Bishop Fellay States What's Been Evident All Along About Vatican II

Edit: remember when we pointed to the fact that the Holy Father was willing to accept the SSPX's reservations about Vatican II?
Bishop Fellay: ‘total acceptance of Vatican II’ no longer prerequisite for full communion with Holy See [br]


CWN - June 08, 2012[br /] [br]Stating that discussions with the Holy See “have allowed us to present clearly the various problems that we experience with regard to Vatican II,” the superior general of the Society of St. Pius X said in an interview that “what has changed is the fact that Rome no longer makes total acceptance of Vatican II a prerequisite for the canonical solution.”

“The attitude of the official Church is what changed; we did not,” said Bishop Bernard Fellay. “We were not the ones who asked for an agreement; the Pope is the one who wants to recognize us. You may ask: why this change? We are still not in agreement doctrinally, and yet the pope wants to recognize us! Why? The answer is right in front of us: there are terribly important problems in the Church today.”

Asked about religious liberty, ecumenism, and other doctrinal issues that have been points of disagreement between the Holy See and the Society, Bishop Fellay said that.

Link to CWN...

Cardinal Burke is in Line for Big Job?

Cardinal Burke as Crown Prince?

 Vatican:[kreuz.net] Pope Benedict XVI may put the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Raymond Cardinal Burke (63) into a position of responsibility. According to reports from Roman circles, the Cardinal is in consideration to be the next Prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine and the Faith, or the new Cardinal Secretary. Photo...Institute of Christ the King.

SSPX Unification Postponed

Edit: with figures like +Zollitsch, +Koch or +Schoenborn around, it's not surprising there's a postponement from the expected date of Pentecost. 

It just is what it is.

Mary Altar of the Society
Church of St. Joseph in
Memingen
© Wikipedia-Benützer ‘Bene16’,CC

(kreuz.net) Pope Benedict XVI. will only  take care of the dossier "Society of St. Pius" in summer vacation -- therefore after the High Feast of St. Peter and Paul.

This is what Europe's largest Catholic internet site 'kreuz.net' has learned from Vatican circles.

Because of the current difficult inner-Church situation that is involved with the reconciliation with the SSPX must be immediately managed before there can be a unification. 

Till now observers originally thought that the Vatican would have made known the reconciliation between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X on Pentecost

Link...

SSPX Storms Trier: Reconciliation Imminent

No Room in the Cathedral

Yesterday the Holy Robe experienced being stormed by the largest group of pilgrims.  The summit:  they were there as pilgrims and not as tourists.

(kreuz.net)  On Sunday 2,500 Traditionalists pilgrimaged to the Holy Robe of Trier.

The Old Liberal Diocese refused them Holy Mass in Trier Basilica or in another house of worship.

For that reason the storm of pilgrims had to withdraw to the secularized St. Maximin Abbey church. [Another victim of New Springtime]

The Levites of the SSPX

In any event, the press speaker of the Diocese of Trier explained after the fact on the Diocesan website:

There "was a welcome to the pilgrims and pilgrimesses of this group."

Spouses of the Lord

Unity Doesn't mean Accommodation

The Abbey church was was completely full from the entrance doors to the transepts for the solemn levitical Liturgy.

Father Stefan Frey --- the Rector of the Society Seminary of Zaitzkofen near Regensburg -- preached for the feast.

It just so happened that he spoke about the negotiation of the Society with Rome.

It was there he assured the faithful that it did not mean that unification with the Vatican means that the battle for the Catholic Faith would be given up.

Another Drawer in the Conciliar Dresser

The piety of the faithful present was impressive.

In the sight of the struggle of the Old Liberal hardliners against the Faith, the pilgrims came to doubt in  the course of reconciliation with Rome on the pilgrimage.

Many fear that after the Society will be slowed down by an agreement with the Novus Ordo Conciliar Church and the German church-tax apparatus.

By contrast, Father Marc Gensbittel -- the Prior of Saarbrucken -- explained in a  lecture on Sunday morning that the Society will have a "reconciliation" with the Vatican, where they will have their own niche and have "freedom of opinion" in the Conciliar Church.

The Fears Remain

On the pilgrimage even academic Catholics showed themselves critical against the reconciliation.

The fear was aired that it could be accompanied with a betrayal of the faith and on the unbroken dogmatic tradition of the Church.

Too Few Places to Eat

The onslaught of the faithful was impressive -- although many Southern Germans and Bavarians were on other May Pilgrimages.

After Holy Mass there were even too few places to eat for the pilgrims in front of the Abbey church.

During lunch they were thanked privately by many of the older missionaries and priests,  who were drawn back to the time of their own priestly consecrations or encouraged again to remain true to them.




Linnk to kreuz.net original...

Also, from Cathcon, Liberal paper complains about SSPX taking over Trier.  Clearly, all were not welcome:

The arch-conservative SSPX makes a pilgrimage to Trier with about 2,000 followers. For critics, this does not fit the idea of ​an ecumenical pilgrimage - the SSPX among other things believe that all other religions are simply "wrong."

Holy Father to Priests: Do Not Accommodate the Opinions of the World!

Edit: we used the Douay Rheims translation.  It's interesting to see the Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, standing next to the Holy Father and bowing for the blessing in the most child-like way. The speech is a beautiful Lenten meditation which restates the humble truth about the first of all virtues.


Benedict XVI: there is need in the Church for the humility to accept also small roles.  Humility is the first virtue, which offers freedom in truth. translation from report Armin Schwibach.

Rome (kath.net/as) Every year at the beginning of Lent, Pope Benedict XVI meets with the clergy of his Diocese on this Thursday morning.  Also this year the meeting takes place in the audience hall of "Paul VI" at the desire of the priests in the framework of "lection Divina" rather than a free speech.  The "lectio" is inspired by a section from a letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians (Eph 4: 1-16)

I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called:  With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity. Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 One body and one Spirit: as you are called in one hope of your calling.

 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all.  But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ.  Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led captivity captive: he gave gifts to men.  Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens: that he might fill all things. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors: For the perfecting of the saints, for the word of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. 

Until we all meet into the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ:  That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive.  But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things grow up in him who is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly joined together, by what every joint supplieth, according to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in charity. [Douay-Rheims]

The great suffering, which has been endured by the Church in Europe and in the West, consists in a lack of vocations, said Benedict XVI.  The Lord therefore calls everyone.  For that it is necessary to hear this call.  The natural disposition of a priest is to be humble, mild and big hearted, because: "If I am humble, then I will also have the freedom to oppose myself to the prevailing thinking."  This humility empowers the priest to seek the truth.  Therefore it would e necessary to accept small roles in the Church, have have, however, great value in the eyes of God.

"I must accept my small position in the Church",  said the Pope.  The vain ostentation of those who do not teach this, finally oppose Him himself, and causes unhappiness.  The humility on the other hand leads, not to walk into appearances, but in deeds, "what God had considered for me and what for me is the part of Christian realism".  False humility on the other hand leads to the destruction of the unity of the Church.  To respect yourself and the other are two things which belong together. It is in that which consists the "great harmony of the Church and creation: that every one else is as the other."

The humble man obtains the freedom, in the name of truth to meet with those who are related to him.  The opposite of  humility -- the pride -- is then the root of all sins, which consist, in a desire to  stay in the midst of the world.  Christian being means, to resist this temptation,  to have humility before all others means a life lived in truth, which says:  "Only in my smallness can I be great".

Another great problem in the Church in today's times consists in "religious Analphabetism".  It is necessary to include  the content of the Faith,  the Pope cautioned, this is "not in the sense of a parcel of Dogmas."  Most of all, it must be done so that the priest can renew and make enable himself to meet Christ.

Many describe themselves as "worldly Catholics", in so far as they may have emancipated themselves from the Magisterium of the Church.   Actually, however, this is not the outcome of a "worldly Faith", rather a dependence upon the world.  True emancipation means much more, said Benedict XVI, pointedly, "free yourself from this dictatorship of opinion and believe in the Son of God".  Only in this way "is one able to find an answer to the challenges of our time."

Link to kath.net...

No "Non Possumus" -- Attempt to Sidetrack the Talks of the SSPX with Rome

Edit: looking at the German media figures like Jeff Mirus, Armin Schwibach, or the Italian Vaticanista, Alessandro Speciale, you can see that there's a reflexive desire to inaccurately portray Bishop Fellay's words.
(Rome/Econe) On 3. Februar 2012 Cardinal William Levada met with the Pope. The Prefect of the Congregation for Doctrine and Faith and reported to the Pope about the situation with the negotiations between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X. Primarily, it focused on the second response of the Society to the "Doctrinal Preamble". Since then, the Vatican is on the train. The congregation, led by Cardinal Levada and examined the response to the Pope in order to determine the next steps by the Holy See. The outcome of the audience is not known.

The whole day was accompanied by a media barrage. Not for the first time did it seem to some that the failure of the talks was not going fast enough. A new wave in talking up this failure was accompanied as a sort of background music for the conversation yesterday in the Vatican.

The opening was taken up by Alessandro Speciale and unchecked by other journalists, including Vaticanistas. In the German speaking zone, Armin Schwibach dashed forth with the sensational headline, "Bishop Fellay: possumus Non!" Thus, the Superior General of the SSPX, Bishop Bernard Fellay, was supposed to have declared in a sermon at the seminary of the Society in Winona in the United States when he actually said yesterday that it is possible for the Society to accept the preamble. He did so, according to Speciale, which provoked a domino effect Schwibach and many others, a "non possumus" announced.

It had created the impression that the Fraternity's turn on the negotiations with Rome had made a definitive stand. The exact opposite is the case. The Holy See's turn and for this reason was held yesterday behind closed doors in the Vatican meeting between Pope Benedict XVI. and Cardinal Levada instead. For this reason alone was the Superior General of SSPX had no reason to trumpet just the day before a categorical "nyet" to the world. The domination of small diplomatic Bishop Fellay has multiplication table since the beginning of the talks with Rome, or rather, since he received from Pope Benedict XVI. In the summer of 2005 provided sufficient proof, as that he would make no such inappropriate move while he waits for the response of the other side.

So the day was at least in the sense of the media, had "run" its course. The uncritical dissemination of a false report says especially a lot about the wishful thinking of some journalists. [Jeff Mirus] In this case, the question arises as to the Cui bono. It has long been known that a possible and desired agreement by Pope Benedict XVI between the Holy See and the SSPX of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre has many opponents, on both sides.

In Italy, fought over the news. The starting point is for all the alleged "refusal" Msgr Fellays in Winona. However, it is a hoax in the classical sense, as revealed Rorate Coeli. Monsignor Fellays never made the statement attributed to him, never, not in Winona, and not elsewhere. In his homily, the Superior General of the Society briefly outlined the current progress of the negotiations with Rome and stated here that the "preamble", as on 14 September Preamble, the Brotherhood, would not be accepted. It has long been known and does not correspond to general rejection, but is part of the negotiations. The Vatican admitted to the Brotherhood with delivery right to propose amendments to express their wishes to propose more appropriate formulations. This option is exercised by the Society which is waiting their turn for the reaction of Rome, which the last topic of conversation between Benedict XVI. and Cardinal Levada.

You will therefore need to wait a little longer, until Rome makes its answer to the SSPX known what the result of the talks have been, as some have rejoiced too early, intending to speak and write you a failure cause.
Link to original...

Bishops to +Fellay: "Toss the Council to the Side, Forget it!"

Bishop Fellay at Candlemass 

Edit: Rorate reports that Italian commentators are having trouble understanding what Bishop Fellay is saying.  Actually, he's been overwhelmingly positive and is finding a tremendous amount of support from REAL Vatican Insiders and even Bishops.

Bishop Fellay cited the thesis of one of his Vatican collaborators.  This one came to the conclusion that the Pastoral Council has the doctrinal authority of a sermon from the 1960s.

(Kreuz.net) The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X is fighting "with and against Rome" at the same time.

That said, the Superior General of the Fraternity, Bishop Bernard Fellay, the Feast of Canlemas, during a Sermon in the 30,000 population city of Winona in Minnesota.

An audio of the sermon is posted on the Seminary's website.

It would be Better Outside


There have been many attempts within the Conciliar Church to get rid of the Society -- explained Bishop Fellay.

According his information, it may be better for the Society to remain "outside".

Because: Then they would receive better treatment from the Church.

As an example, the Bishop recalled how friendly the Church is for the Godless protestants, who come to the Conciliar Church's door and find it opened.

Those are Dogmas

The main problem is identified by Msgr. Fellay "in the Magisterium".

Rome maintains that the past Magisterium can be differentiated from.

Msgr Fellay counters: "The truth is not dependent of the time. Reality is above it."

What was once defined is binding for all time: "These are dogmas."

Very Accomodating

The Society has received an "invitation" for canonical regularization of their situation -- said Msgr Fellay.

The Vatican has been very accomodating "It met all of our requirements."

Actually, for Msgr. Fellay, the difficulties are on the level of the Magisterium. Even here the Roman proposals went "far -- very far."

The Society must accept that the ambiguous points in the Second Vatican Council -- such as ecumenism and religious freedom -- must be understood in accordance with Catholic doctrine.

Msgr. Fellay is "astonishingly" positive.

The application makes problems

Msgr. Fellay sees problems in the implementation of these instructions.

Then that led to that the Society could not accept the offer.

As an example for the application of those principles from Rome are ecumenism and religious freedom.

Thsi should be understood in terms of the 'Catechism of the Catholic Church'.

But it is precisely this understanding which the Society has criticized -- said Msgr. Fellay.

A Maximum to Confusion

Rome recognized that there may be a break between the new and old doctrine.

Therefore that the old teachings on ecumenism and religious freedom would be maintained anyway.

On the contrary, the Society couldn't swallow that.

For Bishop Fellay this point reached a maximum of confusion.

That was the reason why the reconciliation could not be signed.
>
The Roman conclusion, where a new teaching could automatically correspond to the ancient doctrine, could not be agreed to.

Without Ecumenism and Without Religious Freedom

Bishop Fellay stressed that in the Vatican there is a true desire to accept the Society.

The Soceity is for its side ready for reconciliation:

"If you accept us, as we are, without changes, without making us duty bound, to accept ecumenism and religious freedom, then we are ready."

Even Ignore the Pastoral Council?

Bishop Fellay suggested that the situation in ten years looks quite different.

Then the old liberal Conciliar generation will be gone.

Several bishops had said the Society, you take the Pastoral Council far too seriously. Their advice: "Toss the Council on the side forget it!"

But Msgr. Fellay notes that the Council "because of the damage that it has caused," is to be taken seriously.

Regarding the Dogmatic authority of the Pastoral Council, he cites the Roman doctoral thesis of an unnamed Vatican employee.

He came to the conclusion that the Pastoral Council possesses the same authority as a sermon from the 1960s.

Unhappy progressives

Mons. Fellay ventured no predictions about the future of the Society or the Church.

He could only promise that the Church is in a Conciliar winter with no new beautiful springtime.

But one thing he knows, "that progressives are not happy."

Link to kreuz.net...

Photo: © Piusbruderschaft

International Theology Commission Gets New President

Edit: On December 5, the Holy Father Addressed the International Theological Commission with a call for adequate adherence by theologians to the Church's Magisterium:

Dear friends, our meeting confirms in a significant way how much the Church needs the competent and faithful reflection of theologians on the mystery of the God of Jesus Christ and his Church. Without healthy and vigorous theological reflection the Church runs the risk of not fully expressing the harmony between faith and reason. At the same time, without the faithful living of communion with the Church and adherence to the Magisterium, which is the vital space of its existence, theology would not succeed in giving an adequate reason for the gift of faith.

Now, he's about to name a new President of this Commission to replace Father Morerod, who was named recently as a Diocesan Bishop of Lausanne in Switzerland in November, which necessitated the naming of a new President.

The new president will be a Dominican Serge-Thomas Bonino, O.P.. He is a theology professor from the University of Toulouse in France, a Dominican as the O.P. [Order of Preachers] after his name indicates.

He is a student of student of the students of Jaques Maritain, [who was a close friend of Thomas Merton, Saul Alinsky and Dorothy Day]: Father M.-M. Labourdette, who is the author of a monumental commentary on the whole of the Secunda Pars and Father M.-V. Leroy. As for his emphasis, he favors a historical critical approach to St. Thomas Aquinas vs. a more traditional route, which he is kind enough not to disparage.

We found a link at this blog, diligite iustitium, which linked to a Dutch Thomistic site, from the University of Utrecht.

 Whom do you consider to be your most important teacher in your thomistic education?

 

During my first years of Dominican religious life, I was fortunate to meet two masters in Thomism: Father M.-M. Labourdette, who is the author of a monumental commentary on the whole of the Secunda Pars and Father M.-V. Leroy, who taught dogmatic theology, but who, unfortunately, wrote very little. Both of them were profoundly marked by the friendship and the intellectual influence of ´Jacques´, that is, of Jacques Maritain. They have passed on to me and to my Dominican fellow brothers from Toulouse, the doctrinal and institutional heritage of the venerable Thomistic school of Saint-Maximin. It is, in my view, a great privilege to be able to join in this way a living doctrinal tradition. It is true that the masters of Saint-Maximin - without being hostile to it - were hardly sensitive to the historical approach to the works of Saint Thomas. While working in Fribourg (Switzerland) with Father Jean-Pierre Torrell and Professor Rudi Imbach, whose assistant I had the chance to be for one year, I become more and more convinced of the importance of the application of the historical method to saint Thomas.

Penance in Latin at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

In the Papal Basilica of Saint Maria Maggiore in Rome, Penance is heard in Latin. Father Jan Raffaele de Brabandere of the Dominican Order offers the languages of French, Italian, Dutch, English, German, Spanish, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian in the Basilica and the basic language of Latin for all the faithful from the world, who perhaps have a great need on their Rome pilgrimage for the purifying Sacrament of reconciliation and the forgiveness of sins.

Fr. de Brandadere, aged 1928, is residing directly at the Basilica, belongs to the 108 Dominicans active in the Holy City. At the Basilica, he is the Penitentiary and Almoner, and in addition serves as high ranking Prelate of the Papal Household. The doctoral Church Musician is also famous for his compositions in church music.

Text: Orbis catholicus/Giuseppe Nardi, from the German.

H/t Katholisches...

SSPX Superior Warns Against Speculation About Meeting in Vatican

Edit: More news from kath.net. Not the most friendly to the Society of St. Pius X, but they have reported this from the French District

Previously circulating rumors about the possibility of the formal recognition of the Society of St. Pius X

Paris (kath.net/KAP)The General Superior of the Society of St. Pius X, [Bishop] Bernard Fellay, is warning against speculation about the meeting in Rome in the middle of September. He knows only that it is only to discuss the doctrinal talks, which the Society had held with the Holy See, says French District Superior of the Society, [Father] Regis de Cacqueray, on the internet from a speech of +Fellay. The General Superior continued on this with the following: "Everything else is only speculation." +Fellay also pled on this, "not to run after rumors".

+Fellay and his assistants, Niklaus Pfluger and Alain-Marc Nely are going to meet with the Prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William Joseph Levada. This was previously released by the German District Superior, Father Franz Schmidberger. Father Schmidberger explained that "it is generally assumed that this meeting will turn to the Society's position with respect to canon law."

According to reports given by Vatican observers and their speculation, that the Holy See plans on offering the Society its own canonical status. Informed circles also think it possible that it will be similar structure to the arrangement which united incoming the Anglicans to the Catholic Church.

The previous doctrinal discussions between the Vatican and the Society of Pius X [they say Lefebvrists] to various contested contents of the Catholic Magisterium [sic]. This will revolve, above all, on the central questions of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). At first, when this problem is clarified, the Vatican will hold a briefing about the theme of the canonical regularization of the Society.
Observers agree that it will be the next step to a formal recognition of the agreement on the side of the Society.

The Society of Saint Pius X was founded in 1969 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, refused the central Church reforms of the 20th Century. It is not recognized by the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI. lifted the excommunications in January of 2009 in order to begin a dialog with the group.

Copyright 2011 Katholische Presseagentur, Wien, Österreich

Gypsies Occupy Roman Basilica

Italy . On Good Friday about 150 Romanian Gypsies, and about 40 children, occupied the Roman Basilica of St. Paul before the walls. They were previously driven from their illegal camp in northwestern Rome.  A report from the German 'Catholic News Agency' said "the Vatican" offered them an "overnight asylum" in the Basilica.  They camped in the space outside of the nave.  Fifty gypsies, who absolved themselves with a walk,  were not allowed back into the Church by the security forces.  By Easter Night, there were still 60 people camped in the Church.  The Gypsies occupy themselves in Rome primarily with begging and pick pocketing.

Link here, kreuz..translation.

Basilica contains relics from the great Apostle himself.

Celibacy Originates From the Time of Jesus and the Apostles: Cardinal Brandmuller

Cardinal Brandmuller: "It is a secure fact of science that at the beginning priests and Bishops were orained, but these from the day of consecration on family life continued, but not, however, the bond of marriage."

Photo of Cardinal Walter Brandmuller from the site 'gloria.tv'

(kreuz.net, Vatikan) The Bavarian Church historian and Cardinal, Walter Brandmuller has challenged Anti-Celibacy politicians of the German CDU.

"What makes them legitimate as politicians, to take positions on internal-Church themes, when they have neither the office nor the knowledge?"

This question was put by the Cardinal in an open letter which appeared in the 'Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung'.

Cardinal Brandmuller commented on a writing which was published last friday by eight politicans of the German homosexual and abortion CDU party.

Within there were arguments for the allowance of priestly marriage.

The Faith has failed, Not the Priest

In their writing these politicians made a connection between the priest shortage to the lifting of priestly celibacy worldwide.

Actually Cardinal Brandmuller refuted them.

He pointed to "the increasingly lower number of Mass goers and faithful, who receive the Sacraments."

The Union politicians were made to look like fools because for them "it wasn't only   celibacy, but the first steps back to an 'other Church'".

The German National Church is Shattered

The promotion for the German special way may lead to schism -- warned Cardinal Brandmuller:

"Are you aware that you are only part of a campaign that has been engaged since the beginning of the 19th Century -- and which is failed today.?" -- the Cardinal asks the politicians.

The CDU-functionaries have put a way of life in question, "those who are the overwhelming number of priests who are convinced and are living truthfully of their own free will."

Cardinal Brandmuller also informed these Union politicians that they are insulting Jesus Christ with this campaign:

"Priests who are living unmarried like the young Jesus do nothing else, besides making their manner of life like that of the Master."


The Priests of the Early Church Were Already Living Celibate Lives

Furthermore, the Prince of the Church explained to the anti-Celibacy politicians that the priestly celibacy is an apostolic tradition:

"It is surely scientifically proven that in the beginning married men were certainly ordained as priests and bishops, but from the day of consecration on, probably the family life continued, but not, however, the married bond."

That also goes for the researchers that even  an ecumenical Council itself couldn't ignore:

"It is therefore urgent  to express that this discussion, which we have already exhausted to tedium and  harmed and thoroughly multiplied the confusion of the faithful, be brought to an end."

Kreuz...here...

Papal Mass: Communion in the Hand Refused

At this years Christmass Mass by Pope Benedict XVI the priests who were giving Communion refused communion in the hand.

[kreuz.net, Vatican]  At this years Midnight Mass in the St. Peter's Basilica, there was no hand communion.


Father Z at wdtprs.com from an Italian priest in Rome who wrote:

In a change to former practice, those distributing Holy Communion at the Holy Father’s Mass tonight were told that ‘at all Papal Masses Communion is to be given only on the tongue.’ The usual statement that Prelates receive in the same way as the Laity remained.

thought you might be interested.

You can see the video at kreuz.net, here from Gloria TV.

Vatican Speaker Denies Accusations Against Benedict XVI

Hamburg "Spiegel" cited in its Monday edition the supposedly incriminating document in the case of a pedophile clergyman.

Vatican (kath.net/KAP) Vatican Speaker Federico Lombardi has rejected the allegation, there is a new one, that an incriminating document in the case of a pedophile clergyman from his time as Archbishop of Munich.  There are no new findings in this matter, said Lombardi this Saturday for journalists in Rome.  He admonished a report from the Archdiocese of Munich, and also made his earlier statement on the case of the Munich chaplain from the March of this year.

The German periodical, "Der Spiegel" reported in its edition appearing Monday from a letter of the year of 1980 in which a chaplain moved from the Diocese of Essen to Munich because of child abuse, and then had been shifted in an assignment  as pastor by then Archbishop Joseph Ratzinger. The chaplain had been assigned in this letter and in the parish newsletter, from which it also happens, said that he had a lot of contact in a ministerial capacity with adolescents and children, this is according to information from the earlier Munich community of the clergyman.

The Archdiocese of Munich made it clear that the current Pope had no knowledge of the Essen Chaplain's reassignment to a pastoral role in Munich.  Under Ratzinger's initiative it was agreed upon in 1980,  to restrict the chaplain to a rectory, so that he could receive therapy, disclosed the Archdiocese.  Deviating from this decision the current Vicar General Gerhard Gruber had in any case attached the man to a Munich pastoral care.  In the mean time, the retired Gruber had assumed full responsibility for this decision.

Read the original...kath.net...

Is There Going to be a Consistorium For Christ the King?

[kreuz.net] The Papal Bureau for liturgical ceelbrations reported a Mass to be said for the 20th and 21st of November on the Feast of Christ the King. This is according to the Italian Website, 'Messainlatino.it' The Pontifical Office was not previously planned in the liturgical calendar of the Pope. 'Messainlatino.it' has determined from this that the Pope will hold a Consistorium on the 2oth of November in order to give a ring to the new Cardinals on the Feast of Christ the King.

Original report from, here...

The Vatican Council and the 'Ratzinger Schülerkreis': Archbishop Koch Says Vatican II Magna Carta

Editor: The Magna Carta wasn't a positive thing. It was actually condemned by the Church, but before embarking on his attempts to explain the continuity of the past with the hope of the future in a more precise and definitive explanation of the Vatican Council 40 years later, it seems that the vision of this Pope will be upon reigning in the excesses of the Revolution and Reforming the Reform. The last two points of his second lecture were the most disturbing, referring to a liturgy of the religion of man (hints of Augustus Comte) and the last which implies Teilhardianism and all of that Cosmic Christ stuff.

Despite the current discussions between the Society of Pius X and Rome, it looks like for the foreseeable future, that Pope Benedict will stick to his Hermeneutic of Continuity. Does this mean that it is possible that the SSPX will be allowed to critique this point of view and still be fully reconciled?

It is encouraging that Archbishop Koch didn't stray from the course set for him by Pope Benedict. Unlike his predecessor, he doesn't appear to have an agenda all of his own making, he's Pope Benedict's man.

Accordingly, just now, we've discovered that Bruno Volpe has confirmed the Motu Proprio.

The priority of the Hermeneutic of Continuity -- Archbishop Koch and his reflections in Castel Gandolfo -- by Dr. Armin Schibach/ Rome

Rome (kath.net/as) The current year's meeting of the "Ratzinger Schülerkreis'
" in Castel Gandolfo was a reflection over the Second Vatican Council and devoted to its interpretation. "True to Tradition, open to the future": with these words the main speaker, Archbishop Kurt Koch, began the meeting, that the "most correct interpretation of the Council as a whole, that even in the third century it remains "the Magna Carta of the Church".

According to the Vatican times "L'Osservatore Romano" (edition from the 1st of September 2010) the President of the Papal Council Promoting the Unity of Christian his impressions together with his summation. The Congress of the Schülerkreis with Pope Benedict XVI. he descried as a "concrete, lively and positive experience".

In his first speech Koch presented in a reflection on the manner of reading and interpretation of the Second Vatican council and relegated that to a priority for a "hermeneutic of continuity". This problematic is taken up then in a second lecture and developed further. Then Koch had above all enlarged upon the Constitution on Liturgy "Sacrosanctum Concilium", in order to show in a concrete way, how the Hermeneutic of Reform can be realized.

The Papal Advisor for the Promotion of Christian Unity worked at the order of the Pope.

Both lectures were then followed by an hour of discussion. Therefor, it became clear, for Archbishop Koch to further encompass the spiritual dimension of the Christan life in all of its aspects. The concrete character of the discussions were very useful for the work of each of the participants, which were affirmed by the warm words of the Pope, as Koch began on the 30th of August with a private audience: "We have spoken about my new ecumenical efforts, that the Papal Adviser for the Promotion of Christian Unity is no reality unto itself, rather a mission of the Pope's, in order to see, how dialogue can be developed for the future".


The meaning of the "Hermeneutic of the Reform"

In the center of the first lectures "stand the Second Vatican Council between Tradition and Renewal", so Koch proceeded. He put the themes in seven points: 1. A history of the reception and the erroneous reception; 2. Hermeneutic of the Reform in a fundamental continuity; 3. Break with Tradition of the Council; return to sources and "Aggiornamento"; [There's a debate between the ressourcement and more liberal exponents, neither of which are satisfactory from a Traditionalist POV] 4. Criteria of a Hermeneutic of the Reform (complete interpretation of the Council texts, unity of Dogmatic and Pastoral; no separation between "spirit and letter"); 5. Catholic breadth and fullness; 6. The heritage of the Council in relevant challenges; 7. Ecclesiastical Reform of the spiritual mission.

The Liturgy -- Center point of the Hermeneutic of the Council

The second lecture concentrated itself on the theme of the "post-Conciliar liturgical reform between continuity and discontinuity". As Archbishop Koch made clear, he explained them withal in eight individual themes. Flowing from the declaration, that the liturgy is the center of the Conciliar Hermeneutic, these are discussed in the following eight points: 1. Phenomenology and Theology of the Liturgy; 2. The Liturgy in its organic development (with the principle of "participatio actuosa" of all believers in the liturgy and with the principle of an easier comprehension and simplicity of the rites); 3. Light and shadows in the post-Conciliar liturgy; 4. The protection of the great heritage of the liturgy; 5 The necessary Reform of the Reform, which must be based on the primacy of Christology; 6 The unity of the New Testament culture and the New Testament liturgy; 7 The Christian liturgy and the religion of man [Religionen der Menschheit] 8. The Cosmic Dimension of the Liturgy.

The renewal of the Paschal Mystery is then the last topic, which was discussed before the final remarks on the object for consideration.

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Gregorian: new Rector takes His Office

Editor: The first commenter on the kath.net portal, "palmzweig" complains that none of the Jesuits wear their habits. It's understandable that this should provoke suspicion and distrust. It's amazing that such a superficial thing reveals so much. All in all this is not an encouraging appointment. That this man's specialty is Hannah Arendt is hardly consoling. It may take more time before the people in charge realize that men whose worldly studies may impress secular mentalities, do not serve the Church well.

Yesterday on Wednesday the French philosopher and Jesuit Francoi-Xavier Durmortier (61) begins his job as Rector of the Papal Gregorian University.

Rome [kath.net/as] Yesterday on Wednesday, September 1, the French philosopher and Jesuit Francois-Xavier Dumortier (61) began his new work as Rector of the Papal Gregorian University. P. Dumortier worked previously as a professor of philosophy with the specialization in philosophic ethics at the Centre Sèvres and taught at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge Massachusetts. Dumortier researches the German philosopher Hannah Arendt (d. 1976), who as a young researcher was forced by the National Socialists to exile in the United States. IN 1982 Dumortier was ordained a priest. In 1990 he took solemn vows in the Society of Jesus.

In 2003 Dumortier was selected as the Superior of the Jesuit French Province. Pope Benedict XVI. had named him on April 26th as the new rector to the Gregorian University.

In his first writings to the Professors and Personnel of his new work appointment on the end of April of this year, P. Dumortier had made the the point, how important the presence and work of the Papal Gregorian university is in and for the Church.

Next to the three big state Universities of Rome ("La Sapienza", "Tor Vergata", "Terza Universita") the Papal domain is of some note in the eternal city. Together with six Universities: the Papal Gregorian University (founded 1551; Society of Jesus), Lateran (founded 1773; Vatican, Diocese of Rome), Urbaniara (founded 1933; Propaganda Fidei), Tommaso d'Aquino (founded 1580; Dominicans), Salesiana (founded 1940: Salesians) and Santa Croce (founded 1985: Opus Dei), are of the number of over 20 theologico-philosophical Athanaeums, Institutes, Faculties and Seminaries. These take up a certain area of study or from a special spiritual-scholarly horizon of the organizing bodies and those responsible over the last centuries.

Not from long ago these domains served exclusively for the formation of seminarians, priests and religious or for academic specialists and particular scientific specialties. Initially in the last 25 to 30 years have seen a growing number of lay students. The large part of these are Italians, but there are also many young people who come above all from eastern Europe, the United States and Latin America to study there.

The center of the Papal Universities and Athanaeums are concerned with the study of philosophy, theology and canon law. This necessitates a large bandwidt of special educational directions: Missiology, Spirituality, Patristics, Liturgy, Study of Religion, Church History, Psychology, Education, Art and Music, Sociology and Church social teaching, Bioethics, Old Philology -- just to name a few of the special areas of study.

The Papal Gregorian University owes its name to Pope Gregory XIII. who opened the new location of the Collegio Romano in 1584, which had been established by Jesuit founder, St. Ignatius Loyola in 1551.

Today the Gregorian has six faculties (Philosophy, Theology, Canon Law, History and Cultural treasures of the Church, Missiology, Social Science), three Insitutes (Spirituality, Psychology, Interdisciplinary Studies of Religons and Cultures) and for Centers (Interdisciplinary Center for Social Communication, for the Education of Teachers of Priests, Center "Cardinal Bea" for Jewish Studies, Interdisciplinary Center "Laikos").

The Papal Gregorian Univerisity numbers around 3,000 students from more than 130 lands, 821 Diocese and 84 Religious Institutes. The faculty has professors who come from 40 different countries.

The original, here...

1.7 Million Attended Papal Audiences Last year

It's interesting stuff, but doesn't begin to compare in numbers with Sr. Joan Chittister's audiences of hundreds.

Imemorial Mass of Ages to be Said at Rome Priest's Conference

CNS

ROME — Top officials from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments will be principal celebrants at Tridentine liturgies during a conference in Rome this week. The Tridentine rite, in use before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, is also called the extraordinary form of the liturgy.

U.S. Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia, secretary of the Vatican congregation, will celebrate solemn pontifical vespers and benediction in the extraordinary form at the Church of St. Stephen of the Abyssinians, located inside the Vatican walls, Jan. 6.

On Jan. 7, Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera, prefect of the worship congregation, will celebrate a solemn pontifical Mass in the extraordinary form at the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

The conference is being co-sponsored by the U.S.-based Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and the Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy to mark the Year for Priests.

Archbishop Raymond Burke, prefect of the Apostolic Signature, the church’s highest court, will be the main celebrant at the concluding liturgy of the conference Jan. 8. He will celebrate a solemn pontifical Mass in the ordinary — or new – form in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Archbishop Burke celebrated a Mass in the extraordinary form in St. Peter’s Basilica last October.


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