Rome/SSPX: Everybody please take a breath

It's time to calm down. Apparently many people were expecting a resolution to the canonical situation of the Society of St. Pius X today. However, that didn't happen, nor could it. It was unrealistic to think that it would.

In fact, nothing has changed at all, other than the fact that exactly what was announced happened just as it was announced. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith discussed Bishop Fellay's latest response, provided some observations from the individual members, and then handed the SSPX dossier on to Pope Benedict XVI for his judgment. This is a good thing. This means that the process is going forward as scheduled. Nothing, it seems, is impeding that process.

Since so many people apparently have some misguided expectations, it might be a good idea to consider, realistically, what will probably happen in the coming days. Pope Benedict XVI will review the dossier and either accept Bishop Fellay's response as adequate, or have Cardinal Levada once again meet with Fellay to discuss what the Holy Father does not deem adequate in the response. That has already happened, back in April, and it wasn't the end of the world then, nor will it be the end of world if it should happen again.

If the response is deemed adequate by the Holy Father, as many rumors suggest it will be, then the Holy Father will move to the next step, and that is discussing and formulating the canonical structure for the SSPX. I would imagine the Society's General Council and the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei will have to take the lion's share of the burden in this regard, and that will probably take a few months. Then, of course, the Holy Father will have to review and approve, which will take even more time.

What I'm getting at, is that we have a long way to go. We all want to have a sudden resolution with instant canonical solutions. I suspect, from the comments I've seen around the web, that this is so because a lot people, of various ideological perspectives, want to "spike the football". That way of thinking needs to be removed, because the resolution isn't going to come with a bang, but with a long sigh over time, and that for the divine purpose of instilling a good dose of humility where it is apparently in great need. Pride is making too many people impatient, and inflating the egos of many who ought to know better.

Here's what we know with certainty, and all of them are good:

1. The Holy Father wants this process to proceed, and end with the regularization of the Society. This isn't conjecture, but a plain fact stated by Bishop Fellay, himself. In fact, Bishop Fellay stated that if there is regularization, it will happen because it is the resolute will of the Holy Father.

2. Bishop Fellay believes it will happen soon. He has said as much. He has also called for an extraordinary General Chapter for the end of July. This last piece of information gives us an idea of the time frame we can expect. That General Chapter will probably mark the beginning of discussion concerning the canonical structure for the Society.

3. The other three bishops, whose private correspondence was immorally leaked on internet, may cause difficulties, but only for themselves. The CDF stated today that they will be treated separately from the rest of the SSPX and individually. Despite what some inside and outside the Society are saying, I think this will prove a great benefit. What they say or do from now on will not affect the Holy See's dealings with the Society. While I'm sure that two of the three will work out agreements (and perhaps even the other one), even if they can't or are unwilling to do so, this will not have a deleterious backlash for the rest of the Society.

4. This all is in the hands of God, and is intrusted to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. And we all know that God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, loves the Traditional Latin Mass and traditional Catholicism! We also know with the highest confidence that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, all the saints in heaven, as well as all the angels and archangels, they all love Traditional Catholicism!

What, then, are we worried about?

Please keep up the prayers and sacrifices for this intention, and, please, take a step back, take a deep breath, and be of good cheer.