Apart from an unhealthy obsession with Traditionalists which borders on, well .... mental illness, his comments show a complete lack of concern for his flock, many of whom do suffer from clinical mental disorders. Mental problems such as depression, anxiety, addictions, post traumatic stress disorder and dementia are unfortunately so common these days that it is rare for any Catholic family not to be affected by them in some way. And Catholics are not immune from less common illnesses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Some degree of anxiety, particularly, seems to be almost a way of life for the majority of the world's population and yet Pope Francis doesn't seem to realise he's sitting on a veritable gold-mine of helpful treatments for this affliction. If organisations like the National Institute of Mental Health can recommend simple habits like practicing gratitude and staying connected with others as remedies for mental health issues, then the Pope should be raising his hand to say, "Traditional Catholicism can provide those - and much more!"
Yet, the Pontiff prefers to criticise those best positioned to provide help for the ailing rather than direct the poor souls in their direction. And in this, he is on the wrong side of science. More and more, science is agreeing that there are mental health benefits, rather than harms, derived from the traditional practise of the Faith.
Yet, the Pontiff prefers to criticise those best positioned to provide help for the ailing rather than direct the poor souls in their direction. And in this, he is on the wrong side of science.
More and more, science is agreeing that there are mental health benefits, rather than harms, derived from the traditional practise of the Faith. One meta-analysis found that the practise of religion acts as a preventative measure against depression and anxiety and suggests that adopting a form of spirituality may decrease the effects of those conditions in young people when they are already existing. Other smaller studies suggest that ritual is very beneficial for those suffering from mental health conditions and that specifically religious rituals like the Rosary show tangible reductions in anxiety.
This means that on the purely natural level, the Traditional Latin Mass, with its heavy emphasis on ritual that is by nature also religious, offers benefits for the mentally-ill which may outperform those found in any other form of liturgy - including the Novus Ordo Missae.
It isn't hard to see why this would be. The repetition found in the traditional liturgy is inherently soothing. Every action and word is calming and reliable, every gesture delicate. The decoration, the vestments, and the order itself provide the context for a disoriented person to regain his equilibrium with quiet dignity. At a High Mass, and still on a natural level, these effects are even more pronounced. The sounds of chanting and the scent of incense surround a tortured soul and remind him that there is more to life than the ephemeral problems which can threaten to overwhelm him.
The peaceful atmosphere of a Latin Mass provides a focal point for the mind without taxing it in a stressful way. Every sense is engaged in a ritual which not only assists the doer but also offers perfect worship to God. An extra benefit: people who crave stability know they can attend a Latin Mass anywhere knowing it will be recognisable and familiar to them.
For the believer, the effects of the Mass are even more profound. The perfect ends of the Mass - adoration, thanksgiving, atonement, petition - resonate in the heart and mind of every person present, including the mentally ill, and at a very deep level. Adoration shifts our focus from ourselves to reduces our anxiety; thanksgiving frees us from our negative and depressing thoughts; atonement perfects and purifies our sense of shame and guilt; petition allows us to calmly make requests of Our Lord with faith.
Cardinal Burke's observations when commenting on the benefits of the Latin Mass for men are relevant here:
Men are attracted because the Extraordinary Form is very highly articulated; it demands a man’s attention to what’s happening. Even the use of a hand missal where there’s a verbal accompaniment to the action of the Mass can help a man more fully enter into the Mass.
These same benefits could be said to apply to anyone with a mental problem: the intensity with which one must concentrate on the Liturgy, combined with its peaceful atmosphere provides a focal point for the mind without taxing it in a stressful way. Every sense is engaged in a ritual which not only assists the doer but also offers perfect worship to God. An extra benefit is that people who crave stability know they can attend a Latin Mass anywhere knowing it will be recognisable and familiar to them.
Tradition has more to offer than simply the Mass, though. All humans have a great need to unburden themselves of their guilt, and while the secular mental health experts may not acknowledge man's need for sacramental confession, they do realise the benefit of admitting one's wrongdoings. Enjoying the anonymity of sacramental confession, the mentally ill can calmly take their place with every other Catholic and confess their failings to a priest.
What a shame it is that Pope Francis denies modern Catholics suffering from mental health issues the opportunity to experience the blessings and healing found in traditional Catholicism.
A traditional priest is sure to help his penitent take responsibility for his wrong actions, while gently reassuring him that any unwarranted guilt or shame can be released from his conscience. This can provide a salutary effect on those suffering from paranoia or scruples and on those who obsessively relive the past. The psychological component of confession is an often overlooked, but powerful part of the sacrament.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is an another obvious and arguably essential component of healing for anyone trying to deal with mental problems like post traumatic stress disorder. Here is the one place in the world where a person can be alone with his or her closest Friend, without any pressure whatsoever. There is no better place to pour out one's grief, one's confusion, even one's horror or anger. This is where the mentally ill can commune with the Person Who understands and Who can offer them the most complete healing.
Holy Hours and Adoration chapels are not limited to traditional parishes, for which we should all be most grateful. It approaches a moral crime to withhold such a valuable experience from any mentally ill person.
Another habit for mental health recommended by the NIMH above was staying connected with others. Community life should be an important part of any parish, but traditional parishes do offer one big advantage over the average Novus Ordo parish: the relative consistency of opinion.
On the whole, people who attend a Latin Mass parish tend to think alike on most issues, which potentially reduces the likelihood of conflict for an anxious person. No parish is perfect, of course, but one can see how much easier it is for a mentally ill person to socialise with a group of peers who share most of his opinions on important topics, compared with a modernist parish comprised of a mixture of charismatics, public sinners and poorly-formed Catholics.
It must be said that for the world, and for a very worldly man like Pope Francis, traditional Catholics do have some traits that are difficult to rationalise. An example is the young couple who, in spite of the examples of society and their families, choose to be open to life for their entire marriage, accepting each child that God deigns to send them. In this day and age, such a decision appears to the world to be the height of folly, yet traditional parishes are full of families like these.
St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Paul of the Cross were known to have suffered from depression. It was the Traditional Mass and Sacraments which nurtured these men and women and provided the potential for sanctity, despite their frailty.
Somehow, despite their apparent 'madness', these larger families manage to survive and usually to thrive, and this provides yet another safety-net for the emotionally vulnerable. Since it is a well-established fact that many mental health conditions can be traced back to problems experienced in childhood, stable families, both large and small, who exemplify well-established gender roles as promoted by Traditional Catholicism, provide the perfect framework for raising emotionally healthy children and parents.
There have been many Catholic including saints throughout the ages who have struggled with stress and anxiety if not with full-blown mental conditions, for example, St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Paul of the Cross were known to have suffered from depression. It was the Traditional Mass and Sacraments which nurtured these men and women and provided the potential for sanctity, despite their frailty.
What a shame it is that Pope Francis denies modern Catholics suffering from mental health issues the opportunity to experience the blessings and healing found in traditional Catholicism.
But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the strong. [1 Cor 1:27]
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