Ridgefield Diary
Mr. Arvin Brown, Chronicler
THE AMERICAN SEMINARY of the Society of St. Pius X continues quickly along the path of recovery in the wake of what has proved to be a major shake-up in the North-East District of the Society of St. Pius X in America. Although it seems that a breaking away was inevitable under the circumstances, it is not without considerable sadness that the Seminary lost nine priests from the Society and twelve seminarians. It is hoped that the faithful will remember these priests and former seminarians in their prayers.
On the brighter side of an unpleasant situation, the seminarians resumed the academic schedule. Although the schedule has been lightened due to the loss of three professors, we are already back to 75% of the academic load which was maintained before the recent disturbances.
The spiritual life of the Seminary has not suffered. If anything, it has been enhanced. Most of the remaining seminarians realize that it is only due to the grace of God that we are still here and so there has been a general renewal of fervor. This could be seen especially during the Rogation Days. An innovation was made by Father Williamson: the procession which is normally carried out on the grounds of the Seminary was conducted around the lake. This is a 2.8 mile route, right out in public—just like a procession is supposed to be. We hope that a similar public expression of the Faith will occur on the Feast of Corpus Christi.
The Feast of the Ascension followed the Rogation Days and the High Mass at 10:00 a.m. was performed flawlessly. Among the hymns that have been added to the seminarians' repertoire at the end of Benediction is a beautiful Gregorian hymn for the intentions of the Holy Father. Many of the seminarians had expressed the desire to offer public prayers for the Pope. If there was ever a time a Pope needed prayers, it is now!
The seminarians are frequently asked how a situation leading to the breaking away of nine priests could occur in what had appeared to be such a peaceful and ordered community of men devoting their lives to God.
The answer to this question is not easy, but, at the risk of expressing an oversimplified view of a complex situation, the following observations are offered from the point of view of a seminarian.
It seems that Satan's best work involves sowing the seeds of division among good people and by thus focussing their energies against each other, their effectiveness is neutralized. Satan, having an angelic intelligence, realizes that the Society of St. Pius X is his principal enemy in his world empire today. He will spare no effort to destroy it if he can, and to neutralize its efforts if he cannot.
At issue here is more than the liturgy, the Pope, or annulments. These are simply the means Satan uses to sow the seeds of division into the Society. The principal means he used in the recent disturbances at the Seminary were the liturgical rubrics.
The major bone of contention at the Seminary was whether the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X or of Pope John XXIII should be followed. There is, for Archbishop Lefebvre, really no choice in the matter. The rubrics of Pope John XXIII constitute the last valid legislation, and his Apostolic Letter implementing them specifically abrogates those of his predecessor.
So Satan used the abrogated rubrics of the Patron Saint of the Society as a means of dividing the community. The effectiveness of the technique is open for all to see.
The faithful may rest assured that if it is God's will for the Society to continue its work of "restoring His house to its former glory" then Satan will not be successful in his attacks.
The Seminary presently has a few more vacant rooms than were originally anticipated so any young men who think they may have a vocation to the Holy Priesthood are urged to contact:
Father Richard Williamson, Rector
St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary
209 Tackora Trail
Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877
What follows are some of the reactions of seminarians who chose to remain at Ridgefield following dismissal of Father Sanborn. We felt that our readers would benefit from hearing from some of the young men who are tomorrow's Pastors!
The need for a guide and chief pastor is most acute in these troubled times. Not only the faithful, but seminarians and, to a great extent, priests can be likened to what Our Lord called "sheep," who need a pastor to shepherd them. Our Lord has promised never to leave us orphans. I stand behind the Archbishop because the fruits of his apostolate are evident for all to see.
—Gregory Foley
+ + +
The virtue of obedience is a fundamental principle in the law of God. The prudence of the Superior is assumed the greater in decisions for the common good—even if inferiors may find these unfavorable. The Superior in this case is a man very close to God. His "track record" shows this!
—Wayne Bufe
+ + +
The nine priests of the North-East District have produced much fruit and I have always looked up to them for guidance. However, they have told the faithful of the North-East District that the Archbishop is changing the liturgy. This is simply not true.
The faithful of the North-East District have been deceived. They presumed that the Mass they had been attending over the past eight years was the same Mass that Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre celebrating. This was not so.
The Archbishop had been celebrating Mass and ordaining priests under the rite of Pope Pius XII, signed by Pope John XXIII, and all of these nine priests were ordained according to that same rite. Yet these nine priests never let the faithful know this and they grew accustomed to the rubrics of St. Pius X.
Consequently, it was the silence of these nine priests concerning the liturgy over the past eight years which has led to the present confusion. The Archbishop simply requested that these priests conform to the Mass of their ordination, and they refused!
Secondly, the Holy Roman Catholic Church has always prayed for the Pope and included the Roman Pontiff in the Canon of the Mass. Thus, those who refuse to pray for the Vicar of Christ on earth not only disregard the Tradition of the Church but implicitly suggest that it is hopeless to pray for him. But it is in God Whom we place all our hope! To follow anyone with this unCatholic way of thinking is to walk down the wide road of destruction.
—Charles J. Ward
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In these times, what people need is priests to teach and show them the way to heaven, not theological debates!
"By their fruits you shall know them" (Matt. 7:16) These words have been read and taught to me since my early childhood. It is quite evident that His Grace's fruits have been very great and numerous and, by God's grace, these will continue.
—Steve Perry
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A Catholic must strive to obey in all that isn't sin. The Archbishop is trying to bring all back to the flock of Christ—this obviously is no danger to the Faith! These priests who have left the Archbishop openly showed their spite and disobedience. This is not Catholic and I could not follow them ...
—Jim Morton
+ + +
In view of the current division in the North-East District, the words of our prelate ring clear: "Truth is not made by numbers ... if I am alone, and even if all my seminarians leave me, even if I am abandoned by the whole of public opinion ... I am ... attached to the Tradition which sanctified all the saints in heaven ... It was public opinion which condemned Our Lord after acclaiming Him a few days before. First Palm Sunday: then Good Friday."
I thank these priests who have left us, for the good training and advice they have given me in the Faith. Although my heart goes out to them with many daily prayers, I am grieved over the harm to souls caused by their actions. I remain faithful to my Bishop who has said three times:
"I CANNOT CHANGE":
1) To Pope Paul VI, because his liturgical reform is very dangerous to the Faith;
2) To Pope John Paul II, in the Archbishop's recent letter to him, stating that we refuse ecumenism because it is dangerous to the Faith;
3) To the nine priests who have just left him because their schismatic attitude is just as dangerous to the Faith.
—Reverend Mr. John T. Hogan
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I've put all my trust in him since I was a kid. I won't stop now. He's been the only hope for the Catholic Church for the last twenty years, and what he is doing will continue for many more.
—Andrew Bryan
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Will Archbishop Lefebvre compromise? Impossible! He is the only bishop of the Roman Catholic Church who is not afraid to openly profess his faith and love of tradition. Long live Archbishop Lefebvre!
—John Rizzo
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My greatest concern before throwing in my lot with His Grace was to avoid attaching myself to a schismatic sect. I am completely convinced that Archbishop Lefebvre offers the only sure road back to the traditional Catholic Faith, without exposing the faithful to the dangers of schism.
—Arvin Brown
+ + +
... one need only to look at the fruits of this Society to see the blessing of God upon it and its founder, Archbishop Lefebvre, to whom I remain loyal ...
—Loren Gerspacher
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