Blessed be God for the greatest entry of seminarians since the creation of the Saint Pius X Fraternity.
However, remember that the number is not necessarily a sign of benefit.
What God is looking for is holiness.
Editorial by Father Guillaume Gaud
Dear friends,
The academic meeting has just taken place in our seminars, and it is a cry of astonishment and thanksgiving that rises to God. 'Cause we just got the largest entrance to seminanists since the creation of the Saint Pie X Fraternity by His Excellency Monsignor Lefebvre in 1970.
97 young men entered this year in the first year of training in our seminars, including 79 for the priesthood and 18 for the religious life ( Brothers of the Brotherhood ). Here in Flavigny, we have just hosted a proposal of 21 seminarians and 3 possible brothers.
For seminarians: an Englishman, a Swiss, an Austrian, a Hungarian, a Serb, a Croatian, a Danish, a Dutchman, an Indian, a Sri Lankan, a Chilean, a Nicaraguan, a Nigerian, 2 Canadians, 2 Argentines, 2 Mexicans, 2 Italians, 4 Brazilians, 6 Germans, 9 Poles, 14 French, 25 Americans.
For the potential brothers: a Swiss, an Argentinian, a Brazilian, 2 Canadians, 2 Poles, 3 French, 8 Americans.
We invite you to change the Lord's mischievous with us ; blessed be God a thousand and a thousand times because we are witnesses to the activity of God in souls and to his gentle and patient strength. It is really at work, despite all our faults.
Let us not hesitate to approach the words of Saint Vincent de Paul, to keep us in humility: « Let us consider the Saint Pius X Fraternity as the smallest of all Companies; not even the penultimate, but the last… Let’s never put our eyes on what’s good about us, but what’s bad is a great way to keep humility [ 1 ]».
We must also be careful to imagine that number is necessarily a sign of benefit, since what God is looking for is holiness.
However, this increase in the number of seminarians follows a general curve, of slow but constant growth, parallel to the growth in the number of faithful. It is enlightening to briefly highlight the factors.
Interior factors
First, it is the fruit of families seeking to live in accordance with the Gospel, and to combat the infiltration of the spirit of the world today within them, with good natural balance. This year, 79% of young men who entered Flavigny come from families guaranteeing loyalty to the Catholic Tradition.
This is also the fruit of the Tradition schools, since 70% of the candidates for this proposal have been trained there, and among them all the French have spent a good number of years there.
It is also the fruit of the development of the missionary apostolate of the colleagues. Indeed, this year we welcome, among these 79 seminarians, 22 different nationalities, which is still a record. Think of the priests, missionaries in all these countries, who sow year after year, and entrust us with these voices. This is possible thanks to the relative freedom of the Brotherhood in its foundations, and its missionary impulse not hindered by ecumenism. Each voice is almost a miracle of grace, at least the fruit of years of devotion and prayer.
Dear friends, you see, God listen to your prayers for vocations. A great merci for your perseverance.
External factors
The increase in vocations roughly follows the increase in the number of faithful. However, the past few years have seen a considerable increase in these, albeit very unevenly depending on the country.
The first factor was the attitude of many priests and progressive bishops, on the occasion of the covid, who shocked many of their followers. They prohibited the Holy Communication on the language, accepted without really opposing the closure of many churches, or even the total cessation of sacraments. The stupor of Christians was at its height when they saw priests refuse to baptize. All of this left the strong impression of an immense lack of faith in much of the clergy.
The second factor, like a background wave, is much more durable and lucid, this is what we call the « phenomenon François ». For years, Pope Francis, by his repeated and argued statements, by his convictions, by the support he seems to give to the agents of the New World Order and the appearance of support for some of their lobbies, by opposing those who are resistant to this Novus Ordo sæculorum, turns against the world conservative population. In recent years, we have continuously seen an influx of people approaching the PSSPX for reasons of opposition to what they call the pope's political ideology.They are often non-practicing Catholics, or non-baptized people of Catholic descent. It is also young people who want to act for their country, who go beyond the political approach resulting from the death of grace.
New phenomenon, we see more and more « Catholic canvassers » arriving, practicing usually in the conciliary parishes, or Ecclesia Dei, but very sensitive to the defense of Life, the Numerous Family, Catholic morals, the authority of the father, the « Christian roots of Europe ». They understood one thing: we must fight, defend Christian Europe, that is to say fight against Islamization, against the monstrous unnatural lobby, against « Cancel-culture and wokism », against disarming neutrality, against the destruction of children. The last synodes, like that on the family and its applications, revolt them because they see in it the disarmament of the Catholics and the justification of progressism.
Finally, the latest Rome documents on the subject of the Mass have better highlighted the doctoral struggle which has been taking place since the Council.
In short, the good Lord shows us that we should not be proud, because the causes of the increase are visibly external to us. But we hope that everyone's prayers, renunciations and efforts contribute to it, albeit without glory, but not without fruit.
Call for an elite in Tradition
Dear friends, following Pope Pius XII [ 2 ], we would like to encourage you to continue to work to develop an elite more, even if it is not only necessary to aim for that.
Let us make our young people want to throw themselves into the arena to take part in the debate for the advancement and defense of good causes. The nobility has always been the honor of France. She must stay that way. I am talking about the true nobility, that of the soul, which we must make admire to all young Catholics.
Let's show them that love of work will be the strongest title that will later give them a place among the leaders of the Society. Let us show them that the value of a man is in close dependence on his commitment to the common good. Let us show them that there will always be a large place in society for Catholics if they are truly elites optimal, that is to say people remarkable for the serenity of their soul, their promptness for action, their generous devotion, and the search for excellence in their profession, whatever it is. Abatement and pusillatinity must be banned in front of the evolution of times.
This extension of seminarists sees the entry of young men who have developed this ardor and awarded the diplomas of doctorate, engineer, masters or various licenses; which were engaged in youth movements, apostolate or Catholic politics.
The influence of the elite on the moral renewal of the Church
Above all, we must apply ourselves to conduct irreparable religious and moral conduct, especially within our families, and to practice a healthy austere life. Lazy comfort is the elite’s worst enemy. The constant connection to the internet is therefore consequently.
Let us make sure that other men notice the heritage of virtues and qualities that distract us, often the fruit of long family traditions. These are the imperturbable strength of soul, loyalty and devotion to the most worthy causes, the tender and generous step towards the weakest and poor, firm behavior, measured and delight in serious matters, constant respect for all. The implementation of these qualities and the exercise of religious and civic vertus are the most convincing response to prejudices and suspicions, as they demonstrate the intimate vitality of our Christian spirit.
Raise a bulwark against the relaxation of customs
Our influence in society can aim to divert a serious danger specific to the present era. It must be known that society falls into decline when defects and abuses occur between the different environments ( and at the risk of repeating themselves : films and media should not enter your home without entertainment, as you would be the only culprits in the loss of your surroundings and yourself ), just as it rises when the virtues of a celebrity category come together with the others.
The Catholics themselves can act in both directions: we can easily become hotbeds of mistreatment of morals, in particular by these abuses which threaten the sanctity of marriage, youth education, Christian tourism in entertainment, respect for modesty. The tradition of our families and our homelands must be highlighted and defended in these areas as well, and now sacred and unviable. It should not only be protected from the seeds of corruption, but it should be conquent and proud. Let us be an elite. Let us be noble and magnanimous. May this deep respect for the traditions we cultivate, and by which we distinguish ourselves in society, be our claimed honor.
You can be this elite
Vigor and fertility of works ! These are the two characteristics of true nobility of soul engendered the elite. This is educated from an early age, in particular by the example of parents, who do not hang around in front of the screens, but know how to contribute with measure to the common good, outside the family.
To use Ernest Hello's words: « If you are alive, explain your life. Take your soul and bring it into the fray ! Take your wishes, preach your thought, your prayer, your love ! Take in your hands the instruments you know how to use and throw yourself entirely into the balance where everything weighs. If you are asleep, wake up. If you are dead, stay. Search your past life, in your extinct life the best of your desires. Remember the morning part of the roses from other times that you must have felt, and see if you have the strength to say: what does it matter !
Placed between the fire of those who love and the fire of those who hate, you have to lend a helping hand to one or the other. Know it ! it is not to man in general, it is to you in particular that the call is made; for all the moral, intellectual, material forces at your disposal, are as many weapons as God has put in your hands, with the freedom to use them for him or against him. You have to fight; you necessarily fight.
You are left with only the choice of camp ».
Source : Letter to friends and benefactors of the Saint-Curé- seminar of Ars N ° 106
FSSPX
Father Guillaume GAUD is currently Director of Saint Curé d'Ars seminar in Flavigny under the authority of the General House and therefore higher than major. He is known for his skills with Islam.
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