09-27-2022, 05:39 AM
Taken from the Archived Catacombs:
Providentially, Archbishop Lefebvre knew how to respond to subversion within the Church thanks to personal assets:
- a tried virtue which sheltered him from a careerist spirit
- a solid spirit of Faith which protected him from the “songs of the mermaids” of Modernism
- a clear, simple, strong preaching which marked minds and avoided confusion or the misappropriation of his words
- a long experience with the Roman Curia which immunized him against the snares of Vatican diplomacy
- a tenacity and a Christian optimism which kept him from all defeatism or irenicism*
- a practical sense which allowed him to effectively fight against disorder
These effective measures were the adequate response to subversion:
- against the destruction of the clerical elite, the solid formation of true priests and the foundation of schools and colleges
- against the fragmentation of individuals (priests and faithful), the creation of the Society and the establishment of priories and associations grouping together isolated forces
Let us finally add that at the height of this crisis of authority that the Church experienced, his personal sanctity as well as his competence made him – against his will - the providential leader capable of uniting Catholic resistance, and bringing to this order, a proud fortification erected against subversion.
* "irenicism" in Christian theology refers to attempts to unify Christian apologetical systems by using reason as an essential attribute. (from Wikipedia)
Archbishop Lefebvre: Model Against Subversion
Taken from the article, “Subversion,” in Le Chardonnet, June 2009[slightly adapted]
Taken from the article, “Subversion,” in Le Chardonnet, June 2009[slightly adapted]
Providentially, Archbishop Lefebvre knew how to respond to subversion within the Church thanks to personal assets:
- a tried virtue which sheltered him from a careerist spirit
- a solid spirit of Faith which protected him from the “songs of the mermaids” of Modernism
- a clear, simple, strong preaching which marked minds and avoided confusion or the misappropriation of his words
- a long experience with the Roman Curia which immunized him against the snares of Vatican diplomacy
- a tenacity and a Christian optimism which kept him from all defeatism or irenicism*
- a practical sense which allowed him to effectively fight against disorder
These effective measures were the adequate response to subversion:
- against the destruction of the clerical elite, the solid formation of true priests and the foundation of schools and colleges
- against the fragmentation of individuals (priests and faithful), the creation of the Society and the establishment of priories and associations grouping together isolated forces
Let us finally add that at the height of this crisis of authority that the Church experienced, his personal sanctity as well as his competence made him – against his will - the providential leader capable of uniting Catholic resistance, and bringing to this order, a proud fortification erected against subversion.
* "irenicism" in Christian theology refers to attempts to unify Christian apologetical systems by using reason as an essential attribute. (from Wikipedia)
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre