Letter from the Rector
The Power of Darkness
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
In this hour of the Devil "and the power of darkness" (Luke XXI, 9) as we see all around us the seemingly unchecked advance of "all seduction of iniquity" (II Thess. II 10), seducing the best of men and even of Priests into doing wrong while apparently convinced they are doing right, we must on Our Lord's own instructions, not judge if we would not be judged (Matt. VII,) we must overcome evil with good (Matt.V, 44) and we must be patient (Luke XXI 9).
God has willed to allow this Passion of His Mystical Body, the Catholic Church, just as He willed to allow the Passion of the physical body of His only-begotten Son; out of the latter came our Redemption, out of the former, according to many signs, will come in God's good time an unparalleled triumph ,of His Catholic Church. This we must believe, and we must wait, patiently praying for the Holy Father, the Head of the Catholic Hierarchy, who alone can redress Our Lord's Church which He Himself made. May God deign to liberate the Pope from all his enemies, internal and external!
Nevertheless, Our Lord in that same hour of darkness told us not only to pray but also to watch (Matt XXVI, 41). In the anguish made universal inside the Catholic Church by these troubles at its very summit, countless Catholics are being deceived into quitting the Church. Many are falling into Protestant sects, becoming Baptists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses; others repudiate Protestantism and wish to remain Catholic. By repudiating also virtually all of the present Catholic hierarchy, they too run a grave risk of cutting themselves off from the vine and of quitting the Catholic Church, notably the "sedevacantists" for whom the See of Rome is vacant, i.e. we have no Pope.
Here is the true heart of the dispute between Archbishop Lefebvre and the nine Priests from the North who quit the Society of St. Pius X. This dispute is continuing to cause confusion and bitter dissension amongst many faithful Catholics, and here is where we must watch. On separate sheets, readers may follow the arguments in court in August of this year of Fr. Kelly and his Attorney. They can watch him arguing his way out of the Society, which is part of the Catholic Church, and into civil Corporations dependent merely upon himself and his colleagues. In contrast to this version of the Society fabricated by Fr. Kelly, the foot-note on those sheets which sets out what has always been the Archbishop's position, according to which all priests belonging to the Society and all who follow them are securely inside the Church and under its jurisdiction, outside of which there is no salvation. But how can the same be said now saying he deliberately placed outside the of these Corporations realize where they are for civil corporations which Fr. Kelly is jurisdiction of the Church? Do followers being led?
These court-room arguments and the similar flow of equally misleading propaganda from Oyster Bay, show that Fr. Kelly and his colleagues and followers through failing to distinguish between the official Church, vine of Our Lord, and the Conciliar Church, gangrened with heresy, are at the very least in grave danger of schism. Now the danger of heresy inherent in the Novus Ordo Missae excuses Catholics from the obligation of attending it, and once they are aware of the danger, obliges them not to attend it. It follows that Catholics aware of this ever more real danger of schism in the Masses celebrated by Fr. Kelly and his colleagues, are obliged not to attend them.
On a more positive note, there are also enclosed details of the early visit of Archbishop Lefebvre to his flock in the Northern United States. These details have been so long in suspense because only in the last few days have a brave group of Long Islanders decided to go ahead with the purchase in Farmingville of a large building for a Church, highly suitable for Ordinations and Confirmations. Let traditional Catholics come in large numbers to this grand occasion where the Archbishop will also consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady. By showing their loyalty and affection to the Archbishop, they will warm again his heart chilled on his last visit!
In conclusion, many thanks from all of us at the Seminary to all of you who have pledged your regular support. We need still more help, but you will have a report next month when most of the Pledge Cards have come in.
Meanwhile may Almighty God bless you and may Our Lady protect you!
Fr. Richard Williamson
The Power of Darkness
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
In this hour of the Devil "and the power of darkness" (Luke XXI, 9) as we see all around us the seemingly unchecked advance of "all seduction of iniquity" (II Thess. II 10), seducing the best of men and even of Priests into doing wrong while apparently convinced they are doing right, we must on Our Lord's own instructions, not judge if we would not be judged (Matt. VII,) we must overcome evil with good (Matt.V, 44) and we must be patient (Luke XXI 9).
God has willed to allow this Passion of His Mystical Body, the Catholic Church, just as He willed to allow the Passion of the physical body of His only-begotten Son; out of the latter came our Redemption, out of the former, according to many signs, will come in God's good time an unparalleled triumph ,of His Catholic Church. This we must believe, and we must wait, patiently praying for the Holy Father, the Head of the Catholic Hierarchy, who alone can redress Our Lord's Church which He Himself made. May God deign to liberate the Pope from all his enemies, internal and external!
Nevertheless, Our Lord in that same hour of darkness told us not only to pray but also to watch (Matt XXVI, 41). In the anguish made universal inside the Catholic Church by these troubles at its very summit, countless Catholics are being deceived into quitting the Church. Many are falling into Protestant sects, becoming Baptists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses; others repudiate Protestantism and wish to remain Catholic. By repudiating also virtually all of the present Catholic hierarchy, they too run a grave risk of cutting themselves off from the vine and of quitting the Catholic Church, notably the "sedevacantists" for whom the See of Rome is vacant, i.e. we have no Pope.
Here is the true heart of the dispute between Archbishop Lefebvre and the nine Priests from the North who quit the Society of St. Pius X. This dispute is continuing to cause confusion and bitter dissension amongst many faithful Catholics, and here is where we must watch. On separate sheets, readers may follow the arguments in court in August of this year of Fr. Kelly and his Attorney. They can watch him arguing his way out of the Society, which is part of the Catholic Church, and into civil Corporations dependent merely upon himself and his colleagues. In contrast to this version of the Society fabricated by Fr. Kelly, the foot-note on those sheets which sets out what has always been the Archbishop's position, according to which all priests belonging to the Society and all who follow them are securely inside the Church and under its jurisdiction, outside of which there is no salvation. But how can the same be said now saying he deliberately placed outside the of these Corporations realize where they are for civil corporations which Fr. Kelly is jurisdiction of the Church? Do followers being led?
These court-room arguments and the similar flow of equally misleading propaganda from Oyster Bay, show that Fr. Kelly and his colleagues and followers through failing to distinguish between the official Church, vine of Our Lord, and the Conciliar Church, gangrened with heresy, are at the very least in grave danger of schism. Now the danger of heresy inherent in the Novus Ordo Missae excuses Catholics from the obligation of attending it, and once they are aware of the danger, obliges them not to attend it. It follows that Catholics aware of this ever more real danger of schism in the Masses celebrated by Fr. Kelly and his colleagues, are obliged not to attend them.
On a more positive note, there are also enclosed details of the early visit of Archbishop Lefebvre to his flock in the Northern United States. These details have been so long in suspense because only in the last few days have a brave group of Long Islanders decided to go ahead with the purchase in Farmingville of a large building for a Church, highly suitable for Ordinations and Confirmations. Let traditional Catholics come in large numbers to this grand occasion where the Archbishop will also consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady. By showing their loyalty and affection to the Archbishop, they will warm again his heart chilled on his last visit!
In conclusion, many thanks from all of us at the Seminary to all of you who have pledged your regular support. We need still more help, but you will have a report next month when most of the Pledge Cards have come in.
Meanwhile may Almighty God bless you and may Our Lady protect you!
Fr. Richard Williamson
