Schismatics Must Mend Themselves.

Are we getting closer? There's been talk for a little while now about a document the Pope is supposedly preparing to release in hopes of reconciling with the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX). It's been stated that the document will greatly losen restrictions on parishes using the traditional Tridentine Mass by not making priests first seek approval from their Bishops. Cardinal Arinze recently told a congregation in St. Louis that latin should be used more often in Mass. This is a step in the right direction and in my mind may be setting up a release of the document soon, hopefully right after the Pope returns from Turkey. The question is, will this mend the schisms with SSPX?

Answer: That's up to SSPX.

I understand that SSPX and a number of other smaller traditional Catholic societies are upset and dissapointed greatly with the current liturgy (Novus Ordo), but since when is it a good idea to break with the Church in order to get something done? Let's see...Martin Luther, no. Ummm, eastern orthodox bishops, no. Oh yeah, that's right, it's never a good thing to do.

I spoke with a tradionalist friend recently and it brought some light on the dark nooks of the situation I may have missed the several hundred first times I ran through it. The deal is this...whether or not people are happy with the current liturgy, it is valid. The Novus Ordo Mass is valid because it is sanctioned by the Church. That's really all there is to it. To say it isn't valid is to be one step away from heresy. Now... a Novus Ordo Mass, or any kind of Mass, can be illicit, yes. And that's where the problems come in, crazy priests doing extrememly irreverent things in the name of "the spirit of vatican II." Seriously, that needs to stop.

So when it comes down to this document to be released, it's up to the SSPX and other groups like it to understand that breaking with the Church is breaking with the fullness of truth. Christ's Church subsists within the Roman Catholic Church. To quote a friend of mine, "John and Mary stood at the foot of the cross. They didn't like what was happening, but the stood there." We as Catholics are very much at the foot of the cross that is Christ's Church subsiding in the Catholic Church. Regardless if one likes the current Mass or not, it is the Mass of the Church. One should not walk away from the Church because they aren't a fan of Novus Ordo. Nor should they say the Novus Ordo is invalid when in fact it is valid.

The schismatics need to mend this problem by getting over themselves and their likes and dislikes, and giving it up to God. The Church will change, the liturgy will change, but forever the Church of Christ will subside in the Roman Catholic Church and that's why we're Catholics. I like tradition. I love latin and incense, etc. I believe a traditional approach to any Mass (Tridentine or Novus Ordo) is the best approach. We must pray that others keep the Mass solemn and lawful by approaching it this way as well. God Bless You.

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