From Benedict's Peace to Francis's War: Catholics Respond to the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes on the Latin Mass

An anthology of 70 essays and articles by prelates and pastors, theologians and canonists, philosophers and cultural figuresÔÇöincluding:

Cardinal Walter Brandm├╝ller ÔÇó Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke ÔÇó Cardinal Gerhard M├╝ller ÔÇó Cardinal Robert Sarah ÔÇó Cardinal Joseph Zen ÔÇó Archbishop Thomas Gullickson ÔÇó Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigan├▓ ÔÇó Bishop Rob Mutsaerts ÔÇó Bishop Athanasius Schneider ÔÇó Msgr. Charles Pope ÔÇó Dom Alcuin Reid ÔÇó Abb├® Claude Barthe ÔÇó Fr. John Hunwicke ÔÇó Michael Brendan Dougherty ÔÇó Ross Douthat ÔÇó Edward Feser ÔÇó Michael Fiedrowicz ÔÇó Peter A. Kwasniewski ÔÇó Phil Lawler ÔÇó Martin Mosebach ÔÇó George Neumayr ÔÇó Joseph Shaw ÔÇó and many others

Already on July 16, 2021, the reactions to Pope FrancisÔÇÖs severe restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass in Traditionis Custodes were like a river in full flood: articles, essays, interviews, podcastsÔÇöeverywhere and from every point of view. An emotional, spiritual, intellectual dam had broken and the waters of discourse poured forth across the world. The sheer volume of writing occasioned by Traditionis Custodes is unlike anything seen in the history of papal documentsÔÇötestimony to a neuralgic subject on which arguments proliferate and passions run high.

The two-month period following the release of the motu proprio gave proof that the traditionalist movement was no fringe phenomenon, but something that had gained significant strength and sympathy during the relatively peaceful years from 2007 to 2021 (the ÔÇ£Pax BenedictinaÔÇØ to which the bookÔÇÖs title refers). The purpose of this volume is to gather in one convenient place some of the finest and most appreciated essays and articles published in the period from mid-July through September of this fateful year, 2021ÔÇönot only from America and England (although these predominate), but also from other nations: France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Poland, Kazakhstan, and China.

This book is not, and makes no pretense of being, a presentation of ÔÇ£both sides of the argument.ÔÇØ It offers a variety of critiques of this profoundly unwise and unpastoral decree, which suffers from incoherent doctrinal foundations, grave moral and juridical defects, and impossible ecclesiological implications.