What are we to make of all of this?
First is to remind everyone that, naturally, we trads had it right all along.
During the 1960's-1980's, when the left was ascendant in the Church (especially the 1970's Jacobinism as Paul VI retreated into solitude), we were told that the revolution launched at Vatican II would renew the Church. From the 1980's-2000's, we were told to forget all that talk about the renewal of that era: we were entering a "New Springtime" because now, under John Paul II, Vatican II would finally be properly implemented. During the 2000's-2010, we were told now that John Paul II properly implemented Vatican II, true renewal would come under Benedict's guidance as he closed the books on Vatican II. Now, from 2018 onwards (after 4 rather lackluster years of Francis) we are told that, for real this time guys, true renewal is on the way after implementing Vatican II.
The response of traditionalists has been pretty consistent: there was no renewal of Vatican II. Its a meme, not a reality. Now its something we say more as an addict with a fix: I just need one more bump, and I'll be good. Once more, with feeling: Vatican II was great, and the great renewal will finally happen now that my ideas are guiding it.
For far too long, we trads were told that we were refusing to notice this or that positive indicator, and were excessively pollyanish, a prophet of doom, whatever. Now, since 2018, Francis has taken the position that not only were we traditionalists prophets of doom correct (there was no Vatican II renewal), but the few hundred thousand trads worldwide are why a communion of a billion believers never got the renewal!
This time, we will get the great renewal by the classic meme of Catholicism: "The Spirit of Vatican II." You see, when the Council was originally promulgated, it was believed the documents themselves were a blueprint for renewal. "Liberals" believed this, as did "conservatives" like Ratzinger. It was only upon the anarchy of the 1960's that everyone needed a more satisfying answer for why this self-evident blueprint for renewal didn't work. Enter the "Spirit" of the text.
When you are trying to understand a council document, it is not enough to read the text and understand the basic context that went into its framing. You need to understand that everything in the document has to be read through a certain ideological prism. Sometimes the spirit is referenced as being betrayed by Paul VI when he reiterated traditional Catholic doctrine on contraception. (For individuals like ex Where Peter Is writer Brian Lafferty, this is when the great revolution of 1793 was replaced by the bad revolution of Thermidor.) Another instance of the Spirit is when Pope Francis insists that the Spirit of Vatican II is what drove him to initiate a ban of the Latin Mass, despite the fact that the Concilliar Bishops (and especially the liturgical committee which led the liturgical reform) voiced overwhelming opposition to ending Latin in the liturgy. To something American readers will understand, there are emanations and penumbras in the Concilliar text.
Our response should remain the same: laughter, now mixed with a bit of pity. The Spirit of Vatican II is a lot like cryptocurrency: once someone pulls the curtain, one sees how there's really nothing behind it. This is then followed by collapse. If, after 60 years, it becomes necessary to "prolong" the "Spirit of Vatican II", one thing should be evident: its not in very good shape, and is likely to die off sooner rather than later. Like the old man afraid of death (many of those in our highest leadership of the Church), so the spirit of the council fears its coming end, and begins to reflect on what was, and most importantly, what wasn't. It sees that, contrary to their wishes, life goes on once they are gone, and the Church is already preparing themselves for that eventuality. Everyone has all but given up on this pontificate, while preparing for the next conclave. The synod that was meant to prolong the spirit of Vatican II faces not opposition and hostility but indifference and apathy.... from those who are sympathetic. I'm here to say to that spirit: just take a deep breath and let go. The current generation will take it from here.
