A Cryptic Traditional Catholic Travelogue 6: The Enduring Presence of Catholic France

By roger | Published: 17 August 2010

 

Institute of Christ the King church in Montauban

Montauban church of Institute of Christ the King. Photo courtesy of Szeder László (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), via Wikimedia Commons”

Introduction 2013: This is the sixth part of a curious, very personal travelogue I recorded, whilst travelling through the remnants of Catholic France in the summer of 2010.

O Catholic France, the inspiration for so very much which lies behind this website dedicated to his Sacred Heart …

The series is, naturally, best appreciated by starting at the beginning(here).

Here I am reflecting on my stay in Montauban, where I was blessed by the traditional Latin Mass as celebrated by the Institute of Christ the King and haunted by old, Catholic France.

From 2010:

More fragments from a soul in France:

This church in Montauban in France.

So filled with the Presence, so still … so still.

Calling me into silence. Effortlessly.

The Presence here, deep, rich.

Non-secular. Bathes me.

The Secular world outside this Church stimulates, stimulates, stimulates.

It seeks to stimulate desire. Capitalist desire. Erotic desire. Even desire for blood and violence.

That HORRIBLE computer game, I saw once …

Notre Dame-Catholic France

Notre Dame amongst the glories of Catholic France

This Church is filled with Nineteenth Century France.

The Presence in this Church.

It was not fostered by zany, happy-clappy congregations.

It was not fostered by liturgical abuse.

It was fostered with true prayer and reverence for Tradition.

This Presence, this Presence!

How very much I owe to the silent Presence in the churches.

How deep is my debt.

My debt. Our debt.

In rural France away from the cities, the village churches are closed nearly everywhere. Except on Sunday. Once a month.

If you’re lucky …

France, O France – you have the singular, if dubious “honour” of showing where the Church is headed in the future.

Unless something is DONE.

 

To Be Continued …

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Next Installment: A Cryptic Traditional Catholic Travelogue 7

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  1. By French Fragments: A Cryptic Travelogue for Any Who Care to Listen (Part V – on France and Ireland: Again ) on 26 March 2011 at 18:04

    […] Cor Jesu Sacratissimum HomeAbout UsKim's WeblogRoger's WeblogWebburstsReviewsIn MemoryArticlesUK StoreUS Store « Book Review: The New Faithful – Colleen Carroll French Fragments: A Cryptic Travelogue for Any Who Care to Listen (Part VI: The Presence) » […]

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