April 14th, 2008
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The Pope's visit to the United States
The Pope visits the United States for the first time of his pontificate on a
three day trip (April 15, 16 and 17) that will take him to Washington D.C. and New York City. All the stops are being pulled
out for the Papal visit; President Bush will greet the Pope's plane, and security in New York City is expected to be at an
all-time high.
The Pope's visit will be of interest to American Catholics for many reasons. He will be sure to address various social and
religious issues during his stay, including the protests in Tibet and the state of the American Church.
The masses and liturgical functions celebrated by the Pope will incorporate a mixed bag of traditional and American customs and
hymns. There will even be some Gregorian Chant and more conservative rubrics during mass. In an unfortunate announcement however,
the Pope's Master of Ceremonies and Chief Liturgist has insisted that the increased use of older liturgical elements --
such as Gregorian chant and ancient vestments -- do not
indicate a return to the past but rather reflect "development in continuity." This announcement does much to hurt Pope
Benedict XVI's papacy as a conservative, restoring one, and seems to lend credence to the belief among many Traditional
Catholics that Pope Benedict is merely an ecumenical Papa who is willing to include Traditional Catholics in his
ecumenical outreach. The reasoning behind this inclusion remains unclear; some believe that Pope Benedict is on his way to a
Pius IX-esque about face, others are less hopeful and insist that such actions are merely a way to fragment and divide the
Traditional movement. Regardless, the statement that the more traditional practices (such as placing a crucifix on the altar during Mass - imagine that!)
during the Pope's visit to the United States do not in any way mean that the Vatican "oppose[s] new [liturgical]
developments" comes as a disappointment to those that may have been looking for something more concrete on the road back towards Tradition.
New Springtime?
A recent survey of U.S. Catholics has revealed
pitifully low attendance rates and some shocking beliefs among our nation's (quasi?)faithful. The poll, "Sacraments Today:
Belief and Practice Among U.S. Catholics," found that only one-third of the nation's 64 million Catholics attend Mass
in any given week. This should come as no surprise when 68% of Catholics surveyed beleived they could be in good standing
with the Church while not going to weekly Mass. What happened to the fourth precept of the Church obliging Catholics to
attend Mass on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation under pain of mortal sin?
Churches crumbling in France
France, called "the daughter of the Church" and once a staunch Catholic Country is seeing thousands of her venerable and
historic churches fall into ruin. The problem stems
from a tragic mix of age-old buildings combined with a lack of attendance and support by the faithful. (In France, fewer
than five per cent of the nation's 62 million people attend mass every week.) These venerable and consecrated churches run
the risk of demolition or sale to historical societies simply because they are in a nation where the Catholic Faith means less
and less to a population becoming more modern, muslim, and materialistic every day.
Even more unfortunately, the bishops of France seem disinclined to sell churches that have fallen out of use to Traditional
groups such as the SSPX. There are even reports of the SSPX having to enter in negotiations as a "historical society" to buy
one of these churches! What a tragic pity that the rift between the "new springtime" of the post-Vatican II mentality and the
true growth and fruitfulness of Tradition affects the preservation of these holy places. The Church today is a gutted ghost
of her former self. The fact that it is Tradition with her loyalty to the faith, attendance at Mass, support of the Church, and
many young, vibrant families is the only hope for saving these churches should be evidence that it is only Tradition that
can save the Church herself.
Anthony De Piante, Francisco Lazo, Iliana Carmen Veraz, and Jim Nichols contribute to the daily preparation of the
Eisudem
Generis News. The staff attempts to the utmost of their ability to present correct and accurate material free of
grammatical or factual errors and welcomes any corrections and suggestions you may have.
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