Greetings to all who may read this,
I came across CathInfo.com looking for some information regarding the Sanford Chapel/Parish and wanting to contact one of the priest there regarding the aspiring vocation of a friend of mine.
I was hoping to recommend to him the possibility of fulfilling his vocation through the society of Saint Pius X, but frankly, I am now thinking twice after stumbling upon this thread and the less than charitable responses I am seeing to the person who posted the original question/comment.
Some background information: I am a life-long practicing Catholic and I am familiar with the Tridentine Mass, Archbishop Lefebrve, and the tumultuous history and tribulations which traditional Catholics have endured and I am quite sympathetic to "our" cause even though I, myself, regularly attend Mass at what would be called a Novus Ordo parish on this forum - I firmly believe that I am still receiving the true presence of my Lord in the Eucharist in spite of things said or done which may or may not necessarily meet my approval but this is neither here nor there as I am not here to argue about the validity or invalidity of the Mass in the Tridentine vs. the N.O. Mass.
I am saddened to see though that certain things with traditionalists seem to have remain as I always remember them: chiefly among them, is what seems to me a certain pettiness of spirit which I criticize here (please understand), as constructively and with as much fraternal (and imperfect) love as I can muster...
We (and being fully Catholic, I take the liberty of including myself) seem to focus at time so much on the letter of the law and tend to forget the spirit of it. Yes, priests have their failings as we all do and yes, people will lack christian charity or even simple good sense.
I urge all here at the very least to remember that the spirit of the law is simply Love.
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John 13:34)
Unfortunately I do not see this love reflected on these posts, and I hope that this is not the case throughout this forum, but from previous experience with traditionalists, I fear it may be so...
When I think of the great treasures which we as Catholics have been given and which unfortunately so many of our brethren are wholly unaware of , I sometimes have to remind myself in humility that it was they (our protestant brethren) who came up with the acronym WWJD (What would Jesus do?), this is a simple something I always try to ask myself before I speak or answer anyone, particularly where I may be inclined to be less than charitable...
In any case, I wish to all who may read this, Christ's peace and solace in his love.
Your brother in Christ and with filial love for Mary,
P.A.