ARTICLES

A Sense of Reverence

SACRAMENTO'S LATIN MASS COMMUNITY

By Eric Reslock

Father John Rizzo is a member of the Fraternity of St. Peter. With the permission of Sacramento Bishop William Weigand, Father Rizzo recently assumed leadership of Sacramento's Latin Mass community, serving St. Rose and Immaculate Conception. He was interviewed on April 13 and April 16.

Faith: What is the Fraternity of St. Peter?

Fr. Rizzo: The Fraternity of St. Peter was established in 1988 at the request of a group of priests who had left the Society of St. Pius X on the occasion of the excommunication of Archbishop Lefebvre. Approximately twelve priests approached Rome, headed by Father Bisig, asking if they could offer the Traditional Rite with the major difference of being in union with Rome and to perform the same task as Archbishop Lefebvre only this time allowing for a ministry with the Tridentine Latin Mass with the permission of the local ordinary. And so since being established, our apostlate has grown rather quickly. So, the principle is from Rome originally, but in order to establish ourselves in any given diocese, we would need the permission of the local ordinary. It would be equivalent to a Benedictine order or Dominican order coming into a diocese and seeking permission to establish themselves there-so, we would likewise do the same, requiring the permission and receiving the jurisdiction of the local bishop.

How many seminarians did the Fraternity start out with?

If I'm not mistaken, we started out in Wiegratzbad, Germany that first year with no more than 12 seminarians. And then it quickly grew to the point that we now have in the American seminary which opened in 1991, and presently has an enrollment of 64 and we have an enrollment of about 65, I believe, at the Mother House in Bavaria, Germany. So we have a total of about 130 seminarians.

How did the Fraternity come to be present in the Sacramento diocese?

Father Devillers, the superior, received a phone call from one of the parishioners here asking us if we would be willing to be interviewed by the diocesan officials. And we accepted that. So I came out last June to accept an interview with the diocese. Bishop Weigand with his personnel board interviewed me and then about a month later, they also interviewed a representative of the order of Christ the King-Institute of Christ the King Sovereign High Priest. But I believe that Bishop Weigand felt that since the Fraternity had been around longer and had more experience, he requested that we come out. So as of November 1st, last year, I came out to start the apostolate here. I am very excited, it is our first assignment on the West Coast. In addition, Bishop Weigand has accommodated himself and will be performing confirmations for us in the Traditional Rite on May 17th for the members of the Latin Mass community. So, we're very excited about that.

That's highly unusual, isn't it?

Yes, very much. There are five or six other American bishops that have done the Traditional Rite of confirmation for our Latin Mass groups. There are also some bishops that are asking when they can ordain our men in the Traditional Rite as well. And Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz in Lincoln, Nebraska--what an ally he's been.

Does the Fraternity have any plans to expand its presence out here in the West?

We hope to expand, God willing, in the near future. As it is, I'm already taxed to the limit. Quite often, you know, I receive requests for masses elsewhere. I've already been up to Weed to say a funeral mass there and several nuptial masses as well at different parishes and it's growing in terms of its catechetics program, that type of thing-many families requesting that I establish such programs.

When do you think more parishes in California can expect to have the Traditional Mass available to them?

Hard to say, but I know that it is very ripe for needed growth all along the West coast, as a matter of fact. I know that there have been quite a few people requesting our presence in neighboring dioceses in this area as well as up in the Northwest, for example. As long as the local ordinaries would be willing to have us, we would do our best to provide the manpower.

Have you heard anything about San Francisco, in particular?

We met with Archbishop Levada. He said, much to our surprise, that he has not received much in the way of inquiries or support for those who are interested in the Latin Mass. He said that if he heard more of an interest then he would get something going. But he told us at this point, that he's heard no interest in this regard. So, I don't know-- if more people there were expressing an interest, then perhaps something could get off the ground.

Have you heard of any more locales in California where there is more certainty?

We do have plans for opening up in Vallejo. We've received over 250 signatures from that region and Bishop Weigand will be in contact with the regional priests there, the regional pastors. And he basically told me that in the near future he expects me to be opening up a mass center there as well.

St. Rose's here in Sacramento, I understand, has long offered a Latin Mass--how were they able to secure permission for this?

I know that for the last nine years, under the able direction of Monsignor Schons, there has been a Latin Mass offered here by him every Sunday. In terms of before that, I'm not sure. The Indult first came out in 1984 for Traditional Masses worldwide. So the Latin Mass was allowed on this widescale basis in 1984 but there were several limitations or restrictions that were added even to the point of one diocese, in the Southeast, for example, that was putting an age limit on who could attend the Latin Mass. A lot of these restrictions were quickly done away with. And then, the Indult of 1988 allowed for the widespread, unrestricted use or application of the missal of 1962. This was particularly brought about after the excommunication of Archbishop Lefebvre.

You are able to offer a daily Traditional Mass either at Immaculate Conception, which is where you are based, and also St. Rose's here in Sacramento. What other plans do you have for the parish at Immaculate Conception? Will the curriculum of the school become more traditional as well?

That is our plan, on the short term, as a matter of fact. We hope to accommodate the school for the members of the Latin Mass community and establish a curriculum that would be very pleasing for them. We hope to do this within, God willing, the next academic year.

What has been the response of the parishioners? Have you received any complaints?

In terms of the parishioners at Immaculate Conception--no, no complaints, whatsoever. In fact, I know that we are bringing back a bit of a resurgence to the parish life over there. Because I think a lot of people have been discouraged about Immaculate Conception parish because of its location, in Oak Park, for example. But I do see a renaissance taking place there. I really do and I've heard it from the members of the Latin Mass community and from the original parishioners there that they are very happy to have us there.

Now that many people in their 20s and 30s have formed an attachment to the Traditional Rite, it has been said, as a statement of fact, that the Traditional Rite is only offered, or should only be offered, for those who were alive before Vatican II. Should people my age hold any expectation that in the future the Latin Mass will be available to us?

It will be available for you because the Fraternity of St. Peter was canonically erected, canonically established. It is here to stay. It would take a great deal of effort on the part of any local ordinary, or local bishop to remove us from their diocese, without us having recourse to Rome. We've been around for ten years-we plan on being around for another 100 years, God willing. I know that the younger people are really attracted to the old Latin Rite. And I think a big reason for that is the sense of reverence that they immediately see when they attend the Latin Mass. So we always encourage the young people to attend the Latin Mass--it's here to stay, once again-it's a revival and it's here to stay.

Of the many rites that are currently recognized by Rome, how many require permission to say in the United States?

That's a very good point. The so called Indult Mass is only applied to the Tridentine formula using the missal of 1962. If I am not mistaken, there are 23 approved rites within the realm of the Catholic Church--when you count the Eastern Rite as well as the Roman Rite. To my knowledge, it's only the Tridentine Rite that requires permission, as such, to be offered. Yet nevertheless, when different religious orders come into a given diocese, they would require the permission of the local bishop. But, for example, if a priest is in any diocese and he wants to say the Latin Mass he does, to my knowledge, have to go to the local bishop and request permission, whereas any Eastern Rite priest in the diocese-well fine, he can say whatever Rite he wants without the needed permission. Now in terms of being bi-ritual, perhaps there is some permission required there. But oddly enough, as far as I can see, in terms of the Latin mass according to the missal of 1962, you do require that permission to offer it.

Would it be prudent for members of the laity who desire the Traditional Rite to petition Rome?

I don't think it is [imprudent]. If people want to write letters to their bishop, then they should send copies of those letters to the Ecclesia Dei Commission in Rome. I don't know, to tell you the truth, how Rome would react to that, but I would tend to think that it would back up the wishes of the faithful to the local bishop. But if enough people are sparking interest from one given region, one given diocese, it will get the Commission to really take another look, I believe. So, if anyone writes their local bishop, they should "cc" the Ecclesia Dei Commission, Rome. Yes, that would be a good idea. And the letters should be frank, polite, and very brief...because bishops don't have time to read long explanations and so forth. Basically, a two or three sentence letter to the bishop just simply asking for the Traditional Latin Mass. It might be a good idea too that these pockets of faithful know of a priest who is willing to say the Latin Mass. Because a lot of the bishops feel they can't provide a priest because of the shortage of priests at the present time. So if a pocket of faithful move a particular priest who in turn could write a letter offering to say the Latin Mass that would certainly be helpful.

In this era of "tolerance" and openness," why do you think it is that some people feel threatened by the old rite?

That's a good word. Yes, I know. You're right, there is a great deal of openness when it comes to exposure to other religions, but when it comes to some of the traditions of the past within the Catholic Church, there seems to be outright hostility.

What would be the reason for that? They do feel threatened--maybe some of some of them feel, well gee, I know one priest who said to me, 'What are you trying to do, bring the church back to the 17th Century?' And I said, 'Well, is it doing any better in the 20th Century?' So I know that some priests, or bishops, have the idea that we just have a love for the ancient rite because of the antiquity behind it.

But they seem to miss... they don't have the proper focus on it. I love the old Latin Rite because of the sense of reverence--it's a reminder that I'm offering a sacrifice, for example. All the elements within that rite remind me that there is a sacrifice being offered. Maybe some priests who have a more liberal slant are being threatened (by the Latin Mass) where others might have to say for themselves, that for the last 25 years or so, I've made a mistake and now I have to apologize? And maybe they feel they will have to make that apology? I don't know, there are so many different factors involved, it's really hard to say. But I can honestly say, as well, there is less and less hostility as time goes on. I think one reason for that is a lot of the liberals are simply dying off-or they're giving up the fight. I do see that happening too. I see the pendulum certainly swinging in our direction. I have to be optimistic about that.

There are some who view the Traditional Rite crowd as overly solemn and confrontational. Is there anything that should be done to dispel this impression?

It's hard to say. Traditionalists aren't necessarily angels, and a lot of them, in turn, have been hostile towards Church authorities. And maybe some of them, with good reason, especially when they've seen their children's faith go by the wayside when they've placed them in Catholic schools and have been disappointed with what they've seen in the Catholic schools. So, in one sense, you can't blame them for the hostility, but in all things charity--you have to turn back to that. I think traditional-minded Catholics have to stay on the right path in terms of using tact and diplomacy. Maybe ten or fifteen years ago--bring out the storm troops, but now we have to use tact and diplomacy because more and more bishops are opening up to the Traditional Latin Mass. So there has been hostility, and some of it is justified, but one can go too far with it too.

You mention the priest shortage. Does the closure of some of the more liberal seminaries account for this perhaps?

Yes, indeed. But we see that there's growth with the Fraternity, the Legionnaires of Christ, the Institute of Christ the King, and in Europe, there are many monasteries opening up and other communities that are branching off from their root communities. And we know, please put this in, for monastically minded people there's a group of Benedictines in France who will be opening up a community in Oklahoma within the next year. They've already put a down payment on several hundred acres about an hour Southeast of Tulsa, I believe, towards the Arkansas border. There are already twenty American vocations in that community and they'll be coming back to America--that will mean many graces for this country. Yes, all of these are traditional, so there's growth with many orthodox seminaries.

There is not a vocation crisis as such. The crisis is found in the seminary--it really is. It's a doctrinal crisis, it's a moral crisis--it's not a vocation crisis. It just isn't. The vocations are always there because our Lord will be with His Church until the end of the world. So He provides in each generation, for the regeneration of the church by providing vocations but many of them are turned off because of what they see in the seminaries. You know, deviations of faith and/or morals that they see and they turn away from it, good solid vocations. And they turn away from it because they say, I don't want any part of that, so if there's a vocation crisis, it's not from young men who are no longer interested in the priesthood, it's from within the seminary and young men being discouraged from pursuing it. I have to say that. Obviously, there are other factors involved-the world out there shouting out, that type of thing too, drowning out vocations. But there are sincere people out there seeking a solid vocation and many of them are turned off because of what they see.

What can those who still feel they have a vocation do who are being turned away from certain seminaries and don't necessarily feel they have what it takes to be a Fraternity priest, for example?

The Fraternity is not an elitist group. We have many vocations that come from all walks of life. We also have vocation retreats. There are three young men who are going to try to discern whether or not they have a vocation to the priesthood who are going to the Fraternity's vocation retreat this coming Thursday. I will be driving them to San Francisco to fly them out to Scranton, Pennsylvania to the seminary at Elmhurst to see if they have vocations. That is our Regional seminary. One is 17, another is 26, another is thirtyish. Three young men from the Latin Mass community, so I'm real happy about that.

You spend time travelling about the state and communicating with priests of the Society of St. Pius X, in order to bring them back into the fold. For the benefit of priests such as these, how may they contact you and what do you try to do for them?

It depends on their circumstances. For example, if they want to meet quietly or discreetly, I will meet them in a neutral spot. I won't meet them at their residence because their own faithful might see them meeting with me. I can contact them by letter, if they have a Post Office Box, for example. But they normally call me--and they often ask that I don't call them back--they normally call me. And normally then from there I really just throw them into the lap of my superiors. But normally a lot of them just have questions--they don't have the proper information about the Fraternity of St. Peter because the Pius X Society really says a lot of false things about the Fraternity. And so some of the priests who are thinking of leaving, won't look to the Fraternity because they feel that we're either a group of modernists or we compromise--that's a key word that a lot of the superiors of the Pius X Society say--that we compromise the faith, that type of thing. And I'm in contact with some of these priests who want to leave the Society, and so I just give them a lot of leeway--elbow space, so to speak, and let them decide on their own. So a lot of it is really just dealing with time and patience on their part.

So, in a sense, the Fraternity is trying to heal from both sides?

Yes, exactly. One of the roles for the Fraternity of St. Peter is to act as a channel of reconciliation for those priests who are independent or outside the authority of their local bishop-outside of Rome. Gosh, I was with the Pius X Society for eight years looking from the outside in. And now it's good--I did not realize how much tunnel vision I had towards the Church until I left the Pius X Society and found myself looking from the inside out! So boy, I have been very much at peace since making my decision to return...

I was ordained in 1985 by Archbishop Lefebvre. I went through their seminary from 1979 through 1985 in Connecticut. And then, shortly after the death of Archbishop Lefebvre, I just saw things changing for the worse in the Pius X Society. Obviously, one of the things I was thinking of at the time was when he consecrated the four bishops in 1988... but part of my tunnel vision I just thought, well, he must be doing the right thing. But then shortly after his death in 1991, I just saw the Society getting farther and farther from Rome and their separatist ideas. They claim that they follow the pope and pray for the pope, but I think in practice they are Sede--vacantist, I really do--I don't think they believe we have a pope. Just by their practice, by what they do, not by what they say.

There is some mystery about the death of Archbishop Lefebvre--have you heard whether he was reconciled with the Church?

There is, and I am trying to confirm this--there are two priests who are still members of the Pius X Society. And they have in turn told me, in secret--but I have been publicizing it--that when Father Schmidberger, the Superior General at the time walked into the room where he {Archbishop Lefebvre} was lying on his deathbed, Archbishop Lefebvre looked at him and said, 'What are you doing here?' And Father Schmidberger said, 'I am just here to say farewell--to wish you well and that I will be praying for you'. And Archbishop Lefebvre said to him, 'I didn't ask you to come, you can leave now--because of you, I'm in this mess.' I know that Father Schmidburger was very instrumental in forcing the Archbishop's hand, so to speak, to do the consecrations. I'm sure it was the spirit of the Archbishop to go along with the consecrations, but Father Schmidburger definitely was a leading role in pushing him to do the consecrations....

So, I really think there was repentance on the part of Archbishop Lefebvre before he died. One of those who told me this story witnessed this incident and he claims that's what took place. And that's my prayer, that he had that repentance before he died."

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