Latest developments between the Holy See and the SSPX

The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED), on 18 April, released the following communique:

"On 17 April, as requested during the 16 March meeting held at the offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Commission received the response of Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the Society of St. Pius X. The text of the response will be examined by the dicastery then submitted to the Holy Father for his judgement".

In the same day, Father Federico Lombardi, S.J., had this to say (the following is a transcription of his oral comments to journalists by Dr. Robert Moynihan):

"Today's news means that yesterday Bp. Fellay's response, that had been requested by Cardinal Levada at the last meeting, was delivered to the Congregation, to the Ecclesia Dei Commission, to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Now, this response, it is a response that, according to the words of those who could see it, is a very different response from the previous one, and this is encouraging, we proceed forward. But, naturally, we also find in the response the addition of some details or integrations to the text of the doctrinal preamble that had been proposed by the Congregation for a doctrinal agreement, and this response will be discussed, it will be examined first by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in one of its meetings of the next few weeks and, afterwards, it will also naturally be examined directly by the Pope. It can be said that steps forward have been taken, that is to say, that the response, the new response, is rather encouraging, but there are still developments that will be made, and examined, and decisions that should be taken in the next few weeks. I think the wait will not be long because there is the desire to reach a conclusion in these discussions, in these contacts."

The General House of the SSPX, also on 18 April, released the following communique:

"The media are announcing that Bishop Bernard Fellay has sent a “positive response” to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and that consequently the doctrinal question between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X is now resolved.

The reality is different.

In a letter dated April 17, 2012, the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X responded to the request for clarification that had been made to him on March 16 by Cardinal William Levada concerning the Doctrinal Preamble delivered on September 14, 2011. As the press release dated today [April 17] from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith indicates, the text of this response “will be examined by the dicastery then submitted to the Holy Father for his judgement”. 

This is therefore a stage and not a conclusion.

Menzingen, April 18, 2012"

 

Benedict XVI's 85th Birthday

On 16 April 2012, Benedict XVI celebrated his eighty-fifth birthday.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, addressed some words to the Holy Father.

"Today, on the occasion of your birthday, we wish to thank you for the solicitude with which you carry out this service of love."

"It is no coincidence that your first Encyclical was a hymn to the Love that is God, the love which must always animate pastors, who are called to bring the light of God, the warmth of His love, into the world."

"Holy Father, may the Lord continue to remain at your side, accomplishing the promise announced by God to the just man in Psalm 90: 'With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation'".

Brief Biography

Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was born on 16 April 1927,  in his parents' home in Marktl, Bavaria, Germany. He was baptised the same day. Ratzinger attended the elementary school in Aschau am Inn, which was renamed in his honour in 2009.


Following his 14th birthday in 1941, Ratzinger was conscripted into the Hitler Jugend —as membership was required by law for all 14-year-old German boys after December 1939 — but was an unenthusiastic member who refused to attend meetings, according to his brother. In 1941, one of Ratzinger's cousins, a 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome, was taken away by the Nazi regime and killed.  In 1943, while still in seminary, he was drafted into the German anti-aircraft corps. Ratzinger then trained in the German infantry.

As the Allied front drew closer to his post in 1945, he deserted back to his family's home in Traunstein after his unit had ceased to exist. As a German soldier, he was put in a POW camp but was released a few months later at the end of the war in the summer of 1945. He reentered the seminary, along with his brother Georg, in November of that year.

After a long career as an academic, serving as a professor of theology at various German universities—the last being the University of Regensburg—he was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome when he became Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of  Faith. From 2002 until his election as Pope, he was also Dean of the College of Cardinals.

In addition to his native German, Benedict speaks French and Italian fluently. He also has a very good command of Latin and speaks English and Spanish adequately. Furthermore, he has some knowledge of Portuguese. He can read Ancient Greek and biblical Hebrew. He plays the piano and has a preference for Mozart and Bach.

During his papacy, Benedict XVI has advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increased secularisation of many developed countries. He views relativism's denial of objective truth, and the denial of moral truths in particular, as the central problem of the 21st century. He teaches the importance of both the Catholic Church and an understanding of God's redemptive love.

Pope Benedict XVI has also revived a number of liturgical traditions including elevating the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.

Ad multos annos!

Towards an agreement in Malta?

Rumours are circulating that, in the near future, an agreement will be reached between a Maltese benefactor and one of the parishes in Valletta. The agreement stipulates, inter alia, the following:

• a financial package for a restoration project;
• the celebration of Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form every Sunday;
• premises made available for seminars and other related activities for groups that promote the Tridentine Rite.

I stress that they are still rumours but I was informed from a couple of different and reliable sources.  It would surely be a wonderful and much awaited gift for the Church in Malta.

Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Benedicto.
Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius. [Ps 40:3]

An important week for Pope Benedict XVI

This week is an important one for our Pope, Benedict XVI:

a) his 85th birthday;

b) his seventh anniversary as Roman Pontiff;

c) the SSPX reply to last month's request.

In the coming days we will delve in brief on these three events.

Prosit Pro Tridentina (Malta)

Nixtieq nifraħ lil Pro Tridentina (Malta) tal-ħidma mwettqa fl-aħħar ġimgħat. Jalla li t-tibdil konkret li sar u l-Quddies bil-Forma Straordinarja organizzat iħalli l-frott u b'hekk il-motu proprio Summorum Pontificum ikun implimentat f'Malta f'kull sens. 

Ninsab konvint li t-tim il-ġdid, b'taħlita ta' nies b'esperjenza u l-ġodda bil-ħeġġa tagħhom, se jmexxi 'l quddiem l-għanijiet li għalihom twaqqfet Pro Tridentina (Malta).

Nittama li fil-futur inkun infurmat minn qabel sabiex, fejn ikun possibbli, nattendi.


Godwin Xuereb

The Pope's Via Crucis (Made in Austria)

...and Pope Benedict faces yet another challenge

Dark clouds are gathering in Austria...

Yesterday Pope Benedict XVI celebrated a Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. His Holiness took the occasion to criticise last year's call (Appeal to Disobedience) by a group of priests in Austria to oppose a number of traditional Church teachings, including the liturgy. 

Most mainstream media are emphasising the issues of celibacy and women priests, however their first point targets the liturgy - a more than a veiled attack against the Pope's efforts in this area (read Summorum Pontificum and Universae Ecclesiae). 
 

Below are key excerpts from Benedict XVI's homily, followed by the text of the rebel Austrian priests:

Benedict XVI: “Recently a group of priests from a European country issued a summons to disobedience, and at the same time gave concrete examples of the forms this disobedience might take.”
 

“But is disobedience really a way to do this? Do we sense here anything of that configuration to Christ which is the precondition for true renewal, or do we merely sense a desperate push to do something to change the Church in accordance with one’s own preferences and ideas?”

“The saints show us how renewal works and how we can place ourselves at its service. And they help us realize that God is not concerned so much with great numbers and with outward successes, but achieves his victories under the humble sign of the mustard seed.”

“We preach not private theories and opinions, but the faith of the Church, of which we are servants.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Appeal to Disobedience

The Roman refusal to take up long needed reforms and the inaction of the bishops, not only permits but demands that we follow our conscience and act independently:

We priests want to set a mark for the future:

1. WE WILL include a petition for church reform in every liturgy.

2. WE WILL not deny Communion to faithful of good will, especially remarried people, members of other Christian churches, and in some cases those who have officially left the Catholic Church.*

3. WE WILL avoid as much as possible celebrating multiple times on Sundays and feast days, and avoid scheduling priests travelling around or priests unknown to the community. A locally-planned Liturgy of the Word is preferable to providing guest performances.

4. WE WILL use the term “Priestless Eucharistic Celebration” for a Liturgy of the Word with distribution of Communion. This is how the Sunday Mass obligation is fulfilled when priests are in short supply.

5. WE WILL ignore the prohibition of preaching by competently trained laity, including female religion teachers. In difficult times, the Word of God must be proclaimed.

6. WE WILL advocate that every parish has a presiding leader – man or woman, married or unmarried, full-time or part time. Rather than consolidating parishes, We call for a new image of the priest.

7. WE WILL take every opportunity to speak up publicly for the admission of women and married people to the priesthood. These would be welcome colleagues in ministry.

We express solidarity with colleagues no longer permitted to exercise their ministry because we have married, and also with those in ministry who live in a permanent relationship. Both groups live in accordance with their conscience – as we do with our protest. We see in them as we do in our bishops and the pope our brothers. **

* Here we refer to those who officially leave the Church; some to avoid Church Tax as a means of protest

** This is a reference to the German Word "Mitbruder" instead of "Bruder" (brother) which is sometimes used by clerics and excludes the laity.

Trinity Sunday, 19 June, 2011

Tridentine Mass in St. Peter's Basilica

For those lucky enough to be in Rome, it is interesting to note that Fr. Mark Withoos, an Australian priest who works for the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED), celebrates the Tridentine Mass most mornings at 07:00 at the Altar of the Transfiguration in St. Peter's Basilica.

The Altar of the Transfiguration, is famous for the mosaic reproduction of one of the masterpieces of Raphael (1483-1520), the great painter's last work. Jesus, bathed in light, is borne aloft between Moses and Elijah, also in ecstasy, while the Apostles Peter, James and John, prostrate, contemplate this glimpse of paradise. On the left are Sts. Felicissimus and Agapitus, who are commemorated on 6 August, the Feast of the Transfiguration.

Beneath the altar are the remains of Blessed Pope Innocent XI, his face and hands covered with silver.

New website from the CDF

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has opened a new domain: www.doctrinafidei.va within the official website of the Holy See. This development should facilitate the consultation of its documents in particular for those who are engaged in theological and pastoral work.

There is a general list of all the texts organised chronologically, and three subgroups of these texts, divided into:

• doctrinal,
  
• disciplinary, and
  
• sacramental documents.

Another section includes information on the Congregation's series Documenti e Studi, which are individual printed volumes presenting a major document of the Congregation together with commentaries by noted theologians. There is also a description of the volumes containing the proceedings of various symposia organised by the Congregation in recent years, as well as speeches and other contributions by cardinal prefects.

The documents of the Congregation which have been published are those since the time of the Second Vatican Council.

Case for Tridentine Mass

Sunday, March 18, 2012 ,

by Zak Portelli, Swieqi

I would like to remind Marie Dean (The Sunday Times, February 26) that Malta is not like other countries that have indeed welcomed the Pope’s motu proprio on the celebration of the Tridentine Mass. Here the very mention of Latin would horrify some priests. Every Sunday at 9.15 a.m. there is Latin Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta using the 1972 missal Novus ordo, celebrated on a dining room table, but when there is a pontifical Mass (Christmas, Epiphany, etc.) it is celebrated in Maltese with only the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei sung in Latin.

Am I correct in believing that the Tridentine Mass has not been celebrated at the high altar of St John’s for over 40 years? What is wrong with the Tridentine Mass? If Pope St Pius V during the dogmatic Council of Trent (1545-63) published the Tridentine Missal stating “...this missal can be used everywhere lawfully and freely without any scruple of mind now and in perpetuity”, why do we still have to constantly quarrel with priests who seem to think that the Church never existed before Vatican II?

On several occasions we haveTridentine Masses at the parish church of Ta’ l-Ibraġ, with the permission of the Archbishop; however, there is no regular Tridentine Mass.

St John’s would be a perfect place for a Tridentine Mass; let us hope that the cathedral chapter will be as generous as the Gospel asks them to be and allow the Tridentine Mass to take the place of the 9.15 a.m. Conventual Latin Mass. The Cathedral has a resident choir that is extremely capable when it comes to Latin chants; it has a high altar and many other things that befit the Tridentine Mass.

Disclaimer - The posting of this letter on this site does not in any way, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support by Godwin Xuereb.

Fracture between the Holy See and the SSPX to continue?

Negotiations between Cardinal William Levada, the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED) and Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the SSPX have led to nowhere.

After seven years of numerous meetings and discussions, the Vatican has rejected the SSPX's position as "insufficient". The Vatican said that the position of the SSPX “is not enough to overcome the doctrinal problems that are the basis of the fracture between the Holy See and the Society of Saint Pius X".

Last September, the PCED had delivered the SSPX with a Doctrinal preamble in which it indicated what was needed in order to overcome the difficulties with the Catholic Church. In January 2012, the SSPX proposed some amendments to the Vatican, which were then looked over by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and allegedly by Pope Benedict XVI too.

The PCED has given a final deadline of one month for a definitive response by the SSPX.

Comment by Mr Leo Darroch, FIUV President

The FIUV ... is presenting papers on matters of current concern in the light of possible changes to the Missal of 1962. In furtherance of this objective we welcome intelligent debate.

We know for a fact that the PCED has commenced work on this project so what do we do? Do we wait until a revised Missal is published and then register futile complaints, or do we do what the FIUV has done for more than 40 years and defend the integrity of this Missal with vigour on behalf of the laity (and many priests) who, individually, have no voice.

(From a comment submitted to Rorate Coeli website earlier this month)

Launching of position papers by FIUV

I am reproducing below an announcement from FIUV. It is important that we Maltese follow closely and contribute where possible. Godwin Xuereb

Dossier Liturgy

FIUV launches discussion papers on the 1962 Missal The Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce (FIUV) is launching a series of short 'position papers' on aspects of the 1962 Missal, with a view to stimulating debate on aspects of the 'Extraordinary Form' which have been criticised in the past, and might be subject to change in the future.

We have a two-fold goal. First, to contribute to a debate, which has been on-going since at least the mid 20th Century, about the theological appropriateness and pastoral effectiveness of (what is now, in the Holy Father's phrase) 'the former liturgical tradition'. We wish to equip those attached to this tradition with the best possible arguments, backed by the best authorities, for maintaining the organic integrity of this tradition, expressed as succinctly as possible but, we hope, comprehensible to a wide audience. We hope in this way to raise the standard of debate which takes place no longer only in the seminar room, but wherever Catholics meet, particularly on the internet.

Secondly, we do this in light of the Holy Father's letter to Bishops accompanying the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum:

For that matter, the two Forms of the usage of the Roman Rite can be mutually enriching: new Saints and some of the new Prefaces can and should be inserted in the old Missal. The "Ecclesia Dei" Commission, in contact with various bodies devoted to the usus antiquior, will study the practical possibilities in this regard.

The FIUV is not merely one among many 'bodies devoted to the EF', but is the only international body able to speak for the laity attached to this form of the liturgy. We were established in 1965, at the very beginning of the 'Traditional Movement', and represent a large and growing number of lay associations in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. We have been representing the views and needs of our member associations in Rome, and to the wider world, for nearly half a century.

Accordingly, we have set up a 'Liturgy and Spirituality Subcommittee' to coordinate the development and publication of these position papers. I (Joseph Shaw, coincidentally Chairman of the Latin Mass Society) am the Moderator of that Subcommittee, and in that capacity I am presenting these papers to the public, on Rorate Caeli, thanks to New Catholic's great hospitality.

Mass celebrated by Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos, St Peter's, Rome, for the FIUV General Assembly, Nov 2011

While the Holy Father makes reference to two areas of possible change to the 1962 books, new Saints and Prefaces, debate about the future of these liturgical books is not limited to those matters. For that reason, and also because of the first mentioned purpose of these papers, we will be addressing topics on a wide range of issues. As well as an introductory paper, giving something of a disclaimer about our remit, the first six topics planned are:

The Service of Men and Boys at the Altar
Liturgical Piety and Participation
The Method of Receiving Communion
The Vulgate and Gallican Psalter
Liturgical Orientation
Holy Week

No Tridentine Mass at St. John's

Sunday, February 26, 2012 , by

Marie Dean, Ashbourne, Co. Meath, Eire

I was surprised, living in Malta for three months, that there was no Tridentine Latin Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

In Sacrosanctum Concilium, a document of Vatican II from 1963, Pope Paul VI said the Mass was “a sacred action surpassing all others”. However, this sacredness, as well as respect and awe, has been lost by the emphasis on the people in the Novus Ordo, and the ignoring of the Transcendence of God.

The beauty of the Mass for the Ages, with the balance of silence and chant, brings a new spirituality to those who attend. I am sorry that one of the most beautiful churches of the world does not present the most beautiful liturgy in the world, the Tridentine Mass.

I ask those in charge of the liturgical life of the Church in Malta to come into the movement which is sweeping the Church in all other Western countries, the revival of the Tridentine Mass, the most beautiful masterpiece of man’s creation in response to Revelation and Tradition. I predict a renewal of Catholicism, desperately needed in Malta, would be the result of this rediscovered beauty in St John’s.