Traditionis Custodes

Yesterday, a friend texted me and asked me what I thought of Pope Francis’ motu proprio Traditionis Custodes. At that point, I had yet to read it, but I have done so now. The accompanying letter to bishops helps explain Pope Francis’s motivations for issuing the motu proprio at this time. As many of you already are aware, a motu proprio is an Apostolic Letter sent by a pope to the entire Church, on his own authority, that effects some change in law or discipline. In this case, by way of this letter, Pope Francis has significantly scaled back the freedom priests have to celebrate the Extraordinary Form (Traditional Latin Mass) of the Roman Rite. 

 In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued a motu proprio of his own, Summorum Pontificum, which greatly expanded the freedom priests had to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite for members of the lay faithful who desired it. Pope Benedict XVI argued that the TLM had never been abrogated. He noted well what is obvious to so many, namely, that there is beauty in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, which could and would, he hoped, inform the celebration of the Ordinary Form.

As you are likely aware, Pope Benedict’s liturgical leadership has been very formative for my own celebration of the Mass. Though I never celebrated the TLM, I rejoiced in 2007, and took seriously his invitation to allow for a “mutual enrichment” of the two forms of the Roman Rite. I am (and will continue to be) committed to celebrating the Novus Ordo of the Roman Rite with beauty and reverence. In that respect, I owe much to the teachings and witness of Pope Benedict XVI. 

In his letter to bishops that accompanied the motu proprio, Pope Francis argued that he has made this change with the goal of unifying the Church. Though it is not obvious to me that this change will accomplish (at least in the short-run) the goal of unity that Pope Francis has for it, I can appreciate some concerns that Pope Francis has about the excesses of some Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) proponents. Sadly, one can sometimes hear comments from those who attend (or celebrate) the TLM implying (or even stating outright) that the TLM is the “Real Mass.” That is not a universal belief of those who love the TLM, of course, but it surfaces in places. Parishes where both the TLM and Novus Ordo Mass are celebrated are often effectively two separate “communities” rather than one unified parish. Anecdotes such as these lend credence to the Holy Father’s concerns about divisions within the Church. What is not at all clear is whether this motu proprio will actually help move us toward greater unity. Sadly, it seems likely in the short run to lead to greater divisions.

Unity, one of the four marks of the Church, is fundamental and clearly in the Lord’s revealed will for the Church. And, though I choose to take the Holy Father at his word that this was done out of a desire for unity and for the spiritual welfare of the Church, I wish someone had asked him whether there might not be other challenges to unity within the Church that are more pressing than the popularity among the young of the TLM. But here we are. Pope Francis has spoken, authoritatively.

We all know that the Lord desires the Church to be unified in the truth, so we should continue to pray for that, and for all those who are having difficulty accepting this action, including many seminarians and members of TLM communities and traditional orders. What we must not do is “rise to the bait” and let this action lead us to resentment and bitterness. As I took time to pray about the Holy Father’s actions, I couldn’t help but recall the word the Lord gave me to preach last Sunday. I know clearly that this motu proprio of the Holy Father is, like it or not, part of God’s providential care for us. 

It is already clear that members of the TLM communities, along with members of traditional orders such as the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) and the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (CKSP), are concerned about what this will mean both in the short- and long-run. Many are saddened and/or angered by this ruling. The truth is, many questions remain unanswered. But the Holy Father’s action seems ordered to having the entire Latin Rite unified by one form of the Mass, that of the Novus Ordo. Whether that day will ever come, no one can say. If, like me, you are dealing with sadness or anger, join me in praying for the Holy Father, as well as for bishops, for priests, and laymen and women.

Though I have never personally celebrated the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, I have at times considered learning the rubrics of the TLM. Now, given the Holy Father’s ruling, I would need to get the approval of Bishop Boyea (or his successor) to celebrate it. Who knows? I might eventually do so, but for now, I believe that I am still free to celebrate Extraordinary Form baptisms and Compline, since only the celebration of the Mass was mentioned in the motu proprio. 

I am sometimes asked why I celebrate the Mass “ad orientem,” and I tell people that I do so because that is how Christians have always prayed. It’s the tradition we have received. Moreover, subjectively speaking, praying thus helps me celebrate the Mass with greater focus. I also believe that the times that I turn to face the people become not “just the next line,” but reveal significant meaning in light of the sacrifice of the Mass that I am offering. The more I pray the Mass this way, and I see the way the younger priests are drawn to it, the more convinced I have become that ad orientem is the (perhaps distant) future of normal Novus Ordo celebration. I will continue to pray this way, and look forward beginning in Advent to celebrating the 11:30 the Novus Ordo Mass once a month in Latin. All of that to say, get working on your Latin!

A few days before the Holy Father promulgated it, Fr. Thomas Reese S.J. penned some reflections on Francis’s pontificate that place the motu proprio in an interesting light. I share these things because some of you might be afraid what effect the Holy Father’s actions will have on the future of the liturgy and/or unity in the Church. Even if I’m disappointed by this action, I remain persuaded that the (liturgical and ecclesiological) future of the Church will be better than the present. If you doubt my sense about it, that’s fine. But I invite you to consider these concluding paragraphs from Fr. Reese’s article, an author who is very sympathetic to the initiatives of Pope Francis: 

Finding young candidates for the priesthood, meanwhile, who support Francis and want to be celibate is like looking for Catholic unicorns, and if you were to find some, they aren’t likely to be welcomed by conservative seminaries. As a result, the laity who are encouraged to come to church because they like Francis are unlikely to find him in their parishes or dioceses.

Reforming the Catholic Church takes decades, not years. If his papacy is reckoned a failure, it will be because Francis failed to replace or outlast the clerical establishment put in place by John Paul and Benedict. His papacy will only succeed if he is followed by popes who are in sync with his approach to Catholicism, and this is not guaranteed. He has appointed sympathetic men to the College of Cardinals, but conclaves are unpredictable as his own election showed. 

However anyone might judge the papacies of JPII, Benedict XVI, and Francis, we can (and should!) take consolation that the Lord is at work. And we do well to remember that no action, whether of this motu proprio or that, this appointment or that, occurs outside of the Lord’s providential will. All of our free acts will, whether of a cleric or layman, in the end, serve to accomplish His purposes, as we heard last Sunday in our second reading. We do best to pray, and unite any of the suffering that we are experiencing for the salvation of souls.

As I mentioned above, I’m confident that the future of the Church (and Her liturgy) will be more reverent and more beautiful, and that the faithful who remain in the Church will be drawn increasingly to the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. I say that because those in the Church who are encouraging their sons to become priests and their sons and daughters to become faithful members of the Church are open to life and are having children. Our job for now is to be faithful, to love God and our neighbor, and to share the Good News with our family members and others in our world.

The evil one would have us fear for the future, but our Lord says (always) “Do not be afraid.” And I’m unafraid, not because I’m talking myself out of it. I am hopeful. Really hopeful.

From where I stand, here at the Church of the Resurrection, the future looks bright. So let us not be afraid. Let us not give into resentment or scapegoating. Let us remember that God is allowing all of this for our good. Let us do what we can do, which is to pray, to be faithful, and to help our children know, love, and serve the Lord. Let us purpose to do so ourselves, to become saints, come what may. Come whatever may.