I worship in a church built by the Jesuits, despoiled by them after Vatican II, and abandoned as they shrunk. The TLM community has taken it over and is restoring the church to its former glory, for God. I hope nobody tells Fr Reese, it might upset him.
Thank you Fr O'Reilly for coming to us last year and then driving Bp Schneider around our home this year and helping us out over here and then back over there. Keep busy fighting for tradition Father.
Thanks for a great post and takedown of the intolerable Fr Reese.
Someone should write an account of how the Jesuits, especially in America, split into a majority of Reeses and a minority of Schalls, Hardons, Mankowskis, and Buckleys.
In that piece, Reese (I struggle to name him Father) says that the change to the vernacular in the mass came in 1964. I've been looking for years for some book or article to tell me exactly how and when the liturgical changes, especially the loss of Latin, happened. I used to think that it all changed from one day to the next in Advent of 1969, but it seems it was much more gradual.
Reese has had a long run as an ultraliberal clergyman, widely published in many ultraliberal publications.
But those publications are mostly dead or dying at this point. Not zombies, but dying, as is most of liberal clerical culture.
In less than 10 years, all the 68-clergymen generation will be gone. And the TLM which was defended by Sacrosanctum Concilium, will come surging back. No one will call it, “the extraordinary form“ for it will return to the common usage. Over a short time, the NO will become a rarely used rite that only a few antique enthusiasts would be interested in.
Of course, that’s a forecast from a particular point of view, but not a pipe dream.
Yes, the biological solution, as Fr. Z is wont to call it. The passing of generations will help but on its own is not enough. We must have a full restoration of truth in our faith, our Church, and our society, and especially amongst our leadership at every level. More importantly, we must pray for that restoration of truth! We cannot presume it will simply happen.
Fr Z, in your experience, is the priesthood dominated by guys who would otherwise be varsity level players no matter what they did? Or, because all the varsity guys left or never went in, what's left - IN GENERAL, ON AVERAGE, UNDER THE MEAT OF THE BELL CURVE - are 3rd and 4th stringers? I'm trying to understand where this guy comes from and who he is to write something like this.
Just discovered your Substack and absolutely loved this article! I hope Fr. Reese reads it and does a rebuttal. Would love to see him acknowledge where he agrees and still disagrees with you after having attended a TLM.
God bless you Fr Z for reading that drivel so that we don’t have to!!
I worship in a church built by the Jesuits, despoiled by them after Vatican II, and abandoned as they shrunk. The TLM community has taken it over and is restoring the church to its former glory, for God. I hope nobody tells Fr Reese, it might upset him.
Thank you Fr O'Reilly for coming to us last year and then driving Bp Schneider around our home this year and helping us out over here and then back over there. Keep busy fighting for tradition Father.
Thanks for a great post and takedown of the intolerable Fr Reese.
Someone should write an account of how the Jesuits, especially in America, split into a majority of Reeses and a minority of Schalls, Hardons, Mankowskis, and Buckleys.
In that piece, Reese (I struggle to name him Father) says that the change to the vernacular in the mass came in 1964. I've been looking for years for some book or article to tell me exactly how and when the liturgical changes, especially the loss of Latin, happened. I used to think that it all changed from one day to the next in Advent of 1969, but it seems it was much more gradual.
I think Reese's piece exposes the reactions & behavior we've noticed in others.
A brilliant, humorous refutation of a spectacularly bad attempt at humorous brilliance.
Another strain of Derangement Syndrome - Stage 4
Reese is an exemplar of the 68 generation that Cardinal Sarah has discussed in a recent interview here,
https://dianemontagna.substack.com/p/cardinal-sarah-opposition-to-the?r=5kff6m&utm_medium=ios
Reese has had a long run as an ultraliberal clergyman, widely published in many ultraliberal publications.
But those publications are mostly dead or dying at this point. Not zombies, but dying, as is most of liberal clerical culture.
In less than 10 years, all the 68-clergymen generation will be gone. And the TLM which was defended by Sacrosanctum Concilium, will come surging back. No one will call it, “the extraordinary form“ for it will return to the common usage. Over a short time, the NO will become a rarely used rite that only a few antique enthusiasts would be interested in.
Of course, that’s a forecast from a particular point of view, but not a pipe dream.
Yes, the biological solution, as Fr. Z is wont to call it. The passing of generations will help but on its own is not enough. We must have a full restoration of truth in our faith, our Church, and our society, and especially amongst our leadership at every level. More importantly, we must pray for that restoration of truth! We cannot presume it will simply happen.
Fr Z, in your experience, is the priesthood dominated by guys who would otherwise be varsity level players no matter what they did? Or, because all the varsity guys left or never went in, what's left - IN GENERAL, ON AVERAGE, UNDER THE MEAT OF THE BELL CURVE - are 3rd and 4th stringers? I'm trying to understand where this guy comes from and who he is to write something like this.
Sorry, I meant to say fewer varsity guys went in, relatively. Consider you varsity level.
I responded here:
https://wdtprs.com/2026/08/ask-father-is-the-priesthood-dominated-by-men-who-are-varsity-level-players-or-3rd-and-4th-stringers/
Thank you.
So many lost souls! Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis qui ad te recurrimus. Amen.
Just discovered your Substack and absolutely loved this article! I hope Fr. Reese reads it and does a rebuttal. Would love to see him acknowledge where he agrees and still disagrees with you after having attended a TLM.