Following the dissolution of the monarchy during the French Revolution, France transitioned for over 50 years between Napoleonic rule and the restoration of the monarchy. As a result, the journalist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr (1849) observed that "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose," or that "the more things change, the more they remain the same." What he was expressing was his cynicism of French society, but it was more pessimistic of the future than anything else.

And so, in these contradictory times, it is with the Church. The modernization of the Vatican that has occurred since Pope Pius X's passing is being further enthroned under the Francis Papacy. When the Vatican became a city-state and entered international politics, it was under Pope Pius XI.  No major country since has taken the Vatican politically serious. When was the last time the Pope influenced governmental aspirations? To become relevant in a secular world the Church must adopt itself to the temporal laws prevalent in society today. This is what Pope Francis sees as the New Church.  A Church devoid of tradition and inclusive of unrepentant sinners. Cardinal Raymond Burke has said as much when giving a homily on the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin on December 12, 2023 - "Some, even among Bishops, would tell us that the Church has to change her doctrine, her Sacred Worship, and her discipline, in order to accommodate the culture." To this end Pope Francis has purged many good priests and bishops in a vindictive attitude that matches any autocrat in modern times. As the successor of St. Peter, he shows no charity towards his fellow clergy who out of conscience disagree with him. 

The end of the Bergoglio Epoque is fast approaching and the new Pope will either continue the secularization of the Church or one who will be more representative of conservative traditionalism.  Most likely, and I could be wrong, is that the new Pope will temper the motu proprios of Pope Francis with those somewhere between  Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. This will not appease all traditionalists, but could bring more wayward Catholics back to the Church. "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose".

The Vicar of Christ should strive to bring lost Catholics back to the pews because of error and confusion it has created. What is needed is a patriarchal Pope which we have not had for ten years. You cannot unite the Church by abrogating it's ancient liturgy.  Jesus in the 'Sermon on the Mount' made it clear that he did not come to change Jewish law in matters of faith and devotion, but to add to it. Some theologians will dispute this interpretation, but their argument is weak. Let us remember  -“ The traditions which have been handed down should be regarded as apostolic laws" (St. Jerome in Letter 71).

Vatican Two at Sixty

As Catholics approach the 60th anniversary of  the Second Vatican Council is there an understanding of its effect on Catholic life? Pope John XXIII convened the council in 1962. Under his reign no conciliatory document was propagated. The Good Pope, as he was known, had noble intentions of bringing the Church into a post WWII society. It was his predecessor, Pope Pius VI, who propagated all 16  documents of the Council. Of those, the first, Sacrosanctum concilium (Reform of the Liturgy), was the most revolutionary. In the years that followed changes were made to the liturgical calendar, abstinence and fasting, the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours to name a few.

After the Second Vatican Council had ended it was reported that 100,000 men left the priesthood during the ensuing decade. The number of religious who left their communities was not far behind. This because the uniqueness of the Catholic Faith was compromised. In some Orders religious piety was discouraged. Bishops were equivocal in their interpretation of the new directives and often made bad decisions in their diocese. The priests that remained became nothing more than money-managers with Roman collars with the better ones assigned to the larger parishes. Sacraments were diminished with impunity. Marriage remained popular financially while Confessionals were relegated to closets. In some cases, sacramentals such as votive candles and devotional statues were removed to discourage after hours piety. The consequence of all this resulted in more time for the priest to indulge in secular pursuits. I believe this opened the door for parishioner abuse.

My monastic journey began shortly before the Second Vatican Council ended. Before leaving the novitiate, I witnessed changes that impacted my vocation. The horarium was altered. Distinction between priest and brother were eliminated. English was the preferred language except during the Divine Office where Gregorian Chant was retained. Silence was no longer mandatory and personal time was increased for prayer and Lectio Divina. As a result some monks left the monastery for much the same reasons priests were leaving the priesthood. The ideal of what it was to be a monk had changed. Not so much in the journey to follow Christ, but in the manner it was to be accomplished. The Catholic Faith had been watered down all for the sake of progress initiated by modernist clerics.

Today, secular Catholic life has only gotten worse. The current Pope and bishops show little charity towards Traditional Catholics who adhere to authentic tradition. It is my right to reject all Novus Ordo Mass gestures which are centered on the individual and not Christ. The clerical extremeists would have you rely on them for the formation of your conscience, but it is you, lest you forfeit your right, to formulate a conscience worthy of Our Lord. In times like these it is fundamentally necessary to rely on one's own 'spiritual conscience'. Prudence is a virtue which should be practiced in light of the above. Remember, novelty is the inspiration of the devil.

Advent and Jews

Is it not disheartening in our human condition to contemplate ill thoughts during times of festive celebration? Such is the case during Advent. The anticipation of the birth of the Messiah was to be shared by all the people to whom he was prophetically proclaimed, but Jesus was rejected for the most part by the Jewish people of his day. Throughout the Old Testament the Hebrew nation of Israel made bad choices in their obedience to God. Christ even in his final hours on earth proclaimed to his people “do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children,”  because they willingly agreed to let “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” This was the final affront to Yahweh from his people.


Throughout the New Testament we are confronted with the fact that those who are not baptized and have faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God are not saved from eternal damnation. This is basic Pauline teaching from Sacred Scripture. Believing Jews and Gentiles were integrated into one religion known as Christianity and later as Catholicism is a basic historical fact about our faith. The Early Church Fathers were adamant in their condemnation of Jews for their blindness and refusal to convert to Christianity. Even today traditional catholic recite “Let us Pray for the Conversion of the Jews” during the Good Friday liturgy.

During the Second Vatican Council, the above prayer was not removed from the Missal and yet on the other hand, political posturing by the Bishops in Rome declared that the Jews have a separate salvific covenant with God. Does that mean only Gentiles are in need of salvation. But why pray for the conversion of Jews? For Jews it is a matter of attonement verses baptismal salvation for the rest of us. In theory they seem similar, but in reality are quite distinct. To contribute to the confusion Pope Paul VI promulgated the decree  *Nostra aetate*which defines Catholic acceptance of other religious traditions. It must be noted that a Papal Declaration is not magisterial and thus need not be considered an ammended Article of Faith.  Further, the Nicene Creed states what we are to believe as Catholics - "in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church."

As Jews hold fast to the old covenant which became obsolete with the death of Jesus, Christians celebrate the expectation of the new covenant during Advent which was foretold in the Old Testament. During Advent Jews celebrate the Festival of Lights, an eight-day holiday commemorating the rededication of the the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

During the ministry of Jesus, he often criticized various leaders of the many jewish sects (notable the  Pharisees and Saducees) in their interpetation of the Torah. If he had lived today he would be considered antisemitic. Many Jewish rabbis currently label him so. Antisemitic is a relatively new term and did not exist etymologically during bibical times. This does not take away the fact that Jesus loved all people. It was their errors that he had a disdain for. As Christians, we must follow his example and seek to evangelize those who are lost. What more sublime cause can we embrace!