Rome has violated Pope Benedict XVI’s solemn word in a brutal and rigid manner that is a far cry from the fraternal welcome that is nowadays so widely proclaimed.
Pope Francis’ explicit intent, as expressed in the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes of July 16, 2021, is to see an end of the celebration of the Holy Mass handed down by the Tradition of the Church. We are deeply shocked by this decision. How can we comprehend this radical break with the traditional Missal, which is the “venerable and ancient” enactment of the “law of the faith”, and has borne fruit in so many peoples, saints and missionaries? And what harm is being done by those faithful who simply want to pray as their fathers have prayed for so many centuries? Who can ignore the fact that the Tridentine Mass converts many souls, attracts young and fervent congregations, and inspires many vocations; that it has been the wellspring of seminaries, religious communities, and monasteries; that it is the mainstay of many schools, youth ministries, catechetical work, spiritual retreats and pilgrimages?
Many of you – our Catholic brothers, priests and bishops – have expressed to us your incomprehension and deep sorrow: we thank you for your numerous testimonies of support.
Summorum Pontificum’s stated purpose was to promote peace within the Church in order to build unity in charity, but it was also designed to lead Catholics to renew their ties with their own inheritance, by helping as many people as possible to discover the rich liturgical tradition that is the treasure of the Church. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is witnessing the destruction of his work of reconciliation in his own lifetime.
In this age of materialism and of harrowing social and cultural division, liturgical peace is an absolute necessity for the faith and spiritual life of Catholics, in a world that is dying of thirst. The drastic curtailment of the authorization to celebrate Mass in its traditional form will rekindle mistrust and doubt, and heralds the resurgence of a devastating liturgical quarrel that will rip apart the Christian people.
Before God and before all men, we solemnly affirm that we will not allow anyone to deprive the faithful of this treasure which is first and foremost that of the Church. We will not remain inactive in the face of the spiritual suffocation of vocations that the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes will bring about. We will not deprive our children of the unique means of transmitting the faith that is faithfulness to the traditional liturgy.
As loyal sons of their father, we ask of Pope Francis that he reverse his decision, repealing Traditionis Custodes and restoring full freedom to celebrate the Tridentine Mass, for the glory of God and the good of the faithful. Bread rather than stones.
September 8, 2021
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Signatories Below:
Jeanne Smits, Journalist - Director of the Jeanne Smits Blog
Jean-Pierre Maugendre, Renaissance Catholique
Philippe Maxence, Rédacteur en Chef de L'Homme Nouveau journaliste et écrivain
Jean de Tauriers, Président de ND de Chrétienté
Guillaume de Thieulloy, Editeur de presse Editeur de presse
Charles de Meyer, Président de SOS Chrétiens d'Orient
Benjamin Blanchard, DG de SOS Chrétiens d'Orient
Christian Marquant, Président de Paix Liturgique
Michel De Jaeghere, Journaliste et essayiste
Hervé Rolland, Vice-Président de ND de Chrétienté
Maike Hickson, LifeSiteNews Ecrivain
Robert Hickson, Ecrivain
Roberto de Mattei, Professeur
Michael Matt, The Remnant Editor in chief
Professeur Marie-Pauline Deswarte
Jean-Baptiste Pierchon, Docteur en Droit Mtre de conférences
Hugues Petit, Docteur en Droit Professeur
Jean Sévillia, Journaliste, Historien, Ecrivain
Xavier Arnaud, Forum catholique Directeur
Laurent Dandrieu, Journaliste
Henri Sire, Ecrivain
Jacques Charles-Gaffiot, Historien d'art
Victor Aubert, Academia Christiana Président
Bernard Antony, AGRIF Président
Reynald Seycher, Professeur d'université
François Billot de Lochner, Fondation de Service politique Président
Anne Brassié, journaliste et écrivain
Jérôme Triomphe, Avocat
Cyrille Dounot, Professeur avocat eccl.
Thibaud Collin, Philosophe et professeur
Alvino-Mario Fantini, The European Conservative Editor in chief
Paweł Milcarek, Christianitas Dir. Rédaction
Marek Jurek, Ancien pdt de la Diète de Pologne
Philippe Pichot-Bravard, Maître de conférence
Philippe Lauvaux, ULB Paris Assas Professeur
Claude Goyard, Paris Assas Professeur
Philippe de Villiers, Ancien ministre, écrivain
Max Guazzini
Pierre de Lauzun, Haut fonctionnaire Ecrivain
Yves Daoudal, Journaliste - Directeur de Blog
Jean-Marie Molitor, Journaliste
Michael Hageböck, Summorum Pontificum Freiburg Président