Sunday, December 10, 2006
Traditional Catholic bishops consecrated at Ecône in 1988
The controversial Episcopal consecrations of 30 June 1988 performed at Ecône, Switzerland, by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre with the support of Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer. The Archbishop raised four traditionalist priests of the Society of Saint Pius X to the level of bishop in order that they might continue the work of the Society long after his death.
The Archbishop founded the Society in 1970 to maintain Catholic Tradition in the face of the changes sweeping through the Church following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). After a turbulent eighteen years involving conflict with Church authorities and increasingly strained relations with Rome, the Archbishop performed the consecrations despite opposition by the Pope.
The Pope soon after issued a condemnation stating that the Archbishop and the four new bishops had incurred excommunication.
I feel that it isn't the 'Schismatic' Society of St. Pius X has caused disunity, but rather certain actions of the majority of the mainstream Catholic Church clergy and laity who have deviated from fidelity to apostolic tradition that has plunged the Church into this crisis. The duty the Church owes to the Society of St. Pius X is from the pain inflicted by the historically, procedurally and aesthectically awful implementation of the revised rite of the Mass after the Second Vatican Council. If wisdom that respected history, tradition, and sensitivity has prevailed, instead of the irrational exuberance that prevailed, there would have been a far better result and less division. I do understand the Society's position, and they deserve much sympathy in the process of reconciling.
Labels: Ordinations, Society of St. Pius X, Traditionalism, Video
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