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A publication of Vol. III, No. 8
Traditional Catholics of America, Inc. December 1, 1982
Editor: Fr. Francis E. Fenton, STL
The Remnant of The Remnant in Traditional Catholicism
– Fr. Francis E. Fenton
In current usage traditional Catholicism and the impression they give is that, while they are obviously
Roman Catholic Faith mean the same thing. Both concerned about their personal spiritual well-being
terms signify the totality of religious truths or the and that of their families, they seemingly care little
body of religious doctrine taught by the Church and for the preservation and propagation of the Faith
accepted by all who are in communion with the otherwise. Indeed, it is my strong conviction that the
Church. Prior to Vatican Council II the word "tradi· large majority of traditional Catholics fall short in
tional" would have been redundant in referring to a varying degrees of the level and quality of dedica-
Roman Catholic for the simple reason that all true tion to the Faith demanded of them in this our day.
Catholics were by that fact traditional. With the Such individuals are traditional Catholics, yes, but
advent of the Conciliar Church upon the world they assuredly are not apostolic or truly dedicated
scene, however, as a consequence of Vatican Coun- ones.
cil 11, it became necessary to distinguish between
authentic Catholics and those members of the Con- How explain this? To say that so it has ever been is
ci Iiar Church who persist to this day in calling not, to my mind, an adequate answer in the present
.hemselves such. Hence, the use of the term "tradi- situation. I well realize from my own experience as a
tional" to identify the former, that is, the genuine parish priest for many years that it has always been
Roman Catholic. the few who were dedicated, hard-working, self.
sacrificing. But the Church situation is so drastically
A traditional Catholic, then, is one who firmly different today from what it was a mere generation
believes that the Roman Catholic Church is the one ago. As a result of the several subversive and
true Church and who professes, believes in, accepts satanic forces to which it has been systematically
in its entirety the doctrinal and moral teachi.ng of and so successfully subjected by its enemies for so
that Church. He will, of course, have no part of the long a time, the Roman Catholic Church has been
Conciliar or Novus Ordo Church because, if he is reduced to a remnant · and that remnant is tradi-
rightly informed on the subject, he understands that tional Catholicism. One, then, might logically expect
that Church simply is not Catholic. Either the Roman to find practically all of the Catholics who are a part
Catholic Faith here and now is, and is found in, tradi- of that remnant to be the best in terms of their love
tional Catholicism or that Faith has ceased to exist. for and dedication to their God-given Faith. After all,
There is no other alternative. But, since we have the are not these people traditional catholics because
word of the Son of God Himself that His Church will they are well aware of what has happened to their
live forever, then it follows that that Church today is beloved Church and are determined to retain their
traditional Catholicism which alone possesses, total fidelity to it at all costs? an a word, ar,e not tradl·
preserves and teaches the fulness of the Faith, pure tional Catholics "the real thing," men and women
and undefiled. who ardently strive to live their Faith t.o the fullest
and who, if needs be and by the grace of God, are
But there are many who, while they profess to be willing to die in testimony to It? Indeed, do not they
traditional Catholics, do not manifest any genuine represent the sole human hope and promise for the
appreciation of the Faith they profess. In other Church's survival in this our day?
words, they firmly believe that the Roman Catholic
;hurch is the one true Church, they fully accept its Until the past few years I would probably have
ceachings and honestly strive to live their dally lives replied to the above questions with an unqualified
accordingly, but their dedication to the Faith still "yes." But not so today. Assuredly, traditional
leaves much to be desired. They are lacking, that is, Catholicism is today the Roman Catholic Church.
in any significant zeal or apostolic spirit. The Such a positive blanket statement, however, cannot
cont. on next page
1
cont. from page 1
be made in truth about traditional Catholics. Rather and will do all they can to help their fellow tradi·
must a distinction be made between those who are tional Catholics in other areas. In other words, their
fully dedicated, unreservedly hard-core, truly outlook in matters pertaining to the Faith is not a
apostolic, and those whose traditionalism is of a provincial or parochial one because such an outlook
limited or restricted nature. In all of my many Is not Catholic.
ings and contacts in recent years with traditional
groups across the country, I have observed Such, then, is the calibre and character of those
everywhere how few are the number of truly individuals to be found, with rare exceptions, in the
dedicated traditional Catholics, say, perhaps, some ranks of the traditional Roman Catholic movement
10% . 15% of the total. The remainder just more or Right? Wrong! Because the Roman Catholic Church
less go along. A typical individual in this category, is what it is and because the preservation and
which is the vast majority, Is a devout person, never propagation of our divine Faith is the greatest cause
misses Mass, receives Communion regularly, in all the world, one might certainly expect that
recites the Rosary each day, etc. In other words, he practically all of those who are affiliated with tradi-
does a highly commendable job in the matter of his tional Catholicism would be of the kind described in
own spiritual welfare. This same type of individual, the preceding paragraph. Are not they the remnant,
however, is likely to be one who does little or the informed and dedicated minority of true
nothing for the cause by way of his time and labor Catholics who, in these days of unprecedented
unless shamed Into doing so; whose efforts at pro- crisis for the Church, have committed themselves to
moting or propagating the Faith are minimal at best; work and to pray and to fight and, if need be, to die
and who is· In the matter of financial support – likely for the Faith. Well, while one may reasonably expect
to be plain miserly. How hopeless would be our this to be the case, the reality is something else.
efforts to preserve the Faith if all traditional However fervently I wish that it were otherwise, the
Catholics were of this kind! Thank God they are not! distressing fact is that the large majority of traditional
Just most of them are! Catholics are not truly dedicated, courageous,
apostolic. Rather they are, in varying degrees, pro-
But, to return to a thought previously expressed in vincial, self-centered, selfish. Of this I am
this article, why make an issue of a situation, thoroughly convinced because I have observed it in
however regrettable it is, which is found in every many forms and on innumerable occasions. In the
movement, in every organization committed to the remnant which is traditional Catholicism, authentic
pursuance of some ideal or devoted to the advance- warriors for the Faith -those who are truly soldiers of
ment of some noble cause? Has It not ever been so? Christ · are precious few indeed, a small minority at
Have not the great feats of history been invariably best, a remnant of the remnant.
accomplished by the relatively few? When have self·
sacrificing and courageous and dedicated people And so it is, a situation one would not logically
ever been in the majority? Why, then, expect any dif- anticipate, a condition distressing to realize, that in
ference in traditional Catholicism? the ranks of traditional Catholicism are found so
relatively few who are of the calibre one would
The answer is that traditional Roman Catholics are expect to find therein in the overwhelming majority.
those who . in the face of the massive destruction But, because the Roman Catholic Church is today
inflicted upon the Church over the past 20 years or traditional Catholicism, the traditionalist movement
so and despite the defection of multitudes of their will survive, dependent, under God, for that survival
former fellow Catholics from the Faith · have upon those relatively few who comprise the hard
supposedly remained unyielding and steadfast in core within the movement. As for the others, well, I
their loyalty to the Church. Although their churches fervently hope that at least some of them will in due
have been occupied by the enemy and, in many time begin to realize that attending Mass, receiving
instances, they have been alienated from their the Sacraments, saying the and leading
families and friends for the stand they have taken, morally good lives, as vital as thJse are, are not
yet they have adamantly refused to compromise or enough. The crisis in the Church demandsthat such
to have any part of the non-Catholic schismatic Con- traditional Catholics become crusaders, warriors,
ciliar Church. Whatever the sacrifices involved, and well-informed activists in the defense and promo-
in some cases they are considerable, these people tion of the Faith. Frankly though, I lilo not think this
are fully determined, with the grace of God, to retain will happen. In my opinion, it is the remnant of the
the totality of their precious Faith and to practice it remnant of traditional Catholicism through whom,
as best they can in the particular circumstances in under God, will be accomplished the preservation o
which they find themselves. Whatever the cost, the Faith.
traditional Roman Catholics are unreservedly com-
mitted to the preservation of the Faith not only for
themselves and In their own locality but universally, 2
''Repair My House''
Observations on the occasion of the
800th anniversary of the birth of Sa.int Francis of Assisi
– John Kenneth Weiskittel
Of all the woeful casualties in the wake of Vatican II, theological views by successors to the very
few can match the calculated attack on Catholic Modernists that His Holiness condemned nearly
saints for its sheer disregard of so many long- eighty years ago. Still other saints – St. Benedict
standing and venerated traditions. This is, of course, and St. John of the Cross come to mind – are the
also an attack upon the very nature of the Church victims of revisionists who, unwilling to accept the
herself, "the Communion of Saints." fact that these men sought stricter disciplines for
their respective religious orders, have tried to
Throughout the Christian centuries it has been a fashion them into liberal reformers.
task of the Church to defend the memories of her
saints against the teaching of the heretics. Against
the Gnostics, for example, she was forced to restate Finding the Real St. Francis
the solemn teaching that sanctity was not a matter
of obtaining secret teachings available to only a Since the life of St. Francis of Assisi has been so
"chosen few" but, rather, of the co-operating with well documented, those undermining the Faith
God's grace, which is available to all Christians who could not pretend that it was merely a pious Inven-
make the effort. Against the Lutherans and tion. Because he often spoke in mystical terms, they
Calvinists, on the other hand, the Church con- did not feel obligated to trot out the argument that
demned the error that all those baptized as Chris- he was obstructing the "evolution" of theology.
tians, regardless of their individual sanctity (or lack Their tact, therefore, has been to reconstruct his life
of it), are automatically designated "saints." The and teaching in their own image and likeness.
current debacle is, then, but another chapter in the
long volume known as Church history. While we feel it is entirely fitting to take this space
to defend St. Francis and his Order on the 800th
The last session of the Second Vatican Council had anniversary of his birth against "the slings and
scarcely adjourned when the radicals launched their arrows of outrageous fortune," traditional Catholics
assault on the saints. Although the Council had, in should note that we seek to achieve more than this;
theory, defended devotion to the saints, yet, in prac- we seek, first, to inspire our readings to a staunch
tice, feast days were phased out, statuary quietly protection of the glorious memory of all of the saints
removed from many churches, and petitions to the against the continued and varied neglect, aggres-
saints removed from parts of the Novus Ordo sion or distortion which they receive by many so-
"Mass" and discouraged as private worship – ail called Catholics; and, second, to demonstrate that
this in the name of ecumenism. Pope Paul VI warned St. Francis can and ought to be invoked often by
against "excessive" and "exaggerated" devotion to Catholics in defense of the Faith, if for no other
the Blessed Virgin Mary, so as not to "scandalize" reason than because he was, in the words of Pope
our Protestant brethern. The result of his statement Benedict XV, "the most perfect likeness of Christ"
led, almost overnight, to a decrease in the number of the Church has yet produced.
Catholics reciting the daily Rosary and practicing
other forms of marian devotions (one priest went so Finding the real St. Francis can be a challenge if one
far, it has been reported, as to tear a Rosary apart, seeks to find him in many Conciliar "Catholic"
casting it down from the pulpit towards an churches or even In many of the religious orders that
undoubtedly shocked congregation). Some great bear his name. Sermons heard from Conciliar pulpits
saints, such as St. Christopher and St. Philomena, on his feast day (October 4th) were as likely to center
have been swept into the liturgical dustbin on the around some political theme as they were to express
grounds that so little is actually known historically any ms1gm:s mto tne spirituality of this great man of
about these saints that we may well be praying to God. In recent times, Francis has been:claimed as
fictional characters. (Anyone who has been helped patron to the hippies, the anti-war protestors, and
by the intercessions of these patrons knows that they the ecology movement. Whatever degree of love was
are far more than the products of some medieval extended to nature by St. Francis, we feel certain
imagination.) Other saints have met with different that he would have little or no sympathy with
treatment. Pope St. Pius X, for Instance, while "humanistic" groups, such as the Sierra Club and
ack11owledged as a holy man, is nevertheless the American Humanist Association, which mix
dragged through the coals for his "reactionary" endorsements for abortion and birth control along
3
cont. from page 3
with their calls to "clean up the environment." (1; it popes and saints. Never mind, they tell us, that in
appears obvious that the "conservation" stands of Butler's Lives of the Saints, the greatest collection
such groups do not include a human ecology: "Save of its kind in the church, we read that all of Francis'
the whale! Let the fetus fend for itself!") Even more biographers state without hesitation that the
recently, he is being chosen by the "Christian Marx- stigmata were formed upon our saint by "Christ
ists" as a fellow traveller (more on this below), and himself, (who) in that vision (by darting bright pierc-
we look at it as only a matter of time before the ing rays from his wounds represented in that vision)
nuclear freeze fanatics try to latch on to him for really formed them exteriorly in him, which love has
propaganda purposes, if they haven't done so interiorly imprinted in his soul, as Saint Francis of
already. Sales explains it." (4; we must note that we are
quoting from the original Butler's – recently
Earlier this century, Pope Benedict XV felt duty- republished after being long out of print – and not
bound to condemn the erroneous readings of the life the revised edition done by Fr. Herbert Thurston,
of St. Francis circulated by the Modernists, who who often doubted accounts of miracles, and
sought to depict our saint as a Protestant who Donald Attwater; the book co-edited by these men
wanted to start his own version of Christianity. Truly, has so many additions, omissions and outright
after our Lord had appeared to Francis in a vision, changes in the text as to represent a different work
commanding him to "Repair My House," beginning – Thurston and Attwaters' Lives of the Saints,
his own religion was the furthest thing from his perhaps?) And again, never mind, we are told, that in
mind. His first impulse, in fact, was to take Christ's 1615 Pope Paul V extended the feast (September
words in their most literal fashion and to begin at '17th) commemorating "this miraculous impression
once to renovate the little church of St. Damian, of the sacred wounds" to the Universal Church. (5;
where he heard Christ address him in these words emphasis added) Never mind that giving the
and where the walls were in near ruin. Later, when he stigmata a natural explanation is exactly the sort of
realized that our Saviour expected more from him, error condemned by Pope St. Pius X in his Syllabus
St Francis formed his own religious order but, even on Modernism: "Scientific progress demands that
then, he did not seek to rebel against Rome. Rather, the concepts of Christian doctrine concerning God,
in the 1223 revised rendition of his Rule (first creation, revelation, the Person of the Incarnate
formulated in 1221) he wrote of his "obedience and Word, and Redemption be re-adjusted." (6) Never
reverence to his holiness Pope Honorius and his mind all of this, "progressives" conclude, God did
lawfully elected successors and to the Church of not give St. Francis the stigmata; Francis did!
Rome." (2) Also in his Rules Francis made it very
clear that only friars remaining Catholics could Corruption in the Franciscan Order
remain Franciscans (taken here from the Rule of
1221): "Anyone who abandons the Catholic Faith or Not long after St. Francis founded his three Orders
practice by word or deed must be absolutely he openly spoke out to caution his spiritual children
excluded from the order, unless he repents." (3) against innovators who had influenced certain of his
followers and were "dragging them in different
One of the greatest of all miracles occurring in the directions." (7) It was a trick of the devil, he went on,
life of St. Francis is surely his receiving from God "to steal a man's heart away under the pretext of
the Holy Wounds of Christ Crucified – the stigmata. some good and useful interest, and obliterate the
Incredibly, the "moderate" Conciliar publication, words and Commandments of God from his
Our Sunday Visitor, carried the column of a priest memory." (8) It is a sad truth in the current crisis in
who argued that the stigmata need not be con- the Church that many Franciscans have followed
sidered a miracle. Earlier this year, in the "Ask Me A the uncatholic lead of other Conciliar Orders, and
Question" feature, OSV writer Father Sheedy argued have gone off in radically "different directions" from
that the wounds in the hands, side and feet of St. that of their spiritual father.
Francis and other stigmatists (e.g., St. Paul, St.
Catherine of Siena, Theresa Neumann, and Padre One noticeable area where many Concilfar Fran-
Pio) can be explained by autosuggestion. Autosug- ciscans left the path laid out by their founder
gestion is a term from modern psychology that regards the use of property. Although Francis
means self-hypnosis – either voluntary or involun- described money as dirt or less than dirt, and taught
tary – and is a symptom of hysteria. Our dictionary his friars to feel ashamed if they saw anyone who
defines hysteria as a form of madness in which the was poorer than they were, he never ceased to
ill person is prone to fits of emotionalism caused by stress to his Order the fact that the rich are "our
autosuggestion. The stigmata are, then, if this is brothers" and "our masters." (9) He also stressed,
true about the saints, not a stamp of sanctity, but however, about the high and the mighty who did not
rather a sign of sickness. Never mind, the Con- fulfill their duties to the truly needy, that "the more
cillarists tell us, that St. Francis' stigmata were wisdom and power they enjoyed in this life, the
observed by many responsible witnesses, including greater the torments they will have to endure in
cont. on next page
4
cont. from page 4
hell." ('10) This would refer to those who did not prac- proper instruction of seminarians. St. Francis had a
tice the supreme form of social justice – charity. great love of the Blessed Sacrament and he con-
Certainly, he did not advocate by this the "Christian demned "the great sin and ignorance of which some
Socialism" infecting his Order today. are guilty with regard to the most holy Body and
Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ … (13) Obviously, it
This type of social thinking, which proposes radical is in the seminary that aspirants to the priesthood
redistribution of the wealth (either voluntarily or should get the needed understanding of the Blessed
involuntarilJ;), is actively pursued by a certain faction Sacrament so as not to fall beneath such a condem-
of Franciscans in Latin America today. These nation. Regrettably, such teaching is not easy to
wayward sons and daughters of St. Francis are find today. One man seeking the priesthood,
represented by such groups as the American-based Anthony Mazzone, expressed his frustration in his
Franciscan Mission Associates, who state that they attempts to get any sort of traditional seminary
are "proud work side-by-side" with the radical- training. In an article entitled "Open Letter to a
dominated Maryknoll Order. A favorite Franciscan of Modern Religious Order: The Servants of Error" (The
Maryknoll Is the present archbishop of Sao Paulo, Roman Catholic, September 1980), he writes:
Brazil, Cardinal Paulo Ams, who was selected to … Instead of being exhorted to discipline and
succeed an anti-communist at the post in 1970, but mortification, we students were … enjoined to
who failed to adopt his predecessor's policies. In "express ourselves and to get rid of our
fact, it would seem that his policies were just the restraining 'hang-ups'." Sobriety, restraint,
opposite. In a news item entitled "Cardinal Often dignity at the altar, moral equilibrium were con-
Called Communist," the monthly magazine, The sidered signs of maladjustment, a relic of the
Roman Catholic, wrote: pre-Conciliar Church. Indeed, the whole of our
… Ams used his position to condemn the training was guided by the principles of pop-
death penalty, call for the redistribution of psychology. The goal to be reached was not
private property, promote sex education, and holiness, but perfect self-adjustment to the
protect members of the clergy in their support modem world. Underlying all this … is the
of Marxist revolutionaires imprisoned by the naturalistic view of man constantly held as
government. anathema by the Church, the concept refuse of
Cardinal Arns' views and those of numerous other the thought of Rousseau and Freud …
Brazilian Catholics of like mind have been con- We can only speculate that the problems posed by
demned by that nation's Attorney General, who held humanistic priests in Francis' day would seem
that this "new model" political-social-economic slight in contrast to the rampant liturgical
system is "in every aspect consonant (or consistent) experimentation and even revolution of today. (We
with Marxist philosophy." Some Franciscans have cannot imagine any thirteenth century priest bold
even participated in armed revolt to force land enough to "celebrate" such a sacrilege as, say, a
owners of various nations to "redistribute the "clown mass", and yet these open mockeries of
wealth." (Let us remind the reader again that not all Holy Mass have occurred in Conciliar churches.) Mr.
– or even most – Franciscans endorse this "Chris- Mazzone also noted the fact that the Catholic
tian Marxism;" on the contrary, some are even quite dogma of transubstantiation was denied by "both
vocal in their opposition.) priests and students" at the unnamed Modernist
seminary he attended. St. Francis declares that
What did St. Francis teach about being "charitable" those who see the act of Consecration upon the
with another person's money (i.e., redistribution of altar of the bread and wine, but who "do not see or
the wealth)? Once while on a journey, a friar saw a believe in spirit and in God that this is really the
money bag on the path before them, and suggested most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,"
to Francis that they take it and give the money to the are condemned in their disbelief. (14)
poor. To this our saint replied: "Son, it is wrong for
us to carry off what belongs to another. It is a sin
deserving punishment, not merit deserving glory, to Saint Francis addresses today's Catholics
make donation of other people's things." (1 i) As he
was saying this, a serpent crawled out of the purse, Saint Francis of Assisi made many statements
prompting St. Francis to comment: "See there! To which can give us much in the way of encourage-
God's servants, money is nothing but the Devil and a ment, sanctification and hope. Here, then, are &. few
venomous snake." (12) This is a far cry from the quotes from Francis on selected subjects of interest
"new order" Franciscans who are heard to urge the to all true Catholics:
poor to rise up and take the wealth of others, aJ..a
Marx. IN PRAISE OF GOD: The Church grants an
indulgence of 300 days to anyone who devoutly
Another area where more than a few Conciliar Fran- prays this aspiration of St. Francis: "My God and my
ciscans are going their own way is in regard to the all!" cont. on next page
5
cont. from page 5
ON SPIRITUAL COMMUNION: Because so many ON THE PLIGHT OF OUR LORD AND HIS CHURCH
Catholics frequently are without the Mass In their TODAY: How sad that our Lord Jesus Christ is
area for long periods of time, they are always shunned by so much of the world today. That so
advised to make spiritual communion a regular part much of the Conciliar Church is given over to such
of their devotional life. "When I do not hear Mass," wrong directions as we have mentioned or else to
says Francis, "I adore the body of Christ with the frivolities of one sort or another, must wound Him as
eyes of my mind In prayer, just as I adore it when I deeply as St. Peter's denial. Shouldn't we then join
see it at Mass." (15) St. Francis when he says: "I weep over the suffer-
ings of my Lord Jesus Christ, and I ought not to be
ON RESPECT FOR CLERGY: St. Francis writes in his ashamed to go all over the world weeping out loud,
Admonitions: for his sake."? (19)
Blessed is that servant of God who has con-
fidence in priests who live according to the TRUE CHRISTIAN HUMILITY: The poverty of St.
laws of the holy Roman Church. Woe to them Francis is the feature that most people readily
who despise them. Even if they fall Into sin, no associate with him, but it is less known that he
one should pass judgement on them, for God regarded holy humility as the sister of poverty.
has reserved judgement on them to himself. Humility, of course, is the virtue opposite that most
They are in a privileged position because they deadly of sins – pride. No one can attain truly to
have charge of the Body and Blood of our Lord sainthood without the awareness of self as an
Jesus Christ, which they receive and which enemy to be overcome, and without a humbleness
they alone administer to others, and so anyone before God resulting from that awareness. For true
who sins against them commits a greater crime charity to our neighbor we must recognize our own
than if he sinned against anyone else in the worthlessness without God. Francis gives us these
whole world (16; this also shows that Francis sobering words: "What a man is before God, that he
recognized a distinction between clergy and is and no more." (20)
laity, a point today ignored or denied by many
of the Novus Ordo clergy). THE HOLINESS OF CHRISTMAS: Amidst the almost
overwhelming commercialism that today marks and
HOLY DISOBEDIENCE: Earlier in this article we desecrates Christmas here in America, we hear the
quoted St. Francis to the effect that all Franciscans quiet voice of St. Francis reminding us of the utmost
are bound to obey all lawful Church authority or face importance of this holy day for our immortal souls.
expulsion from the order. We have just seen Of all the saints, Francis of Assisi is one of those
above, however, that he also recognizes that priests most identified with Christmas and its joy. It was he
may live lives which could lead the faithful astray. who made the first Christmas creche, and insisted
We have no doubt that, were St. Francis alive today, that it be placed outside in humble surroundings to
he would be warning us not to obey those Church remind us of the hardship of Jesus and the Holy
leaders who would lead us into sin, into Modernism, Family on that first Nativity. Then, too, it was
Marxism or Masonry. In his Rule of 1221, Francis Francis who saw that the birds and domestic
writes that we are "not bound to obey … anything animals were given extra food to eat in the Holy
that is contrary to our … conscience, because there Season. And finally, echoing the Church's Advent
can be no obligation to obey if it means committing readings, the little poor man reminds us: "With the
a sin." (17) Lord born for us, it has become a matter of priority
for us to save ourselves." (21)
FALSE CATHOLIC ACTION: So many of the
activities of the Conciliar Church seem to have FOOTNOTES
shifted from the spiritual to the material realm so
that it appears that that body has given up saving 1. Claire Chambers, The SIECUS Circle (Boston: Western
Islands, 1977) pp. 68, 252, 345-346.
souls for a glorified social welfarism, and has
2. Benen Fahy, O.F.M. (translator) The Writings.of St. Francis
become simply an arm of humanist groups such as (Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1964) p, 57.
United Way. The great saint from Assisi has been
3. Ibid., p. 46.
described as the patron of Catholic Action, and so
4. Fr. Alban Butler, Lives of the Saints (Colorado Springs:
who could better warn us of the snares of such false Sarto Books, 1982) Volume 2, p. 44.
"activism"? Again, from the 1221 document 5. Ibid.
previously cited, he tells us that "we should beware 6. St. Pius X, Pascendi and the Syllabus (Boston: St. Paul
especially of the malice and wiles of Satan; his only Editions, n.d.) p. 77.
desire is to prevent man from raising his mind and 7. James Meyer, O.F.M., compiler and arranger,
heart to his Lord and God. He goes about, longing to The Words of St. Francis (Chicago: Franciscan Herald
steal man's heart under the pretext of some good Press, 1966) p. 217.
and useful interest, and obliterate the words and 8. Fahy, op. cit., p. 48.
commandments of God from his memory." (18) 9. Meyer, op. cit., pp. 76-77.
6
10. Fahy, op, cit., p. 116. But What About That
1i. Meyer, op. cit., p. 117. Masonic Conspiracy?
12. Ibid.
Hundreds of the subscribers to this newsletter are
13. Ibid., pp. 174-175. men and women who are, and rightly so, "con-
14. Fahy, op. cit., p. 78. spiracy conscious," that is, they are people who,
15. Meyer, op. cit., p. 78. having done their homework well, are convinced that
16. Fahy, op. cit., p. 86. Communism is indeed a conspiracy to destroy
17. Ibid., p. 35. Church and country and to rule the world. What is far
18. Ibid., p. less well known, however, at least in any detail, is
19. Meyer, op. cit., p. 21. the evil which is Freemasonry, a conspiracy in many
20. Fahy, op. cit., p. 84. respects every bit as satanic as Communism and
21. Meyer, op. cit., p. 226. whose primary objective is undoubtedly the destruc-
tion of the Roman Catholic Church. And so, since
there is so little current literature on this vital sub·
ject, it was assumed that traditional Roman
Catholics – and especially those who are "con-
spiracy conscious" Americans · would welcome a
Bernard Guillon (R.I.P.) well researched and documented article on
Freemasonry. Based on that firm assumption, we
Readers of the last several issues of this newsletter proceeded to publish such an article as a supple-
are familiar with the name of Father Bernard Guillon ment to the September 1, 1982 issue of
of Franceville, France. He was to be the headmaster Athanasian and to send a copy to all of our news-
of our Christ the King School here in Colorado letter subscribers.
Springs, starting with this 1982-1983 school year.
Almighty God, however, had other plans for Father Thus far the response has been quite disappointing.
Guillon which we had not anticipated. On Friday, As of this writing (November 1, i982) only a small
October 22 Father died of cancer in France at the number of our subscribers have seen fit to order
age of 61. God's will be done! Those of us who came extra copies of this excellent and very timely article.
to know him during his stay here some six months Perhaps that will change in the weeks ahead. We
ago are very saddened by his death, and our school certainly hope so, both because "The Conspiracy of
has been deprived of the service of a priest who was Freemasonry" assuredly deserves a wide readership
fervently dedicated to the cause of traditional and because, in our confidence that it would get a
Roman Catholic education and who was, as well, an highly favorable reception, we have paid out some
expert in that field. More important though, in Father $2,000.00 in printing, mailing and advertising costs
Guillon's death the Church Militant on earth has lost for its publication and circulation. It is hard to
another real priest of God who remained loyal to the imagine that truly traditional Roman Catholics
end to the Church and to the priesthood for which he would not make a genuine and persistent effort to
was ordained 34 years ago. May the good Lord see promote an article of such importance in relation to
fit to receive Father Guillon to the Church Trium- their Faith as "The Conspiracy of Freemasonry."
phant in heaven with those glorious words of Here's hoping they will.
welcome: "Well done, good and faithful servant!
Come, possess you the kingdom prepared for you Price Scale for
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Once again we suggest to our subscribers that they
consider one or more gift subscriptions ($8.00 for SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS
eight issues) for their relatives and/or acquaintances
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sent to the recipient from this office prior to the month and year in which the recipient's
Christmas notifying that individual of the gift and subscription is due for renewal. At the proper time,
informing him or her that the subscription will begin a subscription envelope will be enclosed with the
with the first issue of 1983. We would certainly newsletter. One may enter a new subscription at
appreciate our newsletter subscribers' favorable any time, of course, and will then receive the eight
consideration of this suggestion. following newsletter issues.
7
TCA TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS SCHEDULE
COLORADO MINNESOTA
AURORA (Denver area) ROCHESTER
OUR LADY OF VICTORY CHAPEL OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL
2566 Sable Boulevard 5820 Viola Road, NE
(303) 364-8040 (507} 282-5163 or 289-8522
Masses at 9 & 11 a.m. (every Sunday) Mass at 10:00 a.m.
Weekday Masses at 8:00 a.m. Dec.5, Dec. 19,Jan. 16, Jan. 30
COLORADO SPRINGS MONTANA
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL GREAT FALLS
815 South 25th Street IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHAPEL
(Christ the King School) 2020 Second Avenue North
(303) 636-1575 – Call between 9:00 a.m. (406) 452-8826
and 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday Mass at 11 :00 a.m. Dec. 5, Jan. 2, Jan. 23
Mass at 10:00 a.m.
Dec. 19,Jan.9,Jan. 16
PENNSYLVANIA
DURANGO ESSINGTON (Philadelphia area)
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
Durango Savings and Loan Ramada Inn
1101 E. Second Ave. Airport South, Route 291
(303) 884-2878 (215) 876-8737
Mass at 10:00 a.m. Jan. 23 Mass at 10:00 a.m. Dec. 26, Jan. 23
STRATTON UTAH
OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHAPEL SALT LAKE CITY
(303) 348-5454 OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
Mass on Dec. 12 Hilton Inn
154 West 600 South
LOUISIANA (801) 278-7501
OPELOUSAS (Lafayette area) Mass at 1 i :00 a.m., Jan. 30
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL
Route 1, Box 195
(318) 942-9053
Mass at 6:00 p.m. on 2nd and 4th
Sundays of month
§q,~~~.<.b',~~<.b'><.b'><.b'><.b'>~~~.q-.~;
t PubHshed. by 1~;;ti~!~~~~)~f Ame,lca, Inc.
– Fr. Francis E. Fenton, Editor
ii§
1
– Miss Marie Rust, Secretary
Eight issues a year: (Jan. 15, Mar. 1, Apr. 15, June 1, July 15, Sept. 1, Oct. 15, Dec. 1)
Subscriptions: $8.00 per year (via First Class Mail) for the USA, Canada and Mexico §
$12.00 per year (via Air Mail) for all other countries §
Additional copies: single copy – $1.00 §§
10 copies – $8.00
40 or more to same address – 70 cents each
Mailing address: P.O. Box 6827, Colorado Springs, CO 80934-6827 1
§.
l Telephone: (303) 636-1575
~~~~..q-.<.b',<.b',~<.b',~…q,,.Q~
8
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