Traditonalists and the Pope

***editors note, this post was mostly complete when news concerning the Pope's apostolic exortation "Evangelii Gaudium" was released.  Expect subsequent posts on that letter in coming days***

So it seems the Pope is at it again, making huge ripples in the Catholic blogsphere, and this time seems to be throwing a bone to Traditionalists. And was it the Holy Father said? Well, it had nothing to do with gay marriage, abortion, healthcare, the Syrian conflict, the Iran treaty, . . . No, this time His Holiness made waves in a letter to Cardinal Brandmuller by affirming Benedict the XVIs “Hermeneutic of Continuity”.

I’ll allow my readers a second to grasp the shocking implications of such an affirmation. No? Nothing? Because it seems to be a really deal as I have read no less than 7 blogs bringing this up. One blog has gone so far as to claim this is huge!

Okay, before I get into the specifics of the “Hermeneutic of Continuity”, I need to make a confession to my readers. Deep down I want to be a Traditionalist Catholic, but I cannot. I have tried but I have failed, because I cannot make myself be small minded enough to adopt the Traditionalist way of thinking. I have given up my quest to be considered a Traditionalist because evidently, to be a Traditionalist, the only things important enough to discuss and debate are any real or perceived threats to the Tridentine Mass.

Traditionalists have railed against Pope Francis, in particularly when he told the Franciscans of the Immaculate when he said they could not use the Latin right without permission. This was viewed as a contradiction to Benedict the XVIs “Summorum Pontificum” (which basically allows the use of the Tridentine Mass should be made available to those who want it), and the beginning of the end for the Mass in Latin. Despite the fact that there was more to the story (here and here are good sources), Traditionalists are nonplused.

Traditionalists added more fuel to the anti-Francis fire with the published interview with Scalfari (which the atheist later admitted he put his own words in the Pope’s mouth) which painted Francis as a “spirit of Vatican II” Church doctrine re-interpreter.

Which I guess is why the Pope subscribing to the “Hermeneutic of Continuity” is such a huge relief for Traditionalists. In short, “hermeneutic” is an interpretative principle that applies to theological matters. In the context of Benedict XVI’s “Hermeneutic of Continuity” and “Hermeneutic of Rupture”; the interpretive principle is as applied to Ecumenical Councils and in particular Vatican II. Benedict XVI argued that it was incorrect to interpreted Vatican II through modernist eyes without an understanding and context of the traditions that have been held before. Rather the proper interpretation of Vatican II, the “Hermeneutic of Continuity”, interprets Vatican II as a continuation of the entire Church tradition. What I find ironic is that Traditionalists use the “Hermeneutic of Continuity” to justify the holding onto the Tridentine Mass, but forget that the “Hermeneutic of Continuity” is a double edged sword and implies that Vatican II is a continued building upon Church Tradition and cannot be dismissed or diminished.

So if Traditionalists want to follow Benedict’s lead in applying the “Hermeneutic of Continuity” to Vatican II and take great joy in Pope Francis doing the same, I say wonderful. Then blow the dust off of Gaudium et Spes take a look at the world and start weighing priorities. Maybe frustration that the priest doesn't have his back turned to the congregation can give way to frustration in our infant mortality problem. In considering where to spend energy and effort, maybe pinning for the Communion Rail can drop a little bit down the list in favor of helping those in poverty. Maybe the Society of Pious X can take a number and the intellectual effort spent longing for their reunification can be spent adding a relevant voice to the healthcare debate.

So I am happy enough with the Pope’s position on the “Hermeneutic of Continuity”. But I've been a pretty big fan of this Pope all along.