Pope John Paul II is inviting all the
major religions of the world, the Muslims in particular, to a great prayer
meeting in Assisi, in the same spirit of the first meeting for peace that
took place there in 1986. We are deeply distressed by this event and condemn
it totally.
Because it offends God in His first commandment.
Because it denies the unity of the Church and Her mission
of saving souls.
Because it can only lead the faithful into confusion and
indifferentism.
Because it deceives the unfortunate unfaithful and members
of other religions
The problem does not lie in the object of the prayers -peace. To pray for peace and to seek to establish and strengthen peace between peoples and nations is a good thing in itself. The Catholic liturgy is full of beautiful prayers for peace. We pray these prayers with all our hearts. Moreover, given the fact that the angels announced, on the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, peace on earth to men of good will, it is totally fitting to ask the faithful to implore the One True God to grant us a gift of such great value at this stage in the year.
The reason for our indignation lies in the confusion, scandal and blasphemy that result from an invitation from the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, sole mediator between God and man, to other religions to come to Assisi to pray for peace.
It has been stated that to avoid any syncretism, those attending will not be praying "together", but that each religion will pray in separate rooms in the Franciscan convent at Assisi.. Cardinal Kasper went so far —and rightly so —to affirm that "Christians cannot pray with members of other religions." (L'Osservatore Romano, January 5, 2002). However, this affirmation is not enough to dissipate the dreadful uneasiness and confusion caused by the event; it cannot be denied that all kinds of religions will be praying "each in their own camp" to obtain from these prayers said at the same time, but in different locations, the same result: peace. The fact that all have been invited to pray, at the same time and in the same town, for the same intention is clear proof of the desire for unity. On the other hand, the fact that the prayers will be offered in separate locations betrays the contradictory and impossible nature of the project. In reality, the distinction is false, even though, thanks be to God, it avoids a direct communicatio in sacris. However, the syncretic nature of the operation is obvious to all. Recourse to deceitful words has made it possible to deny the painfully obvious reality. But words do not mean anything any more: we will be going to Assisi, not to pray together, we are going there together to pray … no syncretism, etc.
The establishment of civil (political) peace between nations by congresses, discussions, diplomacy, with the intervention of influential persons of different nations and religions, is one thing. It is another to claim to obtain the gift of peace from God by the prayer of all (false) religions. Such an initiative is completely inconsistent with the Catholic faith and goes against the first commandment.
This is not a question of individual prayer, that of one man, in his own particular relationship with God, whether as creator or sanctifier, but the prayer of different religions, as such, with their own particular rite addressed to their own particular divinity. Holy Scripture, (both the Old and the New Testaments) teach us that the only prayer pleasing to God is that of He, Whom He established as sole mediator between Himself and men, and that this prayer can only be found in the one true religion. God considers an abomination all other religions, especially idolatry, the summum of all superstitions.
Moreover, how can one hope to claim that religions that fail to recognize the one true God can possibly obtain anything from Him? Saint Paul assures us that these false gods are fallen angels and demons. "But the things which the heathens sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God. And I would not that you should be made partakers with devils. You cannot drink the chalice of the Lord, and the chalice of devils: you cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of devils." (I Cor. 10: 20-21)
Inviting these religions to pray is inviting them to make an act that God reproves, that he condemns in the first commandment, one God alone shall you adore. It is leading the members of such religions into error and condoning their ignorance and misfortune.
Worse still: this invitation implies that their prayers might be useful, or even necessary, in order to obtain peace. Almighty God made it perfectly clear what He thinks of this, via the words of his apostle Saint Paul: "Bear not the yoke with unbelievers. For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God saith: ‘I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (II Cor. 6: 14-16)
"We will never fully understand the struggle between the good and the wicked throughout history, as long as we do not see it as the personal and unyielding battle for all time between Satan and Jesus Christ." wrote Archbishop Lefebvre in all his wisdom. (Spiritual Journey, p. 37; [available from Angelus Press]) This fundamental truth, as far as war and peace are concerned, would appear to have been totally forgotten in the thinking behind the initiative in Assisi.
At one point during the day, everyone will be gathered together. When, then, will the participants hear the cry of the first Pope, Saint Peter "Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) The same Jesus Christ, sole Savior, is also the sole author of peace. But will anyone dare point out these elementary truths to guests who are strangers to Christianity? Fear of hurting their feelings will mean that this absolutely essential condition for true peace will be overlooked or reduced to a purely subjective belief ("for us Christians, Jesus Christ is God" etc.)
As we have just pointed out: Not only is there only one true God and "So that they are inexcusable." (Romans 1:20) but there is also only one mediator (I Tim 2, 5), one sole ambassador authorised by God, who intercedes ceaselessly on our behalf (Heb 7, 25). Religions which refuse to recognise His divinity explicitly, such as Judaism and Islam, have no chance of having their prayers answered, because of so fundamental an error. "Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also." (I John 2:22-23)
Despite monotheistic appearances, we do not have the same God, we do not have the same mediator. Only the mystical bride of Christ (Eph 5, 32) has the prerogative of obtaining from God, in the name of, and through, Our Lord Jesus Christ, any favours, in particular that of peace. Such is the faith that the Church has taught and believed constantly, throughout the ages and from time immemorial. This is, by no means, a question of intolerance or of disdain for one’s neighbor, it is a question of an unchangeable truth. "No one comes to the Father but through me." (John 14, 6)
To make gestures, or to get others to make them, that no longer express this, is to deceive oneself. It offends God, Our Lord Jesus Christ in whom He is well pleased and His Holy Church (Mt 16, 18). How can those who refuse this mediation —as do the Jews and Muslims explicitly, in refusing to recognize His divinity –possibly hope to have their prayers answered? The same goes for those who refuse to accept the Church’s role as mediator.
John Paul II has attempted to justify the prayer meetings in Assisi on several occasions. In fact, one of his arguments is founded on the definition of prayer. "All authentic prayer comes from the Holy Ghost who dwells mysteriously in every soul". Inasmuch as one attributes the correct meaning to the word "authentic", one could accept the first part of the sentence. But it is obvious that one cannot say that the prayer of a Buddhist, before an idol of Buddha, of that of a witchdoctor smoking the peace pipe, or that of an animist, is authentic.
The only authentic prayer is true prayer addressed to the true God. It is totally wrong to qualify a prayer addressed to the devil as authentic. Can the prayer of a fanatical terrorist, before crashing into the Manhattan tower: "Allah is great" be called authentic?
Wasn’t he convinced that he was doing the right thing, doesn’t that make him sincere? It is clear that a purely subjective way of looking at things is not sufficient to make a prayer authentic.
The second part of the sentence: "the Holy Ghost dwells mysteriously in every soul", or in every man, is certainly false. The word "mysteriously" can be misleading: in Catholic theology, as in Holy Scripture, the dwelling of the Holy Ghost is directly linked to the presence of sanctifying grace. One of the first formulae used in baptism consists of commanding the devil to leave the soul in order to let the Holy Ghost enter it. This demonstrates quite clearly that the Holy Ghost did not dwell in the soul before baptism. And so, the justification for the interdenominational day of prayer at Assisi is based on a false premise.
Those wishing to promote dialogue, which requires considering the other party in a highly positive light, argue that there is much good in other religions, and, given that God is the sole source of good, God is at work in other religions. This is pure sophistry, based on the lack of distinction between natural order and supernatural order. It goes without saying that, when one speaks of the action of God in a religion, one implies a work of salvation. This means God who saves by His grace. His supernatural grace. On the other hand, the good referred to in other religions, (non-Christian ones at any rate) is merely natural; in such cases, God is acting as creator, Who gives being to all things, and not as savior. The determination of the Vatican II Council to dispense with the distinction between the order of grace and natural order bears, in this respect, its most poisonous fruits. The result is the worst sort of confusion, that which leads people to think that any religion can finally obtain the greatest favors from God. This is a huge fraud, a ridiculous error.
It is in keeping with the Masonic plot to establish a grand temple of universal brotherhood above all religions and beliefs, "Unity in diversity" a concept so dear to the New Age and to globalization. "We were excommunicated by Clement XI in 1738 because of our interdenominational principles. But the Church was definitely in error, if it is true that, on 27th October 1986, the present Pope gathered together men of all religious confessions in Assisi to pray for peace. What else are our brothers looking for when they gather together in temples, than love between men, tolerance, solidarity, defense of the dignity of the human-being, considering themselves equal, above political and religious beliefs and the color of their skin?" (Grand Master Armando Corona, of the Grand Lodge of the Spring Equinox, Hiram —voice of the Grand Orient of Italy —April 1987)
One thing is certain: there is no better way to provoke the anger of God.
This is why, despite our strong desire for the peace of God, we will have absolutely nothing to do with this day of prayer on 24th January, in Assisi. Nullam partem.
+Bernard Fellay
January 21, 2002 ( Press
Release on Assisi II.)
The Society of Saint Pius X has been in rebellion against the men who have claimed to be true and legitimate Successors of Saint Peter.
Then again, the use of arbitrary expulsions on the basis of "fidelity" to the Superior General is nothing new in the Society of Saint Pius X (see
The Nine vs. Lefebvre: We Resist You to Your Face).
Some express the belief that to take the sedevacantist position is to "surrender to despair." Since when is using one's reason to recognize the application of a valid canonical-doctrinal principle to a given set of circumstances an exercise in any kind of "despair" (see The Chair is Still Empty).
Yet it is that a look at an ordination sermon delivered by Bishop Fellay in 1996 reveals a complete and quite legitimate rejection of false ecumenism (see appendix below) that is certainly an act of rebellion against the then sitting "pontiff," Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II, who was a full-throated supporter of false ecumenism, a man who deeply and repeatedly offended God by breaking the First Commandment. Ratzinger/Benedict has continued this with great abandon and enthusiasm, going so far as to esteem the symbols of false religions with his priestly hands.
Say good night, Bishop Fellay. You are a hypocrite and a fraud. You refuse to recognize that anything founded on false promises is bound to founder on the shoals of illogic and, ultimately, personal arbitrariness. No matter the good intentions and the courage and priestly zeal of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, he was wrong to persist in the false belief that one can "sift" through the words of a true pope to determine their orthodoxy. That job belongs to the Third Person of the Most Blessed Trinity, God the Holy Ghost. To have to even to consider that the the doctrine and form of worship authorized by a true pontiff are problematic is to admit, however, inchoately, the man who claims to sit of the Throne of Saint Peter is an imposter.
Say good night, Bishop Fellay. Say good night.
Now, my very few and mostly penurious readers, I must say good night to you!
Let us continue to pray our Rosaries so that we can be better able to plant a few seeds that might result, please God
and by the intercession of Our Lady, in the restoration of the Catholic
Faith and the vanquishing of conciliarism and all of its egregious
errors and novelties and blasphemies and sacrileges and heresies once
and for all?
One Rosary right now. Right now. Isn't it time?
Viva Cristo Rey!
Our Lady of the Rosary, us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.
Saint John the Evangelist, pray for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us.
Saint Gabriel the Archangel, pray for us.
Saint Raphael the Archangel, pray for us.
Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us.
Saints Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, pray for us.
Saints John and Paul, pray for us.
See also: A Litany of Saints
Appendix A
Ordination Sermon Given by Bishop Fellay, June 24, 1996
In the name of the Father, the
Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Your Excellency, dear confreres
in the priesthood, my dear seminarians, sisters and faithful,
You have certainly noticed by yourselves that we have the
joy, at this ceremony of ordinations, to have a Bishop among us, His Excellency Salvatore Lazo, who has not hesitated to come from the Philippines to give witness of his
support of this work of restoration of the Catholic priesthood.
Archbishop Lefebvre was right
My dear brothers, twenty years
ago and at this place, Archbishop Lefebvre decided to disregard the injunctions
coming from Rome. Rome demanded —or rather forbade —of Archbishop Lefebvre with
a menace of sanctions, not to ordain any more priests. Had Archbishop Lefebvre been right? Now
twenty years later, if we cast a surveying look on the past as well as on the
present, would he still be right to do ordinations and to continue this work?
The principles on which he based his actions, are they still applicable today?
At the time, he showed in his sermon that the stumbling block was the Mass. Rome
had told him that "If only you celebrate the new Mass, all will be fine
with you". Why did Archbishop Lefebvre refuse the new Mass? Because of it’s
spirit, because of it’s goal which is which is ecumenism. It is true that
ecumenism is not our only stumbling block with Rome, but today we would like to
dwell a little more on this ecumenism and show where (this error) has led Rome
and the faithful.
Ecumenism comes from Protestantism and has Protestant
principles for it’s basis. It is a movement which pretends to make a union or
a certain unity among different Protestant denominations, but it respects the
first principle of Protestantism which is free interpretation of the Scriptures.
It presupposes that whoever reads Scriptures is thereby directly illumined by
the Holy Ghost. Hence anyone can thereby directly attain to the Truth, and is
obliged to say his own Truth, for one may observe that there are not two persons
who interpret in the same manner. As an immediate consequence of this free
interpretation there is a second principle by which the absolute Truth in
matters of religion is non existent, at least not for men who attain to that
truth. Hence, Truth is made relative and ecumenism attempts to establish a
certain union by treating doctrine as a mere matter of opinion. The
exclusiveness and uniqueness of the Truth is being rejected. A union outside of
the Faith is then realized. For this reason the Catholic Church has rejected
from the start ecumenism, because it profoundly contradicts the principles of
the Church which is the Faith. This had been so until the Council. At the
Council, they wanted to assimilate this ecumenism. What are the results? The
first is indifferentism, meaning the doctrine according to which all religions
and denominations are of equal value. In other words, all religions are a means
to attain salvation, leading to Heaven, and are more or less good. This is
against the Faith of the Church which says that "outside the Church, no
salvation" Against the words of Christ Our Lord Himself, "Who
believes and is baptized, shall be saved, who does not believe shall be
condemned".
The enemy is ecumenism
These words are clear. Ask anyone who still goes to church
these days. We are absolutely certain that the words which we just now
pronounced would scandalize them very much. And probably that if there are any
journalists that happen to be present here, we are bound to read some of their
pet slogans tomorrow in the newspapers. They will reproach our lack of charity,
our hardness and who knows what else. And yet, this is what the Church has
always taught from the very beginning, this is the foundation of her mission, of
the sending of the Apostles and priests. There is no other name revealed from
Heaven for our salvation but the name of Christ Our Lord. Our Lord has entrusted
all the merits of His Passion, as well as His Mission of Redemption, to a
Church, to the one Church which He Himself has founded "built on this
rock, on this stone", which is the papacy. It is the sign, source and
even efficient cause of our visible unity, which is of course dependent on our
invisible Head and first principle of the unity of the Church, Our Lord Himself.
The Church of course wants this unity, but only by the means indicated by Our
Lord Himself, through a return to the sheepfold, or conversion, entering into
the one sheepfold, the one and only supernatural Church which possesses and has
received the means to save. Who still believes in this? Who speaks of
conversion? Indifferentism is an attack on the Faith and destroys it because
indifferentism is a denial of the dogma according to which man can not be saved
outside the Catholic Faith and outside the Catholic Church. If some people still
have not understood the gravity of this ecumenism, let us examine for a moment
some of it’s other bitter fruits.
Let us consider the Orthodox
Christians, the ones who are
closest to the Catholic Church, the ones we should certainly give preference to
win back for the Church. What does ecumenism have to do with these? How does the
Catholic Church, in the name of ecumenism, deal with the Orthodox? Firstly, they
have made an agreement with the Patriarchs of Moscow, and an explicit agreement
with the other Orthodox churches based upon the declaration of Balaman, to try
not to convert the Orthodox anymore. What is worse, it hinders the return of
those Orthodox who do want to convert themselves and who have recognized that
the Catholic Church is the only true one, who knock at her doors and demand
entrance! We know of several such instances and of persons whom we have met
ourselves, not only lay people, but also priests, prelates, and Orthodox Bishops
who had been refused entrance into the Catholic Church!
Exclusion
Even worse: In 1989, a bishop in the Ukraine, who
had been in hiding and taking care of the See of Lwolv, and who was therefore a
Catholic who had suffered persecution to remain a Catholic, received many
Orthodox faithful into the Church. In those days with the apparent falling apart
of Communism, the state released it’s tight control on religion, people would
by the droves go for religion and among others many Orthodox wanted to convert
and did in fact convert. Whole parishes at once would quit the Orthodox church
or simply returned to Catholicism. This bishop then, whose name is His
Excellency
Vladimir Sterniouk, received into the Church faithful, parishes and priests and
even two bishops of the Patriarchate of Moscow. The Patriarchate of Moscow was
mad about this and contacted Rome. Rome answered that since only the pope can
receive Orthodox bishops into the Church, and since the pope has not received
any requests of bishops wanting to enter into the Church, therefore no Orthodox
bishops have entered the Church.
Bishop Sterniouk has been obliged to dismiss these two
bishops, whom he had just received into the Catholic communion, and send them
back to the Orthodox.
Another incident: Recently, 24 Catholic
bishops of
the Melekite Rite were invited by the Holy See to sign a profession of faith
that was drawn up by His Excellency Zogby, ex-Archbishop of Balbek. In it, these 24
Catholic Melekite bishops, which represents the majority of Catholic Melekites, declared that they have the faith of the
Orthodox, they declared that
with regards to the pope, they hold a communion such as the Oriental Fathers
used to have with the Bishop of Rome in the way this was done during the first
millennium. They recognize the Bishop of Rome only as first bishop ("inter
pares" we need to specify say this, no?). Dear faithful, this means
that 24 bishops have fallen back into schism. His Excellency Salin Boutros,
Archbishop of Balbek, says that (they state that) this declaration implies the
non-acceptance of all ecumenical Councils and dogmas after their separation in
1054. They are considered as mere theological opinions. This means heresy
besides schism, all in the name of ecumenism!
Our conclusion is then, my dear
faithful, that this ecumenism is an army’s weapon against the Catholic Church
which is so much the more dangerous and pernicious because it presents itself
under the appearance of peace, a smile and dialogue. Ecumenism has destroyed the
Faith of the Church, has emptied her buildings and closed her doors.
No. Archbishop Lefebvre had not
been wrong to continue his work, which is by the way not his work but that of
the Church. With the help of God, we will continue this struggle. It goes
without saying that as long as Rome continues like this, and lets ecumenism
reign under the dome of St. Peter, no agreement is possible, for we want to
remain Catholic and this ecumenism kills Catholicism.
Do not invent anything
As for you, dear brothers, in a few moments you will be
priests. You will be sent into the world. This little story of the evils in the
Church show you what is to be expected. In the world, it is just the same, every
day there is more and more total indifference or even hatred for religion. You
will be like weird birds with your cassocks on, straight out of the zoo, your
words will sound like words coming from space. We send you indeed like sheep
among wolves. What will you be saying to these parched souls, souls created by
God to be saved and who are stuck deep in the misery of this world? Will they
listen to you? What will you tell these souls? What will you tell the faithful
who come to you, and who expect of you the things of God, men ordained by God "in
iis quae sunt ad Deum". What will you say to them? Do not invent
novelties. Speak only of what Christ Our Lord had to say. You are His priests.
Your language should be His language, your Gospel, His Gospel. Would you dare to
tell to these souls "Be taken in and profoundly tempted by the comforts
of this world, the comforts and ease of this life"?
Would you rather be ready to tell them "Blessed
the poor, blessed those who are ready to divest themselves of the things of this
world" Certainly this requires prudence, for the measure corresponds to
each ones state in life, but nevertheless the Spirit of Christ is totally
opposed to the spirit of the world. "Blessed the poor". To the
souls who come to you, suffering, despised, humiliated, and with their miseries,
would you dare to tell them "Blessed those who weep"? To the
souls have are tempted by all the fascinations which the world has to offer,
fashions, pictures, advertisements, movies, television "Blessed the pure
of heart. Blessed the pure of heart"? To those who come to complain
that they have been spoken ill of, "Blessed are you when you are being
persecuted because of my Name"?
It is quite clear, dear brothers, that these words will be
effective only if they come together with the sermon of the lives you live. "Imitamini
quod tractatis", imitate, imitate in your life and in all your actions
what you do at the altar. When you ascend the altar, you ascend to the
sacrifice, to the supreme place of despoilment of self, more than can be
uttered, to the despoilment of one’s own person, because at that moment you
will act "in persona Christi". You will take upon you and carry
within you the whole Passion of Christ Our Lord. In a certain manner you take
this upon yourselves, as an instrument certainly, but you will participate in it
in an unspeakable manner. This is the way of the beatitudes, you will unite your
humiliations, the contradictions to which you are subject, the despoilment of
yourselves with those of Christ Our Lord, yes, in this way you will cooperate
with the salvation of souls, you will win souls for Christ Our Lord, you will
participate at meriting for these souls the eternal felicity to be with God for
ever. That is what counts most, dear faithful and dear confreres, do not be
attracted to this world, the enemy of your souls. "Seek first the
Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of God and His justice, all the rest will be given
to you in addition." At every moment we have to make choices, and these
choices are terrible choices because they are between God, our Sovereign and
infinite Good, and creatures, which are nothing and can only provide a
transitory pleasure, that’s all! And no doubt, my dear brothers, the day will
come that these choices will be more clear cut and decisive, when you may have
to choose to be the underdog rather than to lose the friendship of God. You may
have to forego food and drink to remain faithful children of God! Be ready for
this, my dear brothers! It is not just the Church where it is going bad.
Leave fear to the fearful
There is one God, almighty,
infinitely good and Who loves us like a Father, and Who is perhaps going to
submit us to some rough trials. Let us pray that He give us in those
moments the grace to chose for Himself. We know that God is almighty, infinitely
good, that He will not abandon those who seek Him.
He has given us His Mother, this Mass is celebrated under
the patronage of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and you will be ordained a little
bit like Our Lord, Who gives to us and Who assures you of the protection of His
Mother. The Blessed Virgin, our good Mother in Heaven, who is "terrible
as an army set in array", desires and wants to accompany you every day
and at every step in your priesthood, especially at the altar. She desires only
one thing, the greater glory of her Son, of God, that through your hands as much
grace as is possible be shed onto the souls, that thus the Church may flourish
anew.
We do not doubt for one instant
who shall have the victory. The times may be tough, the victory is always on
God’s side. If we stay on God’s side, and particularly under the protection of
the Blessed Virgin, we have nothing to fear.
Let us leave fearfulness to the
fearful. Let us ask of the Blessed Virgin this Faith which brought her close to
God during her whole life, an invincible faith that conquers the world and all
enemies of Jesus Christ Our Lord.
In the name of the Father, the Son
and the Holy Ghost. Amen. (Sermon by Bishop Fellay.)
