Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Pope Invokes New Evangelization to Encourage the Society for Saint Pius X For Jubilee of Mercy

Edit: does Bishop Athanasius Schneider have the Pope's ear? Apparently so, since he has heard many good things about the Society, and that Bishop Schneider was visitor.

Apparently, "all are welcome".  Here is the text:


To My Venerable Brother Archbishop Rino Fisichella President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization

With the approach of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy I would like to focus on several points which I believe require attention to enable the celebration of the Holy Year to be for all believers a true moment of encounter with the mercy of God. It is indeed my wish that the Jubilee be a living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible, so that the faith of every believer may be strengthened and thus testimony to it be ever more effective. 

My thought first of all goes to all the faithful who, whether in individual Dioceses or as pilgrims to Rome, will experience the grace of the Jubilee. I wish that the Jubilee Indulgence may reach each one as a genuine experience of God’s mercy, which comes to meet each person in the Face of the Father who welcomes and forgives, forgetting completely the sin committed. To experience and obtain the Indulgence, the faithful are called to make a brief pilgrimage to the Holy Door, open in every Cathedral or in the churches designated by the Diocesan Bishop, and in the four Papal Basilicas in Rome, as a sign of the deep desire for true conversion. Likewise, I dispose that the Indulgence may be obtained in the Shrines in which the Door of Mercy is open and in the churches which traditionally are identified as Jubilee Churches. It is important that this moment be linked, first and foremost, to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with a reflection on mercy. It will be necessary to accompany these celebrations with the profession of faith and with prayer for me and for the intentions that I bear in my heart for the good of the Church and of the entire world. 

Additionally, I am thinking of those for whom, for various reasons, it will be impossible to enter the Holy Door, particularly the sick and people who are elderly and alone, often confined to the home. For them it will be of great help to live their sickness and suffering as an experience of closeness to the Lord who in the mystery of his Passion, death and Resurrection indicates the royal road which gives meaning to pain and loneliness. Living with faith and joyful hope this moment of trial, receiving communion or attending Holy Mass and community prayer, even through the various means of communication, will be for them the means of obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence. My thoughts also turn to those incarcerated, whose freedom is limited. The Jubilee Year has always constituted an opportunity for great amnesty, which is intended to include the many people who, despite deserving punishment, have become conscious of the injustice they worked and sincerely wish to re-enter society and make their honest contribution to it. May they all be touched in a tangible way by the mercy of the Father who wants to be close to those who have the greatest need of his forgiveness. They may obtain the Indulgence in the chapels of the prisons. May the gesture of directing their thought and prayer to the Father each time they cross the threshold of their cell signify for them their passage through the Holy Door, because the mercy of God is able to transform hearts, and is also able to transform bars into an experience of freedom. 

I have asked the Church in this Jubilee Year to rediscover the richness encompassed by the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The experience of mercy, indeed, becomes visible in the witness of concrete signs as Jesus himself taught us. Each time that one of the faithful personally performs one or more of these actions, he or she shall surely obtain the Jubilee Indulgence. Hence the commitment to live by mercy so as to obtain the grace of complete and exhaustive forgiveness by the power of the love of the Father who excludes no one. The Jubilee Indulgence is thus full, the fruit of the very event which is to be celebrated and experienced with faith, hope and charity. 

Furthermore, the Jubilee Indulgence can also be obtained for the deceased. We are bound to them by the witness of faith and charity that they have left us. Thus, as we remember them in the Eucharistic celebration, thus we can, in the great mystery of the Communion of Saints, pray for them, that the merciful Face of the Father free them of every remnant of fault and strongly embrace them in the unending beatitude. 

One of the serious problems of our time is clearly the changed relationship with respect to life. A widespread and insensitive mentality has led to the loss of the proper personal and social sensitivity to welcome new life. The tragedy of abortion is experienced by some with a superficial awareness, as if not realizing the extreme harm that such an act entails. Many others, on the other hand, although experiencing this moment as a defeat, believe that they have no other option. I think in particular of all the women who have resorted to abortion. I am well aware of the pressure that has led them to this decision. I know that it is an existential and moral ordeal. I have met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision. What has happened is profoundly unjust; yet only understanding the truth of it can enable one not to lose hope. The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented, especially when that person approaches the Sacrament of Confession with a sincere heart in order to obtain reconciliation with the Father. For this reason too, I have decided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it. May priests fulfil this great task by expressing words of genuine welcome combined with a reflection that explains the gravity of the sin committed, besides indicating a path of authentic conversion by which to obtain the true and generous forgiveness of the Father who renews all with his presence. 

A final consideration concerns those faithful who for various reasons choose to attend churches officiated by priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X. This Jubilee Year of Mercy excludes no one. From various quarters, several Brother Bishops have told me of their good faith and sacramental practice, combined however with an uneasy situation from the pastoral standpoint. I trust that in the near future solutions may be found to recover full communion with the priests and superiors of the Fraternity. In the meantime, motivated by the need to respond to the good of these faithful, through my own disposition, I establish that those who during the Holy Year of Mercy approach these priests of the Fraternity of St Pius X to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation shall validly and licitly receive the absolution of their sins. 

Trusting in the intercession of the Mother of Mercy, I entrust the preparations for this Extraordinary Jubilee Year to her protection. 

From the Vatican, 1 September 2015

38 comments:

  1. Wow. Nothing he said is new. Priests already know to absolve contrite sinner. And I need no permission to attend and support the SSPX since I firstly am responsible for the protection of my soul and spreading of the Catholic Faith.

    But the news headlines are already painting their own picture of what Francis' words mean.

    Can't he ever just be quiet?

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    1. It's probably the biggest endorsement of the Society you've ever seen.

      Sign your posts, whatever you decide: e.g., moron, provocateur, pinhead, etc... Thanks.

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  2. Do you have any thoughts on how this plays out near the end of the Year of Mercy? Technically, it begins on a certain day and ends on a certain day. However, do you think that before the Year of Mercy ends there will be an acceptance of the SSPX as a whole?

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  3. not buying it at all. they, these clericalists, think we're stupid. all these gestures to the SSPX during this pontificate seem to me like a bargaining chip or whatever or an attempt to confuse the enemy so the gnostics can push their agenda in the synod and whatever else comes next - "what?! communion after second marriage!? look at you SSPX types, your situation is no different. we recognize your marriages and confessions, you go with where we want with giving communion remarried divorcees. your sins are both the same. follow our lead, you get legitimized"

    the SSPX recognized in argentina and now this - notice just the SSPX, just argentina.

    in america, canada, and germany in all dioceses i know of we will get threats of mortal sins or self-excommunication for taking communion there. and while this goes the franciscans of the immaculate continue to get persecuted and Catholic orthodoxy and trampled out in western europe and north america.

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  4. To me, in the context of all the constant heretical Modernism from Pope Francis, it seems like more indifferentism and engendering of confusion and ignorance on the immutable truths of the Faith.

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  5. I'm no fan of Bergoglio, but this is an important moment. By allowing SSPX priests to officially absolve those who come to them for confession, Bergoglio is, essentially, legitimizing the SSPX. There's no way around it.

    Unfortunately, this will only last a year, but JPII and B16 never did this. It may, on the part of Bergoglio, be nothing more than a PR play, but it still gives the SSPX the sort of recognition it has not received since the 1970's.

    This has been a brutal pontificate, but that doesn't mean we should ignore something like this.

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    1. Would that he show such 'mercy' to the FFI.....

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  6. Father Z and his ilk are spinning this as a vindication of their position.

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    1. What position specifically, and in what way do you believe them not to be vindicated?

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    2. The sine-cure, out of his diocese, Zuhlsdorf will also sell you a 50c holy card for $25 and anything else you might fancy from his online supermarket.

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    3. "Gabriel August 31, 2015 at 9:56 PM

      Maybe he is warning people about slander, calumny, detraction, hypocrisy, over acting, false pretences and pride."

      smell yourself gaybriel.

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    4. At least Father John provides spiritual comfort and has created a cultural object that is of value.

      Gabriel just charges $1400 a credit and leaves people with enormous student loan debt.

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    5. Hahahahahaha the "sine-cure." you and Anthony must have really had some deep snuffles over that before the arrest!

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    6. Father Z, lol, loathe the site, won't go there, nothing but relentless "i'm the smartest guy int the room" nonsense, a lot of pride over there, contrast him with the traditional priest blog, world of difference, both profess the TLM but the Traditional Priest is calm, collected, about his spirtual work, unattached or considerate of worldly things or goods.
      Ora et Labora

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  7. This is the first time I read Pope Francis speak as a Pope. This is news of great joy. Because of what the Church teaches on "case of necessity" I hold that all the Sacraments administered by the Society of St. Pius X are valid. I have but one question, does this also mean that all the Sacraments administered by Independent Priest are also considered Valid in the Church also? As Francis has said no one is excluded.

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    1. "As Francis has said no one is excluded." Sodomites, baby murderers, pedophiles, polygamists, copraphiliacs, sado-masochists, planned parenthood, Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi -- join the party. Have a big time.

      As Jesus said: "Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat."

      It's hard to believe he could get traditionalists to accept sodomite "marriage" and communion for fornicators, adulterers, pedophiles and sodomites or the Lutherans, Jews, Evangelicals and Muslims bellying up to the table--but hey as long as EVERYONE is getting something, FRANCIS is GRRRRREEEAT!

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    2. Sign the post, Cranky Pants.

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    3. Just curious Jim, why's he "Cranky Pants"? What'd he say that's wrong?

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  9. I was overjoyed when I first heard this news but am now perturbed. Could this be another Modernist trick to begin the destruction of the SSPX. Competetent Officials in Rome have said many times that the Sacraments administered by the SSPX are valid. Is Pope Francis by this gesture suggesting their Sacraments are not valid, by the granting their Sacraments valid for only one year. This Pontificate could not be trusted before, can we actually trust it now? Has not the New Mercy been labeled the false mercy?

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  10. Of course this is a modernist trick! Francis is cativo! He destroyed the FFI. Now he seeks the destruction or at least weakening of the SSPX. Obviously the Mass of the Ages is some kind of kryptonite to Francis and Co.

    I seriously doubt there are going to be many if any abortion confessions from SSPX congregants. Plus this should make no difference to the SSPX-----they've been hearing confessions for years and will continue doing so after the year of false mercy has ended.

    Seattle kim

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    1. This is what I've been thinking too...get them to sign over Econe, the seminaries, and all they've built to the glory of God, then BAM; appoint a Volpi over them, order re-structuring, and strangle them to the last breath. Forgive me for being cynical on this...I'm all on-board with this announcement...I just can't get the smell of fox and wolf out of my nostrils.

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  11. Wonder why he felt he had to tell priests to absolve repentent sinners who committed the sin of abortion? Very odd. As usual.

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    1. The problem was not so much the absolution of the sin but the lack of faculties to lift the censure. Pope Francis has lifted what was reserved to himself, the Sacred Penitentiary or the local bishop and extended it to all priests.

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    2. Another mostly meaningless gesture, since most priests have the faculties to remove the censure anyway, even if someone is scrupulous enough in St. Gay's Parish to undergo such a medieval ritual as penance.

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    3. Without going to the Catechism or a cannon law book, I thought that a repentant woman could always and everywhere obtain absolution from a priest. It is the procurers and performers of abortion who are excommunicated, latae sententiae if I recall correctly, and need absolution from a bishop.

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    4. Gaybriel has been in a pet since the Pope acted liberally in the case of SSPX. Will someone pour him a blueberry-kiwi daiquiri, please.

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    5. Gabriel has very definitely rattled you to the point of obsessive compulsive reactiveness..

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    6. I think anyone who's ever taken their religion seriously has had to endure someone of Gaybriel's estate, either a nasty mean faced ninny who reached liturgy, or a fastidious VD living a double life at the clubs and workout salons.

      Moreover, I can't think of a moment where he's been sincere or remarkably charitable.

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  12. I welcome this as it makes it much easier for someone to go to confession to repent their sin of abortion and get absolution which previously had to be referred to a Bishop in many cases. Getting people absolved from this sin with a firm purpose of amendment must be important.

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  13. I must still be missing something here. I have worked for many years fight the sin of abortion and promote the sanctity of human life. Never have I heard of a woman who tragically chose murder by abortion to suit her personal needs or wants ever having a problem finding a oriest to hear her sorrowful Confession and receive the blessed relief of Absolution. As I read the pope's words he is addressing "all priests", not just those of the SSPX. Then in the next paragraph he returns to the topic of the SSPX.

    Very bizarre. Curiouser and curiouser. Ah well. It isn't as though it is on my need-to-know-list.

    Thanks.



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  14. I came into the Church (Novus Ordo 2003) in part because I wanted absolution for the sin of abortion. I have been a volunteer for Project Rachel in Alabama, Virginia, Missouri and Washington and I have never heard of a priest refusing absolution. The bishops must be liberal in granting the faculty to forgive this sin in the U.S.

    Seattle Kim

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  15. The Pope assured Catholics that they may receive the Sacrament of Penance from priests of the SSPX.

    But it's just a trick. For sure. For sure. The big, bad tricky Pope plans to trick the unsuspecting, naïve, Bishop Fellay into signing over the SSPX to New Church.

    Yes. Yes. That is what's behind the Pope's decision.

    Please Bishop Fellay. Please SSPX. Listen to we who post messages in blog comment boxes. We know best. We are the experts.

    Bishop Fellay can be duped with ease. He and the SSPX, who are the only True Catholics on earth, don't know how to deal with Rome.

    The True Catholic Church is found only within the SSPX.

    Please Bishop Fellay, don't let big bad Rome dupe you into signing away the True Catholic Church.

    Oh, Bishop Fellay, why are you so naïve about this Pope?

    Okay, sure, from his days in Argentina to today, he has always been very friendly to the SSPX. Okay, sure, he told the SSPX back in Argentina that the SSPX is 100 percent Catholic. Okay, sure, ever since he became Pope, he has been friendly to the SSPX.

    Okay, sure, he even appointed Bishop Athanasius, rather than a liberal, as an Apostolic Visitor to the SSPX. Liberals claim that that was unfair as everybody knew that Bishop Anthanasius favors Traditionalists.

    It is too bad that the naïve Bishop Fellay and the SSPX are unaware of how to deal with big, bad tricky Modernists.

    Again, the good news is that all naïve Bishop Fellay has to do is read messages posted to comment boxes. We know best, Bishop Fellay.

    Bishop Fellay doesn't know a thing. The SSPX doesn't know a thing.

    Therefore, listen up, Bishop Fellay and SSPX. It's a trick! It's a trick! The big, bad Pope is tricking you!

    The Pope, from his days in Argentina to date, has been setting you up! Yeah. Yeah. Sure Sure. He planned this years ago. His friendly approach has been a trick.

    Conspiracy! Conspiracy! Bishop Fellay, it's an Oliver Stone-style conspiracy!

    Yeah. Right.

    It amazes me that there are people who actually believe this nonsense. Anyway, Pope Francis has gone out of his way to regularize the SSPX. He has always dealt honestly with the SSPX.

    It is very sad that certain folks must cling to preposterous narratives and conspiracy theories. But they do.

    Ed Timmons

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    1. I'm something of a convert to traditionalism, and this tendency of trads to buy into conspiracies so ready and willingly is something that still perplexes me. "Obama is part of ISIS", "Vaccines are a ploy to poison our children and make them docile", "Pope Francis is a Mason", etc, etc. I've heard them all. This craziness hurts our cause, I believe. Thankfully, this segment of the trad movement is beginning to be diluted by the in-stream of converts to traditionalism.

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    2. Wait, you claim to believe that mere bread and win become the body and blood of God in the Second Person of the Trinity, Who while he was alive on Earth told his disciples that the world would conspire against them, and you're scandalized by a few "conspiracy theories"?

      Color me skeptical.

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  16. I don't believe His Excellency Bishop Fellay can be duped so easily. Notice how in thanking Pope Francis he makes it clear that the SSPX according to Canon Law has always given the Sacrament of Penance licitly and validly. Bishop Fellay is not falling for the modernists tricks, he's playing along only to seek the destruction of the Modernist heresy. This is like a game of Chess, Bishop Fellay is very careful on his moves.

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    1. The Pope is the chief law maker in the Catholic Church not +Fellay. The Pope has the authority to determine what is valid and licit for the Sacraments, not +Fellay. The latter might one day show his genuine acceptance of that authority by acknowledging reception of all the documents of Vatican II and joining the Pope in a concelebrated Novus Ordo Eucharist in Spanish.
      I see squadrons of pigs flying over Econe.

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    2. A pope has never acted unjustly, or been legitimately disobeyed? Need to me.

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