Fraternal Charity in Traditional Catholicism (Fr. Eugene de Villeurbanne)

A QUOTE FROM

Rev. Fr. Eugene de Villeurbanne o.f.m.cap.

(founder of Traditional Capuchins of Morgon)

Wherever division finds a place, there anger, pride, and injustice appear.  “Traditionalists” who were once in agreement on the clear and essential truths of the Faith, now place their honor in raising “issues”, in being right on questions of remote importance for the daily life of the faithful.  The minds consider themselves “traditional”, but the hearts are not so anymore, if they ever were.  Fraternal charity is also one of the riches of Tradition.

There is a great danger in being restricted to a traditionalism of combat – in conceiving the truths of the Faith as an occasion for fighting, for blows and for victory; in seeing dogmatic theology as an arsenal of war, or even too exclusively as the means of enlightening the intelligence while forgetting the eyes of the heart which are thirsting for hope, eager to taste the treasures of glory contained in the heritage of Jesus Christ.  Great is the risk of adapting the truths of Jesus Christ and the members of Jesus Christ to one's own taste.  St. Paul taught us where that could lead.

Having the faithful assist at our traditional Masses is not an end in itself nor is faith in dogmatic truths.  What counts is faith which works by charity and leads to charity for God and to fraternal charity for neighbor.  Christian institutions, catechesis, and theology should not only lead souls to the gates of supernatural love; they should make them progress in the limitless domain of the depths and heights of the love of God, in the dulcor caritatis.  No one can be there if he is at discord with his brothers.  “For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, Whom he seeth not?”  Let us listen to St. Paul when he tells us“For, whereas there is among you envying and contention, are you not carnal, and walk according to man?”  A “traditionalism” that has lost charity – is it still traditional?