"Iota Unum" - your thoughts?

[RPRPsych]

Post #6666 for me, so I’d better make it a good one.

I’ve just begun reading this book, and it’s quite an interesting perspective on the events before, around and following the Second Vatican Council, written by an insider.

Has anyone else read this book? Any thoughts on it?

 

[FonsBonitatis]

I actually purchased this book once with the intention to read it, but became uncomfortable since I noticed that some segments of the SSPX are apparently very fond of it. Is this a book you would recommend for Catholics who are incredibly wary of ultra-traditionalists? It seems to serve as an intellectual buttress for some aspects of their world view, even if it wasn’t written to do so. I would love to be wrong on this, and would love to read the work.

 

[RPRPsych]

I actually purchased this book once with the intention to read it, but became uncomfortable since I noticed that some segments of the SSPX are apparently very fond of it. Is this a book you would recommend for Catholics who are incredibly wary of ultra-traditionalists? It seems to serve as an intellectual buttress for some aspects of their world view, even if it wasn’t written to do so. I would love to be wrong on this, and would love to read the work.

The excerpts I’ve read are very well-written and clearly reasoned out. Though the author is critical of what has been happening in the Church post-Pius XII, he writes respectfully and charitably, without name-calling, sensationalism or hypocrisy. As far as I can tell, he always remained in communion with the Church, and Pope Benedict XVI held his work in esteem. Of course, this is just from the excerpts and background reading i’ve done. I should have the full book in a few weeks. Overseas shipping is a drag.

And kudos on being a happy Catholic; I aspire to that state too, but tend to be something of a grouch in the flesh.

 

[FonsBonitatis]

It certainly has a great reputation as being scholarly and clear and free of any hysteria.

Hopefully someone comes along who has read the book, since this thread is a great idea and I’d be interested in some of the poster’s perspectives.

 

[Roger_Buck]

Too long since I read it to comment in detail. But I do not see how any unprejudiced reader who sits down with and carefully reads it will not come way with a sense of greatness.

The author has clearly reflected very profoundly on things he has observed for many years.

Matters like an author’s sympathy (or not) with things like the SSPX seem like preconceptions, prejudices that are best dropped here.

Just sit down and start to absorb and see if you do not feel as though you are in the presence of a true spiritual and intellectual master …

 

[Lormar]

I’ve read the book several times and intend to read it again soon. It’s excellent.

 

[otjm]

Post #6666 for me, so I’d better make it a good one.

I’ve just begun reading this book, and it’s quite an interesting perspective on the events before, around and following the Second Vatican Council, written by an insider.

Has anyone else read this book? Any thoughts on it?

Could you pm me? I don’s see that you are set up to receive.

 

[LiamQ]

Matters like an author’s sympathy (or not) with things like the SSPX seem like preconceptions, prejudices that are best dropped here.

Not entirely.

SSPX-sympathizers can scandalize, IMO, the vast majority of Catholics—rightly or wrongly, the average layman hasn’t the foggiest idea how to process their information and what to do with it even if they can.

Books like Iota Unum are often trumpeted as being excellent resources for those people who are openly analyzing the Second Vatican Council and are coming to conclusions that it absolutely without question contains error. While it’s possible that the council does contain errors, I don’t know that anyone who is not a specialist should remotely consider that conclusion to be a prudent one to arrive at. Reading one book, or even a dozen, doesn’t change that fact. And purposely engaging in reading material that can lead a person to naively and without all the data come to that conclusion, IMO, is to put one’s self in an unnecessary near occasion of sin.

… because, as far as I know, it is sinful to refuse to accept the non-infallible teaching of the Ordinary Magisterium outside of extremely specific conditions I REALLY doubt most people find themselves in.