"A Minority Doesn't Want the Old Mass Any Longer" -- Franciscans of the Immaculate and Roman Opponents of the Vetus Ordo

Edit: many want them to go quietly into the oblivion shared by those religious orders that have not remained true to the vision of their founders, but they don't intend on going quietly.

(Rome) Following the exposure of Vatican Insider as the mouthpiece of the rebel group in the Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, it is aptly trying to limit the damage for the sake of balance. This includes an interview with the only official spokesperson of the Order, Father Procurator General Alessandro Maria Apollonio. Father Apollonio expressly rejects the attempts to reduce the provisional government of the Order by the Congregation of Religious to "internal tensions" that have nothing to do with the traditional Roman Rite.

From the interview it appears that there is a small minority in the Order, which is known to be led by Father Alfonso M. Bruno, but that this alone would not have been able to be effective. The input of six brothers in the Order to the Vatican Congregation offered but others obviously can find, against better judgment, a welcome pretext to act against the Order.

The interview also reveals a certain weakness of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, whose significance seems limited. The Commission had previously approved the procedure of the General Council of the Order with the introduction of Vetus Ordo. However, this official confirmation had no relevance for the Congregation of Religious.

Some things the matter of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, are so fundamentally different, the two questions are reminiscent of the final stages of officially frozen unification talks between the Society of St. Pius X., and the Holy See. The Superior General of the SSPX, Bishop Bernard Fellay, spoke in the fall of 2012 that "signals" had come from Rome, which made ​​an agreement seem possible. Indeed, such was already virtually certain at Easter 2012. But then everything changed. The "conflicting signals" were interpreted as a synonym for a power struggle back in Rome back ( see separate report ).

Some seem to suggest that the Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate constituted an example to be directed against the Old Mass. Still unclear are the exact relationships, such as whether it would deter other orders, also to discover for themselves the traditional form of the Roman Rite, or whether the examples were even targeted against Ecclesia Dei communities. In tradition-bound circles, the scope of the attack quickly organized a protest that has been recognized and grown, which does not seem to have unimpressed Rome.

The interview was conducted by the Vatican expert Andrea Tornielli.

Why was an Apostolic Visitation of the Institute approved by authorities in the Vatican?

Because it was demanded by a minority among the brethren who no longer share the leadership of Founding Father and General Minister and the desire to promote the Vetus Ordo next to the Novus Ordo in the institution, as required by the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum and the Instruction Universae Ecclesiae.

How important was the question of the old Missal in connection with the apostolic visitation?

It had great importance because said group of brothers accused the founding father to have imposed the Vetus Ordo on the entire institution. The accusation is absolutely false, but it was believed, and all our attempts to convince the proper authorities that it is false, were to no avail. Meanwhile, the false assertion by various media and news agencies became more widespread to cause serious damage to the reputation of our founding father and the institute.

Websites related to tradition interpreted the message of the provisional administration and the decision to stop the use of the old Missal's permission, as undermining the Motu Proprio of Benedict XVI. Do you share this view? How do you comment on the appropriate decision?

Father Lombardi has clarified that the measures do not undermine us regarding the Motu Proprio. However, we are waiting for an authentic interpretation of the liturgical rules of the Holy See that affect us. Indeed, it is not clear, for example, who the "competent authorities" are, of which the above authorizations may be granted: the Commissioner, the Congregation of Religious, the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, the local bishop, one or the other or all together?

We hope that this is a temporary disciplinary action, and that we will, as soon as possible, again allowed to celebrate in the Vetus Ordo, as we have always done, and that without the current restrictions that rob us of that, even though the Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum and the Instruction Universae Ecclesiae have higher universal force.

In the corrections to our articles you have always stressed that the use of the old Missal was not exclusive and that all decisions were made in accordance with the provisions of the Motu Proprio. Is it true that the Ecclesia Dei Commission had asked the Franciscans of the Immaculate to exercise prudence in the Apostolic Visitation, regarding the manner in which the use of the old Missal will continue?

Yes, and we have acted with utmost restraint and in complete respect of our particular law, which confers the General Chapter "the highest authority in the Institute" (Constitutions, § 81). It was just the most recent General Chapter in 2008, which stipulated that the General Council (i.e. Father Stefano M. Manelli and his five consultants) to create a detailed protocol for the introduction of Vetus Ordo in our communities. This introduction was performed with the letter dated 21 November 2011. The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei was invited in advance as a precaution d to examine the letter, and they realized that it was equivalent to the mens Holy Father Benedict XVI. This official assessment took into account in any way for the further development of our affairs. The thing seems inexplicable to us and it hurts us a lot. We have confidence in our cause the heavenly Advocate, Queen of the Seraphic Order.

Interview: Vatican insider
Introduction / Translation: Giuseppe Nardi
 Image: Corsiadeiservi
Translation: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD


Link to katholisches...

Lex Dubia Non Obligat -- Against an Unjust Law and Legal Positivism Which Has Penetrated the Church

(Rome) The historian Roberto de Mattei is concerned with the sources of law and the legal hierarchy of Church law and the obligation that every Church Law must have its basis in the divine law. On the other hand, says de Mattei, is legal positivism which ignores this central principle, penetrating into the Church. The most recent example is the decree by the Congregation of Religious, which places the order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate under provisional administration and abolishes the celebration of the Old Mass on the 11th of August. Resistance against the positivist thinking undermining the Church's understanding of the law is permissible, says de Mattei. The principle that an unjust law obligates no obedience, could even go so far as to draw excommunication upon himself, rather than to engage in a false obedience. This had already been taught by Saint Thomas Aquinas and all great canonists.

Lex Dubia non Obligat

By Roberto de Mattei

The case of the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception church brings a canonical, moral and spiritual issues back on the agenda, which often arrested in the post-Conciliar years and occasionally "exploded": the problem of obedience to an unjust law. A law can be unjust not only when it violates the law of God and nature, but even if it hurts a canon law of a higher rank in the legal hierarchy. This is the case with the decree of 11 July 2013, by the Congregation for Consecrated Life , putting the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception under provisional administration.

The violation of the law is not in the provisional administration, but in the part of the decree, that claims to force the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate to waive the celebration of the Holy Mass according to the traditional Roman Rite. In addition to the Bull Quo Primum of St. Pius V (1570) there is the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI. (2007), and thus a universal Church law that gives every priest the right to:

Accordingly, it is allowed, according the sacrifice of the Mass of Blessed John XXIII. promulgated in 1962 and never abolished typical edition of the Roman Missal, to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Liturgy of the Church.

Article 2 of the Motu Proprio clarifies that it neither requires permission from the the Holy See nor from his superior when the Mass is celebrated sine populo.

Article 3 adds that it is not just the individual priest, but Communities of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life - whether pontifical or diocesan right, is allowed in the Convention or, in its own oratory community's Mass to keep the celebration of the Holy Mass according to the edition of the Roman Missal that was promulgated in 1962.

If an individual community or an entire Institute or a whole society wants to commit such celebrations often, usually or always, it is the responsibility of superiors, to decide according to the norm of law, and according to the laws and particular statutes. In this case there is no need to invoke the divine and natural law, it is sufficient that the Church as the legal source. An eminent jurist like Pedro Lombardia (1930-1986) recalled that Canon 135, paragraph 2 of the new Code of Canon Law which establishes the principle of legitimate legislation in the sense that the legislative power is to be exercised in the manner prescribed in the right way, especially the canons 7-22, the title of the codex form, which is devoted to the ecclesiastical laws.

The Codex recalls that the universal or general laws of the Church are those which were promulgated by publication in the official gazette Acta Apostolicae Sedis (Can. 8), in Can. 12, § 1 states: General Laws require all those for whom they are adopted; Can. 18 states that laws which impose a penalty or restrict the free exercise of rights, or contain an exception to the Act, are subject to strict interpretation, Can. 20 adds: A subsequent law raises a former wholly or partly on when it says this explicitly or opposed to it directly or is the whole matter of the earlier law assigns comprehensive , and finally sets Can. 21 states: In doubt, the revocation of a previous law is not presumed, but later laws are to be set in relation to earlier and to bring with them as far as possible in line.

Canon 135 finally determined the basic principle of the hierarchy: A lower legislator cannot validly issue a law contrary to higher law. Not even a Pope can abolish the act of another pope, except in the prescribed form. The unassailable rule in moral and legal states is that a law of a higher source that affects an area larger and of more universal significance, has title to a superior rule of law, has priority (Regis Jolive, 1959).

According to Canon 14 for the canonical standard to be mandatory, may not be the object of legal doubt ( dubium juris ). If there is a lack of legal certainty, the axiom applies: lex dubia non obligat. If there is a doubt, the honor of God and the salvation of souls will have precedence over any actual consequences that may follow from an act at the personal level. The new Code of Canon Law Canon recalls the past that the Church always has in mind the salus suprema lex animarum (Can. 1752). Saint Thomas Aquinas already taught this when he was in his Quaestiones quodlibetales , explaining that the purpose of canon law aims for the peace of the Church and the salvation of souls (12, q. 16, a 2) and all the great canonists have followed him in this.

The Cardinal Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts in a speech delivered on the 6th of April 2000 spoke on the salus animarum as a principle of canon law, he recalled that this is the highest principle of ecclesiastical legislation. But that requires basic considerations ahead that are missing in the debate, because often the moral and metaphysical foundation of law is forgotten.

Today there is a purely legalistic and formalistic conception which tends to see the law as a mere instrument in the hands of those who have power (Don Arturo Cattaneo, 2011). According to the legal positivism, which has infiltrated into the Church, what is considered correct, is issued by the authority. In reality, this is jus divinum is the basis for legal expressions and demands the primacy of jus in front of Lex. The principles of legal positivism distort the foundations and replaced legal validity of the jus through the application of the Lex. The law can is only seen the will of the rulers and not the reflection of the divine law, according to which God is creator and foundation of every law. He is the living and eternal law, absolute principle any law (jus divinum, ed. Juan Ignacio Arrieta, 2010).

For this reason, in a conflict between human and divine law, God and not the people is to be obeyed (Acts 5:29). The obedience is owed ​​to superiors because they represent the authority of God, and they represent, because they keep the divine law and apply it. St. Thomas Aquinas affirms that it is better to fall into the current excommunication and exile to foreign lands where the earthly arm of the Church does not reach, than to obey an unjust command: ille debits potius excommunicatione, sustinere (...) vel in alias regiones remotas fugere (Summa Theologiae, Suppl, q. 45, a 4, 3 Upper).

Obedience is not only a formal procedure that causes us to submit to human authority. It is primarily a virtue that leads us on the path of perfection. Not who vested interests, obeying from fear or submissive human attachment is not really obedient, but who chooses the true obedience which is a compound of the human will with the divine will. For the love of God, we must be prepared to obey this highest act of His law and His will, to detach ourselves from the bonds of false obedience, poses the risk to let us lose faith. Unfortunately, today a false sense of obedience is common that sometimes borders on sycophancy and in which the fear of human authority is provided through the divine truth.

The resistance to unlawful commands is sometimes a duty to God and to our neighbor, the need for exemplary acts of metaphysical and moral stolidity. The Franciscans of the Immaculate had obtained from Benedict XVI. the extraordinary goods of traditional, falsely "Tridentine" so-called Mass, accepted and celebrated again today by thousands of priests lawfully throughout the world. There is no better way to express their gratitude to Benedict XVI. and at the same time to express their protest against the injustice done to them, than to continue to celebrate in the serenity of a clear conscience, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the traditional Roman Rite. No law can force their conscience. Maybe only few will do this, but compliance to prevent greater evil, will not help to avert the storm that goes beyond their Order and the Church.

Text: Corrispondenza Romana

translation: Giuseppe Nardi

Image: Corrispondenza Romana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com AMGD Link to katholisches...

Franciscans of the Immaculate: Great Show of Solidarity --- Two Roman Reactions

Edit: also, the Vatican website has finally made Summorum Pontificum available in various languages.  So that's another positive indicator.

(Vatican) The appeal of the famous traditional historian Roberto de Mattei, was followed by a large wave of solidarity for the Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. Within a week, 3515 letters of support and protest were received in Rome. This violent reaction was not counted on in Rome.  De Mattei interprets two Roman events as a direct response to this welling of solidarity. It is not excluded that the decree will be withdrawn or amended says de Mattei.

The protest against the decree of the Congregation was expressed with letters. They represent an appeal to Pope Francis to reverse the massive intervention of the Congregation under the direction of Cardinal Prefect Joao Braz de Aviz against the exemplary Order. This was announced by Professor Roberto de Mattei on the traditional Internet news service known as Corrispondenza Romana. The initiative was begun by the well-known historian, to address the initiative to the competent Vatican authorities to protest with letters of support for the canonically recognized Franciscans of the Immaculate founded by Father Manelli and Fr Pellettieri in 1990, against the unequal treatment of the Old Mass for the New Mass and the violation of Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI..

The letters were all sent within the week between the 1st and 8th of August. The letters were addressed to Cardinal Braz de Aviz also the Secretary of the Congregation of Religious, Archbishop Carballo, Prefect of the Congregation, Curial Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Vice-President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei , Augustine di Noia and the administrator appointed by the Congregation of Religious, the Apostolic Commissioner for the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception, Father Fidenzio Volpi. Roberto de Mattei noted that the decree of the Congregation of Religious was "an unjust act", in violation of any applicable Church laws.

De Mattei was very satisfied with the spontaneous international solidarity from many countries including Germany, Austria and Switzerland. De Mattei sees two events in Rome directly related to the appeal for solidarity and so many numerous in-depth responses. The first event is the opinion of Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi SJ of 2 August. In Rome we have seen after the protest, that the reactions were more severe than expected. The first measure was therefore, calm down. Father Lombardi stated officially that the decree did not intend to disagree with the provisions of Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI..

That allows us to assume, says de Mattei, that the decree may be withdrawn or amended. That the Franciscans of the Immaculate have banned the celebration in the Old Rite and nullifies the Order, is clearly contrary to the Motu Proprio. Currently, the situation should calm down again, then clarity will rule.

The second reaction de Mattei perceives is the appointment of Curial Archbishop Guido Pozzo, Secretary of the Commission Ecclesia Dei, on the 3rd of August. An unexpected return after Pozzo had taken another job at the Curia until the fall of 2012. De Mattei sees reshuffle as the strengthening of the Commission, and thus a clear indication that the Commission should not be abolished. De Mattei himself had raised the question on July 30th about the intention of the decree against the Franciscans of the Immaculate and asked whether it abolished the Motu Proprio and the Commission should be abandoned. De Mattei interpreted the two Roman reactions of the 2nd and 3rd of August as a signal that Pope Francis neither wants to abolish the motu proprio nor dissolve the Commission Ecclesia Dei, "That is because of the strong reaction of the traditional circles" against the decree, says de Mattei.

The provisional government of the Order goes back to an apostolic visitation by Monsignor Vito Angelo Todisco, who was not known as a friend of the Order nor the tradition. On the basis of a "tendentious" report to Rome, where an "alleged survey" played a central role rolling in the hard treatment against the Order. While Father Alfonso Maria Bruno has a central role, he is the only Franciscan Friar of the Immaculate Conception, who is himself happily opposed to religious discipline is in the picture, which would convince anyone who is on the Facebook page of the Order, which page Alfonso Bruno is the administrator. It was he who tried to steer journalists to misleading information, reporting in a specific direction against the Order's Leadership and against the Old Mass.

Neo-Commissar Father Volpi has just returned from vacation.  It was now to be seen, says de Mattei, whether Father Volpi is driven by the same prejudices against the Order and the Old Mass as Archbishop Todisco.  The historian is convinced that a progressive separation of the rebel group within the Order will be inevitable. Leading the group of rebels is Father Alfonso Bruno, Angelo Geiger and Angelo Gaeta. This part could have all been easier if he had correctly left the Order. Instead, the whole Order was drawn into the conflict. It may also be that - as with any conflict - there is a "gray zone" that keeps watch to be on the winning side. "In the end, the truth always wins," says the historian de Mattei.

It has been shown in all cases that a rapid and decisive response by Traditional circles can get things moving, if the persistence needed is available.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Corrispondenza Romana
Trans: vekron99@hotmail.com
AMGD

Roberto de Mattei: Flood of Protest Letters to the Vatican for Franciscans of the Immaculata

(Rome) After the crackdown on the Franciscans of the Immaculate became known, the historian Roberto de Mattei called for a petition for the benefit of the Order and to defend the Old Mass to the prefect of the religious congregation Cardinal Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation Curia, Archbishop Mueller, Vice President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei Curia, Archbishop Di Noia OP and the Apostolic Commissioner for the Order, Father Fidenzio Volpi OFM Cap. In just the first 24 hours there were more than a thousand protests and petitions. These are also only those of which de Mattei was aware.

The Order itself has asked in obedience to the Roman and encouraged ecclesiastical discipline in the collections of signatures. However, this does not prevent believers from expressing their opinion in respect and moderate language to the Roman authorities.

The tenor of the letter to Rome, received in Italian, English, German, French, Spanish and other languages, is: The Decree of the provisional administration of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate Conception "constitutes an unjust act in regard to this religious Institute, whose honour it diminishes, but above all it represents a violation of the universal laws of the Church, in particular of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum of July 7th 2007 of Benedict XVI, which has never been abrogated and which grants, to every priest, the freedom to celebrate the Mass according to the “extraordinary” form. This objective lesion of the right cannot but concern all those who believe and love the liturgical tradition of the Church and, also in the same spirit, who fight in defense of life, of the family, of the pontifical Magisterium and of Christian Civilisation," says Professor de Mattei. "This infringement concerns all those who believe in and love the liturgical tradition of the Church," says the historian.

His Eminence João Braz de Aviz Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life Piazza Pio XII 3 00193 Roma
 Email: civcsva.pref @ ccscrlife.va

S.Ex. Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Palazzo del Sant'Uffizio 00120 Città del Vaticano
 E-mail: cdf@cfaith.va

S.Ex. Archbishop Augustine Di Noia OP Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei Piazza del Sant'Uffizio 11 00193 Roma
Email: eccdei@ecclsdei.va

There is also the possibility of the patch directly in several languages ​​to use in writing Professor de Mattei to use ( see here ). An indicator for the further development  will be  seen in what course the careers of the agitators in the Order and the Vatican take.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
 Image: Franciscans of the Immaculate

"They Knowingly Lie" -- Franciscans of the Immaculate Defend Themselvesin Official Statement

(Rome), the Franciscans of the Immaculate seem to have caught on after a first moment of shock. The Order has now responded with two official clarifications to a number of false reports that were apparently and deliberately circulated in connection with the decree of the Congregation of Religious. Both explanations are directed against Vatican Insider . The Order has precisely recognized, that this news platform are some Vaticanists, from which emanated the article with false reports. "They are lying and know that they are lying," said Messa in Latino about the behavior of some journalists. Unaudited reports were adopted by Catholic media and broadly disseminated. In recent days, it has been repeatedly claimed that it was not about the Old Mass in the whole thing. In reality, it is first and foremost on the Old Mass.

Vatican Insider as a Smoke Screen against the Franciscans of the Immaculate and the Old Mass

Even the report of the commissarate over the Order of Alessandro Speciale on July 30th was a smoke screen. Speciale reported on the actions of the Congregation of Religious, but also mixed a number of false reports in the article that were to serve to justify the extraordinary measures. For this purpose, he presented a supposed "spokesman of the Order," which he had cited in detail, thus giving the false impression that these were official statements. In reality, it was a leading representative of the "rebellious, progressive minority" (Roberto de Mattei). The statements of the alleged "speaker" was a single ignition out of smoke grenades, which were taken as stated by many Catholic media.

The supposed "spokesman" justified the Roman intervention allegedly because the order had been "exploited" as a "mediator" in the unification talks between the Holy See ands the SSPX (lie 1). He also described the ominous internal "poll" (lie 2) as the first in circulation, and even an "overwhelming majority" (lie 3) of the members of the order report that they would reject an "exclusive" celebration (lie 4) Tridentine Mass "especially in pastoral care in the parishes."

So it went on 2 August at Vatican Insider with the article about the unconvincing attempt by Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi to placate in the matter of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. This time the article was no longer marked by name.

Slanderous allegations against the founder of the Order and the Old Mass

The statement by Father Lombardi was clearly then apparently much for the order. Franciscan Sister of the Immaculate contemplative branch . Now the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception have a first official clarification. That an order which is under provisional control, is not necessarily a given. The Order concluded with the statement that the only speaker of the order continues to be Father General Alessandro Apollonio alone. This is a finding which clearly goes against the false statements of the alleged "speaker" spread by the media.

In the declaration of the order states that the product of Vatican insider "includes defamatory statements against our Founding Father Stefano Maria Manelli, assertions that we must reject. The article also contains false or inaccurate information. "

The Premise for the Decision is "not the truth"

Vatican Insider claimed that the "decision of Pope Bergoglio" was justified by the fact that the "Father General Stefano Manelli has forced all communities of the Franciscans of the Immaculate to exclusively say the extraordinary form of the Roman rite in the liturgy."

In contrast, the official statement of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate Conception says: "This is not true. It is our duty to respond to the best of our knowledge and belief, Father Stefano has never imposed exclusive use of the Old Rite on all communities. "Rather, he celebrates himself in both forms of the Roman rite. It is important to know that the official explanation that, before, during and after the Apostolic Visitation (July 2012-July 2013) as well as today, that the Old Mass was used following a promotion by the Father General with the General Council was "completely legitimate" and advanced "the Vetus Ordo in Respect to the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum (2007), in respect of the decisions of our General Chapter of 2008 and in respect of the instruction Universae Ecclesiae (2011)".

By letter dated 21 November 2011 (Protocol 77/2011) was transmitted by the Secretary-General on behalf of the General Council to all branches of the order some guidelines for use of Vetus Ordo (no rules, therefore they represented also no compulsion).

"Even after that some communities have preferred to continue the New Rite instead of the Old Rite. There was apparently therefore no compulsion exerted by Father Manelli. "Some brothers have, however, criticized the letter," said the order in its statement. "Some brothers" apparently already felt the possibility of celebration of the Old Rite went too far and were intriguing against Rome.

Ecclesia Dei Confirmed the Internal Promotion of the Old Mass in Accordance with Benedict XVI.

In the official statement of the order it said, "For this reason we have asked the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei for clarification, in the letter of 14 April 2012, Prot 39/2911L, the compliance of the letter Prot 77/2011 with the "mens" of the Holy Father Benedict XVI. was confirmed in the Instruction Universae Ecclesiae, No. 8."

The anonymous article from Vatican Insider also claimed that the Old Rite could be used only for orders and communities who have been in the "Lefebvrian schism", but were then returned to communion with Rome and placed under the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

"In reality, it is necessary to clarify that according Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum (No. 3) and the Instruction Universae Ecclesiae (No. 8a) the Vetus Ordo may be exclusive or 'primarily' may be used by religious institutions that are not of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, and not dependent on coming from the Lefebvrian 'schism'". Besides that, it was never intended to come to an exclusive use by our founder," said the order in its statement.

It was argued further by the article in Vatican Insider: "The Franciscans of the Immaculate, however, are created after the Council and a survey of the brothers has shown that the majority of them wants the celebration in the ordinary rite."

The order took exception here as well: "The fact that we weren't created until after the Council, does not prohibit us of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, to accept the Old Rite or favor. Incidentally, the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum applies (which was published after the Council) and the Institutes of Consecrated Life (without reference to their date) and also the instruction Universae Ecclesiae specifies that it is that goal 'of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum at No. 8, all the faithful the Roman Liturgy in usus antiquior offer because it is a valuable treasure that must be preserved."

Among 'all believers' is included also the religious."

There was never any "poll" for New Mass - assertion "unfounded"

Regarding the claim of the "survey" and an alleged "majority" of the brothers for the New Rite, (in explanation of the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception is also expressly mentioned by Speciale in the article from July 30th mentioned by Vatican Insider), according to the official statement of the order, there had been "no survey". "Therefore, the allegations of surveys by an alleged desire of a majority of the brothers is without foundation." Since the order was always bi-ritual, every priest of the order would "continue" to celebrate the New Rite, "as he has always done before." Without further explicitly addressing it, the order firmly asserts execute that there is no justification for the intervention of Rome against the Old Mass.". Regardless of our obedience to the instructions of the Holy See, it is our duty to provide clarity to avoid slander against our founder and hurdles for a peaceful course of the provisional administration."

Tornielli has set out with a hoax - Franciscans react immediately with the second explanation.


In the Declaration, the Congregation for Religious, stressed that their current term Decree was expressly brought by the approval of Pope Francis.

In defense of Vatican Insider it is to add that the first official clarification by the order was issued in full on Sunday.


The Congregation for Religious does not seem to have been concerned about the impact the decree has made decree on pastoral care.

Not only internal to the order, especially for the sister monasteries, but also for the numerous Mass locations in the Old Rite, which are managed by the order. Countless believers are deprived of the Old Mass on the 11th of August, to which they had been long accustomed. The resulting logistical problems and spiritual nature of these believers has not been addressed at all by the Congregation of Religious. Not a word of regret or of encouragement. If it goes against the tradition of the progressive parts of the Roman Curia, and so they behave like a bull in a china shop, and this against a worthy and entirely correctly celebrated liturgy and made the believers to orphans.

A small reconnaissance trip through the parishes in which members of the disobedient priest initiatives in the German speaking involved would suffice to create an abuse register that cries out for intervention. There is enough action. One does not have to look elsewhere for it.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Franciscans of the Immaculate
Trams: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMGD

Feast Days For the Franciscans of the Immaculate in the Immemorial Mass of All Ages -- 12 New Novices, 16 Temporary Vows

(Rome) The last two days were hard days for the Franciscans of the Immaculate. On Thursday at the Pilgrimage sight of Mary of Good Counsel 12 new novices were vested in Frigento. The sanctuary is cared for by the Franciscans of the Immaculate.

Yesterday, Friday, 16 Franciscans made first vows. On both days, the Holy Mass was celebrated solemnly in the Traditional Rite, as has been usual internally for the order for several years. Till the 11th of August it is still possible.

The celebrant was the General of the Order, Father Gabriele Maria Pellettieri, who founded the order together with Father Stefano Maria Manelli. Father General Manelli conducted the investiture of postulants and the temporary vows of the novices.

There were still two large solemn occasions for the vibrant order before the Decree of the Congregation of Religious enters into force. The two liturgies reminiscent of past times, as now so rarely can orders absorb new members in such numbers today in Europe. They testify to the vitality of the Catholic Church, despite the rampant secularization of the world. Before the Order moved to the Old Rite upon the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum , the number of novices was lower and they even came mainly from the Philippines, where the Order began its early work. On Thursday and Friday it was noticed that the new entrants seem to all come from Europe.

Father Stefano Maria Manelli spoke with the greatest inner peace of mind to the nuns and novices. His remarks focused on the holiness of life as a nun. Nothing pointed to the dramatic intervention in the religious life of the order by the Congregation of Religious.

While the Minister General, deposed by Rome, placed wreaths on the Novices for their profession, the sister choir sang the Veni, sponsa Christi, quam tibi Dominus accipe coronam preparavit in aeternum .

Requests for permission to be allowed to celebrate in the future in the Old Rite have to be judged for each individual priest and each community separately says the Apostolic Commissioner. Whether these can be addressed directly above or have the permission of Rome (which location?) must obtain, is unclear. There are, nevertheless, that a large part of the Order that still wants, despite these rules, to continue the Old Rite hold and to make such requests.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
 Image: Franciscans of the Immaculate
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMGD

Franciscans of the Immaculate: Vatican Attempts to Reassure -- Reasoning Not Convincing

(Rome) The unrest has not remained hidden among Traditional Catholics from the Vatican, that has developed from the treatment of the Traditional Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. The need to intervene and reassure. However, the justification offered here is hard to believe.

. The exemplary Franciscans of the Immaculata, which was canonically erected in 1990, will, by a decree dated the 11th of July be placed under provisional administration by the Congregation of Religious. It was also arranged that all the priests, would celebrate the liturgy according to the New Rite. It is a serious attack against the right granted by Summorum Pontificum and Pope Benedict XVI. for any priest to celebrate Mass in one of the two forms of the Roman rite. The protest among Traditional Catholics is very strong. The Vatican is therefore committed to de-escalation.

Vatican spokesman Lombardi said today that the appointment of an Apostolic Commissioner for the Franciscans of the Immaculate, "is for the life and leadership of the congregation as a whole not only liturgical questions and concerns."

According to the Vatican spokesman, the repeal of the existing provisions, of religious orders internally to maintain the Old Rite and celebrate for pastoral outreach in both the New and the Old Rite, is "not" against the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI. The religious congregation ordered with the adoption of the approbation of Pope Francis, a decree that all priests from are obliged to celebrate only the New Rite from the 11th of August. "Possible" celebrations in the Old Rite were declared subject to approval, each priest and every community must individually apply for it.

According to Vatican spokesman Lombardi, this was not the intention of this Decree, to contradict the provisions of Summorum Pontificum. It's "only" in order to respond to "specific problems and tensions" that had arisen within the Order regarding questions of the Rite.

The "aim" Benedict XVI., had established the Motu Proprio of 2007, "To overcome tensions and not to create them", says Lombardi. The unilateral imposition of the New Rite against the validly enacted decisions of the Order for the Old Rite and the so-called bi-ritualism in pastoral care, does not explain the reasoning of the Vatican spokesman.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
 Image: Una Fides
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
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Franciscans of the Immaculata: An Order of Angels and a Few Demons

Katholisches.info is continuing the publication of contributions about the restrictive measures against the Franciscans of the Immaculate. The first was the well-known historian Roberto de Mattei with his contribution , the "Causa" of the Franciscans of the Immaculate ( see article ). It followed the Traditionalist blog Cordialter: Since 2 +2 still 4 and not 5 Is the Serious Attack Against Tradition ( see article ). Meanwhile, also reporting is the Catholic art and culture critic, Francesco Colafemmina, who also knows the Franciscans of the Immaculate, as well as a meeting with the Apostolic Visitor, with whom he had a personally recollected conversation.

Angel Dressed in the Mantle of Mary, Casts out Demons

by Francesco Colafemmina

I am indebted. In debt to the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. I will not repay this, because then I would have to stop, yes, being grateful to them. But I want to testify. I want to bear witness to the closeness and devotion for this order of angels, who must live among some demons.

Florence, Church of All Saints. It is the first day of the year, a few years ago ... My future wife at that time and I entered this great church for Holy Mass. At the end of the church, the last church pews, a mild-mannered brother is in the blue habit. I ask him to hear my confession. What kind of inner peace, such purity, such strengthening in this confession. A few years later I would learn that this mild-mannered brother was none other than Father Serafino Lanzetta, who is opposed by the bloated demons because of his honest analysis and interpretation of the Council.

Florence, Church of All Saints. An indeterminate day in 2011. A delicious conversation with a black sister who gave Miraculous Medals at the monastery gate. I will never forget the peace of mind and the joy that could be heard in her voice. And they told me that it is important to pray for our priests. Today I'm aware that it would also have been useful to pray that some demon leaves the Order.

Avellino. An indefinite day several years ago. I am eating pizza with friends. At the table across from me sits Monsignor Vito Angelo Todisco, the Apostolic Visitor of the Franciscans of the Immaculate. I can still hear him talking about the Franciscans of the Immaculate playing the sly one, "Yes, if you're going to Frigento, then you will hear them scream from one room to another, those who flagellate themselves ... yes ... because then you have to go away ..." At that time, to be honest, when I heard from one dressed with cap and civilian clothes as was this priest, I had not understood if he was laughing or whether it was a very special form of admiration, an admiration for what "we mortals" never do, would never be able to do ... Now I know that it was only a mockery of the brothers and for their spiritual destruction.

Battipaglia, 2009. Invitation to an exhibition by Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos. We, Manuel Grillo, my publisher and friend, and I went out with the intention, to pass to the Cardinal an appeal to the Pope for religious art, that he would send him to the Holy Father (as it then also happened). The altar service at this Pontifical Mass was celebrated by the Franciscans of the Immaculate. After completion of the Mass, I was moved to greet these industrious brothers, these really humble brethren, and not a rehearsed, false, intellectual humility. No, they are humble because they quietly do their job, all in the same way with the same dedication, the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Suddenly, just before they again set off towards Frigento by bus, one of them turned, a bit bald and the beard of a Capuchin, towards me and said, "You are Francesco Colafemmina!" It was Father Paolo Siano, the Mason Hunter ...

And who knows if this it is not just these Freemasons who are behind the whole affair ... But I would not appear to be a conspiracy theorist or a simpleton.

The whole thing is in any case based on a question of style. I have met no Franciscans of the Immaculate that would have put themselves in any way in a picture with the Pope or a scene that have been published more than once or many times in various institutional Facebook profiles, their photos with the Pope - the new Pope of course - before this or that background, the WYD hat, with young people of WYD, etc., etc. Well and good, but if this is the case for any of them yet, he is one of the authors of this dark intrigue, which led to the overthrow of the Order. Then I ask: Why? Why did you go then, instead of protecting and blessing the Order in silence and devotion? Why did you leave, while your founding father is forced from his creation of love and devotion to Christ and the Virgin Mary, laughing through the streets? [He evidently has someone in mind]

. Spiritual worldliness. This is evil. The evil of which Pope Francis speaks!

"We mean with this that which constitutes virtually a flow of otherworldliness, whose moral ideal, however, is meant the spiritual, rather than the glorification of the Lord, but those of man and his perfection. A radically anthropocentric attitude, which is the spirit of worldliness." said De Lubac. So I want to thank the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception for the spiritual gifts they have given me. I want to thank them for their simplicity, their unselfishness, their devotion, I want to thank them, because they have shown that it is possible, even in the bewildered and seductive world of today, to live a life completely given to Our Lord in freedom. It is no coincidence that I was able to see a clean alternative to the corruption of other brothers in them, such as some of the Capuchin Friars of St. Pio, who have become the best example of secularism, a secularism tout cour. [...]

At this point I would like the many brothers who read me, saying, obey, yes, but do not give up. Envy, arrogance and pride destroy in a few minutes the works of many years. You have the power to rebuild everything, and more, a force that belongs to you from the Lord. Therefore give evidence, give wise testimony, looking for new ways for witness. Show also those who want to see you today in chains, that is no fault in you. Fighting a brilliant fight, which is not ideological, concerns not the Old or the New Rite, the Council or the post-Conciliar period, but the Faith in our Lord and to follow Christ. May God bless you, dear sisters and brothers. Angels dressed in the mantle of Mary, cast out demons who have mingled with you! [...]

Text: Fides et Forma
Translation: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Fides et Forma
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMGD

NB: Colafemmina is not a Traditionalist.

Petition to Support the Franciscans of the Immaculata

Edit: this just in which we found on Messa in Latino regarding the Franciscan Friars if the Immaculata. Here's a slight google translation with some editing. You can go to the main site and send an e-mail using Corispondenza Roma. Thanks. Please let us know in the comments if you've signed it. Hopefully it will embolden others to do so.

In support of the Franciscans of the Immaculate and the traditional Mass

Dear friend,

on July 11, the Congregation for Religious has "police" the institution of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, forcing them to abandon the traditional Mass, which they celebrate freely, according to a universal law of the Church, never repealed and confirmed by the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI on 7 July 2007.

In the canon 212 of the Code of Canon Law currently in force states that the faithful "...have the right, indeed at times the duty, in keeping with their knowledge, competence and position, to manifest to the sacred Pastors their views on matters which concern the good of the Church. They have the right also to make their views known to others of Christ's faithful, but in doing so they must always respect the integrity of faith and morals, show due reverence to the Pastors and take into account both the common good and the dignity of individuals." In the light of this canon, and what forces the sensus fidei of every baptized person, I feel obliged to send an open letter to His Eminence Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life. If you share my concerns, I thank you if you will join this initiative, addressing the message shown in the window below.

Pressing the button below you will be able to send its message directly to the Prefect of the Congregation [in Italian] and, for information, to the Secretary of the Congregation, Archbishop José Rodriguez Carballo, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Vice President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Archbishop Augustine Di Noia and the appointed Commissioner, Father Fidenzio Volpi, OFM Cap.

Do not forget to sign the letter with your name, with your e-mail address.

Thank you to join this initiative, promoted for the greater good of the Church and of souls.

With esteem and friendship,

Roberto de Mattei

Link to the petition which you can send already in Italian to the concerned Prelates in authority, here.

The Letter as Follows:

A sua Eminenza Rev.ma  Card. João Braz de Aviz
Your Eminence,

The decree of July 11th 2013, signed by you, by which the Franciscans of the Immaculate have been “commissioned” and forbidden to celebrate the Mass according to the ancient Roman rite, constitutes an unjust act in regard to this religious Institute, whose honour it diminishes, but above all it represents a violation of the universal laws of the Church, in particular of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum of July 7th 2007 of Benedict XVI, which has never been abrogated and which grants, to every priest, the freedom to celebrate the Mass according to the “extraordinary” form.  This objective lesion of the right cannot but concern all those who believe and love the liturgical tradition of the Church and, also in the same spirit, who fight in defence of life, of the family, of the pontifical Magisterium and of Christian Civilisation.  

The canonical law gives me the authority to express, in a respectful manner, my sorrowful perturbation, my strong protest and my vibrant appeal so that every obstacle to the free celebration of the traditional Mass for every priest may be removed and that the Franciscans of the Immaculate may continue their precious apostolate which has done so much good and will still do so for souls.

Yours respectfully in Christ

Roberto de Mattei: Franciscans of the Immaculata Models in Situation of Liturgical, Theological and Moral Anarchy

(Rome) The measures against the Franciscans of the Immaculate have caused trouble and lively discussions. Katholisches.info is publishing a discussion contribution. The first will be the well-known historian Roberto de Mattei. The March for Life , which was took place with 40,000 participants in Rome in May is largely due to his initiative. On the march, numerous Franciscans of the Immaculate participated, an Order with an apostolate which also includes particularly the defense of unborn life.

The "Causa" Franciscans of the Immaculate

by Roberto de Mattei

The "case" of the Franciscans of the Immaculata is a very serious episode, which is intended to have an effect in the Church that is maybe not anticipated by those who have set about to act imprudently.

The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life (better known as the Congregation for Religious) by  Rodriguez Carballo OFM has overthrown the General Superior of the Franciscans of the Immaculata, and have handed over leadership to an "Apostolic Commissioner," Father Fidenzio Volpi, Capuchin, with its decree of the 11th of July, 2013, signed by Cardinal Prefect Joao Braz de Aviz and Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo.

In order to "cement" the decree, said Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, it received the approbation ex auditu from Pope Francis, to which the brothers have taken every opportunity to appeal to the Apostolic Signatura. [++Burke] The reasons for this condemnation which has its origin in the instigation of a group of dissident brothers to the religious congregation, remains mysterious. According to the decree from the Congregation and the letter of the new Commissioner of the Franciscans, the only charges appear to be a lack of sentire cum Ecclesia and an excessive attachment to the Traditional Roman Rite.

Injustice Against Franciscans of the Immaculate -- Order Surrendered to Progressive Minority

In reality we are faced with a manifest injustice which is being done to the Franciscans of the Immaculate. The Religious Institute founded by Father Stefano Maria Manelli and Father Gabriele Maria Pellettieri is one of the most flourishing that has been established in the Church, both because of the number of vocations and the authenticity of the spiritual life as well as because of the fidelity to doctrine and to Rome. In the situation of liturgical, theological and moral anarchy in which we find ourselves today, the Franciscans of the Immaculate should serve as a model for religious life. The Pope often refers to the need for a simpler and more spartan religious life.

The Franciscans of the Immaculate distinguish themselves just by the rigor and evangelical poverty in which they live, by their Franciscan charism since its inception. Instead of this, the Congregation of Religious is directing in the name of the Pope, to transfer the General Government of management to a minority of rebellious, progressive brothers, to which the neo-Commissioner will rely upon to "normalize" the Order, or in other words, to lead it into that disaster which it has so far escaped, thanks to its loyalty to Church order and the Magisterium.

Cardinal Aviz: Harshness Against Faithful Franciscans - Understanding Heretical Religious Women

But today the bad is rewarded and the good is punished. It is not surprising that it is the same Cardinal, who is taking action against the Franciscans of the Immaculata with an iron fist, who at the same time pleads understanding and dialogue for the heretical and schismatic American Women Religious. Those nuns preach and practice the gender ideology and therefore naturally a dialog must be maintained with them. The Franciscans of the Immaculate preach and practice chastity, penance, and therefore there should be no sympathy for them. This is the sad conclusion which must force itself upon a sober observer.

One of the charges is to be very attached the traditional Mass. But the accusation is just an excuse, because the Franciscans of the Immaculate namely, as the saying goes, are "bi-ritual", that is, they celebrate both the New and the Old Mass, as permitted them by applicable ecclesiastical laws. Given an unjust command, there are some, as you can imagine, who won't refrain from celebrating the traditional Mass, and they do well at this point to resist, because it is not a gesture of rebellion but of obedience. The indults and privileges in favor of the traditional Mass were not abolished and have greater legal force than the decree of a Congregation and even the intentions of a Pope, if they do not find expression in a definite act.

Cardinal Braz de Aviz seems to ignore the existence of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum of 7 July 2007, its implementing provisions of the instruction Universae Ecclesiae of 30 April 2011 and which is connected to the CDF Commission Ecclesia Dei entering into their areas of competence by the Congregation of Religious.

Tradition is Increasing in Strength: the Main Reason for Hostility

What is the intention of the highest ecclesiastical authority? Abolish Ecclesia Dei and eliminate the Motu proprio of Benedict XVI.? Then can you say it openly, so that the appropriate conclusions can be drawn. And if it is not so, why will a decree be adopted, which is for the Catholic world, which refers to the tradition of the Church, and is only unnecessarily provocative? This world is in a period of great expansion, especially among the youth, and this is perhaps the main cause for the hostility that is beating upon her today.

And finally, the decree constitutes an abuse of power not only against the Franciscans of the Immaculate and those who are wrongly referred to as Traditionalists, but against every Catholic. Namely, it represents a worrying symptom that loss of legal certainty, which is takes place today within the Church.

The Church is a visible society in which the "force of law and the law" applies (Pius XII., In his speech Dans notre souhait 15 July, 1950). The law defines right and wrong and, as the canonists say, "must be justified in the potestas of the Church, and that is the very being of the Church requires that determines the purposes and limits the scope of action of the hierarchy. Not every act of holy shepherds is, simply because it comes from them, correct. "(Carlos J. Errazuriz, Il diritto e la giustizia nella Chiesa, Giuffré, Milano 2008, p 157).

If the legal certainty is lost, the arbitrariness and the will of the stronger gains the upper hand. So it often happens in society, it can also be done in the church, when the human dimension penetrates in it against the supernatural. But if there is no legal certainty, there is no safe rule of conduct. Everything is left to the discretion of the individual or groups of power and the force with which these lobbies are able to impose their will. Separate from the legal force of presumption and arrogance.

Summorum Pontificum has Greater Legal force Than the Decree of a Congregation

The Church, the mystical body of Christ, is a legal device that is based on the divine law, the trustees and not the creator or men, are the men of the Church. The Church is not Soviet, but a building donated by Jesus Christ, in which the power of the pope and the bishops is exercised in accordance with the traditional laws and forms, all rooted in divine revelation. Today we speak of a more equal and democratic Church, but the power is often exercised in violation of the laws and customs of thousands of years in a very selfish way. If universal laws of the Church exist, such as the Bull of St. Pius V, Quo Primum (1570) and the Motu proprio of Benedict XVI. Summorum Pontificum, there is, in order to change them, a legal act of the same rank is necessary. You can not just look at an older law as waived, except with expressed abrogating document of equivalent scope.

Appeal to Francis: Undo Measures - Dramatic hour, New Storms Are Coming On

To defend justice and truth in the Church, we rely on the voices of jurists, among which there are also some eminent Cardinals,who have ordained Franciscans of the Immaculate to the priesthood in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, and know their exemplary life and their apostolic zeal. We appeal especially to Pope Francis, that he may withdraw the action against the Franciscans of the Immaculate and for their lawful use of the Old Roman Rite.

Whatever decision should ever be made, we can not deny that the hour, in the Church lives today, is dramatic. New storms are on the horizon, and these storms will certainly not be conjured up by neither the Brothers or the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. The love of the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church has always driven and drives us to take their defense. The Mother of God, Virgo Fidelis, will show the right way to the conscience of every individual in this difficult situation.

Text: Corrispondenza Romana

translation: Giuseppe Nardi

Image: Corrispondenza Romana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD

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

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Assassination Attempt on Old Mass: Input by 6 Members -- Pretext?

(Rome) Six out of 800 members of the order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate (FI) have made a submission to the Roman Congregation for Religious. A small minority. Thus, they protested against the decision of the Order's leadership, to use the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and to remain bi-ritual for the pastoral care of the faithful. Some of the six dissidents are now no longer in the Order, they were excluded because of disobedience and indiscipline. It may be argued that only a pretext was sought for the Congregation of Religious to take action against the exemplary order. The radical intervention shows a dreadful lack of liturgical sensibility. Only such a deficiency may explain a ham fisted methods of this magnitude, which deprives the heart of religious life for four branches with more than 100 monasteries and houses and it seems to be the opinion that the Old Rite being simply replaced by the new is desirable. Upon the disempowerment of the Founder and the imposition of a Commission is expected to prevent a reaction to this by the Order.

  From katholisches...

 Text: Giuseppi Nardi
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

 16 New Novices

There's also a similar case with the Johannites....

AMGD

Second Largest Traditional Order in Ecclesia Dei Banned from Saying Immemorial Mass of All Ages

Update: while it does sadden us to see such heavy-handedness on the part of the Curia, which is frankly happening to other traditional orders, like the Good Shepherd, it doesn't necessarily mean an abrogation of Summorum Pontificum as Vox points out.

Edit:   Is this a sign of things to come?  There are also reports from Mumbai, India that the Traditional Latin Mass will be abolished in that Archdiocese, allegedly because there are no priests proficient in Latin.

As reported by at Sandro Magister and Rorate Caeli, the Mass of All Ages is being forbidden within the tremendously successful Franciscans of the Immaculate.  They are the second largest Society under Ecclesia Dei to offer the Mass of All Ages.  They don't offer it exclusively, and from now on, it appears they may not be allowed to offer it at all as of August 11th:

"In addition to the above, the Holy Father Francis has directed that every religious of the congregation of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate is required to celebrate the liturgy according to the ordinary rite and that, if the occasion should arise, the use of the extraordinary form (Vetus Ordo) must be explicitly authorized by the competent authorities, for every religious and/or community that makes the request.”

It's not known whether giant puppets, bad folk music or Jesuit dance will be required.

There are a couple of things that come to mind in the face of the recent issue with the Franciscans of the Immaculate.  First of all, and most important to our mind, is that, barring any revelations of real wrongdoing on the part of this order, they have had a lot of success and have been growing nearly exponentially in the post-Conciliar age.

It's actually unheard of.  They're not like any of the decadent, moribund, withering, archaic, folksy, dinosaur Benedictines or other irrelevant societies who cling to fossilized forms of a bygone era of the 1968 as Pope Francis opined at World Youth Day, from CFN:

"The Pelagian solution. This basically appears as a form of restorationism. In dealing with the Church’s problems, a purely disciplinary solution is sought, through the restoration of outdated manners and forms which, even on the cultural level, are no longer meaningful. In Latin America it is usually to be found in small groups, in some new religious congregations, in (exaggerated) tendencies to doctrinal or disciplinary 'safety'. Basically it is static, although it is capable of inversion, in a process of regression. It seeks to 'recover' the lost past."

In a way, it's a good sign that they are being unjustly persecuted, because in the post-Conciliar Church, a sure sign of success is being treated unjustly by one's superiors.   Of course, as one corresponded reports, not even the evil Marciel Maciel's   order, the Legionaries of Christ has been dealt with so roughly.  The Franciscans of the Immaculate are being assigned a governing board and the past leadership, those who have made the order as successful as it is.

Secondly, this is the result of a small clique of embittered hostiles who've been given an ear in Rome, which has provoked this shakeup.  It brings to mind another shakeup more than a decade ago with Protocal 1411, which many predicted back then, would be the end of the FSSP.  Some will remember that a letter was sent from a small number of society members accusing it of being divisive, rigid and so forth, which provoked a ruling down from Rome that despite the Society's original founding charter, that its priests would only say the Mass of All Ages, that this would be overruled and priests of the Society would therto be permitted to say the Bugninine Liturgy.

At present, Father Stefano Maria Manelli, the 80 year old Franciscans of the Immaculate founder, is currently being replaced along with his board while a Capuchin visitor.

The troublemakers are said by a source known to us as being Americans who've been vocally critical of the "Gheradini line" of loyal criticism engaged upon by Immaculate members.