The State of Tradition

Una Voce Columbus (OH) ^ | August 2005 | Una Voce Columbus (OH)

[Mershon]

August 2005

"The State of Tradition" in the United States

Earlier this year, Una Voce Columbus conducted interviews with a series of leaders in the traditional Mass movement across the USA. These leaders are active every day in the promotion and preservation of Catholic Tradition and have experienced the trials and glories of a return to that Tradition. These interviews were used for an article in Mass of the Ages, the magazine of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales. With permission of LMS and certain interviewees, we republish the full interviews here for our web visitors.

Interview with Fr. Frank Phillips, CR of St. John Cantius, Chicago Interview with Msgr. Michael Schmitz, STD of the Institute of Christ the King, Chicago Interview with Peter Miller, Editor of Seattle Catholic, Seattle, Washington Interview with John Rao PhD, President of the Roman Forum/Dietrich von Hildebrand Institute, New York Interview with Al Huntz- Una Voce Buffalo Interview with Brian Mershon- Una Voce Greenville, SC Joy Lafranchi- Una Voce of Orange County, California

Other Interviews to be found in the August issue of Mass of the Ages:

Fr. George Gabet- North American District Superior, Fraternity of St. Peter Mary Kraychy- President of the Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei, Chicago

[Mershon]

Some very enlightening interviews, especially Msgr. Schmitz of ICKSP and Father Phillips of St. John Cantius.

[Pyro7480]

Thanks for the heads-up. I look forward to reading all of the interviews.

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

[bornacatholic]

please take me off your ping list

[nonsumdignus]

Please add me to your ping list.

God Bless you!

[Mershon]

You're not on it...

[jrny]

Mershon,
I like how you mentioned that there is a culture that flows from the Tridentine Mass (devotions, parish life, etc.). This is a very important point. We have to be able to participate in real parish life.

In contrast to the ideal which you and I both share about parish life...When reading Al Huntz's interview, he gives a sad commentary on the Indult he attends which paints a factual picture of what "just having the Mass and that's it" is like. The Indult in Baltimore is just as bad as the one in Buffalo.

If I were still single, I would consider staying and fighting the good fight in Baltimore. But, Mater Ecclesiae in New Jersey (2 hours away) offers everything a Traditional Parish should be and will be very conducive to the spiritual well-being of my young family.

It will be interesting to see if any observable relocation patterns emerge among the indult population because of situations like these. Such relocations have already been common within the SSPX.

Someone should take this a step further and really analyze the QUALITATIVE growth of the Tridentine Mass "movement" in addition to the quantitative. What churches really have a Tridentine Culture and parish life vs. the bare minimum indults? Then contrast each with statistics such as how much youth are retained and how many newcomers arrive.

[sitetest]

Dear Mershon,

Why have you pinged me to this thread?


sitetest

[bornacatholic]

You pinged me in #3. Please don't ping me again.

[Mershon]

You pinged me in No. 10. Please do not ping me again.

[jrny]

I guess no one here wants to discuss the topic at hand. Ten replies, 9 of which are either pings or objections to being pinged.

[Claud]

When reading Al Huntz's interview, he gives a sad commentary on the Indult he attends which paints a factual picture of what "just having the Mass and that's it" is like. The Indult in Baltimore is just as bad as the one in Buffalo.

DEAD on, jrny! Although I haven't been to it in a while, I remember the indult in the Tacony section of Philadelphia was the same way. We went for the Sunday 2:00 Mass, and that's it. No parish, no connection with other parishioners, no nothing. It was better in some ways than going to the NO, but looking back on it now I would find it VERY difficult to go back to that. The Latin Mass deserves better than being exhibited as a museum piece in the ghetto of formalism.

Mater Ecclesiae, as you know, very different story. I feel like a part of a parish where I know the priest personally, he's been to my house, and we're involved in all sorts of activities surrounding the traditional Mass. I'm looking forward to having you here for good! :)

[Diva]

I haven't read the interviews but I did want to comment on your post concerning the "parish life" of those attending the Indult here in Detroit. From what i can see having only attended two Masses so far, there seems to be a budding community and a desire on the part of the parish which has the Indult, St. Josaphat, to accomodate those attending. St. Josaphat is part of a 3 church cluster which includes Sweetest Heart of Mary and St. Joseph near the foot of Gratiot Ave. Though I have not been inside the other two churches my understanding is that they are very beautiful, I know St. Josaphat is lovely.

When the Indult began last year there was a lot of hoopla in the newspaper and jockying for who was going to be allowed to Celebrate the Mass. My pastor, who is not in favor with the powers that seem to control the diocese, was told he would not be allowed. After the usual suspects studied up on how to say the Mass correctly,(which I was told didn't happen), the preists who actually want to say the Mass and are prepared to say the Mass (my pastor included), are now mostly the only ones who do. In fact I think if it wasn't for the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross who hang out at my parish, they would have a hard time continuing to offer the Indult.

I am hoping to continue to go there at least until September and will find out the situation if you are interested. I think the diocese is trying to make a sincere attempt to keep the Tridentine Mass going. I know those who want their church to be off the chopping block (many of the old historic churches are being analyzed in the next few years to see if the diocese will keep them open), are glad to have the new comers attend the Tridentine and consider St. Josaphat their parish.

[kjvail]

I go to a "shared" parish where both the TLM and NO is offered by different priests (one is FSSP). My experience is the parish life is carried by the traditionalists - pretty much everything that happens in and around the parish is done by members of the traditionalist community. Bible study, convert support group, Una Voce, apologetics classes, Latin classes. I don't know anyone that comes to the NO mass myself, every event I attend or participate in is organized and run by the traditionalists.

[Claud]

Interesting! Thanks for the input. Where is this indult?

[kjvail]

Our Lady, Queen of the Holy Rosary Indianapolis, IN

Just looking at the numbers on the bulletin tells the story - 9:30 AM Sunday mass is the TLM, the collection is more than the Sat evening anticipatory and Sun 12n masses combined.

We just had a father-son retreat the weekend before last as well - also traditionalist and attended solely by traditionalists. It's basically a traditionalist parish that happens to also have an NO priest (who is very conservative and friendly to traditionalists BTW)

Of course the funny thing is the NO priest is the Pastor,its "his" chapel and he also happens to be the Vicar General of the Archdiocese.The FSSP priest is the Associate...

One thing with indults is those who attend them often come from far away just for that mass. It is impossible for them to regularly contribute to the parish life, they probably drive several hours just for mass once a week. I know there are more than a few of those families at Holy Rosary.

[kjvail]

Actually I should note the 9:30 Sun is not the only TLM there, we have low mass everyday. In fact on some days a Latin low mass is the only mass offered.

[murphE]

Just out of curiosity, I'd like to see this map superimposed upon a map of all other TLM sites.

[jrny]

I'm looking forward to having you here for good! :)

Thanks! I'm looking forward to being in an actual parish for a change.

We were up at ME for the 9:00 am Mass this past Sunday. My mother was visiting us and we gave her a tour of the area. I was hoping to touch base again with you (and maybe ask about enrolling in the SSPI! :)