O Lord, grant us holy priests!
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
The last two months of July and August 2018 were a pretty striking illustration of what has been going on in the Church for several decades. On the one hand, in July, we had our 4th General Chapter, all centered on the main purpose of the Society of St. Pius X: to provide good and holy priests to the Church. It is only through fidelity to our Statutes and the spirit of Archbishop Lefebvre that we can truly render the greatest services to the Church. This is what our new Superior General, Father Davide Pagliarani, is asking for.
On the other hand, in the last days of August, in an 11-page report, Archbishop Viganò, former Apostolic Nuncio of the United States, revealed with greater details to what depth of immorality modern clerics may fall – Kyrie, Eleison! The crisis of the Church is really a crisis of the clergy. Alas, many were quick to cast the first stone, as if we did not all have our share in this new abyss of iniquity. “If a member suffers, all members suffer with him” (I Cor 11:26). Let us not forget, the betrayal of Judas caused all the apostles to suffer, let us not forget. No one rejoiced.
Read how another founder of a Priestly Congregation, Saint John Eudes, saw things in his time (circa 1660). These are prophetic words for our own time. He too understood that the greatest good that can come from Heaven is that the good God gives us holy priests...
“THE MOST EVIDENT MARK of God’s anger and the most terrible castigation He can inflict upon the world are manifested when He permits His people to fall into the hands of clerics who are priests more in name than in deed, priests who practice the cruelty of ravening wolves rather than the charity and affection of devoted shepherds. Instead of nourishing those committed to their care, they rend and devour them brutally. Instead of leading their people to God, they drag Christian souls into hell in their train. Instead of being the salt of the earth and the light of the world, they are its innocuous poison and its murky darkness.
St. Gregory the Great says that priests and pastors will stand condemned before God as the murderers of any souls lost through neglect or silence.
Elsewhere St. Gregory asserts that nothing more angers God than to see those whom He set aside for the correction of others, give bad example by a wicked and depraved life. "Instead of preventing offenses against His Majesty, such priests become themselves the first to persecute Him, they lose their zeal for the salvation of souls."
When God permits such things, it is a very positive proof that He is thoroughly angry with His people, and is visiting His most dreadful anger upon them. That is why He cries unceasingly to Christians, "Return, O ye revolting children . . . and I will give you pastors according to my own heart" (Jer. 3:14-15). Thus, irregularities in the lives of priests constitute a scourge visited upon the people in consequence of sin. On the other hand, the greatest effect of God’s mercy, the most precious grace He bestows upon mankind, is to send worthy priests, men after His own heart, seeking only His glory and the salvation of souls. "The greatest blessing that God bestows upon a church, the most signal manifestation of divine grace, is to have a saintly shepherd, be he bishop or priest. This is indeed the grace of graces and the most priceless of all gifts for it includes within itself every other blessing and grace.” (The Priest, his Dignity and Obligations, Loreto Publications, pp. 9-10)
Let us pray to the Master of the harvest that He may send many and holy workers to his vineyard! Let us pray for all priests -- that the good become better, that the lukewarm become fervent, and that those who have fallen may convert.
District News
Reassignments in the Canadian district as of September 1, 2018 :
Centre Saint Joseph, St Césaire, QC
Fr. Daniel Couture, District Superior
Fr. Patrick Groche, Prior
Fr. Freddy Méry
Fr. Christoph Pfluger
École Sainte-Famille, Lévis, QC
Abbé Olivier Berteaux, Director, District Assistant
Abbé Médard Bie Bibang
Abbé Romain Pons
St. Michael’s Priory, Toronto, ON
Fr. Dominique Boulet, Prior
Fr. Jules Bélisle
Fr. Raymond Lillis
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, New Hamburg, ON
Fr. David Sherry, Director
Fr. Marcel Stannus
St Raphael’s Priory, Winnipeg, MB
Fr. Loren Gerspacher, Prior
Fr. André Lemieux
Fr. Richard Vachon
Christ the King Priory, Vancouver, BC
Fr. Gerard Rusak
Fr. Stephen DeLallo
Fr. Roger Guéguen
Immaculate Heart of Mary Priory, Calgary, AB
Fr. Michael McMahon. Prior
Fr. Emanuel Herkel
Fr. Frank Riccomini
Fr. Matthew Stafki
May God bless you!
