7 October 1976 Dear Friends and Benefactors: Since the appearance of our last letter, at
Easter-time, so many more events have marked out of the history of
our work which has since become a centre of universal interest: yet
another proof, if such was needed, that the people of our time can
still be stirred by religious problems and that these problems have a
much more important impact on our society than is generally believed. At the beginning of these events a great many among
you have shared their sorrow, their sympathy, and sometimes their
worries with us. All have assured us of their fervent prayers. We
have received thousands of letters and telegrams and it has been
impossible for us to reply to each individually. You will find,
therefore, in these lines the expression of our profound gratitude.
May they also be a source of encouragement and hope for you. To help you make those persons who know little about
us understand the reasons for our attitude, we insist on two things
which seem to us to be very important: the disciplinary aspect and
the theological aspect, or the aspect of Faith. One does not condemn without judgement and one
cannot judge if the cause cannot be given a hearing in the forms
which assure its perfect and free defense before a tribunal. But we
have been condemned without judgement, without being able to plead
our cause, and without appearing before any tribunal. From this
arbitrary and tyrannical condemnation of the Society of Saint Pius X
and its Seminary follow the interdiction of Ordinations and the
suspension which concerns us personally. Considering the evident
nullity of the first sentence, we do not see how the sentences which
are its follow-up can be valid. That is why we are not taking any
account of the decisions of an authority which abuses its power. If it was only a question of a juridical problem and
if the unjust sentences only concerned us personally, we would submit
in a penitential spirit. However, to this juridical aspect is
attached a much more serious motive, that of the safe-guard of our
Faith. In fact, these decisions constrain us to submit
ourselves to a new orientation in the Church, an orientation which is
the result of an “historic compromise” between Truth and Error. This “historic compromise” was brought about in
the Church by the acceptance of Liberal ideas which were put into
operation after the Council by the men of the Liberal Church who
succeeded in taking the reins of power in the Church. It is put into concrete form by the dialogue with
the Protestants which has led to the liturgical reform and to the
decrees concerning inter-communion and mixed marriages. Dialogue with
Communists has resulted in the giving over of entire nations to
Socialism or to Marxism, such as Cuba, Viet Nam, and Portugal. Soon
it will be Spain, if not Italy. Dialogue with Freemasons has
concluded in liberty of worship, liberty of conscience, and freedom
of thought which means the suffocation of Truth and morality by error
and immorality. It is in this betrayal of the Church that they would
like us to collaborate by bringing us into line with this orientation
which has so often been condemned by the Successors of Peter, and by
preceding Councils. We refuse this compromise in order to be faithful to
our Faith, our Baptism, and our unique King, Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why we will continue to ordain those whom
Providence leads to our Seminary, after having given them a formation
which is completely in conformity with the doctrine of the Church,
and faithful to the Magisterium of the Successors of Peter. This year we should have fourteen new priests and we
are accepting thirty-five new seminarians, of whom four will be
postulants to the brotherhood. We have the great pleasure of
welcoming several Italians and Belgians. All of these candidates are
on the retreat which starts the academic year. During this time our priories are being slowly
fitted out. Three of these will become active during 1977. We are
being asked for everywhere. The groups of faithful Catholics are
growing considerably and the priests are not yet numerous enough. We are greatly counting on your spiritual and
material support to permit us to continue the most necessary work for
the renovation of souls, the formation of true priests, not to
mention that of brothers and nuns. On 26 September last, two brothers made their
profession and two received the habit, while on 29 September we had
the pleasure of receiving the profession of Sister Mary Michael, who
is of Australian origin and is the first nun of the Society, as well
as the blessing of the habit of three American postulants. Eight new
women presented themselves to the postulancy on 20 September last. Fortunately, we are not alone in maintaining the
holy Tradition of the Church in this domain. The novitiates of men
and women multiply in spite of the trials which they are suffering
from those who should rather bless them. With the help of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph we hope
that the end of this persecution that we are unjustly suffering is
forth-coming. God will not abandon His Church even if he allows Her
to suffer the Passion of Her Divine Founder. That in every domain we may make Our Lord Jesus
Christ to reign! This is our aim. May God bless you by the mediation of Our Lady of
the Rosary. + Marcel Lefebvre
Letter
to Friends and Benefactors