in 1988 by Pope John Paul II to deal with questions involving this schismatic society. Other participants include Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and various previously named experts including consultors for Doctrine of the Faith, the secretary of the International Theological Commission, and the vicar general of Opus Dei.

Fr. Lombardi said the meeting will take place in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, adding “the contents of conversations that regard open doctrinal questions will be strictly private.” A statement will be issued at the end of the meeting.

In July of this year, Pope Benedict signed the Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio "Ecclesiae unitatem," making the Ecclesia Dei commission dependent upon the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In his move to suggest that the remaining issues that divide the SSPX from Rome are doctrinal, the Pope also named Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the congregation, as president of the commission.

Benedict wrote that, “the duty to safeguard the unity of the Church, with the solicitude to offer everyone help in responding appropriately to this vocation and divine grace, is the particular responsibility of the Successor of the Apostle Peter, who is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of the unity of both bishops and faithful.” He notes that it was in fidelity to this mandate that John Paul II, “following the act of June 30, 1988 by which Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre illicitly conferred episcopal ordination upon four priests, set up Ecclesia Dei.”

The commission’s task, said the Holy Father, is "to collaborate with the bishops, with the departments of the Roman Curia and with the interested spheres, for the purpose of facilitating full ecclesial communion of priests, seminarians, religious communities or individuals until now linked in various ways to the Society founded by Msgr. Lefebvre, who may wish to remain united to the Successor Peter in the Catholic Church, while preserving their spiritual and liturgical traditions.”

In January 2009 Benedict lifted the excommunication of the four men ordained by Lefebvre in 1988 in the hope, he said in the motu proprio, of “favoring the repair of all fractures and divisions within the Church, and healing a wound that is ever more painfully felt within the ecclesiastical structure.” Two years ago, on July 7, 2007 the Pope allowed an expanded use of the Latin rite Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal.

Thursday, October 15, 2009
http://www.ewtn.com/news/blog.asp?blogposts_ID=826&blog_ID=1

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Schedule for October 2009

Schedule for October 2009

Mass Offered by: Rev Fr Adam Purdy (Society of Saint Pius X)

October 24, 2:00pm Saturday CONFERENCE venue: TBA

October 24, 4:30pm Saturday CONFESSION venue: Mass Center

October 24, 6:30pm Saturday HOLY MASS venue: Mass Center

October 25, 7:00am Sunday CONFESSION Mass at 8:00am

Venue:

Our Lady Help of Christian Mass Center
CID Building, Mabulay in front Philippine Women University
Cagayan de Oro City
Come with your family and friends.

For more information please contact us:

09262736572 John
09154666741 Raul
09157992824 Shannah
09052195742 Mark Andrew
09224488340 Marissa
09166837511 Pio

Ave Maria!