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T H E A T H A N A S I A N a t Edit or: John K. Weiskittel t Volume XV, No. 1 + Spring 1994 A publ icat ion of Trad itio nal Cath olic s of Ame ric

NEWS FROM OUR OFFICE John Kenneth Weiskittel e” — Much of importance to our readers has happened since the conversations; and “The Lighter Side Of Lif supply last issue of The Athanasian. Of foremost concern is Father contributions from a quality often in too short a Fenton’s health, As it now stands, he is, from all among traditional Catholics… humor. appearances, in a weakened but stable condition. He is in ‘Another “new” item you will find here is a reprint of “The 00d spirits, all things considered, and is mentally sharp. Remnant Of The Remnant In Traditional Catholicism,” an But Father has not improved to the point where he can article by Father Fenton that originally was published in return to the office, and it remains to be seen when he will the December 1, 1982 issue and has been included without be able to. He is living now in a retirement home. Many changes. This piece touches on matters every bit as thanks to all who have included Father in their Masses, relevant as the day it was written — considering that the rosaries, novenas and other prayers, and who have called or apostate Vatican II sect is as strong today as it was back written to express your concerns and offer your encourage- then and that it still falsely claims to be the Roman Catholic ment for his recovery. It means a great deal to Father Church — and “authentic warriors for the Faith — those Fention to know that so many of you are thinking of him. who are truly soldiers of Christ — are precious few indeed, Please continue to remember him in your daily intentions. a small minority at best, a remnant of the remnant.” My apologies for the lateness of this issue. Several factors No one has ever become a saint through halfhearted conspired to set back the publication date, not the least commitment to God, but only by surrendering to Him, in being some personal reasons, including a move I recently the words of Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s prayer, “my entire made and some health problems of my own. The illness liberty, my memory, my understanding and my will.” Itis a was severe enough to so impair my powers of concentra- sad but all too evident fact that we Catholics have not done tion that I could not write for days at a time. In addition, enough for God and, in large part, this is because we have there has been some uncertainty about the future of The not really heeded or else have forgotten the bedrock truth Athanasian, given Father Fenton’s absence. Father Fention expressed, when he wrote that “the Now that I am starting to settle in after my move and am preservation and propagation of our divine Faith is the feeling much better after some treatment and megadoses Sreatest cause in all the world…” I pray that Father’s of vitamins, the next issue should be fairly well back on article will elicit much serious reflection and soul- schedule. As for the newsletter’s future, I am happy to searching among our readers, and spur them to redouble report that most of those readers expressing an opinion all their personal sacrifices to our Lord. More than have enthusiastically supported its continued operation anything else, news that greater numbers of Catholics are and some new readers are subscribing. Please help us go committing themselves to actively fight the good fight (in forward with your renewals, gift subscriptions and accordance with their various stations in life) is the kind of donations — remember, the subscription rate is barel y tonic Father Fenton needs to reinvigorate him — and it is enough to keep the office open, the printer paid and each something we can all do to help. <aue mailed, So donations over and above this really help us keep afloat. Any amount you can spare to help sustain It is my intention to carry something of Father Fenton’s in this apostolate is deeply appreciated. Even small offerings every issue: new material if, God willing, he recovers can help defray costs for stamps, envelopes, etc. sufficiently to contribute again, but reprints until such a As for the promised change in format from newsletter to time. I feel it is beneficial to include these; for one reason, reasons as “N gazine, it, t00, has been delayed for the sameexpec because I want to give new readers the opportunity to given above. But to give you a taste of what to t in the become acquainted with the writings of one of the truly eazine, | have included in the current issue a few (but original pathfinders of traditional Catholicism, without appear regularly in The Mot all) of the features, that are to the whom many souls might still today be searching for a way y, new features are: out of the Novus Ordo sect. But The Athanasian stalwarts, Athanasian magazine, Briefl “rome Has Spoken” — a selection from the peren nial who might remember when the articles originally came out ‘gsdom of the Popes, beginning this issue with Saint Pius X a decade or so ago, will find them surprisingly fresh to wechi ng on the mean ing of true devotion to the Blessed reread. And anyone reading them can gain insights and agin Mary; “Food For Thought” — some adages and inspiration sure to renew or fortify their zeal and Nort quotations designed to stimulate thought and fuel dedication for the cause of Catholic tradition. + qu e of Peter D a n g e r o u s W a t e r s F o r T h e Bar John Kenneth Weiskittel ° m b l e s a ha nd fu l a n d even those m o r e accurately res e the islan d ofSici ly lays a r e m n a n t / Bee the toe of Italy’s boot and ar e fa st sh ri nk in g aw ay. e r s narrow body of water called the Strait of Messina. From modest numb ve rs io n of Ch arybdis, es ia st ic al ancient times it has been a most treacherous passage for sailor Across from Scylla is the eccl aicl sts nist tiusonioal s it par- nt ra di ti st on io naali st s. W he r r e th vn e tr ex to negotiate, and the site of many sinkings. What make here in i the form of pa , ticularly dangerous is that at one point mariners face a large burdens on their followers, L a e M a ss and wh o fa vo rs th e rock — Scylla, as it has been named — jutting off the Italian vee ne arms to anyone the Sicil ian side is a whirl pool — (o r, at le as t, de cr ie s it s ab us es ): i e enemy oO coast, while oppos ite it on rejects Vatican II ators is how to y fr ie nd . Th er e mu st be ro ad leeway Charybdis. The life-and-death problem for navig my enemy must be m to the other . So peril ous ul be ca us e of to da y’ s co nf usion (pan- avoid one hazard without falli ng prey given the faithf e th em further in pre-C hrist ian times that Scyll a and in ta in ); le t us no t ca us was this area to those traditionalists ma n tr aditional Charybdis entered the mythology of the Greeks as monsters. ki ng tr iv ia l di st in ct io ns be tw ee disturbance by ma ar gu in g ab ou t un im po rt an t is su es . And, like the ‘The expression “between Scylla and Charybdis” has come to groups or le , th os e dr aw n to th em ar e su ck ed into a th ey re se mb mean a situation where one is placed at risk by two equally eddy ys : “A ll ar e welcome here; leave your me nt al it y th at sa deadly threats, and so one must exercise extreme care to pass through it unscathed, Alternate renderings of it include “to be differences at the door.” pan- between a rock and a hard place,” “… between hammer and Where the exclusionist is an ultraconservative, the anvil” and “… between the devil and the deep blue sea.” In traditionalist is an arch-liberal; where the former is rigorous common usage it has come to mean being faced with a pair of and unbending, the latter is lax and carefree; there the former intolerable alternatives. veers uncomfortably close to Jansenism, the latter careens Today, traditional Catholics are faced with such a dilemma. toward the open-house “ecumenism” of the Conciliar Church, where the former errs by overemphasizing order and justice, Having fled the religion spawned by the Second Vatican the latter strays from the safe path in the opposite way, stress- Council, they sought a safe haven, one in which they could ride out the storm until it pleased God to show them the rainbow. ing charity and liberty; where the former refuses to accept that While the Protestantized “new Mass” is the imposture that the Church makes exceptions regarding Canon Law in times of sent many of them scurrying from Modernist churches, the two emergency, the latter twists those same exceptions to be used crucial issues have compelled them to stay out of it have been in instances where they do not apply. These extremes — or at the pseudo-orthodoxy it has sought to impose in the name of least tendencies toward them — are not at all uncommon in Catholic authority and the false unity it seeks with non- the traditional movement. Actually, every one of us has Catholics. Paradoxically, they now find themselves faced with inclinations in one or the other direction that need to be kept rather similar difficulties that also parallel the dangers found in from getting off line. While those at one end look with horror the Strait of Messina. at the activities of those at the other, and vice versa, there is really nothing for us to choose from, since deviations in either On the one hand, they are confronted with certain Catholics direction are equally to be avoided and deplored. The Til call the exclusionists, who, much in the fashion of the following observations are offered to show where the roots of Scylla, set themselves up as some exclusive rock of orthodoxy. these problems originate, a to further idelenti These Catholics spend much of their time paring down the ntify the i inherent dangers, and suggest the eventual solution to remnant Church to those who fall in line with their them ’ interpretation of orthodox doctoring: Do it their way or not at Where Is The Catholic Chur ch? all. For the exclusionists, great emphasis is placed on an Amidst the myriad a well-pub; licized outrages committed b ironclad reading of church law; even the slightest deviation ose churchmen imbued with the spi rit of Vatican TL there isa may be construed as tantamount to a denial of the Faith or ind of damage that, though as widespread as the better evidence of subversion. They have determined that only they kn k own exx amples, , is often overl possess the capability of knowing the mind of the Church in looked in i this regard is its negative impact on the trad itional Catholic ponerTh the practical application of these teachings and disciplines and is respond with great rancor should anyone dare to suggest another approach may be possible. From their standpoint, the unigue to the traditions) M204 ovemenchurches. t can All problems be traced with

THE ATHANASIAN SPRING 1994 Certainty to the Conciliar revolt, and this is because they all Church were then ill-defined. The Archbishop’s purpose was to Tevolve in one manner or another, around the question of what form a kind of theological seawall against the crashing waves of to do and think in the absence of any truly Catholic teaching the neo-Modernist deluge (for example, the universal tun 2uthority — most especially in the absence of a Pope. (In corrupting of the seminaries) to which Vatican II opened the Seneral this happens to be true regardless of whether or not floodgates, until the hierarchy of the Church regained its One happens to be sedevacantist in outlook, since many of senses. As we know, although the outline of the subversion ‘Ose who accept the legitimacy of John Paul II’s claim to the became more and more evident, Archbishop Lefebvre Holy See do so in word only, In their ongoing disobedience continued a course of negotiations with those same people he toward him they clearly show an attitude that does not honor sometimes referred to as Modernist Rome. He felt compelled to him as such and is more consistent with a vacant see in Rome, seek permission from Paul VI — the very man who had given For all intents and purposes, they behave as if the Church is final approval to the same abominable, un-Catholic Conciliar Presently without a Pope — which, of course, it is.) documents that the Archbishop rebelled against. And while The post-Conciliar years have been a time of learning for Archbishop Lefebvre would later ordain priests against Paul Catholics, whose awareness of the full implications of the IV’s express “command” and consecrate bishops against John “reforms” has only increased in slow increments, In 1965, Paul II’s, he still regarded each of them as “the Holy Father”, there were very few who categorically rejected Vatican II as (publicly, anyway) and urged that his followers do likewise. non-Catholic, True, there were a few bishops and priests Many Catholics who today have sounder views about the crisis who started to take exception (sometimes publicly) with came to traditionalism through the SSPX or were for a time Certain of its pronouncements, but even they did not see the affiliated with it. Yet the group’s fantastic theory regarding the Profound rupture with tradition that these decrees actually Conciliar Church’s identity — essentially, that it is still the represented. Still, their voices alerted faithful Catholics that Catholic Church, but with a Jekyll-and-Hyde split personality something was wrong. — not only is offensive to pious ears, but has exacerbated the By 1969, for example, two members of the Curia, Cardinals confusion, rather than alleviated it. It has produced the utterly Alfredo Ottavini and Antonia Bacci, endorsed a Critical Study un-Catholic practice of professing quasi-allegiance to the of the “new Mass” composed by some Roman theologians that Conciliar “hierarchy,” which it says is to be obeyed when spoke, among other things, against the rite’s ability “to gladden functioning in accord with Catholic teachings, but not when 0 the heart of the most modernist Protestant” and its following the Modernist line. Hence, for example, the Conciliar “insinuations or manifest errors against the integrity of the version of the Code of Canon Law is picked apart by the SSPX; Catholic Faith.” Although this document, having been signed by only those canons it accepts as orthodox are followed. two of the Church’s highest authorities, is even today one of the Again, questions have been raised about Archibishop most important documents incriminating the false orientation Lefebvre’s degree of responsibility for failing to take a stronger, of the new religion, and has led to more intensive analyses of the unequivocal stand against the counterfeit religion. Few pseudo-Mass, it falls short of anything approaching a traditional observers, save SSPX stalwarts for whom the late categorical denial and neither cardinal ever took the step of prelate could do no wrong and who still largely hold to his clearly disengaging from this new church. The charitable view is views, deny this failure. Today, the Society is still frozen in a that they simply failed to see the extent of the revolt, reaching mentality that was understandable in the late 1960s and early even to the highest places in the Church. How culpable they 1970s, but now is untenable given subsequent evidence that were in this negligence is a matter of debate that I am not clarifies the situation. John Paul II is a mystery it has yet interested in pursuing now, since my purpose here simply is to to solve. For this reason, the Society today continues to be show the planned confusion that has bewildered Catholics for the embodiment of the confusion wrought by the Council, the past thirty years. (The mere fact that the cardinals dared to commit such an act of “treason” against the Conciliar Church Itis this uncertainty generated by the SSPX position that has ought to count for something to the Faithful — excepting, of compelled a number of priests (including groups of clerics in Italy and the United States) to take hard-line stands, course, those self-appointed watchdogs who keep a nervous which finger perched at al times over the anathema button.) eventually lead to their separation from the Society. Even here, however, there has been a divergence of stands. While all of Following closely after this was the establishment of the them have in one way or another stood against the Vatican II Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), and its affiliate seminary in changes, at least three different Postures have emerged: (1) a Econe, Switzerland, by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Again, modified SSPX policy that tolerate s attendance at Conciliar the parameters of the Catholic Church vis-a-vis the Conciliar “Indult Masses”; (2) a “middle-of-the-road” stand that, while

THE ATHANASIAN SPRING 1994

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er en ce of op in io n; if an yo ne so much as ff s many an honest di r c d l i l n g t o S c y l l a’s “expert” more openly critical of the new church, reduce n fa il s — t h a t isi , acco n d h ow it e i g m e a n s a important questions about it to a “personal opi nion” status; “ w h a t C hurch teachin orcocrnc all & s de oslu that openly and sn ied — ta ll th ei r th eo lo gi ca l és and, (3) a tou gh, no -n on se ns e pos iti on be ap pl ie d to do l e a g on for Scylla to s the Con cil iar rel igi on. (Number three, should a vr po se une qui voc all y op i o nical és, there is am‘ver p’ ag d u a l i le ai ns t al l th at is ho ly . It ne ve of course, is most consistent with our pos ition at The thhaert Casaid individual is @ coinnn ivel s an; reg ret tab ly, few pri est s to dat e do so. Pray God g th e mo ti ve s of other Catholicss faatzes Scylla that attackiuindggment; he operrat ‘Athan asi th s ough his es as th more will find the courage to stand up and be counted.) i e without proof is rash judgmen’s exclusionist intuits that he But even this is not the end of the confusion engendered by i tis nearly infallible. ‘The gy ; he nce y ov er al l ph as es of th eo lo Vatican II. In addition to the SSPX’s decl arat ion that mem ber s — — “master or on ly di sc us se d with of the Conciliar hierarchy are legi tima te — if unw ort hy — if ation with others is ir re le va nt tho se sees eo ns ex ce ll en ce of his “wisdom.’ successors to the Apostles, is the cou nte rcl aim that te th e those who apprecia e, (including the Holy See) are occupied by apostates and, henc a se mi na ri an at E c o n e is reported to e to be ‘A ro un d fifteen years ago are vacant. The se sede vaca ntis ts, as the latt er hav e com Ar ch bi sh op Le fe bv re : “H e’ s th e closest thing be have declared of called, have their own disagreements. Some, who may le .” Wh il e ne it he r Ar ch bi sh op Lefebvre nor nts we have to infa ll ib called absolute sedevacantists, argue that the false occupa e ex cl us io ni st st an d as is being represen t th are bereft of any title to the offices, while others, though the SSPX at io n is in di ca ti ve of h ow elements of r re, the qu ot equally rejecting the false authority held up by Concilia discussed he ly fo un d in tr ad itional circles. The not this me nt al it y ar e co mm on prelates, argue that they have a “material” — though re or le ss , gi ve n hi mself the same cert ain Scylla “t he ol og ia n” ha s, mo “formal” claim to the sees. Betwixt those two are less ab le mi na ri an once bestowed es si on se Catholics who lean toward one position or another. e fals au ra th at th e im pr ng ex cl us iv e ri gh ts to the “Catholic up on hi s bi sh op , cl ai mi ‘The reason for this digression is to point out the very important on .” H e ma y ap pear in the form of priest or layman, but po si ti fact that, for all the reams written about this or that aspect of the m o n de no mi na to r is his resolute assurance that he th e c o m present cisis, the central problem is one yet to be fully resolved; s e e ut hs th at ot he r tr ad itional Catholics must po ss es se al on th tr namely: Where is the Church? The obvious answer is: Wherever ne re broach the possibility of an ess. nce, if anyo da you find Roman Catholics. In practical terms, however, even prof ate He tion, a no-holds-barred vilification of the skeptic altern solu this has become a subjecoft controversy. Itis a question that has \ is likely to ensue. caused the great divisions among those generically known as “traditional Roman Catholics,” and it will continue to cause rifts Should a group or individual fall under his condemnation, until a cogent solution is presented (more on this at the ashes and sackcloth represent the only acceptable manner of conclusion of the article). It is the loophole that allows the reparation. But, even then, this may not suffice, since the traditional Scylla and Charybdis to endanger the remnant. exclusionist is not easily humored. What is confronted here, Hazard Number One: then, is one who (consciously or not) regards himself or herself Scylla — “I’m Catholic And You’re Not!” as a “super Catholic” to whom the other faithful had better listen if they know what is good for them. This error would reduce the remnant to an iota. Quick to judge, slow to reflect, is the fallacy here. Most of us Some lay members of this extreme position have gone so far asto traditionalists would readily acknowledge that the declare all sacraments to be off limits. Why? Priests have nobish- unprecedented crisis the Church now suffers through has Ops over them, and, therefore, no jurisdiction. Basing this ona raised countless equally unprecedented situations that are by reid reading of Canon Law, they conclude that the Masses are a8 no means simple to resolve, yet the Scylla exclusionist titers who say them. They then solemnly pronounce contends that all is crystal clear. He begins with a valid Brows Scan i stay at home, contentwith their Rosaries and premise: Vatican II is a war against orthodoxy cloaked in the “minimalist” (thet ‘These believers are variously known as vestments of the Church; therefore, all Catholics must be on could. “hee na is, using the “bare minimum” to save their guard againt the mere appearance of orthodoxy, Unfortunately, this super zealot begins paring down even the not every fact hewn minimalist or “Rosary Catholics.” vast isan exclusionist, and vice versa. Some, in (For the record, smallest details in the thinking of other traditional Catholics, ever suspicious of even the slightest miscast phrase, , infighting scandal ora cr erchsimpl » and controvers y outof disgustfo rallthe y among priests.) At his very worst, he can act quite viciously toward those who WhWhiat mali ate Soylla’ss adherent see things differently, since, in this mindset, there is no such s? First, as has already been » Something posi tive — 3 love of orthodox ’

THE ATHANASIAN SPRING 1994 Catholicism. Like others who have resisted the changes, they be separated from the Roman Catholic Church, and Tra- Fecognize the paramount need to hold fast to the perennial ditionalists can gravitate to him. If Lefebvre does not traditions of the Church. They take this far beyond their leave a successor, as he shows no sign of doing, the Tra- ley) dominion, however, by dogmatizing their interpretations. This ditionalist Movement will either die after this first 18 a result of the other negative factor in this mix: Hubris. This all-too-human component of pride (entering, perhaps, thr generation (from lack of new recruits who remember a ough Latin mass), or it will turn to Old Catholicism for an epis- the back door, so to speak) distorts the zeal for orthodoxy by copacy and be absorbed by the Old Catholic movement. targeting allies for destruction: The zeal for saving souls is largely smothered by the zeal to be right. Obviously, in this passage Pruter shows himself to be ignorant Hazard Number Two: about a great many aspects of the traditional movement, since few Catholics would ever knowingly involve themselves with his Charybdis — “I’m Okay; You’re Okay!” sect. But what recruits he and other Old Catholics are able to Steering clear of Scylla’s dangers, some Catholics are drawn to extract from our ranks will be precisely those whom the What they mistake for a safe haven — the pantraditionalists of Pantraditionalists unwittingly sent them. (The problem is Charybdis, The siren call that attracts them is another partial compounded when it is remembered that the sect’s chapels truth, this one being the notion of unity — Catholics must be have no scruples about hanging a “Traditional Catholic” sign united if they are to effectively stand up against the Vatican II outside their door.) Usurpers. But in the case of pantraditionalists, this laudatory aim has gone tragically awry, In a sense, Charybdis is the subtler, more seductive of the errors, because of its easygoing style. It is the easier path to The peril of Charybdis is the “open door” policy to any group take, yet no less dangerous. Instead of crashing into a rock, or individual that calls itself “Catholic” (and a few that do not). one simply disappears into an all-encompassing whirl of water. One pantraditionalist, paraphrasing Lenin, has declared that traditionalists must have no enemies on the right. Unlike the Instead of being shredded by an ad hoc “magisterium,” one ironfisted dictums of Scylla, Charybdis coaxes Catholics with simply blends into an amorphous body of “Catholics.” dulcet tones of soothing conciliation, assuring them that all is Again, though far less apparently (even, perhaps, to its well under their ill-defined “traditional” umbrella. While originators), the ultimate trouble involves pride. With Scylla, orthodoxy is not entirely set aside, it is made to take a place the problem is with the assertion of its heads that a definitive », behind the policy of “ecumenical” togetherness. judgment can be established against its “enemies”; with The pantraditionalists are all “hearts and roses,” the Charybdis, it involves the suspension of judgment regarding its embodiment of a confused charity. It is no more true “friends.” Whatever their differences, each hazard ultimately Catholicism than the syrupy sentimentalism of a cherub on a mirrors the other in its unwavering conviction that it is on the Valentine’s Day card (which it closely resembles). If there is a side of truth: Scylla, by writing people out of the Church, and way that principle can be circumvented to “accommodate,” rest Charybdis, by writing them into her, (This mirroring also sees assured they will find it, In the popular parlance this is known some exclusionists involved in activities with those of dubious as “looking the other way.” Priests of this persuasion have Catholicity, while certain pantraditionalists can match their been known to advise traditional Catholics that they may take counterparts in the bitter denunciation department — a choice part in Novus Ordo “Indult” and Unitate (Eastern Rite) slur is to accuse anyone who crosses them of being Masses, Old Catholic Masses, or Eastern Orthodox Masses, if “uncharitable” or even “pharasaical.”) no other Masses are available. So, in total disregard to the perennial discipline of the Church — Catholics are forbidden “Bickering Priests” to worship with schismatics — these liberals, usually in the I am hardly the only one who has noticed with growing name of “charity,” put souls in harm’s way, uneasiness the ongoing formation of the two ext reme And make no mistake, the Old Catholics in particular are Positions, In the January-February 1994 isue of Catholic looking for any way to tap the traditional movement for new Restoration an article by its editor, Father Donald Sanbom, touched on the dangers. (Ironically, a recent news followers to fill their ever dwindling membership rolls, Karl letter from a Pruter, a bishop in the sect, in his 1983 The Old Catholic pantraditionalist church actually touted his “exc ellent article,” despite the fact that they are a prime exampl Sourcebook is clearly hoping for such a day when he writes: e of one of the dangers he condemns. But that is another matter.) [T]he Roman Catholic Traditionalist future will be Entitled “Bickering Priests,” the article focused changed appreciably if Archbishop Lefebvre consecrates on the inability of traditional clerics to resolve their differences a successor. If he does, his successor will unquestionably in various controverted issues; the underlying reas ons for these priestly

‘THE ATHANASIAN SPRING 1994 they profess or disciplinaryh be co me “e cu me ni ca l” wit on achieving the goal tee th ey disputes; the impact such conflicts have ne matter en de sc ri be d as ys to find has often be it is presumed they all share; and, suggested wa aT This osition comm on gr ou nd . Wh il e co nt in ui ng to la ment Father In thi s sys tem , all that counts is some versial “episcopal a Fr vtionalism.” tha t yo u are forthe Sanborn’s unfortunate support for a contro me ommon deno mi na to r: usu all y su ch as what d to put consecration” last autumn in Cincinnati, I have electe traitional Mass. All other consid era tio ns, not who offer a few oF wh os our differences aside for the sake of unity and Church you belong to, who is the Po pe “ ornot, acc ep’ passages from it to better illuminate the present study. is validly ordained, ‘wh ether Vat ica n Il is what you acc ept or rej ect , e s you Although Father Sanborn’s terminology is different from min what conciliar reform yo u are una cum or Co de , wh et he r — in place of exclusionist, he writes of “surrogate authority,” think about the New major points = become and refers to “free-for-all” instead of pantraditionalist — the y a few not — to mention onl dis tra cting. Unlike the concepts are essentially the same (if not exactly so in all the meaningless tri fle s wh ic h are h se ek s unity through details). And the basic cause behind them is the same. He states ap pr oa ch wh ic surrogate authority unity through se ek s that “without the operation of the teaching authority of the dogmatism, thi s so lu ti on Ch ur ch itself had no dogmas, no Catholic Church, the Catholic becomes incapable of deciding ant ido gma tis m, as if the with certitude of faith what should be thought about a particular lin es, an d no mor als . Thi s solution is obviously dis cip not to dis pel the ch aos of lack point of doctrine or moral teaching.” But are not theseteachings unacceptable , sin ce it see ks ses the unity and self-evident? Anticipating such questions, he adds: of authority, and severely compromi ogniti on of error True, there is the entire deposit of faith, the pronounce- sanctity of the Catholic Church by the rec . ments of Popes and councils. About these things there is inboth the speculative and practical orders no dispute and no lack of certitude. Where the problems essary, he Given the current woeful lack of authority, it is nec arise is in the interpretation of and application of what concludes: “[To] strike a balance between the nee d, on the has already been set down. Thus we have seen a great one hand, to maintain order in the Church and to avoid, on the deal of dispute about what to think about Vatican II, about other, claiming a false, nonexistent authority. . ” whether the post-Vatican II Popes are true Popes or not, about whether to accept the new Code of Canon Law or The Lessons To Be Learned not, about whether to accept Novus Ordo marriage ‘And yet, as important as it is that these problems be resolved, annulments or not, about the validity of Novus Ordo the root cause is such as to greatly diminish the prospect of& sacraments or not, and so forth. settling them in the foreseeable future. For it is, once again, a In the traditional movement as elsewhere, nature abhors a cause that reverts back to Vatican II itself — the nearly vacuum, so “many have sought refuge in the surrogate universal defection from the Faith by the putative successors of authority solution; that is, they have assigned the teaching and the Apostles. Given this fact, Catholics are pained to seek a disciplinary authority of the Church to someone else besides way out of our difficulties and wonder who is to mediate John Paul Il. In this context, Father Sanborn specifically between rival traditional factions that sometimes scandalously mentions the Society of St, Pius X and Archbishop Lefebvre, resemble Old Catholics in their inability to stay united or to be who, the Society maintains, “had… an extraordinary mission kept from heaping condemnations upon each other’s heads. from God, different from and independent of the mission Intimately related to a question asked earlier, the crucial confided to the successor of Saint Peter, whereby the mystery upon which we all routinely ponder may be summed Archbishop would filter or sift the teachings and disciplines of up as follows: Where is the Catholic hierarchy? the Vatican II religion, selecting what was Catholic, rejecting what was non-Catholic or harmful to souls.” Others have taken No matter what the trouble — Scylla or Chi lis — one a similar position, he writes: “[T]he telltale characteristic of cho ose s to address, it is ultimately a mere mpton of sic kne ss the Ch ur the such groups are the fulminations against those who disagree ch is suffering: lack of a valid, functioning with them, as if the dissenters were in some way opposing the ierarchy. If one seeks to challenge Scylla ‘s charges that a given authority of God or of the Church.” Sro up or individual is not Catholic, where com pet And then there is the laxist error. This position, too, is neatly official ent aut hority to investigate the changeands make an he find a ruling? Similarly, if one is leery of Cha defined by Father Sanborn: aa ryb dis’ claim that there is nothing to fear fro: Opposite to surrogate authority is the free-for-all (in some cases, perhap: s, ree tS “Catholic” associates te same even the individual solution, Aware of the absence of authority, some priests adopt an “anything goes” attitude, as if no order or reason should prevail. Assuming everyone is in good conscience, of course,m needed wr a definitive determination? The answer, ”S Precisely the same in each instance: nowhere. THE ATHANASIAN SPRING 1994 (Nowhere, in the sense that any truly Catholic prelates with too much of these virtues. Most critical is charity. If we Such authority have yet to stand up and speak out against the cannot be charitable to others in the household of our own Crimes of their supposed counterparts in the Conciliar Church.) Faith, then we are no better than the atheists and all our Readers of this study may well conclude that the adherents of efforts are for naught. Scylla have an immediate need for more charity and less of Pray For A Pope! an urge to go rashly damning presumed heretics and It is given to the Roman Pontiff to tell the spurious and schismatics, Likewise, readers may feel devotees of Charybdis need a solid dose of prudence in choosing those beside adulterated from the pure and orthodox belief, and to teach without alteration the faith of our forefathers. whom they kneel in worship. And, in both instances, the There is no one but the Pontiff to whom we can tum readers would be right. for help. (Saint Basil the Great) In the former case, Scylla Catholics would greatly benefit by This quotation from a Doctor of the Church reflects very well considering how, given the confused state of affairs, a degree on the problems of traditional Catholics, as well as the root of leeway (though not the thoroughfare of the also points to how the answers for them will, in cause, and Pantraditionalists must be allowed in certain controverted God’s good time, be found. It also brings to mind a issues. At one time or another during the crisis, all thinking conversation I had a few months ago with a priest about the traditional Catholics (including Scylla polemicists) have, to woeful situation in which the Church finds herself. I some extent, revised or modified their opinions. The diversity emphasized howI always add special intentions in my prayers of views mentioned earlier is proof positive of the enormous that God deliver her from her plight and how crucial I feel is difficulties that must be surmounted by anyone who seeks to the need for all Catholics to commit themselves to such decipher exactly why this inconceivable tragedy has befallen prayers. All that is fine, he said; but, even more than that the the Church and to delineate precisely the scope of the faithful ought to be praying specificaly for a Pope (as in: pray devastation. Such a fact should humble all but the most that we get a Pope). Nothing is really solved until the Church is smugly arrogant of pontificators, who deny the fact that the again governed by a true Pope, he explained, and once she has Church has made allowances to the faithful in times of crisis. one ail of these problems will be quickly solved. On the other hand, Charybdis Catholics, no less dedicated to the cause, reverse the problem, and continually run the risk ‘The moreI have considered his statement, the more I see how of blindly embracing every “Catholic” that comes their way. If eminently sensible it is. However one views this or that a

the charge of false polemics can justly be leveled against traditional bishop, there is not a one of them (no matter how Scylla for magnifying minor differences out of proportion in personally gifted or holy he may be) who has the capacity to the name of “orthodoxy,” that of false irenics is equally settle these problems in any binding way. Even if a bishop from applicable to Charybdis for reducing critical distinctions to behind a “former” Iron Curtain country came forth and could the status of mere trifles for the sake of “unity.” prove he had jurisdiction, he could not, by such a fact alone, settle them definitively. At best, his public denunciation of the But the criticisms I have raised in this article suffer the same Novus Ordo sect would simply be an important first step for the fate as the subjects they cover, and that is the lack of any Church’s eventual recovery. Not even a group of such bishops force of authority behind them. And this is true of every could do so on their own. problem in the traditional movement. If there is anything for Catholics to learn from this continuing crisis, it is that there No, the only way to finally resolve our differences in a way will continually be unresolvable disputes between traditional agreeable to all those of good will is to have a Pope back at the Catholics and the danger of further division, because no helm of the Barque of Peter to steer it safely through these Church authority superior to them is present to settle the turbulent times. The words of Pope Pius IX are significant in differences. Only when the hierarchy is restored, will we be this regard, when he writes that “without the Pope there is no able to at last find peace regarding these dilemmas. Church, and no Catholic society without the Holy See…”

We must take care not only to exercise caution in how we In the Gospels, an incident is recorded that parallels the disagree with other Catholics, but prudence in how we current difficulties for the Church. Christ was asleep in a boat choose our associates. The Church teaches that we are with his disciples, when a great storm came and threatened to always to take the safer course, when uncertain how to capsize the vessel. Fearful, they awoke Him, crying: “Lord, proceed — the “golden mean” of the ancients. All of us, but save us, we perish.” Calming the sea, He rebuked them for especially priests, who are to set the ideal examples for the their lack of faith. (Matthew 8:23-27) Let us, then, not tire in rest of Catholics, really need to ask God for increases in our prayers, confident that our Lord will provide a pilot to charity , humilit y, and pruden ce, since no one can ever have navigate us through the tempest and into safe harbor. + (Ey

THE ATHANASIAN SPRING 1994 C a t h o l i c s o f A m e r i c a T r a d i t i o n a l : 719-636-1575 Post Office Box 38335 + Colorado Springs, Colorado 80937

May 9, 1994

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ha na si an we nt to the typ ese tte r, Tra dit ion al Cat holics of After this issue of The At 1994. ci de d to clo se the TC A off ice , eff ect ive Tu es da y, May 31, America, Inc. de thi s let ter as a gui del ine for se nd in g co rr es po nd ence and donations until Please use the end of May.

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I n current usage traditional Catholicism and the Roman dedication to the Faith demanded of them in this our day. Such Catholic Faith mean the same thing. Both terms signify individuals are traditional Catholics, yes, but they assuredly are the totality of religious truths or the body of religious doctrine not apostolic or truly dedicated ones. taught by the Church and accepted by all who are in communion with the Church, Prior to Vatican Council II the How explain this? To say that so it has ever been is not, to my word “traditional” would have been redundant in referring mind, an adequate answer in the present situation. I well to a Roman Catholic for the simple reason that all true Catholics realize from my own experiences as a parish priest for many were by that fact traditional. With the advent of the Conciliar years that it has always been the few who were dedicated, hard- Church upon the world, however, as a consequence of Vatican working, self-sacrificing. But the Church situation is so Council Il, it became necessary to distinguish between drastically different today from what it was a mere generation authentic Catholics and those members of the Conciliar ago. As a result of the several subversive and satanic forces to Church who persist to this day in calling themselves such, which it has been systematically and so successfully subjected Hence, the use of the term “traditional” to identify with the by its enemies for so long a time, the Roman Catholic Church former, that is, the genuine Roman Catholic. has been reduced to a remnant — and that remnant is A traditional Catholic, then, is one who firmly believes that the traditional Catholicism. One, then, might logically expect to Roman Catholic Church is the one true Church and who find practically all of the Catholics who are a part of that professes, believes in, accepts in its entirety the doctrinal and remnant to be the best in terms of their love for and dedication moral teaching of that Church. He will, of course, have no part to their God-given Faith. After all, are not these people of the Conciliar or Novus Ordo Church because, if he is rightly traditional Catholics because they are well aware of what has informed on the subject, he understands that that Church happened to their beloved Church and are determined to simply is not Catholic. Either the Roman Catholic Faith here retain their total fidelity to it at all costs? In a word, are not and now is, and is found in, traditional Catholicism or traditional Catholics “the real thing,” men and women who that ardently strive to live Faith has ceased to exist. There is no other alternative. their Faith to the fullest and who, if needs But, be and by the grace of God, are since we have the word of the Son of God Himself that willing to die in testimony to it? His Indeed, do not they represen Church will live forever, then it follows that that Chur t the sole human hope and ch today promise for the Church’s survival is traditional Catholicism in this our day? which alone POssesses, preserves and teaches the fullness of the Faith, pure and undefiled, Until the past few years I would probably have replied to the above question with an unqualified “yes.” But not so toda But there are many who, while they profess to y. be traditional Assuredly, traditional Catholicism is today the Roman Catholic Catholics, do not manifest any genuine appreciation of the Faith they profess. In other words, they firmly bel Church. Such a positive blanket statement, however, cannot ieve that the be Roman Catholic Church is the one true Church made in truth about traditional Catholics. Rather mus t a ; they fully distinction be made between those who are fully accept its teachings and honestly strive to dedicated, live their daily lives unreservedly hard core, truly apostolic, and accordingly, but their dedication to the Faith stil those whose l leaves much traditionalism is of a limited or restricted nature, to be desired. They are lacking, that is in any signif In all of my icant zeal or many dealings and contacts in recent years with apostolic spirit. The impression they give traditional is that, while they are roups across the country, I have observed everywher obviously concerned about their Personal spi e how few ritual well-being are the number of truly dedicated traditional and that of their families, they seemingly Catholics, say, care little for the perhaps, some ten to fifteen Percent of the preservation and propagation of the Faith oth total. The erwise. Indeed, it remainder just more or less go along, A typi is my strong conviction that the large majori cal individual in yy Cat ty of traditional this category, which is the vast majority, is holics fall short in varying degrees of the a devout person, level and quality of never misses Mass, receives Communion regularly, reci tes the THE ATHANASIAN SPRING 1994 e ki nd de sc ri be d in th e Pr eceding a highly Catholicism would be of th informed and the rosary each day, etc. In other words, he does Ar e th ey no t th e remnant, days of ritual welfare. sragraph wh o, in th es e commendable job in the matter of his own spi true Cathol ic s to be one who dedicated ‘minority of ve committed This same type of individual, however, is likely fo r th e Ch ur ch , h a and labor unprecedented crisis ne ed be, to does little or nothing for the cause by way of his time lv es to work and to pr ay a n d to fi gh t an d, if ort s are pro mot ing or th em se pect this to unless shamed into doing so; whose eff , wh il e on e m a y re as on ab ly ex ima l at bes t; and wh o is — in the di e fo r the Faith, Well o w e v e r fr eq uently | propagating the Faith are min in g el se . H ca se , th e reality is someth matter of financial support — likely to be plain mis erl y. Ho w be th e e, th e di st re ss in g fa ct is that the large Fai th if all wi sh th at it were otherwis hopeless would be our effort s to pre ser ve the io na l Ca th ol ic s ar e no t tr uly dedicated, d! Th an k Go d the y are majority of tradit traditoin al Cat hol ics wer e of thi s kin , ap os to li c. Ra th er th ey ar e, in varying degrees, courageous is I a m thoroughly not! Just most of them are! re d, se lf is h. Of th provincial, self-cente ma ny fo: rm s anInd on this artic le, ob se rv ed it i in But, to return to a thought previously expr esse d in convinced because I have traditional why make an issue of a situation, however regrettable it is, ra bl e oc ca si on s. In th e re mn an t which is innume which is found in every movement, in every organization is m, au th en ti c wa rr io rs fo r th e Fa it h — those who are Catholic , a small committed to the pursuance of some ideal or devoted to the ecious few indeed truly soldiers of Christ — are pr advancement of some noble cause? Has it not ever been so? minority at best, a remnant of the remn ant. Have not the great feats of history been invariably accomplished on e wo ul d no t log ica lly ant icipate, a nd 50 it is, a sit uat ion by the relatively few? When have self-sacrificing and ‘A rea liz e, tha t in the ranks of traditional co nd it io n dis tre ssi ng to courageous and dedicated people ever-been in the majority? rel ati vel y fe w who are of the caliber Ca th ol ic is m are fo un d so Why, then, expect any difference in traditional Catholicism? ority. one would expect to find therein in the overwhelming maj ‘The answer is that traditional Roman Catholics are those who But, because the Roman Catholic Church is today tradit ional e, — in the face of the massive destruction inflicted upon the Catholicism, the traditionalist movement will surviv Church over the past twenty years or so and despite the dependent, under God, for the survival upon thos rel e atively defection of multitudes of the former fellow Catholics from the few who comprise the hard core within the movement As for . l Faith — have supposedly remained unyielding and steadfast in the others, well, I fervently hope that at least some of them wil their loyalty to the Church. Although their churches have been in due time begin to realize that attending Mass, receiving the occupied by the enemy and, in many instances, they have been Sacraments, saying the rosary, and leading morally good lives, alienated from their families and friends for the stand they have as vital as these are, are not enough. The crisis in the Church taken, yet they have adamantly refused to compromise or to demands that such traditional Catholics become crusaders, d have any part of the non-Catholic schismatic Conciliar Church. warriors, well-informe activists in the defense and promot ion Whatever the sacrifices involved, and in some cases they are of the Faith, Fran kly though, I do not think this will happen. In al considerable, these people are fully determined, with the grace my opinion, it is the remnant of the remnant of tradition of God, to retain the totality of their precious Faith and to Catholicism through whom, under God, will be accomplished practice it as best they can in the particular circumstances in the preservation of the Faith. + which they find themselves. Whatever the cost, traditional This article originally appeared in the Roman Catholics are unreservedly committed to the December 1, 1982 issue of The Athanasian. preservation of the Faith not only for themselves and their own. locality but universally, and will do all they can to help their fellow traditional Catholics in other areas. In other words, their The enclosed white enveloy pe is for the conveni outlook in matters pertaining to the Faith is not a provincial or who may wish to send a donation to the TCA. If a blue Shvcl also enclosed, that is to be used for subscription renewone al parochial one because such an outlook is not Catholic. Such, then, is the caliber and character of those individuals to be found, with rare exceptions, in the ranks of the traditional SUBSCRIPTON RENEWALS Roman Catholic movement. Right? Wrong! Because the Roman Catholic Church is what it is and because the ag Sat e on the envelope address label indicates the month is due for renew AtaRe l recipient’s subscription preservation and propagation of divine Faith is the greatest envelope will be enciosed with thenenslney. suesenption cause in all the world, one might certainly expect that a pew subscription at any time. of One may enter practically all of those who are affiliated with traditional en _Feceive the four following Acwlenes fesone

THE ATHANASIAN 10 SPRING 1994 The Lighter Side Of Life

© You know you’te in a tough neighborhood when you walk into Toerris human, butwhen the eraser wears out before the pencil, the confessional and there’s graffiti on the wall. you know you’re overdoing it.

Aradio announcerisa person who works for the love of mike. Teenagers express their burning desire to be different by dressing exactly alike. Lawyer: Occupation? Witness: Housewife. Aman has reached middle age when he is warned to slow down Lawyer: Husband’s occupation? by his doctor, instead of the police. Witness: Manufacturer. Lawyer: Children? Abird in the hand is bad table manners. Witness: No, electronics. “Iknow it sounds nutty, doc,” the patient said to the psychiatrist, Minutes at the table don’t put on the weight — it’s the seconds. “but I can’t shake the belief that I’m a goat.” “Oh,” asked the psychiatrist, “what makes you thinak thing like that?” “Well, for Baby… A loud noise at one end and no responsibility at the starters,” the patient bleated, “whenever someone makes me other. Monsignor Ronald Knox angry, I have a very strong desire to butt him with my head; and Tve grown this goatee just so I would resemble one.” “Hmm, By the time we have all the furniture paid for, we’ll have genuine most interesting,” the psychiatrist said; “is there anything else?” antiques. “Yes, as a matter of fact, there is something; when I go to the supermarket, | am irresistibly drawn to the canned food aisle —I It will soon take only two hours to go around the world — one could care less about the contents — it’s the cans that make me hour for theflyin andg one hour to get to the airport. hungry!” “Extraordinary!” exclaimed the psychiatrist; “and how long have you felt like you were a goat?” From the couch came The most expensive vehicle to operate, per mile, is the shopping the reply: “Ever since Iwasa kid.” cart. The father of the bride should realize that he isn’t losing a A pessimist is a good person to borrow money from — he never daughter, but gaininga bathroom. expects to be repaid. Bad luck is bending over to pick up a four-leaf clover and being Ifthe mind goesblank, be sure to turn off the sound. infected by poison ivy,

My neighbor accuses his wife of spending money like a Having a big family is a good way to make sure there will always drunken be someone around to answer the phone — and forget the sailor. But is that any worse than spending like a sober Message. congressman?

T won some stock in a company that pays quarterly dividends Then there was the fellow doing his income tax return who, for Every three months, they send . the line marked “Dependents,” printed: “Federal Government.” me a. quarter,

Amoden artist is one who throws paint ona Bigamy is when two rites make a wrong. canvas, wipes it off witha cloth, and sells the cloth, After looking at the bill for my surgery, I now understand why The Eiffel Tower is the Empire State Building doctors wear masks in the operating room. after taxes, Television is an inventi ion that permits you ‘These days there doesn’t seem to be any arrest for the wicked. in your living room b Y people yo to be entertained home. u wouldn’t have in your Show mea twin birth and/’ll show youan infant replay, David Frost eo Nowadays, a dollar Ababy boomer isa man who hires someone to cut the grass so he saved isa quarter earned . can play golffor the exercise,

THE ATHANASIAN 1 SPRING 1994

ne Celibacy Conflict Fr, Oswald Baker (England) ) o was a genius and a saint, poll among priests in France some time ago revealed hen, in 1903, a Pope was elected wh i” was Hildebrand, that only one-third of them are in favour of the ordina- aborn leader and an administrator. His name » tion of women. The other two-thirds must be motivated by He became Pope Gregory VII. prejudice. They are all of the Conciliar Church, whose “priest- flict, He ‘ory VII promptly took the offensive intl ie con hood,” together with that of the Church of England, has no st s wh o ha d ma rr ie d to fu nc ti on as pri ests, and fabade al re s. Where he could theological reason for the exclusion of women. Whereas, the forbade the lai ty to ac ce pt the ir mi ni st ra ti on admission of women to the Catholic priesthood is a sheer to ca rr y ou t his ord ers , he sent his own legates, no t tru st bi sh op s impossibility, A much higher proportion of the French clergy, ex co mm un ic at ed He nr y IV of Ge rm an y. The result was that He various parts of 83 percent, favour the ordination of married men. The ellion in married priests broke into open reb tes were authentic Catholic Church, needless to say, insists on the Europe. They instigated riots, in whichbipashpaopls lewegare stoned traditional celibacy for priests, and has not experienced, within beaten up, and loyal celibate priests and nded the Church, any opposition to the rule for a thousand years. and slaughtered. Mobs even murdered laymen who defe What we call the Iron Age in history, or Dark Age, was a period the Pope’s decree. All this occurred about 1080 A.D. Ne ver at of about two hundred years, from the ninth to the eleventh any period has sucha high proportion, the majority, of memb ers century, when Europe was in a state of frightful disorder. Until of the Church sunk to such degradation. After years of violence our own day, it was the saddest phase in the histor y of the and plundering, Henry IV’s army marched on Rome. Pope Church, Vikings from Scandinavia were raiding all Europe’s Gregory took refuge in a castle on a rocky crag overlooking the coastline, from Norway to Italy. Barbarian hordes were invading sea at Salerno where he died May 25, 1085. and pillaging Germany. Civil war raged in France, In Italy, Popes were imprisoned and even murdered. It was an age of Hildebrand’s influence endured, and brought about a profound blood and iron. Such was the violence and devastation that and widespread change of outlook. Within a few years the ideal civilization all but disappeared. The powers that took over were of priestly celibacy was revitalized, and the rule has prevailed robber barons, ruling in the ruins, governing vast territories. As ever since. In 1123, the First Lateran Council decreed: time went on, in the tenth century, these barons began to rule the Church also, largely by force of circumstance. If amid the We absolutely forbid priests, deacons, or subdeacons the intimacy of concubines and of wives, and cohabitation Q general desolation the poor people wanted a church, it was the with other women, except those with whom for reasons of baron who had to build it. When they wanted a priest, it fell to the baron to procure one, and maintain him. In the same way, necessity alone the Nicene Synod permits them to live, higher barons would appoint bishops. Then the barons began that is, a mother, sister, paternal or maternal aunt, or to demand payment before the installation of bishops. Before others of this kind concerning whom no suspicion may long the appointment to a bishopric went to the highest bidder. justly arise. And so it went until eventually men of brutal nature and Not all shepherds of the flock are required by Our Lord to lay unbridled passions became bishops, giving the very worst down their lives, but they are all called to a life of self-sacrifice. example to the clergy over whom they ruled. Members ofsuch a We do not find in the Gospels any precept of compulsory degenerate hierarchy were not the sort likely to observe the law celibacy for the priesthood, but we find ample warrant in the of celibacy and chastity. language of Our Lord for regarding dedicated celibacy as the The times produced a crop of writers, pamphleteers, demand- fitting state for priests. It establishes the dominance of the ing permission for priests to marry. The campaign was spiritual cover over the material element in human nature. supported by the barons, led by the German King Henry IV. If Marriage is a state of such devoted love that a husband and the Church insisted on celibate, mortified priests, the barons father must give his first affection to wife and children, ‘The feared a lower income from their auctioneering. But the Priest sacrifices the joy of children of his own that professed reasons for an end to the rule of celibacy were just the all his human affection to his people. If the he may give rule of celibacy wore same as those being urged in our own day: the need for more to go — if the priest could no longer priests; priests should be natural and like other men; the time sacrifice he makes at presen point to the personal t — his influence would be gone; it has come for wider freedoms; matrimony is a holy state; etc. In would heal ver with im and the cause he represents, Priest the eleventh century the opponents of priestly celibacy formed work for souls demands the greater part of Christendom. Those in favour of the law of attachment of self to Ou a consecrated, single-hearted r Lord that is ideally verified only in celibacy were a minority of the laity, fervent, high-principled, a militant. Priestly celibacy became a pressing issue in those times, and the array of forces involved was very one-sided,

THE ATHANASIAN 12 SPRING 1994 Food For Thought — Selected Adages & Quotations Orvtake up your mind to become a saint, ‘Saint Mary Mazzarello The test of good manners is to be able to put up pleasantly wit h bad ones. Unknown If God allows you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a The prevailing spirit of the household corresponds with the Saint. And if you wish to become a great Saint, entreat Him literature in the home. Salacious novels, magazines, and yourself to give you much opportunity for suffering; for there is newspapers which offend our moral sense, are too often mental nowood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the wood of the food in many homes, Alas, how many hearts have been poisoned cross, which Christ used for His own sacrifice of boundless in their youth by obscene literature. Do not permit anything of charity, Saint Ignatius Loyola the kind to be brought into your home. Saint John Vianney

HewholendstothepoorgetsinterestfromGod. — GermanProverb Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family, Saint Angela Merici. If anyone shall say that because of scientific progress it may be possible at some time to interpret the Church’s dogmas in a ‘The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful, different sense from that which the Church understood and and has nobody to thank. Dante Gabriel Rosetti understands, let him be anathema. First Vatican Council Itis necessary to fight Freemasonry with those weapons of divine faith which in past ages vanquished paganism. PopeLeo XI One of the most important news stories of the twentieth century continues to receive little attention from America’s news media. Let us abandon even the thought of being Christians if It is easily demonstrated that Communism has been sustained we tremble before the threats or traps laid for us by Oo” all its existence by the Free World, John F. McManus Perverts. Pope Clement XII ‘Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves, If God permitted a Pope to be notoriously heretical and and undera just God, cannot long retain it. Abraham Lincoln contumacious, he would cease to be Pope, and the Apostolic Chair would be vacant. Saint Alphonsus Ligouri When liberty destroys order, the hunger for order will destroy liberty, How can they be in the Catholic Church who have shaken off the Will Durant Apostolic faith and become authors of fresh evils. Saint Athanasius The family is the most ancient institution tha t God founded in Paradise, when He called the first pair of Without ashepherd, the sheep arenotaflock. Russian Proverb human beings into existence. The first blessing that God gave was for the well-being ‘The martyrdom of the heart is no less of the family. With family life the hi fruitful than the shedding story of the world of blood. ‘Saint Therese ofthe Child Jesus commences, Saint John Vianney Always keep your words soft and sweet — one day you may have The unit of the American life is th e family and the home. toeat them. Unknown Through it vibrates every hope of the future. It is the economic unit as well as the moral and spir itual unit. But it is more than A fault once denied is twice committed, Unknown this. Itis the beginning of self-gov ernment. It is the throne of our highest ideals. It is the center of th Freedom suppressed and again regained bites with keener fangs e spiritual energy of our than freedom never endangered. Cicero People. Herbert Hoover Itise If we possessed every virtue, but lacked humility, those virtues QP Seasiertoabstain than restrain, FronchProvers would bewithoutrootandwouldnotlast. SairtVincentPast de

TAP ATHANASIAN 13 SPRING 1994 The Continuing Attack On