Tuesday 20 July 2021

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

So asked Juvenal in hs sixth satire; who will guard the guards, which has come to be used to ask to whom are those in power accountable? Well to God of course but also to their subjects. Although the pope canot be judged by any earthly court the sensus fidelium is always to be considered and bad papal laws can find themselves ignored by the faithful.` I`m still in shock over Traditionis Custodes. Silly really as it was clear as day that pope Francis loathes the traditional Catholic world. So why did he reach out to the SSPX, giving them faculties so their confessions and marriages would be valid? Who knows? After TC it surely wasn`t for any motive of giving traditional Mass groups an easier time that must be clear. Interesting that there is a major role in all this for archbishop Arthur Roche, the new head of the Congregation for Divine Worship. In his younger days he was private secretary to bishop William Gordon Wheeler, the bishop of Leeds (1966-1985) and, at the time the bishop in England most sympathetic to the cause to save the TLM. I remember Arthur coming to the English College in Rome in 1991 to get a licence ( ecclesiastical degree) so he could be advanced. Arthur`s rise to power has been remarkable but he has not always been known for pastoral sensitivity as when during his time as bishop of Leeds parishes were closed. In 2008 Roche's plans to close seven parishes produced vigorous protests, especially on the part of a parish in Allerton Bywater that offered a Latin Mass. I suspect we are in for a rough ride. The good news is our bishop, Robert Byrne, who is very sympathetic to the TLM. Masses will continue at St Joseph`s on Saturdays and Sundays. On holy days too I expect and for funerals and other sacraments. As the accompanying letter to TC makes clear that the pope`s aim is to only have one form of the Roman rite, the Paul VI version, we are then in a life and death battle. Much prayer will be needed. Our Lady Immaculate and St Cuthbert pray for us!

10 comments:

  1. I`m afraid I can`t get Blogger to do paragraphs. Nor spell check.

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  2. That seems to be qualified good news.

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  3. My big worry is the inevitable clarificatory document which will seep out sometime soon.

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    1. Probably led by your former bishop Arthur Roche who seems to have too much input into Vatican pronouncements.

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    2. Possibly, but his job will no doubt be made easier by your friend Archbishop "No more requests for this faculty will be considered" McMahon.

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  4. While it seems as if TC might lead to a drastic division in Holy Mother Church we must also remember "the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church". Tradition is a wonderful thing as it links us to our forbearers many of whom suffered & died for the Church which, in those times, had only the Latin Mass worldwide. I know that it has been called "the Cooks' tour" argument but as inveterate foreign travellers we feel as if we get less out of Holy Mass celebrated (no doubt worthily) in a foreign language & with the changes & variations in the Mass it is impossible to follow in a Latin/English missal which was always possible.
    My main concern is for young priests. I think presently they simply need the permission of their bishop to celebrate the EF but is not the motu proprio pushing that permission must be sought from Rome in future?
    Thank God we have a good bishop &, it seems, that such is the case in other dioceses too as Archbishop McMahon already celebrates the EF in the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

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  5. Canon Brown,

    WRT paragraphs if you type '
    ' at the end of one, and another to give a line break you will have mastered the new format of Blogger.

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  6. Still can`t do paragraphs. I`ve tried adding ` at the end of a line and another on the next line to no avail.

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