Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
My Very Dear Sons,
Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia. This little phrase, taken from Saint Ambrose, the mentor and friend of Saint Augustine, has stood for centuries as the expression of something of immense importance. Here is the complete saying translated into English: “Where therefore Peter is, there is the Church; where the Church is, there is no death, but life eternal” (Saint Ambrose, Commentary on the Psalms: Ubi ergo Petrus, ibi Ecclesia; ubi Ecclesia, ibi nulla mors, sed vita aeterna,). How vital this is to every Catholic, in every time! It is also of particular interest for us these days.
Today is the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, those two pillars upon whom, after Christ Himself, the Church rests. They are much like the two witnesses we read about in the Book of the Apocalypse:
And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks, that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire shall come out of their mouths, and shall devour their enemies. And if any man will hurt them, in this manner must he be slain. (Apocalypse 11: 3-5)
The apostolic grace of these two heroes of the Church continues to shine even now, in a time of much doctrinal and disciplinary confusion.
In the 1800s a term became popular, that of “ultramontane,” meaning “beyond the mountains”, that is to say beyond the Alps from France or from other countries in Western Europe into Italy. It really meant a view of things from the standpoint of Rome. For more fervent Catholics, ultramontane idea meant strong fidelity to Rome and to the Pope. For Liberals it was a pejorative term meaning a kind of exaggerated interest in Rome or even a kind of lack of patriotism, as if people were neglecting their own bishops or their own civil governments and looking—unwisely-beyond the mountains to Rome. For these Liberals, this was a mistake. Saint John Henry Newman had a moderate stance, being both faithful to Rome, while wanting all the same, to avoid any sort of hyper-papalism, any exaggerated interest in the Pope.
It is a somewhat ironic, really, that, whereas this particular emphasis on Rome called “ultramontane” was once mostly that of the Liberals, in our own day many Traditionalists (conservatives) are using the same language as the Liberals of yesteryear, warning against an exaggerated devotion to the Roman Pontiff. Where is the balance here? Where is the Catholic truth?
Of course, there are different reasonable opinions about this, but the firm traditional principle remains: Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia. Where Peter is found, there too is the Church. Sometimes, our Popes in more recent times, it is true, have been treated a bit like “stars” of popular culture, something which borders on the ridiculous. But how we need those pillars of the Church, the great Apostles, and in particular Saint Peter, that is to say the Pope, who has a precious light to share! Thus, we read in the Second Epistle of Saint Peter:
And we have the firmer prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts. (2 Petri 1:19)
Now many realize that in a couple of days the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, SSPX, plans a consecration of several new bishops, without any mandate from the Holy See. This proposed action of the consecration does not seem in and of itself to place the entire Fraternity of Saint Pius X in formal schism, but, given the broader context of a conflict that has gone on for decades, there remains the distinct possibility that this consecration without mandate will bring about, in fact, a true schism. A schism is not a heresy, but a serious break of charity and communion. This is a grave matter: schism is a kind of death.
What is the solution? How can this evil be avoided or healed?
On the eve of the meeting of Cardinals in Rome that took place a few days ago, the Society of Saint Pius X threw down another challenge to the Pope and the cardinals by sending them a profession of faith that, in effect, accuses Rome of having departed from the perennial tradition and magisterium of the Church. It must be admitted that many good Catholics have been quite troubled in recent times, by the unorthodox statements of certain priests, bishops, and even cardinals.
In contrast to these unorthodox teachings, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who was once a guest here for several days, urged at the Consistory, this meeting of Cardinals I mentioned, that this attack be firmly answered. He proposed that a formal response to the Lefebvrists be prepared, reaffirming that Rome has never abandoned the path of tradition, contrary to their claims. His intervention was all the more significant given that he formerly headed the dicastery responsible for matters arising from precisely this rupture.
A journalist living in Rome has given us details about Cardinal Mueller’s intervention, writing the following:
The cardinal also addressed the implications of one of the scenarios we reported in recent days: should the Society of St. Pius X formally enter into schism following the episcopal consecration of new bishops without a pontifical mandate, many Lefebvrists are expected to seek reconciliation with Rome. He therefore stressed the need to prepare for their reception, proposing a structure modeled on the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, established in 1988 by St. John Paul II to welcome those who wished to return to full communion with Rome after Archbishop Lefebvre’s illicit episcopal consecrations. (Diana Montagna, Substack, article of June 27th)
Times are difficult. We can judge ideas and actions, but we must be slow to judge persons involved, as there is confusion about many of these very important matters. All in all, we need never to forget the axiom Saint Ambrose gave us, Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia, where therefore Peter is, there is the Church; where the Church is, there is no death, but life eternal.” May the Blessed Virgin Mary, formally recognized as Mother of the Church by Pope Saint Paul VI, intercede for us all. Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us. Amen. Alleluia.
