GETTING TO KNOW YOU

"But how Pope Francis preaches and what he says may be kicking things up a notch compared to Pope Benedict. In fact a recent homily by Pope Francis at one of his daily Masses might make Pope Benedict blush in terms of true "reform of the reform" and not necessarily the liturgy but the life the Church and after all isn't that what really counts, the reform of Catholics who have drifted into a "spirit of Vatican II" cauldron of silliness, downright apostacy and heresy as it concerns the faith and morals of the Church?"

Pope Francis praying on his first full day as pope at the tomb of Pope Pius V, the Pope of the Counter Reformation and the Council of Trent and of the Tridentine Missal:


So many of us are quite unaware of who Pope Francis was as Cardinal Bergoglio. We didn't know a thing about Pope John Paul II or Pope John Paul I. It took a while for things to unfold. Unfortunately for John Paul I it was only a short month. In the homily for his funeral, the cardinal homilist said his papacy was like a shooting star.

But with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger,we knew exactly what we were getting and those who loved him, followed him, read him and there was much to read, were elated at his election and then there were others who knew him quite well too and they felt the fear of God and all their dreams for a "spirit of Vatican II" Church remade from the ground up crumble before their eyes.

Pope Benedict moved very slowly and was quite respectful and awe-filled about is predecessor, Pope John Paul II. The first major change we saw, and we don't know whose idea it was, his or the first Marini's, was that the pallium he wore was very "eastern looking" and fit oddly on his vestments. But apart from that the liturgical style was that of John Paul II and even the vestments for the first couple of years. It was after Pope Benedict liberalized the 1962 missal and starting his agenda of "reform in continuity" that we saw the influence of the 1962 missal on the modern missal, not that the modern missal wasn't used, but older vestments came out of the museum as did the 1962 missal. Then we saw the traditional altar arrangement appear for all his Masses facing the people and the use of more Latin. Eventually it seemed that Pope Benedict went to a hybrid of vernacular and Latin wherever he went and always prayed the Preface and Eucharistic Prayer in Latin. Many thought this was the wave of the future and would be mandated.

But all Pope Benedict ever did was to model what reforms he thought should be implemented. The only thing he mandated was SP, freeing the 1962 missal, but that he never modeled!

Of course Pope Benedict was in continuity with all his predecessors as it concerned the faith, morals and canon laws of the Church. Holy Father Benedict never broke any of the laws of the Church liturgical or otherwise. His homilies were very good teachings as were his books and encyclicals.

And then came Francis! Who the heck is he? We don't know, we're only getting to know him! Right off the bat those who were into Pope Benedict's "reform of the reform" saw instantaneously what was perceived as a "repudiation" of the papacy of Benedict XVI. No Mozzetta on the Loggia, in formal meetings or anywhere else. Simple vestments from Argentina, no more lace and he evidently in a monarchical way forced his MC Msgr. Marini to stop wearing lace and everyone else who concelebrated Masses with him. We noticed that the "Benedictine altar arrangement" went into an immediate but only a very slight reform, the candles more angled but the crucifix still dead center--but will that change soon and under a new MC? Time will tell. But I did notice the Benedictine arrangement at Cardinal Bergoglio's cathedral in Argentina and other places where he celebrated Mass, so he must not be entirely opposed to it. To say that this caused unnecessary stress and anxiety to the rank and file traditionalists, some of whom are quite shrill and vitriolic, like the progressives were toward Pope Benedict, is an understatement.

I do think we will see more contemporary or indigenous music at some of his papal Masses and more "inculturation" but there was that too for Pope Benedict too when he traveled Rome and Italy and the world celebrating Mass. It was only at St. Peter's and St. John Lateran that the music was traditional chant in all ways or became so.

Apart from the style of papal dress for daily and liturgical use, I have seen a great deal of continuity between Pope Francis and Pope Benedict. Pope Francis celebrates Mass in a no-nonsense sort of way and only plays to the congregation during his homily as it should be.

But how Pope Francis preaches and what he says may be kicking things up a notch compared to Pope Benedict. In fact a recent homily by Pope Francis at one of his daily Masses might make Pope Benedict blush in terms of true "reform of the reform" and not necessarily the liturgy but the life the Church and after all isn't that what really counts, the reform of Catholics who have drifted into a "spirit of Vatican II" cauldron of silliness, downright apostacy and heresy as it concerns the faith and morals of the Church?

Read what Pope Francis says in his own words at a recent homily! I rest my case!

Giving witness to the whole of the faith with courage: this is the invitation launched this morning by Pope Francis during the Mass he celebrated in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta. …

In his brief sermon, the Pope commented on the readings for Saturday of the Octave of Easter: the first finds Peter and John bearing witness with courage to the faith before the Jewish heads despite threats, while in the Gospel the risen Jesus reprimands the incredulity of the Apostles who don’t believe those who state that they have seen Him alive.

The Pontiff asked this question: “How’s our faith? Is it strong? Or is it sometimes a bit superficial? (all’acqua di rose – “like rose water”, meaning banal, an insufficient substitute, shallow, inadequate)” When difficulties come, “are we courageous like Peter or a little lukewarm?” Peter – he pointed out– didn’t stay silent about the Faith, he din’t descend to compromises, because “the Faith isn’t negotiable.” “There has been, throughout history of the people, this temptation: to chop a piece off the Faith”, the temptation to be a bit “like everyone else does”, the temptation “not to be so very rigid”. “But when we start to cut down the Faith, to negotiate Faith, a little like selling it to the highest bidder”, he stressed, “we take the path of apostasy, of disloyalty to the Lord.”

Pope Francis emphasized that in its history the Church has had many martyrs, down to this day, “because to find martyrs it isn’t necessary to go down to the catacombs or to the Colosseum: martyrs are alive now, in many countries.” “Christians”, Pope Francis stated, “are persecuted for the Faith. In some countries they can’t wear a cross: if they do so they are punished. Today, in the 21st century, our Church is a Church of martyrs.”

Rather stunning and quite "reform of the reform in continuity" and we ain't only speaking liturgy here but life! And isn't our Catholicism meant to be where the rubber hits the pavement? Thank you Holy Father Bergoglio!