Paix liturgique

In my last Letter to the Sentinels, dated March 25, I mentioned that today's pastors, those of the time of Pope Leo XIV, will inevitably face a harsh reality in two respects: that of a Church in decline, losing faithful, resources, and above all, faith; and that of the "problem" of the vigorous traditional liturgy, whose young audience continues to grow. Hence the dispute between the Ancients and the Moderns, in which, paradoxically, the Ancients are the ideologues of the conciliar “renewal,” and the Moderns, those who attend of the Old Mass…

In fact, the bishops of France, the Ancients par excellence, gathered in Lourdes for their spring general assembly, spoke on Thursday, March 26, about this liturgy, under the direction of Bishop Olivier de Cagny of Évreux, a man with numerous titles related to the new liturgy. Pope Leo XIV, through Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State, had given them some rather cryptic instructions:

“Finally, dear brothers, you intend to address the delicate theme of the Liturgy, to which the Holy Father is particularly attentive, in the context of the growth of communities attached to the Vetus Ordo. It is troubling that a painful wound continues to open in the Church concerning the celebration of the Mass, the very sacrament of unity. To heal it, a fresh regard from each person toward the other, with a greater understanding of the other's sensibility, is surely needed — a regard that could allow brothers enriched by their diversity to welcome one another mutually, in charity and in the unity of faith. May the Holy Spirit suggest to you concrete solutions that would generously include those sincerely attached to the Vetus Ordo, while respecting the orientations set forth by the Second Vatican Council regarding the Liturgy.” (Le pape Léon XIV encourage les fidèles français et leur clergé à l'annonce de l'Évangile, en des temps certes difficiles - Église catholique en France). T

hese suggestions are somewhat cryptic indications, but we can attempt to interpret them:

- The facts: the Holy Father considers the liturgical question a “painful wound,” without specifying whether the coexistence of two rites constitutes a wound in itself or whether it arises from the criticisms exchanged between the two sides. In any case, the growth of communities linked to the ancient liturgy means that this problem is not marginal. All this is quite accurate.

- The good intentions requested: that each person look at the other with a new perspective, that each one may understand better other sensitivities, and that all may welcome the reciprocal riches in charity and int the unity of faith. And all this is very well-intentioned.

- However, the concrete solutions suggested by the Pope leave room for uncertainty: bishops are invited to find solutions which may "generously include those sincerely attached to the Vetus Ordo”, but “while respecting the orientations set forth by the Second Vatican Council regarding the Liturgy." What does this crucial part of the phrase mean: " respecting the orientations set forth by the Second Vatican Council regarding the Liturgy "? It might be interpreted as:

* Either that traditionalists will be free to celebrate the old liturgy, while taking into respectful consideration to the guidelines of Vatican II regarding liturgy.

* Or that traditionalists may retain the old liturgy, provided they combine it in a hybrid way with new elements, that is, creating a kind of "mix," like the one proposed, naively we would like to assume, by the Abbot of Solesmes, after many others.

* Or, if we take the phrase literally, traditionalists must reintegrate themselves into the new liturgy, in which they will be "generously" granted Latin, the celebration facing the Lord, beautiful vestments, and fewer empty speeches from the celebrant, etc., but all within the strict limits of the liturgy derived from the Second Vatican Council.

Pessimists point out that Pope Leo XIV often inserts short phrases into his speeches that can be interpreted as "introductions" (for example: "the infallibility of the Pope is an expression and service to the infallibility of the People of God"; "The Word of God, therefore, is not fixed, but a living and organic reality that develops and grows within Tradition").

Optimists, on the other hand, emphasize that the Pope speaks clearly of healing a wound, of embracing the richness of diversity, of understanding different sensibilities, and of welcoming one another with charity.

For my part, I side with the optimists, believing that the freedom of the traditional liturgy will eventually prevail.

The sentinels of the Parisian vigils are also optimistic, for they never lose hope and demonstrate it by tirelessly praying the rosary for the freedom of the traditional liturgy: at 10 Rue du Cloître-Notre-Dame, Monday to Friday, from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m.; at Saint-Georges de La Villette, at 114 Avenue Simon Bolivar, on Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:00 p.m.; and in front of Notre-Dame du Travail, on Sundays at 6:15 p.m.