Brian Holdsworth, a convert who was involved in a strikingly liberal parish for a long while, eventually began a family and started thinking in a new way about the Faith. He made the entirely reasonable and predictable move to the Traditional Latin Mass.
Brian is by no means a bomb thrower.
In his recent vlog he discusses his dismay over the harsh tone, the autocratic basis and inevitably divisive effect of the Fugitive Slave Act of 2021 Traditionis custodes.
He predicts that this crackdown will result in far more polarization and, for the younger clergy, will produce the opposite effect. He, as I have also remarked, opines that, because of the demographic disaster in the Church, younger priests – who are far more open and even longing for Tradition (properly understood as beginning before 1963) – will be the only ones left to appoint to positions of authority.
At the end of his vlog, Brian remarks that, he has started to rethink his position that Archbp. Lefebvre was wrong in what he did.
He has a couple of suggestions for what people who may be deprived of the Traditional Mass. First, if you can’t have pastoral care from the diocese, go to the SSPX. Next, if you stay at your parishes anyway, stage a coup. Get involved (as I have been saying for YEARS) and take over. Get into positions of influence on the parish council, etc. etc. etc. Practical? A hard, long-term plan, but it could be effective, so long as the roll of the dice doesn’t go against you with the appointment of some rat who hates all that you love. After all, bishops have the power to hurt you in a thousand ways… and they can always hurt you more.
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“First, if you can’t have pastoral care from the diocese, go to the SSPX. ”
I too have considered the SSPX as a solution but wouldn’t it be schismatic to do so on any sort of long term basis?
The only practical solution I see is a new and better Pope. But whether that it will occur and be sufficient is very uncertain.
This is far and away the most painful thing that has happened to me in my life as a Catholicc.
Getting involved is a huge way to turn the focus of the parish/pastor towards tradition- especially if you’re a big donor. Also, if you are at a parish with a younger, likely more traditional leaning associate, get to know him – invite him over for dinner, make him feel welcome. Not only will you influence his long term feelings towards tradition-minded Catholics, you might be surprised to find how many things the associate often gets put in charge of at your parish – from RCIA to marriage prep. He’s going to lean on the few people he knows, and the next thing you know, the tradition-minded Catholics are the ones helping with these programs and influencing those joining the parish. And when the associate leaves after a few years, who does the pastor turn to? – Those who have been involved with the programs for the last few years. Make yourself indispensable. It takes a little bit of time, but in a few years, you can get a lot of influence in the parish.
Getting involved is a huge way to turn the focus of the parish/pastor towards tradition- especially if you’re a big donor. Also, if you are at a parish with a younger, likely more traditional leaning associate, get to know him – invite him over for dinner, make him feel welcome. Not only will you influence his long term feelings towards tradition-minded Catholics, you might be surprised to find how many things the associate often gets put in charge of at your parish – from RCIA to marriage prep. He’s going to lean on the few people he knows, and the next thing you know, the tradition-minded Catholics are the ones helping with these programs and influencing those joining the parish. And when the associate leaves after a few years, who does the pastor turn to? – Those who have been involved with the programs for the last few years. Make yourself indispensable. It takes a little bit of time, but in a few years, you can get a lot of influence in the parish.
As a member of an SSPX parish, I have figured that many who will lose their local TLM, will switch to the SSPX. I welcome them, even those – especially those – who have been uncharitable to the SSPX previously.
Of course, some never will move to the SSPX; some might be so crushed and betrayed they might leave the Church altogether, or move to an Eastern Rite parish or go to an Eastern Orthodox church.
There will also be some who see the writing on the wall and will become sede vacantists.
Why?
Do you think that the pope, or whoever comes after him from the many cardinals and bishops of like mindset whom he has raised, is going to allow the SSPX to remain in canonical limbo, **especially** since he must know that many, if not most whom he gutted on Friday, will move to the SSPX? He’ll likely say that the Church has done everything it could to bring the SSPX back into the fold fully but that the SSPX will not submit, so he has no choice but to say that it and its members are in schism or excommunicated, or whatever term or status is appropriate to kick the SSPX out. Bye Trads! Bye Tradition!
This from the man, who, and please correct me if I am wrong, does not call himself the Vicar of Christ.
I think we are officially past being able to be in denial of what’s gone on, what’s going on and what’s very likely coming. Pray for God’s guidance in your discernment, and strength, lots of it.
Today’s Mass was nearly full whereas it is normally 3/4 full. Some people I had never seen before.
Father has a plan, and it’s a good one.
Lefebvre, SSPX founder with a messianic complex who relentlessly refused reconciliation with the Church to his death, …is that really the path to heaven? Sure, it may satisfy those longing for beautiful liturgy, happy feelings, and getting what we want – but this choice is gutted of direct submission to the Church. Traditionis Custodes may be playing a part in driving away from the Pope and into a separate group those who are more attached to the aspects of tradition than to the “disfigured” Church itself [like Jesus in the Passion]. What better way to corral and manage those who insist on the “old ways”? Putin manages the message in the Russian Orthodox, what a great model for the Vatican Totalitarians. They get their beautiful liturgy and sacraments, the depths of Byzantine theology, etc while being managed by nothing holy. Cut off from grace. But placated.
Everyone is rightly indignant over the coup against the Faithful with this Traditionis custodes. Its a gut punch. We are crying in agony…felt throughout like the vindictive destruction of the planet Alderaan [Star Wars].
We don’t own the liturgy or the Church. We have no right to it, it is a gift.
We don’t own the church buildings.
But we are in charge of our own salvation.
Our salvation hinges on obedience and acceptance of this punishment. No cheating.
This is not the time for private interpretation.
[yes we can fight and write and exhort and pray, finagle ways around what we can…but ultimately we must do as God directs]
Bishops, stand your ground by the cross with St. John. Prepare to be lonely [like the rest of us]. Remember St. Joseph of Arimithea was there, having kept his place in the Sanhedrin, to give Jesus a tomb.
Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, and not rather that the voice of the Lord should be obeyed? For obedience is better than sacrifices: and to hearken rather than to offer the fat of rams.” [1 Kings (1 Samuel) 15:22]
Christ submitted to unjust authority, that same authority He called whitewashed tombs, that same authority, the High Priest, that He sent the cured lepers to. Christ submitted to obedience unto death.
Jesus weeps over the destruction of Jerusalem [the Church] that ignored the time of its visitation.
All of this is foretold by saints and visionaries back to the 400s at least, and of course in Scripture. The Church will look extinguished – just as Jesus was entombed.
God closes the doors of the Ark – Noah hears the cries of those he warned for 100 years. Mercy fades. Justice is close.
How many times has our Lady said she held back the arm of her Son? Now at Akita she warns it is time.
Here we are wailing on the Way of the Cross. What loss as we see Christ [His Church] unjustly suffering, extinguishing. Christ speaks to us, comforts us, admonishes us: “weep not over me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children.” In other words, look to your sins – this is why I am being put to death.
Has the Church, Our Christ, simply gotten too ugly and disfigured for our comfort? We don’t recognize this scourged and bloody Church, the denying Pope! We want a pretty Church, we want that nice merciful Jesus again who healed and taught us…not THIS.
In the desert, God was so mad at the Israelites who forgot all that He had done for them. Resentful and complaining, demanding…God says, “okay you want meat?” He gives them what they want, rains down birds on them, and smites them with the meat in their mouth. Careful that we don’t “take” the Liturgy as our “right” — we don’t know best and eventually God will show us why.
Consider Christ’s compassion on the crowd, feeding them having had nothing to eat for three days [3 days…get it?]. God will take care of us.
Quit stalling, being indignant, and crying. Don’t divert your focus to the easier path of another group. Stick with the Church. They may have the buildings but the coals of the Faith burn in us. Keep the embers going.
We have the opportunity to earn a crown bigger than at any other time in the history of creation – God put us here at this time for a reason. Don’t run. Rejoice and embrace the cross. Pray the Rosary.
This isn’t forever either. Our Lady promises that when all seems lost, at the Church’s darkest, “My Immaculate Heart will Triumph”.
Losing Traditionalist Catholics to the SSPX, or Polish National Catholic Church, or to the ICK seems to be a feature, not a bug.
To the Bergoglian mindset, it appears that a large pool of lukewarm Catholics is preferable to a smaller group of fervent believers who are devoted to the Church.
The fewer Traditionalists, the more comfortable the cafeteria types will feel; the more touchy feely the Mass is, the more comfortable the suburban happy face liturgical dancing Catholics will feel.
If you think about it, St. JPII and Pope Emeritus Benedict tried to prevent schism, by balancing the two wings. The options under the new regime are: 1) pay and pray and don’t (especially if you are a priest) make waves or 2) leave. Be gone.
Seems to be a win/win. Francis Bergoglio’s recent hospitalization seems to have convinced him that he needs to stick it in Pope Emeritus Benedict’s face, knowing that the Pope Emeritus won’t speak against the cathedra message.
If I were a Bishop I would stroke a deal with the SSPX. I would ask to use their chapels for Mass. those chapels are not parish churches and don’t need to be erected new. and send my priests (already ordained and not required to get permission from the Holy See) to them for training.
There is no sin or issue on the part of the faithful with attending their Masses.
Of course the only issue is in their chapels there is not any room for additional Sunday Masses. They are already packed full and run end to end the entire day.
If I were a Bishop I would stroke a deal with the SSPX. I would ask to use their chapels for Mass. those chapels are not parish churches and don’t need to be erected new. and send my priests (already ordained and not required to get permission from the Holy See) to them for training.
There is no sin or issue on the part of the faithful with attending their Masses.
Of course the only issue is in their chapels there is not any room for additional Sunday Masses. They are already packed full and run end to end the entire day.
Well put Tina.
A few years ago someone said something about making a mess. I don’t remember who it was, but talk about a mess…
1. If you have children do not “stay and fight” in diocesan parishes and if there’s a time traveler reading this please go back 20 years and beat me about the head and shoulders until I get that message. Five children we were given, two are convinced atheist agnostics, two are “spiritual” and the last may have the Faith, maybe. It’s my fault, I was a disaster as a father but the largest part of that disaster was the cognitive dissonance created by trying to have one foot in each camp. The kids watched that play out and rightly rejected everything about it. Zero backing from the hierarchy only made it worse. Do not offer your children on the Altar of Nice.
2. I’m watching men I’ve respected and admired for years look for wiggle room and technicalities in exactly the way they were condemning the “liberals” for doing just a few years ago. And it makes my flesh crawl. Pharisees. Hypocrites. No wonder we’re in this mess, we belong in it. If this is the will of the sovereign pontiff obey it both in letter and in spirit! Exactly as we’ve demanded from everyone else. And his will is very clearly expressed, not only are we to return to our ghettos but the ghettos are to be demolished. If however this is an unjust law and no law at all go out into the street and cry havoc!
“You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.
We’ll preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we’ll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness.”
Tina in Ashburn Whoville says: Lefebvre, SSPX founder with a messianic complex who relentlessly refused reconciliation with the Church to his death, …is that really the path to heaven?
Read his biography before opining.
To Anita Moore, O.P. (lay):
Thank you. Were it not for the saintly Archbishop Lefebvre, little children today would be asking their tradition-minded grandparents: “Tell me again what a Tridentine Mass is, grandpa?”
Yes, so it seems it gets down to conflict between requested obedience and truth. You have to be not so bright to think that that is a real conflict. Like Paul v Peter, may the knife slip.
In defence of Abp Lefebvre: Please don’t say that about him; it’s simply not true. When I met him, the only adjectives that came to mind were saintly and humble. Did you know he had retired and was *coaxed* out of retirement to take on the SSPX? Not the action of someone with a messiah complex!
donato2 Thank you.
Dear Anita Moore, O.P. (lay): I don’t speak loosely about Lefebvre nor do I only read the propaganda. There are other [suppressed] histories of him by contemporaries, including by former ardent SSPXers. I remember the very day he ordained those priests, and then the bishops, watched the dashed hopes of my mother. She immediately recognized his trajectory. He started well and gave hope to the Church that was at that time still a majority of conservatives – then, like Solomon and many others throughout history, Lefebvre lost it.
My own mother, a writer, interviewed Lefebvre. Her impression of him was worse than she had expected.
I am not speaking from a vacuum.
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I would suggest that Tina’s view of ABP Lefebvre is objectively incorrect. He clearly didn’t have a messiah complex, nor for that matter a Henry VIII complex—he never said he was a savior, a messiah, or a new (or true) head/pontiff of a Church of his own making. 50 years after the beginning of the Society and 34 years after the consecrations, the SSPX has only ever said that they were Catholics and that the Pope was the Pope.
I never met him (I was born a protestant in 1970, converted to Catholicism 6 years ago—Deo Gratias!—and now attending an SSPX chapel 2.5 years). Lefebvre’s biography suggested he was a measured, pious, generous, saintly man. Perhaps however, he was the most “rigid” man of the 20th century. A couple of things to consider about Lefebvre in 1988: a) he was then an 83 year old man, b) he was an 83 yo man with cancer, c) he had spent most of his time as a priest and bishop in the bush in Africa, d) as a young priest, his father was killed in a Nazi concentration camp as part of the Nazi resistance.
From this background it is easy to surmise that he absolutely did believe that error has no rights, that error or anything that might give offense to God must be resisted, and that he believed that he would stand before God for judgement very shortly. So, perhaps he was the most rigid man of the 20th century. Perhaps this rigidity contributed to his fantastic missionary success in Africa. Perhaps this rigidity might have subjectively rubbed some folks (Tina’s grandmother) the wrong way.
Despite others’ subjective impression him, Lefebvre’s critique of Vat II regarding religious liberty vs religious tolerance, ecumenism, and collegiality were all correct.
boredoftheworld: You make a good point about unjust laws, pharisees and hypocrites- might as well add lukewarm, feckless and naive. Regarding the July 16 Declaration of War, at First Things Raymond de Souza rambles on about Marshall McLuhan, then whines about Abp. Viagano and “traditional liturgy internet”- what a coward. Meanwhile, Dwight Longnecker, out of flippancy and naivete, says “The NO has Latin” out of his Pollyannish belief that the Vatican’s track record of hostility will now suddenly end (the Bergoglio SJ regime will not stop with their diabolical and doomed effort against the TLM, also, the Bergoglio SJ regime is losing interest in releasing documents in Latin).
Great quote by Pres. Reagan.