Theological Schema of a Restoration of the Church
How the Church Will Be Able to Emerge from the Crisis
and Recover a Time of Peace and Expansion?
Table of Contents
Introduction
- The Divine Intervention for the Restoration of the Hierarchy
- The Re-establishment of Ecclesial Unity
- The Integral Restoration of the Traditional Faith, Discipline, Liturgy and Canon Law
- The Return to a Pure Catholic Practice
- Historical Experience and Prophetic Insight
Conclusion: A Time of Peace and Expansion
Introduction
The crisis we are going through, where, after Vatican II, about 99.9 percent of the bishops publicly fell into apostasy, heresy or schism, seems to have left the Apostolic See vacant and profoundly disorganized in its visible government. This could theoretically be resolved by various means pertaining either to divine Providence or to the action of the Catholic bishops who have remained faithful.
The way in which the Church will emerge from the crisis and recover a time of peace and expansion is based on several traditional principles and expected events, while taking into account the teaching of the theologians before the Vatican II Council.
- The Divine Intervention for the Restoration of the Hierarchy
One of the concrete means by which the Church could emerge from the crisis would be a direct divine intervention that would re-establish the legitimacy of the Apostolic See and of the entire hierarchy. This intervention could take several forms:
A Legitimate Pope Elected: Divine Providence could allow the Church to recover a legitimate Pope, capable of guiding the Church and re-establishing order. According to traditional doctrine, the Pope is the guarantor of the faith, and once the Apostolic See is occupied by a valid Pope, the situation of confusion could begin to dissipate. The process of electing a Pope could occur by a valid conclave. A conclave in the strict sense is impossible, because all the valid cardinals are dead, but several theologians consider that an imperfect general council composed of the Catholic bishops could proceed to this election, or recognize a pontiff chosen by providence, by a miraculous intervention of God. This Pope could be the one who will restore order, unity and discipline in the Church.
A Providential Emerging Pope: Some traditional Catholic theologians have suggested that in periods of extreme crisis, where the Church seems to have lost its visible hierarchy, God could send a providential Pope, who would come to restore Catholic truth and practice. Saint Peter returning from heaven to designate a pope (according to Blessed Maria Taigi), according to others it could be Paul VI converted and still alive by a miracle (born in 1897) etc. This Pope would be the one the Church was waiting for to recover its legitimate authority. Indeed, the concrete modalities of the restoration of the Church are not known with certainty. Several solutions appear theologically possible. Some pertain to the ordinary order of Providence, others would suppose a miraculous intervention of God. Since He is all-powerful, no miraculous intervention is impossible, provided that it is not contrary to Revelation or to Catholic doctrine.
Some of us think according to a thesis called “of Cassiciacum”, that if the current antipope converts, he will become the true pope. Indeed, according to the so-called Cassiciacum thesis, the current antipope would already possess the material designation received during his election and would immediately become the true pope if he ceased to oppose the obstacle of heresy. This opinion therefore supposes that the election itself remains juridically valid despite the current absence of pontifical authority. Those who reject this thesis consider on the contrary that the elections issuing from the conciliar hierarchy are themselves devoid of any juridical value and that a new election would therefore be necessary. But the converted person should follow a traditional seminary, be re-ordained priest conditionally, obtain the canonical formation required for the episcopate (doctorate, licentiate or recognized competence) and be re-consecrated bishop conditionally and be recognized by the Church, except for a miracle of infusion of science necessary to be pope without having been formed in a seminary and to obtain a doctorate in theology or canon law, required by the law of the Church to be a bishop. This conversion would be a great exceptional grace and the infusion of science would still be a miracle.
- The Re-establishment of Ecclesial Unity
One of the key aspects of the restoration of the Church would be the return to doctrinal and moral unity, notably between those who have separated because of heresies, schisms or doubts concerning the validity of the Pope. Catholic doctrine teaches that the Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic, and this unity is essential for the peace and prosperity of the Church.
- The conversion of heretics and schismatics: The Church believes that unity will be restored by the conversion of souls of good will, including those of heretics and schismatics. The partisans of doctrinal errors, once the truth is rediscovered and proclaimed, will be able to return to the Catholic Church. A doctrinal reconciliation would be necessary to restore this unity. This would occur under the direction of the Pope and the bishops, once they recover their legitimacy. The conditions of this reconciliation would probably include a clarification of the points of doctrine that have been poorly interpreted or modified (by Vatican II).
This restoration is not only an object of hope, but a consequence of the indefectibility of the Church. Our Lord has promised that the gates of hell will never prevail against her (Mt 16:18) and that He would remain with her until the consummation of the ages (Mt 28:20). Therefore, the Church must necessarily recover a fully Catholic visible government before the end of the world, whatever the modalities chosen by divine Providence.
- The Integral Restoration of the Traditional Faith, Discipline, Liturgy and Canon Law
Once the hierarchy is re-established, and doctrinal unity is restored, a great spiritual renewal could emerge among the faithful. The authentic Catholic faith would again be taught in a clear manner, and the sacraments would be administered in their full validity and efficacy.
Return to the Holy Mass and the Sacraments: A central element of the spiritual renewal would be the return to the regular practice of the traditional Holy Mass, the celebration and administration of the other sacraments (such as Confession) in their traditional form, validly and licitly administered. The priesthood would be restored to its full splendor, and the faithful would return en masse to the sacraments of the Church.
- A Global Spiritual Awakening: This renewal could manifest itself in the form of a movement of conversion and reconciliation among traditional Catholics and believers who have distanced themselves from the faith. The restored clergy, once validated and united around the Pope, would play a central role in this process of spiritual regeneration.
- The Return to a Pure Catholic Practice
The return to a pure Catholic doctrine and to the traditional practice of the sacraments, of worship and of Catholic morality would be one of the decisive elements for recovering a time of peace and expansion. This return would include:
- A Return to Tradition: According to the doctrine of the Church, Tradition is at the heart of the life of the Church. This means not only fidelity to the teaching of the Gospel, but also a return to the sacramental practices, to the integral traditional liturgy, and to the veneration of the saints and of the Virgin Mary. Once these elements are re-established, the Church would recover its splendor.
- Restoration of the Moral Order: The traditional teachings of the Church, in matters of morality, family, sexuality, social ethics, and evangelization, should be reaffirmed, which would contribute to a profound transformation in the life of Catholics and in society in general.
The Example of the Saints: Since the Church is essentially holy and always produces saints, God will raise up new saints who will lead the faithful toward a restoration of Christian life, by their example of ideal life which will give the most splendid radiance to the kingdom of God on earth and they will lead a certain number of faithful, which could be considerable, in this happy path.
- Historical Experience and Prophetic Insight
The history of the Catholic Church testifies to similar periods of crisis (such as the Great Western Schism or the reforms of the Council of Trent after the crises of the Protestant heresy). In these moments, the Church recovered a time of peace and expansion by the reaffirmation of its divine mission and by efforts of internal reform. This tradition could be repeated after the current crisis.
Indeed, every great doctrinal crisis in history — Arianism, Monothelitism, the Great Western Schism or the Protestant Reformation — was ultimately resolved by a restoration of legitimate authority and a solemn reaffirmation of Catholic doctrine. Nothing therefore authorizes us to think that the current crisis would constitute an exception to the principle of the indefectibility of the Church.
- Prophecies and Spiritual Messages: Many prophecies, including those attributed to mystics and saints such as Blessed Hildegard of Bingen, Saint Malachy, and the Marian apparitions (such as that of Fatima), have spoken of a future restoration of the Church. According to certain theologians and prophets, this crisis could precede an age of peace for the Church, where the Catholic faith will spread again throughout the entire world. Several saints such as Blessed Hildegard even speak of a golden age of the Church, Saint Mary at Fatima speaks of the triumph of her Immaculate Heart.
Conclusion: A Time of Peace and Expansion
The emergence from this crisis and the advent of a time of peace and expansion would depend on several factors, in particular the reconquest of doctrinal unity, the establishment of a legitimate hierarchy, and the spiritual renewal through the re-establishment of the Holy Mass and the sacraments.
Divine Providence, acting through the Church, would be the principal factor allowing the restoration of the Church to its glory and giving it back a time of peace, of doctrinal authenticity and of spiritual growth. The Christian faith, faithful to its roots, would spread again among the nations, illuminating the world by the truth of the Gospel.
The restoration of the Church is therefore not only an object of hope, but a necessary consequence of its indefectibility. Since Christ has promised that the gates of hell will never prevail against her (Mt 16:18) and that He would remain with her until the consummation of the ages (Mt 28:20), it is theologically certain that before the end of the world the Church will recover a fully Catholic visible government, a legitimate hierarchy and the integral public profession of the faith. The concrete modalities of this restoration remain unknown; their certainty pertains to divine Providence.