My dear brethren,  

The initial response to the new Rosary Crusade for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary has been very encouraging with some 56,704 Rosaries pledged to date by our faithful and friends around the country.

This new crusade, which, please God, will contribute towards the victory of Our Blessed Lady and the accompanying restoration of Tradition, was something which Archbishop Lefebvre often referred to in his writings and sermons. Speaking of the chastisement of the end times and the diabolical disorientation Church’s hierarchy, the Archbishop declared that, ‘In spite of everything, I am not a pessimist. The Holy Virgin will have the victory. She will triumph over the great apostasy, the fruit of Liberalism.’ [They Have Uncrowned Him, Angelus Press]

The venerable founder of our Society however in no way suggested that we could content ourselves with prayer to the exclusion of action and good works. ‘We have to fight more than ever for the Social Reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In this battle we are not alone: we have with all us the Popes up through Pius XII inclusively. All of them combated Liberalism in order to deliver the Church from it. God did not grant that they succeed, but this is no reason to lay down our weapons. We have to hold on. We have to build while the others demolishing.’

‘The crumbled citadels have to be rebuilt, bastions of the faith to be reconstructed.’ [idem] The Archbishop lists the priorities: ‘firstly the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass of all time, which forms saints; then our chapels which are our true parishes; our monasteries; our large families; our businesses faithful to the social doctrine of the Church; our politicians determined to make the politics of Jesus Christ. . .’

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On the subject of politics and in view of the forthcoming local and European elections it may be as well to recall the Church’s traditional teaching on questions of voting. ‘It is the duty of all citizens who have the right to vote, to exercise that right when the common good of the state or the good of religion and morals require their votes, and when their voting is useful. It is sinful to vote for the enemies of religion or of liberty, except to exclude a worse candidate. [Moral and Pastoral Theology, H. Davis S.J.]

All too aware of the inherent failings of modern democracy and so-called party politics, one is often tempted to simply boycott the charade of elections and voting not least because of the flagrant and corruptive manipulation of public opinion by the media as controlled by a small number of powerful individuals. However, whilst there remain smaller parties and their candidates who stand for at least a vestige of moral principle - such as being pro-life and pro-family, or being opposed to the surrender of traditional values and national sovereignty - it would be important to vote accordingly.

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In view of our national pilgrimage from Rochester to Canterbury over the last weekend of July (Friday 24^th - Sunday 26^th July 2009), it is important to prepare ourselves for this significant annual event. Whilst the practical arrangements cannot be neglected, the essence of a pilgrimage consists neither in the numbers attending, nor in the physical efforts required, but rather in the spirit with which it is undertaken. This spirit should be marked by generosity and a desire to benefit spiritually from this public manifestation of faith, both for oneself and for one’s neighbour.

In this Pauline Year, one feature of the pilgrimage will be to consider aspects of the Apostle’s three great missionary voyages, whilst the other, in conformity with Bishop Fellay’s appeal, will be to develop the theme of living closer to the Our Lady through the Consecration to Her Immaculate Heart. A forty-page pamphlet entitled ‘Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary’ is available free of charge at St George’s House for pilgrims who request it in writing along with a stamped-addressed (2^nd Class or 30p) A-5 size envelope. It would be extremely beneficial if this work were read in anticipation of the pilgrimage.

On an entirely practical note, may I remind participants that the modest fees required for the pilgrimage only partially cover the costs involved (food, tent hire, camp-site rents etc.) hence the necessity of everybody paying their dues!

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Due to a necessary change in Bishop de Galarreta’s schedule owing to the fact that he is now the interim superior of the seminary in Argentina, please note that the confirmations will now take place in the month of November. Precise dates will be announced on our web-site [sspx.co.uk] once they have been confirmed by Menzingen.