Bernard Fellay Quotes

We both agree that there are already a number of practical provisions in place that make schism practically impossible. That is, in practice, in our everyday actions, we express and show Rome our submission, the fact that we recognise these authorities, and this not only at Mass, not only by naming the Pope and the local bishop in the canon of the Mass, but also in other ways. There is the example of the Pope himself, who has given us the power to hear confessions. There are also legal acts: it is a little complicated to explain, but it can happen that a priest commits canonical crimes, and in such cases we refer to Rome, which grants us the faculty and sometimes even requires us to issue a judgement on such cases. So these are really normal relationships. It is not just a matter of jurisdiction over confessions, there is a whole range of things involved.

What the Society of Saint Pius X has done since its foundation and will continue to do, it has done and will do solely for the good of the Church. Even the episcopal consecrations of 1988 were done for that purpose: for the good of the Church and for our survival. Archbishop Lefebvre had to, I repeat, had to ensure continuity.

Noi parliamo già dell'invalidità di molte Messe. Ma dire che tutte le Messe sono invalide, non corrisponde alla linea della Fraternità. È una cosa che non abbiamo mai detto. Nella discussione con Roma abbiamo sempre sottolineato di riconoscere la validità della nuova Messa, se è celebrata secondo i libri e l'intenzione di fare ciò che la Chiesa ha il mandato di compiere. Bisogna distinguere a questo riguardo tra valido e buono.

The new Mass has shortcomings and hides dangers. Of course, not every new Mass is directly scandalous, but the repeated celebration of the new Mass leads to a weak faith and even to its loss. We see how every day there are fewer and fewer priests who still believe in the Real Presence.

I repeat, we have never separated ourselves from the Church.

E' chiaro che papa Francesco vuole lasciarci vivere e sopravvivere. Ha perfino detto, a chi lo vuole sentire, che non farebbe mai del male alla Fraternità. Ha anche detto che noi siamo cattolici. Ha rifiutato di condannarci per scisma, dicendo: "non sono scismatici, sono cattolici", anche se dopo ha usato un termine un po’ enigmatico, cioè che noi siamo in cammino verso la piena comunione.

We have never said that the Council directly professed heresies. But the wall of protection against error was removed, and thus error was allowed to manifest itself. The faithful need protection. This is the constant struggle of the militant Church to defend the faith.

We already speak of the invalidity of many Masses. But to say that all Masses are invalid does not correspond to the line of the Fraternity. This is something we have never said. In our discussions with Rome, we have always emphasised that we recognise the validity of the new Mass, if it is celebrated according to the books and with the intention of doing what the Church is mandated to do. In this regard, a distinction must be made between valid and good.

It is clear that Pope Francis wants to let us live and survive. He even said, to those who want to hear him, that he would never harm the Fraternity. He has also said that we are Catholics. He refused to condemn us for schism, saying, ‘They are not schismatics, they are Catholics,’ even though he later used a somewhat enigmatic term, namely that we are on the path towards full communion.

Con Papa Francesco non si vede questo attaccamento né alla liturgia, né alla disciplina antica, si potrebbe anche dire che è proprio il contrario, manifestato tramite molte affermazioni contrarie, ed è questo che rende ancora più difficile, più complicata la comprensione di tale benevolenza. Penso che ci siano almeno diverse spiegazioni possibili, ma confesso di non avere l'ultima parola in questione. Una delle spiegazioni è lo sguardo di papa Francesco su tutto ciò che è messo ai margini, ciò che chiama le 'periferie esistenziali'. Non mi stupirebbe che ci considerasse come una di queste periferie alle quali dona palesemente la sua preferenza.

Interviewer: Who in the Vatican worked hardest to reach this solution?}} Mgr. Fellay: Certainly Cardinal Hoyos, who is head of the Commission responsible for relations between the Holy See and the Fraternity of St. Pius X. But above all, Pope Benedict XVI. I understood this from the first audience I had with him shortly after his election. Although he reproached us, the Holy Father's tone was gentle, truly paternal.

We have souls to save. The Church is not new. If we follow what the Church has always done, and what the saints have always done, we are assured of being on the safe path to Heaven. In all times, the Church has considered novelties dangerous and the fruit of pride. We might, today, say that there is a sickness for novelty and change. But God does not change. The Faith does not change. The Commandments do not change. Be faithful to what the Church has always taught in her catechisms and you will be assured of being on the right side of this fight for God and His glory.

The lifting of the excommunication, together with the Motu proprio of Pope Benedict XVI on the old Mass, is an important, truly important sign for our little lifeboat. That is why I speak of joy and satisfaction. Interviewer: Where and when did you learn of the decree? Mgr. Fellay: I learned of it a few days ago in Rome, in the office of a cardinal, Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, the president of the Ecclesia Dei Commission.