Traditional Roman Catholics

 Post Vatican II

Roman Catholics who don't agree with the innovations of Vatican II and generally disagree with ecumenism. They prefer the 16th century Tridentine Mass in Latin. One group even branded Paul VI as "anti-christ" because he had committed the "abomination of desolations" by allowing Mass in the common tongue (Church of St. Joseph, 7/30/72).

The leader of the most influential traditionalist group, the Society of Pius X, was Marcel Lefebvre, an Archbishop who openly defied the Pope by conducting the Old Mass. The Pope suspended him, but he continued celebrating the Tridentine Mass to thousands and ordaining priests. In November, 1978, Pope John Paul II had a meeting with Lefebvre, but the outcome was not publicized.

On May 16, 1983, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was quoted by THE CATHOLIC VOICE that he expected a Vatican decree that would come closer to accepting his position regarding the liturgy.

In July 1987, Lefebvre met with Cardinal Ratzinger , but the results were not publicized.

Marcel Lefebvre died on March 25, 1991. Quoting from the letter of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, 4/1/91, "At 3:30 a.m. in the early hours of Monday morning on the day that normally is the Feast of the Annunciation he breathed his last, and gave back to God his heroic and pure soul - `Here cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.' No doubt they did. Imagine, whenever it took place, the Archbishop's triumphal entry into heaven!...In 1968 Padre Pio died, in 1969 arrived the Novus Ordo Missae...What new peril draws near this time?"

Msgr. Klaus Gamber, in his book THE REFORM OF THE ROMAN LITURGY, writes: "The modification, ordered by Paul VI, of the words of Consecration and of the phrase that follows, utilized in the Roman Liturgy for more than 1500 years, had not been foreseen by the Council and was not at all useful for pastoral needs. The translation of "pro multis" ["for many"] to "for all," (see Karl Keating's explanation following) which refers to modern theological conceptions and is not to be found in any ancient liturgical text, is dubious and has scandalized some.

"This is why the artisans of the New Rite of the Mass cannot speak for the Council, even though they continue to do so. The instructions of the Council are written in a general manner and remain open to diverse solutions. In any case one thing is certain, which is that the Novus Ordo Missae would not have received approval by the majority of the Council Fathers.

"The new arrangement of the liturgy, and above all the profound modifications in the rite of the Mass which have occurred during the pontificate of Paul VI, and have now become obligatory, have been more radical than the reform of Luther - at least in that which concerns the exterior rite."

In the 11/10/94 issue of THE WANDERER, someone asked why, during the words of consecration in the Mass, the official English translation of "pro multis", is "for all" when the words actually mean "for many." In the July-August THIS ROCK, Karl Keating responded to a similar question this way: "'Many' is a biblical idiom that often means 'all'.....It is surprising that some Catholic traditionalists reject the statement that Christ's blood was shed for all...."

The point is not that some traditionalists reject anything; the fact is that they disapprove of a deliberate mis-translation. If liturgical preciseness demands verbal precision, a deliberate mis-translation seriously damages liturgical value.

CATHOLIC JOURNALS

From COLUMBIA, May 1990, "We can think at this point of the strange ideas of the schismatic French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The unfortunate French prelate, really a very poor theologian who should have known better, could not distinguish contemporary religious attitudes and practices - products of recent circumstances - from veritable dogmas of the faith. One can say he was poorly versed in Patrology.

From VERBUM, (publication of Society of Pius X), Fall 1989 re new seminarians, "Giving Their All To Gain Heaven."

From VERBUM, Winter 1989/90 re disobedience to the pope, "Look upon a picture of the crucifixion. If St. John, Our Blessed Mother, and the other holy women at the foot of the cross had followed the first Pope on that Good Friday, the only mortal in attendance would have been the soldier with the lance."

According to OUR SUNDAY VISITOR, 2/28/93, a traditionalist society in union with, and approved by, the Pope is the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, 829 N. Webster Ave., Scranton, PA 18510. (717)342-3091.

SECULAR JOURNALS

THE CHICAGO TIMES reported (10/15/84) that Pope John Paul II had decided to allow Roman Catholics to resume celebrating Mass using 16th century Latin liturgy, but only in a strictly controlled number of cases.

CHRISTIAN COMMENT

THE TRADITIONAL MOVEMENT AND ECUMENISM

by Bill Jackson

Since the Traditionalist movement is very much against the ecumenical movement, and the ecumenical movement must end Satan's super-Church which will use Romanism as its structure, how can the Traditionalists fit into any ecumenical scheme? At first glance, it seems that this movement must pale into insignificance and eventually evaporate if ecumenical plans are to be completed.

This, however, may not be the case. There is no doubt about it, the Traditionalists are the real Roman Catholics. How can the Roman Catholic structure become truly ecumenical if it is really Traditional Romanism that is true Romanism?

Archbishop Lefebvre has no intention of forming a group of maverick priests that will do sniper duty at the fringes of Romanism forever. The whole desire of the Traditionalist leaders is to keep intact a band of true Traditional Catholic priests who will be the core of the papacy that Traditionalists are looking for, a true Roman Catholic papacy with a strong Traditionalist pope. Prophetically, it is impossible to determine when this might happen. It may be that pope John Paul II, a relative conservative to his three previous counterparts but a liberal when compared with his successor, will wring all the juice out of the ecumenical movement and get as many groups to jump on the band wagon. He may die just before December 25, 2000, and the new pope will give the 2000th birthday present to Christ of much of the world.

This world will include many who came in under the ecumenism of John Paul II, most of whom will probably stay even after a true Roman pope appears on the scene. Global disaster, possibly caused as a result of the Rapture, may contribute to this. In any case, all the anathemas of Trent will be reinforced, and the Papacy will head a world crusade to complete the super-Church. This will be by force and with great persecution. The Inquisition will bring forth all weapons to make the world Catholic.

Satan will view this as a "millennium," and plans to keep it going for 1000 years. If we are here, true Christians will know it as a time of unparalleled tribulation. Whether or not the true Church will be on earth at this time is up to God to figure out. It may be Satanic tribulation which is a harbinger of the Great Tribulation. But any thought along this line demands careful study of the Traditionalist movement, for even though they are out of the mainstream today, they may possibly become the core of the Romanism that brings about the one world church.