Did anybody else get this email from CAF? I honestly have to say that as a long time member of the CAF Forums, I really never expected them to do something like this. I guess miracles do occur!
This summer Pope Benedict released a document allowing greater use of the old Latin Mass, but his intention was to improve the celebration of all Masses by encouraging a greater sense of the sacred. Now his document has taken effect, but there is still a big problem.
Many People Want the Pope to Fail!
When the Pope speaks, people listen—just not very well! And some want to twist his words to mean the opposite of what he said.The news media, of course, are the biggest offenders. With their insatiable quest for ratings and newsstand sales, it seems they try to outdo each other in obfuscation and sensationalism. Pope Benedict himself complained about how they got this story wrong.
The headlines in the media screamed. The whole world panicked.
Turns out, he did nothing more than remove certain restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass. So why would this anger anyone?
Well, many so-called “liberal” Catholics have a virtual hatred for the Tridentine Mass—mainly because, as an Associated Press article stated . . . “Liberal Catholics say the Pope’s decision shows that the Second Vatican Council was not the ‘break from the past’ that some view it as being.” Well, let’s just set the record straight, shall we?
Vatican II was most certainly not the “break from the past” that some view it as being. The fact is, Vatican II did not repudiate sacred Tradition. It did not change, liberalize, or modernize Catholic doctrine. It merely created a new way of presenting Catholic truth to the world and how the Church relates to the world. Period.
Vatican II also did not repudiate the old Latin Mass. That alleged “repudiation” came from liberal liturgists who got control of how the “New Mass” of Pope Paul VI would be celebrated around the world.
Pope Benedict’s goal is to revive the proper celebration of the Eucharist which, as he points out, is “at the root of every form of holiness” and “the source and summit of the Church’s life.”
This goes for both the “old” Mass and the “new” Mass.
Therefore, to help clear the air . . . to avoid unnecessary conflicts among the faithful . . . and to help Pope Benedict achieve his goal to free up the celebration of the Tridentine Mass and improve the celebration of all Masses, we at Catholic Answers have written a new special report that explains exactly what the motu proprio is really all about.
Specifically, this new special report will give you . . .
* A detailed look at what the Pope said—and what he didn’t say.* Exactly what the new rules are—and how they should be applied in your diocese and at your own parish.* How the new rules could be misused by those “liberal” Catholics who want to block the Tridentine Mass. * Why a wider use of the Tridentine Mass could help restore reverence in all the other Masses at your parish.
* What the precise differences are between the “old” and the “new” Mass.
* Why the Pope’s actions go far beyond trying to heal the schism between Rome and the followers of Archbishop Lefebvre (i.e., the Society of St. Pius X) as well as other traditionalist groups.
* How the Pope is seeking to implement what Vatican II really called for in the celebration of the liturgy.
* What practical steps you can take to learn more about the Tridentine Mass—and how to participate in it if you’d like.* Why the release of this motu proprio is not “the end of the world” that the news media are making it out to be. All of this, and more, is covered in our new special report on this timely subject.
Our goal is to get it distributed to every Catholic who wants to know what’s really going on in this decades-long controversy about the Mass.
As we do with so many of our special reports, we want to send a copy to every parish in America—so that every pastor, every liturgist, and every director of religious education can understand what the Pope is really calling for.As always, such a project costs a lot of money. And this is where we need your help . . .
The only way we’ll be able to send out tens of thousands of copies of our special report on the motu proprio is if we receive a generous, timely donation from you and the rest of our Catholic Answers supporters.
Simply click here:
http://email.catholic.com/t/46/45553/1/0/ to send us your donation and help us with this important project. As you know, we depend solely on your sacrifices to do our work.
Because this is such an important development toward the proper celebration of the liturgy, your sacrifice will pay off for generations to come.
Personally, I hope that by offering Catholics the choice between the “old” Mass and the “new” Mass—especially where the “new” Mass hasn’t been celebrated reverently—a liturgical restoration in parishes will take place. And then, millions of your fellow Catholics can experience the sublime beauty and mystery of the Mass when it’s celebrated with reverence, respect, holiness, and the sense of the sacred.The Pope’s motu proprio—if properly understood and implemented fairly—could undo the damage of the last 30 plus years of liturgical abuse.But only if it’s implemented where people need it most—our parishes. Your parish.Won’t you please donate an amount of $35 . . . $50 . . . perhaps even $100 today so we can raise the funds needed for this important project and all our good work? Just click here:
http://email.catholic.com/t/46/45553/1/0/ to make your tax-deductible donationFor your gift, we’ll in turn send you two copies of our special report for your own edification
—and so you can give one to your parish.I firmly believe that the Pope’s motu proprio—combined with our special report that summarizes and explains this important document—will go down in history as a turning point in the restoration of authentic Catholic liturgy . . . and, therefore, of authentic Catholic belief.Won’t you be a part of making history? Sincerely in Christ,
Karl Keating
P.S. The fact is that many parish priests are too busy to read the Pope’s new motu proprio itself. But they will take the time to read our special report—if you help us send it to them.May I hear from you today?
I don’t recall getting that email, but I’ve been so busy lately I may have just deleted it without reading it ;}
I’m glad to see CAF supporting the TLM, even if it is only because they want to support the Pope. They bring up a good point that the TLM will restore reverence to the Novus Ordo. Hopefully the mainstream Novus Ordo Masses will become unrecognizable as we see them today. (meaning let’s get back to tradition!)