The instruction of the Pope, of his own initiative, will make it EXTREMELY difficult to bring back the celebration of the Mass in this Diocese as it will be the world over.
Over the course of the day, I have reflected and having spoken to a good priest, I urge you to avoid becoming irate and pushed toward saying and thinking things that are unbecoming - pray for this Pontificate - it needs prayers in abundance.
The intial comments of the Chairman of the Society, Dr Joseph Shaw can be found here.
My own view is this is an act akin to the self inflicted amputation of a wing of the Roman Church - it fails to acheive what the 'stated' aim is i.e. unity. It will cause disaffection from excellent clergy who are balanced in their liturgical and pastoral responsibilities, it will cause heartache for the faithful.
If Rome is the HQ of Catholic PLC, the CEO today made a poor decision but the board of directors, selected for their loyalty to the CEO and not perhaps the best interests of the company will not be overly critical. Those who have spoken out sit outside the boardroom having long since been shown the door because they present those challenges!
Meanwhile, His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke prefect emeritus of the Apostolic Signatura, noted what he sees as a number of flaws in Traditionis Custodes, saying he could not understand how the new Roman Missal is the “unique expression of the lex orandi of the Roman Rite,” as the new motu proprio states. The Extraordinary Form of the Mass “is a living form of the Roman Rite and has never ceased to be so,” Cardinal Burke noted.
He also could not understand why the motu proprio takes effect immediately, as the decree “contains many elements that require study regarding its application.”
His Eminence further noted that in his long experience he has not witnessed the “gravely negative situation” Francis describes in his letter.
While some faithful may have “erroneous ideas,” he said, he has found the faithful in question generally “have a profound love for the Church and for their pastors in the Church” and “in no way ascribe to a schismatic or sedevacantist ideology. In fact, they have often suffered greatly in order to remain in the communion of the Church under the Roman Pontiff,” he said.
Cardinal Burke added that if there are situations “of an attitude or practice contrary to the sound doctrine and discipline of the Church, they should be addressed individually by the pastors of the Church, the Roman Pontiff and the Bishops in communion with him.”
Cardinal Burke also questioned the motu proprio’s tone, observing that it is “marked by a harshness” towards faithful who worship in the Extraordinary Form.
“I pray that the faithful will not give way to the discouragement which such harshness necessarily engenders but will, with the help of divine grace, persevere in their love of the Church and of her pastors,” he said.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.