This is a sincere and thoughtful podcast, and I appreciate Mother Miriam's views However, I strongly disagree with her conclusion that the SSPX consecrations should not have taken place. The pope is not only in conflict with Church doctrine, but with most of the pre-Vatican II popes. There certainly is a crisis in the Church which becomes ever more obvious on a daily basis. People can differ on the response to the crisis. It would be a blessing if everyone would assume the good will of others, especially their desire to do God's will in all things. I don't doubt Mother Miriam's sincere conscience disagreement with the SSPX decision. I would greatly appreciate her recognition of the sincere conscience disagreement of the laity, the bishops, and the priests of the Society who believe the severe crisis in the Church necessitated the consecrations.
What I see as the main problem and crux of the entire matter is that, without priests, the Church dies. Without bishops, there are no priests. Rome clearly wants the end of the TLM and Rome has been infiltrated by Freemasons. In an interview last May Bishop Athanasius Schneider said that freemasonry is at the center of the crisis in the Church. Freemason's greatest enemy is the Church and a silent, disguised attack through infiltration is the best strategy for perverting her. Bishop Schneider addressed the issue directly:
The greatest obstacle for the ideology of Freemasonry is Jesus Christ, the incarnated God. This is most contrary to the entire spiritual edifice of Freemasonry. And, therefore, the true, full Catholic faith … is considered (to) the Freemasons the greatest antagonism to them....
And therefore, since Freemasonry has had the aim to marginalize the Catholic faith and to fight it. And now they changed to another tactic (that) is really demonic in order to fight directly against the Catholic faith, they started to infiltrate within the Church to corrupt the Church with their ideas of relativism, of naturalism, of anthropocentrism within … this is the root of the current crisis of the Church since the Second Vatican Council....
The crisis (for) 60 years from the Council (onward) is the primacy (of) relativism, through the so-called ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. Jesus Christ is dissolved (of) His uniqueness among other religions....
The second phenomenon within the Catholic Church since the Council is to put man at the center in the liturgy … and Christ is put at the corner, on the side, even in the churches. The Holy Eucharist … the living Christ, the living incarnated God, is put in the corner and the priest puts himself in his chair, in the center.... This is so anthropocentric, and the manner to celebrate Holy Mass facing the people like a closed circle … the altar is no longer an altar. No, it is a table, and the center is the priest (no longer) Christ. They say in theory, yes, but not in practice.”
Isn't the endgame obvious? Attack the Eucharist and the priesthood. Archbishop Levebvre recognized the threat clearly and addressed it in his writing. Want to be less confused? Read his Open Letter to Confused Catholics.
Let's look further at the FSSP and company. At present the Vatican allows the FSSP and other traditional orders because they can be used as fellow travelers to crush the SSPX. If Rome is successful, what is the likely scenario? Ultimately, no bishops will be allowed to consecrate priests for the TLM and no new priests will be allowed to be trained and offer the TLM. Is that just a maybe or is it a for sure? We can't know, but if we go for the maybe and presume the good will of the Vatican, what will likely happen after the last two SSPX bishops die? Are we guessing or is the answer obvious?
We've already seen the end game in Chicago with Blase Cupich shutting down the shrine of the Institute of Christ the King in 2022 and severely restricting the TLM offered anywhere in his diocese. Numerous other dioceses have followed suit either totally eliminating or drastically reducing the ancient Mass as "divisive." Consider the fact that most bishops responding to the 2020 survey about the TLM in their dioceses found no problem in parishes where both forms were allowed. The Traditionis Custodes restrictions placed on the TLM following the survey were essentially based on a lying spin exposed by Vatican journalist Diane Montagna. Goodness! The Vatican and the pope lie? Who would have thought such a thing possible?
Interestingly, if not surprisingly, the refusals came after the shrines were notified the priests intended to offer the TLM. Another pilgrimage group to Avila in Spain was refused access and told the TLM was not allowed in that diocese. [Source] In the U.S. Cardinal Joseph Tobin recently "paused" all TLMs in his New Jersey diocese without explanation. How much evidence does one need to see that the "end game" is to scrap the Mass of the Ages altogether?
Of course they are doing the same and worse to the SSPX, no surprise there. The faithful and priests attending the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of the North American martyrs were forbidden access to the property to venerate the relics of the saints. One wag suggested they would never do that to a pilgrimage of Hindus or Muslims. They would be welcome with open arms. The worst thing is that his comment was probably correct. Assisi redux!
So again, what is likely to happen if the SSPX have no bishops? The answer is simple. The TLM will gradually disappear from the face of the earth. It will be the victory of the freemasonic synodal church.
Since the Holy Spirit has promised never to abandon His Church, we know that can't happen. Archbishop Lefebvre almost single-handedly insured that it would not happen. And the 2026 consecrations at Econe give us further evidence that it can't happen.
The fact that only two priests left after the consecrations illustrates the growing concern among Catholics over the Church crisis since the original consecrations in 1988. The Society now has 733 ordained priests and 264 seminarians and if our chapel is any indication, very few lay Catholics have defected despite being attacked and vilified. I'm constantly told I'm outside the Church. But a Novus Ordo priest friend shook his head and said I'm not. I won't say who because then he'd likely be among the canceled priests.
But persecution tends to make the faith grow, so while I don't exactly welcome it, I'm not afraid of it either. I'm asking the intercession of all the saints who suffered persecution for righteousness sake. And I recall my mom and her saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."
In summary, I responded to Mother Miriam's podcast above with a slightly edited version of the following:
If the 1988 consecrations were necessary, those in 2026 were even more necessary. I personally don't follow Fr. Altman because he's often disrespectful toward those with whom he disagrees. Bishop Schneider's tone is much more charitable and reasonable.
But my decision is firm. I will continue to attend an SSPX chapel and to believe that Leo is the pope. Those things are not contradictory. Disobedience to the pope is not necessarily wrong or sinful or schismatic. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. The pope is His vicar on earth, His vicar not His superior. Unfortunately, Leo and many of the cardinals and bishops are like the Pharisees who told the apostles to stop preaching in Christ's name. If it is not of God, it fails; if it of God, it cannot be stopped.
Do we really think Christ approves of things like giving the Eucharist to couples living in adultery or blessing "married" same-sex couples? James Martin and others like him remain in good standing; the SSPX priests do not. Are we so blind we don't see a problem with that?
I'm sorry, Mother, but I believe that the Lord will continue to bless the SSPX whose whole existence is to serve Holy Mother Church. Only two priests left after the consecrations; almost 800 continue to serve the flock and do missionary work. Like Gamaliel said, if it's untrue it will collapse; but if it's true those fighting against it will find themselves fighting against God.
And I found your last statement puzzling about traditionalist Catholics denouncing other traditional Catholics who don't agree with them. Isn't that what you are doing, Mother? Our SSPX priests at our chapel never say an uncharitable word against persons. They only address sin and our obligation to avoid it. They urge us to pray for all the shepherds of the Church and not to fight with people. So that's what I'm doing and praying like St. Joan of Arc to remain in the state of grace.
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