Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini is tilting at windmills. What is this act of futility you ask?

In response to the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, the famously liberal Cardinal has vocally refused to celebrate the ‘Latin Mass’? In his dramatic refusal, the Cardinal sets up the usual straw man.

The cardinal said he loved the Latin language and would have no trouble celebrating Latin mass.
“But I will not do it,” he wrote.
The 80-year-old cardinal also defended Vatican II, saying it “took a major step forward in the understanding of the liturgy”.

So there you have it. The Cardinal loves Latin, but in a heroic act of self sacrificial futility, refuses to say the mass according to the extraordinary form in order to save Vatican II.

I know, I know. You are thinking, “saying the old mass is not an attack on Vatican II. The Pope was very clear on this! This makes no sense!” Don’t let truth get in the way of a grand gesture! Cardinal Martini believes he will single handedly turn back the traditionalist barbarians at the gate and lead his people to the ‘Spirit of Vatican II’ promised land. A land overflowing with folk music and liturgical dance.

What is more, the Cardinal has finally met a liturgical innovation he doesn’t like. Saying the mass in Latin according to the 1962 missal is just too out there!

“A bishop cannot ask his priests to satisfy all individual demands,” he said in an article published by Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper.

For 40 years individual demands and tastes ruled the day leading to heretofore unthinkable liturgical craziness, and now the Cardinal has finally had enough.

It does appear, however, that the Cardinal is in favor of one the pre-Vatican II position, he has just turned his back to the people.