Quotes to reflect upon (17)

"I don’t like, indeed, those views that would like to reduce the traditionalist ‘phenomenon’ to only the celebration of the ancient rite, as if it were a stubborn and nostalgic attachment to the past. ... In reality, what we frequently find is a Christian view of the life of faith and of devotion—shared by so many Catholic families that frequently are enriched by many children—that has special characteristics, and we can mention as examples: a strong sense of belonging to the Mystical Body of Christ, a desire to maintain strong links with the past—that wishes to be seen, not in contrast with the present, but in a line of continuity with the Church—to present the principal teachings of the Faith, a profound desire for spirituality and the sacred, etc.." Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, interview in ‘The Latin Mass magazine’, May 2004.

A 'fraternal' organisation to Pro Tridentina (Malta)

Logo of  Pro Malta Christiana

 

 

A new organisation with complementary aims to Pro Tridentina (Malta) was founded some months ago. Pro Malta Christiana, or Maltese Foundation for a Christian Civilisation, is a Voluntary, Non-Profit Making Organisation with Registered Charitable Status.

 

The present official address Flat 4, Victoria Mansions, Victoria Junction, Sliema, SLM 1833, Malta, according to Article 2 of the provisional statutes.

According to Article 3, the aim of the Society shall be the promotion and defense of the ideals and values of Christian Civilisation in Malta. These principles are expounded in the work Revolution and Counter-Revolution authored by Professor Plinio Correa de Oliveira in 1959. 

 

The Society is committed to promoting and defending:

-          the traditions in Malta and Gozo that give the Maltese Islands their distinct cultural identity, and which have a foundation in the islands’ heritage of two thousand years of Christian civilization;

-          the natural and traditional family based on the indissoluble bond of marriage of one man and one woman in line with the traditional Magisterium of the Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church;

-          the principle and right of individuals to own property, in consonance with the teaching of the Catholic Church that private ownership is one of the pillars of the natural law, with said right having a social function which it must fulfill in all of its extension.

 

The Objectives of said organisation are:

 

To defend and promote, on a national level, the Christian traditions of the Maltese nation.

 

To defend and promote, on a national level, the right of private ownership of property in line with the traditional Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

 

To defend and promote, on a national level, the natural and traditional family, based on the indissoluble bond of marriage between a man and a woman.

To defend and promote the right to life – understood as the inalienable right to be born - in the Maltese islands and actively oppose all forms of abortion and infanticide.

 

To provide support and information for all legal groups, entities and other organizations seeking to enhance and promote the ideals of tradition, family and property.

 

To educate the Maltese populace, thereby raising public awareness on a national level of the importance of promoting, fostering and defending the ideals of Christian Civilization and especially those ideals relating to tradition, family and property.

 

To perform works of charity and philanthropy in line with the Society/Foundation’s commitment to the perennial ideals of Christian Civilization by disseminating publications, religious objects and miscellaneous articles, and through other standard works of charity analogous to those practiced by the Catholic Church over the centuries.

 

To raise funds for the Society / Foundation by means of donations of members, supporters, and volunteers or otherwise for all the purposes of the Society / Foundation  through requests for donations for objects, publications, research and materials distributed, through public campaigns and specific requests for donations, as well as through other means of fund-raising that are both authorized by the National Council and consonant with the Society’s / Foundation’s status as a voluntary, non-profit making organization with registered charity status in Malta.

 

To promote and present the interests of the Society / Foundation and of its members to the notice of local administration and authorities, international Organisations and other authorities.

To enhance the level of cultural attainment in Malta among its members, supporters, donors and volunteers and among the general populace through the holding of cultural public manifestations that are inspired by the traditional Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

 

To form part of any national/international Organisation/s whose aims are similar to that of the Organisation.

 

To promote, encourage and promote research in the subject areas of sociology, anthropology, pure and applied science, religious doctrine, philosophy, theology, ethics and economics, and which relate to the defense and promotion of the ideals of Christian Civilisation and to publish and disseminate the results of said research.   

To do all that which is ancillary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives.

 

Pro Tridentina (Malta) wishes all the best to this organisation, led by Pro Tridentina (Malta) founder, Philip Beattie. The co-operation between Pro Malta Christiana and ASPM's Chaplain Canon Nicholas Doublet (former member of Pro Tridentina (Malta) is also a step in the right direction.

 

Quotes to reflect upon (16)

 

"The People of God need to see priests and deacons behave in a way that is full of reverence and dignity, in order to help them to penetrate invisible things without unnecessary words or explanations. In the Roman Missal of Saint Pius V, as in several Eastern liturgies, there are very beautiful prayers through which the priest expresses the most profound sense of humility and reverence before the Sacred Mysteries: they reveal the very substance of the Liturgy."

 

Saint Pope John Paul II, Address to the Plenary Session of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 21 September, 2001

Quotes to reflect upon (15)

 "…out of reverence towards this Sacrament, nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest’s hands, for touching this Sacrament. Hence, it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it except from necessity, for instance, if it were to fall upon the ground, or else in some other case of urgency."

St Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologiae, IIIa Q82 a3 c

 

This quote is cited in an official statement of the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

Mark Montebello fuq li tkun Tridentin

Fr Mark Montebello OP u l-Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna (Ritratt: Net News)

F'dawn l-aħħar ġranet reġgħet qamet kontroversja dwar Fr Mark Montebello. Mingħajr ma nidħlu fuq il-mertu ta' din id-diskussjoni, fil-passat dan il-Blog kien diġa' ppubblika artiklu negattiv minn dan il-patri dwar ir-Rit Tridentin. Illum nerġgħu nagħtu ħarsa lejn kif jaħsibha Montebello dwar dak kollu li għandu x'jaqsam mal-Konċilju ta' Trentu. Dawn l-artikli kienu ppubblikati 3 snin ilu hawn u hawn minn Montebello nnifsu.

Ekkleżjoloġija Fqira

Spiss għedt (u nerġa’ ngħid għal min irid jisma’) li l-għeruq tal-irrelevanza li l-Knisja Kattolika f’Malta u Għawdex qiegħda ġġarrab dejjem aktar jinsabu fil-faqar tal-viżjoni ekkleżjoloġika u antropoloġika tagħha. Għalkemm dawn huma oqsma duttrinali, jinfluwixxu ħafna fuq l-operat ekkleżjastiku.

 

Fi ftit kliem, l-antropoloġija tiġbor fi ħdanha t-teoriji dwar x’inhu l-bniedem: x’jagħmlu kuntent; x’inhu li jroddlu sens f’ħajtu; x’pożizzjoni għandu fid-dinja u fil-fasla ekonomika u politika, u ħwejjeġ bħal dawn. L-ekkleżjoloġija tiġbor it-teoriji dwar x’inhi l-Knisja: minn xiex hi magħmula; għalfejn teżisti; lejn xiex trid twassal il-ħidma tagħha, u ħwejjeġ bħal dawn.

 

Għalkemm iż-żewġ oqsma huma distinti minn xulxin, huma mhux biss relatati mill-qrib, imma ħafna mit-tieni qasam jiddependi fuq dak li jinħaseb fl-ewwel wieħed. Hawnhekk, illum, se nitħaddet biss dwar it-tieni qasam f’rabta mal-Knisja lokali. Darba oħra, nitħaddet dwar il-qasam l-ieħor.

Ekkleżjoloġija Tridentina

Nibda biex insostni b’konvinzjoni informata li l-ekkleżjoloġija li jħaddnu l-biċċa l-kbira tal-Kattoliċi Maltin u Għawdxin (pastoralment attivi u mhux; kjeriċi u lajċi) hija Tridentina. Dan ifisser li l-kunċett bażiku tagħhom ta’ x’inhi l-Knisja huwa dak imnebbaħ mill-Konċilju ta’ Trentu (tas-seklu 16). Mhuwiex, għandi nżid, kunċett imnebbaħ, kif għandu jkun, mill-Konċilju Vatikan II (seklu 20).
 

Dan il-kunċett Tridentin jistħajjel Knisja li hija armata f’taqbida mqaddsa b’armi spiritwali daqskemm materjali; armata li hi soċjetà magħluqa mikduda bil-ħsieb tal-fruntieri; armata b’regoli fissi, imfassla f’għamla piramidika, b’ideoloġija monolotika u b’perspettiva operattiva ta’ ‘aħna’ u ‘huma’. Hija Knisja b’filosofija ta’ esklussività.

 

F’kuntrast, l-ekkleżjoloġija tal-Konċilju Vatikan II tistħajjel Knisja li hija poplu f’mixja; poplu li qiegħed dejjem jitgħallem u jikber spiritwalment daqskemm umanament; poplu fi ħbiberija ma’ kull sinjal ta’ tjieba u grazzja; poplu ta’ ħbieb u msieħba, b’ideoloġija diversifikata u b’perspettiva operattiva ta’ kooperazzjoni u għajnuna mutwa. Hija Knisja b’filosofija ta’ inklużjoni.

Il-faqar ekkleżjoloġiku

Qrajt għal darba oħra dan l-aħħar (u nisma’ spiss lil min jirrepetiha, ukoll nies bravi, biex ma nsemmix bosta soċerdoti) li l-Knisja hi għamla ta’ partit politiku. Xi wħud jaslu biex jgħidu li hi għamla ta’ trajdunjin, klabb tal-futbol jew saħansitra każin tal-banda. Dawn huma eżempji tajba tal-ekkleżjoloġija Tridentina u tal-faqar ekkleżjoloġiku.

 

Iżda l-punt ewlieni tiegħi hawnhekk mhuwiex x’ekkleżjoloġija jistħajlu dawn in-nies, daqskemm l-anakroniżmu tagħhom. U l-inkwiet veru jibda meta tqis kemm Kattoliċi (u mhux) f’Malta u Għawdex iħaddnu din l-ekkleżjoloġija. L-inkwiet ikompli meta wieħed iqis li l-mexxejja klerikali nfushom għandhom jippropagaw sallum din is-sura ta’ ekkleżjoloġija, jekk mhux espliċitament fit-teorija għallanqas impliċitament fil-prattika.

 

Għal dawn in-nies kollha—li, nissusspetta b’sogħba, isawru l-biċċa l-kbira tal-Kattoliċi Maltin u Għawdxin—il-Konċilju Vatikan II seta’ ma sar xejn. Tridentini kienu u Tridentini għadhom. Biex jilmaħ dan, biżżejjed wieħed jagħti titwila mqar ħafifa lejn it-teoloġija (rudimentali) li jgħallem il-kleru, l-istil (paternalistiku) ta’ ħidma parrokkjali, is-sura (barokka) tal-liturġija u sa l-arti (trijonfalistika) fil-knejjes. Malajr jintebaħ li l-135,000 kelma ta’ Vatikan II kienu bżieq moħli.

Abbandun meħtieġ

Il-punt prattiku hu dan: qabel ma l-Knisja Kattolika fil-gżejjer Maltin tabbanduna l-apparat katidratiku tal-ekkleżjoloġija Tridentina li tħaddan kurrentement ma tista’ qatt tkun ferħ u tama, omm u għalliema, jew dawl fid-dinja tallum. Hija ineżorabbilment ikkundannata għall-irrelevanza u, fl-aħħar mill-aħħar, għall-estinzjoni relattiva.

 

Knisja Kattolika Tridentina ma tistax tissopravivi fid-dinja tallum. Naf perfettament li hu mill-aktar diffiċli li l-ekkleżjoloġija tal-Konċilju Vatikan II tiġi tradotta fi strutturi u fasliet relattivi konkreti. Iżda dan ikun impossibbli mingħajr ir-rieda ‘politika’ (jew amministrattiva) serja u konvinċenti sabiex jibda jseħħ. Minkejja l-paroli li jsir, din ir-rieda sempliċiment ma narahiex.

 

Nifhem li l-kankru ta’ ekkleżjoloġija fqira mhuwiex faċli li timmansah jew tasal biex ixxejnu. Huwa kankru mifrux f’kull fibra tal-ġisem. Biex jibda jċedi jeħtieġ kirugi qalbiena daqskemm għorrief u għaqlija, b’idejn sodi u b’determinazzjoni tal-ħadid.

 

Il-ħsad huwa kbir, iżda l-ħaddiema dgħajfa.

Antropoloġija Ifqar

Fi żmienna, ekkleżjoloġija maħsuba b’fasla mentali legalista (Tridentina) hi anakronista daqs maħsuba b’fasla oġġettivista, jiġifieri bħala oġġett, aktar milli suġġett. Ekkleżjoloġija bħal din dak li tagħmel: tqis lill-bniedem bħala oġġett ta’ liġijiet stabbiliti u duttrini immutabbli, u ma tevalwax biżżejjed is-siwi ta’ kull bniedem fih innifsu. Dan jintwera f’diversi deċiżjonijiet ta’ natura proċedurali, etika u morali li jittieħdu minn min iħaddanha.

Antropoloġija suġġettivistika

Antropoloġija suġġettivistika (jew personalistika, jekk trid) hija dik żviluppata filosofikament u teoloġikament wara r-riflessjonijiet ta’ Immanuel Kant (fis-seklu 18). Flimkien ma’ dak spiritwali, (ontoloġikament) hija tagħti siwi qawwi lill-qasam materjali tal-bniedem. Twieżnu mhux sempliċiment bħala duwalità (ta’ ġisem u ruħ), imma fit-totalità tiegħu (b’mod sħiħ jew ħolistiku).
 

Hija antropoloġija li (mil-lat soċjoloġiku) ma tqisx lill-bnedmin sempliċiment bħala għamliet differenti ta’ forma waħda, b’mod xi ftit jew wisq sterjotipiku. Kull bniedem, bħala suġġett individwali, hu uniku u irrepetibbli; għandu l-kwalitajiet distinti u speċifiċi tiegħu; jistħoqqlu attenzjoni singula u separata. F’dan is-sens, is-soċjetà—kull soċjetà, inkluż il-Knisja—mhijiex primarjament kollettività daqskemm unità ta’ individwi.

 

Antropoloġija suġġettivistika ma tqis lill-bniedem bħala l-quċċata tal-ħolqien u, għaldaqstant, sid tal-ħolqien (inkluż tal-annimali l-oħra u tal-ambjent naturali). Tqisu, pjuttost, bħala parti mill-ħolqien; bħala ħlieqa li, bħall-ferħ tagħha (u fi sħubija mal-pjan divin), trid tgħix f’armonija mal-ħolqien f’rispett sħiħ mal-fasla naturali.

Il-preżenza tal-grazzja

Mil-lat politiku, din l-antropoloġija suġġettivistika ma tqis lill-bniedem bħala riċevitur tal-ħidma tal-istituzzjonijiet, imma, pjuttost, bħala parteċipant primarju fihom. Fi kliem differenti, minn dan il-lat il-bniedem mhuwiex oġġett li jobdi u jsegwi, imma suġġett li jikkontribwixxi u joħloq.

 

Fl-aspett spiritwali tagħha, antropoloġija bħal din ma tistħajjilx ferq nett bejn ir-reliġjuż u s-sekulari; bejn is-sagru u l-profan. B’applikazzjoni tat-twemmin (nisrani) tal-Inkarnazzjoni divina, hija tilmaħ għaqda sħiħa bejn it-tnejn. Xejn ma hu irreliġjuż, għajr id-dnub, u xejn ma hu sagru biss. Is-sagru hu sekulari, u s-sekulari sagru.

 

Dan jgħodd għal kull aspett tal-ħajja naturali u, partikularment, għall-ħajja umana, inkluż l-imħabba, ir-relazzjonijiet inter-personali u inter-suġġettivistiċi, ix-xogħol manwali, il-ħidma pubblika u l-bqija. Tradotta teoloġikament, din timplika li l-grazzja divina mhijiex xi ħaġa tar-ruħ biss, imma wkoll tal-ġisem; mhijiex marbuta ma’ dak li hu reliġjuż jew spiritwali biss, imma wkoll ma’ kull ħidma u sentiment uman.

Rieda għat-tiġdid

Antropoloġija oġġettivistika li tirriżulta minn kunċett ekkleżjoloġiku Tridentin ma tistax twieżen biżżejjed, la l-ekonomija tas-salvazzjoni (għax tirrendiha għal proċess sempliċiment legalistiku u mekkaniku), u lanqas is-siwi tal-esperjenza rikka umana fil-varjetà kollha tagħha. Għaldaqstant, tiċħad li tirrikonoxxi l-preżenza tal-grazzja divina f’oqsma li hi tqis purament sekulari jew profani.
 

B’hekk issir aktar arma ta’ esklużjoni milli għodda ta’ inklużjoni u parteċipazzjoni, bħalma, proprjament, għandha tkun il-Knisja f’xebh ma’ Ġesù, ir-ras u l-ġisem tagħha. Issir aktar arma ta’ firda u ta’ telfien milli għodda ta’ unifikazzjoni u ta’ redenzjoni.

 

Biex nagħlaq dan li fissirt fi ftit kliem ta’ malajr, jekk il-Knisja fil-gżejjer Maltin tista’ xi darba tkun f’pożizzjoni li ġġedded lilha nnifisha, jeħteġilha—bil-grazzja ta’ Alla u bir-rieda ta’ min imexxiha—tieħu l-inkarigu impellattiv li tirrevedi serjament u profondament l-ekkleżjoloġija u l-antropoloġija li tħaddan (l-ewwel nett fil-kleru tagħha).

 

Jekk dan ma jsirx, tkun qed tagħmilha prattikment impossibbli għaliha nnifisha li timxi mal-pass tad-dinja moderna. Mhijiex, għaldaqstant, kwestjoni li tibdel xi duttrina tagħha—xejn minn dan—imma li tevalwa l-istess duttrina b’mod ieħor, f’sinkronija mal-ħsieb u l-esperjenza tal-bniedem tallum.

In memoriam: Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos

 

It is with sadness that we announce the death of Cardinal Dario Castrillón Hoyos, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, who died on 18 May 2018.  The Cardinal was a personal friend of former Pro Tridentina (Malta), Godwin Xuereb. The two had also met in 2011 and discussed the then situation of the traditional liturgy in Malta.

 

Below is a ZENIT translation of the telegram sent by Pope Francis.

 

H.E. Lord Cardinal Angelo Sodano

Dean of the College of Cardinals

Vatican City

 

I learnt the news of the demise of dear Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, and I wish to express my sentiments of condolence to the College of Cardinals, to the relatives and to those who esteemed the late Cardinal, remembering with a grateful spirit his generous service to the Church, especially his precious service given to the Holy See, particularly as Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy and President of the Ecclesia Dei Pontifical Commission, and I raise fervent intercessory prayers to the Lord so that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, He will receive him in eternal joy and peace, and I send the Apostolic Blessing to all those who share the grief over the death of such a meritorious servant of the Gospel.

 

Franciscus PP.

 

© Libreria Editrice Vatican

Mass in the Extraordinary Form in Paola

We are pleased to announce that another Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite will be celebrated in the southern part of Malta.

Date: Monday 28 May 2018 at 18.30

Venue: St. Ubaldesca Church in Paola.

Quotes to reflect upon (14)

"In view of the state of the Church as a whole today, this manner of distributing Holy Communion must be observed, not only because it rests upon a tradition of many centuries but especially because it is a sign of the reverence of the faithful toward the Eucharist. The practice in no way detracts from the personal dignity of those who approach this great Sacrament and it is a part of the preparation needed for the most fruitful reception of the Lord’s body. This reverence is a sign of Holy Communion not in “common bread and drink”but in the Body and Blood of the Lord.

…

In addition, this manner of communicating, which is now to be considered as prescribed by custom, gives more effective assurance that Holy Communion will be distributed with the appropriate reverence, decorum, and dignity; that any danger of profaning the Eucharistic species, in which “the whole and entire Christ, God and man, is substantially contained and permanently present in a unique way,” will be avoided; and finally that the diligent care which the Church has always commended for the very fragments of the consecrated bread will be maintained: “If you have allowed anything to be lost, consider this a lessening of your own members.”

 

Memoriale Domini (29 May 1969),  the Instruction on the Manner of Administering Holy Communion issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship and deploring Communion in the Hand.

Mass in the Extraordinary Form in Tarxien

We at pleased to announce that Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite will be celebrated next Saturday 28 April 2018 at 09.00 at St. Bartholomew & Mater Boni Consilii Church in Tarxien. 

Lithuanian Pilgrims' experience in Malta

A couple of Lithuanian pilgrims, Vita and Darius Andziulė, visited Malta and expressed their wish to attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form.  This platform informed them about Mass in Birkirkara and they attend Mass there on 21 January 2018. They shared their experience with us and we are now sharing it with our readers, as agreed with our Lithuanian friends. (Note: minor editing from us)

"Oh, yes, we’ve been there in Birkirkara the Sunday before (21st of January). It was so nice experience to be there, we were really inspired about the homily! Actually, that’s one of the best things about the Traditional Mass - it’s the same familiar order everywhere, and we felt like home:)

To be honest, only one thing we find not so nice - it was chanting. It’s a pity that chants are only one man thing - we usually have schola cantorum there in Lithuania. So we like to hear calm, semi-professional schola chanting this best liturgical music - Gregorian chant. And it’s not the problem to chant alone, but I really like when chants flows, but the last Sunday in Malta it was a little bit struggling somehow... 

But, we have the best memories about Malta, and it’s absolutely fantastic that you have TLM there!"

Pro Tridentina (Malta) proven right again!

The rupture, as Pro Tridentina (Malta) had written, exists ...

It is not something to be happy about - but Pro Tridentina (Malta) was proven correct again after some months ago we had posted this article.

This was shown by none other Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI ...

 

After being accused of spreading “fake news,” the Vatican last Saturday released the complete letter by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI about Pope Francis. The previously hidden part of the letter provided the full explanation why Benedict XVI has refused to write a commentary on a new Vatican-published compilation of books about Francis’ theological and philosophical background.

 

"Nonetheless, I do not feel that I can write a brief and dense theological page about them because for my whole life it has always been clear that I would write and express myself only on books that I had also truly read. Unfortunately, even if only for physical reasons, I am not able to read the eleven little volumes in the near future, all the more so in that I am under other obligations to which I have already agreed."

Not only did he say that he did not have time, Benedict noted that one of the authors involved in the project had launched “virulent,” ‘’anti-papist” attacks against his teaching and that of St. John Paul II. He said he was “surprised” the Vatican had chosen the theologian to be included in the 11-volume “The Theology of Pope Francis.”

“I’m certain you can understand why I am declining”

 

One must remember that the photojournalism industry standards forbid such manipulation of a photo, especially if it alters the content and meaning of the image, as it did.

When the prefect of the communications office, Monsignor Dario Vigano, read part of Benedict’s letter aloud at the book presentation, he gave the impression that Benedict confirmed that Francis has a solid theological and philosophical training and he praised the book initiative for showing the “interior continuity” between the two papacies. He wrote it was “foolish prejudice” to paint Francis as only a practical man devoid of theology and Benedict as a mere academic who knew nothing of the lives of ordinary faithful.

However, Vigano’s effort to show papal continuity effectively backfired. Benedict’s harsh criticism of German theologian Peter Huenermann,  showed the evident differences in theological approaches of the two popes.

Was the Tridentine Mass ever abolished?

 

Although Benedict XVI in Summorum Pontificum declares that the Tridentine Mass was never abolished, iscourse to twenty new cardinals, nominated in a 1976 consistory, Paul VI explicitly declared otherwise, during his discourse to new cardinals nominated in a 1976 consistory, as reproduced below:

Concistoro Segreto del Santo Padre Paolo VI per la Nomina di Venti Cardinali

"It is in the name of Tradition that we ask all our children, all Catholic communities, to celebrate, in dignity and with fervor, the renewed Liturgy. The adoption of the new "Ordo Missae" is certainly not left to the will of the priests or of the faithful: and the Instruction of 14 June, 1971 provided for the celebration of Mass in the ancient form, with the authorization of the ordinary, only for elderly or infirm priests who offer the Divine Sacrifice sine populo.

"The Novus Ordo was promulgated to replace the old, after mature deliberation, following the requests of the Second Vatican Council. Similarly, our holy predecessor Pius V had made mandatory the Missal reformed under his authority, following the Council of Trent."

UPDATE: Massive liturgical changes - Benedict XVI's reaction

A weak Pope Emeritus fights for the liturgy he loves so much.

 

Four months ago, this Blog had revealed that this year the Novus Ordo Lectionary and Calendar are to be imposed upon the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Mass. However, there is increasing opposition within the Roman Curia to such changes - led by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. A man of integrity and a towering intellect whose theological writings will endure, Benedict XVI, albeit very frail, does not want the dismantling of the work done that culminated in Summorum Pontificum.

 

Benedict XVI's letter to the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, published on 7 February 2018, gives a hint of where the Pope Emeritus' heart lies.

 

“Dear Dott. Franco, 

I was moved that so many readers of your newspaper would like to know how I am spending this last period of my life. I can only say that with the slow decline of my physical forces, interiorly, I am on a pilgrimage towards Home. It is a great grace for me to be surrounded in this last, sometimes a little tiring, piece of road, by such love and goodness that I could not have imagined. In this sense, I also consider the question of your readers as an accompaniment along a stretch. This is why I cannot but be grateful, assuring all of you of my prayers. Best regards.” (Emphasis ours)

However, the modernist wing continues the implementation of its task unabated. The so-called 'reform of the reform' will be further weakened, at the expense of the pre-Conciliar liturgy as much as possible. More on this to follow...

Profession of the immutable truths about sacramental marriage

After the publication of the Apostolic Exhortation "Amoris Laetitia" (2016) various bishops issued at local, regional, and national levels applicable norms regarding the sacramental discipline of those faithful, called "divorced and remarried," who having still a living spouse to whom they are united with a valid sacramental matrimonial bond, have nevertheless begun a stable cohabitation more uxorio with a person who is not their legitimate spouse.

The aforementioned rules provide inter alia that in individual cases the persons, called "divorced and remarried," may receive the sacrament of Penance and Holy Communion, while continuing to live habitually and intentionally more uxorio with a person who is not their legitimate spouse. These pastoral norms have received approval from various hierarchical authorities. Some of these norms have received approval even from the supreme authority of the Church.

The spread of these ecclesiastically approved pastoral norms has caused a considerable and ever increasing confusion among the faithful and the clergy, a confusion that touches the central manifestations of the life of the Church, such as sacramental marriage with the family, the domestic church, and the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist.

According to the doctrine of the Church, only the sacramental matrimonial bond constitutes a domestic church (see Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, 11). The admission of so-called "divorced and remarried" faithful to Holy Communion, which is the highest expression of the unity of Christ the Spouse with His Church, means in practice a way of approving or legitimizing divorce, and in this meaning a kind of introduction of divorce in the life of the Church.

The mentioned pastoral norms are revealed in practice and in time as a means of spreading the "plague of divorce" (an expression used by the Second Vatican Council, see Gaudium et spes, 47). It is a matter of spreading the "plague of divorce" even in the life of the Church, when the Church, instead, because of her unconditional fidelity to the doctrine of Christ, should be a bulwark and an unmistakable sign of contradiction against the plague of divorce which is every day more rampant in civil society.

Unequivocally and without admitting any exception Our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ solemnly reaffirmed God's will regarding the absolute prohibition of divorce. An approval or legitimation of the violation of the sacredness of the marriage bond, even indirectly through the mentioned new sacramental discipline, seriously contradicts God's express will and His commandment. This practice therefore represents a substantial alteration of the two thousand-year-old sacramental discipline of the Church. Furthermore, a substantially altered discipline will eventually lead to an alteration in the corresponding doctrine.

The constant Magisterium of the Church, beginning with the teachings of the Apostles and of all the Supreme Pontiffs, has preserved and faithfully transmitted both in the doctrine (in theory) and in the sacramental discipline (in practice) in an unequivocal way, without any shadow of doubt and always in the same sense and in the same meaning (eodem sensu eademque sententia), the crystalline teaching of Christ concerning the indissolubility of marriage.

Because of its Divinely established nature, the discipline of the sacraments must never contradict the revealed word of God and the faith of the Church in the absolute indissolubility of a ratified and consummated marriage. "The sacraments not only presuppose faith, but by words and objects they also nourish, strengthen, and express it; that is why they are called "sacraments of faith." (Second Vatican Council, Sacrosanctum Concilium, 59). "Even the supreme authority in the Church may not change the liturgy arbitrarily, but only in the obedience of faith and with religious respect for the mystery of the liturgy" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1125).

The Catholic faith by its nature excludes a formal contradiction between the faith professed on the one hand and the life and practice of the sacraments on the other. In this sense we can also understand the following affirmation of the Magisterium: "This split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives deserves to be counted among the more serious errors of our age." (Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, 43) and "Accordingly, the concrete pedagogy of the Church must always remain linked with her doctrine and never be separated from it" (John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, 33).

In view of the vital importance that the doctrine and discipline of marriage and the Eucharist constitute, the Church is obliged to speak with the same voice. The pastoral norms regarding the indissolubility of marriage must not, therefore, be contradicted between one diocese and another, between one country and another. Since the time of the Apostles, the Church has observed this principle as St. Irenaeus of Lyons testifies: "The Church, though spread throughout the world to the ends of the earth, having received the faith from the Apostles and their disciples, preserves this preaching and this faith with care and, as if she inhabits a single house, believes in the same identical way, as if she had only one soul and only one heart, and preaches the truth of the faith, teaches it and transmits it in a unanimous voice, as if she had only one mouth"(Adversus haereses, I, 10, 2). Saint Thomas Aquinas transmits to us the same perennial principle of the life of the Church: "There is one and the same faith of the ancients and the moderns, otherwise there would not be one and the same Church" (Questiones Disputatae de Veritate, q. 14, a. 12c).

The following warning from Pope John Paul II remains current and valid: "The confusion, created in the conscience of many faithful by the differences of opinions and teachings in theology, in preaching, in catechesis, in spiritual direction, about serious and delicate questions of Christian morals, ends up by diminishing the true sense of sin almost to the point of eliminating it" (Apostolic Exhortation Reconciliatio et Paenitenia, 18).

The meaning of the following statements of the Magisterium of the Church is fully applicable to the doctrine and sacramental discipline concerning the indissolubility of a ratified and consummated marriage:

• "For the Church of Christ, watchful guardian that she is, and defender of the dogmas deposited with her, never changes anything, never diminishes anything, never adds anything to them; but with all diligence she treats the ancient doctrines faithfully and wisely, which the faith of the Fathers has transmitted. She strives to investigate and explain them in such a way that the ancient dogmas of heavenly doctrine will be made evident and clear, but will retain their full, integral, and proper nature, and will grow only within their own genus — that is, within the same dogma, in the same sense and the same meaning” (Pius IX, Dogmatic Bull Ineffabilis Deus)

• "With regard to the very substance of truth, the Church has before God and men the sacred duty to announce it, to teach it without any attenuation, as Christ revealed it, and there is no condition of time that can reduce the rigor of this obligation. It binds in conscience every priest who is entrusted with the care of teaching, admonishing, and guiding the faithful "(Pius XII, Discourse to parish priests and Lenten preachers, March 23, 1949).

• "The Church does not historicize, does not relativize to the metamorphoses of profane culture the nature of the Church that is always equal and faithful to itself, as Christ wanted it and authentic tradition perfected it" (Paul VI, Homily from October 28, 1965).

• "Now it is an outstanding manifestation of charity toward souls to omit nothing from the saving doctrine of Christ" (Paul VI, Encyclical Humanae Vitae, 29).

• "Any conjugal difficulties are resolved without ever falsifying and compromising the truth" (John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, 33).

• "The Church is in no way the author or the arbiter of this norm [of the Divine moral law]. In obedience to the truth which is Christ, whose image is reflected in the nature and dignity of the human person, the Church interprets the moral norm and proposes it to all people of good will, without concealing its demands of radicalness and perfection" (John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, 33).

• “The other principle is that of truth and consistency, whereby the church does not agree to call good evil and evil good. Basing herself on these two complementary principles, the church can only invite her children who find themselves in these painful situations to approach the divine mercy by other ways, not however through the sacraments of penance and the eucharist until such time as they have attained the required dispositions” (John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, 34).

• "The Church's firmness in defending the universal and unchanging moral norms is not demeaning at all. Its only purpose is to serve man's true freedom. Because there can be no freedom apart from or in opposition to the truth"(John Paul II, Encyclical Veritatis Splendor, 96).

• “When it is a matter of the moral norms prohibiting intrinsic evil, there are no privileges or exceptions for anyone. It makes no difference whether one is the master of the world or the "poorest of the poor" on the face of the earth. Before the demands of morality we are all absolutely equal" (emphasis in original) (John Paul II, Encyclical Veritatis Splendor, 96).

• "The obligation of reiterating this impossibility of admission to the Eucharist is required for genuine pastoral care and for an authentic concern for the well-being of these faithful and of the whole Church, as it indicates the conditions necessary for the fullness of that conversion to which all are always invited by the Lord“ (Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Declaration on the admissibility to the Holy Communion of the divorced and remarried, 24 June 2000, n. 5).

As Catholic bishops, who - according to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council - must defend the unity of faith and the common discipline of the Church, and take care that the light of the full truth should arise for all men (see Lumen Gentium, 23) we are forced in conscience to profess in the face of the current rampant confusion the unchanging truth and the equally immutable sacramental discipline regarding the indissolubility of marriage according to the bimillennial and unaltered teaching of the Magisterium of the Church. In this spirit we reiterate:

• Sexual relationships between people who are not in the bond to one another of a valid marriage - which occurs in the case of the so-called "divorced and remarried" - are always contrary to God's will and constitute a grave offense against God.

• No circumstance or finality, not even a possible imputability or diminished guilt, can make such sexual relations a positive moral reality and pleasing to God. The same applies to the other negative precepts of the Ten Commandments of God. Since “there exist acts which, per se and in themselves, independently of circumstances, are always seriously wrong by reason of their object" (John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Reconciliatio et Paenitentia, 17).

• The Church does not possess the infallible charism of judging the internal state of grace of a member of the faithful (see Council of Trent, session 24, chapter 1). The non-admission to Holy Communion of the so-called "divorced and remarried" does not therefore mean a judgment on their state of grace before God, but a judgment on the visible, public, and objective character of their situation. Because of the visible nature of the sacraments and of the Church herself, the reception of the sacraments necessarily depends on the corresponding visible and objective situation of the faithful.

• It is not morally licit to engage in sexual relations with a person who is not one’s legitimate spouse supposedly to avoid another sin. Since the Word of God teaches us, it is not lawful "to do evil so that good may come" (Romans 3, 8).

• The admission of such persons to Holy Communion may be permitted only when they with the help of God's grace and a patient and individual pastoral accompaniment make a sincere intention to cease from now on the habit of such sexual relations and to avoid scandal. It is in this way that true discernment and authentic pastoral accompaniment were always expressed in the Church.

• People who have habitual non-marital sexual relations violate their indissoluble sacramental nuptial bond with their life style in relation to their legitimate spouse. For this reason they are not able to participate "in Spirit and in Truth" (see John 4, 23) at the Eucharistic wedding supper of Christ, also taking into account the words of the rite of Holy Communion: "Blessed are the guests at the wedding supper of the Lamb!" (Revelation 19, 9).

• The fulfillment of God's will, revealed in His Ten Commandments and in His explicit and absolute prohibition of divorce, constitutes the true spiritual good of the people here on earth and will lead them to the true joy of love in the salvation of eternal life.

Being bishops in the pastoral office those, who promote the Catholic and Apostolic faith ("cultores catholicae et apostolicae fidei", see Missale Romanum, Canon Romanus), we are aware of this grave responsibility and our duty before the faithful who await from us a public and unequivocal profession of the truth and the immutable discipline of the Church regarding the indissolubility of marriage. For this reason we are not allowed to be silent.

We affirm therefore in the spirit of St. John the Baptist, of St. John Fisher, of St. Thomas More, of Blessed Laura Vicuña and of numerous known and unknown confessors and martyrs of the indissolubility of marriage:

It is not licit (non licet) to justify, approve, or legitimize either directly or indirectly divorce and a non-conjugal stable sexual relationship through the sacramental discipline of the admission of so-called "divorced and remarried" to Holy Communion, in this case a discipline alien to the entire Tradition of the Catholic and Apostolic faith.

By making this public profession before our conscience and before God who will judge us, we are sincerely convinced that we have provided a service of charity in truth to the Church of our day and to the Supreme Pontiff, Successor of Saint Peter and Vicar of Christ on earth .

31 December 2017, the Feast of the Holy Family, in the year of the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima.

+ Tomash Peta, Archbishop Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana

+ Jan Pawel Lenga, Archbishop-Bishop of Karaganda

+ Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana

Pro Tridentina (Malta) on LinkedIn.

Pro Tridentina (Malta) is now on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a business- and employment-oriented social networking service that operates via websites and mobile apps. The aim is to use this medium to organise Tridentine Masses on a regular basis, in particular in the South of Malta and Gozo. Contact us on:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pro-tridentina-malta-711874151