"The SSPX is the living embodiment of the Church as it existed before the present debacle . It's hard not to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit behind this."
I hope so but don't speak too soon. FSSP yielded. Campos yielded. Aulagnier yielded. Laguérie yielded. Davies yielded. Wickens yielded. The saying "put not your trust in princes or priests" I find very apt.
Right--they yielded--which is precisely why the Society will not. It knows the stakes.
Michael Davies was giant in the traditional world. He gave the second half of his life to the traditional cause, travelled the world, wrote 20 or 30 books, hundreds of articles. He always supported the Society of St. Pius X (remember his Apologia on Archbishop Lefebvre, who also confirmed his children). As president of Una Voce, he pretty much saved the '62 missal from being replaced by a later edition within the Indult community - something, for which, we can be eternally grateful. He did not agree with the consecrations, but still defended them from the charge of schism. Can any of us honestly hold a light up to all of this?
Davies' crime, it seems, is that is supported Catholic traditional wherever he found it, whether within the SSPX or within an "Indult" environment. I honestly believe we should do the same - the health of the Church will never be restored if we just watch from the sidelines. We also rely on good hard working priests in dioceses who are doing their best to bring their flock back to a sense of tradition. Without compromising themselves (e.g. the Campos news of late), traditional orders need to get involved and help drive out the smoke of Satan from the sanctuary of the Church. The liberals in the early 20th century didn't eventually get their own way by staying away and hoping the Church will adopt their heresy. Our Lord did say "so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves", and so must we.
Although what Bishop Fellay says is probably entirely correct, the fact is that it is regrettable that the SSPX finds itself having to stay outside - it is nothing to feel good about. The sooner the conditions are right and that an agreement is reached, then the sooner the Society can aid in the effort to drive out the smoke of Satan and restore some order. This is what Bishop Fellay is asking for - the freedom to do this, not a "reservation" or a high/low church mentality the Anglicans have that will never face the crisis. May the example of St. Athanasius always lead us in hope who never refused to return to his beloved city of Alexandria.
Finally, Bishop Fellay gave us pause for thought when he said:
His Excellency stressed that charity must prevail in all our dealings with our fellow Catholics so that they will see reflected in us the patience of Our LordAre all we trads doing the same?