A Personal Note from the Rome of the West

There are all sorts of obvious conclusions one could and should draw from the need of many dioceses in the West to consolidate parishes. There are fewer people, as we have contracepted them and aborted them out of existence. There are fewer Catholics, as the Faith whole and entire is rarely taught or reinforced in any meaningful way in most parishes. There are fewer Mass-goers and Sacrament-recipients, as the liturgical devastation has left behind an anemic, ambiguous, minimally-Catholic husk that does not nourish or motivate. And even that husk is rarely celebrated according to the norms. Any Catholic may, publicly or privately, espouse and advance rank heresies that would have made them exceed room temperature by an exponential amount in better times. And for the last two years people have been (first) prohibited from going to Mass, (then) excused from going to Mass, and (finally) conditioned habitually into missing Mass.

But that is not the point of my post.

I happened to read this story in the Post-Dispatch that included interviews with parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. My wife and I were parishioners there for many years. This Southside Parish was a major mainstay in city Catholicism for its entire existence until recently. This very beautiful and large basilica-style Church can comfortably hold 800 people, and I have on many occasions seen it basically full. There used to be 5 weekend Masses there, and all were well-attended–and not in the long past, but even in the first decade of this century and entering the second. I can attest through personal knowledge that the parish school as late as 2010 or 2011 had more than 500 students. Then came a sudden frost, a quick decline to 200ish students, then an ill-conceived consolidation with another school, an attempt to revive the school with fewer than 100 students, then consolidation with other schools at a different location. In practical terms, the school closed.

I write this post while being blessed to be in a vibrant Catholic church with more than a thousand people assisting at Sunday Masses, Masses that are holy, nourishing, and beautiful. Baptisms far outpace funerals. Young people. Old people. Middle-aged people. Lots of big, Catholic families. And Sorrows is at this stage so quickly? I feel for these people; no amount of after-the-fact analysis should make us lose sight of the fact that these are children of God who have been deprived of the vibrant Catholic Faith they should have, and have had. Yes, we all suffer from our own miscues often enough. But man, this is the Rome of the West, and Sorrows gets 25 people at one of their two Sunday Masses? That is tragic. We should weep.

From the article:

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‘On Sunday, at Our Lady of Sorrows in south St. Louis, 25 people gathered between enormous Corinthian columns for the 8 a.m. Mass. The Rev. Sebastian Mundackal, originally from India, told them that he, too, had concerns about the changes ahead.

‘“Of course, like you, I have my own worries, my own concerns, but let’s be open to the Holy Spirit,” he said, encouraging parishioners to be part of the restructuring process by filling out an upcoming survey of their concerns.

‘On the way out after Mass, Donna Katke, 70, said she saw the good in the effort, officially touted as “All Things New.”

‘“We have to change and evolve to meet the needs of the people in this world,” said Katke, a retired teacher in the St. Louis Public Schools. “We have to do things better. It’s long overdue. They don’t have a choice.”

‘The smaller number of Catholic baptisms hits close to home for Katke. Only the oldest of her three grown children is a practicing Catholic. Her middle child is a nonbeliever. The third, even if she had children, says she wouldn’t raise them in the church because of the clergy sex abuse scandal.

‘“I don’t have the words to fight that,” said Katke, eyes welling with tears.

‘As for Katke, though, she said: “I am in it for the duration.”’

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You can decide for yourself what motivates Traditiones Custodes.

Welcome to the Party, Pal

The Catholic Monitor has a post calling on someone, anyone, in Rome to end the current anti-Catholic tyranny. Here is an interesting line therefrom:

The moral crisis and “doctrinal anarchy” as Vatican expert Edward Pentin and others have written about in the Church caused by Francis has reached the breaking point where all faithful Catholics must pray for and demand that Cardinal Raymond Burke, the faithful cardinals and the faithful bishops issue the correction and investigate if Francis is an invalidly elected anti-pope.

External Solemnity of St. Francis de Sales

Today the Institute celebrates the external solemnity of Saint Francis de Sales. This great Saint, who so loved Christmastide, entered Heaven on the Feast of the Holy Innocents just over 399 years ago. As we draw close to the conclusion of the Christmas season I would like to post this correspondence from the saint to another saint, Saint Jane Francis Fremiot de Chantal. Writing to her just after Christmas Midnight Mass, he encourages her, and us by imitation, to draw near and stay near the Babe of Bethlehem:

“Oh! The sweetness of this night! The Church has been singing these words – honey has dropped from the heavens. I thought to myself, that the Angels not only come down on our earth to sing their admirable Gloria in excelsis, but to gaze also on this sweet Babe, this Honey of heaven resting on two beautiful Lilies, for sometimes he is in Mary’s arms, and sometimes it is Joseph that caresses him.

“What will you say of my having the ambition to think that our two Angel Guardians were of the grand choir of blessed Spirits that sang the sweet hymn on this night? I said to myself: Oh! happy we, if they would deign to sing once more their heavenly hymn, and our hearts could hear it! I besought it of them, that so there might be glory in the highest heavens, and peace to hearts of good will.

“Returning home from celebrating these sacred mysteries, I rest awhile in thus sending you my Happy Christmas! for I dare say that the poor Shepherds took some little rest, after they had adored the Babe announced to them by the Angels. And as I thought of their sleep on that night, I said to myself: How sweetly must not have slept, dreaming of the sacred melody wherewith the Angels told them the glad tidings, and of the dear Child and the Mother they had been to see!“

Dear Readers, I wish you a blessed feast day filled with the joy of Christmas and the love of St. Francis de Sales.

“O Lord Jesus you will always be my hope and my salvation in the land of the living”: Pope Benedict XVI on St. Francis de Sales

In honor of today’s feast of St. Francis de Sales, the Doctor of Charity, I would like to post reflections of our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI given in 2011 about this great saint:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

“God is God of the human heart” (The Treatise on the Love of God, I, XV). These apparently simple words give us an impression of the spirituality of a great teacher of whom I would like to speak to you today: St Francis de Sales, a Bishop and Doctor of the Church. 

Born in 1567, in a French border region, he was the son of the Lord of Boisy, an ancient and noble family of Savoy. His life straddled two centuries, the 16th and 17th, and he summed up in himself the best of the teachings and cultural achievements of the century drawing to a close, reconciling the heritage of humanism striving for the Absolute that is proper to mystical currents.

He received a very careful education; he undertook higher studies in Paris, where he dedicated himself to theology, and at the University of Padua, where he studied jurisprudence, complying with his father’s wishes and graduating brilliantly with degrees in utroque iure, in canon law and in civil law. 

In his harmonious youth, reflection on the thought of St Augustine and of St Thomas Aquinas led to a deep crisis. This prompted him to question his own eternal salvation and the predestination of God concerning himself; he suffered as a true spiritual drama the principal theological issues of his time. He prayed intensely but was so fiercely tormented by doubt that for a few weeks he could barely eat or sleep.

At the climax of his trial, he went to the Dominicans’ church in Paris, opened his heart and prayed in these words: “Whatever happens, Lord, you who hold all things in your hand and whose ways are justice and truth; whatever you have ordained for me… you who are ever a just judge and a merciful Father, I will love you Lord…. I will love you here, O my God, and I will always hope in your mercy and will always repeat your praise…. O Lord Jesus you will always be my hope and my salvation in the land of the living” (I Proc. Canon., Vol. I, art. 4).

The 20-year-old Francis found peace in the radical and liberating love of God: loving him without asking anything in return and trusting in divine love; no longer asking what will God do with me: I simply love him, independently of all that he gives me or does not give me. Thus I find peace and the question of predestination — which was being discussed at that time — was resolved, because he no longer sought what he might receive from God; he simply loved God and abandoned himself to his goodness. And this was to be the secret of his life which would shine out in his main work: the The Treatise on the Love of God. 

Overcoming his father’s resistance, Francis followed the Lord’s call and was ordained a priest on 18 December 1593. In 1602, he became Bishop of Geneva, in a period in which the city was the stronghold of Calvinism so that his episcopal see was transferred, “in exile” to Annecy. 

As the Pastor of a poor and tormented diocese in a mountainous area whose harshness was as well known as its beauty, he wrote: “I found [God] sweet and gentle among our loftiest rugged mountains, where many simple souls love him and worship him in all truth and sincerity; and mountain goats and chamois leap here and there between the fearful frozen peaks to proclaim his praise” (Letter to Mother de Chantal, October 1606, in Oeuvres, éd. Mackey, t. XIII, p. 223). 

Nevertheless the influence of his life and his teaching on Europe in that period and in the following centuries is immense. He was an apostle, preacher, writer, man of action and of prayer dedicated to implanting the ideals of the Council of Trent; he was involved in controversial issues dialogue with the Protestants, experiencing increasingly, over and above the necessary theological confrontation, the effectiveness of personal relationship and of charity; he was charged with diplomatic missions in Europe and with social duties of mediation and reconciliation.

Yet above all St Francis de Sales was a director: from his encounter with a young woman, Madame de Charmoisy, he was to draw the inspiration to write one of the most widely read books of the modern age, The Introduction to a Devout Life. 

A new religious family was to come into being from his profound spiritual communion with an exceptional figure, St Jane Frances de Chantal: The Foundation of the Visitation, as the Saint wished, was characterized by total consecration to God lived in simplicity and humility, in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well: “I want my Daughters”, he wrote, not to have any other ideal than that of glorifying [Our Lord] with their humility” (Letter to Bishop de Marquemond, June 1615). He died in 1622, at the age of 55, after a life marked by the hardness of the times and by his apostolic effort.

The life of St Francis de Sales was a relatively short life but was lived with great intensity. The figure of this Saint radiates an impression of rare fullness, demonstrated in the serenity of his intellectual research, but also in the riches of his affection and the “sweetness” of his teachings, which had an important influence on the Christian conscience.

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Masses at St. Francis de Sales Oratory at 8am and 10:30am. Those who assist at Mass today at an Institute apostolate may gain a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions.

Accusations against Pope Benedict XVI Part of a Plot from within the Church?

I’m shocked, shocked!

This plot is so obvious, you have to be lobotomized not to see it. And why might a certain man living in Santa Marta who wants to TAKE AWAY THE HOLY MASS want to discredit the Pope?

Hmmmmmmmmm.

Cardinal Burke, You Testified that God “saved me for some work now that He has for me to do.”

You spoke rightly. may Our Lady and Her Son Be with you and strengthen you to do that work.

Traditional Confirmations Canceled in England and Wales

Cruelties in Chicago in the unjust effort of Cardinal Cupich to kill the Mass

Statement of Cardinal Burke on Traditionis Custodes

Oh, and the seemingly unrelated matter of the suspicious hit job on Pope Benedict XVI coming out of Germany

We Are Approaching Our Lefebvre Moment— But Not the One You Think

In 1988, despite having failed to secure papal authorization to consecrate new bishops for his priestly society, an aged Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre defied the the threat of excommunication and consecrated 5 bishops— 4 for the SSPX, and 1 for the Diocese of Campos, Brazil. As a result he and the other bishops were all excommunicated. Or not. The SSPX argued against the validity of the excommunication decree until Pope Benedict XVI declared them void (possibly ab initio) prior to issuing Summorum Pontificum. [As an aside, please note the way a truly humble pope brings peace to a contentious situation. The way Pope Bendict phrased the ‘lifting’ of the excommunication decree, he left room for the interpretation that it never really was valid at all, thus allowing all parties who acted in good faith in 1988 to save face.]

Though I have always understood the SSPX’s position on why they thought the Lefebvre excommunication was invalid, and while I believe their position was held in good faith, I admit that it sometimes wearied me whenever an SSPX attendee would go on about how Lefebvre saved the Traditional Mass by consecrating the bishops, ensuring the SSPX would continue to have priests. I recall many conversations where I simply posed the question, “What better good might not have come from obedience? We’ll never know.”

As it turns out, the claim that Lefebvre saved the traditional Mass (which retains its obvious merit) makes way more sense to me now. Not because of 1988. But because of 1976. Wait, 1976, you ask? Let me explain.

The issue involved the ability of a bishop of the Catholic Church being able to ordain priests in an approved Catholic rite of priestly ordination. The traditional Mass had not been abrogated, nor had the rite of priestly ordination. But Pope Paul VI forbade Lefebvre from ordaining the priests in the traditional rite. He didn’t forbid their ordinations, but just the use of the traditional rite of ordination.

Does this sound familiar?

Archbishop Lefebvre judged that he had the right to ordain these priests in the traditional manner. As Pope Benedict confirmed in Summorum Pontificum, he did indeed. But Pope Paul VI declared him and his priests suspended a divinis. Because he judged he was in the right legally and morally, Archbishop Lefebvre continued to ordain traditional priests and always maintained that the suspensions were illegitimate and invalid. It was this action, much more than in 1988, that one can claim that Lefebvre saved the Mass, in a manner of speaking (Our Lord is Sovereign and responsible for all good). He died without knowing whether his position would be vindicated.

You could say that it is 1976 again for traditional societies and institutes previously under the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei. The Vatican has said traditional priestly ordinations are no longer possible. The FSSP, ICRSP and others have lots of vocations and of course have ordinations scheduled this year. And some bishops, like the odious Cardinal Cupich, have forbidden even traditional societies from celebrating the traditional Mass on the first Sunday of every month and on high holy days, beginning February 6. A watershed moment awaits.

One thing you could say for the Vatican’s position in 1976 was that there was an uncontestedly legitimate pope who ordered Lefebvre to refrain from the traditional ordination of priests. The same cannot be said for 2022.

Even if Bergoglio were pope, his orders to block the traditional Mass and sacraments are just as invalid, assuming for a moment they were drafted in accordance with the law. His censures are equally invalid should they be issued for a priest, prelate or layman making use of his right to the Mass and Sacraments. Lastly, Bergoglio’s motives are so more obvious in their hatred for the Mass, the Sacraments, the faithful, and Him of Whom he claims to be vicar.

Fr. Laguerie of the IBP stated it very well that we must simply persevere in our lawful adherence to the traditional Mass and sacraments. That there must be a continuation of everything the traditional societies have been doing already. Father notes what lots of us sense— he hears of none of his confreres who will cave into the unjust forcing of the novus ordo onto traditional priests. The traditional laity have their back and will not betray faithful priests. There is a large traditional community.

We are in the right.

This is 1976. But really it isn’t. A Lefebvre moment is being forced on us in 2022. it starts in Chicago on February 6. It will occur worldwide by Midsummer. Let us remain faithful to Christ and to His sacraments. Let us respond with at least as much courage as Lefebvre showed in 1976.

This is the reality, whether Bergoglio or Pope Benedict XVI is pope. That question need not divide us nor cause us to waver. The prohibition against the Mass is invalid either way. But I would add this could very well be the perfect time to bring that question to a head for the good of souls. The time has come to acknowledge, and come to the aid of Pope Benedict XVI. That would save the Mass, and so much more.

Matthew10:36

Completely Unrelated Images

Feast of St. Peter’s Chair in Rome

Pope Benedict XVI

As we are entering into that wonderful, apocalyptic time where we wander around explaining to people that the Mass was not abrogated and expounding on Quo Primum, let me take this moment to wish all readers a Blessed Feast of St. Peter’s Chair in Rome. This feast was removed from the 1962 calendar— one of the first casualties of the modernist ascendancy— and the date of the Feast of St. Peter’s Chair in Antioch became our only celebration of the chair-iness of Peter wheresoever he sat down.

From Dom Gueranger, writing before the suppression of the Feast:

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The Archangel Gabriel told the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the Annunciation, that the Son Who was to be born of Her should be a King, and that of His Kingdom there should be no end. Hence, when the Magi were led from the East to the Crib of Jesus, they proclaimed in Jerusalem that they came to seek a King. But his new Empire needed a capital; and whereas the King, Who was to fix His throne in it, was, according to the eternal decrees, to re-ascend into Heaven, it was necessary that the visible character of His Royalty should be left here on earth, and this even to the end of the world. He that should be invested with this visible character of Christ our King would be the Vicar of Christ.

Our Lord Jesus Christ chose Simon for this sublime dignity of being His Vicar. He changed his name into one which signifies the Rock, that is “Peter”; and in giving him this new name, He tells us that the whole Church throughout the world is to rest upon this man as upon a Rock which nothing shall ever move (Matt. 16: 18). But this promise of Our Lord included another; namely, that as Peter was to close his earthly career by the cross, He would give him Successors in whom Peter and his authority should live to the end of time.

But again, there must be some mark or sign of this succession, to designate to the world who the Pontiff is on whom, to the end of the world, the Church is to be built. There are so many Bishops in the Church; in which one of them is Peter continued? This Prince of the Apostles founded and governed several Churches; but only one of these was watered with his blood, and that one was Rome; only one of these is enriched with his Tomb, and that one is Rome; the Bishop of Rome, therefore, is the Successor of Peter, and consequently the Vicar of Christ. It is of the Bishop of Rome alone that it is said: Upon thee will I build My Church; and again: To thee will I give the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 16: 19); and again: I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; do thou confirm thy brethren (Luke 22: 32); and again: Feed my lambs; feed my sheep (John 21: 15, 17).

Protestantism saw the force of this argument, and therefore strove to throw doubts on St. Peter’s having lived and died in Rome.   They who labored to establish doubts of this kind rightly hoped that, if they could gain their point, they would destroy the authority of the Roman Pontiff, and even the very notion of a Head of the Church. But History has refuted this puerile objection, and now all learned Protestants agree with Catholics in admitting a fact which is one of the most incontestable, even on the ground of human authority.

It was in order to nullify, by the authority of the Liturgy, this strange pretension of Protestants, that Pope Paul IV, in 1558, restored the ancient Feast of St. Peter’s Chair at Rome, and fixed it on the 18th of January. For many centuries the Church had not solemnized the mystery of the Pontificate of the Prince of the Apostles on any distinct feast, but had made the single Feast of February 22nd serve for both the Chair at Antioch and the Chair at Rome. From that time forward, the 22nd of February has been kept for the Chair at Antioch, which was the first occupied by the Apostle.