Fr. Hewko's Sermons: St. Sylvester 11/26/24 "Saving Souls in Wartime"

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BREAKING: Bishop Ballini Rejects Bishop Williamson's Errors

The Catholic Trumpet | November 27, 2024

Deo gratias! Today, we share an important moment for the Catholic resistance. In his sermon titled “Saving Souls in Wartime,” Father Hewko recounted his recent visit to Derry, Northern Ireland, where he met with Bishop Giacomo Ballini. This meeting, part of Father Hewko’s pastoral travels through England, Ireland, and Wales, yielded significant clarifications on critical issues affecting the faithful. Father Hewko emphasized that Bishop Ballini explicitly granted him permission to share the content of their discussions, as well as excerpts from a detailed 14-page letter addressing doctrinal concerns.

Editors Note: In an ironic twist, while reporting a rejection of errors, we may have committed one ourselves. The title has been revised to "rejects" rather than "condemns" to better reflect Bishop Ballini’s rejection of Bishop Williamson’s errors, as relayed by Father Hewko. This adjustment ensures accuracy while honoring Bishop Ballini’s alignment with Archbishop Lefebvre’s principles. We pray for a formal condemnation of these errors—and for Bishop Williamson to fully return to the uncompromising defense of the faith he once so boldly championed.

This article summarizes Bishop Ballini’s refutations of the key errors propagated by Bishop Williamson. The full sermon can be viewed here. More content from this powerful sermon will be released on The Trumpet blog, along with the full word-for-word transcript to be posted later this week on ☩PRAEDICATIO☩.

Bishop Ballini’s Key Refutations

1. The New Mass is Intrinsically Evil

Bishop Ballini firmly rejected Bishop Williamson’s claims about the New Mass, stating it is intrinsically evil and cannot pass grace. He affirmed Archbishop Lefebvre’s teaching that the New Mass is a doctrinal attack on Christ’s sacrifice and the priesthood.

“If one is not poisoned by the New Mass, this is simply because God performs a miracle by preventing the normal effect of the New Mass to take place, which is to poison the faith.”
– Bishop Ballini


2. Condemnation of Eucharistic Miracles in the New Mass

Bishop Ballini warned against promoting alleged Eucharistic miracles from the Novus Ordo, emphasizing that only the Church, through its lawful authority, can determine if a phenomenon is a true miracle. He criticized reliance on scientific evidence alone, noting the potential for deception and error.

“No doctor or scientist is going to tell a Catholic that this fact or event is a miracle... Only the Church, through its lawful authority, can declare it so.”
– Bishop Ballini


3. Maria Valtorta’s Writings on the Index of Forbidden Books

Bishop Ballini condemned the promotion of Maria Valtorta’s writings, which were placed on the Index of Forbidden Books by the Holy Office in 1948. He noted that Archbishop Lefebvre himself cautioned against such writings due to their overly humanized portrayal of Christ’s life.

“My personal opinion on the matter is that having this book being put on the Index, we should not promote it in any way.”
– Bishop Ballini


4. The Necessity of Structure and Seminaries

Contrary to Bishop Williamson’s assertion that “this is not the time for structure and organization,” Bishop Ballini emphasized the importance of seminaries and priestly formation. He aligned with Archbishop Lefebvre’s understanding that the preservation of the priesthood and Mass requires concrete efforts.

“Everything should be done to continue the holy priesthood and ordain ministers for the celebration of the true Mass.”
– Bishop Ballini

Bishop Ballini’s clarifications demonstrate his agreement with key elements of Archbishop Lefebvre’s stance on the New Mass, the priesthood, and the importance of adhering to Church teaching. His rejection of the errors propagated by Bishop Williamson provides important guidance for traditional Catholics as they navigate the current crisis. While some elements of his approach may differ, his principles align closely with the spirit of Archbishop Lefebvre’s fight for the preservation of tradition.

More content from this sermon will be released on The Trumpet blog this week, along with the full transcript of Father Hewko’s powerful sermon. Stay updated at The Trumpet.

Let us pray for Father Hewko, Bishop Ballini, and Bishop Williamson, that they may remain steadfast in their fight for tradition and the faith.



-The ☩ Trumpet