Retrospectives

October 24, 1988 (Anniversary of Ecclesia Dei Adflicta):

On October 24, 2006, Fr. James McLucas wrote the following postscript in a newsletter:

In Rome -- literally on this day in 1988 -- the-then Cardinal Ratzinger addressed the decennial conference honoring the decree "Ecclesia Dei Adflicta" [granting permission to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass under the Indult]. He said: Theologically and fundamentally one has to realize that several forms of the Latin Rite have always existed and that they retreated but slowly only as Europe was unified. Up to the Council, there existed along side the Roman Rite, the Ambrosian Rite, the Mozarabic Rite of Toledo, the Rite of Braga, the Rite of the Carthusians and the Carmelites and the best known: the Dominican Rite; and perhaps other ones I do not know. Nobody was ever scandalized that the Dominicans, often when present in parishes, did not celebrate like parish priests but rather had their own rite. We hadno doubt that their rite was both Catholic and Roman. We were proud of the richness of having several rites."

October 28, 1903 (Anniversary of Evelyn Waugh's birthday):

On October 28, 2006, after sending out invitations to several of our good friends, we celebrated the birthday of our favorite English novelist, Evelyn Waugh (October 28, 1903 - April 10, 1966), who would have turned 103 were he still living. We celebrated with a hearty dinner of bangers and mash and, of course, pints of ale (Guinness, what else?), with delicious curmugeonly quips and readings from the honored subject of our celebration. My wife is now reading his diaries, which reveals the young Waugh to have been in his mid-teens, far more learned than most of our college graduates, sadly, may ever hope to be -- not merely Latin and classical literature, mind you, but extended debates on whether divine omnipotence is compromised by divine omniscience, for example. Lord, have mercy. Pour me another Guinness.