Saturday 15 February 2014

'Going Deeper' With Pope Francis

"Let's go deeper...When did your desire to attend to the Latin Mass start?"

It is saddening that an Italian journalist at Radio Maria has fallen foul of the broadcasting organisation's policy towards reporting on Church affairs. Good grief, I mean, if fidelity and obedience to everything the Successor of St Peter says and does is the yardstick of Catholicism then the entire editorial boards of The Tablet and the National Catholic Reporter, among others, should have been sacked years ago. I feel great sympathy for Professor Roberto de Mattei and I'm sure His Holiness wouldn't want people being sacked on his behalf in a Church of mercy.

Rorate Caeli also has some pretty depressing news today concerning the Holy Father's thoughts on those who wish to attend the Traditional Latin Mass liberated by his predecessor, Benedict XVI. His Holiness has recently toned down some of his language but I find these latest words, attributed to him by a Czech bishop, to be a little insulting personally and a little insulting, too, to his predecessor of fond memory. Speaking of the Mass of Ages, mused His Holiness...


"When I search more thoroughly - the Pope said - I find that it is rather a kind of fashion [in Czech: 'móda', Italian 'moda']. And if it is a fashion, therefore it is a matter that does not need that much attention. It is just necessary to show some patience and kindness to people who are addicted to a certain fashion. But I consider greatly important to go deep into things, because if we do not go deep, no liturgical form, this or that one, can save us."

Ah, we can only stand back in awe at the patience and kindness with which the Franciscans of the Immaculate have been tolerated. One immediately recalls, from experience, just how kind and patient therapists can be! I suppose in terms of fashion, the 1970s is, for many people, just 'where its at', even though many have long since left it behind, seeking something more solid, noble, worthy of the Lord, something more dignified, reverent and beautiful than what that particular era had to offer the people of God. What is it about traditional Catholic worship that has today's bishops get so hot under the collar? What will, God willing we get there, the liturgy in Heaven be like for all eternity?

Finally, last, but not least, please of your charity say a prayer for a friend of mine, Kevin, who was more a friend of Jason's, who died in his sleep the other day - young, recently out of prison, addicted to various drugs and drink, leaving behind him children and the mother of his children and even his grandfather who outlived him. I will miss him very much and so will Jason who is very much grieving. It appears very much that Brighton has claimed another victim of its notorious claim as the capital of drug-related deaths in the United Kingdom. May his soul, by the mercy of God and through the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin, rest in peace. There are, as Brighton can testify, more dangerous addictions in this World, than the worship of the Triune God and devotion to the Mass.

I don't know what world Cardinal Hummes lives in, but amid the jubilation of so many in Rome, in the real world, things are a little bit more complicated than his rather fanciful image of the Church's missionary life. Myself, when I hear news like that, a man so young dying, who felt no hope for the future, feel an abject failure in transmitting the Gospel to the poor. Good Jesus knows I did next to nothing to try and lead him to Mary and Jesus. I don't know what circles Cardinal Hummes moves in, but a reality check for such Churchmen is sorely needed. The election of a charismatic and popular Pope, for the vast majority of the World and even for the vast majority of Catholics, has changed nothing. What world do these prelates live in?

13 comments:

M. Prodigal said...

Cardinal Hummes says NOW under Pope Francis, we now have 'faith' again. You know that 'faith' that was lost under Pope Benedict.

Does faith mean being confirmed in a sinful lifestyle then?

Jacobi said...

The Vetus Ordo is a fashion, one that has developed, as our understanding has deepened, over some fifteen hundred years. It expresses the essence of the Catholic worship of Christ, and his Redemptive Sacrifice of Death on the Cross and Resurrection, for Mankind.

The Novus Ordo in its several official versions and endless unofficial variations, expresses a different and somewhat “Protestantised” variation of this, a compromise, that was constructed, pointlessly, for “ecumenistic” reasons, but apparently, and predictably, without any success.

No, it not surprising that young people who are interested in Catholicism, and there are still some these days, are attracted back to the “Mass of Ages”, because that is where the future – and Catholicism - lies.

But it will take some time.

Lynda said...

May he rest in peace. I'm very sorry for your loss.

Lynda said...

Now, the Holy Father deems the ancient liturgical tradition of the Church to be a matter of fashion, and the fidelity, affection and deep reverence for the Holy Mass of the Ages by wholly orthodox, Faithful and informed Carholics to be an addiction! At what point will people stop pretending and accept that the Pope is responsible for what he days and does?

Our Lady of Good Success-pray for us. said...

Fed-up with Frankiecatholics. These privileged coverboys live in their own fashionista fantasy land. Bergoglio needs to apologise to the entire Catholic Church for daring to imply that the Mass of Ages is/was 'fashion'. If he thinks people of True Faith would swallow such rubbish he must really think Catholics are thick.

Thank God for the SSPX.



p.s. will remember your friends, passed and still with us saying Rosary.

God Bless and keep you and yours in His Mercy.

tro said...

Another insult for your 'little book', L ;)

Genty said...

If the "addiction" is merely a fashion it will soon pass and therefore it is illogical to have gone to such lengths to suppress the FFI. Not much patience and kindness there.
But I suppose I am one of those faddy halfwits who can't recognise the countless blessings of Vatican II.
Your poor young friend Kevin will be in my prayers. May he rest in peace.

Anonymous said...

Well, Pope Francis should speak to the young at the TLM parish I attend - About half the congregation. (OK so we are not a cast of 1000s - we are only about 120 and growing!) But the young (students and young families) are well-informed about what happened to the Holy Mass after the Council. They would tell him that they understood the Catholic Religion is the only true one through their knowledge of the Old Rite - that in it they find all the truths of the Faith. They would tell him that they understand how terrible sin is and attaining virtue is possible through an intimate encounter with Our Divine Lord at the Old Rite. They would tell him the importance of regular Confession so as to be in a state of grace before presenting themselves at the Communion Rail. They would tell him that the Catholic life is beautiful in its simplicity and great mystery...they would tell him a lot of things..

I will never give up the Old Rite - what happiness to be addicted to it - in it I move, and breath and have my being...

So sorry about your young friend Mr. Laurence - prayers for him.

God bless you and yours..

Barbara

Long-Skirts said...

FAITH
FASHIONISTA
"Old Mass? Just a kind of fashion!"


When Masses were mellow
Every Priest, a real fellow
No need to remember when
‘Cause ev’ry thing old is new again.

Daily, the Sacrifice of the Mass
What-a-ya know, it didn’t pass
We still pray now like they did then
Ev’ry thing old is new again.

Get out your rosary, your black and white veils
Let’s go backwards as the modern mess fails
And the Latin words you thought were long dead
You’ll find in your missal, English black, Latin red.

Don’t throw the past away
It’s your foundation as the new fashions sway
The True Faith’s intended, intended for men
When ev’ry thing old is new again.

So get your rosary, your black and white veils
Put it in backward when forward fails
Leave the new fashion designers alone
Be the Faith’s fashionista on your own.

And don’t throw the past away
Absolute Truth will forever stay
“Behold! I make all things new.” so then…
Ev’ry thing old is new again!

Православный физик said...

Praying for your loss..

I must say the Holy Father has a way with words that makes me angry beyond reason...

a fashion? a fad? It couldn't possibly be the objective beauty that's found within the Rite itself, no no...

further thoughts here: http://japotillor.blogspot.com/2014/02/no-its-not-fad-its-matter-of-being-fed.html

ACC92 said...

The Holy Father is right that our spirituality in the Mass has to go deep. However, he seems to forget that grace perfects nature, ie, outward, natural signs such as beautiful, silence, good music, etc. are helpful in guiding sinful humanity towards the Mystery of God.

Part of the problem in the Church (and the world) at the moment is an anthropic dualism, ie that the spirit and body are seperate; a view which is anathama to an orthodox Catholic. Expecting your average Christian, then, to look beyond all the outward signs of abuse, and find the inward Mystery is difficult for the Faithful and impossible for the Faithless.

Anonymous said...

The truth if offense to the perish ...Truth is just truth those who reject truth or without excuse . For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, .Jesus said Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the WORKS of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the WORK of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent....Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Our Lady of Good Success-pray for us. said...

beautiful, Long-Skirts, please keep on. God bless and keep us in His mercy, every one.

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