Si vis pacem, para bellum

Fr Zed comments on M. Daoudal's essay. If you want peace, prepare for war. 'In a war, skirmishes and battles can be lost, but it is the long run that ultimately counts.'

From Fr Z's Blog

There is an engaging piece at Rorate today, by a French journalist (translated), Yves Daoudal. HERE

It is a severe indictment of the Novus Ordo on grounds that we have all read before, but which are well-summarized.  It is a call to arms.

For example, he mentions the massive shift in the content of orations in the Novus Ordo, how certain concepts deemed by the cutting and pasting “experts” back in the day to be too negative and not sufficiently anthropocentric were systematically excised from older prayers and excluded from new compositions. He brings up the point that, while it is possible to celebrate the Novus Ordo in a Catholic way, to do that one has to be Catholic… which is obviously a problem these days where many of our priests and, I dare say, bishops are concerned.

He brings up the point that the Novus Ordo was designed to “conform to the aspirations of the man of the ‘modern world'” so that they might return to the fold.   That is so.  He does not mention the other part of that objective, that the Novus Ordo be more acceptable to Protestants.

His peroration:

That is the real reason. Let’s stop the evasions. Let’s stop the politeness. This is a war. We may lose it, because they have the power. But from the supernatural point of view they are the ones who have already lost.

We cannot help but agree with this, though decorum remains important … precisely because this is a war. The principles of rhetoric should guide us so that, in this war, we can attain the goals we designate.

We have to be ready to suffer in this war.

We have to be willing also to put aside some differences so as to create a united front.

The writer’s point that “they have the power” is important. I have constantly underscored this.  We are being bullied.   The bottom line is that the powers that be are not really picking on the TLM, qua TLM.  They are picking on the people who want it.  They fear and hate the people and, therefore, they are attacking what gives them sustenance, joy, and a sure grounding in a Catholic identity that they reject.   But, make no mistake, you, dear readers, are their real target.

I do not think “we may lose” the war. While I am certain that on the supernatural level, provided we can remain in the state of grace and remain vigilant about our motives, we are winning this, I am also confident that, in the long run, their efforts to suppress faithful Catholics who desire traditional worship will fail.  As it failed before.

In a war, skirmishes and battles can be lost, but it is the long run that ultimately counts.

Si vis pacem, para bellum.