Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 4/13/2007

Question
I couldn't possibly picture St. Francis at Norvus Ordo Mass. Could you? It's funny, St. Padre Pio, the Franciscan Monk refused to celebrate the Norvus Ordo or have any thing to do with Vatican II because it wasn't Catholic.  

Answer
Peace

dear Gene
  First St. Francis as a deacon, his role wouldn't have changed much. Plus St.Francis died in 1212, long before the council of Trent. My study of his writings and the history of Eucharistic Liturgy, I think he would have embraced Trent and Vatican II reforms.

St. Pio died in 1968, which before most of the Liturgical reforms established by Vatican II and since were implemented . So Its hard for me to give a more complete opinion on his views.

The great Fulton "Cardinal" Sheen, one of my favorite theologians and apologist embraced the reforms and was faithful to them unlike Modernist and so-called "Traditionalist" who reject Vatican II as a vaild council.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta also embraced them.

What we need to really ask: Do we obey what comfortable or what Christ calls us to via His magisterium?

I have close friends that Secular Franciscans like myself that attend approved Trentine Liturgies in my diocese and the attend the Liturgy of Vatican II/John Paul II. I have attend Trentine Liturgy myself. I enjoy both when they are done properly.

             your servant but His first
                      George