Principles of Traditionalism

Here's an e-mail I sent to the blogmates. What sayeth the readers?

One thing I think Friends of La Nef needs to do is start promoting not neccessarily this or that Rite, this or that devotion (though make it understood we are staunch Ecclesia Dei Trads, shawn-o-mac not withstanding of course). Reason I see it that way is any real positive element in the Church is not just known for the success within their own circle, but for the influence they present to members outside of their particular persuasion in the Church. The FSSP and other trad groups in communion with rome, while promoting the Latin Mass (a huge good in itself) have also contributed to the intellectual thought concerning Vatican II, providing in the case of religious liberty at least, what many prelates in the Church view probably the best commentary to date on it in harmonizing it with the mind of the Church. Back to the times of St. John of the Cross, the Carmelites not only launched a renewal within their order, but their mystical writings at that time, and for generations to come, have had a profound impact on Catholic spirituality. In areas where the Indult flourishes, a trend can be noticed even the Novus Ordo liturgies tend to be more conservative. (This trend is by no means universal, but occurs enough to take it seriously.)

The reason I say this is because all too often, the meaningless phrases by our friends from Econe and the traddie tabloids at the Remnant love to throw out phrases such as "We need to return to Tradition", or "Tradition means the New Mass must die" or "Christ the King!" in response to just about any question thrown at them when it relates to the crisis in the Church. Such answers are wholly inadaquete for serious Catholics. I'm a firm believer that even those who don't care for many of the preferences of Traditionalists can benefit immensely from some of the principles they bring forth, especially in the liturgy.

What kind of principles are worthy of promotion?

This is something I've just been throwing around in my head, and once I finish my musings on the liturgical reform, I hope to launch into this subject (probably another month or so) and also make it a series at Friends of La Nef if possible. Any thoughts by anyone?

God Bless,
-Kev

Points to Ponder:

Since the objective truth of faith is universal and the true subject of faith must be conformed to its object, it follows that the subject of true religion is necessarily universal. Real faith cannot belong to man as an isolated individual but only to mankind as a complete unity; and the individual can only share in it as a living member of the universal body.

But since no real and living unity has been bestowed on the human race in the physical order, it must be created in the moral order. The limits of natural egoism, of finite individuality with its exclusive self-assertion, must be burst by love which renders man conformable to God Who is Love. But this love which is to transform the discordant fragments of the human race into a real and living unity, the Universal Church, cannot be a mere vague, subjective and ineffectual sentiment; it must be translated into a consistent and definite activity which shall give the inner sentiment its objective reality. [Vladimir Soloviev Russia and the Universal Church (c. 1889)]

Originally posted to Rerum Novarum on September 11, 2003.