[Update] Bishop Williamson Visits the “Resistance” in Germany

(London) Bishop Williamson, who was expelled from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X. , wants to visit Germany in the next few days. He wants to meet priests and laity of the SSPX to encourage them to break away. The plan seems to include the consecration of a chapel in a small monastery in houses. Similar to the Carmelite Sisters of Brilon, the chaplain   had urged the separation from the Fraternity of St. Pius X, but took place  years ago, because the Society of St. Pius X. rejects sedevacantism.

Bishop Williamson is to visit also the sisters in Brilon Forest, which recently by parted from the Society of St. Pius X. Another stop is expected to be Wigratzbad. There was recently a priest in the 25th Year of his consecration a sedisvakantistische community, about over 50 people.  Previously, he worked for the Society of St. Pius X. believers in Überlingen. In Constance, he founded the club Saint Thomas Aquinas  and V. to get established. He has  been the Spiritual Director of the monastery for years  in close contact with the sisters there and he preaches the spiritual exercises regularly. He left the Society before, but returned once more to her. For some time he hasn’t prayed  for the Pope during Holy Mass, which was viewed very critically by his superiors and confreres.

Bishop Williamson is expected to be a private visit to Ober-Ramstadt, where he attended a newlywed couple, originally from him in a chapel of the Society of St. Pius X. wanted to get married. This was forbidden by the German District Superior of the Society of St. Pius X, Father Franz Schmidberger, whereupon the Prior of Rheinhausen wed the couple.

The dispute between the leaders of the Society of St. Pius X. and the situation around  Williamson continues to escalate. A splitting or separation of this group is imminent. At a wedding, which took place recently, a German Prior openly criticized the Superior General of the SSPX, Bishop Bernard Fellay as a “traitor". The same has been said by a priest during last year's Pentecost pilgrimage. Observers interpret this as a threat of force to impose the upper a particular opinion without wanting to leave the SSPX itself.

Many priests were present at the aforementioned wedding who had left the SSPX years ago, well before the talks with the Vatican and priests who left the Society recently and officially denounce the present course of the Fraternity as "modernist". Some of these priests, went after their departure initially, surprisingly to communities standing close to the Vatican, but left it again quickly to seek out "vagantes".

Laymen, who  openly position themselves sedisvacantist, earned a  ban by the German District Superior. You may in specific cases currently still receive the sacraments in the chapels of the SSPX, but not distribute leaflets and not to incite unrest. Such measures are nothing special and were immediately imposed by district leaders since the founding of the SSPX.

 Layman who’ve been banned are supposed to have co-organized  Bishop Williamson’s trip. Bishop Williamson is clearly testing how much and what kind of support he can expect in Germany.

Most of the "priests in the resistance"  were already expelled years before for disobedience and intemperate criticism of superiors. Transfers and composition of priory communities were often the main points of criticism. Whether the "resistance priests” themselves are under an authority or establish their own initiatives where they are the only authority themselves remains to be seen.

Since the "theological" justification for the "resistance" moves on thin ice and the talks between the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X. seem to be misinterpreted, the conflict provides the current [? Father Firmin Udressy?] superior of the German district, Father Franz Schmidberger, more on a personal level: described the behavior in a preface of his newsletter in April 2013 as  "stubbornness, self-righteousness, condescension, addiction to criticism, false dialectic, mockery and malice".

The Society of St. Pius X. has endured since its inception from attacks on the top, on the one hand of progressives, on the other side from sedivacantists. Therefore regular articles on the part of the SSPX are regularly published like Rightful disobedience to authority and Mgr Lefebvre: About the negotiations with Rome.

Bishop Williamson extended the position of sedevacantism for weeks in his periodical Eleison Comments  and the direction begins to differentiate itself from Archbishop Lefebvre. Presumably he is trying to found the St. Marcel Center of the global initiative to expand sedevacantism the future.

Since its founding in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the Society of St. Pius X  has lost two or three priests per district every year,  because they were dissatisfied with their superiors, or they were excluded because they refused, “to pay their rightful leaders  due respect and obedience. "

The SSPX claims to have 569 priests worldwide according to its report in 2012. The number of faithful, who are connected to it should include, according to Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos in 2007, about 600,000 people, including 100,000 in France. Other sources mention 150,000 followers.

Blogs and forums of "resistance" currently claim there are  22 priests who are supposed to be associated with this initiative worldwide.

Bishop Williamson was convicted in January in Regensburg court on the charges of incitement for a fine of 1800 Euros.The district court justified the relatively small fine with the fact that Williamson currently enjoys no income according to the court. Williamson is appealing against the judgment before an appeal.

[Update 17:06 clock: Williamson's visit in Germany is making the process of reconciliation between the Society of St. Pius X.and the Vatican enormously difficult, if not halting it entirely, which is most certainly his intention.

He writes in his column of 9 March ""We think that lifting the excommunications would set in motion an irresistible process of drawing closer, with a view to an agreement between the Holy See and the SSPX, or at least an agreement with a large part of the SSPX priests and faithful." Comment: indeed the friendly contacts between Rome and the SSPX were setting such a motion in process in January of 2009, and only an outburst from within the SSPX of the most horrible heresy of modern times - "anti-semitism" - stopped that process. But either Catholic reconciliation with Vatican II is no problem, or one has to say that that outburst was providential, because it also stopped, at least for a while, the false reconciliation.” In the article published in February’s column he writes: And historical truth goes by evidence, the most reliable kind of which is the material relics of the past, because these are in principle quite independent of human emotions.

Bishop Williamson is indifferent, in his own words, to whether his statements could be used in Germany or not, even if he refrained from publishing his words, because he pursues another goal with the help of Holocaust "denial", namely the torpedoing of the talks between Rome and the Fraternity. This intention should correspond to the so-called Dolus eventualis, according to which the offender holds for the possible success of its commission as a result of the seriousness of his actions and condones it to hazard the conditions and accept it. In other words, Bishop Williamson has deliberately committed a crime as a provocation in order to achieve a different purpose, the torpedoing of the talks between Rome and the Fraternity.

That Bishop Williamson cites in this context on the one hand the truths of divine revelation, and on the other hand sees his actions as inspired by the Divine Providence, it is an interesting insight into his state of mind.]

Text: Linus Schneider
Photo: Jens Falk

Link Katholisches...

Father Schmidberger: There Isn't Much More to be Expected From the Pope

Father Franz Schmidberger: Volte Face in the Vatican

"What use is the Motu Proprio to the Old Liturgy if a year thereafter, one of the worst opponents of this Liturgy is given a key position?"

(kreuz.net)  There are rumors that in the case of the regulation of the Society of St. Pius X that a certain western European country will have its ambassador to the Holy See threatened with resignation.

This was explained by Father Franz Schmidberger, Mathematician and German District Superior of the Society in an interview with the Catholic monthly 'Kirchliche Umschau'.

The Vatican Appeared Satisfied with the Answer

The clergyman recapitulated the most recent history of the negotiations of the Society with the Vatican.

On the 16th of March the CDF attempted to give an ultimatum to Society General Superior, Bishop Bernard Fellay, to accept the Dogmatic Preamble of September 14th.

Thereupon Bishop Fellay published a dogmatic text, which stressed the persistence of the Society in the Catholic position:

"The proposal of Msgr. Fellay went as far as we could, to satisfy the side of the CDF's position, and on the other side not to give up any of our positions."

The text found, according to Schidberger, "clearly the approval of the Holy Father and also the agreement of the Congregation for Doctrine and the Faith".

Pressure Was Put on the Pope

Then there came an unexpected change of position: Bishop Fellay received a new text on June 13th frot he CDF.

The new demands contained within were described by Father Schmidberger as "very surprising".

 The Pope was not made happy happy, according to the CDF, with a subsequently specified interview, which Msgr Fellay gave on the recognition of the the Society.

At the same time, there was probably pressure put on the Pope.

Not Acceptable

The new demands bound the recognition of the legitimacy of the New Liturgy.

That was not acceptable according to Father Schmidberger: "How can one recognize a Liturgy as legitimate, which flees from the Catholic Faith and not to it?"

The second demand touched upon the Pastoral Council: The Society many only still discuss particularities of the Council.

They must then -- against their convictions -- attempt to reconcile it with the continuity of the earlier Magisterium.

Bishop Fellay had answered this text according to the statements of Father.

The Pope Speaks and Negotiates With a Forked Tongue

Father Schmidberger believes that the appointment of the heterodox Archbishop Gerhard Luwig Müller as guardian of the Catholic Faith was responsible for a change of course toward the Society in the Vatican.

He also criticized the appointment of Archbishop Arthur Roch as Secretary of The Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments:

"What is the point of a Motu Prorprio about the Old Liturgy, if you appoint one of its worst opponents to a key position, which will counteract the Traditional Mass?"

Catholic, Roman Catholic

However, Father Schmidberger decisively rejects any separation with Rome.

He cited the founder of the Society, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre: "Neither Liberal nor Modernist, nor schismatic, rather Catholic, Roman Catholic!"

This devise of the Archbishop called for almost a daily tightrope walk for the society in view of the Church crisis.

A Pilgrimage for Lefebvrists?

The future of the negotiations with the Vatican would be dependent upon Archbishop Augustine Di Noia and his scope of negotiations.

Father Schmidberger discerns then that the Society still has to remain in its current position of misunderstanding.

He appealed to the faithful, not to be bitter toward the Holy See, rather to preserve love.

Some prelates in and out of the Curia have pleaded for the Society:  "They have recognized how important the effect of the Society in the official area would be."

Father Schmidberger thinks:  "Would the consideration not have value, if it meant the pastoral care of a pilgrimage or another seminary?"

The Errors Are Finally Discussed Openly

Father Schmidberger can't imagine a renewal of the Excommunication of the Society.

At the same time he insists that Msgr Muller is "really not our friend".

He demands the acceptance of the the errors, which have led to the Conciliar and post-Conciliar decline.

The recognition of the Society would mean for the ecclesiastical confession, that certain expressions are to be corrected and requires the Traditional Mass for the healing of its members.

Father Schmidberger expects little of the Pontificate of Benedict XVI.:  "Humanly, since his last personal decisions in Rome, there is not overly much to be expected."

Link to kreuz.net...

Archbishop Müller Continues to Attack the SSPX

Faith Goat in the Glass House

It's not the Protestants, but the SSPX which are for him "so to say in schism"

With the naming of the Regensburg Ketzer Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Benedict XVI has sent a clear sign:  The declared Reform of the Reform was a diversionary maneuver  in order to fool Catholics. The Pope put the important posts in Old Liberal hands. -kreuznet [I don't necessarily support this position that the Holy Father has used Reform of the Reform to fool people, but I find it increasingly hard to deny it.]

 

 (kreuz.net)  The faith goat of the Pope, Ketzer-Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller has continued to slaver against the Society of St. Pius X.

 

\He gave an interview to Ingo Brüggenjürgen, the chief director of the Old Liberal, Cologne 'Domradio'.

 

Schidbauer oder Schmidburger? 

 

Brüggenjürgen posed a question about the Society, which portrayed his complete cluelessness as to what day it is.

In an interview "of Schmidbauer" he gave "harsh words" -- he made a fool of himself: "Will you excommunicate or something?"

There is no Schmidbauer in the Society.  It is also unclear what "harsh words" Brüggenjürgen supposed.

Perhaps he was reading from the most recent interview with Father Franz Schmidberger -- Mathematician and German District Superior of the Society.

In that he spoke in the margins and with great respect about the usual heresies of Msgr Müller.

What is "that"?

Msgr Müller clearly is unaware of the video.  After a short pause he continued to speak about it never the less.

Everyone "that reads"  can imagine for himself, how far "that" is from reality, he said out of the blue.

He wants to comment on "that" not "with the same words":  "I believe it's not worth the effort."

Father Schmidberger or others of his charges are not the judges in questions of the Faith -- he defended his heresies.

Heretic to Heretic

The Archbishop maintains that the Society has supposedly "distanced itself from the Church".

It even sits, "so to speak, in a glass house of schism".

One October 11, 2011, Msgr Müller had included the Protestagays, who deny the Papal and Episcopal office as well as the seven Sacraments and propagate abortion and homosexual-concubinage,  -- as a part of the Church.

He defends his own career

Finally, the careerist criticized the Society's critique of him on his promotion.

"If the Holy Father selects his immediate collaborators in the Dicasteries, then I believe that it is befitting that such people not criticize the decision of the Pope."

Kreuz,net... link...

Holy Father Ready to Concede Society's Points on Vatican II and Liturgy

Edit: the Society is ready to humbly submit, but the Holy Father is also generous to his sheep.

Fathers Pfluger and Schmidberger

(Stuttgart/Trier) The formalization of the union between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X, which has organized a pilgrimage to Trier and with that also wants to make a visible demonstration, comes ever closer.   Meanwhile, Budestag Vice President Wolfgang Thierse, who dared to receive hand Communion from Pope Benedict XVI in Berlin,   said in a KNA-interview taking the position of Cardinal Kurt Koch, that the "Vatican will not take back the Society of Saint Pius X". In the first place, this suggestion is solely an initiative of Thierses, who is repeating his own opinion   Recently Father Franz Schmidberger, the Superior of the German District of the Society as also Father Niklaus Pfluger, the first assistant to the Superior General of the Society have shown themselves as positive toward the posibillity of a reconciliation with Rome.

Father Pfluger spoke on April 29th at a meeting of Actio Spes Unica  in the German town of Hattersheim about this.  "Unexpectedly Father Pfluger began to discuss the happenings of the last months till today.  And he otherwise made known that this event had convinced Bishop Fellay to distance himself from the previous principles that distanced the Society from Rome," as it stated in the participant's report and how it will respond  in the reconciliation  offer of Pope Benedict XVI.

"There can be no practical agreement without doctrinal agreement",  said Father Pflugger, expressing himself with the original negotiation maxim of the Society.  It should become clear, however, "that Pope Benedict XVI. is so very interested in a canonical solution for the Society, that he is ready to conclude an agreement even if the controversial texts of the Vatican Council II and the New Mass are not recoginzed."  Should the Society itself "however, with these new stipulations still refuse reunion,  then they would face the prospect of possible excommunication",  said Father Pfluger in recounting the meeting between Cardinal William Levada and the General Superior Fellay on March 16th 2012 in Rome.

"With this understand the General Superior, Bishop Bernard Fellay, did not consider that it would be possible, to hold back from the Pope's offer. It would mean a descent into sedevacantism matter should be closed to the desire of the Holy Father even then, if this was not linked to the recognition of false beliefs," as the first assistant pointed out in Hattersheim.

Pfluger then recalled that Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the founder of the Society, had been offered  " a very far reaching proposal for an agreement" in 1987 and 1988, "with which he wanted a mediation, which would have been completely to the advantage of the Church."  The proposal which Archbishop Lefebvre then "had been prepared to sign",  would have conceded "very far reaching concessions" to the Society.

It is noteworthy that "false doctrines" today would also  disappear today "upon the Pope's  [not] command  throughout the world overnight",  said Pfluger, who recalled for clarification of historical examples, that Arianism after still influenced for decades after its condemnation, and 50 years after the end of the Council of Trent, yet abuses continued, whose removal is only gradually takes hold.

"The recognition of the Society is finally an official endorsement of the importance of Tradition, which would become especially influential throughout the entire Church.  And it would redress the injustice and stigmatization," said Pfluger.  "The movement back to Tradition, is above all the desire of young priests, who say the Old Mass, is so strong that despite intimidation and pressure can not be held back any longer.  They are in the meantime strong enough that the the Society can defend against the foreseeable efforts of the Modernist Bishops."

The German District Superior, Father Franz Schmidberger, stressed in the forward of the May edition of the Bulletin of the District  of the "unbreakable bond" with "eternal Rome".  One may "not expect that after conciliar and post-conciliar breaks of today that tomorrow morning everything will be again perfect in the militant Church on earth."  "To their human immperfections are counted also even errors, if they do not speak directly against the revealed truth", said Schmidberger.  "Let us not forget in the mean time our struggle for the principles of Archbishop Lefebvre: The Church is founded by Christ on Peter.  He entrusted to  him the keys to the kingdom of Heaven and commanded him, to shepherd the entire flock. Let the fields of the Church be so much more overgrown by weeds,  that it's impossible to see the wheat  - the Church has the promise of eternal life, the Lord is with you always until the end of time. It is His church, not ours. We have no right to dispose of it. We must not view the Church as too human, too political and diplomatic."

"If Rome is now recalling us from exile, in which we in 1975 with the withdrawal of approval, and even more in 1988 when we have been expelled  by the decree of excommunication, then this is an act of justice and no doubt also truly an act of pastoral care from Pope Benedict XVI. and we are grateful, " said Schmidberger.

The same passage from Rorate which differs

 If Rome now calls us back from the exile to which it expelled us in 1975 with the abrogation of the [canonical] approval [of the Society], and even more in 1988 with the decree of excommunication, then that is an act of justice and without doubt also an act of authentic pastoral care of Pope Benedict XVI. And for that we are grateful.

Link to katholisches... 

SSPX Germany: Letter Holds Out "Justifiable Hope" for Reconciliation

Reading from the pulpit of all the Churches and Chapels of the German District of the Society of St. Pius X. As translated from District website:

Dear Faithful,

On the 16th of March Cardinal Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine and the Faith, presented a letter with clarifications in Rome, to the General Superior of the Society, Bishop Fellay, in which we will be called upon, to give a final affirmation of the Doctrinal Preamble of September 14th, as it has happened till now.

The final deadline for an answer is going to be April 15th, 2012. Certainly you have surely already learned this partly in the media. We are therefore arriving at a decisive point.

If the letter also has struck an unpleasant [unangenehmen] tone, yet it indeed gives justifiable hopes for a peaceful solution. In case this situations happens, it would strengthen all of the important protective powers in the Church; in the other case, these would be significantly weakened and demoralized. Therefore, what is uppermost is not our Society, rather the health of the entire Church.

For this reason we ask the fervent, persistent and beseeching prayers from all of our faithful and all Catholics, so that God, through the salvific sufferings of His only begotten son, leads His Church from Her crisis, and gives her in the holy resurrection of Jesus new life, new strength and blooming.

Stuttgart, 22 March 2012

Father Franz Schmidberger, District Superior

Interview Kath.net: SSPX German Superior Says Hermeneutic Must Go Farther [Part I]

Edit: This is truly one of the most respectful interviews we've ever seen. Doctor Schibach is almost sympathetic to Father Schmidberger, who gets to state his position and gets a good hearing. The interesting thing is Doctor Schwibach's mention of the unifying quality of the truth, and Father Schmidberger's citation of the measure of the truths of the Faith, "everywhere, always and by everyone". N.B. kath.net customarily drops the title of Father after the first mention.

Kath.net -- exclusive interview with the German District Superior of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X.  Father Franz Schmidberger FSSPX:  The previous teaching office must be the criterium for the expressions of Vatican II.  by Armin Schiwbach

Rome (kath.net/as) In a thorough interview the District Superior of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X. explains the essential points and contents of the efforts to reach full unity with the Holy See.
 
kath.net: With the arrival of a "Doctrinal Preamble" on the 14th of September 2011, the over one year long doctrinal discussion between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X (FSSPX) reached its formal conclusion. As the Secretary of the Papal Commission "Ecclesia Dei', Prelate Guido Pozzo, had established a point in time, the text of fthe Preamble had been considered, that the Superior of the FSSPX after an in depth analysis could come to aa principally positive and agreeable answer. There is the possibility of seeking further precision and clarity and integrating the text. It is however conclusive that the substance of the Preamble will undergo changes.

In his Sermon on the 2nd of February 2012 at "St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary" in Winona (Minnesota USA) Bishop Bernard Fellay explained, he had been somewhat constrained, to say no to the Preamble: "We will not sing it. We quite agree with the principles, but we also find that the conclusion is the opposite."

How can there be a principle agreement to contradictory conclusions and what are these?


Schmidberger: This occurs when everything in the world, with desire instead of understanding, that one sees that Vatican II is in full harmony with the previous teaching office. And for that one has found a magical expression: "Hermeneutic of Continuity". I will give and example of this:

In "Lumen Gentium" it says in § 1, that the Church is a Sacrament of the unity of mankind. But where in Holy Scripture, by which Church Father, in which Papal utterance and in which Council has there anything like this to be read? The Church is therefore disposed to build the mystical Body of Christ and to grant to souls the supernatural Faith and life of Grace, but not also to an inner-worldly human brotherhood.

Or you might take "Lumen Gentium" Nr. 16: Since when do we pray with Muslims to the one true God? These honor Allah, we, the All Holy Trinity -- that is not the same!

In Nr 8. of the same document it says, the Church of Christ subsistere -- is realized, is embodied in the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII taught expressly in full communion with the teaching office until Vatican II: The Church of Christ is the Catholic Church.

In "GAudium et Spes", the famous Pastoral Constitution, it says in Nr 12, that the goal and the focus of all things on earth is man. In my old Catechism, I read, that the goal and focus of all things on earth is God. Even this is not the same.

In the Decree on Ecumenism it says in § 3, that the Holy Ghost esteems other creeds, as instruments of sanctification. If that's right, then Protestants don't need to convert and no Orthodox need accept Papal Primacy.

In the explanation of Religious Freedom it says in § 2 that man is supposed to have such a right, which is rooted in his worth, therefore also represented in the natural law. This conception is expressly rejected going back to Pope Pius XII. You only need to look at "Quanta Cura" of December *, 1864, where Pius IX castigates such views.

The hermeneutic has to propagate continuity far better, in order to see things brought to their proper light.

kath.net: Catchword: Tradition -- Teaching Office. Pope Benedict XVI identified the living tradition together with the Holy Scriptures as the "highest guide to Faith" 9see. Post Synodal Apostolic Writing "Verbum Domini", 18, see. Dogmatic Constitution "Dei Verbum", 21)

How do we define the relationship between Tradition, the extraordinary Teaching Offfice and the ordinary Teacching Office with respect to the reality of the Second Vatican Council? What and how is "the Tradition" for you?


Schmidberger: The extraordinary Teaching Office is the solemn declaration of an article of Faith, it is through the Pope alone, it is through a General Council under the direction of the Pope.

The ordinary Teaching Office [Magisterium] is the daily prouncement of the faith which is dispersed [verstreuen: implication that there aren't many Bishops out there in union with Rome...] Bishops in unity with the Pope. The Second Vaticum falls in its entirety neither in the former, nor in the latter category, because it did not want to state doctrinal positions, nor to condemn errors; it attempted to bring the past deposit of Faith to modern people and to speak to the modern world in ordinary language. Thus, is every part of infallibility covered, which will be resumed in the infallible declarations, but not innovations at all, as they have been previously shown to be.

Still a word must be said about "living Magisterium": Surely the bearer is living, but public revelation is closed with the death of the last Apostle. Fundamental novelties may not come to pass; there is only a homogeneous development.

kath.net: In a discussion with kath.net the Italian historian and author, Roberto de Mattei explained the book, "The Second Vatican Council. A Story Untold Till Now". (Verlag Kirchliche Umschau 2011):

"The Tradition, which is the "living Magisterium" considered in its Universality and continuity, is itself infallible, while the so-called 'living' Magisterium -- understood as the actual promulgation of the Church's hierarchy -- this is only so under certain qualifications. The Tradition is placed, to wit always, under the divine assistance; for the Magisterium only employs this when it expresses itself extraordinarily or when it teaches in an ordinary form, the doctrinal continuity in a particular time -- or moral reality."

Is it possible for you, in the foundation of these present upheavals to take up a productive "struggle" for a new affirmation of the truth?



Schmidberger: This would in fact seem to be exactly the way in which one can become united; we have proposed nothing else as a foundation for the doctrinal discussions with the Holy see: The past teaching office must be the criterium for the concepts of Vatican II. The reversed approach, that would make Vatican II a criterium for earlier declarations, is putting the horse before the cart and leads to contradiction and confusion.

Perhaps one should go at this point to St. Vinent of Lerins with his "Commonitorium".   What he says is this: "What will a Catholic Christian do, (...) if some new contagion didn't just affect a small part, rather that it looked to infect at the same time the entire Church? Then  he would take care even so on this, to hold fast to the ancient Faith, which may never be misled by deceptive novelty." Thus he realizes his Catholic Faith, "quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus, creditum est". -- what was everywhere, what was always, what was believed by everyone.

To be Continued...kath.net...

Fr. Schmidberger Calls on Germany's Priests to Stop Liturgical Abuses and Quotes Vatican II

(Berlin) In the past years there have been celebrations of so-called "Faschings Liturgies" [Mardigras]  in various areas in the German speaking areas.

The Society of St. Pius X in Germany is appealing "with insistence" to "all priests" on Sunday before Ash Wednesday to forbid  "Faschings Liturgies".   The critics from the Society are concerned about "blatant abuses" , which have "slithered" into parishes.  "With the intention of offering church visitors diversions, many priests have begun to introduce Faschings elements into the Liturgy" and enter dressed as clowns at the altar.  "In many places there are Mardigras bands in the churches, where people link arms and sway back and forth, where Mardi Gras songs are sung and the sermon is a fool's speech," so says the German District of the Society.


The District Superior, Father Franz Schmidberger, stressed in his broadcast that he wasn't criticizing Carvinal, which bears a special expression of Catholicism.  The Carnival must in any case by separate from the Catholic Liturgy.  "Don't you have anything at home to eat and drink?",  cites the Society the Apostle Paul's 1st Letter to the Cornithians (11,22), in order to ask, if there are not community centers or party halls, in order to celebrate, to sway and give fool's speeches?


"The Mass is not some community celebration, rather it is the most mysterious, most holy presence of the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, made present by the Flesh and Blood of the Son of God on the Altar.  It's not the place for informal greetings, confetti and false noses!"


The Superior of the Society of St. Pius X in Germany recalled then, that "Faschings Liturgies" are as much against the "liturgical order of Tradition", as they are also "against the prescriptions of the Second Vatican Council".  In the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium of the Second Vatican Council, it says further: "The Holy Liturgy is above all a prayer to God" (SC 33) and:  "The regulation of the Liturgy only in accordance with the authority of the Church; and  indeed the Holy see in accordance with the law and the Bishop."  (SC 22 § 1)

The SSPX calls upon the priests in Germany, "to finish the disgrace of Carvinal Liturgies" and asks "the Bishops to defend the sanctity of the Sacrifice of the Mass again." Text: Giuseppe Nardi Image: Church Circle Paderborn.de Link to katholisches....

Father Schmidberger Addresses Assisi Meetings and Relativism

Fatal Result. The scandalous Assisi event of Pope John Paul II has been understood by Catholics in a way: "For each to make sanctify it according to his own fashion".

(kreuz.net) Vocations must be formed holistically.

Only in this way can the faithful receive a holistic vision of the Christian life, where private, familial, professional and social life be put together "as from one mold".

Father Franz Schmidberger(65) - mathematician and Superior of the German District of the Society of Saint Pius X said to newsportal 'kathnews.de' on 7. December.

The practical disappearance of vocations in the Conciliar Church, he continued, has led to the situation that there is hardly any more possibility "for a joyful, faithful youth, for Christian families for parishes erected with a missionary spirit or for the return to working to bring souls to penitence."

The Beginning: A heretical definition of the Mass

Father continued to speak about the Society's critique of the New Mass.

He cited the first edition of the Mass book in 1969:

"The Lord's Supper or the Mass is the holy gathering together or the meeting of thep people of God, who come together under the presiding of a priest, to celebrate the memorial of the Lord. For that reason the physical meeting of the Holy Church in an brilliant mass makes valid Christ's promise. >>Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there will I be among them.<< (Mt 18, 20)"

The clergyman pointed out that in this representation "all elements" of the Sacrifice of the Mass fall short, which are set out in the 22nd Session of the Council of Trent in 1562.

The Liturgy on the Drawing Board Remains

Father Schmidberger admitted that this heretical Mass definition was "somewhat improved" a year later.

But: "The defined thing itself, namely the Liturgy elaborated on the drawing board remained the same. A one meal fellowship being presided over by a the Priest. Almost nothing was mentioned about adoring God and atoning for sins. On the other hand the SSPX insists that the Holy Mass is the unbloody renewal of the bloody Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

This is so that people in todays pleasure society can be brought to holiness, to the supernatural and Sanctifying Grace, to self-donation and to be led to serve.

The Old Mass Remains the Mass of all Things

The celebration of the Old Mass -- says Father Schmidberger -- has won ground "not spectacularly, but respectably" after the Motu Proprio:

"If the Bishops weren't giving their resistance to it, it would be much more broadly
diffused."

The Old Mass remains the measure for every Liturgy, "which is the perfect Liturgical expression of Catholic Dogma."

Above all there must be a "overthrowing of the (un)Spirit of the Council":

"The poison must be forced out of the mystical body of the Lord."

A Great Scandal

Concerning the subject of interreligion, Father Schmidberger recalled the Assisi Meeting of 1986:

"That was a great scandal for the entire Church, an offense against the first Commandment of God and against the first article of our Creed."

Above all this had put the "spirit of relativism" in the head to a considerable degree: "For each to make sanctify it according to his own fashion, say the people".

For Father Schmidberger it is "inexplicable how such a false step could be dedicated by a silver jubilee."

The Pope has attempted to address critics of the meeting by pushing the meeting "more to a cultural appearance".

Still the central problem with that is not put to the side for Father Schmidberger.

It consists in the "exclusion of the question of reality and the darkening of the reality that Christ is the only savior of the human person and the only true Prince of Peace in this world."

Link to original...

Photo: © Piusbruderschaft.de

The SSPX in Germany Lauds 'Universae Ecclesiae'

Editor: Something for everyone.

(kreuz.net) The Old Liberal Front in the German -- the theoflunkies, journalists and Bishops -- rebel against the new Instruction 'Universae Ecclesiae'.

That is the result of the first reaction to the document.

The German Bishops' Conference published only a brief press release on the publication of the new document.

The current Counsel of the Bishop's Conference will "advise" on the Instruction of the next meeting in June -- completely unnecessarily.

Accordingly, the original Guidelines of 2007 have "only been slightly altered".


The Nattering Bishops

The statement of the Bishops Conference attempted to downplay the importance of the Mass of All Times:

"In Germany there are 128 locations which celebrate the Mass at irregular intervals.

For that reason they are not organized in communities.

In comparison to which: In Germany there are 11,300 Parish Communities."

That these parish Communities are, in comparison to Old Rite Communities, massively over aged and spiritual dead is not discussed.

The Novus Ordo Eucharistic Celebration Expresses a Theological Break.


The speaker of the "Workers Community of Catholic Liturgists", the layman Benedict Kranemann, also criticized the Instruction.

Kranemann teaches in Erfurt.

He lamented that the Instruction had not taken into account the Critique of the German Bishop's Conference and the German State-theoflunkies.

There is a danger that "tensions within the Church will be intensified".

Kranemann asks, how "two different forms of religious services could stand for the same theology?"

This -- justifiable -- objection had been made also by Italian Liturgists.

In any case: The Sedevacantists are Discussed

The chief editor of the German 'Catholic News Agency', Ludwig Ring-Eifel, maintains, that the Instruction has "validated decisively the Traditionalist Faithful" in almost all points of argument.

The Instruction "has made an enormous entrance with the inhabitants of this stream near the Bishops" -- wrote Ring-Eifel almost as precisely careful as the Instruction itself.

In reality the Instruction forbids the Bishops to offer the ordination in the Old Rite in their Diocese.

Finally, Ring-Eifel commented on a "sharp" cut off of "tradionalist fanatics, who go so far as to declare the New Mass as invalid."

He mentioned the Sedevacantist position, in order to insinuate the Society of St. Pius X:

"The adherents of the Society of St. Pius X, which is at present in discussions over dogmatic conflicts with Rome, must decide where they stand."

Society of St. Pius X Praises Instruction

The German district superior of the Society of St. Pius X, Father Franz Schmidberger, boisterously praised the Instruction to the German 'Catholic News Agency'.

The Pope has placed a necessary bar on the arbitrary sidetracking of the Motu Propio by many Bishops.

The Cleric was especially pleased that the Instruction has promoted better Latin instruction.

Fr. Schmidberger sees a "serious Will" of the Vatican, 'to protect holiness of the Liturgy".


Link to kreuz.net original...

Father Schmidberger on the 20th Anniversary of Msgr Lefebvre's Death

The Society of Pius X must warn against aberrances, mistakes and betrayals, which are publicly in the Church.

(kreuz.net) The Society of Pius X is not the work of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre († 1991), rather "a work of the Church, in the Church for the Church".

Father Franz Schmidberger explained this on the Feast of the Annunciation [25 March] on the 20th anniversary of the death of Msgr Lefebvre in a sermon at Ecône.

Archibishop Lefebvre was an instrument of divine providence.

Fr. Schmidberger sees the Society as a work of the Church and as a reflection of the four marks of the Church -- "one", "holy", "catholic" and "apostolic".

The Society lives in unity with the Church of all Centuries.

Father Schmidberger cited an expression Msgr Lefebvre told the Seminarians at Ecône:

"Go into the library, and look at what is there, what we teach you here. It is nothing else than the voices of the Popes, than the declarations of the Councils, than the published writings of the theologians. Nothing else.

And if you were brought here for some other reason, then leave this house. Because you are not at the right place."

Msgr Lefebvre underlined that the Society is unted with the rest of the Church in the celebration of the Holy Mass of All Ages.

In his sermon, Fr. Schmidberger explained that Prelate Klaus Gamber († 1987), the director of the Liturgical Institute in Regesburg, once showed hhim a copy of a Mass book of St. Bonifacius († 754).

It was about the canon of the Mass-- said Father Schmidberger: "It was exactly the same Canon that we will celebrate right here in the Holy Mass."

The Pus Must Come Out

Father Schmidberger exclaimed that Archbishop Lefebvre wanted , "to build a Christianity in miniature".

The Society must remain true to the work of Msgr Lefebvre:

"We must always call attention to the aberrances and errors, on the betrayals and the compromises, which are revealed here and there."

This occurs not from a "spirit of criticism, rather this spirit happens from a love of the Church."

Because the puss must flow from the wound in order for it to heal.

The Society of Pius X is a Preserve for the Restoration

Msgr Lefebvre had, as Father Schmidberger reports it, "built a small army of workers."

In the Society there is a "power, which can't be found anywhere else but in an ecclesiastical organism."

"But the Pope and the Bishops must call us."

The Father is coninced, "that God has given to us in the Society -- for the present time-- a completely extraordinary Grace."

Kreuz, original, here...

Father Schmidberger Defends Vatican II and Celibacy

The German District Superior of the Society of St. Pius X has reprimanded the 'Central Committee of German Catholics', not only for pharisaicaly demanding a  recognition of the Pastoral Council, but also not following it.

Father Schmidberger Celebrates Mass in Holland

(kreuz.net)  Demands from some politicians of the Homosexual and Abortion CDU party in favor of married priests is against the Pastoral Council.

This was explained by the German District Superior of the Society of St. Pius X, Father Franz Schmidberger in a statement last Thursday.

The cited  principley from the decree on priestly education 'Otatam Totius' of October 1965.

Vatican Council II: Celibacy is Better

The document solemnly declared that the Seminarians must live "according to the holy and certain laws of their own Rite and venerable tradition of priestly celibacy"

Seminarians should be carefully prepare for a single state.

They were denied marriage by heaven's will and serve Christ with undivided love.

Still further  it is said that the Seminarian must understand the value of Christian marriage: "they should recognize the precedence of Christ's virginity".

Especially in the "present society" -- meant is the time of 1965 -- where there are dangers to chastity.

Seminarians are to be watchful  -- as the Decree continues:

"They must learn to protect themselves by various divine and human means."

Celibacy  should enable the future priest to "a complete mastery of body and soul toward a higher human fullness".

Old Liberal Mentality of Self-Justification

Father Schmidberger demands that the CDU- abortion politicians and the Old Liberal Lay Committee, 'Central Committee of German Catholics' with exclamation points that they obey the specifications of the Second Vatican Council and recant their Anti-Celibacy declarations.

Whoever demands recognition of the Pastoral Council in any discussion, must himself adhere to it.

The Society of St. Pius X has always declared that only a part of the Council can be corrected, which is in conflict with tradition.

On the contrary, the "Central Committee" deals with a "mentality of self-justification".

Father Schmidberger has the impression that the Council will be degraded to a "Decree Buffet": "Whatever one likes is picked up and eaten.  The rest goes back into the 'Roman kitchen'."

One such subjective method of selection can not be a foundation for serious theological confrontation -- states Father Schmidberger.

Link to kreuz.net...

German Ecumenism-Bishops Don't Want Dialogue with Traditionalists

Fr. Schmidberger in his Christmas Video Address

Fr. Franz Schmidberger:  Above all the old who  continuously try to revive the  promise of the "Spirit of the Council".  That means that the Conciliar ideology will sooner or later become obsolete.

[kreuz.net]  The Christ Child is the King of all times and lands.  This was what the German District Superior of the Society of St. Pius X,, Father Franz Schmidberger said this Holy Night in a video speech.

The timely and even more, eternal fate of every single person is dependent upon his connection to the Christ Child.

Fr. Schmidberger called all men to come and kneel at the Manger.

With the Old Liturgy The Traditional Faith Will Return

With a look back on the year of 2010 Father Schmidberger was especially happy about an "increasingly sizeable number of young priests and seminarians who love the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass".

Contacts with the work of the Society of St. Pius X and an enthusiastic interest with it is a felicitous indicator:

"With the growing interest in the Liturgy there is also a preparedness to promote the Gospel without reservations even in a secular society."

Many young seminarians would like to fill, to reduce the faith with a purely human "improvement mission" -- explained the priest.

Although a return to the values of the truth Faith is for many seminarians a heartfelt concern.

"Meanwhile it is for many in the old generation, who steadfastly persist in reviving the promises of the "Spirit of the Council'  -- contests the District Superior.

The proof is that the "Ideology of the Council" will be obsolete sooner or later.


German Bishops Ignore the Pope

In the video Father Schmidberger criticized the disposition of the majority of the German Episcopate:

"Many Bishops are still completely prejudiced against the work of Tradition of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre."

The lifting of the excommunications of January 2009 appeared as far as the Bishops were concerned to be "not to have arrived".

"The friendly hand shown by the Holy Father is almost completely ignored in Germany."

The discussions with Rome stand in complete opposition to the situation in Germany -- Fr. Schmidberger says:

"Although there are naturally still objective differences, the discussions are being held in a good atmosphere of mutual respect."

The perpedness to dialogue by the Bishops of Germany have a large backlog:


"It also touches us painfully that the same Shepherds have not amended the adulteration of the words of Consecration, although the Congregeation of Worship has already proposed this since October of 2006."

Link to kreuz.net...

SSPX Superior Father Schmidberger: "We Are Happy to Fulfill the Holy Father's Wish"

The SSPX Buys a New Church in Cologne 

Recently Purchased "New Apostle Church" in Cologne

(kreuz.net, Köln) The Society of Pius X has purchased a new church in Cologne.  They've recently just made this known.

The Superior of the German District, Father Franz Schmidberger is "very happy" about the new purchase:

"It is like a Christmas gift, that has come about because of the willingness of our faithful to sacrifice."

Father hopes that the new Church will bring the blessings of the Immemorial mass in and around Cologne. [Where there has been some trouble getting the Mass properly available to those who have requested it from the local Ordinary]

He recalls then that Pope Benedict XVI. has expressly desired the implementation  of the Mass in his 'Summorum Pontificum':

"We are very pleased that we could fulfill the Holy Father's wish and hope for a steadily growing stream of the faithful."

The Society bought the Church from a man-founded [and presumably defunct] sect, which was known as the "New Apostolic Church".

It is already the fourth church which the Society has purchased in this area and the seventh, which they have bought in total.

Also the Society has built twelve churches up till now.

In the meantime there are fifty offices in all where the Society celebrates the Mass in buildings which they've converted to chapels.


A Few Preparations Make a Church of God out of the Buildings

The Society's new church was built in 1951 and was completely rennovated in  1990.

The useable areas of the building consist of  350 Sq meters.  And the property on which is rests is 534 sq. meters.

The pews could be made suitable for the Old Mass with the addition of kneelers.

Also pews could be moved in order to make room for a communion rail where the choir area is.

Finally, they must remove the dinner table and construct a Catholic high altar.

In the gallery an organ will be built.  Otherwise, a place for the schola will have to be provided.

The existing  space could also have, without much building expenditure,  a sacristy, living and sleeping quarters as well as a lecture hall.

Link to kreuz.net...

Related Links:
44 Percent of Germans Want the Old Mass

Three Year Odyssey in Bonn: The Old Mass in Cologne is At Most, Tolerated

Photos of Autumn Meeting of German Distcrict of the SSPX

On Monday, the 6th of November the yearly Autumn meeting of the Priests of the German District took place. There were priests present from the Society of St. Pius X who are active in Germany. Father Schmidberger, the District Superior of the Society, held a lecture. Many priests report from the Apostolate, Father Franz Josef Maeßen especially, who celebrates this year his 25th Priestly Jubilee, gave a talk in which he motivates Priests, to continue on, remaining true to the work of Archbishop Lefebvre.

Photo Gallery for the evenet, here at Society's German District Website...

Father Scmidberger Defends the Pope

Father Schmidberger has been very supportive of the Holy Father in the past, as when he thanked Holy Father for the Motu Propio and in some rather public remarks for a regional German paper, he has stepped in again to defend his Pontif for all the world to see.

The Society of Pius X tore down its wall of silence: "Today those who cried the loudest, were those who demanded to be exempt from punishment for sexual abuse of children. Humanist Union belongs to this group."

[Stuttgart, kreuz.net] "The Pope was in no way guilty, therefore he cannot also apolgize.

Explained the German uppter district superior of the Society of St Pius X, Franz Schmidberger to regional newspaper 'Leibziger Volkszeitung.'

Father spoke on the topic of homosexual predators of underage, taboo for many decades in left and anti-church circles.

This "homosexual predation" is for many a welcome cause, in order to diminish the German Pope directly in Germany and discredit the Papacy, determined Fr. Schmidberger.

Humanist Hecklers

Father criticized the advisoress of church-hate, combination 'Humanist Union" and German law minister, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger (FDP):

"Today those who cry loudest, were those who yesterday demanded exemption from punishment for abusing children

To which group the 'Humanist Union' also belongs, to which Mrs. Law Minister Leutheusser Schnarrenberger is counted a member. In the German language there is a word for this: Hypocrisy. The shoe fits!

Father Schmidberger opposes a general criminal suspicion against priests:

"We should be more cautious with this dragging-into-public of sins and guilt. Perhaps one or the other accusation will by closer inspection be proven false."

Sexual Desire contains the Responsibillity of the Child

Fr. Schmidberger sees a complicity in the aberration of society:

"Whoever brings pornographic writings to his person, unnatural scenes on television and dirty pictures on Internet before his eyes, will hardly pereceive any longer, that he is responsible for sexual desire."

The District Superior of explains that the instinct for hunger which is given to men, in order to sustain the individual -- and the sex drive, to propagate human sexuality:

"It is an misuse and deviation of the divine order to decouple man from this purpose, as the hedonistic society does.

Left-Catholic Debauchees Taste the Morning Air

Father Scmidberger states that Anti-Catholic groups and fragments as well as backsliding priests will use the abuse debate in order to implement their own interests:

"The Left-Catholic debauchees taste the morning air.

It is for these people designate that they demand structural changes instead of changing hearts." [Communist watchers, this is familiar stuff]

Beneficial Celibacy

The District Superior said about celibacy, that the priestly unmarried state has given extraordinary fruits for hundreds of years:

"As beneficial as celibacy is, is shown by the persecutions of the Church under the Communists and in the Third Reich:

"Protestant pastors were fearful for their families, Catholics ministers were in this respect free."

Cover instead of Showtrials (Karnevalssitzungen)

The German Bishop's Conference has covered for accused priests, expects Father Scmidberger.

"The Bishops must strengthen the priest's Faith and immediately prevent, for example, frivilous show trials in Churches."

Therefore, the sacrament of confession must take up again its place in the Christian life and in the life of the Church. [!]

"Confession is the most effective measure against sin and sinful impulses."

© picture: Piusbruderschaft.de

The One Year Anniversary of the Lifting of the Excommunications on the Four Bishops of the SSPX

It's been a great year and we've been astounded and shocked by the many things that Holy Father has done, even beyond many of our wildest expectations. We echo the sentiments of District Superior of the SSPX, Father Schidberger by saying, "Thank you, Holy Father, thank you."

Even Father Z. has taken it upon himself to say nice things about the SSPX this year; thanks in part to us.