Bishop Fellay is in the USA

Superior General's Visit

PLATTE CITY, MO
4-13-2011

The SSPX’s Superior General, Bishop Bernard Fellay, visited the United States of America District Headquarters at the beginning of this week. Besides the business meetings, he was pleased to visit the construction of the new building (see the March Regina Coeli Report), and meet with the priests and the staff of both the District Office and Angelus Press.

On Tuesday morning, he celebrated a Pontifical Low Mass in the chapel of the Regina Coeli House, the District Office’s title and patroness. Later in the day, priests from St. Vincent de Paul Priory (Kansas City, MO) and of St. Mary's, KS were able to assist at the lunch offered in his honor.

Link to US District original...

Cardinal Ranjith is Talking about the "Elimination" of the New Mass

In Old Liberal Vienna, a Pius-Priest may not enter any ecclesiastical buildings. Thirty Diocesan Priests from Catholic Italy have spoken against this.

(kreuz, Paris) Dated, 13. January 2011: A very large part of the post-Conciliar love-Church "hates" the Society of Pius X.  The Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X., Msgr Bernard Fellay, said this the Sunday before last in Paris.

He explained that in the current discussions with Rome, discretion is very important.

The Society will go very intelligently with the negotiations.  They must make no false concessions.

The Bishop is pleased that Rome is generally prepared to discuss the non-dogmatic Pastoral Council.

Longing for the Catholic Teaching

In the lecture he mentioned that he was able to speak with almost thirty Italian Diocesan priests in the Diocese of Albano near Rome.

He is said to have asked the priests what they expect from the SSPX and figured they would say "the Mass".

Actually, the priests wanted "the Doctrine" from the Society.

Msgr Fellay is convinced that priests  who return to the Immemorial Mass of All Ages, will also come back to the Catholic doctrine -- but "from far away".

For they knew despite years of academic study nothing of God.

The "New Mass" has Outlived Itself

In Rome Bishop Fellay also met "very good people" -- priests, even Bishops and apparently Cardinals.

The Bishop named none.

Msgr Fellay cited however a word from Cardinal Malcom Ranjith of Sri Lanka.  He said to him: "one can not eliminate the New Mass with one stroke."

It takes more levels and will require twenty years, a whole generation.

As a step in the direction of improvement Bishop Fellay indicated the Motu Proprio, 'Summorum Pontificum'.

Not all is good with that, already: "But, a beginning has been made."


From kreuz.net....

Bishop Fellay's First Comments on Assisi III

Remarks on the Feast of the Epiphany during a sermon given at St. Nicolas du Chardonnet on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, January 9, 2011 After explaining the arrival of the Three Magi who traveled from the farthest ends of the pagan world to adore Our Lord Jesus Christ, Bishop Fellay contrasts this example of the Faith of the Magi with the unbelief of Herod and of the priests and the announcement of the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi in October 2011.

In theory they know, in theory they believe. But in reality, do they believe? Do they really believe that Our Lord is God? Do they really believe that peace among men, among nations, is in His hand? Do they really believe in all the immediate, direct consequences of His divinity? …Are they all going, like the Magi, the Three Kings, to adore the true God and to look to Him for that peace and to ask Him for it? Are they going to the King of Peace: Rex Pacificus? Oh, how history repeats itself, alas! Link to SSPX site, here.

Bishop Fellay Predicts Reunion Soon

This over at Rorate Caeli, here.

The goal of your Fraternity is still to integrate the Catholic Church?

Yes, we have always maintained that we do not wish to go our own way. We maintain that we are Catholic and that we remain so. We wish that Rome will recognize us as true Bishops. Otherwise, the word schismatic is not used any longer regarding us. Now, if we are not schismatics, nor heretics, then we are truly Catholic. Otherwise, the Pope says that there is solely a problem of a canonical nature. An act of Rome suffices to state that it's over and that we reenter the Church. This will happen [Ça viendra.]. I am very optimistic.

[Source: Le Forum Catholique; tip: Le Salon Beige]

"The Smallest of Our Deeds Engender Completely Disproportionate Reactions": Bishop Fellay on Rome and Society

The General Superior of the SSPX: "It is still seemingly difficult to talk about the relations of the Society with Rome."

Bishop Fellay Celebrates the Office of the German District 

Pilgrimage to Fulda

(kreuz.net) Forty years ago --on 1. November 1970-- the Society of Pius X was errected by the former Bishop of Freiburg, Genf und Lausanne, François Charrière († 1976).

 With that the General Superior of the Society of Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay, at the end of a letter to friends and benefactors.

"Who would have ever suspected that we would have covered such a distance as we have?" -- he began.

Conflict and Tests are Not Bad

 Msgr Fellay recalled the words of Cardinal Silvio Oddi  († 2001).  This one explained the foundation for the situation of the Society of Pius X then, that those founders, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre († 1991) had done with "too great a love for the Church".

The General Superior explained that the Faithful of the Society carry the principles, which are dearest to the Church, deep in their hearts:

"They hesitate to contradict, to rebel, the revolution and never the less they appear, from the beginning to end, as rebels".

The Society will, "Exactly because of our obedience" be punished, "especially because of our dependence on the truth, which was always defended by the Church and because of our resistance to the errors, for which we will be condemned."

The General Superior continued: "The smallest of our deeds engender completely disproportionate reactions".

And: "could one conceive of greater preparations, if it were required, to protect himself from the Devil?"

At the same time the Bishop was joyful that his Society could tkae part in the sufferings of Christ.

He recalled then, that the Church on earth is a militant Church.

For all times the spiritual masters saw the test as a good sign -- as well as a sign of divine approval.

At that time you didn't belong to Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre

Msgr Fellay suggested in his letter that the past forty years described by Archbishop Lefebvre have been affirmed.

What he said then, is also valid for today: "if one followed his instructions, then the Church would surely recover."

Actually: "If one sees what happens in the Church -- even when here and there there are small shafts of light --- one must hold fast that the ship has progressed on its entire course, which has gone with the Second Vatican Council -- given, being slowed by Benedict XVI."

Msgr Fellay compares the ecclesiastical decline with a "free fall,  which has been slowed by a parachute."


The Cult of Man from the Council Bears no Fruit

Msgr Fellay recalled the teaching of the Social Reign of Christ, which lay especially close to the heart of Archbishop Fellay.

The civil society must be interpenetrated with the Christian rights, with which the soul can most easily find eternal blessedness.

The General Superior regreted that the Conciliar Church had confused the Kingdom of God with a cult of man.

He insisted that the successes of the last years show a certain regression: "It is till now still easy, but for all that very true."

No one doubts that the Society could deliver an important lecture:

"But it is still seemingly difficult,  to give something concrete in answer to questions about relations of the Society with Rome"


Read further... original... kreuz.net...

Here's the Superior's Letter in English: here.

Bishop Williamson Complies with Bishop Fellay's Order

From DICI:

The Superior General, Bishop Bernard Fellay, has learnt by the press of Bishop Richard Williamson’s decision, just ten days before his trial, to dismiss the lawyer charged with his defense, in favor of a lawyer who is openly affiliated to the so-called neo-Nazi movement in Germany, and to other such groups.

Bishop Fellay has given Bishop Williamson a formal order to go back on this decision and to not allow himself to become an instrument of political theses that are completely foreign to his mission as a Catholic bishop serving the Society of Saint Pius X.

Disobedience to this order would result in Bishop Williamson being expelled from the Society of Saint Pius X.

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/

Bishop Fellay Sees Prophesies: Cardinal Against Cardinal

All Against All -- That is the Common-Theology of the Second Vatican Council

The General Superior of the Society of Pius X: "We find ourselves in a time, which was unforseen, that Cardinal will stand against Cardinal and Bishop against Bishop."

[kreuz.net] The crisis in the Church is like a wandering through the desert.

Bishop Fellay, the General Superior of the Society of Pius X said this in an interview with the periodical "Noucelles de Chrétienté"

Really in contrast to the wandering of the Israelites in the desert is that Mana is very difficult to find.

The Bishop see really "encouraging signals" from Rome. To be sure they are mixed along with many problems. It is comparable to "a blade of grass in the desert."

Msgr Fellay explained that the Society is only of negligible size: "But we represent living Tradition."

Even a high-ranking Prelate in Rome considers the good fruits of the Society of Pius X as a work of the Holy Ghost -- says Msgr Fellay.

This is the reason, why the Roman authorities have take notice of the Society: "In the midst of the desert, fresh fruit has ripened."

Even in the Vatican Minds Bump into Each Other

The Bishop explained that the Old Mass expresses the Catholic mind, just as the New Mass expresses the Mind of the Second Vatican Council.

Both Rites embody two mental dispositions which do not suit one another.

The question if the tear in the Church also runs through Rome, met with agreement from Msgr Fellay:

"We find ourselves in times, which were foretold, that Cardinal will strive against Cardinal and Bishop against Bishop."

This conflict will be carried out discretely. It is withdrawn from the sight of the faithful.

Actually in the last time the conflict will become open and public. As an example Bishop Fellay mentioned the "baseless attack" of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna against the Cardinal Emeritus Angelo Sodano.

"It is no secret that the opposing tendencies collide with each other even in Rome."

Bishop Fellay has concrete facts, but he does not believe, that their publication will help the faithful.


The Council Allows Various Interpretations

Concerning Ecumenism Msgr Fellay remembered then that the Church regarded other Christian Confessions when Pius XII. (+1958) had inclusively condemned them as "false religions".

He criticized even the manner of interpreting the Second Vatican Council after a so-called Hermenutic of Continuity.

Thus one introduces a "new Council".

Such a centrist Council will be defined by the Modernist as as traditional and by the Society as not traditional enough.

Bishop Fellay infers from this the divergence of interpretations of which there are no lack in the Council documents themselves.


Rebuilding Will be Difficult

Discussing the Church crisis, he explained, that a quick solution will only be accomplished by God and a miracle: "Usually, God leads His Church otherwise -- bu cooperating with his creatures with holiness."

The Bishop described the way to the rebuilding of the Church as, "long, the work immeasurable.":

"If the politics of the naming of Bishops changes, then we could hope."

Msgr Fellay also views the necessity of a thoroughgoing reform of the Teaching Office of the Papal Universities and Priestly formation.

For these aims are needed a long breath. In the moment these are still "dreams": "Everything depends in the first line on the Pope."

Bishop Fellay is posoitive that the Church apparently recognizes the crisis in the Church more clearly.

The Society of St Pius X recognizes for this reason that the Church possesses until today only one valid past.

Read further...

Photo: kreuz.net

Bernard Fellay: "At a Pivotal Point"

Interview with Bishop Bernard Fellay – Nouvelles de Chrétienté, Sept.-Oct. 2010

The Society of St. Pius X is celebrating its fortieth anniversary. Is this the end of the wandering in the desert, as it was for the Hebrews in the time of Moses?

It seems to me that what we are experiencing resembles instead one of those expeditions of the scouts who catch a glimpse of the Promised Land, although circumstances do not allow the people to enter it. In order to avoid any misinterpretation of the image just used, I hasten to add that we declare just as firmly as ever that we are Catholics and that, with God’s help, we intend to remain that way. However for the Church as a whole this crisis does resemble a wandering in the desert, with one difference: the manna is quite difficult to find. There are encouraging signs, especially on the part of Rome; unfortunately they are quite mixed up in other very troubling matters. A few blades of grass in the desert….

Read further...

Bishop Fellay: Rome is Divided: Some Love, Many Hate the Society's Work

In fact the Society of St. Pius says there are two parties in Rome: "One always has to ask, who will have the last word" -- explained the Society's Head in an Exclusive interview.

[kreuz.net] Today Bishop Bernard Fellay -- the General Superior of the Priestly Society of St. Piux X -- on the occasion of the Fortieth Anniversary Jubilee of his Society.

He did this in the context of an exclusive interview with French Pius-Portal 'La Porte Latine'.

The Society of Pius X was recognized in 1970, November 1, by the then Bishop of Freiburg in Switzerland, Msgr Francois Charriere (+1976).


A little stream of light in the darkness

In terms of Church history, the last forty years has been a "painful epoch of decadence".

In this time the Church has lost its influence on the temporal world and of Nations.

The "Small work" of the Society was a "stream of light in the midst of darkness, an oasis in the wilderness a small life boat in a great shipwreck."

Msgr Fellay explained that the expansion of the Society " because of the absence of priests" is not frantic.

In more recent time the Society has received various requests from Africa: "but it is difficult for us to respond because we do not have enough workers for the vineyard."

The General Superior also expanded upon this by saying that the Society, if it had more priests, would also expand a great deal in Asia.

As in War

Msgr Fellay was also approached by some, who in the course of the years were turned away.

He compares this experience with a war -- "as when men fall under fire to the left and the right."

For himself he has no other choice than to continue the fight: "War has an unbelievably hard side -- our time is for those who have fallen without grace."

The Bishop insists that the pain is great -- "as well for those who leave us as for us, who see them go, without the possibility of holding them back."


Many Contacts

On the other side there has been, by the information from Bishops, numerous contacts between the brotherhood and other areas of the Church:

"No moment passes that some seminarian, priest or religious doesn't come knocking."

It also happens -- even if more seldom -- even already Bishops and entire Religious orders have written, "who give us their sympathy and even still other manifestations."


The Episcopal Wall

The majority of Ecumenism-Bishops against the Society has hardly gone on unaltered this year:

"The Society has been vilified by the great majority of the Bishops and treasured by a small herd of souls who have remained true."

For Msgr Fellay it is a "beautiful illustration of the degree of the past crisis."

Rome Divided

In Rome states Bishop Fellay, "there is a certain change" in the disposition to the Society -- "which still does not have a great effect."

"It seems to me that our work is valued by some, while the others hate it."

This divided disposition to the Society makes the relationship difficult: "One always wonders who will have the last word."

The Roman Mind
\
The Bishop is asked about the danger that the Society is beginning to return to its original situation:

"There is without a doubt a danger that becomes enclosed in a practical autonomy," -- answered the Bishop.

"So we work to broaden our field of view and to widen the care of the faithful, to whom we speak of the Roman Church."

For Msgr Fellay it is very important to retain the Roman mind: "Our independence on Rome must not only be symbolic, rather it must become concrete."


Cautious Optimism

As far as the negotiations with Rome and the Society Msgr Fellay explains with a view on its progress that they probably not be led to a surprising break to a solution to the immediate problem:

"There are two mentalities, but the will, to enter into a discussion on theological novelty, is there."

"Even when the development is long, the fruits of it could be promising."

Msgr Fellay sees in Rome a "seemingly clear will", to correct the past situation.

As well as in doctrine, as in Morals and Discipline, there are numerous agreements in the evaluation of the past difficult crisis.

Condemnation of the Pastoral Council is put off for later

In Rome, according to Msgr Fellay's mind, there is a tendency to downplay the guilt for the past calamity on the Vatican Council.

For that reason Msgr Fellay proposed to concentrate on the unalterable teachings of the Church and to delay a direct condemnation of the Second Vatican Council for a later time.

His particular mission to priests and faithful on the even of the Fortieth Jubilee of the Society is: "Truth!"

He proceeds: "The truth is the guarantee for the future." Truth in the small is the guarantee for truth in great things.

The faithful should also not let themselves be discouraged, "if the battle must still last longer, as it now appears."

"On the contrary, be stubborn and work continue with the work to renew the Church."

Link to original kreuz.net...

Bishop Fellay: If Bonifatius Had Followed the Spirit of Vatican II, There Would be No Catholics in Germany

Pius Believers are Unfortunately Not Anglicans

The Superior General of the Society of Pius X made the point: If Saint Bonifatius had followed the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, there wouldn't be any Catholics in Germany.

[kreuz.net, Fulda] On the past Sunday 1500 Traditionalists made a Pilgrimage to the grave of St. Bonifatius (+754) in Fulda.

It is the seventh national pilgrimage of the German District of the Society has undertaken to the tomb of the Saint.

The Pontifical Office was celebrated on Sunday by the General Superior of the Society of Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay.

He consecrated the entire German District and the whole Society to the Mother of God.

An article on the website 'Piusbruderschaft.de' complained that the Fulda Cathedral was closed to the Pilgrims.

The courtesy of the Bishops in Germany has failed.


Better Protestant than Catholic

In his sermon Msgr Fellay declared: "We are Catholics, we want to simply remain that way."

Today one makes the Society an object of reproach to show itself as Catholic. Therefore that is the reason why you were refused at the church.

The Old Liberal Bishop of Tarves and Lourdes in Southern France, Msgr Jacques Perrier (73), let Anglicans in the Church, the Society of Pius X, however, not.

For that reason he declared to the Society of Pius X: "You insist that you're Catholic"

Bishop Fellay concluded upon this, that the Society could celebrate in the Church, if they denied they were Catholic:

"A complete confusion. This contradiction is everywhere, the situation not simple. Confusion on all sides".

Critic of the Spirit of the Pastoral Council

The Society lives in the truth of that which the Church has always done -- says Msgr Fellay.

"If St. Bonifatius had followed the Spirit of the Second Vatican Council, there would be no Catholics in Germany."

Currently, they are abolishing the Church. They are dissolving it:

"She disappears in a religiosity without boarders, where one has now expressed, the modern Catholics are more protestantic than the Protestants."

In German, his talk at Fulda:

Bishop Müller of Augsburg Decries SSPX Ordinations, Again

Regensburg's Bishop attempts to stir the pot on the SSPX's upcoming ordinations in Germany this year on June 26 in Zaitzkofen as announced on their website, here. The local ordinary, Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, who undoubtedly has bigger fish to fry, wants to make trouble.

Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller speaks of a "provocation". One such demonstration could do possible damage the reconciliation of the Society of Saint Pius with the Catholic Church.

Zaitzkofen/Regensburg (kath.net/KNA) The traditional Society of Saint Pius propose the 26th of June to ordain three deacons to the Priesthood. The General head Bishop Bernard Fellay will confer the Sacrament by a Mass in the courtyard of the Seminary in the Upper-Pfalz town of Zaitzkofen, as explained by the internet site of the Society. The three candidates are a 62 year old from Sweden, a 37 year old from Czechia and a 28 year old from South Tirol.

The Regensburg Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller in whose Diocese Zaitzkofen sits, spoke on Monday of a "provocation". One such demonstration may damage the Society of Saint Pius' re-unification with the Catholic Church. At the same time he encourages the Society to forgo ordination till the status of their orders is clarified. Such events should "only be undertaken with the permission and knowledge of the Pope".

Already in the past year, Müller had criticized the then undertaken ordinations. He renews again his claim that it is an act of schism by the Society to ordain priests without the express authorization of the Pope and without the permission of the local Bishop. Whoever refuses to acknowledge the Second Vatican Council or parts thereof, may not have the full Communion of the Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI. had lifted the excommunications of the four Bishops of the Society in January of 2009, including Fellay, in order to initiate a dialogue. Since then there have been talks in the Vatican with the Society to clarify points of contention in Doctrine.

The Society of Saint Pius X, founded in 1969 by Archbishop Lefebvre deny the central Church reforms of the 20th Century. They are not recognized by the Vatican. Unauthorized priestly ordinations by validly ordaiend Bishops are valid according to Catholic Church law even though they lack the permission of the Pope.

Photo: Diocese of Augsburg

Bishop Fellay says, aggrement not possible "humanly" speaking

There is much talk about standing up to the modernist juggernaut, let's pray that these talks produce divine results. Rorate Caeli, here, reports on the recent statement of Bishop Fellay regarding the talks, They are sobering, also comments on ars orandi.

There is more at DICI (English), here.

For us, we must really see this opportunity for the discussions with Rome as truly a disposition of Divine Providence, as truly an amazing grace to be able to present to the highest authorities in the Church what that Church has always said and which, thanks be to God, we have kept; thus, to make it resound at the very top of the Church. To bear witness to the Faith is a great grace. And even at Rome, a certain number [of prelates] are expecting from these discussions—and it’s a direct quote— “very much good for the Church"...

...We cannot say that the pope has only to do this or that. It is every member of the Church who must, once again, at his place, according to his powers, according to the grace of the good Lord, do everything he can for the Church’s restoration. Everybody must contribute his efforts—everybody. So let us make this effort precisely by our prayers, by our sacrifices, by all the means that truly give life to the Church. The means that the good Lord commonly uses to restore and uplift the Church is called holiness.

Bishop Fellay: Truth Isn't Negotiated

Please, let us not use the word 'negotiations', it completely misses the point. This has nothing to do with negotiating, bargaining—nothing at all…. For us, we must really see this opportunity for the discussions with Rome as truly a disposition of Divine Providence, as truly an amazing grace to be able to present to the highest authorities in the Church what that Church has always said and which, thanks be to God, we have kept; thus, to make it resound at the very top of the Church. To bear witness to the Faith is a great grace. And even at Rome, a certain number [of prelates] are expecting from these discussions—and it’s a direct quote— “very much good for the Church.”

…The situation in the Church is truly a nightmare, it’s truly a great tragedy, and so to be able to give utterance to what the Church has always taught at the very top of the Church is really something out of the ordinary, hence extraordinary. It is a great grace, and also a great duty, because, of course, we hear: “What are you going to do in that mess? You are going to get lost…you are going to sell out the Society.” It involves no such thing!

…Humanly speaking, you might say that we are in a bad way! We are in about the same shape as Gideon when he went out to attack 20,000 or 30,000 men of the enemy army with his jars, trumpets, and torches—three hundred men to attack tens of thousands of heavily armed enemy soldiers. They were really in a bad way. It is about the same thing when we go down to Rome with our jars, torches, and trumpets… but we are not counting on our human efforts, we are counting on the good Lord as Gideon counted on the good Lord. We are counting on the promises that our Lord made to His Church, we are counting on this duty… It is the good Lord who has given us the grace of still having the Faith, of not having lost it, of having received the instruments of this Faith, even natural instruments, a sound philosophy. Yes, it is a duty to go and remind them of these truths.

…[These are] extremely delicate theological discussions; [there are] a lot of preconceived ideas [a priori]. We can see very well that we are not at all known… there are all sorts of ideas about us.

…The boat is sinking; humanly speaking, the Church is lost; humanly speaking, the Church is not recovering—notice that I say, humanly speaking, for we know that there are the promises of God, so that she is going to recover. How is she going to recover? We may say that it is in the hands of the good Lord, agreed! But the good Lord asks everyone to act according to his strength and capabilities, in his place, for this recovery. We cannot say that the pope has only to do this or that. It is every member of the Church who must, once again, at his place, according to his powers, according to the grace of the good Lord, do everything he can for the Church’s restoration. Everybody must contribute his efforts—everybody. So let us make this effort precisely by our prayers, by our sacrifices, by all the means that truly give life to the Church. The means that the good Lord commonly uses to restore and uplift the Church is called holiness. It is the life of grace; it is faith. It is absolutely certain that every good action within the Church uplifts the Church. The greater the goodness of the act, the more the Church is uplifted.

…The good Lord doesn’t need numbers, but He does need holiness… He asks us for it, and I should say that this battle, these terrible, horrible difficulties that we have briefly outlined, should be for us a stimulant, a real stimulant towards holiness—let’s dare to use the word, it is a very Catholic word… That will be the best way we can contribute, collaborate, and co-operate in helping to bring about an end to the crisis in the Church.

h/t: pewsitter

Link to stjohnvaldosta....

Bishop Fellay is Positive about Anglican Reunion

Canterbury Tales blog, maintained by a former Anglican priest turned Catholic, reports that Bishop Fellay has said something positive about the Pope's Anglican proposal. It's not shocking to us, but then, we've been following the good Bishop for a long time and always found him to be positive, amiable and thoughtful, anyway:


A glimmer of hope among murky Ecumenism

Regarding the return of traditional Anglicans Bishop Fellay said:

"This is great. This is a big joy. There is only one ship that goes to Heaven, and this is the Catholic Church. When apostates return, it is surely a grand joy."

Bishop Fellay looks at it as a hopeful sign during what presently: "happens to be quite murky circumstances of (Vatican) ecumenism."

And Fr. Hunwicke was so angered by Fr. Scott's criticism of the Anglican Reuninion that he wrote this rejoinder here.