FRATERNITAS SACERDOTALIS SANCTI PETRI
DOMUS GENERALIS
August 30, 1999, Feast of Saint Rose
Dear Members and Friends of the Fraternity,
By now most of you have been made aware of some recent developments
in the life of our institute. The purpose of this letter is to communicate
to you accurate information so as to prevent disquiet due to the many rumors
currently circulating. The enemy of mankind is always ready to stir the
waters and cause confusion and discouragement.
There are two important events I would like to share with you. The
first is the Protocol 1411/99 issued by the Congregation for Sacred Worship
in reply to some questions regarding the use of the Novus Ordo Missæ
by those priests involved with the traditional Roman liturgy. The second
is the cancellation of the General Chapter of the Fraternity, due to meet
this month of August, and the convocation instead of a plenary meeting
in Rome for the month of November
First of all, let me assure you of our commitment to maintain the integrity
of the founding principles and purpose of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint
Peter. These principles, grounded in the Protocol of Agreement of May 5th
1988 signed by Cardinal Ratzinger and Archbishop Lefebvre, include a priestly
ministry exercised for the good of the whole Church through the use of
the liturgical books of the Roman Rite in their 1962 edition. The reasons
for this are twofold, one that we may call positive, and one that we may
call negative. Positively, the Holy See has willed that we serve the Church
by witnessing to the perennial tradition of the Roman liturgy in a time
of rapid liturgical change. Negatively, the Holy See has allowed us to
initiate a respectful and open study of the objections and concerns we
have towards some of the liturgical reforms begun after the Second Vatican
Council.
By a wide and generous application of the Motu Proprio of John Paul
II, Ecclesia Dei Adflicta, the Holy See has until now blessed the apostolic
work of the Fraternity and those others committed to the traditional Roman
liturgy. In spite of this generosity, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint
Peter has in recent years come under increasing pressure from various quarters,
if not to celebrate the Novus Ordo, at least to allow its members to do
so under particular circumstances. As superior of the Fraternity, I have
discouraged this on multiple grounds: fidelity to our own mission within
the Church, avoidance of further unrest among our faithful and members,
consolidation and identity of our apostolate, and unity of life and discipline
according to our Constitutions.
Our commitment to the traditional Roman liturgy has been the occasion
for some to give credence to the false suspicion that the Fraternity rejects
the validity of the Novus Ordo Mass. In addition, certain bishops and bishops’
conferences have deemed it necessary to limit severely the pastoral activity
of the Fraternity because of our preference to maintain the exclusive use
of the ancient liturgy in our ministry. Finally, in a time when concelebration
has become the main (and sometimes only) expression of ecclesial unity,
our will to live in unity with all Catholics according to the old customs
and rites has become easily misunderstood.
Due to these difficulties and misunderstandings, some of our priests,
especially in France, have expressed their desire to concelebrate on occasion
the Novus Ordo. Although they are largely moved by apostolic zeal in the
face of what one might consider an unfair limitation on their ability to
minister to the vast needs of the faithful, the superiors of the Fraternity
have discouraged this for the sake of the common good of our institute.
I believe that our particular mission in serving the hierarchy and the
faithful is at present not so much the quantitative expansion of our apostolate
as the qualitative witnessing to the immemorial liturgical tradition of
the Church.
This situation led these priests, a small group among our members,
to submit without my knowledge an official recourse to the Ecclesia Dei
Commission on June 29 of this year. Following this presentation, two matters
now concern us: the «Official Reply» of the Sacred Congregation
of Divine Worship, July 3rd, Protocol 1411/99, and the cancellation of
the General Chapter of the Fraternity and the convocation instead of a
plenary meeting of our members in Rome, during the month of November.
For the good of the Church and of our Fraternity, I have taken appropriate
and legitimate steps to ensure that the proper authorities reconsider these
measures. In fact, we ardently desire that the November plenary meeting
might provide the opportunity for an honest and respectful exchange regarding
our difficulties with some of the liturgical reforms. We have to understand
the need for a dialogue both seriously theological and fraternally open,
in order to ensure that the legitimate points of all parties are taken
into consideration and harmonized in a common policy. I will continue to
do everything possible to protect the identity and character of the work
that the Fraternity carries out on behalf of the whole Church. I request
your prayers for myself, for our members, and for those in the Church who
have responsibilities towards the Fraternity. With confidence, I lay our
needs and hopes at the feet of the Virgin Mother, of our patron the Apostle
Peter, and of his successor, the Holy Father.
Our defense of the identity and mission of the Fraternity rises from
our desire to be faithful to the Church and to the members and faithful
who have trusted us with their vocations and concerns. However, a strong
defense of our convictions cannot take place without a humble submission
to Providence and the Magisterium of the Church. Trials, when lived in
the desire to obey God’s will, are a tremendous occasion for purification
and growth. It is in this light that we see our present difficulties. May
this be an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to study and dialogue
with others regarding those issues with which we are associated by our
very mission. May this be an occasion to promote the knowledge and love
of the Roman liturgy, and to enrich others by the faithful keeping of our
vocation and particular laws. May this be also a circumstance in which
we strengthen the unity that can only be the result of loyalty to our mission
and the sanctity of our lives. Finally, may this be an occasion to deepen
our experience of and love for the mystery of the Church, the immaculate
Bride of our glorious Lord, Jesus Christ.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Fr Joseph Bisig, FSSP
Superior General
P.JOSEF BISIG, POSTFACH 11, D-88146 OPFENBACH,
DEUTSCHLAND
TEL: +49/8385/92 21 10, FAX: +49/8385/9531, E-MAIL:JMBIS@COMPUSERVE.COM