Dear Friends and Benefactors of the Society in Ireland,

             May the gift of this new year be a deep spirit of faith. 

             One does not need to be an expert in international politics or in ecclesiastical affairs to conclude that we are living in bad times. Indeed, we are witnessing the apparent disintegration of what remains of Christian civilization. Religion, family, marriage, education, the value of life, and the very reality of an objective natural order are challenged on a daily basis by the enemies of the Cross of Christ. Was it for our age that Yeats wrote his haunting cry: "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world"?

             Even our own country, the Island of saints and scholars, of martyrs and missionaries, the land in which only thirty years after the arrival of St. Patrick "the laws were changed to agree with the Gospel" (Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, by the Four Masters), even Ireland, once the first among the Catholic nations, disregards its sacred vocation. What times are these in which our Archbishop of Dublin, a cardinal very soon, is quoted by The Tablet as saying with impunity "you don't write off a candidate for the priesthood simply because he is a gay man," and when his seminarians are reprimanded... for kneeling during mass?! Yet we know that "the Lord hath made all things for Himself, the wicked also for the evil day" (Proverbs, XVI, 4), that God remains in full control of His creation. With unwavering trust we repeat David's prayer: "Arise, oh Lord, and judge Thy own cause!" (Psalm LXXIII, 32) while we strengthen our faith for worse trials to come.

             The Wise Men, the "Magi" of St. Matthew's Gospel give us a precious example of those dispositions which our faith requires today: docility, generosity, and perseverance. Marked by those characters, it will be as formidable as that of Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar, the faith which conquers all things.

             Our faith must be docile and prompt. The Wise Men say: "We have seen His star in the East, and we have come to adore Him" (Matthew II, 2) Imagine their long journey from Persia to Jerusalem, more than 1000 miles... There is no delay, no hesitation between the promptings of grace and their correspondence to it: it was the will of God! "Balaam their prophet beheld the star in spirit; with their eyes they saw it, and believed. He by prophecy foretold that Christ would come, they with the vision of faith knew that He had come, and they went" (Homily of St. John Chrysostom).

             There are in life certain circumstances when God's grace speaks clearly. For instance, when you make a retreat, or receive good advice, or see some good example, or listen to a sermon which enlightens your intelligence and touches your heart; or maybe it is the death of a dear one, or illness, or unexpected suffering... this may very well be the star which leads you to Christ! Follow it without hesitation or delay.

             The faith of the Wise Men is generous and resolute, and so must be yours. Nothing arrests them. Leaving family and property behind,  they set out on their extraordinary journey without fear of sacrifices and dangers. In the presence of cruel Herod, they openly declare that they have come, not to pay him homage, but to adore the One whose star they have seen. They have the soul of apostles and of martyrs, and such should be the conduct of Christians worthy of the name. The world is a master as cruel and demanding as Herod; not to worship it is to incur its hatred. The coward, the slave of human respect, instead of giving joyful and public testimony of his faith, conceals it, thus paralyzing the work of grace. Resolute faith, my friends, like the Magi!

             And their generosity! It is evident especially in their obedience. An angel commands them to return to their country by another way. At once they obey, without inquiring the reason for such a strange order, without murmur or complaint. What of the promise given to Herod? What shall the king say, what will be their reputation in Jerusalem? They are not even disturbed by this thought; God has spoken, that is sufficient. The Wise men know how to obey. Our faith should be like theirs: once we know the will of God, we must accomplish it, putting aside all human considerations.

             Their faith is constant in the time of trial. Tested severely, they surmount all obstacles. The star disappears as soon as they enter Jerusalem and the court of Herod. Since God does not give extraordinary lights and graces unless the ordinary means are lacking, the star was useless to those who were in the midst of the doctors of the law. They will indicate with authority the way to the Messiah. And so the faithful who have the opportunity to attend the True Mass in a traditional Catholic chapel and to receive there both the true sacraments and the unchanging doctrine do not follow private revelations of obscure origin; they go to their priests, they study the Catechism of the Council of Trent and the writings of the popes, they nourish their faith with good, solid books, and they avoid the frequentation of the modern Herods and their courts.

             When the star stops, it is not over a palace but over the humblest of homes. There the Wise Men find at last the God made man, in the company of only two adorers, Mary and Joseph. Are they not deceived? Was the star they followed indeed the star of Jacob, prophesied by their ancestor Balaam? Their constant faith pierces the veil of modest appearances, and they prostrate themselves at the feet of the Child, offering their triple gift to the God, the Man, and the King. Sometimes God is concealed, and surely this is the case of our day. Only our perseverant faith will shine with the light of truth which dissipates the present darkness.

             All this, my dear friends, to encourage you to go back to the simplicity of the essentials: faith, hope, and charity; frequent reception of the sacraments; daily prayer including the family Rosary; spiritual reading and meditation; study of the catechism, papal encyclicals and solid authors; mortification, and separation from the world. It is not in spurious apparitions or bizarre positions, not in political extremisms, or in television and the internet, or in the ramblings of agitators and gossipmongers that you will find peace and truth. In the crisis of the Church, the Society of St. Pius X remains firm and united, faithful to the heritage entrusted by its founder, Archbishop Lefebvre. He transmitted nothing more and nothing less than what he himself had received: the integrity of the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Faith. This is what you need, this is what we offer you in this age of confusion and apostasy. "Faith of Our Fathers, Holy Faith, we will be true to thee till death!"

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             The Society in Ireland continues its humble apostolate, in that same spirit of faith. A new priory was inaugurated by Father Schmidberger in Athlone, where daily mass is celebrated, and Cork has now three masses every week. The attendance increases in Dublin, where we have seen recently 225 faithful at Sunday masses. It is very consoling to gather every First Saturday a good number who attend the long day of recollection, an average of 30 people, a few young in age, all young at heart. St. John's presbytery is now essentially habitable, and a beautiful domestic oratory was blessed in Dún Laoghaire, housing close to one thousand relics.

             A new chapel will open very soon in Newry. We must leave the previous location at Monaghan Street, since the premises where we were installed are to be demolished in a matter of weeks. The improvements will be noticeable, not only in the increased size, in the easy access and convenient parking at the door of the chapel, but also in the dignity and beauty required to host the Lord of Lords. The work is advancing fast. We will announce with time the new location and the day of the solemn blessing.

             Pray that we may receive the immense gift of a supplementary priest to help our reduced ranks, and please continue to support us with your loyalty and your material help. Your generous contributions have made possible to cover almost half of the €45,000 paid for the priory in Athlone. The new chapel in Newry represents as well an increased financial burden. We leave these issues to the care of good St. Joseph, who will inspire and reward abundantly your charity. For this your unfailing help we are always thankful.

             Pope Benedict XVI remains a mystery. He should be able to make the right choices. Pray very much for him! It is my poor opinion that until he consecrates Russia to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, in union with all the bishops of the world, we will not see the light of a true renewal in the Church. Make yours this intention, enriched with prayers and sacrifices. Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Benedicto.

             "Faith of Our Fathers! Mary's prayers will keep our Country true to thee, and through the truth that comes from God, Ireland shall indeed be free!" Heirs of such Faith, we are not afraid.

             With the blessing of your grateful priests, in the love of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.