Faith of Our Fathers

A Brief History of Catholic Traditionalism in the United States, from Triumph to Traditionis Custodes

How is it that so many centuries-old practices, customs, and beliefs of Roman Catholicism—above all, the traditional Latin Mass—have endured into this third decade of the twenty-first century despite over fifty years of official ecclesiastical disfavor and even violent attempts at suppression? Why the growing interest in and energetic support for so much that was supposed to have been consigned to oblivion after the Second Vatican Council? In the mid-sixties a “traditionalist movement” was born (largely of lay leadership, but numbering many like-minded clergy and religious) that resisted the auto-demolition of the Church and labored mightily to keep her liturgical and doctrinal patrimony alive wherever and however they could. The story of this determined effort needs to be told now more than ever for new “converts” to the Latin Mass and for younger generations unfamiliar with the great sacrifices of their forerunners.

In this compact and informative book, Stuart Chessman tells the tale of the traditionalist movement in the United States of America, from its birth in the era of Triumph (1965–1975) to the mounting tensions with “conservative Catholicism” (1975–1985), to the dawning of hope in the “Indult regime” (1985–2007), leading into the broad daylight of Summorum Pontificum (2007–2021), and then descending into progressive darkness under Pope Francis (2013–), who has chosen total war with Traditionis Custodes. Throughout, the author judiciously attributes praise and blame, draws timely lessons, makes warnings and prognoses, and delivers a message of patient determination and well-founded hopes for the future.