Sorry Holy Father

As a supporter of Latin Mass communities I wanted to review, and reflect on Pope Francis' moto propio "Traditionis Custodes." To put the document in a nutshell, the Holy Father's 2021 letter wanted to put more restrictions on the Latin Mass and the communities that celebrate the Roman Missal(s) prior to 1970. 

If I was in a position to speak with the Holy Father, I'd say, "sorry Holy Father I love you, but you're wrong," and advise that Traditionis Custodes is contradictory and obsolete. You can start with the title itself when it becomes contradictory. The phrase "Traditiones Custodes  translates into "Guardians of Tradition," but, how can you be a guardian of something if you plan on leading it, in this case, Tradition, to it's demise?

The Pope had made statements that he wants to "walk with you along the way of God's mercy and tenderness," but that walk doesn't seem to include those who attend and/or support the Traditional Mass and communities like the Institute of Christ the King and the Fraternity of Saint Peter. These communities (among others) have had the help and support from our two previous Holy Fathers, Pope Saint John Paull II, and Pope Benedict XVI. Additionally, Benedict's "Summorum Pontificum"  letter written in 2007 concluded that the Latin Mass was never aborgated and acknowledged that ALL priests can celebrate the Latin Mass, and didn't need a Bishop's apporval.

However, priests didn't, and don't even need Summorum Pontificum. The Sacred Liturgy has been protected by Pope Saint Pius V's Papal Bull "Quo Primum" since the sixteen century. In July of 2021, Cardinal Burke questioned whether Pope Francis had the authority to author Traditionis Custodes. Burke responded that this will "contradict communion and nurtures the divisive tendency" of the Church and Her institutions. He went on to mention that after Saint Pius V concluded the Council of Trent in 1570, it was radically different from the Second Vatican Council in the 1960's. Saint Pius V "put in order the form of the Roman Rite that had existed already for centuries." Of course, some changes have been made over the last four hundred plus years, but the Rite remained the same.

Saint Pius V goes on to write that, "No one whosoever is permitted to alter this notice of Our permission, statute, ordinance, command, precept, grant, indult, declaration, will, decree, and prohibition. Should anyone dare to contravene it, let him know that he incur the wrath of Amighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul." Finally, although I'm just a low layman, I believe that the Extroardinary and Ordinary Forms of the Mass are valid and licit, but the Tridentine Mass can never, and should never be eradicated. I hope that Bergoglio will abolish Traditionis Custodes because he is, respectfully wrong.

May the Holy Names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Be Blessed, Now and Forever. We Love You, and Save Souls!