I am reading Michael Davies: The Great Defender of Catholic Tradition by Leo Darroch.
I’m annoyed because I have a lot of chores to do … laundry, some mending, make lunch, clean the kitchen … but I don’t want to stop reading.
Michael Davies was and still is someone to whom anyone who desires to celebrate or assist at the Traditional Roman Rite owes a deep debt of gratitude, at least, and prayers for the repose of his soul. He died in 2004.
I knew his writings fairly well but only met him in person a few times, when he would come to Rome while I was in the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”. He was a even on those brief terms a real gentleman of deep conviction. Once over lunch I had a little argument with him about something he had written that needed correction. He fiercely defended his choice. I had to make the point iron clad and, after a while, he accepted it. I don’t even remember what the point was after all these years, but I remember his razor mind, his determination, and, in the end, his willingness to be convinced if the argument was good enough. That’s rare.
This book – I’m several chapters in – flows, it is easy to read. It is jammed with interesting history. If Michael was from or in or at a place, the author includes some history about it relevant to Davies’ involvement.
Michael Davies deserves to be remembered. Moreover, the account of his life also is informative about the long efforts and tears of many who labored to preserve the Traditional Roman Rite.
It was some of the small pamphlet-like works by Michael Davies which I bought at the book table run by old Irish ladies after going to the TLM at Old St. Mary’s in DC for the first time that first opened my eyes to what’s really been going on. I went from there to listen to a lot of his talks from the Keep The Faith website. He was instrumental in helping me get my feet under me after converting to the TLM, and I’ve handed his books to my kids as they’ve grown old enough to understand and appreciate them. He was a man that truly rose to the challenge and did his part to right the ship. May he rest in peace.
Many of Michael Davies writings and audio talks are available from KeeptheFaith.org.
I heartily concur, I am almost finished with the book myself and have enjoyed it immensely! It is very fortunate for the history of the “traditionalist” movement that a man close enough to Mr. Davies to have known him well and enjoyed his confidence had the wherewithal to write this excellent biography.
At a time when a new generation of Catholics have discovered the TLM – and its availability is again threatened – this book is very timely. Hard to believe that Mr. Davies has been dead for 22y, as such this book does an invaluable service in introducing the man and his writings to a new audience.
Kudos to Leo Darroch for his work! I’ll also throw in a plug for his previous book: “Una Voce: The History of the Foederatio Universalis Una Voce”, which likewise presents a great deal of valuable history in a very readable book.
Thank you, Fr. Z, for this generous appauding of Michael Davies and his determination to defend The Traditional Latin Mass.
I, also, am currently reading this wonderful book by Leo Darroch and commend it to all your Readers.
Rest assured that, every Sunday, I visit Michael Davies’ Grave at Saint Mary’s Church, Chislehurst, Kent, and say a Prayer for him and, also, to say a big Thank You to him.
What I appreciated about his writing style was his pragmatic approach to length. He indeed wrote three volume books, which were fantastic, but he also (and probably more famously) penned so many pre-Internet booklets, Remnant articles and other short pieces that were much more digestible to those with jobs and thus limited time. Concise writing with a goal of greatly expanding the TLM base was a strength — he definitely set a high bar in a world long before Summorum.
I remember meeting him on the way to Chartres, and in the company of mutual friends in Dublin. I was struck by a long-time stalwart of the TLM scene in Ireland commenting that Eamon Duffy (olim Professor of the History of Christianity at Cambridge) who had just given a lecture on the Old Rite to the National Library Society in Dublin was saying the same things as Davies, just 20 years later and in rather more polished language. Davies had a rough edge sometimes, as one might expect of a professional soldier turned primary/elementary school teacher but his intelligence, rigour, honesty, and charity were exemplary.
I met Mr Davies very briefly in Glasgow years ago. I think he also talked at some meetings in the 1980’s I was lucky to attend.
A great man.
His duel with Dr E Michael Jones is available on you tube…. great knock about stuff Doc Jones thinks he won the debate…. I dont think he did… here it is….
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc1nFsC-jDoDCXLAud2vY_4ua8DAjzJ09&si=WZ-VaRIY4crvNTH7