Pope Francis restricts celebration of EF Mass by Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate

[chryso]

Can they be conservatives without the EF mass?

 

[bcuster]

The motu proprio does not in fact apply to religious orders. Which Mass to celebrate ultimately is the decision of the superior or superior general according to the constitutions of the order.

Clearly in this case there were internal dissensions which is something extremely corrosive for community life. You have to keep in mind that a conventual Mass is primarily for the community itself and not for the tastes of the laity. This is, and should rightly be considered, an internal matter of the community involved and not a statement of the Holy Father’s view on the EF Mass. The primary goal is the health of the community. It’s a family matter as it were and I’m positive the Holy Father approached it in that light.

I agree. I will trust that Pope Francis knows what he is doing and that it is really not my business.

 

[larsont7]

Whatever the reasons were for this, it is sad news for all the priests who celebrated the EF and the faithful who attended those Masses. I can’t help but think this is going to reduce the number of new members the FFI will attract.

Prayers for all involved.

 

[R_C]

That IS the way it is, R.C. Although I do not have time at this moment to search where I originally found this a few years ago, I did note this document from a diocesan Bishop who affirmed it.

The article mentions that this permission was given for a “particular group” – so it is not a blanket permission in the sense you have stated.

I am lost as to what His Blessedness meant by the Vatican II Mass for there is no such thibg strictly speaking . The Novus Ordo Missae was developed after the end of the Second Vatican Council by a Commission and was approved by Pope Paul VI without the older form being prohibited (as Pope Benedict clearly states in the letter accompanying Summorum Pontificum).

While it is true that in a diocesan environment the Forma Extraordinaria cannot supplant the Forma Ordinaria, the same is not true for religious communities who may do otherwise in agreement with their Superior as quoted above (unless, like in this unique case, they receive a direct instruction from the Holy Father to whom they profess a solem vow of obedience).

As for diocesan EF, Summorum Pontificum is written in a language that clarifies how a solid group of faithful has all the ways clear for the EF going from exhorting the priest to exhorting the bishop and if anything to refer the matter to the Pontifical Commission Eccelsia Dei in the Holy See.

In short, the EF is not a “second class Mass”. It has equal dignity with the OF as the two forms of the Roman Rite, and hopefully after Summorum Pontificum priests in the Latin Church will learn to celebrate it along with the Forma Ordinaria.

 

[R_C]

The directive is to celebrate in the ordinary.form.

This means - correct me if I am mistaken - that they can celebrate the Forma Ordinaria of the Roman Rite in Latin and facing ad orientem (as it is celebrated, I think, by the Canons Regular of St John Cantius).

 

[vames]

An explanation from a FFI priest:
torontotlmserving.blogspot.com/2013/07/highlight-no-francis-does-not-hate-ffis.html

Now about the reasons - here’s how this priest explains it elsewhere:

In this very specific case, I think it has to be borne in mind that the Franciscans of the Immaculate were not founded as an EF community. Their founder Fr Stefano Manelli imposed the EF after Summorum Pontificum. Some of their friars in parishes were understandably very unhappy about this for pastoral reasons and it was clearly something they had not foreseen or chosen and was imposed in many cases without adequate catechesis or preparation. It now appears that they have succeeded in making their grievance heard in Rome and overturning the decision of their Superior General.

Another comment, by a professor of theology:

From the outset I thought that a flaw in SP [Summorum Pontificum] was the unlimited license it seemed to give to individual priests to impose upon a community — whether a religious community or a parish — a liturgical rite that might well prove divisive. At least according to the letter of the law, if a priest judged that the three people in his parish who wanted the Old Rite constituted a stable group, then he could make the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass into an EF Mass, no matter how much others objected, and there would be nothing his bishop could say about it. Of course, SP assumes that no pastor would be so pastorally inept as to do this, but I’ve seen enough pastoral ineptitude (some of it on my own part) as to not have a lot of confidence regarding this.

I suspect that what is happening here is that one faction within the Friars of Mary Immaculate is quite enthusiastic about the EF and another faction is not, and the celebration of the EF to the near exclusion of the reformed rite has created division within some communities. So SP is being tweaked so as to allow for some oversight regarding when and where the EF is celebrated. I suspect this is less about SP and more about an intervention in a community that has become divided.

 

[ProVobis]

The directive is to celebrate in the ordinary.form.

This means - correct me if I am mistaken - that they can celebrate the Forma Ordinaria of the Roman Rite in Latin and facing ad orientem (as it is celebrated, I think, by the Canons Regular of St John Cantius).

From what I’ve seen of the Mass setup at SJC, the English OF is celebrated versum populum and the Latin OF ad orientem, at least sometime. When it is so celebrated it looks like the EF, except for the altar cards.

 

[Elizium23]

The directive is to celebrate in the ordinary.form.

This means - correct me if I am mistaken - that they can celebrate the Forma Ordinaria of the Roman Rite in Latin and facing ad orientem (as it is celebrated, I think, by the Canons Regular of St John Cantius).

Permission for Latin and ad orientem is universal; properly speaking, there is no permission needed because these two elements are the norm for the OF of the RR. Yet who does it this way besides the Canons you mentioned? It’s a travesty.

 

[Domnall]

Permission for Latin and ad orientem is universal; properly speaking, there is no permission needed because these two elements are the norm for the OF of the RR. Yet who does it this way besides the Canons you mentioned? It’s a travesty.

However, we must remember that these are Franciscans. If the superior says English, then the Mass is in English. And so on and so forth.

 

[Elizium23]

Yes, and since 1970, how many thousands of religious superiors and bishops have failed to say “Latin, organ, Gregorian chant, polyphony, ad orientem” much less correct abuses like clown Masses? It’s truly a travesty.

 

[R_C]

Permission for Latin and ad orientem is universal; properly speaking, there is no permission needed because these two elements are the norm for the OF of the RR.

Exactly my point.

 

[Arturo_Ortiz]

Card. Braz de Aviz moves on the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, curtails use of Usus Antiquior. Fr. Z rants, offers tough love.

please follow the link as the article is lengthy

wdtprs.com/blog/2013/07/card-braz-de-aviz-moves-on-the-franciscan-friars-of-the-immaculate-curtails-use-of-usus-antiquior-fr-z-rants-offers-tough-love/

God Bless
Arturo

 

[sw85]

It’s not a blanket ban. It’s a new level in the decision making process, and an order to actually obey the rules from SP.

The competent authority may still grant permissions to use the EF.

This was my initial understanding of it as well. Rorate Caeli bills this as a wholesale ban but that seems belied by the plain text of the decree. Let us hope, in any event, that the plan is not to make those laity who rely on the FFI for the satisfaction of their “legitimate aspirations” to experience the TLM the sacrificial victim of a solution to the order’s internecine squabbles.

However, we must remember that these are Franciscans. If the superior says English, then the Mass is in English. And so on and so forth.

Unless he says Latin, in which case, write to Rome!

 

[Church_Militant]

I saw this and asked a dear friend of mine who happens to be a Franciscan superior and who knows the Franciscans of the Immaculate both personally and well and here’s what he wrote me back.

This just came out. I’ll explain the part that many people are missing.
**
But what is most astonishing are the last five lines of the decree of July 11:

"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.”**

Summorum Pontificum said that priests who are religious can only celebrate the EF with the permission of the major superior. The Franciscans of the Immaculate’s superior general gave a blanket permission to celebrate the EF. However, the Rule of St. Francis does not grant a superior general the authority to make ordinary what is extraordinary. Only a pope can do that. Pope Benedict had given them permission. Pope Francis is now the major superior and he can rescind it.

The astonishment stems from the fact that what is decreed contradicts the dispositions given by Benedict XVI, which for the celebration of the Mass in the ancient rite “sine populo" demand no previous request for authorization whatsoever:

This is true. However, a Franciscan cleric may NEVER celebrate mass “sine populo” without the expressed permission of the superior of the house. The house chapter can override the superior of the house and ban all private masses. The community mass is for the entire fraternity. Today, with concelebration, the excuse of fulfilling the obligation for mass intentions is no longer valid. The Rule of St Francis says that there may only be one mass per house. The exception would be a parish. Those masses are not for the house.

**“Ad talem celebrationem secundum unum alterumve Missale, sacerdos nulla eget licentia, nec Sedis Apostolicae nec Ordinarii sui” (1).

While for Masses “cum populo” they set out a few conditions, but always guaranteeing the freedom to celebrate.**

This freedom is only for secular priests.

**In general, against a decree of a Vatican congregation it is possible to have recourse to the supreme tribunal of the apostolic signatura, today headed by a cardinal, the American Raymond Leo Burke, considered a friend by the traditionalists.

But if the decree is the object of approval in a specific form on the part of the pope, as it seems to be in this case, recourse is not admitted.**

The Signatura has no jurisdiction over religious orders unless they violate the law.
**
The Franciscans of the Immaculate will have to comply with the prohibition on celebrating the Mass in the ancient rite beginning Sunday, August 11.

And now what will happen, not only among them but in the whole Church?**

Nothing will happen. The FI are a very humble group of men. They will obey as is required by the Rule. Those who wish to celebrate the EF will follow the procedures laid down in SP. They will approach the guardian of the house individually. I can’t imagine a guardian not granting the permission, unless there is a conflict, in which case, the guardian has a moral duty to the house first and the EF second.

They’re getting into something that is over their heads and none of their business.

creativeminorityreport.co…s-tlm-for.html

So I believe our very best bet is to shut up, mind our own business and not assume anything as to intent from either His Holiness Pope Francis or the good brothers of the FI.

The more I learn about Franciscans and religious orders in general, the more I realize just how little most of us really know about the whole concept and just how ill qualified we are to dive into matters such as this.

I was just thinking yesterday that our Catholic tradition has always placed a very high value on our obedience, with so many saints down through history who have set us the examples that we should follow. I have discovered that the only time that disobedience is ever allowed is when a command will cause us to sin. That’s it…All the rest of the time we obey humbly and if we have a problem or question we ask it respectfully and quietly in private…and then we continue to obey, period.

That’s the kind of Traditionalist I am and intend to always be…

 

[Santi2]

The more I learn about Franciscans and religious orders in general, the more I realize just how little most of us really know about the whole concept and just how ill qualified we are to dive into matters such as this.

Highlighted part is most crucial of all considerations. It is not even the “knowing” but, the humility to accept “not knowing” and then learning from those, like Bro JR, who patiently educate about the religious life. I pray for more like you and immensely grateful to Bro JR.

 

[triumphguy]

Yes, and since 1970, how many thousands of religious superiors and bishops have failed to say “Latin, organ, Gregorian chant, polyphony, ad orientem” much less correct abuses like clown Masses? It’s truly a travesty.

How many clown masses total?

 

[Elizium23]

One is too many.

 

[triumphguy]

I presume many have seen this from the FI?

maryvictrix.com/2013/07/29/the-fis-and-pope-francis/#comment-16380

The FI’s and Pope Francis
Posted on July 29, 2013 by frangelo
It was reported in the Catholic online press today that our religious community, the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, has been assigned an Apostolic Commissioner by the Sacred Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated life. Pope Francis has ordered the decree which goes into effect on August 12.

Pope Francis has also severely restricted our use of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, and this has been reported by a major italian journalist as a “contradiction” of Pope Benedict’s permission granted in the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. This is an unfortunate instance of an overeager journalist sensationalizing something he can only speculate about.

The restrictions on our community are specific to us and have been put in place for reasons specific to us. Pope Francis has not contradicted Pope Benedict. The visitation of our community began under Pope Benedict and the Commission was recommended by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz who was appointed to the Congregation by Pope Benedict.

What is being reported in the press and what has actually transpired within our community over the course of a number of years are two different things.

Many of us—I would hope most of us—Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, welcome the Holy Father’s intervention into our life and trust fully that Holy Mother Church knows exactly what she is doing, even when the journalists do not. We entrust ourselves to her care, just as we do to the Immaculate.

Please pray for our Institute.

 

[R_C]

Card. Braz de Aviz moves on the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, curtails use of Usus Antiquior. Fr. Z rants, offers tough love

A small quote…

I think… think… Pope Francis is not against the Usus Antiquior. Francis, however, was a Jesuit, a religious. He was a provincial. In his day, Fr. Bergoglio dealt with huge divisions in his community. He has insight into problems in religious communities. I think… think… Francis thought that the FFIs needed a way to heal their internal divisions as religious. He hit the “reboot” button for them. Moreover, the somewhat draconian restriction of the older Mass could have more to do with Card. Braz de Aviz than Pope Francis. We shall see.

At the same time, I suspect that neither Francis nor the Prefect (nor the problem elements in the FFIs) gave much consideration to how this will affect the lay people in parishes that the FFIs staff who are attached to the Usus Antiquior. If that is the case, then this move could be a manifestation of the sort of clericalism that Pope Francis seems to want to diminish. We shall see what happens when FFIs start asking for permissions from competent authorities for pastoral reasons. I hope people monitor this closely and let everyone know what happens one way or another.

In any event, this decree probably has more to do with a matter internal to a religious community than it does with the older form of Mass, though the older form was an issue of the division.

It probably also concerns the manner in which some of the FFIs approached or spoke of Vatican II.

So I believe our very best bet is to shut up, mind our own business and not assume anything as to intent from either His Holiness Pope Francis or the good brothers of the FI.

I agree…unfortunately some (several? many?) traditionalists seem terrified that the Holy Father will somehow destroy the fruit of what Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have brought forth…just like when they planted their seeds of liturgical love, some (several? many?) were afraid that this would somehow go against the so-called “spirit of Vatican II”…in truth I think the failure of both views is in believing that liturgical matters are defined by men…but the liturgy is not the work of human hands…and there is only one Spirit of Truth that guides the Church in its growth, in peace as well as amidst trials.

Ah, one more link worth checking out:

There is nothing more traditional than obedience and reverence to the Pope, and this is exactly what the Franciscans of the Immaculate will offer. The blogosphere (both in Italian and English) is buzzing because of the intervention of the Holy See with the Franciscans of the Immaculate. But the fact is that Pope Francis has not forbidden the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite to the Franciscans Friars of the Immaculate. Simply put, after personally examining our situation and praying, he has decided that the ordinary form of the Sacred Liturgy for the FFI will be that of the ordinary form of the Roman Rite.

He also clearly states that each priest/friar and even community can request to make use of the Extraordinary Form. That said, Pope Francis is not “anti-Tridentine Mass” nor is he forbidding us in the future from offering the Holy Sacrifice in the Extraordinary Form. But he is saying that the friars/communities must request it and obtain permission first.

Briefly, the motu proprio entitled Summorum pontificorum, created divisions within our Religious Family (exaggerated resistance and exaggerated zeal and a lot of confusion). So think of it this way, Holy Mother Church is, as it were, giving us a new opportunity to implement the Summorum pontificorum with her assistance and guidance.

continued…

In the meantime, starting August 12th …] the contemplative branch will be offering Mass in Latin using the Roman Canon I, ad orientem, with the celebrant wearing a fiddleback. The friars will continue to sing Gregorian chant for the antiphons and Mass parts, and there will be no lack of bells, flowers, candles and incense.

Called it

 

[Church_Militant]

Some of these people are writing things like the secular media routinely do about the Church. Running off at their keyboards without having all the facts.

If we don’t accept foolishness like that from the secular media, the why in the world should we tolerate similar correspondence from Catholic bloggers?

C’mon guys…http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/corona_stellarum/Smilies/bf-wakeupyelll.gif