The Value of the Mass

The Value of the Mass
Up to our own times, it has been the constant concern of supreme pontiffs to ensure that the Church of Christ offers a worthy ritual to the Divine Majesty, 'to the praise and glory of His name,' and 'to the benefit of all His Holy Church - Pope Benedict XVI, Summorum Pontificum

Friday, July 13, 2007

Troubles Ahead


Well, we've had Summorum Pontificum for a week now and things seem to already be headed down hill. I have to say that it's unfortunate to see bishops who seem to want to limit the Holy Father's generosity. This is not to say that all bishops want to limit Summorum Pontificum, but as we have seen on the web lately there are some. I was hoping that this would be a great moment for the Church, but as some feared this seems to be causing division. Not division as some thought. It's not causing division between priests and laity. It's not causing divisions between Catholics who prefer the Ordinary Form against catholics who prefer the Extraordinary Form. It's not causing divisions between Catholics and Jews (or any other non-catholic for that matter.) No, it's not causing any of that as it was feared. But it is a document of division. It is a document that divides the orthodox from the heterodox. It is a document that divides the faithful from the unfaithful. Lastly, and this is the saddest of all, it is a document that seems to be dividing some bishops from their priests, their faithful, and the Holy Father. In a time where we should be forgetting our agendas, and turning towards Rome in faithful obedience, we have begun to turn inward. That is frightening indeed.


As always, there is only one remedy for this. Let us pray. Let us pray for an end to the 40 year confusion that has clouded the Church of God. Prayer has gotten us this far and it is prayer and only prayer that will be our guide to the second coming.


Oremus Pro Invicem

9 comments:

Alexander said...

Hopefully the Ecclesia Dei commission will help to clear up a lot of things come September or even perhaps the Holy Father himself.

Fr. Jacob Straub said...

We must pray also that we will get the accurate translation of Summorum Pontificum so that there are no possibilities of it being misinterpreted by the bishops, as the document is already being misinterpreted on purpose by some. We cannot expect everything to change on a dime back to orthodoxy. It will take many years of prayer and suffering, just as the post-Reformation Church had to suffer for many years in order to be re-strengthened by God. Jesus never said it was going to be easy.

St. Pius V, pray for us!
St. Pius X, pray for us!
Venerable Pius XII, intercede for us!

Zach said...

As far as translation issues are concerned, I'm pretty sure that the USCCB translation is pretty accurate, at least as far as the legalities are concerned.

thetimman said...

Zach, in my opinion it is never a bad thing to divide the orthodox from the heterodox. Let the cut begin.

And I am still wildly optimistic about the MP and the immediate future. It doesn't matter if the Weurls and the Mahonys stifle it the best they can. In the worst diocese in the world there will be at least scores of "private" TLMs on a daily basis, attended by hundreds of faithful. That is a floodgate of grace. And that is just in the bad dioceses. The NO will not stand the comparison. In time, it must be reformed (real reform) or atrophy.

God blese the Pope!

Zach said...

I agree with you timman, but I think you're forgetting the intimidation factor. Intimidation is a powerful weapon and if a bishop intimidates his priests enough than his priests will be too afraid to attempt to offer the old Mass. I hope I'm wrong though.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

couldn't find your email.
anyway,
I am a Catholic who is visiting Columbus this weekend. Email me please.
vocemur@yahoo.com
I need some advice on what churches to see and where I can find a sat morning mass in the downtown area.
thanks

Kristen said...

Hello Zach:

My name is Kristen and will be starting at Josephinum in the fall. I don't know how many women ever are there, so I may be the only one and am indeed a little nervous (I've already had a run-in with a member of the staff who insisted I should not be on the property). Dr. Ross has met with me several times and has welcomed me with open arms, so I am hoping he sets the mood of the student body.

I am in the MTS program at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, but, with some luck, I will eventually be over in the MA program at Josephinum.

Just wanted to give a warm hello.

K

Brian Douglass said...

This is an old post, but maybe you will see this.

Could this be what you mean?

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2007/09/norms-for-older-mass-issued-by-archbp-of-cincinnati-committee-to-examine-priests/

Our Lady pray for us! St. Pius V ora pro nobis!