FSSP’s Mission Will Not Be Affected by Traditiones Custodes

The traditional Holy Mass that unites the saints and believers of all times in Church history.

From a female Catholic

Rumors have been circulating for weeks about an Apostolic Constitution with which Pope Francis wants to finally put an end to the Immemorial Mass.  A rescriptum for the execution of Traditionis Custodes, published on February 21, could be a precursor to this.

In an interview with the Catholic online portal Aleteia, the French district superior of the Fraternity of St. Peter, Abbé Benoît Paul-Joseph, recalls that this document does not contain anything significantly new, but rather specifies the general guidelines from Traditionis Custodes regarding the permission to celebrate according to the Missal of 1962  for priests ordained according to Traditionis Custodes and regarding the use of parish churches for the celebration of the traditional liturgy and the establishment of personal parishes.

However, the local bishops are now, without exception, referred to the sole responsibility of the Dicastery for Worship and the Order of the Sacramenta.  Special permits that have already been granted must subsequently be checked by the Holy See.

Nothing will change for the FSSP, emphasizes the French district superior, since on February 11, 2022 the Pope gave it a confirmation of its liturgical autonomy, according to which all of its priests have the power to:

 “to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass, administer the Sacraments and other holy rites, and perform the Office according to the respective Editio typica of the liturgical books in force in 1962, i.  H.  the Missal, the Rituale, the Pontificale and the Breviary. 

They may exercise this power in their own churches and oratories;  in other places, however, only with the consent of the local ordinary, except for the private celebration of Mass”.

Abbé Benoît Paul-Joseph underlines that the Pope's concession is also due to the "fidelity of our founders to the Pope at the moment of the consecration of four bishops by Monsignor Lefebvre without papal permission.” Pope Francis has expressly emphasized that this behavior must be "honoured, protected and encouraged.”  Abbé Benoît also sees all other ex-Ecclesia Dei communities addressed here.

However, the papal confirmation also states:

 “Nevertheless, the Holy Father recommends that the provisions of the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes also be taken into account as far as possible.”

How easily a “recommendation” can become an obligation!  The rumors about a final document for the complete destruction of the Immemorial Mass by the rescript are not yet confirmed.  There is still no ban on priestly ordination in the traditional Rite, and the confirmation of liturgical proper law still applies in particular to the Society of St. Peter.

But a possible ban on priestly ordinations is looming ominously on the horizon and would correspond to the Pope's previous approach of ruling with the stick and a little carrot until the latter is completely abolished.

The injuries that he has already inflicted on tradition-bound believers who, loyal to the pope and the teaching office, adhere to the traditional liturgy and want to partake of its fullness of grace are serious.  Francis does not let his cards be looked at and acts in a ruthlessly autocratic manner, precisely in his dogged ideological struggle against tradition and the traditional Mass.

The declared goal remains the elimination of the traditional Latin mass.  It is only a matter of time for Pope Francis.  And he sees himself as the master of this time.  Despite all the relief that the worst has not yet happened, one should not hide one thing: the TC or the accompanying letter to the bishops announced the gradual re-education of the faithful “who are rooted in the previous form of celebration and need time  , to return to the Roman Rite as taught by Saints Paul VI.  and John Paul II was promulgated”.

 In France in particular, we have followed how a number of bishops have taken the first steps after TC in their dioceses with bans and "re-education decrees" and have proven their loyalty to the line.

 Building trust looks different.

Ultimately, this also applies to other areas.  Thus, even the clear papal admonitions and warnings in the direction of German-synodal detours cannot provide lasting reassurance as long as schismatic acts continue to be pushed ahead, above all by Bishop Bätzing, without Rome following up the warning words with deeds and appropriate sanctions.  If one does not want to interpret such an incongruous behavior as a "weakness in leadership", the only remaining assumption is that openness is a tactic to achieve one's own goals, which may play a role in the world synod on synodality.

 Quite apart from that, one can certainly ask oneself the question of whether the stubborn German bishops in Rome could not at some point be used as compliant and then very Rome-loyal vicarious agents in undermining tradition.  Despite the calm in this country so far, where the energies are still tied up by the so-called synodal path, one must not forget that, with Bätzing and companions, a large part of the German episcopate is undeterred and concerned with a fundamental change in faith and teaching and with it  may not necessarily be well-disposed towards the old fair.  Because in the context of the tradition, no Maria 2.0 supporters thrive, whether they be priests or lay people, from "*inside", God* and so-called rainbow flags that are deficient in color, one is spared, teaching authority and tradition apply, the catechism is the guideline for a Catholic way of life  and no one wants a ratty sexual morality, as practiced in the world ruled by an unholy "spirit of the times".

 Lots of questions, lots of worries.  Perhaps it is good that Abbé Benoît is now advising Paul-Joseph to take advantage of the rich graces of Lent to take a salutary distance from all these disturbances in the presence of the Lord and to find spiritual nourishment in the texts of the traditional Latin liturgy  find that the attachment to the old liturgy has nothing ideological about it.  It is about living from the spiritual riches of this liturgy.  Especially during Lent she offers a powerful help.

 Let us follow the calls to prayer and fasting in this way:

 "We call on all Catholics of good will to pray and do penance this Lent for the resolution of this question and the freedom of the ancient Latin Mass."

 Image: Fssp.fr

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.Com

AMDG