TO: C.M.
Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation
St. Louis, Missouri
December 2, 1967
Dear C.M.
First of all, thank you for your inquiry regarding the Church situation here in Rockford and the distressing letter you received from our mutual friend. I would’ve answered earlier, but our overwhelming response to our “Year of Faith” packets in the new Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism keeps us pumping 50 to 100 mailings per week, all on a part-time basis.
As I may have already mentioned to you there are quite a few of us in Rockford that are meeting weekly to discuss and to take action in as many constructive ways as possible. Our primary concern has been for more than a year, the internal deterioration of Church doctrines, traditions, and the increasing indifference to Roman authority. Some of us have been aware of unauthorized experimentation and liberal manipulations for over seven years… in our local diocese. Our local post conciliar bookstore is a scandal to the Roman Catholic Church and I will not trouble you with details unless you ask. Our apostolate here in Rockford in other words has been operating very well with Our Lady’s help, under an adverse atmosphere. To some extent this whole area has been good testing ground to steel ourselves for a national apostolate; in knowing and understanding what other parents are going through regarding their textbooks, schools, priests, and bishops.
We totally realize the importance of combining our actions with prayer. Not only has this been the tenor of both Wanderer and CMF conferences, but it has proven itself over and over again with our work. This is why we are combining the power of the Rosary with this serious religious textbook problem.
Though we don’t enjoy being sidetracked into another specialized field, some of our group became very disturbed about the new English Canon. Their research could find absolutely no basis for approval by the Apostolic See -- weeks in advance of its implementation. Not only is the Canon NOT a true translation, but we also found that the Vatican had rejected it. This in fact was admitted by Bishop Deardon, but was made mandatory anyway October 22, 1967. Bishop Binz, who admitted Vatican approval was withheld for good and valid reasons, still went ahead and allowed the English Canon. You will note that the ONLY approval for this Canon has come from the U.S. Bishops, not from the Vatican as was requested. In checking deeper we have also found the name of three, Cardinal Lercaro, being one, did OK the use of the vernacular in the Canon of the Mass, but nothing was signed by Pope Paul VI. In any case, most all of the US bishops are following in the footsteps of the Dutch. The few that fought this, as was relayed by Cardinal Spellman, were very few indeed. We have lost one of our very best Shepherds. Long-distance calls a few weeks ago found that the good Pope Paul has decided to take some strong measures… And because of cablegram interceptions, a delegate from Rome was recently sent to the US to discuss personally important problems that have been caused by Bishops who have on more than one count divorced themselves from Rome -- putting it mildly. You may find it of interest if you will note that the last four weeks have resulted in an obvious railing around the Magisterium by the Bishops of the world. You should also read the account in the Tribune regarding the “matter of obedience “surrounding Cardinal Leger's transfer to Montreal, Canada. This was a key Cardinal for the liberal church establishment. This all occurred right after we were notified that our Pope was going to take strong action.
In fact, the American bishops received a strong letter from the Pope that could be termed a “shape up or ship out “type of communication. The past several weeks have been quite encouraging as a result. How long and to what degree things will be straightened out, God only knows, but I’m afraid the Good Lord may not find enough who really appreciate their spiritual heritage and will allow much more to be stolen from us. If we Catholics had half the enthusiasm that the Pentecostals do, we could convert the world in six months. Unfortunately, too many of us for too long have been smugly self satisfied with the hidden glories of our beautiful Faith and are unaware that the unholy spirits of hell are tearing at our traditional structure. We hope that Pope Paul's combined words and action will give us a relief, but the health of Pope Paul is evidently not all that the press indicates. Confidentially we don’t think you should mention this to others. We can see that the Pope wants to act from a position of strength and with force. God willing, we pray Pope Paul will be with us throughout this difficult time.
Being a little slow at the typewriter I cannot go into too much detail and therefore am enclosing a several page rundown on the experience of the Mediator Dei Guild. They have had quite a time here with their Bishop as you can see this little package has been mailed out to key people in the country and to several in the Vatican. Some of the timing for mailing out some of this to all local priests was timed well with the Popes special letter to the American Bishops.
Since our local Bishop will not allow even a Latin Canon here, many here in Rockford are driving to Chicago, Kenosha,WI and to Dubuque, Iowa. You must admit that here in Rockford we have a unique situation. There is little doubt that our bishop excommunicated himself on several counts and with the disobedience so widespread in the church we can’t expect to hold our breath waiting for action from Rome. I study the communist program to take over the church has been under full steam in this country for sometime. You may give some thought to the fact that politically some success has resulted in the slowdown of communist consolidation in this country. But was so few working and ignoring the problem within the church the consolidation and destruction has basically continued full steam unhampered. This has become even more obvious in the last three years. In other words, the Reds are ahead of schedule in the Church. Most of this was done in the name of renewal and Vatican II, and hoping that Catholics would never read the documents to find the truth…that we are being orchestrated into a dumb new religion divorced from the True Church of Christ. “By their fruits you shall know them.”
I believe that most of us here in Rockford know that the Mass is still valid since the specific words of Consecration and the proper intent is still present. Because of the many unauthorized changes and mutilations, however, puts these Masses into an illicit category. Because the meaning of the Mass has been altered in the minds of several priests an effort must be made to search for those who still have the traditional intent of consecration. Please read the shocking November issue of Worship magazine. Since we lost our spiritual director here soon after he refused to say the Canon in English, our search for another priest continues. Incidentally we have been in contact by phone with Monsignor Bandas. He says to fight this --that he would be murdered first before using such a Canon. It appears appears as though we have stronger priests and laymen than we have Bishops today…the Arian Heresy all over again.
In the meantime, some only go to Communion, others travel out of town, and in our case, when attending a local Mass celebrated by a trusting Priest who is only obediently following his Bishop, we follow the Mass as Monsignor Bandes instructed -- from our Missals…and we join with the Angels of heaven in prayer whose presence around the altar was confirmed by Christ to Saint Gemma. In fact, it has been related to Saint Gemma that if it were not for the presence of the heavenly court of angels giving praise and honor to God at the altar during Mass...offsetting the blasphemies of many Priests -- many would have long ago been struck dead by the Hand of God. We must then remember that though unauthorized experimentation is crucifying Christ again, we can offer ourselves and mental anguish in knowledge of His suffering at the Mass with Christ. Christ Himself is still the perfect offering and the perfect sacrifice in the Holy Mass. The important point is to continue receiving Communion as often as possible, as it is still the most efficacious means of receiving Divine Grace. Without the Mass the future for the militant soldiers of Christ would be very difficult.
We know that these events are leading to the Devils final objective -- an invalid Mass. By that time let’s pray to God we have our Church well-established quietly underground. Many had hoped it would not come to this, but how else does the Church continue? Church history is our teacher. We are also aware of what has been written for those apocalyptic times by certain mystics and saints of the church. We are in contact with those who are specialized in Mystical Theology and find its study to be most helpful during these times. It’s value for the future will be of even greater value.
These are trying times and the Lord does seem to get us to work closer together in this battle with Satan. We may not all be directed along the same apostolate, but as long as battlegrounds existence on several fronts, we should be able to share our experience. My wife and I will continue our apostolate in promoting a national awareness of the religious textbook problem and hand them the key to success with the Rosary. We are letting others here carry on the primary research and work regarding the Mediator Dei Guild, but will help and encourage them when we can make it clear that Christ and Country Books is operating independent of the other.
We find that the confusion in the Church that was promised by our Blessed Mother in 1917 for these days also exist among conservative Catholics. Unfortunately traditional Catholics were not entirely immune to this prophecy and there seems to be a certain unfortunate falling out among good soldiers whose dedication is certainly sincere. Let’s pray that Christ and His Blessed Mother will soon clear the air of confusion among His soldiers and we can unite behind Saint Michael for the final battle.
Your Servant in Christ through Mary with Michael,
Bruce Howell
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