Lutetiae parisiorum, die XXI mensis aprilis, dominica III post Pascha
International Campaign for the Total Freedom of the Traditional Liturgy
Being a Catholic in 2024 is no easy endeavour. The West is undergoing a massive de-Christianization, so much so that Catholicism appears to be vanishing from the public sphere. Elsewhere, the number of Christians being persecuted for their faith is on the rise. What’s more, the Church has been struck by an internal crisis that manifests itself in a decline in religious practice, a downswing in priestly and religious vocations, a decrease in sacramental practice, and even a growing dissension between priests, bishops and cardinals which, until very recently, was utterly unthinkable. Yet, among all the things that can contribute to the internal revival of the Church and to the renewal of her missionary zeal, there is, above all, the worthy and reverent celebration of her liturgy, which can be greatly fostered thanks to the example and the presence of the traditional Roman liturgy.
Despite all the attempts that have been made to suppress it, especially during the present pontificate, it lives on, continuing to spread and to sanctify the Christian people who are blessed to be able to benefit from it. It bears abundant fruits of piety, as well as an increase of vocations and of conversions. It attracts young people and is the fount of many flourishing works, especially in schools, and is accompanied by a solid catechesis. No one can deny that it is a vector for the preservation and transmission of the faith and religious practice in the midst of a waning of religious belief and a dwindling number of believers. This Mass, due to its venerable antiquity, can boast of having sanctified countless souls over the centuries. Among other vital forces still active in the Church, this form of liturgical life stands out because of the stability given to it by an uninterrupted lex orandi.
Certainly, some places of worship have been granted, or rather tolerated, where this liturgy can be celebrated, but too often what has been given by one hand is taken back by the other, without, however, ever managing to make it vanish.
Since the massive decline during the period immediately following the Second Vatican Council, every attempt has been made on numerous occasions to revive religious practice, to increase the number of priestly and religious vocations, and to preserve the faith of the Christian people. Everything, except letting the people experience the traditional liturgy, by giving the Tridentine liturgy a fair chance. Today, however, common sense urgently demands that all the vital forces in the Church be allowed to live and prosper, and in particular the one which enjoys a right dating back to over a millennium.
Let there be no mistake: the present appeal is not a petition to obtain a new tolerance as in 1984 and 1988, nor even a restoration of the status granted in 2007 by the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, which, recognizing in principle a right, has in fact been reduced to a regime of meagerly granted permissions.
As lay people, it is not for us to pass judgment on the Second Vatican Council, its continuity or discontinuity with the previous teaching of the Church, the merits, or not, of the reforms that resulted from it, and so on. On the other hand, it is necessary to defend and transmit the means that Providence has employed to enable a growing number of Catholics to preserve the faith, to grow in it, or to discover it. The traditional liturgy plays an essential role in this process, thanks to its transcendence, its beauty, its timelessness and its doctrinal certainty.
For this reason, we simply ask, for the sake of the true freedom of the children of God in the Church, that the full freedom of the traditional liturgy, with the free use of all its liturgical books, be granted, so that, without hindrance, in the Latin rite, all the faithful may benefit from it and all clerics may celebrate it.
Jean-Pierre Maugendre, Managing Director of Renaissance Catholique, Paris, France
April 22, 2024
This appeal is not a petition to be signed, but a message to be disseminated, possibly to be taken up again in any form that may seem appropriate, and to be brought and explained to the cardinals, bishops and prelates of the universal Church.
Si Renaissance catholique a l’initiative de cette campagne, c’est uniquement pour se faire l’interprète d’un large désir en ce sens qui se manifeste dans l’ensemble du monde catholique. Cette campagne n’est pas la sienne, mais celle de tous ceux qui y participeront, la relayeront, l’amplifieront, chacun à leur manière.
Renaissance Catholique is a Paris-based movement of lay people working to reestablish the social reign of Christ.
Me parece estupendo
Que Padre !
We Traditionalists in India are with you all the way. Michael Prabhu
God Bless you for taking on this very important mission.
We Must Preserve the Sacred Traditions of our Church as well as the True Magisterium
We pray for success. Thank You for undertaking this.
This immediately brings to mind the words of Bishop Sheen: “Who is going to save our Church ? It’s not our bishops, it’s not our priests and it’s not the religious. It’s up to you the people. You have the minds, the eyes and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that the priests act like priests, your bishops act like bishops, and the religious act like religious.
The Mass of all Ages is killed here in India
It’s only Novus Ordo all over in the Mumbai diocese
We support you
May God Restore the Church to its Holy Glory, than what we see now, a shameless disregard for God’s Word and Holy Catholic teaching through the successful implementations of the Communists INSIDE the Church. (Beginning from Vat II times)
Pax Christi, in Regno Christi.
Christ is King. May God strengthen and bless this initiative. From Dubai.
St. Paul, when asked what to do in such situations answered ” stand fast to Tradition”.
I think that says a lot.
People need to be made aware and the TLM must be made available to all. It is important for the faith. True reverence and worship to God can be experienced here. Thank you for your article / post. May this reach out to many people as possible.
Praise be to God.
The Traditional Latin Mass is more powerful than the Norvus Ordo. Even Satan can’t enter the place. Many problems have been solved by attending the TLM Mass, as everyone is totally dedicated and engrossed in its rituals and praying from the Heart to God. There are no distractions for anyone. We pray that such Masses shall return and save our Earth from unwanted circumstances.
This what I wanted to hear. It is indeed we the people of God who must maintain the beauty and the mystery which has become lost in the new modern ways of so-called worship and has caused the rapid decline of Christianity. Thank you for this reassurance that all is NOT lost.
We are with you in Canada
Yes, Yes, Yes !!! Can’t help but observe that Baltimore is closing 2/3 of it 62 urban parishes. It is the premier Diocese of the U.S. and it isn’t just because of urban flight. VC II and the abandonment of stable worship in favor of novelty have disoriented so many of our people. Clerical fun and games has only made it worse.
I think the traditional Mass should always be the norm, love it, especially getting Communion kneeling and on the tongue, BUT saying any Mass in latin does great hindrance to evangelize, I know practically no latin and my brain does not think in latin, neither does 90+% of the youth in the world. So when the latin Mass is being said most don’t understand what’s being said and thus not participating. The Biblical example that I go to on this is when the apostles were at Pentecost and the Holy Spirit came apon them, then they went out and proclaimed and all people of different languages understood them in their native language, they didn’t at that point understand hebrew or latin.
Barbara, you have nailed it. It is up to the faithful to pass on the beauty of the old rites of the church we grew up with to our children who are the hope of the church. We stand united with you in the battle. God Bless.
Thank you for this hugely important essay and plea. Please God may it bear plentiful fruit.
Christus vincit / Christus regnat / Christus, Christus imperat
Traditional Latin Mass is very powerful and should be made available to all in the world. Praise & thank God for this movement. We stand united with you in this battle against evil. May God be
worshipped in the right way. Praise be to God. Thank you