For those of us who follow Catholic news, the latest major development in the Church has been the Holy Father’s recent decision to grant the use of the Roman missal and other rituals that were in effect prior to the reforms that followed the second Vatican council.  This generous permission, which goes into effect in September, has already been received with cries of joy by some and outcries of terror by other on various sides of the issue.  In light of this development I would like to offer a brief reflection on the issue that may be spiritually fruitful to all members of the Church regardless of their position. 

In the Gospel reading for the tenth Sunday after Pentecost (Missal Romanum 1962) our Lord tells the parable of the Pharisee and the publican whom both went up to the temple to pray.  The Pharisee, being a religious devote, approached the holy place and gave thanks to God that he was not like other men, i.e. a sinner.  In comparison the publican, who belonged to a class that was generally known for their dishonesty and affiliation with the oppressive Roman government, “would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven, but struck his breast saying: O God be merciful to me a sinner.”  The Lord assured us that only one of these returned home justified.  While I am currently waiting for some bizarre biblical ‘expert’ to present me with some argument that holds that the Pharisee was actually the one the Lord was suggesting to be justified, the tradition of the Church (as well as common sense derived from the text) suggest that the publican was the one who found favor with God.  For “every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” 

In reflection upon this gospel lesson, I would suggest that a great danger is now being presented to everyone in the Church to embrace the pride of the Pharisee.  Regardless of whether one prefers to worship within the traditional Latin Mass or finds themselves drawn to the charismatic renewal, we may find ourselves tempted to hold that our way is the best way due to some given reason.  It is not my intention to suggest that every form of worship is equally pleasing to God, but rather to remind all that it is our calling as loyal sons and daughter of the Church to think with the mind of Holy Mother Church.  Even if our liturgical preference is objectively more pleasing to the almightily than some other, the pride of holding ourselves as saints due to the form of worship we embrace is something that is unpleasing to God and denies the reality that we are all sinners standing in need of God’s mercy and grace.  The second book in Thomas A Kempis’s “Imitation of Christ” tells us that we should strive to think less of ourselves and more of others. While this could be taken to a ridiculous point of excess, it does serve as a reminder that all of us have been afflicted with a darkness of the intellect due to original sin and should not trust completely in our own opinions. 

Thanks be to God that we have a magisterium to guide us in these matters of faith, a guide that is guaranteed to lead the flock of Christ in the true faith.  Therefore let us look to the Pope to learn what is permitted and what is forbidden in the Church and seek to embrace what the Church has given us as a holy gift.  Let us strive to become saints in union with the Vicar of Christ, Benedict XVI and speak of our various opinions (assuming these opinions are permissible) among ourselves in a spirit of charity and humility.  God Bless our Pope.