Automatically extracted text. OCR transcription may contain errors.
A publication of Vol. IV, No. 4
Traditional Catholics of America, Inc. June , 1983
. Francis E. Fenton, STL
—————~————-
Fr. Francis E. Fenton
Cf the 3 years whicl-i I spent the i:rrepar, 50's, have re:mained i.mcom;:nomis!ngly loyal to U-:s
ing for the priesthood, the locale of the last seven Roman Catholic Church, refusing to have any part of
1ears that prepc:rn.tion (1937-i the 1he Conciliar cl1urch to associated with it I~
Catholic University of J\merlca in D.C. any Are all thos,e thousar:ds ol priests
(Back in those days that university was a Roman wrong? they are dead wrong, however well-
GathcHc institution.) ;tcmon{:! i;,e many hundreds of mean i sorne of them may Am:l same would
seminan;ans were my feHow students 1or the be trut" if nu:11ben3d in millions.
priesthood in the course those seven years, about something is morally wrong, it's wrong even if
12 of them are now blshopt, and archbishops · ar:d 9verybo<.'ly t:Jlh:wes a or does it; lr somisthing
one of them a {Humberto · in the mora!:!y right, it's ever; noboay beli1:Nes it
Conciliar Church: James Hickey, Charles Salatka, does· it. The morality of an action or stand is not
J usti Ori l, ft.lbert Ottenweller, Ernest determined tr umbers. Every single cne of Con
L;nterkor:J1fler, r,lllchae;I McAuiiffe, Loras Wa'iters, etc. ciliar Church clergy in serious etror sarne
All the approximately 12 to whom l refer were at holds for the laity, of course) because they are
least acquaintances of mine, and a few of them with a whlch is not Catholic. It'~
were friends. And yet, "Nhile all rnceived that s!rnple. Whether case the error
essentially the same major seminary training, not is culpable or not, perhaps only God and the
one ct these men today, i am sure, could be des- individual know for certain. to why the pries~~
cribed gemJinely conservai:!ve – and none them, who truly traditional what they a.re, tr'~
obviously, is a traditional Roman Catholic. Or, to put fundamental reason is also a simple one: the grace
it more bluntly, all of them – together ·1:ith the rest of of Goct Assuredly, they are not such because they
tl1e American Concil Church hierarchy and clergy foreraw or found th£",t traditional Ca.tholicLam would
and laity – are non-Catholics today because they are provide a comfortable, relaxed, secure, financially
a part of the non-Catholic Conciliar Church. profitable way of life. Hardly!
In recent years, as the Conciliar Church became During the course of my six years in the minor
more and more openly an entity distinct from the seminary (1931-1937) there was also a. fellow
Roman Cathe! Church (traclitiona1! Cathol!cism), seminarian is one of the more notorim,is
have wondered from time to time how it could be of the hierarchy of the American Conciliar Church.
that, of the severa! hundrad men I kriew as His name 'Wa.~ Peter Ger,ety. To the best of my
s;,sminarians the ancl as priests recollection seemed to a Roman Catholic
bishops in later yea.rs, only one or two are traditional the seminary. That was some 45 years ago though,
Roman Catholics today. All the rest, to th9 best of and P9ter Gerety has come e long since then to
n,y kno 1Nledg:e {excepi those tvho hcve thr; nis pre,:;ent position as the A~chbis~1op o1 Newark,
traces"), remain in the Conciliar Church · some few New Jersey. As such, he has become a.n embarrass-
of them notor!ous "!lberais," leftists, Marxists, ment even to the Ccnciliar Churcn on a number of
tl1e vast ju~.t going s,long ":>ne reason scor('%S but especial with his advocacy
another, some of this latter group simply not total program so-called sex education in the
1Nishing to "ror:k the boat" lest, Heaven forbid, they schools of the an::::hdiocese. Even Planned
endanger their security or risk the loss their Parenthood could not ask mme, so e;<treme
pensions. Archbishop Gerety's position on this matter.
Although the Vatican has done nothing for many
how it, I th.:it so priests, of the years f:lbout m,.imerous bishops whose words and
many thousands ordained, say, In the 30's, 40's and actions would have resulted in their condemnation
continued pags 7
Saint PeterLanceCanisius
Lohr R.
Modern Protestant historians and theologians Because of an outbreak of the plague at Trent the
praise St. Peter Canisius for his great character and Council was moved to Bologna and later adjourned
nobility. Because of his charity, loyalty, energy and by the Holy Roman Emperor for four years. Mean-
wisdom Pope Pius V wanted to make him a cardinal. while Canisius was sent to teach and preach in
St. Francis de Sales sought his advice. St Charles Sicily and soon after was sent back to Germany to
Borromeo was his friend, as was the Holy Roman teach at the University of lngolstadt. He was elected
Emperor, Ferdinand I. Under the direction of the first rector of the university within year and in 1552 was
Jesuits, including their holy founder, St. Ignatius ordered by St Ignatius Loyola to open a Jesuit
Loyola, he sought to reform a decadent clergy and college in Vienna. it was here in Austria that Peter
care for those in most need. St. Boniface had con- saw the devastating effects of laxity and heresy. The
verted the tribes in Germany from their paganism. new Holy Roman Emperor's own court preacher was
Centuries later St. Peter Canisius claimed the Ger- a married priest and a de facto Lutheran. As a circuit
man soul from the Lutheran heresy and is rightly priest Peter visited parish after parish that had no
called the "Second Apostle to the Germans." priest and, because of this, th,e faithful had rarely
received the Sacraments. Some parish churches had
Peter Canisius was born in Holland in 1521, the son not had Mass said in them for ten years!
of the wealthy mayor of Nijmegan. His education
was at first directed toward a career in civil law, Because of his wisdom and charity Peter became
which Peter later rejected. He also refused an the advisor to the Emperor Ferdinand I. Ferdinand
arranged marriage to a wealthy young woman and at loved the young Jesuit so much that he not only
nineteen took a private vow of celibacy. accepted his advice but also repeatedly tried to
make him bishop of Vienna, but without success.
Still a young man Peter became the student of
Nicholas van Esche. As his spiritual advisor this Peter never neglected works of charity. He regularly
man made a great impression on Peter. It is visited prisons, sometimes spending hours with con-
recorded that van Esche frequently said: "Only one demned criminals or imprisoned heretics. He was
thing matters: the service of God; all the rest is mere occasionally a hospital chaplain, this becomi a
illusion." As Peter continued his university educa- full-time occupation during the plague of 1552. As a
tion these words gradually had an effect. He set result of his experiences Canisius wrote a handbook
aside his pursuit of law and took great interest in for fellow priests entitled On Consoling the Sick.
theolqgy. Soon after he studied under Peter Faber,
the great early Jesuit theologian. In 1543 Peter After three years Peter moved to Prague, there
Canisius performed the Spiritual Exercises of St. establishing another Jesuit college. A short time
Ignatius Loyola and was accepted into the Society later he was made Jesuit Provincial for Germany. He
of Jesus. His initial major task in the order was to so successfully reformed every area under his care
establish the first Jesuit House in Germany at that he became the object of repeated attacks by his
Cologne, which was not easily done because the Lutheran enemies. While today scholars, both
local bishop was a heretic. Soon after his ordination Catholic and Lutheran, praise Canisius, it was not
in 1546 Peter was sent to the Holy Roman Emperor, so in his own time. Philip Melanchthon denounced
Charles V, son of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, to him, claiming that "he defended errors willfully."
effect the removal of his bishop. Nonsense of course, but very understandable con-
sidering Peter's effective defense of the Faith at
Peter's early years in the order were quite active. In place after place, year after year.
1547, when only twenty-five years old, he was
appointed a theologian at the Council of Trent. As is always the case, whenever the God-given
While he was learned for his age his contributions to authority of the Church to prescribe morals for
the first meetings of that great council are con- society is rejected or ignored, there is an ever
sidered minimal. But the council itself was far from increasing moral decay. When man openly disobeys
routine. During one debate among the bishops over or ignores the Church's active criticism of contem-
the Lutheran heresy of justification by faith alone, porary morals, he is forced to tum to himself for a
one bishop attacked another, violently pulling the moral standard. This is always disastrous for the
latter's beard! The offender was jailed! St. Ignatius, individual, the family and society. Man's fallen
the founder of the Jesuits, had directed Peter and nature, the result of original sin, is just incapable of
the other three Jesuits at Trent to be slow to speak, producing a moral standard on its own. Even Philip
to listen carefully and then to speak only when they Melanchthon, Martin Luther's aide, was scandalized
had the superior argument. Obviously, beard-pulling at the moral degeneration in Lutheran parts of
was not allowed! Europe. He concluded that this degeneration was
continued next page
2
fact that the heretical clergy and
::erst1:1:;,ri Lui·rL:,r's J of St
sen:1f Mei~(1,,:t1thcn . ,as cff· ·ect tc (>1thoi :eviv ; 1n ./ came: from
cannot separate one's faith and morals. But his error bishops, nobles, and intellectuals. Pope St. Pius
was in tht' of ordered al! to S'FSiEiJ the
was ,i1e cz,; se of c; na. St. Peter
opposite. Lut er's misco ceived reHglous satisfied wlth this and, at hls request, the
ir.dhticfoai!s:r oniy ·~ed "'hat :;cuid bce:i pcp0 ext3.1:1ed t~a of th:~ oat,._· to a" pro-
exp(jGted, estr bl!shm::,,," by i<Hch ir,~lvidua.i fe~,;;;ors Anc yet, Pe'.ie• also per-
his own rules for conduct Both Luther and suaded Rome to delete from The Index of Forbidden
Melan:;hthor. cc:tschism::, :'Ind ott 0 er B,::,o!,:;s thac3 work"1, that ~e bc!ie:ved F~sist
attE,r-rting und.c; come the t'"oral i:a:. oc
had let loose but at the same tirne they all the more
1nde£"''Ored ~'.'} their !-3resy. a:id are over
of ;3;,rmor,:3 ,.nd f'fF"•lon nci:es as V· 1ell
Council of Trent what was left of as eigtit volumes of correspondence to his credit. An
Cat'"lol'c ·:v8s i'"' joct:-:rc'1i c~aos. Th,~ he neYer lo::~ his
Catr,;.:nc cl ,·gy ar:; 'aity .,,,;:ire ai too cr:En at ; '''le merit:med
point of not knowing what to :eve. Peter Canisius enemh:1S by name; he Just called attention to thei
was d 1sgust('.':l ths ·s rise cf the 0 :otestert ermrs. A~ said, "Trut~ r;;ust bs def€;"1ded,
as v:al as t:1e olw\r~,us n m :ire l ," Prof2is :ior
0
especially in Germany, which came from it. reports that Peter taught Jesuit
nc",•lces th::>~ sow~rl educ~tion ,Mes mor3 impc·tant
Pete: ;,;an!,'\',,;,~ ha,~ Aten !: sen ffm,1ed U;2., he re lowed wit:', ti1is
theologian. And that was. In 1556 he published belief establishing <~ighteen Jesuit colleges.
two cetech 1srns, o~e ~or a"'u'~s with some education
and anothe , rnuc1,, , tor ldren . '.::;nth H ,,:;ver ,1;:Lra.cted from 1,1.3
available in German Uu:,.t same year and i many 1560 at Augsburg, his sermons brought nine
other !anguaces soon after. Two ysrirs lat,qr a.noth2, hundred p".'rsons back to the '::hurch" Between
catechism v,n:is writ'en him, rHovidl a foun::ling col ancl houses ol" his
tinuous basis for Catholic pedagogy from grammar attending diets and councils, and writing, he taught
school to u~!versity. Wh!!e these books certainly catechism' to cri!dren, heard confessions and
espoused !c never pref,:hed wr1erever he v;1ent.
attacked Protestant heresy. Peter rarely engaged in
polemics or name-cal!in','J. He 'Nas interested in C~nisius loved the Blessed Mother of God and •:wen
subs>ance, as an o1 his '::atechisms wroi:a a bo::ik of life, enccuraged devoUon to
shows. They a! begin with an explanation of the her Rosary and established sodalities. Of the
Apostles Creed, the Our Father and the Hail Mary, Immaculate Heart of Mary he wrote:
then the Tcm ::orrnivmdm,::ints ar~d the of heart mc:st pure, ::,o much so tl1at
the Church and the Sacraments. Finally he deals she was the first to emit a vow of perpetual
with sin, works of mercy, virtue, and the four iast virginity. Hers was a most humb!e heart She so
other Al this "'as dtra the ,-o,d in this that
ten years before the great Catechism of the Council merited to become the mother of God. It was a
of Trent wa.s published in 1566. Needless to 9ay, most ferv'9nt hea.rt. So much so that !t burned
Can us' o?.iechiv.r, s wer the n1::idels Tre; 1th lcv of God and ' . It a mcn,,t
catechism and these, in turn, the models for all persevering heart So much so that it was
vemacuiar catechisms sincA inc!•1ding our belove".I alv,1ays r:areful to prsserve the merit of
Bait: :,1,)re ':mdea.Vi.:ld to t'"1e \:\Jt'iatev::cr she as gre1; in ag.t !t wa;s
people had St. Pater's catechisms bc,wome t!lat an most strong heart So much so that during her
attempt during the First V3.tica.r Coun"i! to t12,!e Son's pession it die! rv:it give !"' to discourage-
.Jther :;atechi~:m r:''3nt.
rejected
years after the saint had vvr!tten them! Gan!sit•s Pt tha ,iesuit
,ege Sv!::zerlc:' Jfi~ma Fi':'t:::::irs
·1562 Canisius returned to the reconvened Gounci Corley and tell us that he continued
Trerit, now as a riepai theolog!;=1.11. A ye8.r !ater ne encoura;;,e r:ls fellow ,lesuits ln their aposto!e.te.
s,. i c:oun~l fron 1other Or of hL:: last 11c1s a ide tc ir. ir1eir
ment by his fritmd the Emperor Ferdinand, who later missionary work among Protestants. He gives
denounced Peter for arguing age.inst the reception advice that befits missionaries of eve~, placfl and
of tl11;:i Euctie>xist unrl~r age: "we must r:Jt be broken any i.sbor
which the love of Christ , . . prompts us to
St. Pius V, the pope who successfully launched the undertake!' continued page 5
3
ath ot1c1sm.
"1'1@ •
Fr. Francis E. Fenton
Christian history bears eloquent testimony to the Putting aside the viciously anti-Catholic mater!al In
fact that the Catholic c:1urch has the Church clearly and
in form or another since its nothing les:'3 the world's supreme evi
iy millions hth'e been to death all ,down in mind rather that type of anti-Cati101icism is
through the Christian centuries for the "crimes" of currently fashionable, especially in the media of
believing in God and of professing the Roman entertainment. The Church and her teachings are
Catholic As the world hated Christ and not, at not usually, openly attacked and con-
i::dso has demned. The attacks and condemna!:i<:ins are
ther since. nonethi:::lemsL The Church
religious ~,c1ies have un1,:!vorable I one or nal
suffered and died for their beliefs at the hands of the or morai teachings is disparaged or made an object
forces anti-God and anti-Christ, and honesty of tasteless humor. While very little remains sacred
demands acknowledgement of this. The Com- and religion in general is ridiculed and maligned in
prisons c,:mcentraiion c:~.mps of rmch of what p&2ses for er;;i;>,r!a.inment , : 3t
by Rom,ff1 ,.. atholics. the Roma?J C:3\tholic which the
F:oman Church · has ever share oi' treatmer', anti-Cat:1oik:!~,m
the prime target for destruction by the wor!d's God- has always existed but some time to recent
haters and militant atheists for the reason years it was in large clandestine" Today anti-
that it is the one, true and eternal Church of Jesus Cathollcism has come out of the woodwork and is
(There w&:s duch thir,g ProtestantlmT' or to of the Ar-rre,ican publ l:ns
P,ob;1ia.nt prior to century,) as The n:orn Birds a.nd t1No
it ~7oman Catholic Church
number one enemy of Communism and
Freemasonry. Anyone who would deny or question Anti-Catholicism shows itself in other ways as well. I
this is either woefully uninformed on the truth of this notice it give but one example) in various articles
or is t1ei exceedingly dishonest read in some otherwise reputable
m m and mason resent Althougi1 type of artichss I have
Cathoilcism to degree. treats of h,torical events which the
Catholic Church played a prominent and laudatory
But, entirely apart from the above-mentioned con- part, the Church receives but a passing mention at
spiracies, anti-Catholicism is very much with us. Not best in them. Whether of not the author of such a
tr:&,t this is any recent pheriomenon for deliberately ignores or down the
has been. our alleoed!y enlightened fact remains triat this of the C:1urch
with al! the about and brothernood a.nti-Cathol howev11r subtle it be
with which we are saturated, might we not expect – and, of course, a falsification of history as well. In
that such a virus as anti-Catholicism would be a such incidentally, the term "Christian" Is
thing of the past? Yes, we might well expect this if often employed where "Roman Catholic" would be
so of that clamor were not hypocrisy, 21ccurate
case, we !1e:"·e much anti-C1o1tholicisrri all but small of people
and now on the American scene and it is high time, sider the Conciliar Church to be the Roman Catholic
at least for traditional Roman Catholics, to label it Church · a. flagrant error indeed – the question
as such. in the interest of fairness though, should logically arises as to any significant anti-
that lm:Hviduals Cattiolicism Has not
Church !o ,,,..,,..,.,,.,…
with the
and acceptable to everybody? Why, then, anti-
Cathol And the answer is that anti-
directed in
even th. , ie
appeare,ncr~ ',rm.:h
target <};ctj.
Catholicism whose ls a non-Catholic Church
-and that's what the liar Church And so we
ly conclude that traditional Catholicism,
a.lone l'ound awi 0 ,x!sts the
the true :>f
ic
continued on page 7
The Value of Suffering
Throughout the whole course of human history only the unavoidable necessity of suffering for all men,
individuals, and they only for time, have and it teaches this sufl'ering ls indispensa'.;;le
from the universal law of the comrnon entrance i kingdom Heaven. It not a
aJI creatures. These two p2;rsons were Ot:r condition to resented or then, an
parents, Adam and Eve, upon whom God bestowed opportunity to atone personal sin and the sins of
abundant graces which we no longer possess. the world. It is a glorious instrument for advance-
Among those divine graces was the preternatural the path which leads to eternal
immunity freedom frorn suffering.
that Eve wern by
earth in sta::e of un~Jrol:cJ>[; Is meam a continual and
happiness, without experiencing any bodily or purification of man's fallen nature. And one of the
mental sufferings of any kind. Such wouid have been most excellent means of purification of soul is
the portion of all other creatures as well, if our first found in the Catholic of suffering, the volun-
had rema!n,ed faithful to Howev0T 1 a'ld joyful acceptance of ~,iaJs and hard~hips a.s
commission o,·!ginal si:·1 disobeyed ir!onemen-: for n and as of our r:>r
and mJ not only th:amselves but Saint Pad !mew suffer!rg ever any did
tr,eir nature, a nature in whic,1 all other human and he writes that he rejoiced ,nhis tribulations. No
beings pate. As a result of this sin of our first one in the world is exempt from carrying a cross, but
parents, and their descendents were deprived it is the manner and the attitude with which it is
of certain gifts whic~ otherwise would have beer carr!~d that makes a.ii the dlffererce. " … he who
and among tho:Se gifts i.:·1at of freec:.cn-11 not tak~, !,ls cross follow me- not
fr::irn suffering. that is human of me" 0:38) are 1,vords of the of
from Adam and Eve down to the end of time, musL God. That we suHer, then, is not t!H3 real tragedy of
suffer in one form or another throughout the course life but, in a world where suffering is the common
of his or her mortal life. lot, sure to come in some form to everyone, the
tragedy is that so many take toward it a negative and
then, this one of the punishments for defensive attitude and get out habits ol' resent-
by God the humEn and since and seH,pity, nstead of advantagEi it
cannot avoid it, ought to be attitude and recognizing in it the wrn of God. We are all
suffering? One of the most common and destructive called to be saints and without suffering in one form
attitudes in life is a resentful and negative reaction
or another it is impossible to attain to sanctity in
to it. universal experience that no this life and to eternal salvation in the next
life h,u, been lived without ng, :;'~;;:':Ooaaaa,s;µ>~1zc:~OOCHIIO:~ii,~~~~~'CJ'~0{)C
greatness nobility ot charE:.Gter painlessly ~- " IUS" continued from page
. ,.1,_""~IDH'IS
P e t er
yet multitudes still tt;i of an untroubled
life as the ideal and of suffering as an intruder to be A "hammer of heretics," Peter Canisius was the
resented – to be removed if possible if not, most noted Catholic reformer of his age. He died in
simply to be tolerated as best one can. Such is the Fribourg in 1597 just as his fellow Jesuits chanted
of the world. continually s!r1uns any "Ut nobis Te rogamus audi nos,"
hardship if it cannot a,;oid it entirel , Lord to he.2,r prayers their dying ,·,,·v·,y'""~
~1ndures the only To Et-;cap,r:,
any and all suffering the world is ever seeking On April 7, 1864 Pope Pius IX beatified this holy
pleasure wherever it can be found, be It or false, man. And on May 21, Pope Pius canonized
lawful or unlawful. And the unavoidable result of this Peter Canis/us and him a. Doctor of the
im::",1sant seard pleasure mortal Since
in the in whic'- :ive. The Pt:,ter Can, "ave the 9,'cluDi}s
to h~retlcs the
Prayer fmrn the Mass of his feast,
appropriate:
0 Who didst strengthen Blessed Peter,
s,vith vir: a.r:d wisdc:i
,,,r In.comparable
Roman Catholic faith
the literally billions of people who have inhabited Christ was God and that man's eternal destiny is
the eRrti1 ~ince the dawn of ht~man history, one deper.de11t upon the e.ccepte.nce nf Christ's
Penc;:Jn stGX'uS out abovi:i all o'tr;ie;rs. Ne one ,;::;\1er how becc~es
spoke as He spoke; one ever made, and neon, that a.ii men all times be able to acquire with
trovertibly confirml:!r:i witli mira~les, the cla.irns certainty a knowledge of those vital truth~ taught
whk:;1"1 He . PO 0ne !-'i ors has ieU the ,~on oi God th'2i Gours.:: of Hice; i!fe.
more indelible mark upon world; no one has of doctrine Christ preached
had a more profound Flffect Ul')On tne lives of anrl obedience to tt·ie code of mora!it':1 He e"'Url·
mt;lc'+ude~, e, .ter last 1) 1/2 CA':'" .,:uriei:;. c1 :I ar0 f< , ~·1an's :'anct: 'katio~; "'·1d
most of His life was ived in relative obscurity and salvation, then it follovvs as surely as nigtrt follovvs
He was put to death in the manner of a d;:iy tt1at the of must l"l.?ve made
cor:'°, 110n c·i dnal His ',;y, H ,Nas sio: to ,aranti::s tha> · 'is td' be
ever lived, and His death and resurrection the preservl?d pure and entire until the end of time. It
most significant events In the history of the world. simply inconce!vebla Ui8t He would not iiave done
so.
That Person, we know, was ,Jesus Christ Whom we
believe be as well as Man, the Wm-d ncar- That guarantee was and is the Rom;:in Catholic
~he 3~cond f>,rsor, , th1c esscL I nm n ,t up d1rinr i''·irist'c, ea.rt! life, c,0m-
1,uman form. Indeed, entirety of the Faith we pro- pleted on tne Cross and whk:h began to function on
fess stands or falls upon belled of ours, the the Pentecost Sunday; the same Catholic
div! of . ),::;3us ·ist be ·erat,:,,0 n tha" .Jrld
C,1u1 ch wi;lch exi.~'t:s, ancl
Man Who ever trod this earth, though He taught the in tradit!onai Catholicism and which will so continue
most beautiful and sublime doctrine the world has until the end of time; the Church of which we,
ever heard, is llf::, and te::•achings sxerted a,n whe'iher birth the ~ace of
unparaile!ea, unique influence upon the human are privileged to be members; the visible continua-
race, yet, if Christ be not God, our Faith is devoid of tion in the world of Christ and the work of sanctifica-
its very ;·1dation and H1e Caf·1olic Cl1urci1 is tion and whk:11 He
essentially no different from hundreds of other years ago.
religious bodies around the world. But we believe
and vve knov,; that Christ was and is and we The Catho! Churc 1 of 20th t:1en, 'rhe
worship and adore Him as such. same society of which the Apostles and discipies of
the first century were members and with whicl1
a::: Catholics we iJHliev1c tr,at God becsxne Ch(st prorn!sed He ould r:~rnain days u:itil
incarnate in the Person of His divine Son, becoming the end of the world. It ls the same organization
like unto us in al things but sin, in order to atone for against which He gave absolute assurance that the
the 1 s of wo,k:l and reopen hr man the forces of I would nev"'l, and which Id
of Heaven. i3y His iife, passion and death the Son of be infallible in preserving and teaching the eternai
God ned for us the indispensable means to truths He had committed to it. it is the same
atta: Heavt~:1 whici·: had 1)een los ori{Jinal Cat 1,olic Church testir'"'::my 'tVhot1e
Through His teachings He showed us the path Faith millions of our feilow Catholics have shed
we must follow, what we must believe and how we their life's blood in martyrdom all down through the
mu ive, ordei one to ize ultinr:ite 20 ctmtur!(:: S of Hv;,
0 era, ls th,:, of
purpose for which we were created, the perfect God upon earth which, like its divine Founder and in
happiness of Heaven, eternal union with God, the accordance with His prediction, has been slandered
BeFiiflc Visic:1. and since its rth d v1i1 Gh
nonetheless lives on ana on, despite the most.
follows, then, that the only sensible, reasonable violent hostility and antagonism from its bitterest
wa1' ma.:'; live ''1is life with eye anc most determirad en°0.mies, is Jal
on eternity, to be evt:ir aware that the supreme goal Body of Christ in tile world today, appiying to
of his sojourn on this earth is the glorious Kingdom members the infinite merits and graces gained by
of a~d, iive 0.ccordi If '}n9 the Body Chr! ~ on Grof\S; Ca•,,:ry.
succeeds in attaining that goal, his life has been a Among ail religious bodies on the face or this earth
resounding success; if one fails in this, his life has the Roman Catholic Church is unique for it alone is
been s,n utter·, total, rredaernable fnilurt?c the One T,ue Criurch of the Son of the one
organization in ail the worid whose credentiais are
How essential, therefore, in view of the fact that incontestably divine, whose claims and teachings
continued next page
"Anti-Catholicism" continued from page 4 Roman Catholic Faith, continued from page 6
But what, pray tell, do we traditional Roman bear the solemn ratification of none other than God
Catholics do about all this, apart from praying for Himself.
those who ridicule and malign our beloved Church
and its beliefs and practices? I'll wager that 90% do The greatness, the grandeur, the glory of the Roman
nothing. So fragmentized are our ranks and so Catholic Church across the years – all is indelibly
preoccupied are many traditionalists with internal written in the annals of history. Countless men,
dissension and interminable quarreling (a con- women, boys and girls in all walks of life have led
sequence of the lack of authority), it would likely be lives of extraordinary sanctity within its fold, many
an herculean task to put together a national of whom were martyred for the faith; untold millions
organization of traditional Catholics for the purpose of non-Catholics have been converts to it; many of
of defending our Faith in such situations, to say the greatest minds and keenest intellects the world
nothing of taking the offensive. It's a very good idea has known have been Roman Catholics.
though. But surely individual traditionalists can at
least defend their Faith through protest, by making What greater consolation, then, could be ours than
their feelings known when their religion is in any the realization that, by the grace of God, we tradi-
way attacked or derided. They can, for example, tional Catholics have both kept the Faith ourselves
write brief and polite, but firm, letters to the spon- and have been and are the instruments of in
sors of TV and radio programs containing anti- preserving that Faith, pure and entire, for genera-
Catholic material, with copies of those letters to the tions yet to be! What a singular privilege indeed and
stations themselves; they can write letters along how exceedingly grateful to the Almighty we ought
similar lines to the editors of their local daily or to be for it!
weekly newspapers; they can refrain from pur-
chasing the products of the sponsors of such And so, let us with renewed determination resolve
tionable programs and they can strive to persuade both to live our Faith ever more lly, and vigorously
their relatives and friends to do likewise; and so on. and perseveringly to fight, in every morally lawful
The Roman Catholic Church is the One True Church way at our disposal, the satanic enemies of our
founded by the Son of God for the salvation of all beloved Church who are today crucifying Christ in
men. It is the one organization or society on earth His Mystical Body. Indeed, may the grace and the
commissioned Christ to teach, to rule and to strength and the courage be ours not only to our
sanctify mankind in His name and with His author- Faith unwaveringly but, if need be, to die in its
ity. It-a.lone has all the answers for the spiritual well- defense and in testimony to its eternal truth! But
being of humanity in this world and for man's eternal whatever be the manner of our death, may each and
destiny in Heaven. To belong to the Roman Catholic every one of us, as fully traditional Roman Catholics,
Church is a priceless privilege, a singular blesing, an be able at that supreme moment to say in all truth, in
inestimable honor. No group of people on earth the words of Saint Paul: "I have fought the good
or to have, stronger incentive or more power- fight; I have completed the course; I have the
ful motivation for a..!D' cause than we traditional Faith!" Persevering, by the grace of God, in loyalty
Roman Catholics for the glorious cause of our divine and fidelity to our beloved Church unto the end, may
Faith. Isn't it high time for us to start actively we one day be found worthy to hear those glorious
defending our Faith, to do something besides be- words of welcome from the lips of our Divine Master:
moaning and lamenting the attacks upon it so com- "Well done, and faithful servant, come,
–
mon today on the American scene? Isn't it long possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the
the time when we should go on the offensive for that foundation of the world!"
precious Faith in testimony to which millions of our
h
• ….. •
predecessors were martyred by the anti-Catholics of Reflections, continued from page 1
their day? And, in view of the subject matter of this prior to Vattcan Council II, it could be that John Paul
article, how appropriate the words of our divine Lord ii might be forced to do something about the
to His Apostles at the Last Supper: "If the world Archbishop of Newark. After all, the Conciliar
hates you, know that it has hated me before you … If Church must periodically act to preserve at least the
they have persecuted me, they will persecute you public appearance of Catholicism.
also." (John 15: 18,20)
~ Hti 2411t4 tat ~~
There is not, I submit, a truly conservative (never
John Kenneth Weiskittel mind traditional) bishop in the entire hierarchy of the
This is now the third issue of The Athanasian which current Conciliar Church in America. Only "liberals"
does not contain an article by Mr. Weiskittel. (a polite term for some of them) are appointed
Perhaps some of our readers may wonder what has bishops in that Church – and so it has been for many
happened to him. No need for wonder or concern years now. Does anyone seriously suppose that the
though. He's with us and will have an article in the appointment of scores of such "liberal" and leftist
next issue of the newsletter. Future writings by Mr. and even pro-Communist bishops by the Vatican
Weiskittel which will appear in these pages will, if all during and since Vatican Council II was just a coin-
goes well, include articles on The New Age Move- cidence? Or was it planned that way? I have no
ment, Pax Christi, and Opus Dei. 7 doubt whatsoever but that it was planned that way.
TCA TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS SCHEDULE
It
I COLORADO
AURORA (Denver area)
MINNESOTA
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. June 12, July 10, July 31
COLORADO SPRINGS
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY MONTANA
Mass at 10:00 a.m. June 5, July 17 GREAT FALLS
(303) 636-1575 · Call between 9:00 a.m. IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHAPEL
and 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday 2020 Second Avenue North
for Mass location (406) 452-8826
Mass at 10:00 a.m. June 19, June 26
DURANGO
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY NEW YORK
Centennial Savings and Loan BUFFALO
1101 E. Second Ave. OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL
(303) 884-2526 231 McKinley Parkway
Mass at 10:00 a.m. June 26 Mass at 10:00 a.m. on
first and third Sundays
STRATTON
OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHAPEL PENNSYLVANIA
(303) 348-5454
ESSINGTON (Philadelphia area)
Mass on July 3
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
Ramada Inn
LOUISIANA Airport South, Route 291
OPELOUSAS (Lafayette area) (215) 876-8737
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHAPEL Mass at 10:00 a.m.
Route 1, Box 195 June 26, July 24
(318) 942-9053
Mass at 11:00 a.m. UTAH
June 12, July 10, July 24
SALT LAKE CITY
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
Hilton Inn
154 West 600 South
~~~~.~~,.q,~,.q,~~l THE ATHANASIAN
(801) 278-7501
Mass at 11 :00 a.m., July 31
Published by Traditional Catholics of America
—" Fr. Francis E. Fenton, Editor
– 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 §,
l.–~~~…
Mailing address: P.O. Box 38335, Colorado Springs, CO 80937
~""e~le~po..eh>…o0n…..
e:~..i:(i»<30~3…..)~63
§
…..6~-W'l15;,,,.7,o5..,.q,.q.,o,..,o.,…~~~~·–~
8