Sunday July 8th
Mass at Brompton Oratory, where we were meeting Australian colleagues who, like Jamie, had been meeting this week at a conference sponsored by the Linacre Centre. Enthusastic sermon at the Oratory greeting the Holy Father's Motu Proprio allowing full use of the Tridentine Rite Mass. Of course it's a V. Good Thing, long overdue, will heal rifts, improve liturgy all round etc etc. Presumably every Catholic blogger will be writing about it so I won't for a while, except to note from my experience as a Catholic journalist that this good and paternal decision from the H. Father won't suit some of the Lefebrists and others who've strayed: some, who already cross over to indult Masses anyway, will come back but others will hang on crossly out there.
Over lunch, it was as good as a tutorial listening to a philosopher, a lawyer and a political thinker discussing bioethics. The Church and the Catholic perspective make such discussions sparkle and fizz - all were still talking as it neared 6pm and the Australian contingent had to start heading for the airport...topics covered by that stage had included IVF and spare embryos, care of the dying, giving water and food to unconscious people (YES, urgently - death by thirst is horrible, horrible), an exploration of the philosophy of Edith Stein, Pope John Paul's Theology of the Body, various encyclicals ranging from Casto Connubi to Familiaris and Consortio and Veritatis Splendor and Deus Caritas Est , and more....much more...
3 comments:
For many it will be a time of rejoicing that the recent Motu Proprio authorizing the general use of the Tridentine Rite has been promulgated. Praise God. But I agree with you, Joanna, that for the Society of St Pius X, the sede vacantists and similar groups it will, with the exception of individuals, make no difference. For them the wind has changed and they are stuck in a self-authenticating rut from which it will be hard to leave. Whether their numbers stay stable, wither or die remains to be seen but I expect they will maintain their present position for the foreseeable future. As for the rest of us, it will take many years for the effects of the Motu Proprio to make much difference, especially in Britain, and I suspect that ordinary parish life generally will remain unchanged. Most of us are content to stay in our ruts, too, because life is more comfortable.
Yes i agree too with you Joanna
Hmmm. I think it is important for us to follow the Holy Father's example of gentleness and courtesy towards not only those Catholics who, for whatever reason, found themselves unable to accept the Novus Ordo, but also to those bishops who found themselves unable to respond with the requested generosity to Pope John Paul's MP. The objective here is unity, and I think we all have a duty not only to pray for it, but to speak softly.
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