I have a text group which includes very bright, highly credentialed men, of high caliber and “work” experience, including a religious, curial official, rooted Roman, etc.
This is something that appeared today in the “stream”. I’ve edited it and pasted it together for the sake of giving advice to “trads” who can be – we must admit it – sometimes their own worst enemies. It is hard to blame most of them (some I DO) because they’ve been so beaten on, badly treated, that at the twitch of an abusive … let’s confine this to bishop… they flinch and lash out.
I take this to be sage advice.
The understandable sense of relief felt by many is setting some up for bitter frustration because they have turned relief into expectations. And expectations lead easily to pressuring for things supposedly guaranteed to happen while they are just wishful thinking. In other words, the Devil is or may be setting up some commentators and the trad blogosphere for what they do best: creating more hostility towards liturgical sanity and doctrinal orthodoxy and for being a bunch of nagging fools. I say: “Shut up, pray for the man, keep doing your thing and stay out of sight. Winter is not over. The wolves are not dead yet.”
ANOTHER: Agreed, beware hysteria.
The best way we have, the only one in fact, to help the new Pope is to pray and fast for him and for the Church, to strive to be better Catholics, to be the opposite of modernists not only doctrinally but also humanely. If he doesn’t behave like the other one – shouldn’t take much – there is no reason to pressure him and the good guys around him into hating you because you want to see your (often childish) agenda implemented by them NOW. There is no reason to create a Prevost mythology about how good he was all his life. The only reason they have forgotten what was being said about the “most likely candidates” barely TEN days ago is precisely that sense of relief. We have Francis PTSD. And like veterans with it they risk putting everybody into situations that reinforce the PTSD because it is the only world we have become capable to live in.
I am enriched by the perspective – decades of experience at high levels in Rome.
There’s much to mull over here.
By now, I’m one of the longest functioning clerics in internet work (since 1992). I worked in the PCED. I’ve paid my dues over three pontificates precisely in this matter of traditional sacred worship. Over the last few years, we seen newcomers rise up, especially with interminable videos, who fan the flames in a way that isn’t healthy.
Right now, it would be a good idea to sacrifice CLICKS for prudence and the long term. I say to them….
Aut tace, aut loquere meliora silentio.
I don’t expect this of 99% of the readership here, who are so well-meaning and dear to me, but if you are one of those flame fanning video makers out there and you cannot instantly render that Latin into smooth English without looking it up, perhaps you should pipe down a little. Even if you can… especially so… you should!
The combox is CLOSED.
UPDATE:
From an SSPX priest friend:
>>I agree with everything you just said…. This is an important message. Even the SSPX attitude is pray, watch, and see. Expecting Peter the Roman and being upset when he doesn’t materialize is stupid and self-defeating.<<
Perspective and experience matter.
I begin to tear up as I realize I am in my last days…
At 5:43 the sun rose upon Rome. It will set at 20:31.
White to move and mate in 4. 
I remain tired. Or, psychologically relieved. PTSD/Moral Injury for years.
On this Sunday when we saw the Inaugural Mass of the Pontificate of Leo XIV, the sun rose over Rome at 5:45.
DanShell on Daily Rome Shot 1659 – GO TO CONFESSION (says the Jesuit): “I have just discovered Father McTeigue and he’s great. He can be humurous and hopeful while talking about the state…”
