As everyone who reads what I write on this blog knows, what I think is the greatest crisis in the liturgy isn’t so much Bugnini’s Mass if done by the book, but all the liturgical abuses surrounding it. It is used and abused in a way that the books prior to the reform never were. The question that no one is asking is why?
I was not an advocate for the return of the TLM and opposed its first iteration by St.Pope John Paul II.
What I did advocate back then with my then bishop, Bishop Raymond Lessard, was allowance for the Bugnini Mass to be celebrated ad orientem and in Latin and kneeling for Holy Communion.
But once Pope Benedict liberated the TLM for most priests who desired to celebrate it, to celebrate it, I saw the beneficial nature of celebrating this Mass and the graces that flow from it in a way that I never experienced in the Bugnini Mass. And yes, there was cross-fertilization for me as the TLM influenced my attitude and style of celebrating the Bugnini Mass.
Never did I think that after so many years of Summorum Pontificum that a future pope would revoke it and make all those who embraced Summorum Pontificum promulgated by a previous pope but still primarily celebrating the Bugnini Mass, would be treated as poorly in the way we were and are and so derided, humiliated and marginalized with many false accusations. And yet liturgical abuse of the Bugnini Mass is given a pass and no attempts to correct it from the top now!
But once the first cut of the knife came, and others followed, I felt that like the sexual abuse of Catholics by bishops and clergy that went unchecked, that the on-going spiritual abuse of Catholics must not follow the same path-it had and has to end.
God bless Pope Leo. I hope His Holiness follows the common sense of Pope Benedict as it concerns the TLM. But if His Holiness chooses not to do so and is overly influenced by those who are opposed to the TLM based upon their reading of Vatican II, a pastoral, not a dogmatic, Council, then at least deal with the liturgical abuses of the Bugnini Mass as aggressively as killing the celebration of the TLM Mass.
But I still pray that Pope Leo acknowledges Pope Benedict’s common sense:
13 comments:
Well said Father McDonald. I suspect Pope Leo will relax the evil TC if not abrogate it outright because it shows the utter hypocrisy of those who oppose the TLM and so contrary to accompaniment and synodality!
Our churchmen should heed the advice of Gamaliel: "And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this Way be the work of men, it will come to nought. But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God." Acts 5:38-39. Cardinal Roche, et al., need tread carefully.
Father McDonald said..."I hope His Holiness follows the common sense of Pope Benedict as it concerns the TLM."
I have not encountered even a hint that His Holiness would do that. But who knows? I would be stunned, but His Holiness could proclaim tomorrow that Summorum Pontificum...and I would accept that calmly.
One thing: Should he return to Pope Benedict XVI's "common sense" approach, then I believe that His Holiness, as compared to Pope Benedict XVI, would implement said approach far more powerfully and successfully.
Pope Benedict XVI, at least publicly, had not, as I recall, offered much support, for example, to Summorum Pontificum. The reason, as trads have long lamented, is that Pope Benedict XVI was an admitted weak governor of the Church.
From: 2016 A.D;
"A weak point of mine was maybe little resolve in governing and making decisions,” said Pope (Emeritus) Benedict XVI. In reality I am more a professor, one who reflects and meditates on spiritual questions,"
“Practical governance is not my strong point and this is certainly a weakness,” he added.
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Without strong public Papal support to prop up Summorum Pontificum, the supposed weak, muddled document could not stand on its own, according to leading trad Peter Kwasniewski.
Peter Kwasniewski:
"Summorum Pontificum was useful to the traditional Catholic movement in the way that an enormous old-time booster rocket was useful for launching a spaceship into orbit: it has a lot of raw power but can only do so much, and when it’s empty, it falls away.
"Summorum is destined to be one of the great papal interventions in history, but it is no more than damage control; it cannot be a pillar, much less a foundation, of a permanent structure.
Unless we understand its weak points, we will not be able to understand why we are still so vulnerable to the machinations of Pope Francis and his circle, and, more to the point, we will not be able to summon the necessary strength to ignore or to oppose what the Vatican might do to reduce or prevent the celebration of the classical Roman rite."
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Pope Leo XIV is, compared to holy Pope Benedict XVI, a more skilled Church governor/pastor.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
The most powerful way that Pope Benedict XVI could have solidified Summorum Pontificum would have involved his public celebrations of the TLM.
However, he had refused to have offered the TLM publicly.
In addition, via his in-flight press conference, he had weakened Summorum Pontificum:
Reporter's question: "What do you say to those who, in France, fear that the "Motu proprio' Summorum Pontificum signals a step backwards from the great insights of the Second Vatican Council? How can you reassure them?"
Pope Benedict XVI: "Their fear is unfounded, for this "Motu Proprio' is merely an act of tolerance, with a pastoral aim, for those people who were brought up with this liturgy, who love it, are familiar with it and want to live with this liturgy.
"They form a small group...There is no opposition between the liturgy renewed by the Second Vatican Council and this liturgy."
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"Summorum Pontificum is merely an act of tolerance...There is no opposition between the liturgy renewed by the Second Vatican Council and this liturgy."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Pope Leo XIV is, compared to holy Pope Benedict XVI, a more skilled Church governor/pastor.
LOL! The MT Suit has the temerity to compare the two. Well, I can state beyond peradventure that Francis was an unskilled hack who almost destroyed the unity of the Church.
I will further state:
Quo usque tandem abutere, MT Suit, patientia nostra?
Thank you for highlighting Pope Benedict’s pastoral, flexibility and tolerance concerning the TLM, BUT EXTREMELY more importantly, “There is no opposition between the liturgy renewed by the Second Vatican Council and this liturgy." Pope Francis and Cardinal Roche canceled Pope Benedict and basically called him a liar by their actions. Thanks for pointing that out so brilliantly.
Father McDonald said..."Thank you for highlighting Pope Benedict’s pastoral, flexibility and tolerance concerning the TLM, BUT EXTREMELY more importantly, “There is no opposition between the liturgy renewed by the Second Vatican Council and this liturgy."
Father, I am pleased to have acknowledge that, according to you. Now, please join me as I stand with the teaching in question.
Unfortunately, you have insisted that there is clear opposition between the TLM and Holy Mass of Pope Saint Paul VI. In recent weeks, and I believe, for the first time, you have thrown in with TJM in having labeled Holy Mass the "Nervous Disorder."
Father, last year, you denounced TJM for having, in shocking fashion, labeled the Holy Mass of Pope Saint Paul VI the "Nervous Disorder." Father, you insisted that TJM, who has delighted in mocking the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass via his horrific "Nervous Disorder" label, had displayed a Protestant, anti-Catholic mindset.
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Father, as I am a nobody, I would not imagine that you would recall the following: A few years I was honored to have spoken to you twice via phone calls.
Via one such call, several close family members of mine had been stricken with Covid. I had entreated you to pray for their healing. You were kind enough to pray for my relatives in question.
Their healing had arrived quickly. I am certain that God had responded to your intercessory prayer offered for my relative.
My two telephone conversations with you had confirmed the following opinion that I had formed about you: You are a holy man.
Therefore, Father, I was stunned a couple of weeks ago when you had embraced TJM's shocking "Nervous Disorder" putdown of Holy Mass.
Father, in light of your holiness, and in regard to the discussion of liturgy on your important blog, I pray that you, at the very least, will reject the use of the shocking "Nervous Disorder" label.
Thank you, Father McDonald.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Popes Benedict and Leo have shown the way to celebrate the Nervous Disorder without liturgical abuse and that is wonderful. But it was Pope Benedict’s non infallible opinion that the Bugnini Mass was disordered as it was a fabrication. Are you condemning Pope Benedict along with me and a multitude of Cardinals, other bishops, priests and laity who believe fabricating a Mass is disordered? Are actual liturgical abuses in the Nervous Disorder built on the foundation of its fabrication? Each priest into liturgical abuse fabricates his very own Nervous Disorder. Perhaps an apology is due to Pope Benedict, just saying.
With Father McDonald's permission:
From: AI Overview
"Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI acknowledged in a 2016 interview that his strengths lay more in teaching and meditation than in practical governance, which he considered a personal weakness.
"He described himself as more of a professor than a decisive leader.
"In contrast, his successor, Pope Francis, has been widely characterized as possessing strong pastoral and governance skills."
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All of the above has long been established in regard to Popes Benedict XVI, as well as Francis.
But in wonderful fashion, Pope (Emeritus) Benedict XVI displayed great humility and desire to present himself in honest fashion when he acknowledged that he had served as an indecisive, weak governor of the Church.
His humility was also such that he acknowledged Pope Francis' (requiescat in pace) superior, powerful pastoral skills.
Pope Emeritus: “He was an archbishop for a long time, he knows the trade. He was a superior of Jesuits and has the ability to put his hands to action in an organized way. I knew that this was not my strong point."
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Pope Leo XIV last week had highlighted Pope Francis' holy, outstanding pastoral abilities when he declared:
"This past year...saw the return to the Father’s house of my venerable predecessor, Pope Francis...who had guided the People of God with immense pastoral charity."
Holy Pope Leo XIV, contrary to such folks as Cardinal Zen, assured us that Pope Francis had been blessed with immense pastoral charity."
"Immense."
God has blessed us, going back many decades, with a tremendous run of holy, outstanding Popes.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Okay, Father McDonald. Via your three uses of "Nervous Disorder," you have made your point. That is, you will employ the "Nervous Disorder" moniker. What a shame. But that is that.
Oh, well. TJM, whom you chided last year for his horrific use of "Nervous Disorder," has company in his Nervous Disorder Club.
Nevertheless, Father McDonald, I am convinced that you have a holy heart.
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Father McDonald said..."But it was Pope Benedict’s non infallible opinion that the Bugnini Mass was disordered as it was a fabrication. Are you condemning Pope Benedict along with me and a multitude of Cardinals, other bishops, priests and laity who believe fabricating a Mass is disordered?"
Father McDonald, a couple of weeks ago you acknowledged that as Pope, Joseph Ratzinger did not declare as you have claimed via your above comment.
Your claim is that in private, Joseph Ratzinger contradicted his official wonderful, pro-Holy Mass of Pope Saint Paul VI teachings. I am unaware as to Joseph Ratzinger's secret thoughts.
All that I know is officially, Pope Benedict XVI's liturgically-related teachings shatter the claim that the Holy Mass is the Nervous Disorder."
As to whether Pope Benedict XVI, you, "and a multitude of Cardinals, other bishops, priests and laity who believe fabricating a Mass is disordered" are "liars" is unknown to me.
In charity, my approach is that their collective view in question is wrong...that they have advanced simply the wrong opinion. That does not mean that they are liars.
I consider as horrific the term "Nervous Disorder." That is my opinion.
That which is not my opinion, but rather the official teaching of Popes Paul VI to Leo XIV, is that the reformed Mass is not the "Nervous Disorder." Not remotely so.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
MT,
You figure out a way to celebrate the pre-Vatican II papal Mass after Vatican II and Pope Paul swept away its underpinnings. If TLM devotees couldn't figure it out, I'm sure... sure. that you could.
Nick
MT,
I'm shocked that you would say a tremendous, tremendous pope lacked skills in sanctifying and governing the Church. Then again, I'm really not, because your predilections and preferences for a certain officeholder over all others are blindingly obvious.
And you wish to judge a pope's governance? Quelle surprise! How dare you?!
Let alone doing so after the current officeholder has been in for, what, eight months? Even more laughable than usual.
Nick
Do you consider defaming commenters here and popes and bishops to be as horrific as using an edgy nickname for a certain set of liturgical books?
Just asking questions I already know the answer to...
"I am unaware as to Joseph Ratzinger's secret thoughts."
To quote the most Catholic president ever (TM), c'mon, man! Days ago you declared yourself "his defender!" And his thoughts on this were published!
Nick
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