Come out and support the cause of preserving/promoting the Traditional Latin Mass throughout the Church!
Who? Anybody, as long as they abide by local laws, especially not to block the sidewalk or disturb the peace. Especially all local Latin Mass Catholics (from Sts. Peter and Paul, Most Precious Blood (FSSP), Holy Cross, Clear Creek, etc). Even from OKC. Anybody who loves the Traditional Mass!
Unite the Clans!
What? A group of Catholics standing together on the sidewalk for one hour total, holding peaceful signs, praying, and singing chant and other hymns. Not a protest or antagonism. Not loud or making a demonstration. Like a prayer vigil but with signs communicating a message. A prayerful and peaceful confession of Faith, and respectful appeal to our bishop and Pope. Including attending Vespers praying for the seminarian to be ordained the next day, showing unity with our local Church.
When? Tomorrow, this Thursday, starting at 5:30 pm (Vespers is at 6)
Where? On the public sidewalk directly across from the front of Holy Family Cathedral. In a designated spot.
Why? General message: to support the continued existence of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of Tulsa, long term, and throughout the Universal Church, in particular within the mainstream of the diocese. To demonstrate this especially to the bishop, and Pope Leo, and our unity with him, in a peaceful, non-confrontational way.
In particular: to consider again continuing the TLM each Sunday at Sts. Peter and Paul parish in Tulsa, of 13 years, and each Sunday at Holy Cross parish in Wagoner. Ideal ways to achieve these kinds of goals by the laity traditionally are: novenas, holy hours, letters and petitions to the bishop, meetings with the bishop, and peaceful prayer rallies, often either at the chancery or cathedral when there will be a crowd.
How? we will notify the chancery (already did), local police and cathedral security of the peaceful rally, not expecting a large enough crowd needing a permit.
Itinerary:
5:30 pm arrive, park in cathedral parking, look for a tall, large man with a sign. 30 minutes hold signs, pray the rosary, sing hymns (not loudly so as to not disrupt the event).
6:00 pm. Attend the Vespers Liturgy praying for the seminarian about to be ordained the next evening, no demonstrations at all in the church or on church property.
6:30 - 7:00 pm. When Vespers is over, resume our spot across the street, 30 more minutes holding signs peacefully, praying, singing hymns.
Guidelines/Suggestions: bring your own sign, or a cross or statue to hold, you can get poster boards at the dollar store, suggested slogans “We Love the Traditional Latin Mass,” “Save the Latin Mass in Tulsa,” “Save the Latin Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul,” “Dear Bishop, have Mercy on us.” “Dear Pope Leo, have mercy on us” Etc. Will bring a few extra poster boards with markers to share and a few blessed sacramentals. Bring water, umbrellas (it will be warm, slight chance of rain earlier in afternoon), hats, light colored clothing due to the heat, stay peaceful, no calling out, respectful exchanges if approached. Hopefully the Bishop will come talk to us, we can kiss his ring, and we ask for his blessing.
This is last minute, but please get the word out!!! Email chains, calls, texts, social media. Carpool. Offer rides. Also invite local clergy, religious.
My cell is 918-829-0033. Blog email is JosephOsterneir@gmail.com. Will check throughout the day.
I have permission from a Cleric of the Diocese of Tulsa to publish here the substance of my conversation with him this week about the plan to end the TLM at Sts. Peter and Paul parish. He contacted me to give his perspective, which is the perspective of a member of our local hierarchy.
This does not represent officially the position of the Diocese, nor merely that of a private layman, but of a man trained for and ordained to Holy Orders with ecclesial authority, expressing his viewpoint from that state in life.
I assured him I will leave out all identifiers and keep it general. This was a relatively welcome reprieve after being targeted recently by two local diocesan priests about this (see two posts about this below).
Cleric X
1. He believes this decision is mainly about the complicated logistics of providing Latin Mass-offering priests in the Diocese. He described well the specifics he is aware of about priest assignment issues. He believes it is not “sustainable” right now for the new pastor at SSPP, Fr. Garcia, to offer the TLM, with priests floating over to help out on Sunday. He says maybe in a year or two if there is interest then.
2. His opinion of the Letter read at SSPP to all people who attend the traditional Mass, which I privately shared with him, is that it really isn’t about further implementing of the Traditionis Custodes Latin Mass restriction, but mainly about the priest assignment issue. He called it a “good letter.”
3. He believes the people who attend the TLM at SSPP (these last 13 years) do so for the liturgy, and not really to be a part of the parish.
4. He thinks many live out east near Inola, it making logistical sense for the group to “follow Fr. Donovan” over to Holy Cross parish an hour east of the city.
5. He believes the chancery is very pro-TLM in its outreach, but respectfully admits there have been serious problems with transparency and communication, and not just related to TLM issues.
6. He says there are only 4-5 priests here who know the Latin Mass, and that this limited number has to do with the fact not many priests are “interested” in saying it, and that ordering them to learn it to say it “would be a disaster.” He emphasized the “desirability” of the TLM, not agreeing all priests should learn it (let alone offer it).
7. He does not believe the position/argument that the Presbyteral Council itself had the bishop remove Fr. Ripperger’s community and Mother Miriam’s community shortly after becoming bishop.
8. He echoed my sentiment about certain architecture of Tulsa parish churches built after the Council, in the 1980’s, yet highlighted that the new standard is the tabernacle returning to the center of the sanctuary with better sacred art.
9. He thinks there is a serious problem with the declining number of Tulsa diocesan priests, not one ordained last year (only one to be ordained this year), for different reasons, in particular going on sabbatical because of “burn out.”
10. He thinks that if “a lot” of the Hispanics wanted the TLM at SSPP it would “go a long way” to having the TLM there. He also said the parish has six Sunday Masses.
So there you go.
My response:
1. First, to get this out of the way, SSPP has FIVE Sunday Masses, not six. I’ve read the Letter several times. I’m not reading it saying or emphasizing what he reads it is saying or emphasizing. It is in fact emphasizing Traditionis Custodes and the need of trads to be better aligned with the post-conciliar liturgical reform and Novus Ordo. For me it is not a good letter.
All things considered, it lacks transparency, provides too little of an explanation, to a community of 13 years, was too sudden and close to the deadline, and seems dismissive. The message I read is:
“Howdy trads. Let’s not address the elephant in the room that you have been a community for 13 years. Just read this one page, you all, don’t ask too many questions, bow your head, accept what it says, and move on. Because that’s obedience, I pray you will be charitable and patient moving forward. Have a nice day.”
2. Having attended the Mass there for a combined period (forced to leave before due to the verifiable hostilities of Fr. Knipe) of two years, with my wife and sometimes my mother, and knowing many of the people for many years, and why they formed this community at SSPP with Fr. Davison, in 2012! IT NEVER was, NOR IS, just about having the Tridentine Mass.
I already posted in detail about their community and how they participate in the parish. There is a very good reason to have the TLM in the parochial parish, which is really part of the thinking, and that is to support the universalization once again of the Mass of the Ages and in the mainstream. To make this birthright available to all.
So Tradition isn’t just effectively quarantined off to the margins. In a sense, those who attend and promote the parochial parish TLM (in contrast say to the FSSP) are in a general kind of way missionaries to the mainstream for perennial Catholicism.
I do not believe most chancery officials in almost any diocese, including ours, are on board with that. I think Pope Benedict was, as was Bishop Slattery (RIP) in principle, but the powers that be have managed right now to undermine the Summorum Pontificum movement which dramatically expanded the traditional movement since 2007.
Since 2021, what has become about 70% of the traditional movement has been WIPED out. As in dead. It was alive and well. Now it is dead.
The Final Solution of that liturgical pastoral program (under Pope Francis, RIP), isn’t just removing the Mass of the Saints from mainstream parishes, but everywhere, permanently. It is a tragedy what went down the last four years, and now in Tulsa. All Catholics must step outside of their comfort zone, and care about this.
3. So, there are A LOT of Hispanics who have fallen in love with the traditional Catholic worship of God at SSPP. They fill pews and sections throughout the church. The sermon is both in English and in Spanish.
It is edifying how reverent, devout, and dignified they are, and in how the dress. What about them? I’m deducing most don’t live out east by Inola, but nearby. Adios, Latin Mass. It was nice knowing you. Until we meet again, I guess.
By my rough estimation from experience, most of the TLM parishioners DO NOT live out east near Inola. For most, Wagoner will be a longer and costlier drive out east. And that would include for the Hispanic families in the city area.
4. So with all due respect, Cleric X, and I’m not accusing you of intentionally doing this, or that your analysis literally does this, but rather that effectively on a practical level, your analysis as a local Cleric does “cover up”or minimize the problems raised. To be communicated to the Okie Traditionalist blog. To trads here and outside of our state reading.
You mostly were silent when I emphasized how this is really about the Crisis in the Church, including the liturgy, at a higher level than the level of logistics and individuals, but about the wholesale watering down of the Faith and liturgy in our diocese (and everywhere) since the Council. I said he was addressing the trees, while I am addressing the forest.
The Tulsa diocese isn’t exactly a shining exception to the current status quo throughout the world. In terms of the traditional Catholic movement and availability of the Latin Mass, there are dioceses with much more fervor and support for the TLM including among diocesan priests Just look at Charlotte, NC, or Detroit, or Madison for example.
Trads here will now have only two parish options that are still relatively hidden. If this happens, per the Letter, and per TC, I expect a gradual shift from the 1962 to the 1970 missal, by means of the “accompaniment” required by TC. At least saying this might persuade the authorities to reconsider.
We wrapped up our conversation talking about common experiences. I sent him links to my History of the Latin Mass Movement in the Tulsa Diocese, and to Archbishop Lefebvre’s Open Letter to Confused Catholics (a must read). LINK, LINK. This is the way to discuss this from one side of the issue to the other, without devolving to censorship, personal, passive aggressive judgments, attacks, or misrepresenting the other view point as “highly misleading” putting words in their mouth. Cordial, open, frank discussion and debate between fellow Catholics, Tridentine and Novus Ordo. Agree to disagree. End in charity.
Cleric X
Thank you Cleric X for taking the time to share your perspective. I’ll ask you to contribute again, if you like. I do think we can agree that critical situations like this, trying to understand it, isn’t really about making personal moral judgments, especially public ones, especially against the bishop at the personal level. Not that at times there might be an element of assessing how trustworthy our local Shepherds are on a personal level.
We disagree though that this is primarily about logistical, material details to which the laity are not fully privy. This is about a philosophical, theological, and doctrinal situation,,because how we worship teaches us what to believe.
Liturgy must be not only reverent but orthodox. It is a statistical fact, that most of those who attend the Novus Ordo do not accept all Church teachings, while in comparison the vast majority of those attending the traditional liturgy do. Stating a verifiable fact is not to be pretentious. It is because how we worship shapes how we believe and live. According to the ancient maxim Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi. The Law of Prayer determines the Law of Belief.
I am optimistic about restoration in the very long term, but in the short term (next few years), and more long term (couple of decades) I am pessimistic. The traditional movement will continue to grow, and be persecuted, while the mainstream will continue to spiral downward. I have serious reservations what to expect under Pope Leo, yet also a guarded optimism about him personally.
This summer the question will be if and how he addresses the Latin Mass situation, and if he will come to the rescue. I really hope someone close to him is following right now these kind of reports. Otherwise if things continue as they are (since 2013), looking several moves ahead on the chess board, there will be more Liturgical War. Yet, if the status under Sunmorum Pontificum were to be at all revived, including in the Tulsa diocese, that would result in more PEACE.
UPDATE: 6/25, 8:45 am, per the Chancellor, the Bishop WILL NOT meet with me or my wife to hear how we feel about the decision, even for 15 minutes as I requested, and is not meeting with anybody at this time, about this decision. He also will not meet with me as requested.
Therefore, the Latin Mass Rosary Rally is on! We can confess our Faith and needs to the Bishop through public prayer. That is our right.
He advised me that we the diocese has received the decision in obedience. He said we are blessed to have TWO groups in our diocese (ie TLM): Most Precious Blood (FSSP) and “Clear Creek.” I told him what I was prepared to tell him and the bishop had they met with me, and that their approach destroys trust, leading to have to appeal instead to news outlets in the hope it reaches Rome. I shared with him the post above talking to “Cleric X,” hoping he will better appreciate our perspective
UPDATE: 4 families so far want to come to a rosary rally this week! Details forthcoming asap.
Email me in support of this, or about joining a rosary rally:
JosephOstermeir@gmail.com
See last several posts. Will post updates here.
Hopefully meet with the bishop.
Keep updating here.
A peaceful rosary rally to “Save the Latin Mass in Tulsa Parishes” even if it’s just me for an hour in the blazing sun. Posting pics later.
More viral spread of this news.
And pray! I will pray to Bishop Slattery, Sr. Wilhelmina, St. Pius X, St. Pius V, ABL, and St. Padre Pio.
Email me in support of this, or about a rosary rally:
JosephOstermeir@gmail.com
"To suffer for the truth is not to suffer; it is to triumph."
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
See here my original post in 2016 about this blog: LINK. This is still one goal for this blog.
See here my original post in 2016 about this blog: LINK. This is still one goal for this blog
Update 6/23: I emailed the diocese. They replied refusing for Fr. Brooks’ social media comments to be edited or deleted to remove defamatory comments, saying his comments were reasonable. The obvious implication is that he/they are doubling down on their false position that my representation of the decision as a “suppression” that “effectively banishes a community,” is “very misleading.” They are falsely treating my article as characterizing the decision as “a nefarious plan” to get the Latin Mass out of the whole diocese, when nothing even remotely was said claiming that, to the contrary I clearly labored to explicitly say I was not making a personal moral judgment.
I defended in great detail in my response to them that what I wrote is NOT “misleading” let alone “very misleading,” repeating my plea that local Latin Mass Catholics including myself be treated fairly, and to find a way not to effectively make a 13 year old Latin Mass parochial, diocesan parish community in Tulsa cease to exist. If they are reading this, please, again, for the love of God, consider this petition.
————————————————————————
The Vicar of Priests for the Diocese of Tulsa, a Chancery official, Fr. Bryan Brooks (LINK), recently publicly objected (LINK, LINK) to the Life Site News (LSN) article (LINK) reporting the effective suppression of the Latin Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul parish in Tulsa, which is set to happen in a week, after 6/29. The effective suppression has also applied to the Holy Cross Latin Mass community in Wagoner no longer having a weekly Latin Mass, but now only once a month (LINK), per the pastor due to a Vatican directive.
I emailed Fr. Brooks appealing the decision, asking questions, and addressing his comments, awaiting his response.
LSN was principally referencing my report below (LINK), but also an article about this by Laramie Hirsch over at Non Veni Pacem (LINK), announcements and discussion about this at the Sts. Peter and Paul Traditional Latin Mass Facebook page (LINK), and an official response by the diocese communications director.
Yet, Fr. Brooks wrote (please forgive the formatting issue, blogger has glitches):
This was the response to Fr. Bryan, still no reply to the points or questions:
Fr. Bryan also wrote:
This was the response to Fr. Bryan, still no reply to the points or questions:
My Comments: first, in my defense, and in the defense of Life Site News, a very popular, reputable Catholic news outlet, extraordinarily dedicated to the Catholic Faith, there was nothing at all objectively misleading in the title or content of either their article or mine. We cited public sources, reported verifiable facts, and asked critical questions. On my part I never said nor implied the bishop or diocese had a “nefarious plot” to rid the diocese of the Latin Mass. I objected in a very general way to: a) the TLM community coming to an end, b) the lack of transparency about the decision, c) a lack of preparation long term to prevent this (if it is simply a logistical issue), and d) the pattern across the Church of diocesan TLM’s being closed because of Traditionis Custodes, by order of Pope Francis (RIP).
If I myself had done otherwise, it would be upon Fr. Brooks to clearly point that out in fraternal correction which he didn’t, and isn’t. Because there is nothing to point out. As his comments stand in context, I ask they be either edited or removed to not give even the appearance of defamation, and in particular because I also reported how this change will cause suffering for me and my wife, to no longer be able to attend the Mass of the Ages at Sts. Peter and Paul. Those on the receiving end of harsh changes like this have every right and responsibility to speak out their concerns and grievances, without being then falsely accused by clergy in question.
If anyone in the diocese or chancery is reading this in a position of influence, I request you please read or re-read my report and analysis of the situation before you pass judgment, just as I slowly and carefully did my own inquiry into all the facts prior to posting the article.
Please, for the love of God, in full transparency and accountability, either explain publicly WHY this was done, including WHY there is a logistical problem about priest assignments, considering the new pastor knows how to offer the Latin Mass, in light of the many logistical options I discussed, OR, rather please, in the next week, reverse this decision.
If it is ultimately because of the Vatican, following Pope Francis’ orders, please petition them to pause this until Pope Leo has time to examine this question himself. That is my purpose in making this appeal since April. Because I believe the future of the Church depends on preserving sacred, traditional liturgy, the Latin Mass, and access to it everywhere, not just in remote, out of the way locations. For the love of God, please do not do this. Please preserve the Mass of the Ages as a universal practice, as Pope Benedict called for in Summorum Pontificum (LINK).
It is difficult for me most days to leave my home because I am still recovering from severe ongoing illness, praying and working towards recovery. I do this here because I love the Catholic Church, and therefore my local Catholic Church. So much has been lost in the Church in terms of teaching, orthodoxy, reverence, governance, and especially in the liturgy. Those sacred external elements that mark the Roman rite have been almost entirely stripped away. The churches turned into ugly monstrosities. Bishop Slattery (RIP) himself worked tirelessly until the very day of his retirement, towards restoration of what was lost. As Pope Paul VI said after the Council, “the smoke of Satan has entered the Church.” The Church is presently in a grave crisis akin to the Arian crisis. We have to respond accordingly. We can help restore all things to Christ one day at a time, starting with the way we worship God in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
See here my original post in 2016 about this blog: LINK. This is still one goal for this blog.
Update 6/21, the Tulsa Diocese Vicar of Priests responded to this story. Read what he said HERE, and my response.
Update 6/20, Life Site Newsreported on it HERE. Only clarification on their report referencing me, I said below there seems to have been no CLEAR explanation so far. I would insert the word CLEAR in their report. LSN, thanks be to God, is making this story viral through their Facebook and X accounts. Also, Michael Lofton talked about this HERE The Tulsa Diocese Communications Director responded to LSN on Wednesday:
"As was shared with parishioners on May 4 Bishop Konderla is asking those who go to the Traditional Latin Mass at Saints Peter and Paul to attend Most Precious Blood in Tulsa or Holy Cross in Wagoner Oklahoma. The Traditional Latin Mass continues to be valued in the diocese with opportunities for the faithful ample access to this sacred liturgy."
My response: with all due respect, there is still no explanation or logical justification WHY after 13 years an entire Latin Mass community attached to its parochial parish will be effectively ended; and Holy Cross parish is only allowed now ONE monthly Latin Mass (LINK). How is that ample?? And for most families living near Clear Creek Abbey (the reason for a TLM at Holy Cross), it is over 1 hour to the FSSP parish. What about all these families, faithful to the teachings of the Church? What about the great spiritual and psychological suffering these decisions will cause them? Why is any of this necessary?
Update 6/19, 10 days before the shut down, no matter where you live, please call the Tulsa Diocese asap and respectfully express your concern to the Bishop; implore him to not do this. To ask Pope Leo to pause the Francis clampdown on the TLM, to consider what to do about diocesan Latin Masses. Miracles do happen. Ask to leave a message for the Bishop, or leave a voicemail. Here is the Diocese phone #:
918-294-1904
Update 6/13, ole Laramie Hirsch, well known traditional Catholic blogger from Tulsa, came out of the wood works to opine about this HERE. 16 days to go…
Introduction:
Dear Readers, I am saddened to report that as of Sunday, June 29th, 2025, A. D., in the Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ, despite my own efforts at a petition (LINK), and I am sure other local requests, after 13 years the Latin Mass Community of Sts. Peter and Paul (SSPP) parish, in the Diocese of Tulsa, will be effectively banished, snuffed out, outcast, dispersed, scattered to the winds, destroyed.
Dead.
Taps
If there are updates, I will let you know.
At the same time, I am acutely aware that if I do not report this, and critically examine this, nobody probably will.
To me, this reflects a pattern all across the Church, bishops continuing to implement the removal of the TLM from diocesan parishes, in some cases as if they are trying to quickly finalize the deed before potentially Pope Leo steps in and reverses the restrictions, which I personally predict he will do for his plan of unity. And because he seems to me to be a cause for peace and hope.
May our new pope examine the original dubious survey of bishops on the TLM that would be, according to many credible reports, severely distorted to justify the unjust clampdown since 2021. I remain at this point going forward cautiously optimistic about what Pope Leo might do, that is having reservations but being hopeful.
Also, note that a major shutdown of diocesan TLM’s happened last month in the Diocese of Charlotte, NC which caused quite a stir across Catholic media.
The Traditional Latin Mass
Sts. Peter and Paul Parish
Tulsa, OK
October, 2012 - June, 2025
R.I.P.
The Situation:
There will be no more Latin Masses at Sts. Peter and Paul, not EVEN scheduled on a weekday, or a Saturday as a Vigil Mass.
Based on my research, it appears the reasons were not made clear publicly to their community why the TLM is ending at SSPP, in Tulsa, except mention of priest shortage issues, nor to explain in any detail with clarity the problem of maintaining the TLM there.
However, consider that the new pastor knows how to say the TLM, has a devotion to it, and in fact often said it in the past at SSPP when he was once associate pastor there.
According to a reliable source close to the situation. according to the new pastor, this change is not his choice. He said that it was the bishop’s decision. While not answering the question WHY the decision was made, when asked in detail WHY by this source.
When I myself politely asked in a short post on the group Facebook page (which my wife and I have been a member of for years) why, and about a possible Saturday Vigil Mass (TLM), instead of just not approving the comment, the main Admin corrected me and banned my comment from the group, even though I’ve never had a problem on there before.
Not everyone was able to hear the reasons why.
An extreme response like that to mere reasonable questions, suitable or not for the FB page, for people who weren’t there to hear the pulpit announcement, only suggests they don’t want to answer because there isn’t a reasonable answer.
By all accounts I have examined, it appears the priests involved deliberately DID NOT give the TLM community a clear answer.
Yet the community certainly was, and still is, owed a clear answer, transparency, accountability, and good faith.
For me reporting this goes beyond simply defending and promoting the TLM and Catholic Tradition across the entire diocese, and the universal Church. This is also personal, in that it is difficult for me and my family as we have attended the TLM there many times.
For various personal practicalities over the years, it was where we attended the TLM locally when not attending it at the Fraternity parish, after the SSPX chapel was shut down in 2017 after 47 years as a community.
But now the traditional Mass at SSPP is no longer an option for us. Nor for you if you live in the greater Tulsa area, or move here. For Tulsans, the TLM and Catholic Tradition has now been effectively quarantined to a relatively small parish in the countryside outside of the city. As if Catholic Tradition is leprosy, and traditionalists are lepers. From some people’s perspective. Time will tell if the clampdown on traditionalism will extend there.
And to my knowledge there is no parochial church here where the Novus Ordo is celebrated Ad Orientem, with the major parts in Latin or Gregorian chant, with any sense of restoring the traditional orientation of the Mass, as Pope Benedict XVI wanted.
The TLM and TLM community was established at SSPP in 2012, by the tradition- minded Fr. Tim Davison of fond memory by the community, and by many in the diocese. For 13 years, they had a weekly solemn, sung Latin High Mass, and the Latin Mass often on certain weekdays. Families have literally been raised in this community, many who homeschool. Some enrolled their children in the parish school known to be one of the most orthodox and devout diocesan schools, thanks in great part to their former principal Patrick Martin and the former pastor Fr. Davison.
There was a long history of their sons laboring to practice serving for these solemn Masses, very devoted to serving Mass. The community participated in parish events and parish work projects, while also meeting for coffee and doughnuts, special festivities, including for years organizing a St. Patrick’s Day festival, having All Saints Day parties, and less formal gatherings after Mass.
They had a men’s group, for a time a newsletter, and maintained a pubic Facebook group. There were two Gregorian chant scholas, one of men and one of women. And the Tradition of this Mass also positively influenced the Novus Ordo Masses there for years to be more rubrical, reverent, and traditional. It was a living, breathing, permanent community devoted to the ancient Mass, and part of the parish.
It also drew quite a few Hispanics from the Spanish Mass community in the parish. And the community was a major contributor to parish finances, by the way. SSPP being a relatively poor parish. That $$$ will now be gone.
But now, as a community, it will soon be six feet under the ground, no more.
Effectively vaporized.
The Question is: Why???
Because in part due to Francis’ tyrannical restriction on TLM’s in diocesan parishes? That is distinct from “personal parishes” under the FSSP, Institute, and the like. You can decide for yourself, but “the facts speak for themselves.”
Consider that the only other diocesan parish Bishop Konderla gave dispensation to continue the TLM at, besides SSPP, was Holy Cross in Wagoner, which went from a weekly TLM to more recently now only once a month. It is reasonable to conclude the local pastor there did not decide this totally on his own, but that it came also from the diocese/chancery/bishop.
Another reliable source close to the situation confirms this change at Holy Cross was due, at least in part, to a recent Vatican directive. Was such a directive also issued about SSPP? In the name of Traditionis Custodes and its guidelines, used to restrict the TLM from the parish setting?
When somebody (not me) asked on the Facebook page of the SSPP Traditional Latin Mass group why it is ending, one of the group moderators responded “Nobody really knows.” Nobody knows. The parish as a whole did not know clearly WHY. This was AFTER the announcement was made on their Facebook page it was ending.
And to be crystal clear, I am not accusing here publicly the bishop of personal wrongdoing, intentional or not, or of intentionally phasing out the traditional Mass from the mainstream of the diocese, from parish churches, whether due to Vatican policy or his own. Or both. I can only guesstimate his thinking, but you can decide for yourself.
Yet consider that since Bishop Slattery (RIP) retired in 2016, the works of traditional restoration under him have over and over been as a matter of fact ended. This includes the Doloran Fathers, Mother Miriam’s Daughters of Mary, the traditional style Ad Orientem Novus Ordo Mass on Sunday’s at the cathedral, weekly Sunday Vespers at the cathedral, etc. That is in fact a pattern.
The grave injustice is that the ancient Roman rite, the unquestionably orthodox and reverent form of Mass, the Mass of the Saints, will no longer be offered at SSPP, and that this is scattering a verifiable long term community within a parish. While the Novus Ordo in Spanish and English remains.
Consider the spiritual and psychological impact this will have on all the individuals of that community, not to mention disruption to their lives certainly having to change parishes.
Solutions to the Issue of The New Pastor Having No Associate Pastor?
Consider that canon law allows a parish priest to say many Masses on one Sunday with permission for special circumstances, such as priest shortages. Why then can’t the diocese work something out?
Why can’t he say the TLM on a weekday when his Mass schedule is less full? Like on Saturday? As a Saturday Vigil Mass, which fulfills the obligation for Sunday?
Why does the new pastor have no associate? Or, why is there no priest available within driving distance across the city or nearby to float to SSPP and help out with the Mass schedule, even just to say one of the Novus Ordo Masses, to unburden the new pastor (who is a young priest), so as to free up the new pastor to say the TLM?
There are, in my estimation, over 20 parishes in the Tulsa area. Most have more than one priest. Most do not have Mass Sunday afternoons. Not one parish has more than one Saturday Vigil Mass.
Or why not condense the number of Masses so the TLM continues? In addition, is there really no nearby priest in the greater Tulsa area trained in the TLM who can help out? Or who knows enough Latin from seminary to learn it?
Or, why not ask an FSSP priest, say during the afternoon on Sundays once his parish duties are finished? At least to help out temporarily, as they have before at SSPP. The SSPP Sunday Mass schedule leaves open time for the TLM most of the afternoon. Or why could not a combination of solutions not work?
And there is always the 10:30 am spot it occupied for 13 years.
And, there is time Saturday evening for a second Vigil Mass, if it came to it. Why not then??? Why not a 5 pm Saturday Novus Ordo, and then a 7 pm TLM? The new pastor can’t do that? Or a local priest can’t come over and say the Saturday Novus Ordo so the new pastor can afterwards say the TLM? From any of a number of Tulsa area parishes with more than one priest.
Solving this logistical question would be no harder than playing a game of checkers.
Also, consider that Fr. Robert Healey, a young priest of the diocese who once said public TLM’s at Holy Cross, will be re-assigned from Stillwater 1.5 hours from Tulsa, to St. Thomas More in Tulsa, just 15 minutes from SSPP, one of three priests there covering a weekend schedule of 7 Masses.
If there was just oneadded Mass to their combined schedule (that is Fr. Healey driving over to SSPP fifteen minutes away for say a Sunday afternoon TLM, or a Saturday evening TLM), that would be just 8 Masses instead of 7, just one more, meaning say 3 for two priests, and 2 for the third. Which is a normal Mass schedule for a priest today. Outside of other unknown circumstances, it appears that is something that can be done. And if so, should be done, all things considered.
And I haven’t even mentioned yet the two priests who know the TLM, who said it at SSPP, about to be transferred from SSPP to Wagoner and Muskogee, respectively. Is there really no section in their schedule to also help out the new pastor with his burdensome Mass schedule?
For example, when Fr. Donovan finishes up with Saturday evening Mass or Sunday morning Mass in Wagoner, and then Sunday morning Mass in Coweta (20 minutes apart), looking at their parish websites, there are NO other scheduled Masses.
For the rest of the day. Does he need the rest of the day to kick back and watch football? Sunday is a priest's main work day.
Would he really be unwilling or unable to drive 24 milesto SSPP on a Sunday afternoon? Or a Saturday evening? To help relieve the new pastor? To help preserve the TLM there and the community??
Knowing about his commitment to the priesthood, Catholic Tradition, and the TLM, all as former pastor of SSPP, I do not believe he is unwilling or unable.
And if not unwilling and unable, why was that kind of arrangement not made by the diocese? At least as part of the solution?
Conclusion:
In conclusion, it certainly seems reasonable to expect the local Church to have prepared for this situation well in advance, to plan ahead, to ensure a priest will be available to maintain the TLM, or help ease the Sunday schedule so the new pastor can say it, especially since, you know (sarcasm intended), this is the ancient and venerable rite of the Latin Church, the Mass of the Ages, one of the most beautiful things this side of heaven, and would otherwise mean the effective DESTRUCTION of a verifiable, permanent parish community, of over a decade, with a great pastoral need.
By the way, every priest should know Latin, as that is still the official language of the Church and liturgy, and enough to learn the TLM. It doesn’t take months to learn the rubrics of the TLM, once they know the Novus Ordo. It isn’t such a great leap to learn to say it.
I can say this as I grew up serving the Novus Ordo most every Sunday with its rubrics. It really wasn’t that hard then to learn to serve the TLM as I would do as a young adult, based on my previous experience. If I could learn the Latin responses and postures, in a short time, certainly it would not be so difficult for a Roman rite priest (Novus Ordo) to learn the traditional format. Especially for a more simple Low Mass which can still include the major parts sung in Gregorian chant by the choir.
There are enough local priests such that the local Church was and is able to provide priests to say Mass using the 1962 missal, in addition to the 1970 missal, or to drive over to SSPP and help out the new pastor, if not as his resident associate pastor. The bishop himself learned it in order to say the Mass at the FSSP during confirmations, and out at Clear Creek for ordinations. Which was very pastoral. Why not be as pastoral to preserve the TLM community at SSPP? In a diocesan parish other than the FSSP?
I do believe he is (and was) certainly able to ask any of a number of local priests in the Tulsa area, especially the younger priests who are now very tradition-minded, to have learned the 1962 missal by now, in addition to several who already know how. And to help fill in over at SSPP.
My main point is, all of this points to the ultimate question: did the Vatican under Pope Francis, before he died in April, order Bishop Konderla to phase out the Latin Mass in all diocesan parishes, including now at SSPP, as it has been ordering other bishops who had given a dispensation?
Of course I would not be making any sense here if the error of Clericalism were true and we are not allowed to respectfully publicly criticize Church leadership, in accord with canon law # 212, in a situation like this, or call it into question.
Or if Quietism were true and such respectfulness requires being only “nice.”
Or if the TLM is a mere Libertarian liturgical preference of a few old-fashioned people who like Latin, chant, and isolation from the diocesan mainstream. Vs. being, you know, the historically authentic Roman rite all Roman rite Catholics essentially have a right to, in principle, according to Pope Benedict XVI, and for the certainly sacred, vertical, clearly sacrificial worship of God as it was always offered before, by both the Latin Church and Eastern Churches (which still maintain uniformly the mystery and sacredness of the liturgy).
The bottom line is I cannot prove or assert with mathematical certainty exactly WHY this is happening, until I should learn more details one day, except to gather all the facts, connect the dots, and let the “facts speak for themselves.”
This does not pass the “smell test,” or the “common sense test,” or the demands of basic logic. If a mere layman with a blog can do the kind of logistical analysis as I did above, not more complex than playing checkers, then surely the apparatus of the Diocese could have found a solution.
I will keep this post up at the top of the blog for three months so that this doesn’t fade quickly into oblivion, with a few fleeting whispers in the church parking lot, across the diocese, but rather that we can hold our pastors accountable.
If you find this objectionable and very questionable, ask the bishop about it.
I encourage readers to please call or write the bishop your concerns about this, and also about the Holy Cross-Wagoner situation, in a respectful way. If/when more changes are made like this, or worse, we can let the bishop know our thoughts. So he can take it to heart. He is after all our Shepherd, and we are his sheep. For better or worse.
And I will make sure to let you know, as I have before. I’d rather be blogging about the Saints, or Catholic philosophy, or medical ethics, or the daily life of an Okie Catholic, or outdoor sports, as one of my hobbies, but as we like to say in Oklahoma, “it is what it is.” Somebody had to say this.
Why? Because the Muslim radicals will never stop trying to destroy the US as long as we attempt to dominate their part of the world. Long term this only means Iran eventually gets a nuclear bomb and uses it on us. I stand with Rand Paul (and Ron Paul) for Non-Interventionism. We need to get out of the Middle East, and using Israel as a puppet state. The whole enterprise these last decades was immoral. The Jews are no longer the Chosen People of God. And we’re mainly over there for the oil and to keep our way of life here greedy and materialistic. Time to withdraw and buckle our belts long term. We have all the oil we need in North America, long term. But Trump, despite his strengths, is weak on Israel. He may be leading the USA straight into World War III. Pray for world peace. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
Demonstrated commitment to clear orthodoxy contra the last 12 years, yet another sign of hope, proving the angry naysayers yet again wrong. The stadium did not hear a Gospel of Man, but of Christ. Began referencing the Holy Trinity, then calling them to Christ, and fallen away Catholics back to the Church. Talked about love of God and each other. Prayers he urgently addresses the Latin Mass final solution campaign ASAP. before the holocaust is complete this summer, and the genie can’t be put back in the bottle. He must understand the urgency by now, having talked recently to Cardinal Burke about the situation. Offering my crosses to save the Mass. Save the Mass, save the Faith. Save the Faith, save souls!
The chaos of the leftist LA riots right now made me think of this subject. Russia had a cultural revolution beginning in the early 1900’s. China had a cultural revolution beginning in the 1950’s. And the USA had a cultural revolution beginning in 1960. Everyone and their dog knows this. But few have a clear historical understanding of that reality, We act as if we are in denial there actually was a cultural revolution, while simultaneously, continuously, referring to this fact indirectly through an ever deepening of the same revolution, by means of pop culture.
We all know it began in the 60’s, but our concept of the last 65 years is formless and vague. That is what the revolution does, it clouds the mind about its very existence, making us forget there was a way of life so radically different than the way of life that would unfold since after 1960, that it was practically a different world, a different reality. It may as well have been a different planet.
Conclusion: when children learn contemporary US history, they need a crystal clear education in what the country and world was like before the cultural revolution, that the revolution is real, that it was a wholesale rebellion against pre-1960 conservative Christian America, replaced quickly by a secularist, liberal, materialist, and narcissistic new society. The cultural revolution continues past the Advent of the internet, social media, and wokism, into a new world of AI, robots, and neural chips.
Trump and Elon are at it. Who would have thought. Elon got upset at the White House over the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which apparently isn’t as beautiful as Trump promised. So Trump asked him to leave. Elon fired back on Twitter (X) that Trump should be impeached, and is on the Epstein list.
He was “sperging,” in my opinion, meaning have an autistic Asperger’s moment under extreme stress. Elon does have Asperger’s after all. Trump returned fire that Elon was acting crazy.
Meanwhile…Putin recently has backed out of the ceasefire talks, and Trump ranted online as usual against Putin, the man he’s supposed to be negotiating a peace treaty. All three of these men are relatively on the good side of the culture war against cultural Marxism and socialism, but all three are objectively narcissistic.
This is not a time to get into a stupid feud over Twitter between the President and the wealthiest man on the planet. Because we remain on the brink of WW3. That’s all I kept thinking about when reading today’s story,
You can love Trump but hate certain things about him. He needs to humble himself right now and keep a level head. Just let Elon go do his thing. And redo your “Big Beautiful Bill,” to truly reduce the spending and the deficit. God forbid the world goes to chaos over essentially spats between big shots who just want to be right.
1. Appointed to that academy by Pope Benedict in 2011.
2. Per Life Site News, never explicitly said he supported contraception to avoid pregnancy for medical reasons. Therefore, giving him the benefit of the doubt. he supports NFP for that purpose which is legitimate per Pius XII.
3. Does not support assisted-suicide, while merely stating the law tends to have more safeguards around it that euthanasia, which is true.
4. Pope Leo made the decision within the first weeks of his pontificate to reverse the decision of his predecessor, to remove the academy's head who was not orthodox.
Conclusion, papal pundits bitter about Pope Leo are proven yet again wrong. These convoluted stories are too easy to disprove. Just a few clicks and review of primary and secondary sources dispels the nonsense. As usual.
God is law, the Eternal Law. Everything outside of God, creation, or nature, is governed in every minuscule detail by the Natural Law. Both the Eternal Law and Natural Law of God govern Man to order himself according to God and Nature through the Human Law. That’s it. That is Law governing everything that exists, including God ordering Himself by His own Eternal Law as part of His own nature.
Source: St. Thomas Aquinas’ Treatise on Law.
But original sin causes us to tend to view Law as oppressive and merely man made. It is not a metaphysical dimension to everything that exists, but merely rules written in books. The Enlightenment philosophers essentially rejected Natural Law and therefore the Divine Providence of Eternal Law directing Man from above through the Natural Law, which consequently reduced the Human Law down to positivism, meaning human law is purely relative and artificial. This helped pave the way for liberalism, modernism, and now post-modernism.
Therefore, modern Man as such does not want to be governed by God, the natural order, the Church, or even government in such a way that when legitimate government passes a legitimate law it absolutely must be obeyed always because God commands that obedience under pain of sin and potentially under pain of damnation (included in the 4th commandment).
In the sense that all forms of Law govern literally everything everywhere, in that sense the Law is everything. It is everything. It gives us our life, purpose, and direction. It orders everything towards stability, unity, harmony, and charity. To the natural order and to the divine.
These are my thoughts this weekend on Law, for personal reasons.
While every bishop nowadays should be scrutinized to make sure they never coverup for nor enable any form of clerical abuse, especially priests molesting children, we must still give each one a basic benefit of the doubt they are taking correct action unless evidence starts to show otherwise. This is fair.
When Pope Leo was a diocesan bishop, and before that the superior of the Augustinian order, there were two cases some have objected to about how he handled priests accused of sexual abuse of minors. As the superior working from Rome, he apparently allowed a pedophile priest to live at the Chicago Augustinian monastery which is near a school. In the case in Peru, as a bishop he was accused by two girls of covering up for a allegedly pedophile priest they accused of abusing them. But we only know limited facts for each case, such that we still must give him the benefit of the doubt. To be fair.
First, regarding the Chicago case, all we know is the priest apparently was allowed to live near a school. As that stands, per se on its own, that at worst would mean Provost made an unwise or imprudent act. There is no evidence of his permission breaking any law, or deliberately intending to neglect the welfare of children. Anything is possible, but in fairness we have no evidence to even suspect that.
Second, regarding the Peru case, there was no evidence including witnesses to any alleged abuse. The priest denied the abuse. And the fact is, as much as we cry out to God about pedophile priests, false allegations against priest are common. Prevost did follow canonical procedure, and investigated in so far as he interviewed the girls, and then the priest, yet otherwise had no evidence to compel him to investigate further.
The settlement the diocese payed the two girls seemingly in part to hide scandal surrounding Provost, being a Pababile, on a short list of potential papal candidates, is not per se evil unless there was actual real sexual abuse being deliberately covered up. But again we must give him the benefit of the doubt, as any of us should do towards one another. We have no reason to believe anything other than the diocese was silencing a scandal in order to avoid public, universal scandal. They would have every right to privatize the complaints through a legal settlement since they could only give the accused priest himself the benefit of the doubt (unless evidence or witnesses were ever in theory to be produced).
God knows exactly what happened in both cases with Prevost, and any potential error or wrongdoing, whether through act, omission, or word. But we have no reason at least to suspect him of any grave wrongdoing.
We should give him, the Holy Father, the benefit of the doubt.
He is reportedly in critical condition with sepsis, which is a life-threatening blood infection. 102 years old. The oldest traditionalist Catholic bishop in the world. Was a diocesan bishop in Florida, and then in Texas. Later in life said only the traditional Mass. If he goes soon, he certainly was blessed with a very long life, having led a great Catholic life, and an adventurous one, showing tremendous heroism as a bishop.
Reportedly says the TLM privately for years, frequently uses Latin, calling for return of mystery to the Mass, wears the papal red shoes, moving into the papal palace, respects Francis but not a Francis 2.0, known for his holiness and noble temperament, very balanced mentally and morally, showing signs of a somewhat turn back towards tradition, a cause for relief, yet diplomatic, pastoral to all, very mature and very focused on pastoral decisions, very kind and compassionate, genuine, authentic, unique, highly intelligent and educated, not easily controlled, acts as himself, likely to befriend the traditional movement, to free the TLM once again and allow SSPX new episcopal consecrations with renewed discussions, not part of any inner circle of elites, not easily manipulated, tends to stand on his own, throwing himself 100% into the papacy, full steam ahead, a man’s man but a quiet, humble man.
I never thought I’d throw my arms around a pro-synodality Francis-type centrist. But something tells me in his heart of heart he is in a general way a traditionalist, pro-Tradition, in truth on our side, but the kind that is overtly open, warm, and welcoming as we traditionalists should be.
And not sectarian or bogged down by "identity politics." Transcending the right-left spectrum, as a leader must, as Catholic Tradition itself does. Tradition not being reduced down to conservatism, having also a moderate and a progressive side depending on the issue (i.e. progressive not liberal, i.e. pro-progress but not subscribing to liberalism).
The good Pope Leo. Proving a small number of short-sighted naysayers wrong. Looking onward and upward.
In my dreams, if I were elected pope, I would accept the election, take the name Pius XIII, take back Vatican II and the Novus Ordo in one day, impose the TLM exclusively, and then retreat to an undisclosed location well guarded by security.
Of course I say this tongue in cheek. We traditionalists often think about what we would do if we were pope, in actuality what SHOULD ideally be done by the pope. My point is I don’t think we will EVER get a traditionalist-type pope who will THEN after his election make sweeping changes to restore the Church back to being in continuity with Tradition.
Before the Second Coming, I do expect, and must hope for, one day a Restoration, AFTER which we will once again have thoroughly traditional popes. But I expect the popes God will use as a means to that restoration will NOT be thoroughly traditional. They will be at least to a certain degree modernist and conciliar. But God will use them materially according to His passive Will, at times active Will, and His Providence which is a mystery.
Incremental Restoration:
Restoration I think will then be incremental and take many more decades if not centuries. As the old baby boomer arch-modernists keep retiring and dying, and as the young priests keep being more and more traditional, it is only a matter of time, mathematically speaking, for the future bishops, cardinals, and popes to favor Tradition enough to start officially ending the modernist Crisis.
This is why I think we should NO LONGER be so caught up with the addictive, obsessive compulsive, extremely pessimistic (black pill) internet world of Trad Inc., heavily influenced by the online culture of the Alt Right and the Manosphere. Those two trends are so fraught with Error, against faith and morals, they must be avoided.
And truth be told, Trad Inc. became a thing because of the Francis pontificate.
Therefore, we should not get upset about, hypercritical of, nor hyper focused on this next pope, Pope Leo and his pontificate. It makes for good money-generating clickbait, but it is spiritually and psychologically unhealthy.
God knows exactly the future and how worthy Cardinal Prevost was to be elected. My attitude going forward is to give him the benefit of the doubt, give him time, and yes maintain reservations about his conciliarism and however much he is aligned to Francis (or not).
My sense of this man is that he likely is going to be more indirectly instrumental over time in the Restoration, in the sense God uses Him as a compromise centrist. That is not as a lukewarm moderate, that is a liberal in disguise, but a true centrist.
Leadership, especially the higher up you go in leadership, requires a certain centrism to manage all the factions. A leader must look down from the position of leadership on the right-left spectrum.
I sense from what I’ve learned about him, that is why he is such a centrist. As he rose gradually up the ranks (missionary—> seminary professor —> Augustinian superior—> bishop —> Cardinal —> Vatican official —> and now pope), and being an Augustinian who emphasize unity, centrism was essential for him to leadership. And I see this man as a very strong and able leader, just listening to his voice, not to mention reading his long resume.
If we could sit down privately and pick his brain, I think there is a part of him that is a traditionalist, another part a conservative, and another part a progressive.
But that his leadership style is centrist.
I sense this is a holy and manly man. A very strong, solid leader. I see no evidence of heresy, a personal revolutionary agenda, or hatred for Tradition and traditionalists/conservatives.
The Key to Understanding Pope Leo is Understanding His Personal Constitution and Temperament:
I see a very well formed, very balanced man, who loves Christ and the Church, since he was a boy, very calm and serious, and very mature and authoritative. God can use him in some way directly or indirectly to restore the TLM, traditional liturgy, traditional seminary formation, traditional monasteries and convents, etc, and through his style of leadership which is humble, charitable, and deeply pastoral, to help restore the Church.
In the long run.
One thing that is interesting to me is that my 89 year old mother, a non Catholic, raised High Lutheran, but very Catholic at heart had a premonition before the conclave it would be Prevost, when watching all the Cardinals on Fox News. She said it was something in his face and demeanor that made her think it would be him, not even knowing his name or that he is American. And then her premonition came true seeing him come out on the balcony. I told her this was a miracle God gave her (I think to draw her closer to the true Church).
My initial impression learning about him was he reminds me closely of my own temperament which is INFJ. Here is another LINK. We are 1% of the population and often misunderstood, as very introverted and very shy, or even in situations extroverted, when in fact we are just a little more introverted than extroverted, motivated more by external action helping others at the individual level than group friendship. We value a few good friends in private compared to conforming to public group dynamics to fit in with a wider group, which drains us. We tend to lead quietly from the background unseen.
In fact, already suspecting he is an INFJ, I then asked AI to estimate which among the 16 Myers-Briggs temperaments is the pope’s (very much rooted in the classical four temperaments, by the way), and yes, it said that it is “moderately certain” he is an INFJ.
We INFJ’s avoid large crowds and the limelight. We dislike insular factions because it is inauthentic and fake. We are driven by values, purpose, truth, are more likely to be religious, and with a somewhat contemplative bent vs. being very externally active, and are very interested in ideals and justice. It’s literally in our DNA.
We are intuitive, very right brained, empathic, but also strongly left brained and analytical at the same time, less about empirical facts and figures and more about philosophical truth and the psychological-social dimension. This makes us inclined towards anything healing, whether in medicine, counseling, or different forms of rehab therapy. Or the spiritual healing of a priest.
We tend to be moderate in spirit in our approach to philosophical or theological movements like conservatism or traditionalism, valuing more the good in people than perfectionism. We are diplomatic, and tend to easily see things from everyone’s perspective to bridge across differences. This is me to a tee. And I think that is Pope Leo to a tee.
So to understand him and his pontificate going forward, understand his temperament (INFJ), and his spiritual and moral disposition based on it.
And my last point about INFJ’s, we easily sense and DO NOT like being manipulated by anyone, especially a faction. I have no doubt then this makes Pope Leo averse to, loathe to, and opposed to the St. Gallen Mafia types trying to use him as their personal puppet.
Hope for the Future:
Just imagine what can happen in twenty years under Pope Leo. All these young, traditional- minded priests one day becoming bishops and therefore cardinals, saying the TLM, promoting chant and Thomism, and the revival of the timeless and perennial. Restoration will be incremental, pragmatic, and long term. How can the good Pope Leo oppose that? He couldn’t.
In the mean time, even if the St. Gallen Mafia types have their claws into him (which I don’t think he would be okay with) before long they will be retired or dead Pope Leo seems healthy, I think he will likely still be pope when that faction is long gone.
In conclusion, how about we tune out the crazed papal pundits Trad Inc. paying their bills off of YouTube largely by beating their drums about the crisis of the Francis pontificate, and surely this next pontificate. To make $$$.
It is in the past. Francis is dead. His controversies are in the past.
It is true what we call “Francis-Church” still exists, that is that cabal of modernists linked to the St. Gallen Mafia who used Pope Francis like a puppet, their revolutionary hearts still beating to the same beat. People like Cupich, Fr. Martin, or Perolin.
However, I think this pope is not and will not be a Francis 2.0. It would go against his temperament and disposition. He will only be Pope Leo as a unique pope, exercising his own autonomy, and individuality, yet following the plan for more inclusion and ministry to the periphery, however wise that is it isn’t, without the material heresies, absurdities, and political agenda. He follows collegiality, but his loyalty has always been to the universal Church, not a political faction.
I think the many Cardinals who voted for him, who were conservative or moderate, outside of the leftist “Francis-Church” St. Gallen Mafia faction, however much control they had on the conclave (or not), chose him not only because he is a compromise centrist, but because he IS NOT loyal to that political faction itself.
Just think about it. Not all the Cardinals were totally on board with that leftist faction, even if they were appointed by Francis, and there were many conservatives. To reach the 2/3rd vote, so fast, by noon of the second day, indicates much consensus between the conservatives and liberals, not being controlled by the leftist faction.
The point being they obviously did not elect together with such unanimous confidence a man who would be another political puppet to the leftist faction.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, let’s tune out all the loud noise and cacophony from our electronic devices, the fear-mongering over Pope Leo going forward, and instead pray for him, and support him going forward, at the very least until, God forbid, we start hearing about the kind of controversies we endured with Francis. My instinct tells me we won’t.
Turning off our electronic devices
Reading a book
(Cable guy movie reference)
Maybe, just maybe, it doesn’t happen with Pope Leo. He is in a general sense aligned to Francis’ pastoral plan, but we just don’t know the details of the degree of that alignment to ideological positions. My strong sense is we will not see a tsunami of chaos or a reign of terror, or a revolutionary dictatorship of “synodality” from Pope Leo, as we saw from 2013-2025, but more calm quiet waters, that is being more just and fair. Even though so-called “synodality” is an invention originally designed to invert the hierarchical structure into a democracy, which would threaten to reduce down the divine institution as Christ made into a secularized ape of the Church, ultimately eclipsing it.
Whereas modernism and liberalism have the revolutionary spirit of chaos like that of a destructive forest fire, Catholic Tradition itself is in comparison like deep, quiet, still waters. And in that respect Pope Leo seems to be very traditional.
I dreamt of and prayed for a traditional-minded long shot like Cardinal Sarah. But now that we have a new pope, I don’t know about you, but I am ready and willing to be practical and accept a good willed centrist, compromise candidate. I can and will embrace him as a prudent, pragmatic choice, however far he falls from the ideal or my own expectations.
We did not get a big miracle, but I would suggest this man’s election is a relief, and therefore a great relative blessing from God, a modest degree of Divine Mercy, a reprieve at least that might last decades, that we didn’t get another radical leftist who says in interviews he doesn’t believe in hell. And I don’t believe for a second Cardinal Prevost was the kind of man to conspire with the St. Gallen Mafia to get elected.
Let’s move forward, with the new Holy Father, the Vicar of Christ, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, universally accepted by the Church, not in a state of certainty what happens next, nor bitter pessimism, but in a state of realism, calm, peace, and hope.
Our brains have been fried the last 12 years. It is time to heal. I hope Pope Leo, and every Bishop under him following his example, will especially help us Catholics devoted to Catholic Tradition, to heal.
