This is what Silere non possum wrote about Pope Leo’s visit at Domus Australia for First Vespers of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary:
Vatican City – Leo XIV often speaks of unity. In his address on May 14, 2025, during the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches, he forcefully emphasized the importance of legitimate liturgical variety and emphasized how the Eastern Churches "preserve unique spiritual and sapiential traditions" that should not be watered down in uniform osmosis, but rather valued in respectful communion. There, he reaffirmed that the multiplicity of rites, far from being an obstacle, is "an inestimable treasure for the Church," to be carefully preserved and free from inappropriate reductions. What Leo promotes—and it could not be otherwise—is unity. Unity, however, means all together. And here the problems begin.
In recent years—or rather, in the last decade or so—the Church seems to have embarked on a silent but evident path: that of small groups. An inclination that has its roots in the time of Saint John Paul II, when he began to think in terms of belonging to movements, associations, and charismatic communities. Since then, ecclesial tribes have multiplied rather than the People of God. The tragedy today is that everyone lives closed within their own enclosure: and if those groups resemble sects more than communities, unity becomes an empty word, a rhetorical dream for a conference. Uniformity is favored—within one's own group—but not unity with others. Neither inside nor outside.
…(Pope) Leo XIV had accepted the invitation to go to the Domus Australia to preside over Vespers in the church of Santa Maria del Rosario in Pompeii.
Surrounding him was an exceptional cast: Cardinal Edwin Frederick O'Brien, Grand Master Emeritus of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Patron Emeritus of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta; and Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eik, Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht.
…So the real question is this: what kind of Catholic do we want to form? A free and mature believer, capable of recognizing that every rite of the Church is valid and that faith is essential, or a conditioned devotee, who goes to "the Mass of that rite because only that is valid"? Before calling for a revision of Traditionis custodes—which remains a liturgical and juridical disgrace—we should pause and reflect. Reflect on this sectarian disease that is devouring the Church from within, transforming unity into belonging, diversity into division, communion into a private club.
Because the risk is not the "old" or "new" Mass. The risk is that every believer, every priest, every bishop ends up saying: "us" against "them." And at that point, the Mystical Body is no longer a single Church, but a mosaic of sects, each convinced of being the only true and just one.
When I was pastor of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Augusta in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, there was/is a large ecumenical, but primarily Catholic, ecumenical covenant community in Augusta and most of their members, upwards to 400 or so, were also my parishioners. In the 1990’s, this community was suffering under the influence of a bit too much Protestant Pentecostalism, some of which was/is in conflict with a true Catholic identity in terms of doctrines and morals as well as certain religious practices not consistent with Catholic spirituality and law.
The Diocese of Savannah then bishop was concerned about some of the elitism of this community and tried hard to keep it Catholic by creating a Catholic Association within the ecumenical community. He was also concerned about a certain elitism and separatism in this community. If left to their own designs, they could easily become an “independent Christian Community” with only loose ties to the Bishop and the pope.
I think what was experienced in Augusta in the 1990’s and in my parish, is also something that can happen with the TLM movement. It too can become an elitist “new movement” in the Church, with a “better than thou” attitude towards other rank and file Catholics.
When I was pastor of St. Joseph Church in Macon and later as pastor of St. Anne Church in Richmond Hill, I encouraged the celebration of the TLM for those who desired it but strictly within the guidelines of Summorum Pontificum, following that to the letter. Following the letter of the law of Summorum Pontificum would prevent the TLM Mass goers from falling into the mortal sin of pride thinking they are better than other Catholics who prefer the Post Vatican II Mass with all its diversity in terms of style, music and ethos.
The TLMers in my parish were fully integrated into the parish and were not see as a “new movement” but simply attending a Mass that had a different ethos, style and form of chanting as well as language.
I would say that in my parishes, the TLMers were more integrated into the parish than, let’s say, those who only spoke Spanish and attended a parish’s Spanish Mass.
Thus Pope Leo when His Holiness went to celebrate First Vespers at Domus Australia, was more than happy to celebrate those Vespers in the style of Domus Australia, with its ad orientem altar, ornate vestments and the pope wearing a lacy alb, the latter surely to drive “Where Peter Is” blog Catholics to becoming unhinged more than they already are.
Pope Leo knows how to break the walls of exclusivity and elitism in the Church and her various liturgies, east and west, as well as as the walls built to separate TLMers from the main body of the universal Church and local parishes.
What Traditionis Custodis has done and in the most unfortunate way possible, is to marginalize Catholics who are traditional, orthodox and desire the ancient liturgies of the Church. This then creates the potential for a greater elitism based upon actual persecution and the resentment that could lead some into TLM communities of questionable ecclesiology and lacking full Communioin with the Pope.
God willing, Pope Leo will integrate new movements in the Church, to include TLM communities, and help us all live in ecclesial harmony in union with our bishops and the Pope. Pope Leo knows the way! Vatican II Mass lovers and TLM Mass lovers can live together in the same parish each being enriched by the other.
The Where Peter Is blog creates more acrimony in the Church by its accusations and vitriolic critique of persons and practices of those associated with TLM communities. This is not the way of Pope Leo. His way is better!
6 comments:
Very good commentary. I see many in the TLM movement being radicalized by the reactionary actions of Pope Francis. Many in the TLM movement are either converts or reverts from other denominations and refugees from failing NO parishes and dioceses. They can often be very hard core TLM as a cleansing reaction to NO abuses. I prefer the TLM and will go to some pretty extreme measures to attend one rather than a NO. But I have found in recent years several parishes and dioceses that are returning to dignity and reverence in their Mass. Bishop Fernandes is an example of a bishop leading his diocese in a more reverent direction. It seems to have taken root everywhere I have traveled in the Columbus area. I am hopeful.
Excellent RCG! In the good old days, when I was growing up in the pre-Vatican II Church, my father had an aversion to the long Sunday High Mass. Thus he preferred the early 8 AM Sunday Low Mass—like many Catholic then and now, he wanted to get his Sunday obligation over with and by going to a shorter, simpler (noble simplicity) Low TLM, which was the Ordinary Mass of that time. Was he elitist in this? Were the High Mass goers, more holy and did they look down their noses at the Low Mass goers? I don’t think so and we all came together for High Masses for Midnight Mass at Christmas and Easter Sunday and other occasions.
. Following the letter of the law of Summorum Pontificum would prevent the TLM Mass goers from falling into the mortal sin of pride thinking they are better than other Catholics who prefer the Post Vatican II Mass with all its diversity in terms of style, music and ethos.
Is that what you did coz it often read that you denigrated the new rite and advocated the superiority of the old rite, just saying!
Oh my BB! Faith and reason walk hand in hand. Our beloved Pope Leo XIV acknowledges that the Vatican II Mass has lost a sense of reverence and mystery that the TLM has as well as Eastern Rites. Yes, people who can think and use their God given reason can say that the older Liturgies of the Church are better than the Post Vatican II Lituriges on a few levels. But we can also say, using our faith and reason, that the Post Vatican II Liturgies are better than the older in some ways. Now, if only the Vatican would use their faith and reason to bring together the best of both and form a reformed Post Vatican II Missal, something I have advocated and continue to do so. The Ordinariate Missal, Divine Worship is the way and it is better than our current Modern Missal in many ways, except for the archaic English and added patrimony from the Anglican Tradition.
Alfred Nobel's will, the award's foundation, says the award should go to the person "who has done the most or best to advance fellowship among nations".
That is something Trump is not doing, according to Ms Graeger.
Maybe Leo will get a Nobel in the future!
"But if his peace plan for Gaza materialises and holds - Trump announced on Thursday evening that Israel and Hamas had agreed the first phase - Ms Graeger believes he could be a contender next year. "I think it would be difficult not to look in his direction then," she says."
big "bury the lede" benny!
Nick
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