On the FSSP Chaplaincy in Front Royal and the SSPX

St. Francis de Sales advises the faithful to always put the best construction on other people's actions and the most critical on your own. So I will do that with Bishop Burbidge's decision to invite the FSSP to start a chaplaincy here in Virginia. Since it is being formed "to serve primarily in Front Royal," it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that a primary purpose is to close (by attrition) the SSPX chapel currently in Linden "which remains in a state of irregular communion."

I can't read the bishop's mind but I will presume that he really does care about his diocesan flock and not just the money the diocese is losing which, in view of the on-going SSPX building fund donations, is approaching two million dollars.

The Powerful Witness of Persecution

I was talking to a friend last Friday after our holy hour for priests and she made a brilliant point about what's happening these days in the modern, post Vatican II Church. Here's the question. In the history of the Church over the millennia, who were persecuted and martyred? Who were executed in the Roman Coliseum and covered with pitch and set on fire to light Nero's garden? The Pharisees? The Sadducees?

No indeed! It was those who were faithful to Christ and His Church -- completely faithful! You know, the believers who refused to the point of death to offer a pinch of incense to the false gods.

The Battle of Front Royal Continues with Arrival of FSSP Chaplaincy

I've been more than a little amused at all the chortling over Bishop Burbidge establishing a  chaplaincy for the FSSP under the patronage of Our Lady of Victory. [See the announcement here.] "Isn't it wonderful? What a brave bishop! How grateful we are!"

Really? I'm sincerely grateful to Bishop Burbidge for a number of things, and I can even be grateful for this, since the only result can be to bring more people to recognize the glory of Sacred Tradition and the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM). But I'm also a realist. This is the same bishop who severely reduced the availability of the TLM in accord with Traditionis Custodes. Except for the three parishes where it remains inside the church, the TLM was exiled to gyms and multi-purpose rooms where it continues. And in 2024, after renewing the indult, the three parish churches were ordered to substitute a Latin Novus Ordo (NO) for the TLM once a month. [Source] You see, it is all about "weaning" the laity away from the TLM (the Mass Pope Benedict said could not be abrogated.). We must conform to every jot and tittle of Vatican II and to the "new Mass" that grew out of it by the influence of probable Freemason, Annibale Bugnini.

Part V: A Pinch of Incense to Modernism -- How Accepting Ecclesia Dei, etc. Poisoned Principles

See all the previous posts in this series on Ecclesia Dei and its aftermath on our Modernism page.

I started out this series bringing up principles. If someone calls you a person of principle, what do they mean? The American Heritage Dictionary defines principle as: 

• A basic truth, law, or assumption.
• A rule or standard, especially of good behavior.
• The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments.

Part IV: Does the FSSP's Former Superior General, Fr. Josef Bisig, Practice Classic Indoctrination?

St. John the Baptist in Front Royal where the Traditional Mass may no longer be prayed in 
the parish church that those who embrace tradition helped pay for. Talk about injustice!

Fr. Josef Bisig recently was invited to speak in Front Royal at St. John the Baptist in response to the SSPX opening a chapel in nearby Linden. The conflict between the local parish and the chapel has, sadly, been acrimonious at times and unkind. I had friends who refused to sit at my table because I attend the chapel, which frankly I thought was strange. I have no doubt they will break bread with Protestants, but a fellow Catholic is an unwashed and unwanted "schismatic" and former friend. I still grieve the loss of their friendship and miss them at my occasional rosary luncheons with friends when we gather for fellowship and prayer. I console myself by uniting myself to Jesus who also lost friends.

Part 3: From Ecclesia Dei, the Modernist Nose in the Sanctuary, to Traditionis Custodes, the Modernists Running the Show!

Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles offers a hymn in stone to Modernism. What has Modernism given us? Ugly churches, ugly liturgies, ugly music, showmen priests, laity overflowing the sanctuary, and declining faith. Don't just weep. Rebel!

For earlier posts in this series on Modernism and the Traditional Latin Mass see:

Prelude: Is there a crisis in the Church?

Part 1 -- Ecclesia Dei and the Abandonment of Principles! Part I: A Little History

Part 2 -- Ecclesia Dei Part 2: The Motu Proprio is Infected with Modernism

Let's move on to examine Pope Benedict's efforts to improve the situation and restore the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) which he said was "never abrogated," although there were certainly massive efforts by Modernist bishops and priests to completely suppress it.

Recall that the 1988 motu proprio Ecclesia Dei Adflicta (EDA) of John Paul II did, in fact, promote modernism in subtle and not so subtle ways as I discussed in the previous posts. Benedict, with the motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum (SP), of 2007, offered hope for a serious correction and a move toward bringing the Traditional Latin Mass once again into the heart of the Church. Although the apostolic letter acknowledge the importance of the TLM and its role in saint-making, it failed to suppress modernist elements. Here's a bit from SP that praised the TLM:

Of Graduation, the Christendom Chapel, and the SSPX

Christendom College chapel on college graduation day.

Our granddaughter graduated last Thursday from Chelsea Academy in Front Royal, VA. Mass and ceremonies were held at Christendom College on a beautiful sunny Spring day under a Mary-blue sky. My husband and I arrived about twenty minutes before Mass and entered the new church for the first time. It's very impressive from the outside, more like a European cathedral than a humble college chapel. It has a large foyer, a high choir loft, and and an imposing altar almost dazzlingly white. 

And You Thought the FSSP Were Immune from the TLM Bashers? Think Again!

FSSP Seminarians banned from celebrating TLM at Ars Basilica!
Are we surprised?

Well, the synodal powers that be are now going after the FSSP. No Mass for your annual pilgrimage to Ars, France, seminary scum. The Basilica Church of Mercy is not for you! 

• Fraternity of Saint Peter in Ars: “Synodal” Church Forbids Mass

How Not To Raise a Sociopath Who Shoots Up Schools!

Have a loving Mom and dad in the home raising their son in the Catholic faith according to Sacred Tradition with the Traditional Latin Mass. Hat tip to nonvenipacem.

Precious moments ❤️ Mother and father receiving blessings from their newly ordained son Cedric Cortes FSSP. Video Courtesy: Janina Cortes pic.twitter.com/x6Of85MvaV

— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) June 2, 2022

Governor Ron DeSantis Encourages Dads in the Home to Reduce Violence!

By Lydia Nusbaum


May 31, 2022 Updated 5:30 P.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis encouraged fathers to participate in their families lives in an interview with First class Fatherhood discussing the fatherhood crisis in the United States.

“If you had every kid in America had a loving father in the home, we would have far, far fewer problems that we would have to deal with as a society,” DeSantis said.

The Governor urged fathers to be present in their kids’ lives. DeSantis shared the struggle he faced spending time with his family while serving as a member in congress when his daughter was born in Florida.

“I’m sitting in my office in D.C. wondering ‘why the hell am I up here?’ I really want to be back down,” he explained.

DeSantis said the Governor’s role is more “family friendly” and allows him to see his kids for dinner or in the mornings.

“If I’m going to do public service, I wanted to make sure I could do it in a way that was more family friendly,” he said.

The Governor signed legislation to tackle the fatherlessness crisis in Florida. Last month he signed legislation to support fathers and children by connecting men with career services and boys with mentorship.

DeSantis said in April that kids without a father being more likely to drop out of school and get in trouble with the law.

“I do think there are a lot of problems, but if you could just snap your finger and do one thing, and you did this where the fathers were in the home, you would not even need to worry about a lot of these other problems.” DeSantis said.

How short is Michael Voris' leash and to whom is it tethered?

Texas Fanboi JTC giving directions
to Michael Voris 

Before we move on to the game of tetherball I'd like to address the (most recent) double standard practiced at Church Militant when they hosted a sedevacantist on their panel of 9 diocesan priests "who have been sidelined in varying capacities for being faithful". (Here)

One of those priests, Fr Stephen Lefort, after being dismissed by his bishop, became a sedevacantist and was conditionally re-ordained by a Thuc-line bishop.

What a double standard for Church Militant! Yet isn't this par for the course in Vorisland? Michael Voris and Christine Niles "constantly state that the SSPX are a bad group of untouchable schismatic victimizers, yet Fr Stephen Lefort, who has actually done schismatic acts and has put himself under a dubious bishop, is treated no differently than the good guys on the panel, nor are any of his schismatic acts disclosed by Church Militant."

Why would anyone believe the frenzied sensationalism and ranting screeds of Voris and Niles? We, as reasonable people, shouldn't believe them and the game of tetherball explains why. Tetherball is a game where two people strike a volleyball suspended from a stationary metal pole by a rope or tether. The pole is usually 10 feet high with the rope connecting the pole and tetherball being 8 feet long. The two players hit the ball clockwise or counterclockwise until one player manages to wind the ball all the way around the pole as far as it will go until it hits the pole. Of course the closer to the pole, the shorter the rope.

Michael Voris and Church Militant are like tetherball. The entity "Church Militant" and all its actions are the pole. Michael Voris is the ball, tethered to the pole. Connecting Church Militant (the pole) and Michael Voris (the ball) is the rope (MONEY). 

We Knew It Was Just a Matter of Time: Pope Francis Abrogates Universal Permission for TLM...

We'll get those traditionalist clergy 
and their little lambs too!

It's like a soap opera: As the World of Bergoglio and the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) Turns.

Next? 

Complete abrogation of the TLM by the pope and his minions at the Vatican? Won't James Martin smile!

Alert! FSSP, Canons of Christ the King, Canons of the New Jerusalem, etc. You are on the enemies list. Get ready for the chopping block!

Alert! SSPX and your flock, get ready for excommunication!

If It Can Happen in Dijon....

Why is a French Catholic archdiocese expelling the FSSP?

After 23 years serving the faithful in the diocese of Dijon, France, the FSSP are being thrown out by the current bishop. The coup de grace comes as he nears retirement age and looks very much like a reprisal because the fraternity declined to concelebrate a Novus Ordo Chrism Mass with him during Holy Week. The FSSP only celebrate the Tridentine Mass. 

Sunday Meditation: Want to Terrify the Devil?

Follow this advice from Fr. Gerard Saguto, FSSP

"It has become evident that we cannot all just get along -- and maybe that is a good thing -- but how we don't get along is very important. We do not go lopping off heads; rather, with firmness of faith, we go to the Cross and profess unashamedly the divine identity of the Crucified, ready to absorb what comes in a charitable effort to evangelize those steeped in the darkness of Islam and every other false religion. Always remember: the weapons of Christianity -- devout prayer, penance, the Rosary, and (most especially) the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass --- wage more terror in hell than a bomb does in an airport....No prayer, no sacrifice goes unremarked by our merciful Father in heaven.

Visit the website of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter