Interview with Archbp. Ranjith: those who resist Summorum Pontificum guilty of the sin of pride

It does sound positive. I think determined priests who know their rights will be able to do it, even if the bishop tries to put roadblocks in their way.

There is a fear-factor, as your son must have observed. That is, so many people have heard such negative stuff about the TLM from the “Spirit of VatII” crowd that they are really afraid that some awful thing is going to be imposed on them. Of course, it’s not being imposed on anyone, and if they don’t want to go, they don’t have to go, but they have been stirred up by some of the clergy who are opposed and as a result have this sort of “bogey man” image of the TLM.

There was some talk on Fr. Z’s blog of a priest in California who is giving some talks or classes in his parish entitled “The TLM for Dummies,” or some such thing, which are basically introductory classes presented in a non-threatening way for people who are curious but intimidated. I think that’s a great idea. Of course, there were the usual sour traditionalists who said they thought it was “irreverent,” although the priest presenting it is known to be a very holy and devout priest and obviously just wants to allay people’s fears and get past the “Dark Ages” image that some of them have been given.

Obviously, Christians for more than 1500 years attended this mass without the need for special elaborate preparation, other than basic catechesis, so I think it’s good to present it as a simple and natural part of Catholic life. One of the problems is the fact that traditionalists had to fight so hard to defend the TLM for so many years that I sometimes think we ourselves have developed a barrier mentality and are almost as bad as the NO folks in thinking of it as something “special” and only for a small, select group.

But as you say, things will eventually be good. It will become more normalized over the years, which I think is exactly what the Pope expects and wants to happen, particularly once people have had a chance to see it without the “special event” aura.

I live in St. Augustine, FL which was probably the first diocese to publicly announce restrictions, even though our bishop is really not bad and I think is loyal to the Pope. But many bishops are intimidated by their clergy, and he has a group of old-line modernist clergy in this diocese who are much more powerful than he is. However, he has been gradually modifying his stance, in practice if not in public statements, so it seems he has had time to think about it and perhaps realizes that his initial attitude really came across as rebellious and anti-Rome. I suspect a number of bishops who came out with bad statements at the start may gradually rethink things. And of course, there is a new set of guidelines due from the Commission at some time in the not too distant future, which will help, too.

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