FSSP reacts to papal letter

A New Zealand priest who celebrates the traditional Latin Mass (extraordinary form of the Roman rite) has written words of encouragement to his community in the wake of a papal document that places restrictions on the celebration of this Mass. 

Writing in the July 18 newsletter of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter Auckland chaplaincy, Fr Antony Sumich, FSSP, offered a few thoughts on the release of Pope Francis’ apostolic letter Traditionis Custodes (see story page 13). 

“Firstly,” Fr Sumich wrote, “let us remember that our duty today is the same as it was yesterday: to watch and to pray, to fast and to give alms, to conform ourselves more and more, not to the world, but the heart of our beloved Redeemer.” 

“We cannot minimise the attack that this document represents on what we love most in this life; or — better to say — something we hold most dear that we long to give to someone we love most,” he added. 

“But neither can we permit anxiety, bitterness, or resentment to enter in and poison the interior life. Remain at peace and with a loving confidence in Christ our King, who may permit us to suffer, but will never abandon us.”  

Fr Sumich added: “Pray also for our bishops to prayerfully discern this situation and see the great benefit to Aotearoa of our Latin Mass communities.” 

The FSSP website admitted that “many of us are disheartened and anxious”, after the release of Traditionis Custodes. 

“At this point, it is too early to tell what all the implications will be for the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, but we assure you that we remain committed to serving the faithful attending our apostolates in accordance with our constitutions and charism, as we have done since our founding,” read an FSSP statement.  

“We must strive to see this cross as a means of our sanctification, and to remember that God will never abandon his Church. Our Lord himself promises us the necessary graces to bear our crosses with strength and courage.” 

A facebook post by New Zealand pro-life commentator Brendan Malone late on July 17 expressed his solidarity with those who attend the traditional Mass, and also some reservations he had about aspects of Traditionis Custodes. By midday the next day, the post had attracted 350 likes and 101 comments and had been shared 200 times.