We're being eaten by a boa constrictor

If you doubted that the Society of St. Pius X would not be satisfied with a restoration of the Missal of Pius V--the actual name for the Tridentine liturgical book, not the "Missal of Blessed John XXIII," which is ridiculous spin--consider SSPX head Bernard Fellay's response, as reported by Zenit:

"Difficulties that still remain [but the SSPX] wishes that the favorable climate established by the new dispositions of the Holy See will make it possible--after the decree of excommunication which still affects its bishops has been withdrawn--to consider more serenely the disputed doctrinal issues." In other words, we haven't gotten our way yet. Just a little more... a little more ...

All this to restore communion with about 1 million Lefebvrites.

But wait, there's more. See the next post.

Liturgical revisionism

I just can't pass this up, from Summorum Ponitificum, which, incidentally, the Vatican website has not made available in English:

I just can't pass this up, from Summorum Ponitificum, which, incidentally, the Vatican website has not made available in English:

"In more recent times, the Second Vatican Council expressed a desire that the respectful reverence due to divine worship should be renewed and adapted to the needs of our time. Moved by this desire our predecessor, the Supreme Pontiff Paul VI, approved, in 1970, reformed and partly renewed liturgical books for the Latin Church. These, translated into the various languages of the world, were willingly accepted by bishops, priests and faithful. John Paul II amended the third typical edition of the Roman Missal. Thus Roman Pontiffs have operated to ensure that "this kind of liturgical edifice ... should again appear resplendent for its dignity and harmony."[4]"

What a bunch of nonsense! Vatican II did not "express a desire"; in a near-unanimous vote, the bishops ordered a "general reform" of the liturgy. And nowhere does the phrase "respectful reverence" appear; their phrases were "full, conscious, and active," and "right and duty of the baptized." B16 makes it sound like Paul VI issued the new liturgical books on a whim.

This is an amazing piece of papalizing theology, and an amazing exercise of papal power. The repudiation of the council is not only liturgical but ecclesiological as well. Collegiality has flown right out the window.

Pope dumps Council

As expected, Pope Benedict XVI has issues is motu propio (meaning "on his own initiative, and this surely is), Summorum pontificum, liberalizing the use of the pre-Vatican II liturgies for all the sacraments, save Holy Orders, it seems. The old Roman Missal is being styled the "Missal of Blessed John XXIII," which is rich indeed, since all J23 did to the liturgy was add St. Joseph to the Roman Canon.

Though the pope insists this is not a repudiation of Vatican II, one has to wonder if the liturgical principles of "full, conscious, and active participation" as the "paramount concern" of the reform of the liturgy will be observed as the old liturgy is resurrected. Those principles were, after all, taught by an ecumenical council called by the pope. And what about the lectionary? The liturgy constitution says that the "treasures of the scriptures" should be opened for the faithful in the liturgy. Will the old lectionary also be used, which has only a single cycle of readings (epistle and gospel) and as opposed to the vastly superior three-year cycle (Old Testament, epistle, and gospel reading) of the reformed liturgy. I doubt it.

I can only echo the words of the Italian bishop Luca Brandolini as reported by the Washington Post: "A reform for which many people worked, with great sacrifice and only inspired by the desire to renew the Church, has now been canceled."

Of course, now we can only wait and see if the introduction of a second Roman rite into use will indeed bring greater unity. I doubt it, especially since Bishop Fellay of the schismatic Society of Pius X has already said that there can be no further steps to unity until Rome lifts the excommunications imposed in 1988.

What is it that they say about giving a mouse a cookie?

How's your Latin?

Another raft of stories on the triumphal return of Tridentine liturgy is out today. All the stories claim the document has already been signed and will probably be released before the pope goes on vacation July 9.

All I can say is: For those who thought the liturgy was bad now, wait until you see some priest trying to pronounce Latin. I guess we'll find out which kind people like better.

This is a big mistake. Period. It's a usurpation of the local bishop's authority over the liturgy in his diocese. And there is hardly any great pastoral need being left unfulfilled. Maybe the document will spontaneously burst into flame.

Or maybe we'll find out the Tridentine liturgy is not as popular as some think it is.