Oriens Journal has announced that it will be running a series of articles in which official representatives of the SSPX will be presenting their case in writing, with charitable responses from those who disagree with them. Although one can see some precursors to this kind of dialogue over at OnePeterFive and Pelican+, I would say the project as they have set it up is unique, and a true opportunity for mutual understanding. As you’ll find in this inaugural post, the purpose and methodology are clear and Catholic. A highly commendable initiative and one worth following. oriensjournal.substack.com/p…

John Byron Kuhner: « One thing I can say about the Latin Mass, which I suppose Bishop Martin and others see as a threat: the excellence of the Latin Mass, its mystical qualities, its focus on God and spiritual tact (as Shia Leboeuf said of it, “I don’t feel like anyone is trying to sell me a car”) – have become serious drivers of discontent with the Novus Ordo of the Mass. This is entirely good – many Catholic malcontents today have an option of not leaving the faith but going deeper into it. There is an ancestral benchmark by which we may measure our own efforts. It’s really only a threat if we do not measure up. We have given our musicians fifty years, and they have not written music that can replace Aquinas or Bach or Mozart. Our architects have had fifty years, but almost none of their churches serve as well as the old ones. The Vatican has filled an entire museum with modern religious art from all over the world, and its contents taken together do not rise up to the spiritual value of a few months’ work from the hand of Giotto or Fra Angelico. Intelligent people can see that in taking modernity over tradition we have traded gold for bronze. They also see that they may have the gold back, if they can find a way around the bishops blocking the way. » johnbyronkuhner.substack.com…

A great article by Julian on the resurrected and booming Catholic Land Movement, with interviews of some farming families and news about the recent trip to Rome to meet Vatican officials. Actual and prospective homesteaders, be sure to read this. ncregister.com/features/cath…