Liturgical Time Bombs in Vatican II: Destruction of the Faith through Changes in Catholic Worship

by Michael Treharne Davies

Michael Davies shows how Fr. Annibale Bugnini - before his dismissal by Pope Paul VI under suspicion of being a Freemason - was able to "reform" the Catholic Mass into the constantly evolving liturgy. Quoting Bishops and Cardinals as well as liberal "experts" and Protestant observers, he exposes the "time bombs" which were built into the Second Vatican Council's document on the liturgy by a few revolutionaries in order to be exploited later - and which have been detonating ever since. "I am convinced that the crisis in the Church that we are experiencing is to a large extent due to the disintegration of the liturgy." - Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), 1998. 121 pgs, PB

Genres: Religion, Catholic, Nonfiction, Christianity

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Michael Treharne Davies (1936-2004) was a convert from Anglicanism to the Catholic Church in the 1950s, and was a Catholic writer who authored various works following the Second Vatican Council, in addition to unifying Una Voce America, a conservative group. He went on to compose such works as The Liturgical Revolution, The Order of Melchisedech, Partisans of Error, For Altar and Throne,, and The Wisdom of Adrian Fortescue. Upon Davies' death in 2004, Pope Benedict XVI called him a man of deep faith who was ready to embrace suffering

Reviews

[John Ray Catingub · Rating 3 out of 5]

If one leans traditionally, then most of the information in this book will not be new to him. For one who does not, or is inquiring into traditional Catholicism, then this book is a glimpse into the wealth of Catholic patrimony and the destructive elements of the reforms of Vatican II. It will be a good starter for the curious, often pointing to other, more in-depth books, while a refresher to those already knowledgeable about the Latin Mass, traditionalism, and the like.

[Ian Pinto · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fascinating look behind the curtains of Vatican II. The author, a reputed lay journalist and well-known author and propagator of Traditional liturgy, reconstructs the political dynamics that went into the creation of the documents of Vatican II particularly the Liturgy, which according to most scholarly theologians and bishops was the bedrock of Vatican II teachings and legacy.
The author highlights the ambiguities that were purposely inserted into the document (these he calls 'timebombs,' a term he borrows from one of the leading periti (scholarly theologians) present at Vatican II), and how these were later exploited or rather detonated to bring down traditional liturgical celebrations and replaced with the Novus Ordo. The worst affected was the sidelining of the Traditional Latin Mass which has recently been completely banned by the Pope.

This is a must-read for all invested Catholics and especially for all seminarians and priests. An erosion of the liturgy amounts to an erosion of the faith because of the principle of lex credendi, lex orandi.

[Pinky 2.0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Davies is a superb lecturer and a talented historian, but this book was too short and might have been intented for a more general audience without any knowledge of the subject. Recommend as a quick read on the subject for newcomers to the liturgical wars, but not of notable interest for those who have already devoted time to the subject.

[Randy Shed Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth the read

If you’ve ever wondered how the “spirit of Vatican 2” could gain such a foothold on present liturgical practices, this is the book for you.

[Marcos Zamith · Rating 5 out of 5]

O livro é muito bom.

O autor resume o emprego do esquema de liturgia para a reforma sob o padre Annibale Bugnini, expõe um breve histórico do mesmo com menções à maçonaria. Também aponta termos (relativos à participação ativa, ao uso do latim como língua litúrgica etc) que julga serem bombas-relógio nos textos dos documentos do Concílio Vaticano II: uma vez presentes nos documentos oficiais, seriam usados por modernistas para realizar uma revolução litúrgica inesperada pela maioria dos bispos que votaram na reforma litúrgica. Partindo-se de princípios que rompem com a evolução natural da tradição litúrgica, ocorreu uma desintegração da liturgia católica.

Nos apêndices, relata-se a participação de pastores protestantes na elaboração da liturgia reformada, não de maneira formal nas reuniões, mas de maneira informal. Há também a argumentação em favor do direito do uso rito romano na missa mesmo antes da Summorum Pontificum.

[Pinkyivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Davies is a superb lecturer and a talented historian, but this book was too short and might have been intented for a more general audience without any knowledge of the subject. Recommend as a quick read on the subject for newcomers to the liturgical wars, but not of notable interest for those who have already devoted time to the subject.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short synthesis of a couple of longer books. The premise is how the vagueness of the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy was purposely created and used to foster serious abuses and a total departure from Tradition. A very good, short read. Highly recommended.