Easter Triduum Thoughts from FSSP

“Memento is a publication of the North American Province of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).  It is published 10 times a year for the benefit of the supporters of the FSSP.”

If you support the traditional order of the Priestly Fraternity, you will receive the short newsletter mentioned above, at no additional cost.  It is very readable and very worth reading.  Here is a taste of what you will get, from their “Easter” April-May 2025 issue.  Here are a few quotes from 2 articles…

From the Provincial of the North American Province, Fr. William Lawrence:

“Without Our Divine Savior’s passion, death, and resurrection, death would have the ultimate victory over the human race, both physical and spiritual.”

“In the single most important aspect of our existence, our eternal salvation, we are unable to save ourselves, but are completely dependent upon the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”

“The ultimate goal of creation and each part of it, can only be the glory of God.”

“Only God can bring a greater good out of evil.  The greater the evil, the more opposed it is to good and thus the greater the glory of God in overcoming it and bringing forth the good.”

From Dr. David Arias, Professor of Philosophy at the Fraternity’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, in Denton, Nebraska…he speaks of 2 mysteries related to the Resurrection, our bodily resurrection at the end of time and also the resurrection of the soul:

“According to the Angelic Doctor [Saint Thomas Aquinas], every time a sinner is justified by God’s grace, either in Baptism or by the forgiveness of mortal sin in Confession, his soul is quite literally raised from the dead.”

“St. Thomas and St. Augustine both maintain that when God raises souls from the dead, this divine work is greater than the creation of the heavens and the earth…

…every time God raises a soul from the dead through sanctifying grace, His act terminates at an imperishable supernatural good, namely, a created participation in the divine nature itself.”

Let us pray for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter to flourish, receive many new vocations and continue to save souls throughout the world!  Please consider supporting them…and there may be a Fraternity parish near you, see above link.  My family has been very blessed by attending one of their parishes in New Jersey, Our Lady of Fatima, when we used to spend much time there.

+++ Good Friday & A World in Crisis +++

Then the Jews, (because it was the parasceve,) that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, (for that was a great sabbath day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came; and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

John 19:31

The 2 thieves died when their legs were broken because the legs support the body, so when the supports fail, death is hastened. When looking outside our windows, does this look familiar? What are the supports of a functional society? Here are a few, varying in importance, some dependent on others…

Relationship with God Freedom Morality Human Identity as Created by God Peace Honesty Honor Prosperity Access to Resources Sanctity of Life Bodily Autonomy Law Safety Reason Respect for God’s Earth Upholding the Vulnerable Cooperation Equality Free Market Limited Government Self-Defense Dignity & Civility Subsidiarity Self-Reliance Restraint of Technology Checks & Balances Support of Family Cultural Identity

For those who do not have their heads in the clouds, it is easy to see how these structural supports have been systematically attacked. Supposedly because of a 99% survival-rate virus, we have seen the erosion of freedom of speech, travel, bodily autonomy (including the very right to breathe, which square foot you are allowed to stand on and hugging a friend in public), worship, business, celebration of life events, parental rights, peaceful protest, financial rights, walking in a park and the list actually goes on. Looking at the above, how many things would you say are left?

The banking crisis the West now faces, is one example of a demolition which is further weakening the complex system we rely on. As Chris Martenson says, economy, energy and environment (“The Three E’s”) are inextricably linked. Throw in geopolitics and a history of making money out of thin air, and you get to where we are now. Martenson also makes the important point that we are seeing the general breakdown of “social contracts.”

Another expert, Robert Kiyosaki, explains the complexity of this situation with his colleague, Andy Schectman, in the video below. They explain the problems of selective bailouts, nations moving away from the dollar and an unprepared population. Pillars that we have long relied upon are now crumbling…

is it over for the us dollar?

The world is breaking the same way the legs of the 2 thieves were broken. When you destroy the foundational supports, the body falls. But there was One also crucified, in their midst. One Who could not be broken. Set apart. Human, yet Divine. The world must remember its Redeemer. We must return to Him and rely on His strength, because He can never fail. Though He was beaten and tortured, His core stood unbreakable. Though Holy Church suffers scandals and great distress, the gates of Hell cannot prevail against her. Her core is unshakable, her teachings immovable.

No matter what the coming days will hold, we must remain true to faith, hope and love. We stand on Christ. We know that our King will triumph, for He has already conquered from the Cross…and Risen! Alleluia!