Rush To Judgment Regarding Pope Benedict XVI

No, I'm not talking of those who might be bad-mouthing the late pontiff.  Far from it.  I am quite baffled about those who have already declared him not only a saint but a Doctor of the Church.  Utilizing the canard of "not speaking ill of the dead", they poo-poo legitimate objections to their haste for the bestowal of these honors and in fact cast aspersions on those of us who do raise cautionary voices.

Let's face some unpleasant facts now, shall we?  When Benedict ascended to the papal throne in 2005, he asked people to "pray for me that I may not flee for fear of the wolves."  He had some knowledge of what progressive elements in the Vatican could do.  Yet he took the papal oath anyway.  Included in that oath is the promise to "keep without sacrifice to itself the discipline and the rite of the Church.  I will put outside the Church anyone who dares to go against this oath.."  He did do that, most notably with his July 2007 Summorum Pontificum that took the Tridentine Mass out of the evil clutches of progressive bishops.

However, less than eight years later, that changed.  He announced his rather odd and frankly, canonically irregular (if not impossible) resignation from the papacy.  Looking back, I think we can all see the evil hand of the Sankt Gallen mafia driving that whole thing.  Maybe we couldn't see it at the time, but no doubt Benedict did.  How could have not have known what was to follow after he left Peter's chair?  Perhaps he wasn't privy to all the details of their plans, but he must have known that they had their long knives out for Holy Mother Church.  He did not remain at his post to guard the Deposit of Faith.  Some argue that we don't know Benedict's real motives for so doing.  Be that as it may, could any well-intentioned motive have even mattered?

Some are now saying that because the papacy is now "no longer bifurcated" that Francis is now pope without a doubt.  Hold up a minute.  There remains the matter of compromised elections, that would render a papal election to be invalid.  I touched upon that in a post from seven years ago.  One correction to that post; whereas I assumed Francis' election was valid, I no longer hold that assumption.  I simply don't know.

The late pope will be buried later this week.  We must pray for his soul and for Holy Mother Church.  Here is a take on the matter from Michael Matt.

The Noose Is Tightening Around The Neck Of The Traditional Latin Mass

 Please watch this video in its entirety.  Discussion below.

So in the name of "unity", the pope and his progressive lemmings want to ban TLM  "only-ism", essentially forcing priests devoted to the TLM to say Novus Ordo Masses because of "rigidity" or other such nonsense.

It seems to this lowly layperson that the pursuit of "unity" must work both ways, right?  Where's all this "dialogue" that was supposed to be a hallmark of this papacy?  The word "dialogue" means a two-way conversation, some "give and take" on both sides, right?

Therefore, if the vatican wants to rid the world of that deadly plague known as TLM-only-ism, surely it wishes to do the same of what can be similarly called NO-only-ism.  We eagerly await the announcement that all Novus-Ordo priests will be obliged to learn the traditional Latin Mass, and that henceforth it must be taught in all seminaries.  In other words, each and every Roman Catholic priest (of course bishops are priests, too) will be able to celebrate both forms of Holy Mass!  Not only that, but the NO priests will be called upon to celebrate the Latin Mass periodically, just as the TLM priests will be ordered to celebrate NO Masses!   What's that you say?  "Don't hold my breath"?  What???

Would that what I proposed facetiously in my last paragraph was what the pope had in mind.  I only stated it, however, to illustrate the hypocrisy and double-standards.  I will say this for them, though.  As evil as the vatican inhabitants are, they at least understand the principle "lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivandi".   Too many Catholics, faithful and well-meaning though they be in other areas, simply fail - or refuse - to understand that principle.  They fail to accept how they compromise their own faith when they giggle at jokes from the pulpit or sing some heretical poop for the offertory or clap for some individual during Mass.

Let's look at what the Council of Trent says about the Holy Mass.  Scroll down a bit and read Canon IX.    "If any one saith, that the rite of the Roman Church, according to which a part of the canon and the words of consecration are pronounced in a low tone, is to be condemned; or, that the mass ought to be celebrated in the vulgar tongue only; or, that water ought not to be mixed with the wine that is to be offered in the chalice, for that it is contrary to the institution of Christ; let him be anathema "   So anyone banning the use of Latin is anathema.

That said, we note with displeasure the words attributed to Cardinal Parolin: "We must end the Old Latin Mass forever".   If he said this, he stands in direct disobedience to the Council of Trent.  However, as noted above, these fellows understand "lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivandi".  They acknowledge, albeit grudgingly, the superiority of the Tridentine Rite.  Whether or not they succeed in driving the TLM out of Catholic parishes remains to be seen.  We must, however:

• Be praying our Rosaries that Our Lord protect the Holy Mass
• Be supporting those priests who do offer the Traditional Mass, both by our attendance and with our dollars.
• Be prepared to go underground to celebrate Mass properly.

Details Of Attack On Traditional Latin Mass Emerge

If you haven't done so yet, please read the previous post.  It is an attempted summary on recent events.  In that otherwise-excellent summary, I saw no mention of the attacks on the Traditional Mass; perhaps the summary was composed before the nefarious designs against the Mass became known.

St Padre Pio once said that "it would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass."  He died before the Novus Ordo Mass was promulgated by Pope Paul VI.  St. Leonard of Port Maurice said of the Mass, "I believe that were it not for the Holy Mass, as of this moment the world would be in the abyss."  Clearly Saints Pio and Leonard understood the absolute necessity of the Mass - as it existed before Vatican II.

Vatican II, either by intent of some council fathers or by misinterpretation (and I think it's the former), led to massive changes in the Mass.  I don't have time to rehearse all of them, save to say that extreme violence was done to the dignity and theology of Holy Mass, with devastating spiritual and societal results.  Many good people understood the dangers, if only instinctively.  Thanks to them, the Traditional Latin Mass never completely faded into obscurity.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued a Summorum Pontificum, basically allowing priests to celebrate the Tridentine Mass without having to seek permission of their bishops, provided that a stable group of lay people wished to have said Masses and be willing to support them.  With that, the Mass in the Extraordinary Form started to be celebrated in many locations.  Many of the faithful Catholics attending them were young people.  These young people tend to have large families and thus their children were growing up in a decent liturgical setting.

As I mentioned in one of my posts this past Thursday, it became clear that the pope and many of the progressives in the Vatican have malicious designs upon the Tridentine Mass.  The edicts they are going to promulgate will have the immediate effect of hobbling those who wish to participate in the Mass of the Ages, with the ultimate aim at choking off that Mass altogether.

The details of this attack are now crystalizing.  Both GloriaTV and Rorate Caeli agree that there are two parts to this attack.  First (to come in a matter of weeks) involves focus on the clergy currently celebrating Traditional Latin Masses.  They will have to apply for permission from their bishops to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, even if the Mass is now well-established.  This is a direct contradiction to Pope Benedict's Summorum Pontificum. 

In addition to the previous post's take on current events, I post the June 4th broadcast of the Anchor Team, where Michael Hichborn and Jim Maughan put forth their own observations.  Please take the time to watch this and to read the other material.  I realize it's a lot of information and it can be overwhelming, but we - each and every one of us - must understand these matters so that we can understand and defend ourselves and our loved ones against all the forces designed to imperil our souls.

Might this wreckage be averted?  By the grace of God, it can.  Sometimes shedding the light and drawing attention to planned mischief can cause would-be perpetrators to reconsider their contemplated crimes.  Of course be praying your daily Rosaries.  Pray the prayers of Leo XIII after Mass.  They are a standard ending of every Low Mass anyway, but consider making them a part of your after-Mass thanksgiving.  Certainly be talking of these matter amongst yourselves to make all aware of what is happening and to strategize how you'll approach your pastor, bishop, etc.

As further developments emerge, I will post them.

Fort Worth Bishop Unlawfully Bans Traditional Latin Mass At Fisher More College

Reverend Michael Olson, who was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth has, as one of his first actions, banned the Traditional Latin Mass from being offered at Fisher More College (ht Rorate Caeli).

There is no doubt that such a move flies in the face of the Apostolic letter issued July 7, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.  There is also no doubt that there is malevolence towards the Traditional Latin Mass, either by the bishop himself or someone within his chancery.  To the right are copies of: Bishop Olson's letter to the President of Fisher More College (Dr. Michael King), unlawfully banning the TLM from the campus and a copy of a letter from the Canon Law Centre explaining why the bishop's actions fly in the face of church law.

Consider this, as you read the bishop's letter.  It was dated late February, less than one month after he was installed as bishop.  How, in less than one month's time, could he possibly divine that such a move was "necessary for the soul" of Dr. King?  That's sanctimonious nonsense.

I suspect the draconian treatment being meted out to the Franciscans of the Immaculate (see here and here) has only emboldened those who, for whatever reason, hold the Extraordinary Form in disdain.  Bishop Olson's actions should remove all doubt of that.

Here is the contact information (scroll to the bottom) for Bishop Olson.  Please write and/or email and or phone his office.  He needs to hear from many of us.  Please be respectful of his office, but also be firm regarding the dictates of Pope Benedict XVI's letter.

Those of you within the Diocese of Fort Worth, if your concerns aren't being met with the respect they deserve, consider a boycott of diocesan appeals until such time they are met.