Dear friends,

How much it would have pleased me to rejoice with you this Christmas at the establishment of a sort of truce through the good will of our pastors. Unfortunately, the tightening of screws following Traditionis Custodes continues everywhere in France. In Paris, no mass at Notre-Dame du Tavail, where it would be so easy to re-establish it, neither is there any perspective of masses elsewhere in the south of the capital nor in the north of Paris.

God undoubtedly wants to put to the trial, to test, the fidelity of those who fight for the preservation of this purest lex orandi of the Roman Church and of what accompanies it, essentially the Catholic catechism. And He casts away any risk of “embourgeoisement” of the beneficiaries of these goods.

Surely, you know by now that we are not alone in the world protesting with perseverance and tenacity. In Washington, since June 2022, when restrictions on masses were announced, a group of faithful has organized a gathering every Saturday at 9 a.m., to pray the Rosary in front of the apostolic nunciature, which is now occupied by the new French cardinal, Mgr Christophe Pierre, who is very hostile to the traditional liturgy. These are faithful coming from the dioceses of Washington DC and Arlington, who pray for the freedom of traditional masses in their dioceses.

Riposte Catholique (https://riposte-catholique.fr/archives/184686) tells us that they also organized three walking pilgrimages from St. Thomas More Cathedral in Arlington to St. Matthew Cathedral in Washington, praying for an end to the restrictions and the restoration of the traditional mass. Saint Ambrose, in a lesson from Christmas Matins, compares the shepherds of Bethlehem to the pastors of the Church, that is to say, to the bishops. But, he adds, “the Lord has not only committed the bishops to the defence of the flock, but he has also destined the angels to do so.» So, even if we lack the bishops, we will still have the angels of God!

Our rosaries continue in front of the archdiocesan offices, 10 rue du Cloître-Notre-Dame, this week and the following from Tuesday to Friday, from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (not on Christmas day, Monday, nor on day of the Octave, the following Monday, January 1), to which we must add the rosaries at Saint-Georges de La Villette, every Wednesday at 5 p.m., and in front of Notre-Dame du Travail, Sundays at 6 p.m.

Best wishes of a very blessed and happy Christmas! In union of prayer and friendship.

Christian Marquant

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