From Rorate Caeli

Society of Saint Pius X: Benedict XVI to pass on the dossier to successor

Regarding the issue of the Society of St. Pius X, he reaffirmed that the date of 22 February to decide the issue is pure hypothesis and that Benedict XVI has decided to entrust the matter to the next Pope, therefore, a definition of relations with that society should not be expected by the end of this pontificate. (Vatican Information Service)

[Note: the letter and the date mentioned in it, Feb. 22, 2013, are real; it was never called an "ultimatum" by Rorate, though it was by some news organizations.]

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2013/02/lefebvrists-benedict-xvi-to-forward.html

St, Esther, pray for us today

‘Remember, Lord; reveal yourself

in the time of our distress.

‘As for me, give me courage,

King of gods and master of all power.

Put persuasive words into my mouth

when I face the lion;

change his feeling into hatred for our enemy,

that the latter and all like him may be brought to their end.

‘As for ourselves, save us by your hand,

and come to my help, for I am alone and have no one but you, Lord. 

Today's Mass, Esther 4:16-17

 St. Esther, pray for the SSPX today.

Just as you had fears before acting for your people, calm the fears of the bishops and priests. Open all hearts to be one, even as You are One, oh God.

Rorate Caeli today on time and the SSPX

Part of the post on Rorate....read it all here  http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2013/02/benedict-xvi-sspx-quarter-to-midnight.html

Benedict XVI is leaving. A verification of the lists of papabili - with the exception of Cardinal Ranjith, in Colombo, but who has a small chance precisely due to his Traditionalist sensibility - shows that this "Benedict XVI moment" is a unique occasion for the Society of Saint Pius X.

[...] Rome proposes to them, before the resignation of Benedict XVI is in force on February 28, to sign a final agreement and become a prelature that would give them a dependence from Rome but an independence vis-à-vis the bishops. This letter asks for a response by February 22, feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, a highly symbolic date because it celebrates the foundation of the Church. This is the view expressed in this letter signed by Abp. Müller (who is himself personally opposed to this agreement), but whom Benedict XVI, who named him to this position, asked to work for this unity.

[...] Bp. Fellay faces, therefore, an immense responsibility. Will he be te one who, for fear of the ultras (who will leave him, anyway), refuse a last extended hand by this Pope who, in a certain fashion, spiritually placed his resignation in play also for this agreement? Otherwise what would this letter and these ongoing exchanges mean one week away from the end of the Pontificate?

There is something of the very fate of the Society of Saint Pius X, of their very standing, that is therefore in play. They are used to taking shots. They were even established this way. They can always say that they can bear not being understood one more time with this last refusal. That they can do no other with the credibility and the goodwill that they were able to receive in the Catholic Church, particularly among the young people who are her future. But how could a foundation that has the goal of reviving the identity of the Church knowingly refuse this possibility? How can one be blinded and paralyzed to such a level that one cannot see this clearly? Is not a Pontificate that was almost dedicated to them not enough for them?

Statement of an SSPX priest, see article below

.... "the resignation of Benedict XVI has suspended everything,” summarizes Celier, “we will not move until we know the name of his successor."

More from Rorate on the SSPX this evening.....

THE MAJORITY RALLIED BEHIND THE SUPERIOR GENERAL

The vast majority rallied behind the superior general. "In the past I considered leaving the Fraternity,” recounts Fr. K, “but more for interpersonal difficulties than for doctrinal reasons. However, today I have no doubt, given the approach adopted in discussions with Rome; I have absolute confidence in Bishop Fellay.”

Article on the priests...very important.

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-priests-of-fraternity-of-st-pius-x.html

Even those who present themselves as the most "agreement-oriented" do not intend to leave the Fraternity on their own. Thus, Father B. in the South regrets that it is "increasingly difficult to discuss this subject with (his) colleagues because there is a distinct hardening, they have turned in recent months."  However, he says he does not want to lose the "spirit proper to our own congregation.” “Our strength is precisely this spirit, this community life that sustains us.” […]

The General Chapter of the summer seems to have even tightened the links between the Lefebvrists. "Communication within the Brotherhood has not been easy in the past,” continues Fr. B. “but last summer Bishop Fellay acknowledged that he should keep us better informed about the discussions with Rome."

"SOME ARE FED UP, BUT NOT TO THE POINT OF LEAVING"

“Since then, the climate of confidence has grown between us." Join an Ordinariate? Few would see that as a resolution because on the doctrinal level they have not changed one iota: "We are always open to proposals from the Holy See, but do not force us to accept Vatican II! For forty years we've been saying that!” exclaims Father Jean-Yves Cottard Tours. "The Council has promulgated a text contrary to the Catholic faith –that concerning religious liberty. We cannot in good conscience accept this text … "

There is more.

More on the Letter to the SSPX

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/lefebvriani-lefebvrianos-lefebvrians-22445/

Will the Pope's resignation speed things along? It's hard to tell. Conditions as favourable as the current ones and a Pope as willing to reach an agreement as Benedict XVI will certainly be hard to come by. If the SSPX rejects the Holy See's proposals, the new Pope will have to decide on what to do next

I think I need to do a serious fast this week and invite all my readers to do the same.

Please consider an extra penance this week.

WOW, a deadline; from Rorate Caeli

From the interview granted by Father Claude Barthe to French conservative daily Présent - reproduced in Italian by Messa in latino (the French original text is not available online):

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-february-surprise.html

[Présent:] -What will happen to the discussions and to the future of the FSSPX [SSPX: Society of Saint Pius X]?

[Fr. Claude Barthe:] As unbelievable as it may seem, nothing is changed in the immediate future. I will make myself clear.

Everybody now knows that the Ecclesia Dei Commission sent a letter to Bishop Fellay [Superior General of the Society] on January 8, and that an answer is expected from him by February 22, the day of the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter. The erection of the Prelature of Saint Pius X could be dated from this day, February 22. This would represent the true conclusion of the pontificate of Benedict XVI: the rehabilitation of Abp. Lefebvre. Can you imagine what thunderous roar [this would be] and even, indirectly, what weight this would have in the orienation of the events of March?

This startling response by Fr. Barthe is also mentioned today by Vaticanist Andrea Tornielli. Source: Présent, Feb. 16, 2013.

Pope Benedict XVI, in his Ash Wednesday homily, reminded the faithful of the great Lenten text of Saint Paul (yesterday's Epistle in the Traditional Mass):

"Well, now is the favourable time, this is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2). The words of the Apostle Paul to the Christians of Corinth resonate for us with an urgency that does not permit absences or inertia. The term "now", repeated several times, says that this moment cannot be let go, it is offered to us as a unique opportunity that will not be repeated. And the Apostle's gaze focuses on sharing with which Christ chose to characterize his life, taking on everything human to the point of taking on all of man’s sins.

Thanks to Rorate Caeli on SSPX status

Interview granted by the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX), Bp. Bernard Fellay, to Nouvelles de France (Feb. 15 edition). No time for a translation now, but he says that for a brief moment following the papal resignation he expected a sign in their favor, but now thinks this is unlikely to happen: "It will probably be necessary to wait for the next pope."

Update: full translation provided by the American District of the SSPX:

Your Excellency, would you appreciate it if the last major act of Benedict XVI’s pontificate could be the reintegration of the Society of St. Pius X?

Bishop Bernard Fellay: For a moment I thought that, with his resignation, Benedict XVI would perhaps make a final gesture in our favor as pope. That being said, I have a hard time seeing how he could do so. We will probably have to wait for the next pope. I will even go so far as to say, at the risk of surprising you, that the Church has more important problems than the Society of St. Pius X, and in a way, it is by resolving these problems that the problem of the Society will be solved.

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2013/02/fellay-i-thought-that-with-his.html

SSPX Updates as of June 26th, 2012

SSPX news

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/the-vatican/detail/articolo/lefebvriani-lefebvrians-lefebvrianos-16311/

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2012/06/di-noia-to-cns-it-is-possible-to-have.html#more

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2012/06/sspx-last-minute-hurdles-fsspx.html

Six post day

That they may be one...John 17:21

Rorate Caeli has an excellent editorial article on the fact that now is the time for the SSPX to come into full communion with Rome. I shall let you read it here. We must pray and fast that this happens soon, very soon.

from Rorate Caeli a disturbing or at least interesting statistic

"Curiosities: the February 2012 consistory will be the first one not to include a residential Cardinal from either Africa or Latin America since the small June 1977 Consistory - the last Montini Consistory, in which only 5 Cardinals were created, including Cardinals Ratzinger (Munich) and Gantin (Justice and Peace). / There will be 107 voting Cardinals on the eve of the next consistory, 21% of whom will be Italians. With the new Consistory, there will be 125 voting Cardinals, 24% of whom will be Italians, the highest percentage since the mid-1970s." from Rorate Caeli

The Vatican pundits should chime in and tell us if the high number of Italians in the consistory is a good or bad development. Note the dates here--this is a return to the pre-Blessed John Paul II organization. I am very interested, as this present Pope has started to reform the Church, especially with regards to the Liturgy, and those of us who follow this do not want to see a departure from that renewal.