Reason 37

37. Because the New Mass, despite appearances, conveys a New Faith, not the Catholic Faith. It conveys Modernism and follows exactly the tactics of Modernism, using vague terminology in order to insinuate and advance Error.


I admit, I’m curious, how does something convey a concept without conveying the appearance? The phrase ‘despite appearances’ suggest that there what is presented is not what is actually there but the way liturgy works is that what is presented is all that is there (that is, when the liturgy says “Glory to God” that is what it is conveying, the idea and act of giving glory to God. Liturgy simply cannot deal in innuendos, sarcasm, or other forms of double meaning). Thus either both the appearances and conveyance of the New Mass is Catholic, or they both are not. It cannot go two ways.

Because of this firstly, I am inclined to doubt that the New Mass conveys Modernism. Furthermore, the idea that there are “tactics of Modernism” is, in my opinion, almost laughable. At best Modernism is an amorphous grouping of ideas and individuals who have widely divergent ideas and intents. The label itself is primarily one referring to a wide variety of Heresies which, to one degree or another, reject the supernatural influence of God in the world (that is, they essentially say the Christian history is no less likely than the Hindu history).

As has been a constant refrain in these writings, this reason does not offer sufficient explanation of what “vague terminology” is being used to insinuate error. How vague is vague? The traditional Mass does not include the entire Summa so obviously it is more vague than that work. I personally do not find much vague in the phrasing of the New Mass, nor do I feel error is being presented therein. This reason itself could be accused of using “vague terminology” to “insinuate Error,” perhaps even to further Modernism. I would not know, the tactics of Modernism being so broad and secretive.

Simply put, this objection says nothing and tries to say it very loudly. It ends up being simply vague and uncertain, proclaiming a shadowy enemy one cannot pin down. Modernism is wrong, but certainly has no grand organization and therefore must be fought on the level of concept, not tactics.