LENTCAzT 2025 – 17: Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent – Envy

Posted on 21 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Roman Station is San Vitale once associated with the Order of Widows.  We have the insights of Fr. Troadec, who points to the similarities between Joseph son of Jacob of the Old Testament and Christ.   There is a good reflection her about how dangerous jealousy is, the sin of envy.

HERE

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Sterile faith v. living faith

Posted on 20 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From the pen of Bl. Ildefonso Schuster, the great liturgist and Cardinal Archbishop of Milan.

The Church, as though she feared that the very splendour of her liturgy might lead simple folk into thinking that Christianity consisted merely in holding functions and receiving the sacraments, insists continually in her Lenten formulas that we should, by our good works, give reality to what is so sublimely expressed in the liturgy. Without this personal and intimate realization, brought about by constant effort, the liturgy would become a kind of magic formula. This fact clearly explains the words of the Gospel that many who during this life hold a high place among the followers of Christ, who even prophesy and work wonders in his name, will after death be rejected and condemned by our Lord himself. Nescio vos — “I know you not — depart from me all ye that work iniquity.” It is not ritual forms nor a sterile faith, but the good deeds inspired by a living faith, that will gain for us everlasting salvation.

This is not to say that our ritual forms, our sacred liturgical worship is inconsequential.  In fact, our sacred worship, which fulfills the requirement of the virtue of Religion, is our sustenance and strength which powers our daily works, both of vocational duty and of mercy.  They each enliven the other.

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LENTCAzT 2025 – 16: Thursday 2nd Week of Lent – Satan changes tactics

Posted on 20 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Roman Station is Santa Maria in Trastevere.

We hear from a sermon of St. Gregory The Great (+604).  He put together many of the Mass formularies and traditional practices we use today.  He reminds his listeners that they had had very bad times.  Now that things were better, the Enemy had to change his approach to ruining souls.    At the end, the beginning of an appropriate orchestral piece.

HERE

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Ite ad Ioseph… Go to Joseph! – UPDATED

Posted on 19 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Try to wrap your head around the paradox in the vocation of St. Joseph.

Firstly, he was a relatively poor craftsman, a tekton, which in Greek is “builder” which can include “carpenter”.

However, consider the implications of the genealogy at the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew. Joseph was also the true heir to the Davidic throne, being descended from David’s son Solomon.  Mary was descended from David’s son Nathan.

We don’t have in Scripture a single word spoken by him.  However, we know that it was his role to name Our Lord, so for sure He at the very least spoke the word “Jesus”.

Hidden vocation and hidden thought.

The fine scripture scholar Brandt Pitre has a recording of talks he did on St. Joseph which I highly recommend: HERE.

Also, you will love Fr. Calloway’s book on Joseph.

Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father by Fr. Donald Calloway

US HERE – UK HERE

St. Joseph is a mighty intercessor.  I’ve been blessed several times by his help in times of real need and stress.  I have zero doubt that he was the one who intervened, so concretely that it’s amusing.

The Great Roman sent a couple of photos from the celebrations for St. Joseph.

There are Bignè di San Giuseppe “Frittelaro” and fritelle.  As the Romans tell it, to help support the Holy Family St. Joseph supplemented his income by selling fried pastries.

And there is a tradition of trying to climb a greased pole with has goodies at the top.

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Daily Rome Shot 1273 – Amazing

Posted on 19 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The relics of the Holy Veil of Mary and the Holy Cloak of Joseph brought by St Jerome returning from Jerusalem. Normally these kept at St Anastasia al Palatino they are currently available to the veneration of the faithful at San Giuseppe al Trionfale till March 19th. These relics are seldom seen in public.

Photo from The Great Roman™.

Yesterday’s splashdown of SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon was spectacular. It was much enhanced by the participation of dolphins.

THIS TWEET LINKS TO A FASCINATING VIDEO about the people who control church music in these USA.  It is informative and DISGUSTING.  HERE

 

In chessy news… HERE

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19 March – Feast of ST. JOSEPH! – Terror of demons, Hope of the sick, Patron of the dying, Protector of Holy Church!

Posted on 19 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Glorious St. Joseph.

Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church, 

In Rome today you eat Bigne di San Giuseppe.

Back in 2009 I made a PODCAzT – FIFTEEN YEARS AGO?!? – about the hymn sung in the Liturgy of Hours in honor of St. Joseph.

082 09-03-19 St. Joseph: a hymn dissected & sermon of Bernardine of Siena

That post eventually was augmented with photos sent by The Great Roman™ of a terrific procession in honor of St. Joseph in the streets of Rome.  HERE  Happier times.

The hymn I mentioned is is Te, Ioseph celebrent and it is in the Liber Hymnarius for 1st and 2nd Vespers for the Feast of St. Joseph.

Also of note, Fr. Hunwicke has comments about his hymn at his fine blog, HERE.

Also we listened to an indulgenced prayer written by Pope Leo XIII, Ad Te Ioseph.

Finally, we hear St. Bernardine of Siena (+1444) preach on our Patron of the Universal Church who is Patron of the dying.

Buy a Liber Hymnarius!  US HERE UK HERE

 

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LENTCAzT 2025 – 15: Wednesday 2nd Week of Lent – JOSEPH

Posted on 19 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

We visit the Basilica of Saint Cecilia today. I have a person connection with this beautiful place. Card. Antonio Bacci gives us a lovely reflection on St. Joseph.

Wonderful St. Joseph!

HERE

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Daily Rome Shot 1272

Posted on 18 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Nice people! Great service!

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

In chessy news… HERE

White to move.  Mate in 4.

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Prayer request

Posted on 18 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I ask, please, in your kindness, to raise up a prayer for my mother, who has a serious progressive ailment which makes life difficult.

Today is her 90th birthday.

Thank you.

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LENTCAzT 2025 – 14: Tuesday 2nd Week Sunday of Lent – Pray!

Posted on 18 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today’s Station is Santa Balbina.  However, the Station is being observed these days at San Bartolomeo all’Isola (St. Bartholomew on the Tiber Island).  Card. Bacci joins us today to enjoin us to pray.  Then we step back to the 2nd century for more about prayer.

HERE

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Daily Rome Shot 1271

Posted on 17 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

Too cool not to share…

In chessy news, … HERE

Black to move. Mate in… 6. This is not the easiest puzzle I’ve posted.

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“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me…” The mighty Lorica of Saint Patrick

Posted on 17 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

During these dark days, we can benefit from the use of this prayer, called the Breastplate, or Loríca of St. Patrick, “The Cry of the Deer” (Latin Lorica is pronounced lo-REE-ka).  It is said that St. Patrick (+461) sang this when an ambush was set for him so that he could not go to Tara to evangelize.  Patrick and companions were then hidden from the sight of their enemies, who thought that they were deer when they passed by.  However, some scholars date the prayer to the 8th c.  Either way, this is a mickle, puissant prayer!

The Latin word loríca means “a leather cuirass; a defense of any kind; a breastwork, parapet”.  In effect, it means “armor”.   “Loríca” is also associated with an rhythmic invocation or prayer especially for protection as when going into battle.

The Lorica of St. Patrick is rooted in an un-confused belief in the supernatural dimension of our lives, that there truly is a spiritual battle being waged for our souls.  This prayer reflects our absolute dependence on the One Three-Personed God.

One could pray this prayer each and every morning, upon arising.

On St. Patrick’s Day, instead drinking green beer, pastors of parishes should invite people to come to Church for confessions, recitation of the Rosary, Mass, Exposition, the praying of the Lorica, Benediction.  Suggest it to your priests.

Latin English
Sancti Patricii Hymnus ad Temoriam. The Lorica, Breastplate, of St. Patrick (The Cry of the Deer)

 
Ad Temoriam hodie potentiam praepollentem invoco Trinitatis,
Credo in Trinitatem sub unitate numinis elementorum.		 I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
Apud Temoriam hodie virtutem nativitatis Christi cum ea ejus baptismi,
Virtutem crucifixionis cum ea ejus sepulturae,
Virtutem resurrectionis cum ea ascensionis,
Virtutem adventus ad judicium aeternum.		 I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
Apud Temoriam hodie virtutem amoris Seraphim in obsequio angelorum,
In spe resurrectionis ad adipiscendum praemium.
In orationibus nobilium Patrum,
In praedictionibus prophetarum,
In praedicationibus apostolorum,
In fide confessorum,
In castitate sanctarum virginum,
In actis justorum virorum.		 I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
Apud Temoriam hodie potentiam coeli,
Lucem solis,
Candorem nivis,
Vim ignis,
Rapiditatem fulguris,
Velocitatem venti,
Profunditatem maris,
Stabilitatem terrae,
Duritiam petrarum.		 I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
Ad Temoriam hodie potentia Dei me dirigat,
Potestas Dei me conservet,
Sapientia Dei me edoceat,
Oculus Dei mihi provideat,
Auris Dei me exaudiat,
Verbum Dei me disertum faciat,
Manus Dei me protegat,
Via Dei mihi patefiat,
Scutum Dei me protegat,
Exercitus Dei me defendat,
Contra insidias daemonum,
Contra illecebras vitiorum,
Contra inclinationes animi,
Contra omnem hominem qui meditetur injuriam mihi,
Procul et prope,
Cum paucis et cum multis.		 I arise today, through
God’s strength to pilot me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
Posui circa me sane omnes potentias has
Contra omnem potentiam hostilem saevam
Excogitatam meo corpori et meae animae;
Contra incantamenta pseudo-vatum,
Contra nigras leges gentilitatis,
Contra pseudo-leges haereseos,
Contra dolum idololatriae,
Contra incantamenta mulierum,
Et fabrorum ferrariorum et druidum,
Contra omnem scientiam quae occaecat animum hominis.		 I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;
Christus me protegat hodie
Contra venenum,
Contra combustionem,
Contra demersionem,
Contra vulnera,
Donec meritus essem multum praemii.		 Christ to shield me today
Against poison,
against burning,
Against drowning,
against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christus mecum,
Christus ante me,
Christus me pone,
Christus in me,
Christus infra me,
Christus supra me,
Christus ad dextram meam,
Christus ad laevam meam,
Christus hinc,
Christus illinc,
Christus a tergo.		 Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christus in corde omnis hominis quem alloquar,
Christus in ore cujusvis qui me alloquatur,
Christus in omni oculo qui me videat,
Christus in omni aure quae me audiat.		 Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Ad Temoriam hodie potentiam praepollentem invoco Trinitatis. I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Credo in Trinitatem sub Unitate numinis elementorum.
Domini est salus,
Domini est salus,
Christi est salus,
Salus tua, Domine, sit semper nobiscum.		 Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
[Salvation is from the Lord,
Salvation is from the Lord,
Salvation is from Christ,
Let Your Salvation, O Lord, be with us always.]
Amen. Amen.

The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles of Gower Abbey have a Lorica of St Patrick on their Angels and Saints at Ephesus album.  US HERE – UK HERE

Concerning the translation of the Lorica, one of the most accurate translations of the original, 8th-century Old Irish is here: HERE

Another version…

 

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LENTCAzT 2025 – 13: Monday 2nd Week Sunday of Lent – Trinity

Posted on 17 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Troadec tells about about true adoption by God.  St. Elizabeth of the Trinity whispers a secret.

We hear also the wonderful Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles at Gower Abbey, whose singing is angelic.  Two bits herein from their album The Holy Trinity at Ephesus  US HERE. I really like this one.

HERE

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Daily Rome Shot 1270 – slipper

Posted on 16 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Today’s Roman Station, Santa Maria in Domnica.

Little Pope Pascal venerates the Blessed Virgin’s slipper. He was alive when this mosaic was made, so he gets a square halo.

Look! Up in the sky!

In chessy news….HERE

Black to move.  Mate… soon!

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LENTCAzT 2025 – 12: 2nd Sunday of Lent – What is holiness?

Posted on 16 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

The Roman Station is Santa Maria in Domnica

Today Fr. Troadec explains in simple terms what holiness is.   John Paul II reminds us of what our true goal is.

HERE

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Your Sunday Sermon Notes – 2nd Sunday of Lent 2025

Posted on 16 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Too many people today are without good, strong preaching, to the detriment of all. Share the good stuff.

It is the 2nd Sunday of Lent in the Novus Ordo and in the Vetus Ordo.   Surprisingly, the experts of the Consilium didn’t do away with Lent completely.

The Roman Station is Santa Maria in Domnica.  QUESTION: At the Mass you went to, was the Station mentioned?  Let us know in the combox.

We are now in the first stage of Lent.

Was there a GOOD point made in the sermon you heard at your Sunday Mass of obligation?

Tell about attendance especially for the Traditional Latin Mass.

Any local changes or (hopefully good) news?

I have a few thoughts about the orations in the Vetus Ordo for this Sunday: HERE

A taste:

There is a thin permeable line between fear of God and elated awe.  One calls to mind the description of an encounter with divine mystery as being tremendum et fascinans, frightening and alluring.  When the Lord allowed something of His glory to shine out through His human body and garments, Peter, John and James must have been filled with some exhilaration, since in his enthusiasm Peter says, “Lord, it is well that we are here” (v.4).  Then the luminous shekina Presence Cloud appears and the Father’s voice speaks.  The apostles fell on their faces and were ephobéthesan sphódra, “afraid to an excessive degree”,  “exceedingly afraid” (DRV), “filled with awe” (RSV).    The experience has been especially hammered into them even with the voice of the Father, who is heard to speak only three times in the Gospels.

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From a reader: “We can sing this, but chant and Latin are ‘too hard’.”

Posted on 15 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader:

Looking through our parish hymnal for music for Sunday for the Transfiguration, I came across this gem.  It has 10 time signature changes in one verse (that’s 40 time signature changes if you sing all the verses!) We won’t talk about the 6 bar rest that the congregation is expected to count that  hopefully is still in 4/4 time.  I sing in a professional chorus that performs along side a professional orchestra. We do major works with fewer time signature changes!

We can sing this, but chant and Latin are “too hard”.

Here’s the dreck she was writing about.

Since it is the Ides of March, I’ll just say, “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” in lieu of less refined exclamations.

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ASK FATHER: Mass “for the gift of tears”… for someone else?

Posted on 15 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

Can a Mass for the gift of tears be said for someone else or is it only for the celebrant or person requesting the Mass?

The prayers seem like a powerful source of conversion for self. Can we ask it for others?

That’s a really good question! I’m glad you asked.

First of all, we need some basics. In the older, traditional Missale Romanum there is a orations “ad petendam cumpunctionem cordis… in order to petition compunction of heart” usually rendered as “for the gift of tears”.

The prayers, which could be added to the orations in the Vetus Ordo (which is so much more flexible and reflective of knowledge of the human condition than the Novus), are beautiful.   Also, there is nothing in them that suggests that the priest is asking for this gift only for himself, though he clearly does ask for himself.  He raises the petition for “us”.

Yes, I think that a priest, or a petitioner with a Mass intention, could apply these prayers in a special and pointed way for the gift of tears to be given to a certain person.   Of course, we Catholics are “both/and” and not “either/or” when it comes to this sort of things.  We don’t have to exclude ourselves when asking for graces for others.

Here are the prayers.  What do you think?  It seems like a universal call to sorrow for sins, one’s own and for those of others, for sins of commission, for sins of omission, even for sheer tepidity.

Read ’em… and weep.

COLLECT

Omnipotens et mitissime Deus, qui sitienti populo fontem viventis aquae de petra produxisti: educ de cordis nostri duritia lacrimas compunctionis; ut peccata nostra plangere valeamus, remissionemque eorum, te miserante, mereamur accipere. Per Dominum.

O Almighty and most gentle God, who draw forth living water out of a rock for Thy thirsting people: draw now forth tears of compunction from the hardness of our hearts; so that we may be able to weep for our sins, and that we might merit, as Thou art merciful, their forgiveness.

Note the reference to God bringing forth water from the rock for the people in the wilderness.  See Exodus 17 and 1 Cor 10.

SECRET

Hanc oblationem, quaesumus, Domine Deus, quam tuae maiestati pro peccatis nostris offerimus, propitius respice: et produc de oculis nostris lacrimarum flumina, quibus debita flammarum incendia valeamus exstinguere. Per Dominum.

Look graciously upon this sacrificial offering, O Lord God, which for our sins we present to Thy Majesty ; and bring forth from our eyes torrent of tears, by which we might be able to extinguish the fire of flames we have deserved.

POSTCOMMUNIO

Gratiam Spiritus Sancti, Domine Deus, cordibus nostris clementer infunde: quae nos gemitibus lacrimarum efficiat maculas nostrorum diluere peccatorum; atque optatae nobis, te largiente, indulgentiae praestet effectum. Per Dominum.

Mercifully pour forth, O Lord God, the grace of the Holy Ghost into our hearts; that it bring us to wash away of the stains of our sins by the sighing of tears; and, Thou bestowing, grant to us the effect of pardon we desire.

I believe that this is an important petition right now… for the Church as a whole.

Right now… people should get down on their knees – if not prostrate on the floor – and beg God with honest tears to forgive and to move to conversion so many of our Church’s pastors.  What a supreme mess we have. The loss of souls is staggering.  Ponder this seriously and even the hardest boiled of eggs among us will soften.  Those prelates, in Holy Orders that will endure even in Hell, will have to answer.   But conversion is possible while there is life.  Tears of the faithful, interceding in confident sorrow – sorrowful confidence? – can be a start.

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Daily Rome Shot 1269 – Oh great… just what we needed…

Posted on 15 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

In news elsewhere…

Oh great… just what we needed…

In far more important news…

Please support the traditional Benedictines of Norcia (and get really good beer doing it).

In chessy news… how fast can you solve this? White to move and mate in 2.

Ready? GO! HERE

Black to move and mate in 2.

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“Pro aris et focis” – Food for thought

Posted on 15 March 2025 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Not being a fan of The Pillar for various reasons, I wouldn’t ordinarily point out one of their posts.  However, this one is by Luke Coppen, my former editor at The Catholic Herald when I wrote for them in happier times. I have great respect for him.

Coppen posted a an interesting piece entitled “Does ‘Traditionis custodes’ have a future?”

That’s a question which merits attention. It was spurred by recent comments from the head of the Vatican dicastery for liturgy, the infamous Arthur Card. Roche. Give his past record on antipathy and persecution of traditional Catholics some were surprised by what seemed to be conciliatory comments regarding the Vetus Ordo. Roche said, incredibly, “There is nothing wrong with attending the Mass celebrated with the 1962 missal.” The rest of his comments are a mess, but that quote spurs the aforementioned question. “Does ‘Traditionis custodes’ have a future?”

I think not. It’s so egregious awful, so unjust and uncharitable, that I suspect it will simply be relegated to that special shelf of embarrassed regret where other tchotchke documents have gone to gather dust.

To drill into this topic, Coppen reached out to several figures who in some way or another have interest (favorable or hostile) toward the Traditional Roman Rite. Coppen contacted Gregory Di Pippo of New Liturgical Movement, Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB of the progressivist Pray Tell blog, the execrable Mr. Cricket, Andrea Grillo, who was probably a driving force behind Taurina cacata, the esteemed Joseph Shaw, Chairman of the venerable Latin Mass Society of England and Wales, and the smarmy papalotrous Austen Ivereigh. Their comments are mostly predictable. The most intriguing, and I think correct, remarks come from Di Pippo. He is the first one Coppen cites, by the way. Shaw is good too, and you can just skip, Ruff, Grillo and Ivereigh… who is just plain silly.

Even more interesting to me were comments in my closely knit “text” group, whose members are impressively credentialed. I will not share their names. I can, however, let you in on some of their insights.

One of them:

To my mind DiPippo gets both answers right, what Roche meant, and what will happen in the future. Evidently, in the short term, much will depend on the Successor of the Vicar of Himself. I venture that, if we are not stuck with Francis II, TC and the debate surrounding it will not be something he will want to deal with as a priority. In that case, once again, I think DiPippo gets it right: TC will fade from view without a new motu proprio and sooner rather than later bishops will be told, without much fanfare, that they can make provisions for the EF in their own dioceses.

This is quite close to my thought.

Another one made this point, which I also think is true: “my trust in the bishops is not precisely strong. Unless this substantially reverts to the pastors, it will not be as good as it should be.”   That’s what Summorum Pontificum provided.

The real meat of the discussion is worth sharing precisely because he makes points we need to take to heart and ponder.    I will add my emphases and comments.

If Roche’s interview really sounded like an olive branch to some then I’d expect hysterical pressure on him and all of Francis’s satellites to persecute trads even more harshly before it’s too late. It may not happen just because some bishops are busy positioning themselves for the after-Francis and most of them just like to work very little.

There is no way of knowing what the future holds (other than Armageddon that is) but one thing is sure: the hatred for the traditional liturgy has very little to do with some actually cranky, eccentric and all-around insufferable characters in the trad world (as if there were none among the Novus Ordo Karens of both sexes). That hatred has to do with the fons et culmen [the “source and summit”] of the life of the Church which the traditional liturgy in all its parts, textual and ceremonial, plus the calendar, the fasting etc. encapsulates with the truly Spirit-guided wisdom of the Apostles and the Fathers since time immemorial. Therefore they can’t let it be and this is why the fight for it is also the fight for every normal and decent Catholic – Novus or Vetus Ordo doesn’t matter – every serious priest and theologian, anybody sincerely trying to follow Christ – the one the Apostles saw risen – and made Him loved by others as well. This is truly a battle pro aris et focis [“for our altars and our hearths”… ancient Roman houses had altars for their household tutelary gods, the lares, so this is tantamount to “hearth and home” or, in an extended sense, “God and country”, all that we hold most dear.] because they hate normal Catholics lay and ordained alike, because they won’t let go of the sacrificial nature of the Mass and of the Church itself. That blood that won us salvation in that gory manner, the meaning of that altar so obvious to “Roman” eyes – that is, of men of good will everywhere – must NOT be the center of our lives. [According to the enemies of Traditional and those who want it.] So there may be some respite, but they will keep coming at us all, regardless of the preferred liturgical form.

To paraphrase the Protestant Niemöller …

“First they came for the trads, and I said nothing as I was not a trad and I didn’t like them very much, then they came for seminarians and I said nothing as I was not a seminarian, then they came for theologians and I said nothing as I was not one of them, then they came for me and there was nobody left to speak out”.

My conclusion above applies as food for thought to trads who think they can just ignore the rest of the Church for liturgical preferences but especially to those in the Olympian Middle who think there is common ground with the nimrods and the Cains currently in power everywhere.

We will prevail, in history or at the end of it, but we won’t have peace as the world gives, ever. That said, I am convinced both that we need some soul searching in our very ranks and that many of the wounds of the trad world are self inflicted.

In truth there is a visibility on the internet of certain types who represent themselves and their dog and who are particularly obtuse and yet they’re the ones taken as model for a whole world of good priests, families etc.

Be as it may, they will keep coming at us all, if not now, later, unless a normal pope is elected who can start picking a good team for the Curia and appoint decent bishops around the world (which I doubt, but never say never).

And that, my dear readers, is some serious food for thought.

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, The Drill, The future and our choices, Traditionis custodes |
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