As an aging lay convert, I was privilaged to have had several extended one-to-one conversations with Bishop Williamson between 2020 and a few months before his death. In one of them and in the context of SSPX early relations with Rome, I remember evincing some sympathy towards Cdl Ratzinger. My sympathy was met with charitable but firm and persuasive dismissal, as being wholly unwarranted. When I then asked how he would characterise Cdl R. I recall him using a well-worn aphorism but, for the life of me, on every occasion I thought about it since - until reading this - I could not recall exactly what it was (80+ years old memory like Swiss cheese oh dear). I kept trying to persuade myself that it was 'runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds' but, however accurate that may be, it wasn't it.
So EUREKA!
It was 'THE ARTFUL DODGER'
A related observation: I know this is likely a translation from French but nevertheless its syntax and a number of other expressions are quite startling in their resemblance to my recollections of Bishop W when talking about similar things. He was indeed the most loyal of disciples.
Isn't it telling how Ratziinger with his double -speak tried to condone his actions by equating the pre-concilliar popes encyclicals with his.own heretical notions on Church doctrine. The pre Vat2 teachings were merely pastoral and only for that time despite the obvious prophetic warnings of St Pius X pointing to his time and the very doctrinal abandonment that he himself was engaging in
Thank you for making this available. It is absolutely shocking to think how strongly Archbishop Lefebvre was speaking out against the modernists in Rome in 1990 and then juxtaposed against what the modernist are doing today and the deafening silence of the leadership of the SSPX.
"Either we are for the Church, or we are against the Church and for the new Conciliar Church which has nothing to do with the Catholic Church, or less and less to do with it."
That was 35 years ago. By now he'd most assuredly be an avowed sedevacantist and would see that the entity now led by papal pretender Leo is totally separate from and diabolically opposed to the actual Catholic Church.
I am reading a good book: "Forgiveness as Unity W Christ". The author paints a good image of the early disciples climbing a mountain to its crest in the Middle ages, and now the disciples are descending the mountain into this neo-pagan West. He says the ancient pagans were just ignorant of Christ. Today we encounter rejection of Christ. No wonder it is such a dark and dangerous time...............Thank you all for your work. Blessings!
By coincidence, at the SSPX Mass I attended today the Epistle to the Ephesians was read and the marks of the Church were highlighted. The sermon stressed the unity of the faith and the priest reiterated the divisions in the faith and the lack of unity resulting from Vatican II, as well as the ongoing necessity of the SSPX continuing to teach the faith as it was before Vatican II as their primary purpose until God resolves this situation. For those who think the SSPX has lost its way, it has not and at least the priests where I attend are faithful to this article and Abp. Lefebvre's legacy.
Msgr. Lefebvre: ".....It is not a question of the Liturgy, it is a question of the Faith.”; this is why the "Latin Mass-only-ism" cannot be accepted as a doctrinal position; it comes with the price of abandoning the defense and profession of the Catholic faith. This letter is always a very refreshing and encouraging reminder of why we are Catholics and why we reject the Conciliar Church.
One can only imagine the great unease in the Archbishop amidst such turmoil. An unease so like that of many of us, I believe.
Magnificent!. Thank you.
A couple of anecdotes FWIW:
As an aging lay convert, I was privilaged to have had several extended one-to-one conversations with Bishop Williamson between 2020 and a few months before his death. In one of them and in the context of SSPX early relations with Rome, I remember evincing some sympathy towards Cdl Ratzinger. My sympathy was met with charitable but firm and persuasive dismissal, as being wholly unwarranted. When I then asked how he would characterise Cdl R. I recall him using a well-worn aphorism but, for the life of me, on every occasion I thought about it since - until reading this - I could not recall exactly what it was (80+ years old memory like Swiss cheese oh dear). I kept trying to persuade myself that it was 'runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds' but, however accurate that may be, it wasn't it.
So EUREKA!
It was 'THE ARTFUL DODGER'
A related observation: I know this is likely a translation from French but nevertheless its syntax and a number of other expressions are quite startling in their resemblance to my recollections of Bishop W when talking about similar things. He was indeed the most loyal of disciples.
Could you post the original text ? I can't find it
It is intriguingly difficult to find...... I'd love to see a French version. This is the version that was on the SSPX websites for years.
Disgustingly, the SSPX has purged their websites of much militant material in the last 13 or so years.
Update. We have a reference and a French version. It's a 1992 edition of Fideliter, mai-juin. Trying to source it.
https://radiocristiandad.org/2012/05/10/conferencia-completa-de-mons-lefebvre-en-1990-que-citan-los-obispos-en-su-carta-a-mons-fellay/
Amazing, thanks !
Isn't it telling how Ratziinger with his double -speak tried to condone his actions by equating the pre-concilliar popes encyclicals with his.own heretical notions on Church doctrine. The pre Vat2 teachings were merely pastoral and only for that time despite the obvious prophetic warnings of St Pius X pointing to his time and the very doctrinal abandonment that he himself was engaging in
Thank you for making this available. It is absolutely shocking to think how strongly Archbishop Lefebvre was speaking out against the modernists in Rome in 1990 and then juxtaposed against what the modernist are doing today and the deafening silence of the leadership of the SSPX.
Take special note of this:
"Either we are for the Church, or we are against the Church and for the new Conciliar Church which has nothing to do with the Catholic Church, or less and less to do with it."
That was 35 years ago. By now he'd most assuredly be an avowed sedevacantist and would see that the entity now led by papal pretender Leo is totally separate from and diabolically opposed to the actual Catholic Church.
I am reading a good book: "Forgiveness as Unity W Christ". The author paints a good image of the early disciples climbing a mountain to its crest in the Middle ages, and now the disciples are descending the mountain into this neo-pagan West. He says the ancient pagans were just ignorant of Christ. Today we encounter rejection of Christ. No wonder it is such a dark and dangerous time...............Thank you all for your work. Blessings!
By coincidence, at the SSPX Mass I attended today the Epistle to the Ephesians was read and the marks of the Church were highlighted. The sermon stressed the unity of the faith and the priest reiterated the divisions in the faith and the lack of unity resulting from Vatican II, as well as the ongoing necessity of the SSPX continuing to teach the faith as it was before Vatican II as their primary purpose until God resolves this situation. For those who think the SSPX has lost its way, it has not and at least the priests where I attend are faithful to this article and Abp. Lefebvre's legacy.
Same.
Appreciation and blessings from Sydney Australia.
Thank you!
Msgr. Lefebvre: ".....It is not a question of the Liturgy, it is a question of the Faith.”; this is why the "Latin Mass-only-ism" cannot be accepted as a doctrinal position; it comes with the price of abandoning the defense and profession of the Catholic faith. This letter is always a very refreshing and encouraging reminder of why we are Catholics and why we reject the Conciliar Church.
Thank you Msgr!
Absolutely outstanding yet again from the WM Review, which is a treasure house of Catholic wisdom in these revolutionary times.
Thank you, although obviously it was the man himself!