Liturgical and Moral Orthodoxy
The Catechism makes clear that there is a close link amongst the three-fold mission of the Church, leiturgia, diakonia and martyria: (cf., Deus Caritas Est, #25). That is, liturgical worship, charity, and the witness of the moral life, with a deep connection “between purity of heart, of body and of faith” (cf., CCC, #2518).
I just re-read the article from 2022, linked below, re-posted recently, by Peter Kwasnieski, on the influential theological Andrea Grillo, which is well worth perusing light of reputable rumours that the TLM is about to be outlawed, or at least as inaccessible as the current Magisterium is able to make it.
Telling, that Professor Grillo is not only anti-traditional in the liturgical sense, but also moral, with labyrinthine arguments for the justification of contraception, claiming that such an expansive, subjective and free view of sexuality was the original mind of the Church (!). As a consequence, other sexual deviancies follow, for once the indissoluble link between procreative and unitive significations of sex are sundered, nothing is disallowed.
This is not to imply that Novus Ordo = contraception. Rather, as Pope Benedict taught in Summorum Pontificum, the new form of Mass should be informed by the usus antiquior, and should look a lot like it, according to the rubrics and the mind of the conciliar fathers. To put it another way, just as there should be a hermeneutic of continuity between Pius XI’s Casti Connubii (1930) and Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae (1968), so too the same continuity should be seen between the traditional rite of Mass (last revision in 1962) and the newer one promulgated in 1969.
Admittedly, the analogy is not perfect and needs some further thought. For one thing, there is a far more seamless transition in the moral teaching than the liturgical one, to put it mildly. Only to say, for now, that we must live where and when we are in history – we were made for these times! – and any radical break with tradition is always a bad thing in the Catholic Church. For we stand with Tradition, or we stand not at all.
Pope’s Anti-TLM Theologian Shows His Pro-Contraception Cards
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→
Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→
Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→
Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→
Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów
We celebrate Saint Stanislaus today (+ April 11, 1079), in light of this Easter Octave, a bishop and martyr who accepted the episcopacy only at the direct order of Pope Alexander II. He proved a wise and courageous leader of his flock, put to death by his own king, Boleslaus, for rebuking the monarch’s ‘immoral[…]Continue reading→
Weronika Krawczyk and Injustice in Poland
Catholic Action in Poland has issued a formal statement appealing to the President of the Republic of Poland to pardon Weronika Krawczyk—convicted for warning other women against an abortion-performing gynaecologist. Catholic Action (AK) emphasizes that no apology is owed to a doctor who has performed numerous abortions and proposed others; furthermore, the organization considers the[…]Continue reading→
Three Easter Musical Gems: Bach, Palestrina and Byrd
A very blessed and glorious Easter! Christus surrexit vere, alleluia! As we begin this Easter Octave with the great Solemnity of Easter, music to lift the soul would be one of Bach’s Easter cantatas, composed during his time at Leipzig in the early 1700’s, for the six Sundays of this festive season, leading up to[…]Continue reading→
Saint Isidore of Seville, the Internet and Industriousness
Today, April 4th, muted this year by Holy Saturday, is the commemoration of Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636) a bishop and doctor of the Church during a tumultuous age, when civilization was crumbling, coming apart at its very seams, which may sound sort of au courant. Then again, the form of this world has always[…]Continue reading→
An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday
The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→