Letter of “The Nine” to Archbishop Lefebvre by Nine American Priests of SSPX (March 25, 1983)
The grave problems in the Society of St. Pius X
NOTE: This letter was sent to Archbishop Lefebvre and the General Council of SSPX. The priests who wrote it were expelled the following month.
Your Grace and Rev. Fathers:
It is our understanding that the reason for which the Society of St. Pius X was founded was to promote fidelity to Tradition, by which is meant loyalty to the Church, her doctrine, moral teaching, worship, sacraments and discipline. That such an organization was necessary was due to the fact that the reforms introduced by Pope John XXIII set in motion a process that has resulted in radical change, which constitutes a substantial rejection of traditional Catholic doctrine, morality and worship.
History records that Your Grace was one of the voices of courage and sanity at the Council, and in the years following the Council you refused to cooperate in the destruction of the Church. It was natural that others who loved the Church and her traditions would turn to you. It is no exaggeration to say that you became a symbol to millions of loyalty to tradition, and many souls who might otherwise have been lost will spend eternity in heaven because of what you have done.
The grave problems in the Society of St. Pius X
NOTE: This letter was sent to Archbishop Lefebvre and the General Council of SSPX. The priests who wrote it were expelled the following month.
Your Grace and Rev. Fathers:
It is our understanding that the reason for which the Society of St. Pius X was founded was to promote fidelity to Tradition, by which is meant loyalty to the Church, her doctrine, moral teaching, worship, sacraments and discipline. That such an organization was necessary was due to the fact that the reforms introduced by Pope John XXIII set in motion a process that has resulted in radical change, which constitutes a substantial rejection of traditional Catholic doctrine, morality and worship.
History records that Your Grace was one of the voices of courage and sanity at the Council, and in the years following the Council you refused to cooperate in the destruction of the Church. It was natural that others who loved the Church and her traditions would turn to you. It is no exaggeration to say that you became a symbol to millions of loyalty to tradition, and many souls who might otherwise have been lost will spend eternity in heaven because of what you have done.
The grave problems in the Society of St. Pius X
NOTE: This letter was sent to Archbishop Lefebvre and the General Council of SSPX. The priests who wrote it were expelled the following month.
Your Grace and Rev. Fathers:
It is our understanding that the reason for which the Society of St. Pius X was founded was to promote fidelity to Tradition, by which is meant loyalty to the Church, her doctrine, moral teaching, worship, sacraments and discipline. That such an organization was necessary was due to the fact that the reforms introduced by Pope John XXIII set in motion a process that has resulted in radical change, which constitutes a substantial rejection of traditional Catholic doctrine, morality and worship.
History records that Your Grace was one of the voices of courage and sanity at the Council, and in the years following the Council you refused to cooperate in the destruction of the Church. It was natural that others who loved the Church and her traditions would turn to you. It is no exaggeration to say that you became a symbol to millions of loyalty to tradition, and many souls who might otherwise have been lost will spend eternity in heaven because of what you have done.