What did Archbishop Lefebvre say about
Attending the New Mass?
1974:
“Is the New Mass really intrinsically bad? If the Mass were intrinsically bad, I would say, well,
I would say you can’t do an intrinsically bad act, that’s always forbidden; but if the Mass is not
intrinsically bad, but only bad due to the circumstances which surround it … well since cir-
cumstances can change, can be changed…if there are seminarians who don’t have any other
Mass, can they go to a Mass like that? I think so, what can you do! … However, I also told
you, I think at least twice, that it is possible that our attitude, our position regarding this prob-
lem might become firmer or somehow harder, so to speak...”
(Écône, 1974)
1975-1981:
“Little by little the Archbishop’s position hardened … In 1975 he admitted that one could
‘assist occasionally at the New Mass when one feared going without Communion for a long
time.’ [...] Soon, Archbishop Lefebvre would no longer tolerate participation at Masses
celebrated in the new rite except passively, for example at funerals. … He considered that it
was bad in itself and not only because of the circumstances in which the rite was performed.”
( “Biography of Marcel Lefebvre,” p465 ff)
1976:
“The [new] rite of the Mass is a bastard rite, the sacraments are bastard sacraments – we no
longer know if they are sacraments which give grace or which do not give grace.”
(Lille, 1976)
1978:
“What should be our attitude in general towards these New Masses, even if it would be diffi-
cult to be able to assist at a Mass of Saint Pius V? I believe that we must be more and more
severe. little by little … one no longer sees, one becomes blind. This is why I think we must
avoid going to these Masses.”
(Écône, 1978)
1979:
“It must be understood immediately that we do not hold to the absurd idea that if the New
Mass is valid, we are free to assist at it. The Church has always forbidden the faithful to assist
at the Masses of heretics and schismatics even when they are valid. It is clear that no one can
assist at sacrilegious Masses or at Masses which endanger our faith. All these innovations are
authorized. One can fairly say without exaggeration that most of these [new] Masses are sacri-
legious acts which pervert the Faith by diminishing it.”
(November 1979)
1981:
“This Mass is not bad in a merely accidental or extrinsic way. There is something in it that
is truly bad. … Really, in conscience, I cannot advise anyone to attend this Mass, it is not
possible.”
(Abp. Lefebvre, 1981 - cf. David Allen White, ‘The Horn of the Unicorn’, p.224 ff.)
www.TheRecusant.comAbp. Lefebvre Page 9
1985:
“Your perplexity takes perhaps the following form: may I assist at a sacrilegious mass which is
nevertheless valid, in the absence of any other, in order to satisfy my Sunday obligation? The
answer is simple: these masses cannot be the object of an obligation; we must moreover apply
to them the rules of moral theology and canon law as regards the participation or the attend-
ance at an action which endangers the faith or may be sacrilegious.
The new Mass, even when said with piety and respect for the liturgical rules, is subject to the
same reservations since it is impregnated with the spirit of Protestantism. It bears within it a
poison harmful to the faith. That being the case, the French Catholic of today finds himself in
the conditions of religious practice which prevail in missionary countries. There, the inhabit-
ants in some regions are only able to attend Mass three or four times a year. The faithful of our
country should make the effort to attend one each month at the Mass of all time, the true
source of grace and sanctification, in one of those places where it continues to be held in
honour.” (Open Letter to Confused Catholics, 1985)
1990:
“And that’s why I will never celebrate the Mass according to the new rite, even under threat of
ecclesiastical penalties and I will never advise anyone positively to participate actively in such
a Mass. Because people are still asking us those questions: ‘I have not the Mass of St. Pius V
on Sunday, and there is a mass said by a priest that I know well, a holy man, so, wouldn’t it be
better to go to the mass of this priest, even if it is the new mass but said with piety, instead of
abstaining?’ No! This is not true! This is not true, because this rite is bad! Is bad, is bad! And
the reason why this rite is bad in itself, is because it is poisoned. It is a poisoned rite! Mr. Sal-
leron says it very well, here: ‘It is not a choice between two rites that could be good. It is a
choice between a Catholic Rite and a rite that is practically bordering on Protestantism,’ and
thus, which attacks our faith, the Catholic Faith! So, it is out of question to encourage people
to go to Mass in the new rite.
[…]
I’m a little surprised, you know. Sometimes, I receive a lot of requests for consultations from
our priests who are in the priories and some are asking me: ‘What should one reply to a person
who says he cannot have the Mass of St. Pius V and who believes that he is under the obliga-
tion to go to a mass of the new rite, said by a good priest, a serious priest who offers all the
guarantees almost of holiness? etc.’ But, I do not understand how they cannot answer this by
themselves! They don’t find the conclusion by themselves and they feel obliged to ask me such
a thing. It's incredible! So you see, there are still some who hesitate. This is unbelievable!”
(Fideliter, April 1990)
* * * * *
Archbishop Lefebvre on the Indult / Ecclesia Dei Priests
“And we must not waver for one moment either in not being with those who are in the process
of betraying us. Some people [say] ‘After all, we must be charitable, we must be kind, we must
not be divisive, after all, they are celebrating the Tridentine Mass, they are not as bad as every-
one says’ - but they are betraying us - betraying us! They are shaking hands with the Church's
destroyers. They are shaking hands with people holding modernist and liberal ideas con-
demned by the Church. So they are doing the devil’s work. Thus those who were with us and
were working with us for the rights of Our Lord, for the salvation of souls, are now saying, ‘So
long as they grant us the old Mass, we can shake hands with Rome, no problem.’ ”
(Two Years After the Consecrations, Fideliter, 1990)
A Letter from Archbishop Lefebvre
Regarding
The Indult Mass
Saint-Michel en Brenne,
18 March 1989
Dear Father Couture,
I am responding immediately to your kind letter which I received yesterday at Saint-
Michel, to tell you what I think about those priests who have received a “celebret” from the
Roman Commission charged with dividing and destroying us.
It is evident that by putting themselves in the hands of the current conciliar authorities,
they are implicitly accepting the Council and the ensuing reforms, even if they have
received some privileges which remain exceptional and provisory.
Their speech is paralyzed because of this acceptance. The bishops are watching them! It
is very regrettable that these priests are not aware of this reality. But we cannot fool the
faithful.
The same may be said regarding these “Traditional Masses” organised by the dioceses.
They are celebrated between two Conciliar Masses. The celebrating priest says the New as
well as the Old. How, and by whom is Holy Communion distributed? What will the sermon
be? etc
.
These Masses are scams which lead the faithful to compromise their principles! Many
have already abandoned them.
What must change is their Liberal and Modernist Doctrine. We must arm ourselves with
patience and pray. God’s hour will come.
God’s blessings to you on this holy feast of Easter. Best regards to you in Christ and
Mary.
+ Marcel Lefebvre
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