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Why Bishop Tissier’s Legacy Is Vital for the Younger Generations
When the headline “Bishop Tissier has passed” flashed across my screen, it instantly felt as if a large hole was carved not just in my heart, but into the entire traditional Catholic world. The fact I could experience this as a young adult woman who had never even met him confirms how integral his presence will be for restoring Catholic tradition for generations to come!
For many of us young Catholics who are exhausted with this crisis causing us to rapidly faction amongst ourselves, his death brings the emptiness of having lost our “guiding star” for navigating its increasing confusion. Thousands clung to his leadership since as one of the nine founding SSPX seminarians, he was the traditional Catholic who has most intimately experienced each season of the post-Vatican II breakdown from its beginning until the present: from having braved the bitter storms of being an outcast in the 70s and beyond, the tumult of the ’88 consecrations, the hierarchy’s support for Tradition fluctuating like the stock market, the effects of Summorum Pontificum and Traditionis Custodes, and much more.
When the latter document’s release confronted me with the reality that my future children could be relegated to being raised in a liturgical wasteland, it prompted me to thoroughly examine the SSPX issue – which included reading Bishop Tissier’s Marcel Lefebvre: the Biography. His illustration of the Archbishop’s crystal-clear vision of the crisis and how it equipped them to make the toughest decisions with true wisdom, provided a life-changing rock of stability amidst the state of the Church, shifting by the day. It was especially compelling that they were a turning point in history for providing immense clarity on the application of Church teaching on obedience, through detailing how it should always bring us closer to Our Lord – even when the hierarchy commands otherwise. An equal degree of inspiration came from observing how they overcame the scruples often accompanying this course of action with an unshakeable conviction that Christ, Who especially fights for the salvation of those who give their all for Him, was carrying them at every step and would never let them go. This being rooted in a wholehearted belief that one cannot do good works and be saved by one’s own strength, but solely by His grace, was transformative for my spiritual life, as it revealed that these concepts were the keys that unlocks the door to an authentic, freeing trust in God!
As this effect transfers to many souls over time, it may play a major role in solving the crisis. People would possess the courage to heed the righteous commands of Church and state leaders, and to not follow the ones against the faith: thus untangling the widespread disobedience in both of these respects at the root of our situation. These bishops’ embodiment of how this true understanding of fidelity to God does not just apply to the liturgy and doctrine, but is an entire way of life, will give future generations the knowledge and confidence to live out authentic surrender to Him to degrees not seen before.
An example especially relevant to the younger demographic is how their explanation of true obedience can easily point the average person to the solution to the volleying between Feminism and authoritarianism that has plagued couples for centuries. These concepts enumerate that by deferring to God as their authority, men will be compelled to use their headship to serve their families; instead of leveraging an abusive control stemming from a selfish lust for pleasure. The change in them will move women to realize that this Christ-like relationship – not the “girl-boss” mentality – is the only path toward avoiding tyranny and fulfilling their life-long desire for true love. Through seeing that his leadership is designed so she can have the joy of Christ to an extent not otherwise possible, and that she should submit directly to God when led in an unreasonable direction, the idea of submission to her husband will be freeing instead of frightening.
Beyond this, the application of these two bishops’ virtue extends to numerous other matters that young people wrestle with regularly. For instance, their unique ability to keep true charity while not compromising no matter the cost is a model for how to defend our faith to questioning family, friends, teachers, and coworkers, as well as for how to avoid today’s chaotic dating world pushing us to settle while choosing a spouse. Their constancy in remaining so serene despite perpetual insults (including a death threat!) made them living proof of the most vital principle: being joyful instead of anxious in the ups-and-downs of life never originates from external circumstances, but comes from making Christ alone the source of our happiness.[1]
I am so grateful to have witnessed the fruits of the sacrifices made by Bishops Tissier, Lefebvre, and many others which blossomed beautifully in my time with the Society. The ability to continually immerse myself in the riches of the traditional liturgy and receive such precise, irreplaceable insights on the spiritual life has drawn me much closer to God, and has provided the unshakeable foundation I need to face the volatility of today’s world. There are many other miraculous ways God has worked since I began going to the SSPX: from how He brought together me and some very devout friends to support clergy & laity in need, to the way He sent a priest who spent extra time giving me the advice that was vital for rescuing a childhood friend from a tyrannical relationship. And the day after Bishop Tissier’s passing, I believe his intercession made the impossible occur in a beautiful way for my friends and I – a story too long to detail here!
One can also see his work blossom through the many stories of his exemplary virtue that have been brought to the forefront following his death. It feels as though I have met him when friends share how his ultra-sweet, contemplative demeanor often led him to conduct daily life in near complete silence: or how during a hectic confirmation schedule last year, he wanted to make an hour-long sick call with an elderly couple he knew to see them “one last time.” This is a prime instance of how his child-like enthusiasm for the faith, souls, and life in general was unwavering until his dying breath, and may we imitate this example so we will be greeted with the words “well done, good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of the Lord” (Mt. 25:23). Though we must continue to pray for his soul, we can have great hope that Our Lord greeted Bishop Tissier with this beautiful phrase of mercy: not only since he gave up the comfort of an applauded name in this world and expelled every last drop of energy for His sake, but that doing so will move generations of families to save their souls by raising their kids with the same foundation!
[1] Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, The Biography of Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press, 2002), 526. This page covers how Ab. Lefebvre was nearly struck by a bomb during a talk in South America.
