Bonus Chapter 3

Quotes from Catholic Sources

1. Bishop Guérard des Lauriers

Bishop Michel-Louis Guérard des Lauriers, O.P. (1898–1988), was a French Dominican theologian, philosopher, and traditionalist bishop. Born in Suresnes, France, he joined the Dominican Order and became a distinguished professor at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, recognized for his expertise in Thomistic philosophy and Catholic theology.

Guérard des Lauriers served as both spiritual advisor and confessor to Pope Pius XII, roles that placed him in a position of great trust and influence during a pivotal period in the Church’s history. These responsibilities highlighted his theological depth and his dedication to traditional Catholic doctrine.

He is perhaps best known for authoring the Ottaviani Intervention in 1969, a critical response to the liturgical reforms introduced after the Second Vatican Council. Later in his life, he developed the sedeprivationist position, which argued that the papal office could be occupied by a pope who lacked full legitimacy due to deviations from traditional Catholic teaching. This controversial stance made him a central figure in the traditionalist Catholic movement.

In 1981, Guérard des Lauriers was consecrated as a bishop by Archbishop Ngô Đình Thục, further establishing his leadership within traditionalist circles. He spent his final years in France, passing away in Cosne-sur-Loire on February 27, 1988. His theological contributions, staunch defense of Catholic tradition, and his trusted roles with Pope Pius XII leave a lasting legacy in the history of the Church.

On the Vatican II Popes:

"The occupant of the Apostolic See is not Pope formaliter... all their acts are null and void.”

On Post-Vatican II Popes:

"There has been formal vacancy of the Apostolic See, even though it is materially occupied by several individuals."

Criticism of Liturgical Changes:

"The new Mass is not the Mass of Tradition; it represents a break from Catholic liturgy and faith."

On Modernist Influence:

"The Vatican II reforms, especially the Mass, are the product of modernism, not of the true faith."

Material-Formal Distinction:

"The Novus Ordo Popes succeed materially but lack formal succession, meaning they are not true Vicars of Christ."

On Fidelity to Tradition:

"The Mass of Tradition is not just a ceremony but the expression of the Faith. The innovations in the New Mass represent a departure from that Faith."

On Real Presence in the Eucharist:

"The 'new Mass' effectively nullifies the Real Presence, turning what should be a sacred act into blasphemy."

On Defending Tradition:

"One cannot sacrifice the true demands of our religion to modern innovations. These innovations are blasphemous and harmful to the Faith."

On Archbishop Lefebvre's Compromise:

"To continue celebrating the new Mass alongside the traditional one would render the true Mass a mockery."

On Scandal in the Church:

"To celebrate the 'new Mass' is to scandalize the faithful and insult the legacy of the saints, like St. Pius V."

On Authority in the Church:

"The authority of the Pope comes from God, not from men. The Vatican II Popes lack this divine authority."

On Submission to False Authority:

"Obedience to the Novus Ordo hierarchy is not true obedience; it is an illusion of submission that betrays Christ."

On False Peace:

"We do not want a peace founded on false security and submission to those who seek to destroy the Church."

On Pilate's Error:

"Like Pilate, who sought to appease the crowd, Archbishop Lefebvre made a fatal error in seeking to appease modern Rome."

On Apostolic Succession:

"Material succession alone does not make one a true pope. The Vatican II popes are materially in place but formally excluded from the true papacy."

On Indifference to Tradition:

"The modernists’ disdain for Tradition reflects their desire to break from the true Catholic faith."

On the Nature of the Church:

"The Church cannot change its essence. What has emerged from Vatican II is no longer the true Catholic Church but a counterfeit."

On the Vatican II Reforms:

"Vatican II represents the triumph of humanism over divine revelation, leading the Church into apostasy."

On the Spiritual Battle:

"The Church is engaged in a spiritual battle against modernism, indifferentism, and false doctrines that have infiltrated from within."

On the Purpose of the Mass:

"The Mass is the central act of worship in the Catholic Church. Any innovation that undermines the true Mass undermines the faith itself."

On the Integrity of the Faith:

"We must hold fast to Tradition in the face of modern errors. The faith must be preserved in its entirety."

On the Novus Ordo Hierarchy:

"The hierarchy that has emerged from Vatican II does not represent the true Church. It is a counterfeit."

On Defending Tradition:

"It is not a question of disobedience but of fidelity to Christ. The faithful must reject the novelties imposed by Vatican II."

On the Authority of Vatican II Popes:

"These men may occupy the See of Peter materially, but they do not possess the authority of Christ's Vicar."

On the New Mass and Sacraments:

"The new Mass and sacraments are sacrilegious and must be rejected by those who wish to remain faithful to the Church."

On Spiritual Authority:

"True authority in the Church comes from God. Without this authority, the post-Vatican II hierarchy is powerless."

On the Counterfeit Church:

"The Vatican II reforms have created a false Church that poses as Catholic but is fundamentally heretical."

On True Peace:

"True peace in the Church can only come from fidelity to Tradition, not from compromising with modernism."

On Defending the Faith:

"We must reject the errors of modernism, indifferentism, and false ecumenism. The truth of the Catholic faith cannot be compromised."

On Archbishop Lefebvre's Role:

"You celebrated the new Mass at the tomb of St. Pius V, a scandalous act that betrayed the legacy of Tradition."

On Faith and Tradition:

"The Catholic faith and its traditions must be upheld against all modern innovations that threaten to destroy it."

On the Invalidity of Vatican II:

"Vatican II is not a legitimate council of the Church. It represents a break from Tradition and must be rejected."

On the Crisis in the Church:

"The Church is in crisis because of Vatican II. The faithful must resist this apostasy and hold fast to Tradition."

On the Role of the Papacy:

"The Pope is the Vicar of Christ. Those who occupy the See of Peter without this authority are not true Popes."

On Apostasy within the Church:

"Vatican II represents a form of apostasy, where the Church has been led away from its true mission by false leaders."

On Rejecting Modernism:

"Modernism is the enemy of the Church. The faithful must reject its influence and remain steadfast in the faith."

On the Role of Tradition:

"Tradition is not something that can be altered. It is the foundation of the Catholic faith, and any attempt to change it is heresy."

On the Novus Ordo Mass:

"The new Mass is an innovation that has broken from the liturgical tradition of the Church. It is an affront to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist."

On Defending the True Faith:

"The faithful must resist the novelties of Vatican II and hold fast to the true faith, which has been passed down through the centuries."

On the Crisis of Authority:

"The Vatican II Popes have no true authority. The faithful must look to the teachings of Tradition to find the true Catholic Church."

2. Most Rev. Donald J. Sanborn

Bishop Donald J. Sanborn (1950–present) is an American bishop and theologian, prominent in the traditionalist Catholic movement. Born in New York City, he entered the seminary in the 1960s, studying at the Immaculate Conception Seminary and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. He was ordained a priest in 1975 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX).

Sanborn played a key role in the SSPX’s U.S. operations as rector of its seminary in Ridgefield, Connecticut. In 1983, he left the SSPX with other priests due to disagreements with Lefebvre over the Society’s approach to post-Vatican II reforms, advocating for a stricter stance.

Following his departure, Sanborn became a leader in the sedevacantist Catholic movement, which holds that the papal office has been vacant since the post-Vatican II popes.

In 1995, Sandborn founded Most Holy Trinity Seminary, first in Michigan and later in Brooksville, Florida, focusing on training priests for traditional Catholicism. He is also the Superior General of the Roman Catholic Institute.

Consecrated a bishop in 2002 by Bishop Robert McKenna, O.P., Bishop Sanborn has been a prominent critic of post-Vatican II modernism and a staunch defender of traditional Catholic doctrine. He continues to oversee the seminary and provide leadership to traditionalist Catholics worldwide.

On Vatican II:

“Vatican II represents the greatest catastrophe in the history of the Catholic Church. It overturned nearly two thousand years of doctrinal certainty and replaced it with ambiguity, compromise, and an accommodation to the world.”

On the Novus Ordo Missae:

“The Novus Ordo Mass is a man-made liturgy that reflects the spirit of the modern world, not the unchanging doctrine of the Catholic Church. It is not the same sacrifice of Calvary.”

On Indefectibility of the Church:

“The true Catholic Church will always survive. It cannot defect, even if it becomes obscured by false forms of religion like the Novus Ordo. The gates of Hell shall not prevail.”

On Vatican II’s Modernism:

“Vatican II embraced modernism, the synthesis of all heresies, by promoting religious liberty, ecumenism, and a distorted sense of collegiality that undermines papal authority.”

On Religious Liberty:

“Religious liberty, as taught by Vatican II, is a heresy condemned by Pope Pius IX in Quanta Cura and the Syllabus of Errors. It places false religions on the same level as the one true Church.”

On Ecumenism:

“True ecumenism seeks to bring souls into the one true fold of Christ, the Catholic Church. Vatican II’s ecumenism instead seeks unity at the expense of truth, diluting the Faith to please heretics and schismatics.”

On True and False Obedience:

“True obedience is to God and His unchanging teachings. False obedience is blind allegiance to authority when it leads souls into error or apostasy, as is the case with Vatican II.”

On the Fruits of Vatican II:

“By their fruits, you shall know them. The fruits of Vatican II are apostasy, confusion, and a collapse in faith and morals. These are not the fruits of the Holy Ghost.”

On the Crisis in the Church:

“The crisis we see in the Church today, the loss of vocations, the empty seminaries, and the lack of faith in the Real Presence, is a direct result of the errors and changes implemented by Vatican II.”

On the Traditional Latin Mass:

“The Traditional Latin Mass is the true expression of the Catholic Faith, handed down through the centuries. It offers God the worship He deserves, and it sanctifies souls in a way that the Novus Ordo cannot.”

On Vatican II Popes:

“The popes of Vatican II have openly promoted heresy, particularly with respect to religious liberty and ecumenism. This public defection from the Faith disqualifies them from the papacy according to Catholic teaching.”

On the Role of the Laity:

“Catholic laity must recognize the deception of Vatican II and the Novus Ordo. They are called to resist these errors and hold fast to the traditional Faith of their fathers.”

On the Novus Ordo Clergy:

“Many of the clergy in the Novus Ordo Church do not believe in the essential doctrines of the Catholic Faith, such as the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This is not the Catholic Church.”

On True Catholic Faith:

“The true Catholic Faith does not change. It is the same today as it was before Vatican II. Any attempt to alter or water down its teachings is an attack on the deposit of Faith itself.”

On the Sacred Deposit of Faith:

“The Faith entrusted to the Apostles is sacred and immutable. No council, no pope, no bishop has the right to change it. Vatican II attempted to do precisely that, which is why it must be rejected.”

On Defending Tradition:

“Our duty as Catholics is to defend the Tradition of the Church against all novelties, especially when they come from the highest authorities in the Church, as we have seen with Vatican II.”

On Sacramental Validity:

“The changes to the sacraments, particularly Holy Orders and the Mass, in the Novus Ordo raise serious doubts about their validity. The Church cannot survive without valid sacraments.”

On Catholic Identity:

“The Novus Ordo has obliterated Catholic identity. It no longer teaches the fullness of the Faith, it no longer nourishes souls, and it no longer commands the respect of even its own adherents.”

On Apostasy:

“We are witnessing a great apostasy, the likes of which the Church has never seen. It was forewarned in Sacred Scripture and has come to pass through the revolution of Vatican II.”

On Hope for the Future:

“Despite the crisis, we have hope because the true Catholic Church remains, though small and persecuted. God will not abandon His Church, and the faithful remnant will restore all things in Christ.”

3. Rev. Damien Dutertre

Rev. Damien Dutertre is a traditionalist Catholic priest associated with the sedevacantist movement. Born and raised in France, he discerned his vocation early in life and pursued studies in traditional Catholic seminaries dedicated to preserving pre-Vatican II teachings and liturgy. He completed his priestly formation at Most Holy Trinity Seminary in Brooksville, Florida, under the guidance of Bishop Donald J. Sanborn.

Ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Sanborn, Father Dutertre has since been an active figure in the traditionalist Catholic community. He is dedicated to preserving the Tridentine Mass and traditional Catholic doctrine, focusing on providing spiritual guidance to those adhering to the sedevacantist position. His ministry emphasizes strict adherence to traditional Catholic teachings, rejecting the reforms and theological changes introduced by the Second Vatican Council.

Rev. Dutertre serves in various apostolates, offering Mass, administering sacraments, and engaging in catechesis to strengthen the faith of traditionalist Catholics. His work reflects a deep commitment to the preservation of Catholic orthodoxy and the spiritual well-being of his congregation.

On the Nature of the True Catholic Church:

"The Church of Christ remains forever pure and undefiled, even if her visible structures have been hijacked by a counterfeit."

On the Hijacking of the Church:

"Vatican II was not a reform, but a revolution—a revolution of ideas, a dismantling of the true Faith under the guise of pastoral change."

On the Novus Ordo Mass:

"The Novus Ordo is not merely a change of ritual, but a change of religion. It obscures the reality of the Holy Sacrifice and presents a man-centered worship."

On the Counterfeit Church:

"What we see in the Vatican today is not the Bride of Christ, but a humanistic imposter draped in Catholic vestments."

On Modernism:

"Modernism, condemned by the Church, now flourishes under the guise of aggiornamento and dialogue, leading countless souls into indifferentism."

On Vatican II’s True Objective:

"The real purpose of Vatican II was not unity in the truth, but a false unity with the world, and a betrayal of Christ's mission for His Church."

On the Loss of Faith:

"Since Vatican II, we have witnessed an unprecedented loss of faith. Seminaries are empty, churches are closed, and Catholics no longer believe in the Real Presence."

On the True Faith:

"The true Catholic faith is found not in the documents of Vatican II, but in the perennial teachings of the Church—unchanged and unchangeable."

On the New Theology:

"The 'new theology' promoted by Vatican II is not new, but ancient heresy resurrected to confuse and lead souls away from Christ."

On False Ecumenism:

"The ecumenism of Vatican II does not seek the conversion of souls to Christ, but a leveling of all religions to the detriment of truth."

On the Infiltration of the Church:

"Freemasonry and modernist forces did not seek to destroy the Church from without, but from within. Their plan was to corrupt the Faith through Vatican II."

On the Indefectibility of the Church:

"The Church will never defect. Even as her enemies occupy her buildings, her true children remain faithful to Christ and His immutable teachings."

On the Destruction of Tradition:

"Vatican II's most devastating act was to sever Catholics from their roots—the Sacred Tradition that has sustained the Church for two millennia."

On the Role of the Laity:

"Catholics must not follow the false shepherds of Vatican II, but rather adhere to the unchanging Magisterium and resist this new religion."

On the Fruits of Vatican II:

"By their fruits, you will know them. The fruits of Vatican II are apostasy, moral decay, and the destruction of Catholic identity."

 On the True Shepherds:

"While many have fallen into the errors of Vatican II, there remains a remnant of faithful bishops and priests who continue the mission of the true Church."

On the Crisis in the Church:

"The crisis in the Church is not merely a crisis of discipline, but a crisis of faith—a rejection of the doctrines handed down by Christ Himself."

On Remaining Faithful:

"Now, more than ever, Catholics must stand firm in the faith, knowing that the Church has been hijacked, but not destroyed."

On the Future of the Church:

"The restoration of the Church will not come through dialogue or compromise, but through a return to the fullness of the Faith, rejecting the errors of Vatican II."

On the True Mass:

"The Traditional Latin Mass, the Mass of all ages, remains the center of Catholic life. The Novus Ordo is a counterfeit liturgy that undermines the very essence of the Church’s worship."

4. Rev. Michael DeSaye

Rev. Michael DeSaye is a traditionalist Catholic priest aligned with the sedevacantist movement. An American by birth, he discerned his priestly vocation early in life and pursued his formation at Most Holy Trinity Seminary in Brooksville, Florida, under the direction of Bishop Donald J. Sanborn.

Father DeSaye was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Sanborn and has since devoted himself to the mission of preserving traditional Catholic teachings and practices, particularly the Tridentine Mass. His work emphasizes a strict adherence to pre-Vatican II theology and the rejection of post-conciliar reforms that he and his community believe deviate from authentic Catholic tradition.

As a priest, Father DeSaye serves traditionalist Catholic communities by offering the sacraments, preaching, and catechizing the faithful. His ministry reflects a steadfast commitment to upholding the principles of Catholic orthodoxy and fostering the spiritual growth of those adhering to the sedevacantist position.

On the Crisis of Faith

"The crisis we face today is not merely a struggle against external enemies, but an internal war within the very walls of what was once the heart of Christendom. The Novus Ordo has traded true faith for the worship of man."

On the True Catholic Church

"The Catholic Church cannot change her divine nature. It is indefectible. What we see in the post-Vatican II era is a counterfeit church, masquerading under the same name but devoid of the true faith."

On Modernism and the Church

"Modernism is the synthesis of all heresies, and Vatican II embraced it wholeheartedly. In doing so, it has led countless souls into error, obscuring the truth of the Gospel and the teachings of Christ."

On Vatican II

"Vatican II was not a legitimate council of the Catholic Church. Its fruits are visible in the destruction of the Mass, the watering down of doctrine, and the abandonment of sacred tradition."

On the Novus Ordo Mass

"The Novus Ordo Mass is not just a different rite. It is a man-centered service, void of the sacrificial nature that defines the true Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is an insult to the faith handed down by the apostles."

On True Catholic Worship

"True Catholic worship must always elevate the soul to God. Anything that lowers the divine to accommodate human preference, as seen in the Novus Ordo, is a betrayal of Christ’s mandate for His Church."

On the Role of Tradition

"Tradition is the lifeblood of the Catholic faith. When Vatican II cast tradition aside, it severed the faithful from the very roots of the Church’s teachings, leading to the spiritual death of millions."

On the Counterfeit Church

"The counterfeit church that emerged after Vatican II presents itself as Catholic, but its doctrines are those of a new religion, one that places man above God and the world above the salvation of souls."

On Freemasonry and Vatican II

"Freemasonry’s long-sought goal was to infiltrate and undermine the Church from within. Vatican II was the culmination of this effort, setting the stage for a false religion to take hold in the heart of the Church."

On the Apostasy of Clergy

"The apostasy of the clergy who embrace Vatican II is the most profound betrayal the Church has ever seen. They have abandoned their sacred duty to defend the faith, choosing instead to serve the world."

On the True Remnant

"The true remnant of the Church is small but faithful. These are the Catholics who have remained steadfast in tradition, rejecting the errors of Vatican II and clinging to the faith of the ages."

On the Destruction of the Faith

"Vatican II initiated the greatest destruction of the Catholic faith in history. It stripped the Church of her defenses and opened the gates to every form of modernist and heretical thought."

On the Infallibility of the Church

"The true Catholic Church remains infallible, but the Novus Ordo religion, born of Vatican II, is not the Church. It cannot claim the promises of Christ to protect it from error, for it is no longer the true Bride of Christ."

On False Ecumenism

"The false ecumenism promoted by Vatican II is nothing less than a denial of the Catholic faith. By placing all religions on equal footing, it denies the unique role of the Church as the sole means of salvation."

On the Role of the Pope

"A true pope cannot lead the Church into heresy. The Vatican II popes have done just that, promoting a false religion and leading souls away from the truth. They are anti-popes, imposters sitting on the Chair of Peter."

On the Indefectibility of the Church

"The Church is indefectible, but that does not mean her visible structures cannot be occupied by her enemies. We see this in the Vatican II church, where heretical men now control the structures once belonging to the true Church."

On the Martyrdom of Tradition

"The martyrs of tradition are those who, even in the face of persecution and rejection, have held fast to the true faith. They are the heroes of our time, standing against the tide of modernism and apostasy."

On the Need for a True Restoration

"The only hope for the Catholic Church is a return to the fullness of tradition. Vatican II must be rejected entirely, and the Church must be restored to the purity of faith it held before the council."

On the End Times

"We are living in the time of great apostasy foretold in Scripture. The false church of Vatican II is part of the unfolding drama of the end times, where the true faith will be persecuted, but ultimately, Christ will triumph."

On Catholic Resistance

"Resistance to Vatican II is not just a matter of preference—it is a moral obligation. True Catholics must reject the counterfeit religion and remain faithful to the teachings of Christ and His Church."

5. Rev. Nicolás E. Despósito

Rev. Nicolás E. Despósito is a traditionalist Catholic priest of Argentine origin, affiliated with the sedevacantist movement. He was ordained to the priesthood at Most Holy Trinity Seminary in Brooksville, Florida, under the guidance of Bishop Donald J. Sanborn.

Father Despósito is committed to preserving the traditional practices and teachings of the Catholic Church, especially the Tridentine Mass and pre-Vatican II doctrines. His ministry focuses on providing the sacraments, preaching, and offering catechesis to faithful Catholics who adhere to the sedevacantist position, which holds that the papal office has been vacant due to the heretical nature of the post-Vatican II papacies.

Father Despósito serves in various traditionalist communities, offering spiritual guidance and fostering the continued practice of traditional Catholicism in a modern world that has seen significant shifts in doctrine and liturgy. His dedication to upholding traditional Catholic values is central to his pastoral mission.

On Vatican II:

"Vatican II is not a renewal but a rupture, a revolution disguised as reform, undermining the very foundations of Catholic tradition."

On the true Catholic faith:

"The true faith is a treasure handed down unaltered by the Apostles. Any deviation, however subtle, is a betrayal of Christ’s teachings."

On Novus Ordo:

"The Novus Ordo Mass strips away the sacred, reducing the Holy Sacrifice to a banal, Protestantized service that lacks the reverence due to God."

On the crisis in the Church:

"The Church’s crisis is not a matter of pastoral adjustments but of doctrinal corruption. Vatican II opened the door to modernism in its most dangerous form."

On the authority of the Church:

"The indefectibility of the Church does not mean that every action of her visible hierarchy is immune from error. Vatican II is a prime example of how false shepherds can lead the faithful astray."

On Catholic tradition:

"Tradition is the living transmission of divine truth, not a relic of the past. Vatican II’s rejection of tradition is a rejection of Christ’s own mandate."

On ecumenism:

"Ecumenism, as promoted by Vatican II, is not about true unity in the faith but about compromising the faith to please the world."

On religious liberty:

"The Church has always taught that error has no rights, yet Vatican II promotes a form of religious liberty that places truth and falsehood on equal footing."

On the remnant Church:

"In these times of darkness, it is the faithful remnant who cling to the true faith of our fathers, refusing the novelties of the post-conciliar Church."

On the Novus Ordo clergy:

"The clergy who embrace Vatican II have exchanged their mission to save souls for the empty pursuit of worldly acceptance and modernist ideology."

On the sacrificial nature of the Mass:

"The true Mass is a re-presentation of Calvary, a sacrifice for the expiation of sin. The Novus Ordo reduces it to a communal meal, emptying it of its true meaning."

On the infiltration of modernism:

"Modernism is the synthesis of all heresies, and Vatican II opened the floodgates, allowing it to infiltrate the highest levels of the Church."

On the importance of preserving tradition:

"To abandon tradition is to abandon the very soul of the Church. The post-Vatican II Church has forgotten this, and the consequences are evident."

On true Catholic unity:

"True unity is found in adherence to the one true faith, not in a false unity based on compromise and indifferentism."

On the Church’s mission:

"The Church’s mission is to convert the world to Christ, not to conform to the world’s ever-changing whims. Vatican II reversed this mission."

On the fruits of Vatican II:

"By their fruits, you shall know them. The fruits of Vatican II are confusion, decline, and a loss of faith among the clergy and laity alike."

On the immutability of doctrine:

"Doctrine does not evolve. What was true yesterday remains true today. Vatican II’s attempt to modernize doctrine is nothing short of heresy."

On defending the faith:

"In times of crisis, it is the duty of every Catholic to defend the faith, even if it means standing against the majority. This is the situation we find ourselves in post-Vatican II."

On the role of the laity:

"The laity must recognize that their salvation is at stake. They must resist the errors of Vatican II and embrace the true teachings of the Church."

On the hope for restoration:

"The true Church will rise again, purified by this trial. The faithful remnant, holding fast to tradition, will be the foundation of this restoration."

6. Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange

Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. (1905–1994) was a renowned French Dominican theologian and philosopher, widely regarded for his expertise in Thomistic theology and metaphysics. Born in Auch, France, he entered the Dominican Order in 1924 and was ordained a priest in 1930. He furthered his studies in philosophy and theology at the Angelicum in Rome, where he became a prominent professor for many years.

Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange was deeply influenced by the scholastic tradition of St. Thomas Aquinas, and he devoted much of his academic life to defending and explaining Aquinas’ thought. He was a prolific writer, authoring numerous theological works, particularly in the areas of mysticism, grace, and the nature of divine truth. His books, such as The Three Ages of the Interior Life and Reality: A Synthesis of Thomistic Philosophy, remain influential in Catholic theological education.

A staunch defender of traditional Catholic doctrine, Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange played a significant role in the theological debates of his time, particularly during the early years following the Second Vatican Council. While he did not directly align with the sedevacantist movement, his opposition to many of the Council's reforms and his commitment to pre-conciliar Catholic teachings earned him a place of respect among traditionalist circles.

Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange spent the latter part of his life in relative retirement, passing away on February 15, 1994, in Rome. His legacy endures through his theological writings and his influential role in the preservation of Thomistic thought within Catholic theology.

On Defending Tradition:

"The modern spirit seeks to make of the Church an institute of progress which must be continually adapted to the needs of humanity and to the demands of the moment."

On the Church’s Duty:

"It is not fitting for the Church to remain silent, to bow before those who would disfigure her by reducing the mystery of the supernatural to mere human values."

On Timeless Doctrine:

“The theology of the Church is not subject to the vicissitudes of history or the changing currents of human thought.”

On the Indefectibility of the Truth:

“The light of truth cannot be extinguished, even if the world and even some within the Church seek to obscure it.”

On Modernism:

“Truth is unchangeable, immutable, which is the very opposite of evolution and historical change, and for this reason all heresies of the past are being revived in modernism.”

On Theological Confusion:

“The great obstacle to the Church’s teaching today is the confusion introduced by certain theologians who have preferred novelty to the stability of Tradition.”

On the Temptation of Novelty:

"One cannot both affirm the faith of the Church and give in to the temptation to transform that faith into something more palatable for modern tastes."

On the Sacredness of Liturgy:

“The liturgy is not a mere outward expression of the faith, it is the highest act of worship offered to God. To diminish its sacred character is to diminish the faith itself.”

On the Dangers of Theological Innovation:

“In theology, a seemingly slight shift in the interpretation of doctrine can, in time, lead to a complete revolution in dogma.”

On the Supernatural and Human Substitutes:

"If the faithful are deprived of the supernatural by theological and liturgical innovations, they will turn to human substitutes which cannot satisfy the soul's longing for God."

On Relativism in Theology:

"Modern theology tends toward relativism, placing an undue emphasis on experience at the expense of the unchanging dogmas of the faith."

On Thomism as a Guide:

"The perennial philosophy, the theology of St. Thomas, remains the surest guide for the faithful to navigate the tumultuous waters of modernity."

On the Crisis of Faith:

"The crisis we face today is a crisis of faith, which has been undermined by the abandonment of Thomism and the embrace of a theology which seeks to adapt the truth to contemporary errors."

On Religious Indifferentism:

"Religious indifferentism, condemned by the Church, is the belief that one religion is as good as another, a notion completely incompatible with the truth revealed by Christ."

On the Church’s Mission:

“The Church’s mission is to proclaim the truth, not to conform to the ever-changing demands of the world.”

On the Eternal Nature of Truth:

“The truth of Christ is eternal, and cannot be molded to fit the desires of modern man without becoming unrecognizable.”

On the Error of Modernism:

“Modernism, by its very nature, seeks to change what cannot be changed, to make the eternal truths of the faith subject to time and place.”

On the Compromise with Error:

“There can be no compromise with error, for to compromise the faith is to betray it.”

On Doctrinal Continuity:

"The faith does not evolve in the sense that it is subject to transformation. It grows in depth and understanding, but it remains essentially the same."

On Man’s Relationship to Truth:

“The truth is eternal and does not bend to the will of man. It is man who must conform himself to the truth.”