For most of us in the traditional world we have come to recognize that what we thought was the Faith (that which we were given in Novus Ordo parishes) is really a diminution of the Faith. The differences are clearest when you compare the old Mass to the new but it doesn’t stop there. The traditional Catholic parish has a much richer focus on the centrality of Christ and striving for sanctity through daily and seasonal devotions that can, if you adhere to them, grow your love for the Lord. The new Church really doesn’t do this, doesn’t have a great focus on sanctity or discipline but rather reassures you with the sense that “I’m Okay and You’re Okay.”

People such as myself who have only recently discovered the traditional Catholic world are mystified why the hierarchy is trying to quash it. Why is what was true and good yesterday bad and destructive today? Every time I return to the NO Mass it becomes clearer that the focus is on the community rather than upon Our Lord.

We are made to know, love, and serve the Lord, and have found that the pre-conciliar Catholicism encourages this much more than the new version. I think it’s really as simple as that for a lot of us. So when we feel we are being attacked we strive to band together and coordinate a way to go forward. I think that’s what this whole CIC thing is about: how do we move forward in this time of internecine persecution?

I would love to view the pope charitably and wish that he might extend charity himself towards traditional Catholics. More often than not we find condemnation coming from his lips and that’s really tough to keep hearing from the vicar of Christ. May God bless you in your priesthood.