February 2007
My dear brethren,
In 1907 Pope Saint Pius X issued the encylical Pascendi which condemned Modernism. A hundred years later we see how the Modernist errors have become the new orthodoxy whilst those who adhere to Tradition are seen as obstinate retrogrades. Archbishop Lefebvre expounds upon the encyclical in his book Open Letter to Confused Catholics:
Central to the Modernist heresy is a new definition of Faith. Replacing the Catholic teaching that Faith “is the adherence of the intellect to the truth revealed by the Word of God,” Modernism claims that Faith is an internal feeling, something within man himself, purely subjective, an adhering of the soul to God Who is otherwise inaccessible to our intellect. “It is therefore within man himself that it is to be found; and since religion is one form of life, it is found in the very life of man.” From this flows the error that if conscience produces Faith then there is no reason to believe that one faith saves any better than another, so long as the conscience is directed towards God. That is why Modernists believe that all religions lead to salvation.
From the sphere of religious feeling we pass to that of the intellect, which proceeds to elaborate the basic dogmas: since man is endowed with intelligence, he has a need to think out his faith. He creates formulas which do not contain absolute truth but only images or symbols of the truth. Consequently these dogmatic formulations are subject to change, they evolve. “Thereby the way is open for substantial changes in dogmas.”
The believer makes his personal experience of faith, then he communicates it verbally to others, and in that way religious experience propagates itself. Once the faith has become common or collective, the need is felt to combine together in a society to preserve and develop the common treasure. This is how the Church is formed. Just as the Church is a vital emanation of the collective conscience so Authority is a vital product of the Church and must come from the bottom.
For the Modernists the sacraments also originate in a need - that of requiring tangible expressions of Faith - and these are simply signs or symbols. They say the sacraments were only instituted to nourish faith: a proposition condemned by the Council of Trent.
The only new thing, by comparison with St Pius X’s description of the Modernists is that today they no longer hide under the cover of submission. They have gained confidence; they have too much support within the Church to conceal themselves any longer. Rather Modernism progresses and flaunts itself.
It should not be imagined that the Modernist errors came about during the reign of St Pius X. Modernism is the perennial spirit of the Revolution, and it seeks to shut up within us our human-ness and make God an outlaw. The encyclical however was most timely because whilst the errors were not new, it served to unmask those who held them then, and indeed those who continue to hold and propagate them within the Church today.
Pascendi is a text that could have been written today and depicts the “enemies within” with admirable vividness. We see them “lacking in serious philosophy and theology and passing themselves off, all modesty aside, as restorers of the Church.” Their tactics are never to expound their doctrines methodically and as a whole, but in some manner as to split them up and scatter them about here and there. One page of their writings could have been written by a Catholic but, turning the page, you will think you are reading something written by a Rationalist. . .
As we know well, the common opinion today is that Pascendi was written for a former time - when intolerance was rife - and that things have evolved and improved since then. We should be on our guard lest such a notion were to prevail in our own circles!
__________________________
For other news:
Father Niklaus Pfluger, the Society’s First Assistant who resides at the Mother House in Menzingen, is presently spending a few weeks with us and we are very happy to welcome him on his first trip to this country from his native Switzerland. In addition to practicing his English and discovering a few famous landmarks, Father is in the course of visiting the different Houses and some of our churches around the country. Much of the Assistants’ time is taken up with international voyages on behalf of the Superior General, and we certainly appreciate the three weeks Father Pfluger is spending here which allows us direct contact, so to speak, with the Mother House in Switzerland. We wish him well in his linguistic studies and trust that we shall see him again in due course.
At the occasion of a forthcoming trip to Europe Bishop Richard Williamson has kindly offered to give a conference on Shakespeare in London towards the end of this month. Details of the 2-3 hour conference are to be found elsewhere in this newsletter.
Whilst looking forward also to Bishop Tissier de Mallerais’ Confirmation visit in March, I would like to emphasise the importance of receiving this sacrament prior to puberty, around the age of 10 years old. Conferring in a special way the grace of fortitude, the Sacrament of Confirmation constitutes a significant means when facing the onset of adolescence. Unfortunately the sacrament is not infrequently regarded more as an expression of ‘Christian commitment’ than as a channel of grace.
Saint Michael’s School fête was a great success and was particularly well attended. Sincere thanks to all those who contributed towards this event which, along with the raffle raised some £3,800.
Having hoped to receive a replacement for Father Matthew Clifton, we have now been informed by Bishop Fellay that this will not be possible until August 2007. In the interim we shall endeavour to fill in as best we can whilst counting upon your understanding of the extra demands which this situation created for the Fathers.
Our thanks go to Miss Monica Nish-Purdie who has worked as secretary at the District House in London for the past six years are so, and who is now enjoying some well-deserved time out. A local lady has now taken over the position and so pertinent mail should now be addressed to ‘The Secretary.’
Miss Dorothy Banks of London is to be commended for her initiative to make and generously make widely available a DVD of last October’s very successful Lourdes pilgrimage. Details of how to acquire copies of this are to be found elsewhere in this newsletter.
Following on from Father Groche’s visit to this country last March I am happy to include the most recent English language newsletter from the mission in Gabon. Just in the last week or so one of our priests in Libreville was injured on the building site of the new secondary school by a falling tree and so prayers are requested for his full recovery.
Please note that Christus Rex, the league of Christ the King’s quarterly newsletter is available in our chapels and churches for £1.00 a copy but is sent free of charge to Mater Dei subscribers.
The XL Hours adoration at the Church of Saints Joseph and Padarn is scheduled as per usual for the first weekend of March, 2-4th March 2007 and provides an excellent Lenten opportunity of praying before the Blessed Sacrament.
May I bring to your attention also the schedule of retreats at Saint Saviour’s House, Bristol, so that as many of you as possible might benefit from these spiritual exercises?
Finally, to those who have enquired as to the number of Rosaries offered for the restoration of the Traditional Mass, I am happy to inform you that some 2.5 million Rosaries worldwide were recited for this great intention. At the time of writing the long-awaited ‘motu proprio’ has yet to be made public, but is apparently already in the hands of the bishops. Time will tell as to whether this represents an answer to our prayers . . .
With every good wish and blessing,
Father Paul Morgan
Superior
In 1907 Pope Saint Pius X issued the encylical Pascendi which condemned Modernism. A hundred years later we see how the Modernist errors have become the new orthodoxy whilst those who adhere to Tradition are seen as obstinate retrogrades. Archbishop Lefebvre expounds upon the encyclical in his book Open Letter to Confused Catholics:
Central to the Modernist heresy is a new definition of Faith. Replacing the Catholic teaching that Faith “is the adherence of the intellect to the truth revealed by the Word of God,” Modernism claims that Faith is an internal feeling, something within man himself, purely subjective, an adhering of the soul to God Who is otherwise inaccessible to our intellect. “It is therefore within man himself that it is to be found; and since religion is one form of life, it is found in the very life of man.” From this flows the error that if conscience produces Faith then there is no reason to believe that one faith saves any better than another, so long as the conscience is directed towards God. That is why Modernists believe that all religions lead to salvation.
From the sphere of religious feeling we pass to that of the intellect, which proceeds to elaborate the basic dogmas: since man is endowed with intelligence, he has a need to think out his faith. He creates formulas which do not contain absolute truth but only images or symbols of the truth. Consequently these dogmatic formulations are subject to change, they evolve. “Thereby the way is open for substantial changes in dogmas.”
The believer makes his personal experience of faith, then he communicates it verbally to others, and in that way religious experience propagates itself. Once the faith has become common or collective, the need is felt to combine together in a society to preserve and develop the common treasure. This is how the Church is formed. Just as the Church is a vital emanation of the collective conscience so Authority is a vital product of the Church and must come from the bottom.
For the Modernists the sacraments also originate in a need - that of requiring tangible expressions of Faith - and these are simply signs or symbols. They say the sacraments were only instituted to nourish faith: a proposition condemned by the Council of Trent.
The only new thing, by comparison with St Pius X’s description of the Modernists is that today they no longer hide under the cover of submission. They have gained confidence; they have too much support within the Church to conceal themselves any longer. Rather Modernism progresses and flaunts itself.
It should not be imagined that the Modernist errors came about during the reign of St Pius X. Modernism is the perennial spirit of the Revolution, and it seeks to shut up within us our human-ness and make God an outlaw. The encyclical however was most timely because whilst the errors were not new, it served to unmask those who held them then, and indeed those who continue to hold and propagate them within the Church today.
Pascendi is a text that could have been written today and depicts the “enemies within” with admirable vividness. We see them “lacking in serious philosophy and theology and passing themselves off, all modesty aside, as restorers of the Church.” Their tactics are never to expound their doctrines methodically and as a whole, but in some manner as to split them up and scatter them about here and there. One page of their writings could have been written by a Catholic but, turning the page, you will think you are reading something written by a Rationalist. . .
As we know well, the common opinion today is that Pascendi was written for a former time - when intolerance was rife - and that things have evolved and improved since then. We should be on our guard lest such a notion were to prevail in our own circles!
__________________________
For other news:
Father Niklaus Pfluger, the Society’s First Assistant who resides at the Mother House in Menzingen, is presently spending a few weeks with us and we are very happy to welcome him on his first trip to this country from his native Switzerland. In addition to practicing his English and discovering a few famous landmarks, Father is in the course of visiting the different Houses and some of our churches around the country. Much of the Assistants’ time is taken up with international voyages on behalf of the Superior General, and we certainly appreciate the three weeks Father Pfluger is spending here which allows us direct contact, so to speak, with the Mother House in Switzerland. We wish him well in his linguistic studies and trust that we shall see him again in due course.
At the occasion of a forthcoming trip to Europe Bishop Richard Williamson has kindly offered to give a conference on Shakespeare in London towards the end of this month. Details of the 2-3 hour conference are to be found elsewhere in this newsletter.
Whilst looking forward also to Bishop Tissier de Mallerais’ Confirmation visit in March, I would like to emphasise the importance of receiving this sacrament prior to puberty, around the age of 10 years old. Conferring in a special way the grace of fortitude, the Sacrament of Confirmation constitutes a significant means when facing the onset of adolescence. Unfortunately the sacrament is not infrequently regarded more as an expression of ‘Christian commitment’ than as a channel of grace.
Saint Michael’s School fête was a great success and was particularly well attended. Sincere thanks to all those who contributed towards this event which, along with the raffle raised some £3,800.
Having hoped to receive a replacement for Father Matthew Clifton, we have now been informed by Bishop Fellay that this will not be possible until August 2007. In the interim we shall endeavour to fill in as best we can whilst counting upon your understanding of the extra demands which this situation created for the Fathers.
Our thanks go to Miss Monica Nish-Purdie who has worked as secretary at the District House in London for the past six years are so, and who is now enjoying some well-deserved time out. A local lady has now taken over the position and so pertinent mail should now be addressed to ‘The Secretary.’
Miss Dorothy Banks of London is to be commended for her initiative to make and generously make widely available a DVD of last October’s very successful Lourdes pilgrimage. Details of how to acquire copies of this are to be found elsewhere in this newsletter.
Following on from Father Groche’s visit to this country last March I am happy to include the most recent English language newsletter from the mission in Gabon. Just in the last week or so one of our priests in Libreville was injured on the building site of the new secondary school by a falling tree and so prayers are requested for his full recovery.
Please note that Christus Rex, the league of Christ the King’s quarterly newsletter is available in our chapels and churches for £1.00 a copy but is sent free of charge to Mater Dei subscribers.
The XL Hours adoration at the Church of Saints Joseph and Padarn is scheduled as per usual for the first weekend of March, 2-4th March 2007 and provides an excellent Lenten opportunity of praying before the Blessed Sacrament.
May I bring to your attention also the schedule of retreats at Saint Saviour’s House, Bristol, so that as many of you as possible might benefit from these spiritual exercises?
Finally, to those who have enquired as to the number of Rosaries offered for the restoration of the Traditional Mass, I am happy to inform you that some 2.5 million Rosaries worldwide were recited for this great intention. At the time of writing the long-awaited ‘motu proprio’ has yet to be made public, but is apparently already in the hands of the bishops. Time will tell as to whether this represents an answer to our prayers . . .
With every good wish and blessing,
Father Paul Morgan
Superior