'The Revival of Obsolete Rites deserves Severe Reproof'
Jan 3, 2020 15:07:49 GMT
Post by Admin on Jan 3, 2020 15:07:49 GMT
Dear friends, many of you will recall that Archbishop Lefebvre said repeatedly (a few examples here and here) that the New Sacraments of the Conciliar Church were of doubtful validity. He frequently showed how they were infected with the tenets of Protestantism, Modernism, and Freemasonry. This humble and prudent Shepherd of souls incessantly counseled that we must stay away from these New Sacraments, the New Mass, etc. if we were to save our souls.
Pope Paul VI himself gives us a simple reason to express doubt regarding the New Rite of Episcopal Consecration, a Rite which might very well be condemned when the Church is once again under a good and saintly Pope:
Pontificalis Romani recognitio - Approval of New Rites of Ordination
Promulgated June 18, 1968
Apostolic Constitution
Apostolic Constitution
Servant of the Servants of God for an Everlasting Memorial
The revision of the Roman Pontifical is prescribed in a general way by the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and is also governed by the specific conciliar directive ordering the revision of "both the ceremonies and texts" of the ordination rites.
[...]
The revision of the rites for ordinations is to follow the general principles that must direct the entire reform of the Liturgy according to the decrees of Vatican Council II.
The revision of the rites for ordinations is to follow the general principles that must direct the entire reform of the Liturgy according to the decrees of Vatican Council II.
... it is [cl]ear that the laying on of hands and the words of consecration bestow the grace of the Holy Spirit and impress a sacred character in such a way that bishops in an eminent and visible way carry on the role of Christ himself as teacher, shepherd, and high priest and act in his person. To these words must be added a number of important doctrinal points concerning the apostolic succession of bishops and their functions and duties. Even if these themes are already present in the rite of episcopal consecration, it still seems that they must be better and more precisely expressed. To ensure this, it was judged appropriate to take from ancient sources the consecratory prayer that is found in the document called the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus of Rome, written at the beginning of the third century. This consecratory prayer is still used, in large part, in the ordination rites of the Coptic and West Syrian liturgies. Thus in the very act of ordination there is a witness to the harmony of tradition in East and West concerning the apostolic office of bishops.
And later in the same document:
It was necessary in the revision of the rite (for the diaconate and the priesthood) to add, delete, or change certain things, in order to restore the texts of the rite to the form they had in antiquity, to clarify expressions, or to bring out more clearly the effects of the sacraments.
Dear friends, this 'restoration to their form in antiquity' is expressly condemned by Pope Pius XII in Mediator Dei (1947) - a mere 21 years before these frenetic changes to the Sacraments in the aftermath of Vatican II:
59. [...] the temerity and daring of those who introduce novel liturgical practices, or call for the revival of obsolete rites out of harmony with prevailing laws and rubrics, deserve severe reproof. It has pained Us grievously to note, Venerable Brethren, that such innovations are actually being introduced, not merely in minor details but in matters of major importance as well.
61. The same reasoning holds in the case of some persons who are bent on the restoration of all the ancient rites and ceremonies indiscriminately. The liturgy of the early ages is most certainly worthy of all veneration. But ancient usage must not be esteemed more suitable and proper, either in its own right or in its significance for later times and new situations, on the simple ground that it carries the savor and aroma of antiquity. The more recent liturgical rites likewise deserve reverence and respect. They, too, owe their inspiration to the Holy Spirit, who assists the Church in every age even to the consummation of the world.[52] They are equally the resources used by the majestic Spouse of Jesus Christ to promote and procure the sanctity of man.
62. [...] But it is neither wise nor laudable to reduce everything to antiquity by every possible device. Thus, to cite some instances, one would be straying from the straight path were he to wish the altar restored to its primitive tableform; were he to want black excluded as a color for the liturgical vestments; were he to forbid the use of sacred images and statues in Churches; were he to order the crucifix so designed that the divine Redeemer’s body shows no trace of His cruel sufferings; and lastly were he to disdain and reject polyphonic music or singing in parts, even where it conforms to regulations issued by the Holy See.
63. Clearly no sincere Catholic can refuse to accept the formulation of Christian doctrine more recently elaborated and proclaimed as dogmas by the Church, under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit with abundant fruit for souls, because it pleases him to hark back to the old formulas. No more can any Catholic in his right senses repudiate existing legislation of the Church to revert to prescriptions based on the earliest sources of canon law. Just as obviously unwise and mistaken is the zeal of one who in matters liturgical would go back to the rites and usage of antiquity, discarding the new patterns introduced by disposition of divine Providence to meet the changes of circumstances and situation.
64. This way of acting bids fair to revive the exaggerated and senseless antiquarianism to which the illegal Council of Pistoia gave rise. [See here an excellent short Catechism given by Fr. Hewko on the bull Auctorem Fidei by Pope Pius VI that addresses the errors of the Council of Pistoia. - The Catacombs] It likewise attempts to reinstate a series of errors which were responsible for the calling of that meeting as well as for those resulting from it, with grievous harm to souls, and which the Church, the ever watchful guardian of the “deposit of faith” committed to her charge by her divine Founder, had every right and reason to condemn. For perverse designs and ventures of this sort tend to paralyze and weaken that process of sanctification by which the sacred liturgy directs the sons of adoption to their Heavenly Father of their souls’ salvation.
61. The same reasoning holds in the case of some persons who are bent on the restoration of all the ancient rites and ceremonies indiscriminately. The liturgy of the early ages is most certainly worthy of all veneration. But ancient usage must not be esteemed more suitable and proper, either in its own right or in its significance for later times and new situations, on the simple ground that it carries the savor and aroma of antiquity. The more recent liturgical rites likewise deserve reverence and respect. They, too, owe their inspiration to the Holy Spirit, who assists the Church in every age even to the consummation of the world.[52] They are equally the resources used by the majestic Spouse of Jesus Christ to promote and procure the sanctity of man.
62. [...] But it is neither wise nor laudable to reduce everything to antiquity by every possible device. Thus, to cite some instances, one would be straying from the straight path were he to wish the altar restored to its primitive tableform; were he to want black excluded as a color for the liturgical vestments; were he to forbid the use of sacred images and statues in Churches; were he to order the crucifix so designed that the divine Redeemer’s body shows no trace of His cruel sufferings; and lastly were he to disdain and reject polyphonic music or singing in parts, even where it conforms to regulations issued by the Holy See.
63. Clearly no sincere Catholic can refuse to accept the formulation of Christian doctrine more recently elaborated and proclaimed as dogmas by the Church, under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit with abundant fruit for souls, because it pleases him to hark back to the old formulas. No more can any Catholic in his right senses repudiate existing legislation of the Church to revert to prescriptions based on the earliest sources of canon law. Just as obviously unwise and mistaken is the zeal of one who in matters liturgical would go back to the rites and usage of antiquity, discarding the new patterns introduced by disposition of divine Providence to meet the changes of circumstances and situation.
64. This way of acting bids fair to revive the exaggerated and senseless antiquarianism to which the illegal Council of Pistoia gave rise. [See here an excellent short Catechism given by Fr. Hewko on the bull Auctorem Fidei by Pope Pius VI that addresses the errors of the Council of Pistoia. - The Catacombs] It likewise attempts to reinstate a series of errors which were responsible for the calling of that meeting as well as for those resulting from it, with grievous harm to souls, and which the Church, the ever watchful guardian of the “deposit of faith” committed to her charge by her divine Founder, had every right and reason to condemn. For perverse designs and ventures of this sort tend to paralyze and weaken that process of sanctification by which the sacred liturgy directs the sons of adoption to their Heavenly Father of their souls’ salvation.
Dear friends, let us continue to put ourselves in Our Lady's hands, that we not be misled or deceived into a compromise in any way with Vatican II, no matter how innocuous it appears. What could be more innocent appearing than to resurrect a supposedly 'ancient' text (Hippolytus) to be used for the consecration of a bishop. Yet, we now know that in recent years that even this same text of Hippolytus, parts of which are used in both the New Mass and the New Rite of Episcopal Consecration, may be dubious (see here).
The New Consecration Rite declares in its very first words that the changes that follow are at the directive of the Second Vatican Council. This Council is so filled with error and ambiguity, it will surely be rejected by the next good Pope. Hence we can expect that all the changes made at its behest will surely be rejected also, including all the New Sacraments!
We can do no better than to follow the wisdom and prudence of Archbishop Lefebvre, who himself only taught as Our Holy Mother Church teaches, and do our duty in avoiding doubtful Sacraments.
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1917 Catholic Encyclopedia