Solution Outline
How the Church Will Be Able to Exit the Crisis
and Recover a Time of Peace and Expansion?
The crisis we are going through, in which the Church seems vacant of its See and corrupted for 99.9 percent of the quantity of its members by apostasy, heresy or schism, could theoretically be resolved by several divine interventions and specific actions of the faithful clergy. The way in which the Church would exit 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 Conciliabule.
- The Divine Intervention for the Restoration of the Hierarchy
One of the concrete means by which the Church could exit the crisis would be a direct divine intervention that would reestablish 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 reestablishing 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 election of a Pope could occur by a valid conclave (a conclave in the strict sense is impossible, because all the valid cardinals are dead; the only possibility would be a council with all the bishops) where the bishops could choose a pope or recognize a pontiff chosen by providence. This Pope could be the one who would restore order, unity and discipline in the Church.
A providential emergent 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 whom the Church was waiting for to recover its legitimate authority.
Some of us think according to a thesis called “of Cassiciacum”, that if the current antipope converts, he will become the true pope. But the converted person should follow a traditional seminary, be reordained priest under condition, obtain a doctorate and be reconsecrated bishop under condition 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 obtaining a doctorate in theology or canon law, required by the law of the Church to be bishop. This conversion would be a great exceptional grace and the infusion of science would still be a miracle.
- The Reestablishment 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 misinterpreted or modified (by Vatican II).
- A Renewal of the Faith and of Sacramental Practice
Once the hierarchy is reestablished, and doctrinal unity is restored, a great spiritual renewal could emerge among the faithful. 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 to 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. The priesthood would be restored to its full splendor, and the faithful would return in masses 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 reunited 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 reestablished, 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, the saints of the future will show the example of ideal life that will give the most splendid radiance to the kingdom of God on earth and they will draw a certain number of faithful, which could be considerable, in this happy path.
- The Historical Experience and Prophetism
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 repeat itself after the current crisis.
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 like Blessed Hildegard speak even of a golden age of the Church, Holy Mary at Fatima speaks of the triumph of her Immaculate Heart.
Conclusion: A Time of Peace and Expansion
The exit 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 reestablishment of the Holy Mass and of the sacraments.
Divine Providence, acting through the Church, would be the principal factor permitting 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.