Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Where 2 + 2 is still 4 and not 5, Is the Serious Attack Against Tradition

Edit: update from the Franciscans Immaculate themselves, apparently. Others are reading between the tortured explanations and rationalizations to get a clearer picture. Man, all we can say is that it's a good thing that they didn't try to offer a GLBT Puppet Liturgy with Inter-faith Communion. We have also learned, that another mouthpiece has offered at Neoconservative Catholic News Network, an explanation that there are divisive problems within the Monastery. He's deeply concerned about the "Lefebvrist" sentiments of some of the brothers and sisters. For our part, we'll be working on a translation of Roberto de Matthei's take:

(Rome), the Franciscans of the Immaculate are trying to cope with the new situation. To contradict this publicly, is prohibited by the duty of obedience. So from this side, there will be no contradiction heard. The signal that is being sent, from these measures against tradition, is but negative and severe. The well-intentioned or naive attempts at damage control which have just begun, as the scattered opponents of tradition or notorious Pope-idolaters set up smoke candles ("A decree for an internal cleavage of a religious congregation"). Even some in traditional circles are trying to ban their own cares through excuses ("it's not about the Old Mass, it probably applies only to the Order"). But if 2 + 2 is still 4 and not 5, it is the measure of unambiguous clarity. Because the fact is that the decree allows no appeal and that the decision dealing internally with the order to only use the Old Rite was not abrogated by choice, but imposed the New Rite with possible individual exemptions. Imagine the opposite for a better understanding, that Rome would impose the Old Rite instead of constraining the New Rite. Whose incomprehension would then prevail?

Katholisches.info discussion will publish several articles on the topic. The first is by the well-known historian Roberto de Mattei with his contribution, the "Causa" of the Franciscans of the Immaculate ( see article forthcoming) . It will be followed by the traditional blog Cordialter, here:

Ad Deum distillate oculus meus - For the sufferings of Father Manelli

There is much to think about what has happened to the so pious and zealous founder Father Stefano Maria Manelli, a spiritual son of the Congregation of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate founded by St Pio of Pietrelcina. I think that this topic has been talked about in traditional circles for a long time.

Reading the last decree issued to the religious congregation on July 11th, notice that it is not forbidden the brothers to celebrate Holy Mass according to the Old Rite, but it is arranged for them to explicitly seek the competent authorities for permission. [I don't think this is true.] So if in a convent, the brothers should decide to continue to want to celebrate the traditional Mass, it will be sufficient to obtain the consent and all will be well. However, what I would like to know in which ecclesiastical authority they will have to request permission: at the religious congregation, the diocesan Bishop, the Apostolic Commissioner or at the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei? Nothing is written in the Decree.

The currently applicable ecclesiastical law that clarifies the issue, is the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, which allows religious priests also to celebrate the traditional Mass without permission from anyone. Since the restriction of the application of the Motu Proprio Comes from the Congregation of Religious, I suppose it will be the Congregation, the brothers must give approval. I hope that the Franciscans of the Immaculate will not be put off, but make applications to continue to celebrate the Tridentine Mass, especially on Sundays and Holidays. When two or three Sunday Masses are celebrated in one of their churches, I think it will not be a problem, if at least one of these Masses will continue to be celebrated in the Old Rite.

I also hope that someone will continue to celebrate in the monasteries of cloistered nuns of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate more Antiquo Liturgies. If it should not be the brothers who offer it, I hope that at least diocesan priests or priests from other institutions will offer their readiness to do so.

But Father Manelli, how will he have received the news of his dismissal? I think he will do it by the example of his spiritual father, St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, i.e., with Christian resignation. In the difficult moments you can tell if someone really is a disciple of Jesus Christ, and I am convinced that Father Stefano will take this situation as a true Christian and a true follower of St. Francis, of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe to the Immaculate. It may be that he uses this opportunity to offer up his suffering, so that soon the Dogma of the Blessed Virgin Mother of God can be proclaimed as Co-Redemptrix of humanity and Universal Mediatrix of all Graces.

Text: Cordialiter

Introduction / Translation: Giuseppe Nardi Image: Franciscans of the Immaculate Translation in English: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD

18 comments:

  1. Are these the same religious that you posted about previously? I'm referring to the one that Benedict was acting against during his abdication. A woman who claimed to be the mother of one of the nuns responded a couple of times here in this blog.

    I apologize for not remembering but there is so much going on almost daily that I am having difficulty keep up with it all.

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  2. Johannites? They're a different order, but this looks like the same situation http://eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2013/01/pope-benedict-dissolves-dissident.html

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  3. I personally sincerely hope that many of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate leave the Order and re-group/re-establish themselves in union with the SSPX and Bishop Fellay.
    It is a disgrace, that practically the only Order in the Church (I subscribe to the Vatican book "Annunario Pontificio" each year and actively study the data for male and female Orders presented in the volumn (including any yearly declines or increases for each as well as new or closed religious houses for each) to have grown substantially year after year is punished and persecuted in this way by this man Francisco and his subordinates.
    I have studied religious Orders for years. And I can state that there are, among nuns world wide, over 440+ Orders across the world in danger of immediate extinction (less than 100 members), and nearly 90 of men. There are far fewer religious Orders of men in the Church, but 90 Orders with less than 100 members is still significant...especially when you consider that nearly all register declines every year.
    Some of the Orders of nuns near extinction are small, obscure Italian, French or Spanish Orders which never were large in the first place. But each nevertheless have lost over 100+ members since Vatican II, and now some are down to 7 members!
    Very many of the Orders in danger of extinction are the radical liberal, feminist habitless nuns from Western Europe but especially from the USA. Even the large Orders of liberal nuns are slowly headed towards extinction...as are male groups such as Francis' own Jesuits, and the Franciscans (OFM), which today have less than 9,000 priests world wide (24,000 priests before Vatican II).
    The Jesuits have about 11,500 priests world wide today (34,000 before Vatican II). Both groups have a median age approaching 70. The once outstanding and world renown Order for holiness and monastic discipline, the Trappists (5,500 monks before Vatican II), now have about 1,850 members, and only 700 priests. Their average age is close to 77! Especially in France.
    Most liberal Orders of nuns have an median age of 75+, with some having a median age of over 80. So it is easy to see that hundreds of Vatican II Orders will be either extinct, or so aged and so few as to no longer be viable communities in a mere 10 years.
    Therefore, this makes it all the more sewrious, and all the more outrageous for Francis and company to persecute the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, and I am sure other groups, which foster the ancient Tridentine Latin Mass and all our Catholic traditions...because these groups are practically the only ones growing!!!!
    I very much do hope that very many Franciscan friars of the Immaculate, and the sisters and cloistered nuns move their allegiance to the SSPX because they are the only group which stands for the true Catholic Faith, and the only group which will support and encourage them.
    I am really loosing all respect for Francis (after the side show circus of WYD in Brazil and the horde of dancing bishops, etc.), and his placing a beachball on the altar at St. Mary Major, etc. etc. But persecuting the Franciscans of the Immaculate and suppressing the traditional Mass among them is like kicking in the teeth or spitting in the face of one of the only groups which are truly Catholic and who have helped to restore the Faith for many people.
    It's a disgrace, and I hope it backfires badly for Francis and the Vatican.

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    1. I share your hopes that they seek shelter in the only safe harbor available, which is the very lawful, faithful, obedient and very Catholic SSPX. One has to wonder if this is not part of a Divine plan since we are told that there will be at some point a Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart and that there will be many conversions. Conversions will certainly not be to the Conciliar version of the Catholic Church!

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    2. Is an Annunario Pontificio subscription expensive?
      I was shocked by Kenneth C. Jones's statistical studies.

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    3. Somewhat expensive. It's about $175.00 per year.

      But the book is filled with statistics which are very interesting. Lists every diocese in the world and shows (for the most part), the pitiful number of vocations to the priesthood and religious life in each diocese. There are also statistics on every single Pontifically approved Order in the Church (there are hundreds of other Orders which are not Pontifically approved. To get that recognition an Order has to exist for a certain number of years as a diosecean approved congregation,prove they are viable by growing, and establish more than 1 monastery or religious house (preferably in a different region or country than where the original house is located. In most cases a new Order begins as a "pious association of the faithful". Then when they have existed for an agreed period of time, gained enough vocations (at least 25) and are active in apostolic work or a cloistered lifestyle they become an approved "Diosecean congregation". If they expand further thru vocations growth and new foundations, they are granted Pontifical status after a review of their rule and track record by the Vatican.
      Before Vatican II in the USA there were some Orders founded in the 1940's and 1950's which grew from 6-7 members to over 100 within 10 years and were on their way to being granted Pontifical status. But along came Vatican II, and nearly all these Orders either went extinct, or have remained tiny diosecean congregations of elderly religious.
      To gain Pontifical recognition and be listed in the Annuario is the ultimate reward for an Order. It shows that they have been successful.
      Sadly, since Vatican II, thousands of Orders which were once successful and gained Pontifical recognition have declined so much that they are on the point of extinction.

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    4. You should scan it and make it available. As long as no one re-sells your scan, I doubt there'd be any copyright violations in scanning it.

      As you probably know, the growth of traditional seminaries is overtaking the growth diocesan ones in Europe.

      Here're some numbers we absolutely must know by memory. Compared to before Vatican II, there are, per Catholic, now

      half as many priests
      quarter as many female religious
      half as many infant baptisms

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  4. Came across this blog which gives a hat tip to Tancred!

    http://veneremurcernui.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/the-complaints-of-less-than-1-of-franciscans-of-the-immaculate-led-to-the-disciplinary-action/

    CNA piece is bothersome since Mother is not and has been General for some years so her influence is limited. It is true the good Sisters have promoted the TLM. In England they were the first Religious Order to request the TLM exclusively i believe. To paint her as such to such a holy Religious is ludicrous. Suffix to say the devil hates Cloistered Nuns especially ones who are Consecrated to Our Lady and that happened to prefer the TLM.
    http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/franciscans-of-the-immaculate-decree-worries-traditionalists/

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  5. Thank you for speaking the truth, as it is not being tolerated in Church fora at this time. Propaganda only. Reason and logic are out. Scary.

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  6. There is no way the FI can go to the SSPX. A faithful Franciscan must obey the pope. You may know that St. Pio underwent many sufferings that were not only physical. He was denied the right to write to his spiritual children, had faculties for confession removed for a time, and was almost kicked out of the priesthood. St. Francis saw things begin to disintegrate before his eyes and saw those who wanted to change the direction he set for the order. St. Alphonsus was removed from his Order. So there is nothing new under the sun here. I especially like the statement that Fr. Manelli by his obedience and sufferings may merit the promulgation of the 5th Marian Dogma.

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    1. We'll see what happens. Confessions at Society Chapels are valid.

      http://www.catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/defense/validity.htm

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  7. "It may be that he uses this opportunity to offer up his suffering, so that soon the Dogma of the Blessed Virgin Mother of God can be proclaimed as Co-Redemptrix of humanity and Universal Mediatrix of all Graces."

    Stupendous thought and should be shouted from the roof tops. Fr. Manelli always speaks of victim souls this just maybe the tipping point. God works in mysterious ways and His ways are not our ways. Yes this gives me pause as the only silver lining in a dark and evil age.

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  8. What would St.Maximillan Kolbe think of this situation.?

    He celebrated The Traditional Latin Mass.!!

    Pray to for his intercession!!

    Dan Barrett

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  9. Enough of the whining already. This renegade order has been in need of disciplining for a very long time. It is a pathetic collection of depressed and spoiled mama's boys.

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    1. You do realize that they're being "disciplined" for some arbitrary reasons? Maybe if they were harboring sexual predators and promoting GLBT like most orders implicitly or explicitly do these days, you'd be ok with that?

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    2. ANONYMOUS: That is an idiotic statement . But then what have we come to expect. I think you know it is a stupid and ignorant statement. No wonder you hide behind anonymity

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