Tradition in Detroit

“Tradition means giving a vote to most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our groom; tradition asks us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our father.”  ~G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

 

The picture (above) taken of a Roman Catholic procession in Detroit, Michigan has garnered much interest on the internet, because it depicts a traditional Catholic milieu which is not often seen in today’s world.

The picture was taken on March 19th, the feast of St. Joseph, by Naomi Vrazo of the Archdiocese of Detroit. The priest in the foreground is a priest of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The priest is flanked by two Knights of Columbus; and in the middle, the statue of St. Joseph is held aloft by a group of Catholic men. In the distance, the blue and white robed altar boys of the Institute are spotted. The group is walking on a public street, proudly proclaiming their Catholic Faith. It is quite romantic, and hearkens back to days long ago; days experienced by our Catholic ancestors. The image is positively Bellocian; it reminds one of the words of Hilaire Belloc to the public when he was running for political office in England in 1906. He said, quite famously:

“Gentlemen, I am a Catholic. As far as possible, I go to Mass every day. This [taking a rosary out of his pocket] is a rosary. As far as possible, I kneel down and tell these beads every day. If you reject me on account of my religion, I shall thank God that He has spared me the indignity of being your representative.”

~Hilaire Belloc (b. 1870- d. 1953), excerpt from a 1906 speech he gave to voters in South Salford, excerpt from The Life of Hilaire Belloc

In conclusion, the restoration of the Church (hopefully) has begun as predicted by Our Lady of Good Success. May we always be a part of it, so we might say on that Last Day: we did all within our power to restore the glory of the Church.

Hail Tradition!

~SCF