If your priest wore rose colored vestments for Laetare Sunday, did you also hear the proper Entrance Chant, either in Latin or English that starts off with the word Laetare/Rejoice! If you did let me know. If you did not hear Laetare/ Rejoice, why in the Name of God and all that is holy, did your priest wear rose colored vestments?
Look at this Holy Year Mass celebration at a grand basilica in Rome on Laetare Sunday.
Do you even notice the post-Vatican II free-standing altar? You have to look hard to see it as it is swallowed up in a sea of clerics of mercy as the altar is only a step up from where they are sitting in the nave.
The old high altar, mercifully still there, looks much closer as it is much higher and the entire altar is seen as well as the entire corpus of the priest if he were standing at that altar celebrating Mass facing the same direction as everyone else.
If you want to know why there is such a malaise of awe, wonder, reverence, and majesty in the post Vatican II Church, look at the placement of this post-Vatican II free standing altar. Why would you build such a grand basilica with all the art in it for that silly looking, inconspicuous altar when the old high altar show why that grand basilica was built!
Pope Benedict XVI understood very well what Archbishop Aguer points out. Pope Francis, however, still lives in that time when everyone in the hierarchy believed that Vatican II would lead to a new springtime of the Church. But even Saint Pope Paul VI began to realize that this wasn't the case and he knew it only a brief time after the Council. Unfortunately, he grew old, feeble and depressed about so many things in the Church, world and his own life, that he was impotent to change the trajectory of the progressive movement to change the Catholic Church into something she shouldn't be.
Those who are these 1960's progressives are in fact pre-Vatican II Triumphalists. They apply this triumphalism, though, to Vatican II as they interpreted it, in discontinuity with what the Church was in 1962 when Vatican II began.
They are, in reality pre-Vatican II triumphalists and can't admit how wrong they were and still are. It is so sad to say the least.
However, with the papal Conclave soon to begin, maybe sane voices of the Pope Benedict XVI school of thought will prevail and a new pope will know what went wrong and how to fix it. Common sense about these things will help too!
From Rorate Caeli:
Twelve years of Francis' pontificate have just been celebrated. The Vatican reports are always self-congratulatory.
It is very difficult to cover, in a single appraisal, the reality of the Church, which is vast and with differences between countries -- but from a certain point it is possible to contemplate the surroundings; I can do it, then, from this corner of the far south that is Argentina, a nation that is (or was?) mostly Catholic. As the saying goes, “one button is example enough."
The decadence of the Church is evident. The bishops live up in
their own clouds. The seminaries are populated by young people whose
number can be counted on the fingers of one hand. There is even one
seminary, a hundred years old, in which in this 2025, not a single
seminarian entered! Vocations are not showing up. The command of Christ
(“make disciples of all nations - pánta ta éthne - to be
my disciples”) has yet to be fulfilled. Where are the apostles? The
people are bewildered; many of the faithful long for better times.
I think that two laments of Pope Paul VI are still valid: “We expected - after the Second Vatican Council - a flourishing springtime and a harsh winter came”; “through some crack the smoke of Satan has seeped into the temple of God.” The ecclesial presence in society is closely limited; journalists notice it, because they recognize, with a historical outlook, that, in our country, the Catholic Church has always been something official. We are considered a Catholic country. But baptisms do not exist; the birth rate in Argentina has plummeted: in 2023, with 460,902 births, the lowest figure of the last 50 years has been registered! And marriage no longer exists, now there are just “couples.” The public presence of the Church is non-existent; it only filters in the journalistic order only if it makes political judgments, especially against the government.
Not in any particular order:
God bless Pope Francis! At the end of his brief appearance he was gasping for breath. Reminded me of Pope John PaulII at his last Angelus attempt!
St. Teresa’s new church was completed about five years ago. The parish used King Richard’s out of Atlanta to decorate the church with stunning altars, stained glass and Stations of the Cross harvested from closed churches in the northeast. It is the most beautiful new church in our diocese with its traditional el
Elements. There is no hiding that this is a Catholic Church as so many modern builds today could pass for iconoclastic Presbyterian churches!
Would a Catholic diocese or parish hold a family friendly “the earth is flat” evening to understand those who claim the earth is flat? Is opposing that, hateful to the world is flat people?
I am confused by the term “transgendered person”. This person, is he a biological man or woman? He appears to me to be a man, is he saying he’s a woman, or is this a biological woman who has had hormonal treatment with testosterone to grow a beard and lose her hair? I truly don’t know what transgendered means.
Why would a parish think it is wise to invite the whole family to something like this? Is it a cult-like indoctrination of the young? Should the Church be sued over this kind of nonsense? Yes! The Church’s complicity in the corruption of children under the guise of love is very serious and there should be legal consequences.
This is the National catholic Reporter’s caption for this photo. Does “brother” think that the dog identifies as human and is a brother too?
Br. Christian Matson hikes with his dog, Brother Odilo ("Odie"), in West Virginia. (Courtesy of Christian Matson)
One of the complaints about Saint Pope John Paul II’s lengthy and debilitating illness, is that others, not authorized to do so, fill in for the void caused by a declining leader. It happens in parishes too. A priest gets old, develops dementia, the local bishop allows it to go on and on and thus the laity take over causing factions in the parish and great polarization. Decisions are made by those without authority to do so.
I think that this is the case with this super-silly synodal talking fest that will occur in three years. Just who made this decision? The guy in charge of synodality who wants to safeguard his job while the reigning pope is languishing? Who knows. Can a compromised pope make decisions for the Church’s future or have others usurp His Holiness’ authority?
And speaking about ineptness. At least the Vatican was transparent about St. Pope John Paul II’s hospitalizations and decline. He was always in public view and we saw for ourselves what was going on, especially in the last month of his life, which occurred during Lent. He died on the Vigil of Divine Mercy. But prior to that, a truly frustrated John Paul II tried to speak at the Angelus from his Vatican Palace window and was unable to do so. He looked horrible and he was failing quickly but there was no attempt to hide it!
But just look at the photo of Pope Francis. What are we to make of it? It has caused even more conspiracy theories to say the least!
They are opposed to science and biology as they believe a man can choose to become a woman and the opposite too.
They are just fine with euthanasia.
They oppose peace in Gaza as the President is promoting it and they don’t want peace in Ukraine as Trump is spearheading it. They are the party of war, anti-semitism and whatever else that is holy and just.
They support same sex marriage as though God did not ordain it to be with one man and one woman and for a lifetime.
They are hysterical and deranged because of democracy and DonaldTurmp.
They aren’t your father’s or grandfather Democratic Party—they are the party of death and satan.
Catholics should face excommunication for supporting the good things of the party despite the abuse and killing of children, elderly and biology.
Poor Chuck Shummer. His party is trying to kill him as that is what his party does!
For a new and modern building, this new Catholic Church, Our Lady of Peace Church in Ocala, Florida, is a nice blend of modern and traditional with ornate thrown in! Please note the altar railing:
These are peculiar times. We have not seen Pope Francis for an entire month. The only audio we have recently heard of his feeble voice could have been AI generated.
The trust level that rank and file Catholics have for cardinals and other bishops and this Vatican is at an all time low.
What recourse do sane cardinals and other bishops, not to mention the laity, have to make sure that the reigning pope is capable of these kinds of decisions?
Above, I post the link to the Pillar's attempt to decipher what Cardinal Roche said about the Traditional Latin Mass recently. The author interviews the usual suspects about the possibility that Roche will relax Traditionis Custodes.
The liturgical terrorists don't see TC being relaxed by Roche or that he even meant that it might be. These terrorists don't want anyone to celebrate the TLM because God has spoken that the Modern Mass is what God wants. Talk about Catholic fundamentalism!
Of course, those friendly to the TLM see Roche as seeing the handwriting on the wall and that eventually Traditionis Custodes will be relaxed, if not replaced by Summorum Pontificum, as it should be. These sane liturgists aren't trying to forbid anyone from attending a Modern Mass. They, sanely enough, have a live and let live attitude about it!
My personal opinion, based upon my well-known clairvoyance, is that the liturgical wars that Pope Francis has reignited and bringing the Church backwards to the 1970's, not just in liturgy, but certainly in the liturgy wars, will be debated at the next conclave, perhaps held this year.
Sane cardinals, who are not liturgical terrorists, will want more of Summorum Pontificum and less of Traditionis Custodes.
Read the Pillar article above. The comments are good too and I will put forward my 2 cents worth about an all Latin Modern Mass verses an all vernacular Traditional Ancient Mass:
1. The modern Mass, be it in the vernacular or Latin, bombards the congregation and the priest with wordiness and constant out-loud speaking of prayers. Be it in Latin or the vernacular, the inability of the Modern Mass to create a mature spiritual appreciation for silence during the Mass, especially its prayers is quite evident. Modern Mass goers would not know what to do with a silent Canon and most of the priest's prayers prayed in a very low voice. They don't have the spiritual maturity to understand it or appreciate it. That's not their fault but the fault of the Modern Mass itself that has formed spiritually immature Catholics when it comes to silence.
2. I would promote the Traditional Ancient Mass allowing for a considerable amount of the vernacular, because the congregation would not even know that the priest his praying in his own tongue! All of the private prayers of the priests are silently prayed. No one would know he is using his vernacular. The Offertory Prayers as well as the Roman Canon is prayed quietly. No one would know that the priest is praying it in his own vernacular.
3. The Traditional Ancient Mass could be reformed by allowing the Liturgy of the Word to be in the vernacular and that the Liturgy of the Word be celebrated as it is in the Modern Mass, but making sure any lay readers are properly vested and officially instituted as lectors.
I think most parishioners would have no problem attending a vernacular Traditional Ancient Mass, but with all its rubrics concerning silence of certain prayers. They would have to adjust to a silent Roman Canon and grow in maturity to understand the Real Presence of God in that Grand Silence. That would take time and catechesis.
Most Catholics, traditional or otherwise, would not want an all Latin Modern Mass!
Most traditional Catholics, though, have no problem with the TLM celebrated as it is in Latin according to the 1962 Roman Missal.
I certainly understand why Democrats have Trump Derangement Syndrome. And certainly Catholics should be concerned about his narcissism, bravado and seeming lack of empathy for those he denigrates. We should be concerned about his eternal salvation.
But, he is duly elected by a landslide victory in the Electoral College and a significant majority of the popular vote. Love him or hate him, he's our president until the next election.
With all the negativity of Democrats who can't seem to find anything good in Trump, it is a shame that they can't see some of the good when it comes to making peace.
President Biden's failed presidency and on so many levels, failed when it came to peace in the Middle East and in Ukraine. In fact, we can blame the weakness of his presidency for enabling Russia to invade Ukraine. Biden and his inept VP, Harris, were completely incompetent to start peace talks leading to significant hope between Israel and Gaza and Russia and Ukraine.
But President Trump has created a way for peace in Israel and Gaza and we have seen the release of so many hostages and others because of Trump's efforts. That did not and would not happened under Biden and God forbid a Harris administration.
And negotiations for peace between Russia and Ukraine are now possible only two months after Trump took office.
Blessed are the peace makers for the Kingdom of God will be theirs. That's Catholic and it's not politics!
My very progressive seminary taught me that artwork, plants, flowers and other decorations should frame and highlight the altar, ambo and celebrant’s chair. In other words it should frame, not obscure or distract or detract from the most important furnishings in the sanctuary.
So much of the irrational rational of the wreckovation of historic churches and the iconoclasm of the artwork therein was to make sure everyone knew what was important in the Catholic sanctuary although even that was made minimalistic.
But today, this is what we are seeing in so many parishes. Junk, junk, junk cluttering the sanctuary and hiding and distracting from what is truly important in the sanctuary!
WHY O LORD, I ASK YOU, WHY??????
But what has happened to the post Trent Church which Vatican II ushered in, not only with reiterating traditional teachings, but opening the Church up to the world, Protestantism, other religions and no religions? Has the Church given into a new kind of Universalism where all that is important are worldly things and creating love and peace, a la the 1960's version. Is it simply let's all hold hands and sing kumbaya and not worry about eternal truths, dogmas or orthodoxy.
My contention is that Vatican II's intuition about" un-circling the wagons" which protected the Church in a wonderful way from the "world, the flesh and the devil" has led to an open Church vulnerable to the "world, the flesh and the devil" in a way not seen since the Council of Trent until Vatican II.
The bishops of Vatican II, so-called Fathers, were wrong, dead wrong, on their non-dogmatic, but rather pastoral intuitions about how the Church needed to function in the world. Their modest proposals morphed quite quickly into surrender to the world, the flesh and the devil, just one or two years after Vatican II. What Pope Francis has brought about in terms of worldliness is now on steroids today.
These are Vatican II and post-Vatican II pastoral mistakes that can be revised, reformed and refuted. One is free to disregard pastoral inclinations of the Magisterium when there is proof that the pastoral intuitions and proposals have damaged the Catholicism of Catholics. However, no Catholic can disregard the entirety of Vatican II. Like Pope Benedict, though, we can criticize, call out and demand an end to it. There is no doubt that the discontinuity post Vatican II theology has not blessed the Church but rather cursed it and Catholics who have left the Church thinking there is no need to be an institutional Catholic. Being nothing is just as good or anything else for that matter!
The Discontinuity, spirit of Vatican II ideology that has absorbed popes and bishops has created a toothless Catholicism incapable of leading rank and file Catholics away from secularism and universalism.
Here is a great commentary, even if one disagrees with some assertions by Charles Collins of Crux:
The Pew Research Center released a new survey on religion in America last week, the first such major study since 2014.
The news wasn’t good for the Catholic Church.
According to the Pew report, only 19 percent of Americans self-identify as Catholic. That’s down from 24 percent in 2007. That 19 percent includes anyone one who listed “Catholic” as their religion in the survey, meaning it counts not only people who go to Mass at least semi-regularly but also those who haven’t darkened the door of a church in years or even decades.
It has taken roughly three generations to reach this point – a good while in secular terms, but a rapid decline for an institution that thinks in centuries – but it is fair and even necessary to acknowledge how the Catholic Church has seen a massive decline in the United States since the Vatican Council II ended in 1965.
In 1965, there were an estimated 60,000 Catholic priests serving a Catholic population of 45.6 million Catholics. By 2022, the number of priests had dropped to around 35,000 serving a Catholic population of roughly 72 million.
The 1960s were an interesting time for the Catholic Church in the United States. Traditional anti-Catholicism was fading, vocations to the priesthood in the previous 25 years had been unusually high by comparison with previous decades, and there were several prominent high-profile converts in the English-speaking world.
Using 1965 as the baseline was always going to court disappointment. Society was changing. The Cold War was at its height and people feared nuclear war. The sexual revolution took place, affecting the Catholic Church and the rest of the world. Even so, there’s no really winning way to spin the numbers from the latest Pew report.
How to improve the situation for the Church is a question that has always divided the progressive and conservative wings of the U.S. Church, but it isn’t really a problem with a political solution.
The liberal National Catholic Reporter opens its article on the Pew document by noting “majorities of U.S. Catholics support progressive policies on ‘culture war’ issues, such as abortion and gay marriage, according to a new survey of the country’s religious landscape.”
“For example,” writes Heidi Schlumpf, “nearly three quarters of Catholics believe homosexuality should be supported by society, 70 percent support same-sex marriage and 59 percent want abortion legal in all or most cases.” Schlumpf also notes how nearly “four in 10 Catholics said greater acceptance of people who are transgender is a change for the better.”
“Acceptance of progressive policies has increased among Catholics, for the issues tracked over time,” Schlumpf says.
Writing in the conservative Crisis Magazine, Eric Sammons names several causes of the numbers fleeing the Church, including religious indifference, poor catechesis, the number of scandals, and “irreverent” Masses. Sammons also makes suggestions common among conservatives – including conservative Catholics – such as homeschooling curtailing interreligious activities, bringing back Friday abstinence from meat all year round (actually still observed in England), and increasing the availability of Latin Mass.
One ought not be surprised at either that rehearsal of sociological data or those retail cultural proposals, and there is something to be said both for acknowledging social realities and for supporting successful efforts that are necessarily small-scale and local, but I can’t shake the sense that the problem is upstream of all that.
I admit I haven’t lived in the United States in decades, but the first thought that pops into my head is: “Has anyone thought of asking why these people aren’t going to Mass, or even considering themselves Catholic anymore?”
Church leaders know people often don’t have any clear idea why they stop attending Mass. They also know the reasons people give are not always the ones that really drove them away from the practice of the faith, but there is nevertheless something to be said for asking the question in earnest and for listening – really listening – to the answers people give.
The survey noted only 44 percent of self-identified Catholics feel religion is “very” important to them, compared to 55 percent of Christians overall, and less than 30 percent attend Mass every week.
This means a lot of parishes – especially ones in larger cities – don’t have a good idea of who their members are.
When I was in Texas, I knew one woman who was a very active participant in her parish. She sang in the choir and taught in the confirmation classes. However, her work forced her to miss Mass for several weeks in a row, and when no one ever called her to find out why she wasn’t there, she thought they didn’t care, and didn’t go back when her work schedule returned to normal.
Another parish I attended had a large number of immigrants from Latin America within territorial confines, but since the “Hispanic parish” was two miles away, the immigrants weren’t really their concern. The nearby Evangelical church, however, was willing to take care of them.
The last time I visited Texas – in 2017 – I walked to the nearest parish, since it was only a 30-minute stroll. I was shocked when I got there, because it was literally impossible to get to the entrance on foot without going up a steep car-only lane. If I was elderly or – heaven forbid, in a wheelchair – I wouldn’t have been able to get to the church itself. On my walk to the church, I passed several Hispanic-filled apartment blocks not ten minutes away on foot.
When I inquired whether anyone ever knocked on the doors in the territory of their parish to ask, “Are there any Catholics living here?” I heard such a thing would be “too invasive.”
It’s just a thought.
Another notion with which I’ve been toying is the idea of recalibrating our frame of reference. I mean, if the majority of Catholics in the country don’t find religion to be “very” important, they probably don’t care very much if the local parish is “liberal” or “conservative” but probably would be glad to know the local Church notices them and wants to be attentive to their needs.
Although some would see the outcome of the latest Pew survey and conclude that most Church members are just “nominal Catholics,” in other words, it could be more helpful to think of them as Catholics “hanging on by a thread.”
Before considering how to pull them all the way back into Peter’s barque, it’s probably best not to sever the last fraying cords keeping them tethered to her.
Follow Charles Collins on X: @CharlesinRome
