My Conclusion: Diocesan Bishop Joins the SSPX

The blogosphere today is abuzz about this story.  With papal approval, a Diocesan bishop in Europe is retiring to live in an SSPX school.

People are speculating why.  Fr Z is unsure, while discussing tangents.  

Let’s use some deductive logic and premises. 

He’s not moving in because it would be a nice place to retire. 

And it’s not to work as Vatican diplomat to reconcile the SSPX to Rome.  At least as his main reason. 

He believes the work of the priests there is canonically legitimate. 

He at least in great part values the Latin Mass and theological positions of the SSPX. 

He has papal approval. 

The Society now has partial jurisdiction for confession and marriage. 

But according to Rome, it still lacks full canonical status. 

THEREFORE, 

If these points are true, then this Bishop is joining the work of the SSPX. 

He is going to do what bishops do and ordain and confirm. 

He is basically a traditionalist, at least now coming to Tradition. 

His mission in the SSPX will soon be publicly explained and celebrated 

by the SSPX. 

But it’s a new paradigm. Francis approves. 

The trad world is shifting with the erosion of what power the Motu Proprio still practically has in the Church.  And with the dismantling of Ecclesia Dei. 

Conclusion:  this Bishop is joining the work of the SSPX, is a traditionalist, but his role involves a canonical recognition of the SSPX in the foreseeable future. 

My Thoughts:

To my mind, that is how the facts play out.  But personally I have varying opinions if my deductive conclusions are right.  

Anything from Francis-Bergoglio is suspect. So I’m not sure if he had any planned diplomatic role if that is a good thing right now in the current situation in the Church.

On the other hand, this would mean one more Diocesan bishop returning to Tradition.  It would confirm again the trend of conciliar clergy turning back to the ancient and venerable, to the perennial and ever fruitful.  It would be something to really celebrate.

Ok my work break is over. Gotta get back to work. Tonight I make pork rind nachos grande. 

Saturday Musings: careerism, the simple life, Guinness.

Wishing your home to be warm and cozy this wet, cold day here in Oklahoma. Saturday leisure blessings. Here’s to hoping you too get to drink some Guinness as I will with a friend-colleague here in a spell. 

There are moments I wish I was financially independent.  I’d live semi-removed from modern society in a cabin or cottage and spend my days hiking, gardening, cooking, and blogging.  “Dreams are what make life tolerable,” said Rudy’s friend to him in that beloved movie. 

Careerism:

But then I have to get up from my Okie armchair and get back to the “grind.”   Pressures remain to maintain until death the “American dream,” which is no longer just about 20th century careerist goals (ie to climb up the corporate ladder no matter the sacrifices, a six figure salary, 2000 square foot home, 401k, medical “insurance,” keeping up with the Jones’ etc), but now about the 21st century absolute ability to free oneself of traditional religion and morality, to encapsulate oneself into a narcissistic, self-contained bubble of technological hedonism, and to turn what is left of society into a diabolical hell on Earth.  


Medical insurance is becoming financially unwarranted.  Servility to the corporate structure is  
destroying most people’s humanity and personalities. Economic materialism, engineered by the corporate elites, has almost entirely destroyed humanity and culture. 

And so I am renewed to be counter-cultural, alternative, ever seeking peace of mind.   Hopefully that will mean soon relative freedom in my profession if not self-employment.  

The Simple Life:

To be spiritually, mentally, and physically healthy. To have true freedom and peace. To be able to make a living and maintain a social and cultural life without being a proletariat to the corporate structure and materialism. 

To work to live, instead of living to work. To order all outward activities to inward contemplation, and not to allow oneself the be ground to a pulp my modernity.  The simple life. 

A stable, fruitful income and work life.  A warm, orderly, clean home.  Three square meals a day.  Some books, a few games, limited technology, a garden, some animals.  True friends.  

Guinness beer:

Well one can try as do I.  And today I’m happy to say at this moment I am living “the simple life.”  In an hour it’s a Guinness at Kilkenny’s Irish pub to laugh with a pal about modern ironies.  Later play with the dogs, read, watch a movie.  Tomorrow is Mass, lunch, and more rest. 

Until modernity sucks me back into the capitalist whirlpool come Monday morning.  Cheers.