UPDATE: 23:35 GMT
Some people have freaked out that I posted some fairly well-founded reports that Bp. Williamson was perhaps gravely ill. I clearly stated where I got the reports and I what my motives were.
If his health is bad, pray for him. If it is not bad, pray for him anyway. If the rumor is true, we are right to pray for him. If not, then we are happy that he isn’t ill and grateful for the clarifications… which would have been far less visible if posted on some blog or source that get less traffic then we do here.
The health of a such a pivotal figure as Bp. Williamson is important for how the Holy See and the SSPX will work things out.
If he were ill, people of good will would want to know so that we could pray for him in these critical days.
I was happy that the Holy Father remitted the excommunications of all four of the SSPX bishops.
I will be elated if all four will one day be in close and clear unity with the Roman Pontiff in a formal way.
I would be very sad indeed were any one of them not be able to see that day.
I have shut down the combox and deleted a few comments to keep the knuckle-head stuff off my screen and to preserve whatever corrections to the "rumors" there may have been.
In the meantime, check this out:
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009/01/note.html
We have learned from a source in daily contact with Bishop Williamson the following information: “His Excellency is alive and well and rumors of a tumor are a lie and a very transparent attempt to draw Bishop Williamson out into the public arena for some sort of comment or interview. Those who care about him will help resist such attempts.”
____________
ORIGINAL POST
The Italian site Messa In Latino is reporting that perhaps SSPX Bp. Williamson may be suffering, even dying, from cancer.
Among other La Repubblica‘s Marco Politti, not my favorite but very well-informed, recounted what Bp. Negri of San Marino said, namely, that Williamson has a tumor and is dying: "Intanto mons. Williamson è chiuso nel seminario di La Reja in Argentina. Il vescovo di San Marino mons. Luigi Negri ha dichiarato a sorpresa a Repubblica-Tv che il presule «ha un tumore e sta morendo."
Also, Card. Castrillon was reported to hav commented on Bp. Williamson’s health.
I bring this to your attention for no other motive than to urge you
a) to offer prayers and even fasting and almsgiving for the swift reconciliation of the SSPX and
b) to offer prayers and other mortifications for Bp. Williamson if, in fact, his condition is grave along these lines.
God is merciful and omniscent and no prayer or act of charity is in vain.
Should all this blow over, your charitable offerings will nevertheless be of benefit to the whole Church, militant and suffering.
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This is devastating news. I’m praying for him.
Praying!
I hope people who have been trashing His Excellency publicly will take this opportunity to consider the meaning of charity. We have to remember that each man has an immortal soul, and we should love him deeply even when we hate his opinions.
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, salus aeterna credentium: exaudi nos pro famulo tuo infirmo, pro quo misericordiae tuae imploramus ausxilium; ut, reddita sibi sanitate, gratiarum tibi in Ecclesia tua referat actiones. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus: per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
I will certainly pray for him. It has been a long, hard road for all of the SSPX and I’m hopeful that the road will shortly end in a beautiful, green pasture full of the most wonderful wild flowers that is the Church.
I have not associated with the SSPX and neither subscribed to their opinions. But as a Traditional Catholic myself I feel some close feelings for them on account of the sufferings they have undergone in the struggle for the faith. Let us pray for this Bishop and there is always room for forgiveness, God is merciful His love is infinite so we should trust in that goodness.
Since I’ve been undergoing a few tests for the big “C” myself, I can offer that hassle (which is probably all that will amount to for me) for the benefit of this man, of this bishop. I’m still impressed by the citation of Jonah being thrown overboard that he made in his letter of apology. As is my prayer for so many: May the Lord bless him according to the perfect intercession of the Immaculate Conception.
He looks very tired in the photos from the December ordinations in La Reja.
http://www.fsspx-sudamerica.org/imagenes/orden200805.jpg
After His Lordships excellent letter of excuse to Cardinal Hoyos I highly respect the man, and will indeed offer prayers and sacrifices for him.
– Almighty God, please don’t let bishop Williamson die from us, yet, please give him many more years in service for your holy Church and the Truth! Amen.
Prayers. I am certain that he is offering all his sufferings for the good of The Church. I’m certain that he always has, especially most recently.
Prayers for you too, Father George. God bless and Mary keep our priests.
Priests are prayed for daily in this house.
I have not associated with the SSPX and neither subscribed to their opinions. But as a Traditional Catholic myself I feel some close feelings for them on account of the sufferings they have undergone in the struggle for the faith. Let us pray for this Bishop and there is always room for forgiveness, God is merciful His love is infinite so we should trust in that goodness. Gob bless us all.
Good to know Bishop Williamson has put forth his apology. Wise choice for the good of all. Very good suggestions for us to follow and offer.
Thanks Amelia, but since I’m offering that for his Excellency, the prayers go for him. Hah! It’s also really good to offer prayers for the Holy Souls in purgatory, adding an intention for their prayers. They are really good intercessors!
I will pray for Bishop Williamson-and for Fr. George.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us [and for all our priests] who have recourse to thee….
I am for sure adding Bishop Williamson to my list of those for whom I pray for recovery of health.
As I said over at Rorate, he is actually a very nice man in person, and quite an English literature scholar, among other things. His tapes on Eng Lit can be obtained from the St Thomas Aquinas semniary (Winona) site and are worth listening to, along with those of Hugh Hewitt’s frequent guest, Dr David Allen White. If the Good Lord (as Archbishop Lefebvre so often referred to Him) allows Bishop Williamson to live longer, in what appears to be his chastened state, he can offer a lot of good to the Church.
If he truly is very ill, then that would explain the quick pace of the reconciliation.
I don’t think it ever does any harm to pray for someon who’s ill. Certainly I would pray for him.
Furthermore, I am impressed by his apology. In a world where people rarely admit mistakes even in comboxes, it’s a good thing to see. May God bring good fruit from his obedient and humble act.
With all due respect for you, Fr. Z, should the situation be reversed, whould you not wish the rumor confirmed that you are dying before it is plastered on such a high profile/high traffic blog as your WDTPRS? [I would like the prayers even were I not dying. And we all are, you know. Let’s avoid being stingy. I identified the level of certainty about this news. You seem to have missed the motive for the entry.]
The link to Politi’s article does not work. Here’s the correct link:
http://stage7.presstoday.com/_Standard/Articles/8236424
I am Bp. Willamson’s publisher and am happy to say that rumors of his death are greatly exaggerated. I had dinner with him barely a month ago – a large meal at an Italian restaurant. Hardly the behavior of a near-death cancer patient.
RORATE CÆLI have learned from a source in daily contact with Bishop Williamson the following information:
“His Excellency is alive and well and rumors of a tumor are a lie and a very transparent attempt to draw Bishop Williamson out into the public arena for some sort of comment or interview. Those who care about him will help resist such attempts.”
Fr. Z., again, with all due respect, all I suggested was confirmation of wild speculation and the consideration of privacy. Is this any less than you would ask for yourself? And even if it were, did you ask the Bishop if this is what he wanted? This is the internet, you know, not a parish bulletin. Perhaps you have misunderstood the motive of my post. General prayers are always acts of charity. But, this medium is how gossip and bad rumors get promoted.
Thank you, Mr. Heiner, for clearing things up. I hope that if Msgr. Williamson publicly REQUESTS our prayers for any illness he wishes us to know about, we will all oblige him.
Father George bloggingLOURDES says to make the intention of asking the souls in purgatory to pray and that are really good intercessors.
This raises a question that I have occassionaly wondered about. We know that the souls in purgatory can do nothing to help themselves but can they intercede for us.
If indeed they can, how does one ask for their intercession?
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009/01/note.html
I just don’t get why you guys are upset that Fr. Z. asked to offer prayers and fast for his health! This is an act of charity and true Christian love. He heard it from a source he trusted and got concerned about bp. Williamson’s well being. It takes a lot of ill will, IMHO, to call Fr. Z. liar because of this. Shame on you.