Standing by Tradition Under the Threat of Excommunication

The announcement that the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) will move forward with the consecration of new bishops this summer is a herald of hope. Our first response must be one of profound gratitude to God and to the superiors of the Society for this courageous decision made for our benefit and the benefit of our children.

We must be realistic: this decision will be met with a tempest of rhetoric. As the date of the consecrations approaches, we should expect an increase in slander and media hostility. The Society will be falsely accused of "schism," "disobedience," and "rebellion."

However, we must look past the labels and observe the reality of the current landscape. There is a glaring, tragic double standard in how "obedience" is weaponized today. We see clergy who openly support ideologies contrary to the Faith—those who bless unions the Church cannot bless or who align themselves with materialistic, communist-leaning movements—treated with endless "dialogue" and pastoral leniency. Yet, when the Society seeks only to ensure the survival of the Traditional priesthood and the Magisterium of all time, the full weight of legalistic condemnation is suddenly invoked.

The Modernist apparatus thrives on psychological pressure, seeking to make the faithful feel "isolated" or "outside the Church." We must not let their rhetoric shake our peace. We are not choosing a side; we are choosing the Church of all time. As the announcement reminds us:

"It is only in the Church of all time and in her constant Tradition that we find the guarantee of being in the Truth, of continuing to preach and serve it... The Society [of St. Pius X] does not seek first and foremost its own survival: it seeks primarily the good of the universal Church."

Our joy is rooted in the fact that the Society is acting for the Church, not against it. By ensuring a Traditional episcopate, they are protecting the very "work of the Church" that responds to this "unprecedented tragic era."

Now is the time for a proud, public, and unwavering support of our bishops and priests. We cannot afford to be "silent supporters." We must recognize that the formation of the priesthood under the "star of the Magisterium of all time" is the greatest service that can be rendered to the Holy Father and the future of the Faith.

As Archbishop Lefebvre declared in 1974, we act:

"...without any rebellion, bitterness, or resentment... convinced that we cannot render a greater service to the Holy Catholic Church, to the Supreme Pontiff, and to future generations."

Let us ignore the hollow commands of false obedience coming from those who have abandoned the Tradition they were charged to protect. Instead, let us fix our eyes on the Altar. As this summer approaches, let our gratitude be louder than the slander. Let us stand firmly with the Society, thankful that they have the "freedom and strength" to do what is necessary for the future security of our families.