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Pope Francis Drops a Bomb on the Church
Friday, Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Letter “Motu Proprio” entitled, Traditionis Custodes.(TC)
This letter severely restricts the use of the traditional Latin Mass (TLM), effectively throwing Benedict XVI and his issuance of Summorum Pontificum (SP), under the bus. Pope Benedict XVI issued SP in order to help those faithful who “continued to be attached with such love and affection to the earlier liturgical forms which had deeply shaped their culture and spirit.” Apparently, Pope Francis doesn’t think that’s necessary anymore.
It will no longer be possible for any priest to pray the TLM at any time, but will now be dependent on having a benevolent bishop who will allow the TLM. Article 3 of TC is where we get gutted:
Art. 3. The bishop of the diocese in which until now there exist one or more groups that celebrate according to the Missal antecedent to the reform of 1970:
§ 1. is to determine that these groups do not deny the validity and the legitimacy of the liturgical reform, dictated by Vatican Council II and the Magisterium of the Supreme Pontiffs;
§ 2. is to designate one or more locations where the faithful adherents of these groups may gather for the eucharistic celebration (not however in the parochial churches and without the erection of new personal parishes);
§ 3. to establish at the designated locations the days on which eucharistic celebrations are permitted using the Roman Missal promulgated by Saint John XXIII in 1962. [7] In these celebrations the readings are proclaimed in the vernacular language, using translations of the Sacred Scripture approved for liturgical use by the respective Episcopal Conferences;
§ 4. to appoint a priest who, as delegate of the bishop, is entrusted with these celebrations and with the pastoral care of these groups of the faithful. This priest should be suited for this responsibility, skilled in the use of the Missale Romanum antecedent to the reform of 1970, possess a knowledge of the Latin language sufficient for a thorough comprehension of the rubrics and liturgical texts, and be animated by a lively pastoral charity and by a sense of ecclesial communion. This priest should have at heart not only the correct celebration of the liturgy, but also the pastoral and spiritual care of the faithful;
§ 5. to proceed suitably to verify that the parishes canonically erected for the benefit of these faithful are effective for their spiritual growth, and to determine whether or not to retain them;
§ 6. to take care not to authorize the establishment of new groups.
Pope Francis loves hanging out with Muslims and Lutherans and Pachamama but seems to hate those of us who love the traditional Latin Mass. One of the great injustices of this action is that there has been great growth in the TLM in diocesan parishes. The alleged ‘Pope of accompaniment and those on the margins’ has dumped us and sent us to the margins.
This is a big deal. There is a quote attributed to Pope Francis that he was not to be excluded that he will enter history as the one who split the Catholic Church. This makes it look like he is trying to do exactly this.
I am trying to find out if the TLM that I attend will still be offered this Sunday, and if so, where will it be held. Because apparently, according to TC 3.2, it can’t be held in the parish church.
Published in Religion & Philosophy
So… why is this symbolism is important to Catholics? What’s in TLM that is so important?
“You will be formed in the same way that most of the Saints were formed. If we take a conservative estimate and consider the Roman Mass to have been codified by the reign of Pope St. Gregory the Great (ca. 600) and to have lasted intact until 1970, we are talking about close to 1,400 years of the life of the Church—and that’s most of her history of saints. The prayers, readings, and chants that they heard and pondered will be the ones you hear and ponder.”
Popular culture shapes opinion, it does not shape truth.
I’ve long pondered why it is that Pope Francis looks around at the condition of the world and the Church and seems to come to the conclusion that the problem is traditional Catholics — particularly those in America. This decision doesn’t help me understand him better — at all.
In my fifty-mumble-mumble odd years of life, I have no recollection of ever attending a TLM (maybe as a child, but I don’t remember it). If I wanted to go to one now, I’d have to drive thirty minutes one way rather than the six minutes around the corner to my parish. It’s not as if people who want to attend a Novus Ordo Mass are being starved of the opportunities. Does he not know that young people, in particular, are being drawn to the TLM? Many even converting to the Faith because of it?
I’m looking forward to the guys at Catholic Answers trying to explain this (away). Particularly Tim Staples, who is one of my favorite Catholic apologists, who just this week predicted that Francis would NOT ban the TLM. Let’s hear it, Tim. Whatssup?
That’s a long tradition. Closer to Christ’s birth than the modern day. Color me impressed.
I’ll echo what @dougwatt said and add this:
I grew up in the United Church of Christ. They have the same basic flow of worship as does the Novus Ordo mass – the apparently “unique” mass of Pope Francis’s Latin Church. This was the goal of changing the mass – to make it accessible to Protestants. It was an abject failure.
When I am at the TLM, I feel the essence of worship: to give glory to God for the salvation of souls.
I challenge you to find an FSSP or ICKSP parish or a diocesan parish that celebrates the TLM and see what it is all about. If I recall, you are not a believer; check it out and tell me what you think.
From where I sit as a non-Catholic, the jibe we used to use as kids to a dumb question “Well, is the Pope Catholic?” has lost its point.
I guess there is always the bear in the woods……
All right; hold everything! You’re back?
I tell ya, among all the biggest problems in the world is definitely people wanting to do some church in Latin. Non est bonum!
Cuba, for example–that‘s not a problem.
Sex slavery, mass fatherless, global massive rates of porn addiction–what Catholics oughtta worry about is definitely Latin church.
Heh. Maybe. I’m still discerning and logged-in to honor the Boss man upon his passing. My membership is paid up through December (my anniversary month as a charter member). But, I may be getting a job in engineering for the first time in 25 years(!) next week, which will definitely put a damper on my ability to participate. Trying to figure out where God is calling me. I wish He’d send a memo, er somethin’!
In the words of Harry Flashman, “God moves in mysterious ways, but why does He insist on dragging me along with Him?
Good Luck on the job options!
Well, as Tim has been known to say: that’s a long row to hoe.
Hope you stay around.
Do stay. The Ricochet community benefits from having one more faithful Catholic around.
Exactly! The Left is well on its way to the total destruction of Western Civilization and Pope Francis thinks the Latin Mass is a no-go?
I heard a Catholic podcast recently where G.K. Chesterton was quoted (in reference to Thomas Aquinas) and it went something like this: there’s reality and there’s recognition of reality; the two together are essential. Someone should inform Pope Francis [I often think the men around him advising him on world affairs must be very, very wicked].
At the recent ordination Mass of our new bishop, the presiding Archbishop said, “Christendom is dead.” And my follow-up remark as I watched the livestream was, “which means the West is dead.” It’s not that we get what it means to be American wrong (as one of the authors at American Greatness wrote); it’s that we get what it means to be human wrong. The Church has always been spot-on on its human anthropology (separating the marital act from procreation (contraception) leads to abortion (back-up contraception) leads to SSM (since marriage is no longer about procreation) leads to transgender ideology (“birthing persons” and pregnant male emojis). The world should shudder when the Church stops dealing in reality. Pray for Pope Francis!
Scott, how does the TLM compare to the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom we use in the Orthodox Church? Just curious.
Thanks. It’s one of those ones that came to me when I wasn’t even looking for a job! The idea is kind of terrifying after 25 years out of the saddle, but I do have a background that might allow me to help Mr. C’s employer, who is in a bit of a pickle. I sort of feel obliged to try. We shall see.
I’m sorry, I can’t answer that. I’ve never been to that liturgy.
“Is the Pope Catholic?” used to be a joke.
Lousy excuse. I’ve got a job in engineering and I’m still here!
This tacit admission of the collapse of the Novus Ordo is the death knell of man-centered worship in the face of God-centered worship. History will remember this odd little period from Vatican II to the last Novus Ordo mass attended by hard-core centenarian kettle drummers as the Pachamama Pause.
It is not as if the Church has never been compromised before. What Satan sows for evil, God reaps for good.
Come, Emmanuel.
I’ve been to several Eastern Catholic Masses, which I believe are also based on the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. As I don’t speak the language I couldn’t really follow the structure well enough to give you a point-by-point comparison. I’d say the most obvious difference to me was that there’s lots of kneeling in the Latin Mass, vs. no kneeling but a whole lot of standing in the Eastern Masses.
Thought I’d give it a shot. Thanks for the reply. Praying for you and your church.
Our parish has the Divine Liturgy in English, which really helps me. I’ve never been to a TLM, so I wondered how the two compare. Oh well, I suppose there’s always Duck Duck Go.
If you’re trying to understand his motivation, he spells out his concern quite clearly in the accompanying letter to bishops:
I like the Chrysostem liturgy. It is performed largely in the vernacular and the clergy address God aside from the sermon. Very God-centered compared to the Novus Ordo.
The Latin Mass is performed almost entirely in Latin, with the alter against the eastern wall and all pews facing the alter. In my experience, for 80-90% of the service, a priest and two altar boys pray facing the altar with the assembled faithful in support in response at preset junctures and otherwise praying silently. If there is a sermon the reading and the sermon are delivered in English from a pulpit. Latin-English Missals allow the experienced to follow along to some extent, but most of the clergy’s prayers are for God alone and hushed or inaudible to assembled faithful.
Rosaries are prayed before and after by the assembled in the pews on Sundays. Many are seated 20-30 minutes prior to mass to pray silently or join the rosaries.
The sermons I have heard have been instructive rather than entertaining, with proportionate discussion of sin and sanctification.
Hymns are sparse, usually one. The choir is wonderful.
An entire service in 21st Century America that does not patronize the assembled. It happens also in the Chrysostem, which I adore, but the focus and piety of the congregation at Saint Benedict’s is an experience. If you ever find yourself in Chesapeake, VA, there are three masses daily, a fourth on Sundays.
And it will tick off the centenarian kettle drummers.
Here is their Easter Mass.
Thanks Sisyphus! This is very helpful.
Good point!
Francis unites in the same way that today’s leftists do (aka Joe Biden and gang): by excluding a lot of people.
From the accompanying letter to bishops:
QUOTE
St. Paul VI, recalling that the work of adaptation of the Roman Missal had already been initiated by Pius XII, declared that the revision of the Roman Missal, carried out in the light of ancient liturgical sources, had the goal of permitting the Church to raise up, in the variety of languages, “a single and identical prayer,” that expressed her unity.[29] This unity I intend to re-establish throughout the Church of the Roman Rite.
UNQUOTE
So he “reestablishes” unity by excluding one of the most vibrant communities in the Church.
I heard about that, Scott. I am sorry. I am not Catholic, but I think the Vatican II reforms were a mistake. The Latin Mass is a ritual that does not deserve to die. Note: would “Pope” Francis meet with Joe Biden now? Their methods seem to agree (getting rid of what their predecessor did, regardless of how useful and necessary). Keep the Faith, it matters more than the ritual (just a bit).
One question. Would someone like Mozart or Bach have written Masses for the Vatican II-style? Have any modern composers written masses since 1972? The answer might say something.