Motu Proprio: Traditionis Custodes

Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

With the promulgation of Pope Francis' motu propio Traditionis Custodes the last few days have been difficult to say the least, for the laity no less than for so many priests (and bishops).  Many bishops have already written to their priests and made public statements for the sake of their laity.  An excellent article covering this has been published by the National Catholic Register.  

Our own Bishop Callahan was, unfortunately, away on Friday when the motu proprio was released and so was unable to even read it himself much less comment and reassure the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse.  However, he wrote and distributed a letter Monday afternoon which follows: 

19 July 2021 Year of St. Joseph 

 My dear Brothers: 

 May the Lord give you peace. 

Last Friday, on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pope Francis, surprised the Church with news that overturned the Liturgical life of the Church, especially from the vantage point of what many of us have come to understand from the Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 motu proprio: Summorum Pontificum, which allowed any priest to use the traditional (older) rite of the Mass without the permission of his bishop. 

In issuing Traditionis Custodes our Holy Father outlined changes and restrictions in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy in the Extraordinary Form. I am certain that this news has caused some distress for some of you and some of the faithful of our Diocese. I feel it is necessary to study the decree further for deeper clarity and to ensure a complete understanding of the Holy Father’s intentions. While I work toward faithfully implementing the Traditionis Custodes in a manner that best serves the need of the faithful and our Diocese I grant permission for priests of the Diocese who have previously been celebrating the Liturgy using the 1962 Roman Missal to continue celebrating Masses at the times and locations in which they had previously been established. They must be celebrated with all relevant liturgical and disciplinary norms. No new celebrations of the traditional Latin Mass may be scheduled at this time. 

I request that priests who are celebrating according to the Missale Romanum of 1962 contact my office over the next couple of weeks, in writing, with a formal request in order to be considered for faculties (Art. 5) and so we might better determine locations where the Sacred Liturgy, celebrated in Extraordinary Form, may be scheduled in order to spiritually nourish those that have a unity to the Eucharist in this liturgical form. 

 Oremus pro invicem, 

 +William

I find it reassuring that our bishop, recognizing the pastoral care that has been rendered to the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse in offering holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (also referred to as the usus antiquior or the Traditional Latin Mass), is taking time to understand the Holy Father's intentions and implementing  Traditionis Custodes "in a manner that best serves the needs of the faithful".  I would ask the faithful to keep him in prayer as he seeks to understand how this is to implemented in our diocese.

Many of you know this motu proprio knocked me for a loop.  I have come to appreciate the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite just as I have always appreciated the Ordinary Form.  I have stated over and over again that both forms play an important role in the continued perfection in the evangelical counsels (faith, hope, & charity) to which we are all called at Baptism.

On a personal note, I cannot understand how a pope who is so concerned about accompaniment and the synodal path (indeed, one could consider these the central, pastoral themes of his papacy) could deem a not insignificant number of the faithful entrusted by God to his care worthy of that same accompaniment he has declared necessary for those who are clearly outside the boundaries of the Church's moral teaching; and then centralize a decision regarding the Mass when he has himself stated several times that issues concerning the liturgy should not be centralized on Rome, and that local ordinaries and conferences of bishops should be given latitude in deciding these things for their own region.

However, I am confident that Bishop Callahan has the care of ALL his people at heart and will work with his priests to find a way forward; and I am even more confident that God has us all in the palm of His hand, and will care for those who love AND trust Him.

Again, please, keep the prayers going!

Is this a sin?

One of the issues that inhibits our understanding of sin is exposed whenever someone asks me “is it a sin???”  The problem in answering the question is that it isn’t usually that simple.

In days gone by it was very simple because the process that went on in the heads of priests when dealing with sin stayed there, in their heads; it was then applied to the specific situations of their flock.  Now people are much more informed about the “grey areas”, however, this brings on confusion – or a race to absolve everyone of all sin – because, while many people know there is a grey area, they don’t generally know very well how to apply the principles involved, especially to themselves.  Confused yet?

You see, there is an objective side to sin – which is always well defined (some might call it “black & white”); then there is a subjective side to sin, that is – how is the seriousness, situation, awareness, and intention - and therefore the guilt - of the sin understood in this instance? ...and when do each of these issues bear on subjective guilt??? (because sometimes the best of intentions are still objectively and subjectively wrong, wrong, wrong!!!)

The objective side to sin recognizes that a particular sin is either “serious matter” (aka: grave matter) or something less serious.  It recognizes a particular matter as sinful (or less so) in all cases.  Thus, abortion is always the taking of an innocent life and is therefore a very serious – or grave – matter.  Kicking your dog, while objectionable, is less so and not always so.  Thus, recognizing serious ( or “grave”) matter is simply a matter of knowing the scriptures and the teaching of the Church.

This only becomes an issue when some people take it upon themselves to determine whether or not something is sinful.  This has been an issue since Adam & Eve.  Unfortunately for Adam & Eve - and for many of us since, we don’t get to decide whether something is a sin or not – ONLY GOD AND HIS CHURCH GETS TO DETERMINE THAT.  So, we must always be mindful of God’s plan for human life and happiness, and bend our will to His.

The subjective sense of sin is about discerning the issue in a particular instance.  This involves questions of – Did the person know it was wrong?  Did the person freely choose to do that which is wrong?  Among other things.  It can be helpful to seek the counsel of another, especially one who is serious about, and experienced in spiritual matters, in difficult situations or when there is a question in one's heart (or when one's conscience is "niggling" one over the issue).  Priests are very happy to assist with these questions.

So, you see, “Father, is it a sin?” isn’t always such a simple thing to answer.  This is particularly true when too many people ask the question in order to condemn another, not because they are concerned about the sinfulness of their own actions.

Please, never be afraid to ask the question.  I’m always happy to help faithful Christians to understand the Church’s teaching on matters of sin.  I’m even more eager to forgive sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and to assist all of God’s children in experiencing the hope and peace that comes from our salvation in Christ.

Presence

Over the next several weeks leading up to the Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary, we will be examining the many facets of our Eucharistic faith and the theology that underpins and explains it.  In this way we will build a foundation for the Eucharistic coherence so important for living our faith wholly and with integrity.  But, we must begin with the issue of sacramental realism.

Over the past 15 months many have at one time or another been watching Mass on-line or on television.  Some may have even gotten used to it and wondered why they would want to go church again when they can find their favorite on-line Mass and watch from the comfort of their home.

Well, as I’ve said before: if you think watching Mass at home is as good as being there, I’ll happily take your tickets the next time the Badgers or Packers make it to a championship game and you can watch it in the comfort of your home! 😊

Actually, it is far more than that.  Attendance at Mass is more than being some place for a significant event – although it is that.  Attendance at Mass is more akin to an intimate evening between husband and wife, lover and beloved.  Imagine having that datenight on-line. Oy!

That is, in part, what sacramental realism is about.  It is about being there and the encounter that takes place when we come into the presence of God in a way that does not exist in any other context this side of heaven.  And all this because the Most Holy Eucharist is what our Lord, Jesus Christ said it is at the Last Supper, and what the Church has witnessed to since that time.

Our Lord is waiting for you.  He wants an encounter with you that will change your life and everything about your life.  You haven’t experienced that yet?  Like many human relationships it can take time.  Keep at it.  Give it time.  Most importantly, open yourself to Him completely.  You’ll be surprised; but more importantly, you’ll be fulfilled and complete.

Free Will & Conscience

The two great misconceptions inhibiting our more effective participation in our democracy are misunderstandings regarding the duties of Catholics in public life (both within the body politic as well as in the public square more generally) and the role of individual “conscience”.

The first is more easily addressed since it comes from our baptism in Christ: we who have been made in the image and likeness of God have been given the task of subduing the earth and exercising dominion over all creatures (cf. Genesis 1:28).  In other words, we are called to exercise “right or wise rule” over all creation.  I could write a whole article just on that!  But I digress.  To put it more directly, we exercise dominion over creation when we seek more and more to order it according to God’s design and will.  Anything that subverts this moral order in creation is a misuse of our free-will and a subversion of God’s intention in creating us – individually and collectively.

The second issue has been quite regular in the news and opinion pages over the last few years – that of conscience.  Many, including many politicians and far too many clergy, seem to understand conscience as 1) whatever I am comfortable with; 2) whatever I “feel”; 3) whatever I have convinced myself is right (free, of course, of objective truth).  These are all, of course, incorrect understandings of conscience according to our Christian Tradition.

Conscience, properly understood, is that voice of God speaking to us, especially in times of stress or moral crisis.  It is formed in us through the cultivation of virtue and a constant deepening of our intimacy with God.  Seems easy enough, but it is a life-long process as well as an intentional process; but it is what we have been called to in baptism and the life of grace.

The tough part, often, is that we have a tendency to see our life in communion with God as merely a portion of our life.  It isn’t.  It’s the whole of our life; meaning every thought, word, and deed is subject to the right use of conscience, and therefore, the “wise rule” (dominion) of created things.

Happy 4th of July!

A happy Independence Day to all!  It is a joy to celebrate the blessings of liberty each year.  We have seen over these many years that liberty is a blessing that must be guarded with the greatest vigilance.  Too often, as we have also seen over these many years, we find ourselves only steps away from losing this blessing, yeah, even giving them away.

It has been popular over the past few years to dismiss our founding fathers because of their imperfections, weaknesses, inconsistencies, etc.  However, we dismiss their legacy, especially their intellectual legacy, at our great peril.  Indeed, as Aristotle recognized, a benign dictatorship is the most efficient form of government:  as our Catholic intellectual tradition teaches, a world ruled according to Catholic principles by near saints; but, alas, we are not saints yet.  A democratic republic is the best we’ve come up with so far: but if we don’t understand, appreciate, and apply the ideals set forth in our Declaration of Independence and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (among other documents of note produced throughout the history of our republic), and principles as they are set forth in our Constitution, and finally, recognize and act at significant moments to further refine these principles, then all will have been for naught; and this great patrimony could be lost to humanity.

Thus, the continued, active participation of every man and woman of faith is necessary as was repeatedly recognized by the founding fathers.  However, if our participation is to be worthwhile, it will be necessary that we first of all ensure that we are each and all one with the will of God – as Lincoln said, when an aide expressed the confidence that “God is on our side”, we should be more concerned that we be on God’s side.  Having done our best to ensure this through our participation in the life of the Trinity through our active participation in the sacred rites and a life of grace, let us dedicate ourselves to the unfinished business before us.  But, for today, let us celebrate!

“May Christ our Lord help us all with His bountiful grace, so that we may know His holy will and perfectly fulfill it.” (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Our Return to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

 

With the news of Bishop Callahan’s ending the general dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on weekends and Holy Days of Obligation, I am hopeful we will see more of our brothers & sisters returning to participate once again in the sacred mysteries.

As I saw the headline in the La Crosse Tribune reporting on this it struck me as a very sad commentary on the way most folks, and not just those outside the Church, look at this mandate / obligation: “Diocese of La Crosse Again Requiring Parish to Attend Sunday Mass”. (sic)  Poor grammar aside, at least they also quoted Bishop Callahan’s letter where he says: “The Mass is our intimate encounter with Jesus.  It is with open arms and a grateful heart that we welcome all to respond to the invitation of Jesus to come to him.”

As one would expect, our bishop recognizes, and therefore expresses this obligation in a positive manner.  When we recognize Whom it is that waits to welcome us we WANT to be where He is, and we welcome the invitation to be in His presence.

So, why is it an “obligation” if it should be something we would want to do?  Unfortunately, we don’t always recognize the "good" as the better choice over the “not as good”; in large part because we haven’t matured enough in faith, that is – in love, so as to recognize the good and choose it.  In this, we misuse the gift of free will we have been given, which is the ability to freely choose the good.

It saddens me to know there are those who have been doing everything else but assisting at Sunday Mass simply because "the bishop said they didn't have to".  I also recognize there are those who have, sadly, gotten used to watching Mass on tv or the internet, not appreciating the sacramental realism that makes our presence, in person, so very important.  Finally, there are those who have just gotten used to not observing Sunday as the Lord's Day, who are in particular need of our prayers.

Of course, if we spend more time with God, especially in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and also in our daily devotions (especially Sacred Heart & Divine Mercy), our love for Him will grow such that we will want to be with Him: we will use our gift of free will to freely choose Him above all things; and then we will know heaven – the new Jerusalem, already here on earth.

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Trial, or distress, or persecutions, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?  Yet in all this we are more than conquerors because of Him Who has loved us.”  (Romans 8:35, 37)

Wisconsin Attorney General Attack on the Five Catholic Dioceses in Wisconsin

 Folks,  because the Wisconsin Attorney General is continuing his cheap, political attack on the Church in Wisconsin, and the mainstream media continues to uncritically report on this issue, I think it important that people get a clearer picture of what is going on before leaping to any judgment about this issue.  Here is an article from the National Catholic Register which does just that.