Conciliar SSPX's "modern" version of Archbishop Lefebvre?
Nov 13, 2019 13:35:54 GMT
Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2019 13:35:54 GMT
Well, dear readers, has perhaps the Conciliar-SSPX has found their "modern," present-day version of Archbishop Lefebvre?
The very title chosen for this article is a teaser to imply that Archbishop Lefebvre and Cardinal Burke are so closely aligned in thought that you cannot tell them apart.
Let's read what they have to say:
Who Said It? Cardinal Burke or Archbishop Lefebvre?
Cardinal Burke and Archbishop Lefebvre
Source: fsspx.news
Cardinal Caffarra [Carlo Caffarra, the late archbishop of Bologna], who was a dear friend of mine, came up to me and he said, what is going on? He said those of us who are defending the church’s teaching and discipline are now called enemies of the pope. And that is symbolic of what happened. Throughout my priesthood, I was always criticized for being too attentive to what the pope was saying. And now I find myself in a situation where I’m called the enemy of the pope, which I am not. - Cardinal Raymond Burke, "Conversation with Ross Douthat," New York Times (Nov. 9, 2019)
What better proof could I have wanted that Rome considered my work profitable for the Church and for the good of souls? And now when I am doing the same thing, a work exactly like what I have been doing for thirty years, all of a sudden I am suspended a divinis, and perhaps I shall soon be excommunicated, separated from the Church, a renegade, or what have you! How can that be? Is what I have been doing for thirty years liable also to suspension a divinis? - Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, "Sermon at the Mass at Lille," Apologia Pro Marcel Lefebvre, vol. I, ch. 13 (August 29, 1976)
In a recent interview with Catholic journalist Ross Douthat, Cardinal Burke -- who is widely regarded as a conservative critic of Francis's pontificate -- offers up a defense of his work in the Catholic Church. Contrary to the vocal claims of the Pope's supporters, Burke does not regard himself as an enemy of Francis. Rather, he believes that he is upholding orthodox Catholic teaching, such as the indissolubility of marriage. In so doing, Burke acknowledges that he has lost favor under Francis, including being removed from the congregation of bishops and then the Apostolic Signatura. Yet, Burke maintains that he is not attacking the papal office; he is simply preaching the Faith.
As shown above, a number of Burke’s defenses parallel those offered decades ago by Archbishop Lefebvre, founder of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX). Moreover, consider the following from Cardinal Burke:
The working document [for the Amazonian Synod] doesn’t have doctrinal value. But what if the pope were to put his stamp on that document? People say if you don’t accept that, you’ll be in schism — and I maintain that I would not be in schism because the document contains elements that defect from the apostolic tradition. So my point would be the document is schismatic. I’m not.
Now, here is the Archbishop from his sermon at the 1988 Episcopal Consecrations:
We are not schismatics! . . . On the contrary, it is in order to manifest our attachment to Rome that we are performing this ceremony. It is in order to manifest our attachment to the Eternal Rome, to the Pope, and to all those who have preceded these last popes who, unfortunately since the Second Vatican Council, have thought it their duty to adhere to grievous errors which are demolishing the Church and the Catholic priesthood.
And again back to Cardinal Burke:
I haven’t changed. I’m still teaching the same things I always taught and they’re not my ideas. But now suddenly this is perceived as being contrary to the Roman pontiff.
On this very point, these are Lefebvre's words from the so-called 1974 Declaration:
No authority, not even the highest in the hierarchy, can force us to abandon or diminish our Catholic Faith, so clearly expressed and professed by the Church’s Magisterium for nineteen centuries. . . .
We hold fast, with all our heart and with all our soul, to Catholic Rome, Guardian of the Catholic Faith and of the traditions necessary to preserve this faith, to Eternal Rome, Mistress of wisdom and truth.
. . . .
That is why we hold fast to all that has been believed and practiced in the faith, morals, liturgy, teaching of the catechism, formation of the priest and institution of the Church, by the Church of all time; to all these things as codified in those books which saw day before the Modernist influence of the Council. This we shall do until such time that the true light of Tradition dissipates the darkness obscuring the sky of Eternal Rome.
An Unintended Irony
There is an unintended irony accompanying the Cardinal’s words insofar as he has proven, at least in the recent past, to be a critic of both the Archbishop and the SSPX. At a conference given on July 15, 2017, Burke declared that the Society “is in schism since the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre ordained four bishops without the mandate of the Roman Pontiff.” He further added, “And so it is not legitimate to attend Mass or to receive the sacraments in a church that’s under the direction of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X.”
While the Cardinal’s misplaced words have already been addressed, it remains unfortunate that he does not grasp the reason behind the episcopal ordinations, namely, to perpetuate the authentic Catholic priesthood and provide valid sacraments according to the traditional Roman Rite to the faithful. In so doing, the ordinations, like the entire priestly work of Archbishop Lefebvre, were carried out for the life of the Church and the good of the Catholic Faith. Is this not how Cardinal Burke understands his own priestly ministry, one which involves standing up for the Faith in the face of heterodoxy, albeit imperfectly?
Strangely, this parallel seems lost as well on Burke’s interlocutor, Ross Douthat, whose November 9, 2019 column sought in part to distinguish Burke’s fidelity to orthodoxy in the face of Pope Francis’s apparent wishes from “the traditionalist quasi-exile pioneered after Vatican II by the Society of Saint Pius X.” Whatever Douthat means by “quasi-exile,” a sensible read of recent ecclesiastical history shows the opposite to be true. Not only has the SSPX safeguarded the traditional Latin Mass and sacramental rites for the whole Church in the face of rabid opposition, but its position that the ancient Roman Rite had never been abrogated was vindicated by Pope Benedict XVI in his 2007 motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.
Moreover, the Society’s chapels are open to all Catholics, just as its publishing apostolate, Angelus Press, seeks the inform the wider Church about the destruction wrought by Vatican II and the importance of restoring Catholic Tradition. It is not, as Douthat opines, that Archbishop Lefebvre and the priestly fraternity he founded placed themselves in “quasi-exile” from the Church; it is that so many entrusted with the good of the Church placed themselves in unqualified exile from Tradition. [Emphasis - The Catacombs]
The SSPX clearly wants to highlight their 'traditionalism' by showing the irony of Cardinal Burke in condemning them since he has on several occasions spoken similarly to how Archbishop Lefebvre has spoken. They focus on the irony, for example, of Cardinal Burke being 'punished' by Pope Francis for criticism to how Archbishop Lefebvre was suspended.
But true to their now-Conciliar form, notice how gentle the SSPX is when discussing Cardinal Burke's condemnation of the SSPX as schismatic. They call such a condemnation "misplaced words" that have "already been addressed." Is this how one defends the incredible work done by Archbishop Lefebvre and his old-SSPX? What a meow compared to the roars we heard from the old-SSPX in the past! What a delicate and dainty response.
And what does the SSPX use as an argument in justifying themselves against the condemnation of Cardinal Burke? They certainly do not cite a defense of traditional doctrine or dogma. They focus only on the traditional Sacraments and the Mass. And to "vindicate" themselves they say that they were right all along because of Pope Benedict's Summorum Pontificum - another Conciliar document that puts the Novus Ordo Mass in the first place of Liturgy 'choices' and the Tridentine Latin Mass is relegated to a sloppy-seconds place. Is praise for this document as a vindication of the SSPX for "safeguarding the traditional Latin Mass and sacramental rites" the best the Conciliar SSPX can do? Apparently so.
But let us look a little closer at the subtle tones imbued throughout this article. There is a definite effort to show how little difference there is between Cardinal Burke and Archbishop Lefebvre. One is tempted in reading this to believe that: if only Cardinal Burke would condescend to change his mind about the schismatic status of the SSPX, then the SSPX would have a new champion, a modern-day Archbishop Lefebvre, since these two men are already so similar. In fact, according to Wikipedia, Cardinal Burke is already "frequently seen as the de facto leader of the Church's conservative wing." Cardinal Burke is almost there, it appears in the overtones of this article, in becoming the new champion of the Conciliar-SSPX.
But really, what do know about Cardinal Burke?
- He was ordained by Saint Pope Paul VI in 1975
- He was consecrated a bishop by Saint Pope John Paul II in 1995
- He was named a cardinal in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI
- He is a member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.
It appears that Cardinal Burke has tried to maintain conservative Catholic values, however, he has tried to do this on the conservative side of Vatican II. For example, his 'occasionally offering of the Tridentine Mass and his high praise for Pope Benedicts's Summorum Pontificum' are always in context of working within the Conciliar edifice. The Cardinal continues to say the New Mass. And it appears suspect that his 'conservatism' didn't become public until the pontificate of Pope Francis. (Kind of funny how Pope Francis has that effect on people!) He has only high praise for the other Conciliar popes.
For example, in his book, Divine Love Made Flesh, the description states the following:
From Wikipedia:
In Divine Love Made Flesh: The Holy Eucharist as the Sacrament of Charity, His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke examines the beauty and power of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist in light of the profound and elucidating teachings of Blessed Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Using clear and illuminating language, Cardinal Burke guides one through the teaching of the [Conciliar?]Church on this Most Holy Sacrament and its place in the life of every disciple of Jesus Christ. Truly inspiring, this spiritual treatise on the central Mystery of our Faith links the rich theology of the [Conciliar?] Church with pastoral practice and the spiritual life. To this end, Cardinal Burke's marvelous ability to reach the layman in simple yet inspiring language is sure to engender the love of the Eucharist in the hearts of all who read it. [Emphasis - The Catacombs]
SSPX reintegration
In 2012, during negotiations between the traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), which is not in full union with the Holy See, Burke expressed optimism that the Society's members would reconcile themselves with the Vatican. He referred to the Society's members as people who "have the Catholic faith and the love of the sacred liturgy."[110] The talks eventually failed. In July 2017, Burke said that SSPX was "in schism" and that it was "not legitimate to attend Mass or to receive the sacraments in a church" of theirs, and that faithful Catholics should avoid SSPX liturgies. He criticized Pope Francis's openness towards SSPX, stating that "There is no canonical explanation for it, and it is simply an anomaly", because while they were not excommunicated, they also were not in full communion with the Church.
In 2012, during negotiations between the traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), which is not in full union with the Holy See, Burke expressed optimism that the Society's members would reconcile themselves with the Vatican. He referred to the Society's members as people who "have the Catholic faith and the love of the sacred liturgy."[110] The talks eventually failed. In July 2017, Burke said that SSPX was "in schism" and that it was "not legitimate to attend Mass or to receive the sacraments in a church" of theirs, and that faithful Catholics should avoid SSPX liturgies. He criticized Pope Francis's openness towards SSPX, stating that "There is no canonical explanation for it, and it is simply an anomaly", because while they were not excommunicated, they also were not in full communion with the Church.
Comments on the Mass
In a July 2007 apostolic letter, Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI authorized wider use of the older Tridentine Mass, which mostly fell out of use following the Second Vatican Council. Restoration of all or some parts of the traditional Mass have been supported by Burke as part of a "reform of the reform", modifying what he sees as deficiencies in the implementation of the newer Mass of Paul VI. ...
Burke referred to Summorum Pontificum as "the most splendid contribution of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI." Over the years, Burke has frequently offered the traditional form of the Mass, including regularly performing ordinations for the ICKSP and the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, both traditionalist groups whose priests offer only the older form of the Mass.
On March 2, 2011, Burke said that too many priests and bishops treat violations of liturgical norms [of the New Rites] as something that is unimportant, when they are actually "serious abuses" that damage the faith of Catholics. He criticized a perceived lack of reverence in the way the modern liturgy is sometimes conducted, [notice that it is not a critique of the 'modern liturgy that worries Cardinal Burke, just a lack of reverence for it' - The Catacombs Admin] stating "If we err by thinking we are the center of the liturgy, the Mass will lead to a loss of faith." In a 2015 interview, Burke reiterated his concern that man has become center of Mass, saying that "In many places the Mass became very priest‑centered, it was like the 'priest show.' This type of abuse leads to a loss of the sense of the sacred, taking the essential mystery out of the Mass. The reality of Christ Himself coming down on the altar to make present His sacrifice on Calvary gets lost." [Again, notice that Cardinal Burke is not worried or critical of the New Mass itself but rather the abuses of it. - The Catacombs Admin]
In a July 2007 apostolic letter, Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI authorized wider use of the older Tridentine Mass, which mostly fell out of use following the Second Vatican Council. Restoration of all or some parts of the traditional Mass have been supported by Burke as part of a "reform of the reform", modifying what he sees as deficiencies in the implementation of the newer Mass of Paul VI. ...
Burke referred to Summorum Pontificum as "the most splendid contribution of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI." Over the years, Burke has frequently offered the traditional form of the Mass, including regularly performing ordinations for the ICKSP and the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, both traditionalist groups whose priests offer only the older form of the Mass.
On March 2, 2011, Burke said that too many priests and bishops treat violations of liturgical norms [of the New Rites] as something that is unimportant, when they are actually "serious abuses" that damage the faith of Catholics. He criticized a perceived lack of reverence in the way the modern liturgy is sometimes conducted, [notice that it is not a critique of the 'modern liturgy that worries Cardinal Burke, just a lack of reverence for it' - The Catacombs Admin] stating "If we err by thinking we are the center of the liturgy, the Mass will lead to a loss of faith." In a 2015 interview, Burke reiterated his concern that man has become center of Mass, saying that "In many places the Mass became very priest‑centered, it was like the 'priest show.' This type of abuse leads to a loss of the sense of the sacred, taking the essential mystery out of the Mass. The reality of Christ Himself coming down on the altar to make present His sacrifice on Calvary gets lost." [Again, notice that Cardinal Burke is not worried or critical of the New Mass itself but rather the abuses of it. - The Catacombs Admin]
We can only hope and pray, dear readers, that Cardinal Burke will come to realize the errors inherent in Vatican II and not simply fight for the conservative version of Vatican II. May the Holy Ghost inspire him to convert and fight for the True Church and not the inverted version, the ape of Her that is the Conciliar Church.
