"The Pope Wants to Recognize the SSPX"

The General Superior of the Society spoke at the Chartres Pilgrimage about the efforts toward reconciliation with the Vatican.

Bischof Fellay bei der Wallfahrt nach Orléans.
© dici.org

(kreuz.net, Orleans)  Since Saturday and till Monday the Society f St. Pius X marched from Chartres to Orleans.

In the last year, Paris was the pilgrim's goal.

But this year the Society are recognizing the 600th birthday of the French national heroine, St. Joan of Arc (+1431)  who was born in Orleans.

Shennanigans of the City


The Pius Pilgrims didn't know for long where the concluding Mass would take place in Orleans.

The authorities of the city were really intent on sabotaging the event.

The Society requested some land near the Cathedral in the center of the city.   The authorities expressed their concerns about that.

Then the place agreed upon and the Society began with its planning.

Two weeks before the beginning of the pilgrimage, a denial came out of the blue.

The concluding Mass would therefore have to take place on the peninsula of Charlemagne on the harbor of Loire at the doors of the city.

The Church is at an End

On Pentecost Sunday Bishop Bernard Fellay -- the General Superior of the Society -- celebrated Holy Mass for the pilgrims.

He preached long in French, English and German.

The General Superior touched upon the subject of the destruction of the Church and talked about the Pastoral Council.

Humanly speaking the distorted figure of the Church can not be saved from this crisis -- he said.

Actually, one can't think humanly.  The Church will remain, because She is the bride of Christ.

Bishop Fellay Can't see all the Cards


The Bishop explained that the Society is full of mistrust and fear in the things of the discussion with the Vatican.

One sees how poorly the traditional societies reconciled with the Vatican have been managed -- even those, who have only a light inclination to tradition.

The Society have to proceed with great intelligence.

Somehow or other:  The Society will fight on

At the same time Bishop Fellay sees the possibility that the Society will be recognized.

If the reconciliation threatened the existence of the Society, then it would be rejected.

At the same time it's not a question of imposing God's will.

Will the Pope Follow Through to the End Despite Opposition?

Of one thing is Msgr Fellay certain:  "The Pope wants to recognize the SSPX."

The Bishop then put the question if Benedict XVI is in a position to bring the situation to a conclusion:

"Will he give in, if he is confronted with pressure, with opposition?"

Lack of Unity in Faith

At present there are many open questions.

Msgr Fellay mentioned the Dogmatic Discussions and the various ways of weighing the Pastoral Council.

Link to kreuz.net...

Pentecost Chartres-Orleans -- +Fellay: Recognition by Rome? Trust in God's Foresight

Edit: Usually, there's not much to add to what Rorate has done.  This time we have some overlap.

(Orleans)  More than a thousand pilgrims covering the second leg of their yearly international pilgrimage of tradition on foot.  On the occasion of the 600th birthday of St. Joan of Arc, rather than travelling from Chartres to Paris, they went from Chartres to Orleans.

Msgr Bernard Fellay, the General Superior of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X, celebrated a Pontifical High Mass for the Pilgrims at this feast beneath the open sky.  For the German speaking pilgrims he added personally a sermon in German to the content of the Mass.  In that, he drew a comparison between  the relationships which dominated the time of the Maid of Orleans and those of today.  Then as today "Chaos" dominated.

A young girl showed then what it meant to accept God's will and to do.  Also then to accept, when one might not understand in a human sense.  Humanly it is not apprensible, why God allowed that Joan was burned at the stake.  But God had even given up even His only Son for the salvation of man.  There had to be a savior of France, in order to mature the soul.  That's how it always is with the healing of the soul.  God accomplishes this for the salvation of souls.

For this reason, the faithful also now rely on divine providence and not according to human reckoning.  This also applies for the question of the recognition of the Society by the Holy See.  It means to throw yourself into trusting God's guidance and let go.  In this regard the Superior General re-emphasized, contrary to rumors,  that there is no document from Rome before him that must have a yes or a no.

On Pentecost Monday, the Pilgrims will end their last leg in Orleans, where the current international pilgrimage will conclude their 100 kilometer journey on foot with Holy Mass.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Saint Louis Boulogne
Translation: Tancred

Link to katholisches...