From the District Superior’s Desk, December 2024
Rev. Fr. David Sherry, District Superior
Speculation abounds in certain quarters about when the Society of Saint Pius X will consecrate bishops. 36 years after the consecrations of 1988, and following the death of Bishop Tissier, the time would seem to be close. Before the consecrations of 1988, Archbishop Lefebvre sought a sign whether it was God’s will to consecrate bishops with or without the permission of the Holy Father. He received a sign: it was the interreligious meeting of Assisi, where all false religions were put on an equal footing with the religion of Jesus Christ and God was put on a level with idols. Arguably worse was that hardly any episcopal shepherd rebuked Peter, even though he was to be blamed.
As we know, our founder sought the pope’s permission, refused to accept a compromise which would lead to the death of the Society and thereby the imperilling of the Faith, and consecrated the bishops anyway. Some interpreted this as ‘negotiating with a heretic’, others said it was disobedient and schismatic. It was neither. The pope — though he be unfaithful — is the visible head of the Church, and it behoved the archbishop to acknowledge this. It is like a situation where the captain of a ship appears to be out of his mind. It is not permissible for the crew to simply disobey him; one must demonstrate that one is ready to obey and will only go beyond or against his orders when absolutely necessary and justified before God. Asking the pope’s permission was evidence that Archbishop Lefebvre was in no way schismatic; going ahead with the consecrations when they were clearly necessary was proof that he was supernaturally prudent and courageous. History has vindicated him, and though not a gambler, I would account it a dead cert that he will one day be canonised as a heroic example of the virtues of obedience and prudence.
At Bishop Tissier’s funeral, Fr. Pagliarani was clear that, like the archbishop whose sons we are, the Society is determined to follow the signs of Providence and to keep a calm head. When the time comes for bishops to be consecrated, it will be done in true obedience, prudence and especially in peace of soul.
Holy Year
2025 is a year of jubilee or Holy Year. That means that the faithful are encouraged to go on pilgrimage to Rome — Eternal Rome, Mother and Mistress of all the Churches — to obtain the indulgences associated with visiting the Holy City. The Society is organising an international pilgrimage on Wednesday 20th August. To help sanctify this Holy Year, I have asked the priests, where possible, to have Benediction once a month after Mass to entrust our families and country to the merciful Heart of Jesus. Our Superior General would like us to pray especially for vocations during this year. If you do not do so already, may I suggest that you add the invocations for vocations to your family Rosary:
O Lord, grant us priests.
O Lord, grant us holy priests.
O Lord, grant us many holy priests.
O Lord, grant us many holy religious vocations.
St. Pius X, pray for us.
Confirmation
I am very happy to announce that Bishop Bernard Fellay will visit these islands in late May 2025. He has made time to schedule visits to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation in Burghclere on Saturday 24th May, in London on Sunday 25th May, in Preston on Ascension Thursday, 29th May, and in Edinburgh on Sunday 1st June. Parents and adults who wish to enrol their children or themselves as candidates should contact their local priest in due course. Children should be aged ten or older and must have sufficient knowledge.
Conditional Confirmation
The Sacrament of Confirmation can often be conferred conditionally on those who were confirmed according to the Novus Ordo rite only.
Throughout the history of the Church, olive oil was always and only used for the confection of Sacred Chrism and was considered to be necessary for the validity of the Sacrament of Confirmation. The olive pressed in order to give its oil, used for nourishment and healing, represents Our Lord Jesus Christ pressed and crushed in the Garden of Olives and on Calvary in order to give us life. Since Vatican II, other oils (usually vegetable oil) are commonly used for the confection of Chrism. Given the crisis in the Church and the constant practice for nineteen centuries of using olive oil, even in times when it was difficult to obtain, there is a legitimate doubt hanging over the validity of Confirmations conferred in the Novus Ordo where the Chrism was not confected from olive oil. If you are concerned over the validity of the Confirmation you received, you should talk to your priest about the possibility of conditional Confirmation.
D.S.
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