Sir – It is worrying that the Holy Father appears to question the motives of anyone who has concerns about Fiducia Supplicans and same-sex relationships. That these have been raised by a large and varied group in the Church is surely at least testimony to the fact that the document is problematic. The traditional continuum that marks the development of doctrine seems to have been circumvented by the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, which now appears to present a new sort of “pastoral blessing” – as distinct from a liturgical blessing, with its associated sacramental character. It is, in effect, what the late Pope Benedict XVI would have called a “rupture”. In all of this (with St John Henry Newman in mind), do we not see the dogmatism of the modernists among us? They negate the absolute and normative status of the solemn doctrine of the Church, while bowing to the corrupting nature of a secular world devoid of absolutes, and substituting circumstance as its prime modus vivendi. I hope and pray that the indwelling Spirit of God will bring about certainty and steadfastness within the Church we love.
Brendan O’Leary Swansea, UK
Youth and beauty
Sir – I was very interested to read Dr Anthony Cleary’s “Singing the Lord’s Song in Sydney” (February 2024). Dr Cleary has observed the great sadness and loss which has been caused by the disappearance of the traditional liturgical music of the Church and its replacement by the “praise and worship” style. He is now having great success in opening up the beauty of Gregorian chant to the younger generations in Australia. I wonder how long it will be until the Church does the same with the Traditional Latin Mass. We are depriving the younger generations of the experience of its beauty, majesty and reverence. Although figures show that many of these younger people are inspired to at tend the Traditional Mass when it is available, there appears to be a desire in certain parts of the Church to make this more and more difficult – if not impossible.
Ian Gordon Epsom, UK
Work in progress
Sir – Dr Robin Ward’s review of the new Oxford Handbook of Vatican II (February 2024) helped explain why it has been so difficult to grasp the Council’s meanings, and why it always takes such Councils at least a century to “work”. Born in 1946, my own problem was that, when I left Ampleforth after ten years in 1964, I was well versed in the old ways and then too busy for the next 50 years to think much about it.
As medical students, we had the Abortion Act and then Humanae Vitae to worry about, followed by children and grandchildren who all lost the Faith. Being no lover of Latin, I had no problem with the vernacular changes, but I think it is now too late to contemplate another 800 pages on the subject.
(Dr) Steve Brennan Thornhill, UK
Holy order
Sir – Thank you for choosing St Jeanne de Lestonnac, the founder of my order, as Saint of the Week in your newsletter on 2 February. Although she died on 2 February 1640, she was canonised on 15 May 1949; her feast day is actually celebrated on 15 May. This year her Order of the Company of Mary Our Lady is celebrating 75 years since her canonisation. Thank you for helping to make her better known.
(Sister) Patricia Grady ODN Cobham, UK
Saint in waiting?
Sir – The review of Patrick J Gallo’s The Nazis, the Vatican, and the Jews of Rome in the February edition was very welcome. However, I was sorry that Eleanor Hammond did not mention that after the end of the war the Chief Rabbi of Rome was received into the Church and had his son baptised because of Pope Pius XII.
I was born during Pius XII’s reign, and he has been my lifelong saint. Even though his cause has not yet advanced to beatification, I have prayed all my life to be able to at tend his canonisation – although I am aware that these things take time. I continue to pray! Thank you for the work that you continue to do during this difficult time for Catholics everywhere.
Michael Rycroft Hove, UK
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Photo: Pope Francis delivers a speech 25 July 2013 during a visit to the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pope Francis urged young Brazilians not to despair in the battle against corruption as he addressed their country’s political problems in the wake of massive protests. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images.)
This Letters page originally appeared in the March 2024 edition of the Catholic Herald magazine. Subscribe here.
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