PopeWatch: Hmmm
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
This decision by the Vatican in my mind is like people who only use the good China for special occasions. But that special occasion never eventuates. So the China sits untouched for decades in a cabinet collecting dust and one day everyone goes “why didn’t we ever use this”….these beautiful Chapels built centuries ago for what? To look at? Whatever their excuse is, a Chapel is Gods house and should be used to glorify Him. They aren’t tourist attractions, which is what they will only be good for with this latest brainwave from the Vatican.
It’s good news compared to the rumors about restrictions on the Latin Mass. But those are just Vatican rumors.
I don’t know how bureaucratic wars are waged in the Vatican. Maybe this is part of one? I don’t know. Either way, bureaucracies don’t always act in unison, so this might not be proof of anything.
I learned a long time ago that this kind of tea-leaf reading feels like a practice of the faith to me, but isn’t. Best for me to just pray for the Church.
As for St. Peter’s, I understand what Ezabelle means. I personally like St. John Lateran more than St. Peter’s, which feels more like a museum to me than a church. But if I were a visiting priest, I know the appeal of saying a Mass in St. Peter’s would be strong.