The Last EC words of H. E. Bp. Williamson, (Posthumous) WHY “RESISTANCE”?
The Last EC words of H. E. Bp. Williamson, (Posthumous) WHY “RESISTANCE”? on April 12, 2025
Towards accepting faithless Rome’s misdeeds.
The following testimony of a former SSPX priest goes back to 2013. It has been slightly shortened and adapted. Rome insists that the SSPX accept the New Mass and Vatican II. For the last 12 years the SSPX has given way on neither:—“If, as a group of 25 adults and 10 children, representing about a third of a normal SSPX parish, we have decided to go independent, it was not because of emotions. We are not angry, bitter, or resentful towards the SSPX. Nor did we leave for the love of change or excitement. Basically we were forced out of the SSPX by its lack of truth. We did not want to contribute to the destruction of the Traditional movement. For we have studied seriously the documents that shed light on the recent crisis of the SSPX, and the good work of the “Resistance” enabled us to understand what happened. We gently hope to encourage more priests and faithful to do likewise.
“What we came to realize was that, for all practical purposes, the Society of St. Pius X had become in effect the tenth religious Congregation to have rallied to the Conciliar Church. Even if no deal has yet been signed, the principle of such a deal was adopted by the July 2012 General Chapter. For indeed, however few or many conditions the SSPX leaders might insist on for such an eventual deal, they decided that the Society could henceforth sign a pact with those who are relentlessly changing the Catholic Faith. In the last negotiations between Archbishop Lefebvre and Cardinal Ratzinger leading up to the Consecrations of June, 1988, the Cardinal demonstrated that Rome had no intention of doing anything serious for Catholic Tradition. From then on, the Archbishop never talked again with Roman officials. Is not the New Mass an abomination before God, helping innumerable souls to lose the Catholic Faith? How can any Catholic worthy of the name even think of making a deal with the unrepentant defenders of such a falsification of Our Lord’s one true and indispensable Sacrifice?
“I remember Archbishop Lefebvre quoting prophet Malachy when talking against the New Mass: “To you O priests, that despise My name, and have said: Wherein have we despised Thy name? I reply,You offer polluted bread upon My altar, and if you say: Wherein have we polluted Thee? I say: Your table of the Lord is contemptible. If you offer blind imperfect offerings for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Saith the Lord of hosts.” (I: 6–8).
“The mission of the SSPX has never been to integrate the structure of the Conciliar Church in order to “transform” it from the inside. Such an illusion was condemned by Archbishop Lefebvre in 1988 after the Consecrations. The Society’s mission is to train true Catholic priests. These priests will in turn preach the Truth and fight vigorously against error, without compromise or “talks,” “dialogue,” or “negotiations.” This little legion will then be like a beacon attracting the souls of good will. The present management of the Society is stamping out dissent and expelling critics. The only way for us to receive the Truth and to speak it out, loud and clear, is to separate ourselves from this new SSPX. Let us be ready to make many sacrifices, let us pray a lot for the solution of the crisis and for our perseverance in the good fight.
“You may object: when will be the time to join Rome? How will we know if we have a good Pope? The answer is quite simple: When the Pope publicly condemns the New Mass and forbids its celebration under pain of excommunication; when he publicly condemns and rejects the whole of Vatican II and its aftermath. In other words, when he takes action to clean up the mess. And if we ask when we can fully trust the SSPX again, the answer is the same: when all SSPX leaders and priests of the Society who have promoted the new line will be demoted; when the texts of the 2012 Chapter will be properly condemned; when the faithful priests will be vindicated by the new management; when a book on the history of this crisis will be published and read yearly in our communities; when a new General Chapter will abjure any contact with Conciliar authorities, until Rome has cleaned up its mess. And if it seems as though this could never happen, I answer simply: So what? What is the problem? Let us merely do our duty, give glory to God, and let Him deal with our former colleagues who are in danger of compromising. We pray and sacrifice for their conversion, sure enough. But compromise, and put ourselves in harm’s way? Never! Nevertheless, let us remain united with them in prayer.
Kyrie eleison.