In response to a request from a group of the faithful in the Archdiocese of San Francisco in June, I agreed to allow a monthly first Wednesday celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. The request having been received and granted before the issuance of Pope Francis’ motu proprio, Traditionis custodes, the first of the monthly Masses was celebrated on July 7th, the 14th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum.
Since Pope Francis issued Traditionis custodes, I have been grieved by certain disrespectful responses; some have even included slanderous attacks on the Pontiff. I support Pope Francis, and his concern that those who are drawn to more traditional forms of Catholic worship also affirm the validity of the Novus Ordo form of the Mass and, indeed, of the Second Vatican Council itself. As the visible head of the Church, the Pope has a global vision of Church life and can perceive things that we cannot from our more local perspective.
I also support the other concern Pope Francis articulates in his accompanying letter to the bishops, but has been overlooked by many in these recent discussions: his denouncing widespread liturgical abuses. Such abuses have been condemned by various levels of Church leadership for decades now; yet, they continue. In addition to satisfying the legitimate desires of some Catholics, then, the Traditional Latin Mass can also serve as a reference point to enhance the celebration of the Novus Ordo Mass.
Pope Francis is concerned with preserving unity. While celebrations of the Traditional Mass will continue, the focus on unity must always be before our eyes in every celebration of the Mass, in whichever form or rite. In addition, greater attention and effort must be placed on restoring dignity, reverence and a sense of the sacred in the celebration of Masses according to the current edition of the Roman Missal. Especially now it is incumbent upon all Catholics to show respect to the Holy Father, and as well as patience and understanding toward each other regardless of the form in which one chooses to worship.
As I said when the motu proprio was published July 16th: “The Mass is a miracle in any form: Christ comes to us in the flesh under the appearance of Bread and Wine. Unity under Christ is what matters.”
The above comes from an Aug. 5 statement from the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
We may go down as martyrs but we will endure this pontificate, it’s what being a soldier of Christ means.
Very good post. We always should treat the Pope with respect, although we may not always agree on some things. I was horrified when I received a “Pachamama Prayer” not too long ago– but in the end, I just tossed it out, and said a prayer that the pope’s “Pachamama” incident would soon be forgotten. We should pray for whoever is our Pope, and do our best.
No, don’t forget the pachamama incident, it is the epitome of this Pope’s errors.
Maybe pray for his conversion but never forget.
I daresay, accusations of the Pope’s idolatry or even “errors” surrounding the “Pachamama incident” continue to be profoundly serious because accusing the Supreme Pontiff of such a thing are very very grave. Those who make such accusations better have sufficient and incontrovertible evidence that idolatry is indeed the intent of the Pope. But even now, after all of this time, the only “evidence” we’ve seen stems from subjective impressions from certain people who are motivated by unjust hostility and mistrust of Pope Francis. Nonetheless all Catholic must be eternally grateful for the Pope’s “Traditionis custodies.” God bless the Pope.
I challenged the self appointed Doctor of Theology to defend the Pachamama blasphemy, and idolatry. I am sure he will find a way to explain that. Traditionis custodies is being ignored, Deo Gratias.
Jon, the very grave incident was the Pope allowing and encouraging the pachamama paganism with full consent. If you refuse to admit this then you are lost in an obedience labyrinth of your own making.
Sorry folks but the burden of proof lies on the people—in this case Carlos Estrada and bohemond—who are making an accusation of the Pope’s idolatry. That’s usually how the justice system works in many countries. The accuser provides proof of the crime; it’s not for the accused to prove his innocence. You have to be very very certain, people, that your proof is air-tight because your accusations are very grave. Your subjective hatred and bias against Francis won’t cut it. Mere impressions and images won’t cut it. The court of public opinion has been waiting for you people for over a year now and I haven’t heard any incontrovertible proof that the Pope has committed idolatry nor that he intended to worship a god other than God Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
More than just reluctantly affirm the new Mass, Roman Catholics should be attending the new Mass. The old Mass is being phased out. Get used to it now and accept it.
Pope Francis made the right decision, as is shown by the disrespectful comments that have flooded the internet and even been posted here by trads. I mean, look at what Deus Vult wrote: we will endure this pontificate. Is that how a Catholic speaks about the successor of Peter and the Vicar of Christ?
Archbishop Cordileone should establish a timeframe for phasing out the old Mass in San Francisco. Two years tops.
We will never affirm the Annibale Bugnini constructed community meal.
The Holy Sacrifice of Calvary renewed.
The Holy Sacrifice of Calvary renewed and Pachamama was actually the Virgin Mary,……
Pope Francis will make you affirm it. You must affirm it as a Catholic. This is exactly the dangerous sort of divisive thinking that is cultivated in trad TLM communities. It must be stopped. It is sin.
Pope Francis was right. Thank God for Traditionis Custodes.
“Pope Francis will make you affirm it.”
How will he do that? Will there be loyalty oaths during Mass?
Asking for a friend….
The precious TLM is going to be canceled eventually. Then your only option will be a Novus Ordo Mass.
Don’t be a Gollum. The One Ring isn’t worth it. Don’t let it be your Precious.
That would help with the Communion thing.
Why exactly are you so scared of the TLM?
“Fear Not’s” question is not the right one to ask. The more correct question is: “Why are those who exclusively go to the TLM, and why do the beloved FSSP and ICRSS, so scared of the Ordinary Form?”
Yes, this is how a faithful Catholic responds to a bad shepherd. Recognize his flaws, pray for him and wait for his pontificate to end.
No More, who said “reluctantly?” You’re the first one to bring up that term here.
Most of those who prefer the TLM, which will continue, affirm the validity of the Ordinary Form of the Mass.
They aren’t required to do so enthusiastically anymore than you’re required to enthusiastically acknowledge the validity of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. You simple need to acknowledge the Mass has more than one valid Form.
Thank you Archbishop Cordileone for affirming the validity of the Mass in the vernacular, supporting Pope Francis in his efforts to keep the Church united, and for acknowledging the abuses foisted on the church by many of the devotees of the Traditional Latin Mass. I suspect the TLM will continue to be available to those who want it for many more years. Attacks by the latinistas” on Pope Francis and those who do not share their liturgical preferences is contrary to the charity preached by Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.
If the abuses hadn’t been so bad and so prevalent perhaps the desire for the TLM wouldn’t be so great. Add sanctuaries stripped of candles, artwork, and access to adoration or confessions.
Unfortunately, many priests and pastors have accepted or encouraged a watered down liturgy that caters to societal trends and humananism. It’s the source and summit of Christian life, but too often the bad music, poor homilies and hokey gestures during Mass totally detract from that.
We are all walking on eggshells now.
So people, three take-homes from the Archbishop’s statement: First is that the Pope did denounce the liturgical abuses that are sometimes seen in some celebrations of the Ordinary Form and that everyone should work towards a more dignified celebration of the OF. Second is that the Pope is the guardian of the unity of the Church and by virtue of that should be respected especially by those who go to the EF; Thirdly, that everyone, regardless of which form of the Mass they go to should also seek for unity in the Church.
I am glad the Archbishop publicly put his support for the Pope unequivocally because there have been people who had begun to say falsely that one bishop after another had been defying the Pope, which is far from reality.
Take homes, it’s a reality among the trads. Schneider, Vigano and Burke have openly defied Pope Francis. Not to mention scores of lay trad authors have too.
An interesting thing to continue to follow is how the traditionalist “communities” are going to be dealt with now that they are under the Congregation For Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. We’re speaking of the beloved FSSP and ICRSS in particular who are the two of the larger communities, while the beloved SSPX in the meantimes is still without a legitimate ministry in the Church apart from what has been allowed for them by the Pope. For these groups defiance and division are indeed a reality daresay.
jon, for those traditionalist communities that are in the Church, what do you suggest?
Is your proposed solution pastoral for the many families and young people, as well as older people, blessed by the TLM?
Immediately shut down the TLM? (It’s interesting the Pope didn’t allow for more time for such groups to adjust to his orders. Did he consult with them? … “accompany” them? … spend time with them, so he could smell like his sheep, to use his phrase?)
Or, would you prefer trains to re-education camps?
Or, simply hope they all go to the SSPX? (I’m not a fan of a virtually schismatic group, so I pray that doesn’t happen.)
“Not a Trad,” I hope you realize that your questions about Pope Francis (“accompany” them, spend time with them, so he could smell like his sheep, or, would you prefer trains to re-education camps) are impertinent and disrespectful to the Holy Father and are therefore unseemly if not sinful for a Catholic (if you are indeed a Catholic) to do. You probably think you’re being funny, but no, your questions are divisive and derisive to the one whom Catholics owe obedience and reverence in the first place. You are therefore corrected severely.
But, “Not a Trad,” because I am merciful, and even though you do not deserve a response because of your disrespect to the Pope, I will nonetheless deign to address your question. These “communities” namely the beloved FSSP and ICRSS, may have to be compelled by the Congregation to “put their money where their mouth is”; if they pay lip service to Vatican II and the Ordinary Form by believing their validity, then they may be compelled to offer the Mass of Pope Paul VI on a regular basis, daily, in their chapels, oratories, parishes, seminaries, apostolates, etc., and not only occasionally or rarely when concelebrating at Chrism Masses or clergy gatherings. And this is a good thing. What a sign of unity and obedience to the Pope and Vatican II if these communities were to offer the Ordinary Form daily for the Catholics who attend their services. Otherwise, they may have to undergo visitations.
So, “Not a Trad,” the real question to ask is not “Why exactly are you scared of the TLM.” Instead, the more pertinent and real question to ask is: “Why are the beloved FSSP, ICRSS, and SSPX scared of the Ordinary Form?”
Well Jon, since the Novus Ordo Mass was brought into being, the Church has been hemorrhaging members. The scary thing is that people will leave the Church and her sacraments, and they will lose their souls. Those who promote the new mass should be scared.
Sorry, but “Duh” is wrong because correlation does not imply causation. Just because there’s a drop in Church attendance at roughly the same time that the Mass of Pope Paul VI was being implemented doesn’t necessarily mean that the Mass itself was the cause downturn. There were other cultural factors that may have been the main cause. Otherwise a person can also say that the Tridentine Mass caused the rise of Protestantism in Europe.
Just for the record: I wasn’t able to type my name for the comment above before I hit the “Post Comment” button. Therefore my name appeared as “Correlation.”
We knew it was you jon
Burden of proof- well jon, it was right after that pachamama abomination in the Vatican gardens that Covid began it’s worldwide reign. Coincidence? Oh hell no.
Sorry but COVID-19 does not necessarily prove that the visible Head of the Catholic Church, the Holy Father, intentionally and deliberately was idolatrous. People, just a blunt advice here, you really have to do better than this if you’re going to charge the Pope with something as grave and serious as idolatry.
Your inability to separate Francis the man from Francis the pope means you will deny even the most obvious evidence. Your choice, have at it.
Whether or not the accused has committed this grave sin as Pope or in whatever capacity is immaterial. It’s ludicrous to make such a distinction. It’s like a priest saying, “Oh, I committed this sin on my day off so I can’t be guilty of it as a priest.” Ridiculous. But let’s please go back to the main issue here: in the first place, “Carlos Estrada” has not provided any evidence, neither obvious nor inconspicuous, that proves the Pope guilty of the grave sin of idolatry.