An Open Letter to Canada's Bishops Regarding Traditionis Custodes ~ Faithful, Loyal Catholics Attend the Latin Mass!

Barona is Canadian but mutatis mutandis this applies to these United States and many other countries.

From Toronto Catholic Witness

By Barona

Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, 

Praised be Jesus Christ!

It has now been two weeks since the publication of the Pope's Moto Proprio, Traditionis Custodes. I understand that a number of you are assessing the document and will issue your complete response in the near future. 

I write as a regular communicant at Masses (in various dioceses across Canada - Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver - over many years)  in the ancient Rite of Rome,  I can categorically state that the papal claim: "A final reason for my decision is this: ever more plain in the words and attitudes of many is the close connection between the choice of celebrations according to the liturgical books prior to Vatican Council II and the rejection of the Church and her institutions in the name of what is called the “true Church.” is absolutely and categorically NOT true. 

Obviously there will always be exceptions. Crackpots exist in every group. But they are ABSOLUTELY NOT "many"; as the Pope claims. In fact, a couple of years ago I engaged one such person who was attending a Mass in the ancient Roman Rite, yet expressed strange, unorthodox, and even protestant views. Rather than encourage this person in error, I strove to explain our Catholic Faith to this confused person. 

The path forward, in Christian charity, is to always take erring brothers and sisters aside to guide them, accompany them into a full understanding of our Catholic Faith, and not, as the Pope has done, by punishing innocent, faithful, loyal Catholics. It is the duty of the local bishops, the parish priest, and the faithful to challenge their fellow Catholics if they fall into error. The papal sledgehammer for a very small problem that requires a surgeon's scalpel is a grave mistake, that takes on the air of being bizarre when one when one considers the complete lack of papal action on the very many and most serious abuses of the Missal of Paul VI.

There is also a biblical principle that is at stake: one cannot do evil to achieve a good: "...it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it". (Romans 3:8). Suppressing the Mass of the ancient Roman Rite, a Mass that has been the centre of Latin Christendom's sacred worship for nearly 2000 years under the pretext of avoiding an "evil" is not a licit moral argument.

Though I take issue - strong issue - with the Pope's actions, never have I denied that he is the Pope. Indeed, as a Catholic, I also do not permit those who propagate the poison of breaking with the visible hierarchy on this blog. Why should I? Why should I mix Christ with Belial? I am aware of the horror of the early Fathers of schism, and the spirit of schism. It is true that only a bishop can engage in schism, but this does not preclude a member of the lay faithful for breaking with the Church in peccato. Those who wish to break with Holy Mother Church can - sadly - go elsewhere. I shall pray for them.

In conclusion, do not listen to those who wish to suppress the Mass. Likewise do not listen to those engaging in slander, detraction, and raising a cacophony of rage and hate. They too - like the Modernists and progressives - are doing the devil's work, who happily slices his "sausage" from both ends. Rather go out - to borrow a phrase from the Pope - to the peripheries and speak to the seriously normal men, women, and children who attend this ancient Mass every week. There you will not find hatred, rage, the spirit of schism. You will find faithful, loyal Catholics.

Be assured of my prayers, 

In Jesus and Mary