Posted on 02/21/2022 8:11:56 AM PST by sitetest
Fribourg, February 21, 2022
On Friday, February 4, 2022, two members of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, Fr. Benoît Paul-Joseph, Superior of the District of France, and Fr. Vincent Ribeton, Rector of St. Peter’s Seminary in Wigratzbad, were received in private audience by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for nearly an hour.
During the very cordial meeting, they recalled the origins of the Fraternity in 1988, the Pope expressed that he was very impressed by the approach taken by its founders, their desire to remain faithful to the Roman Pontiff and their trust in the Church. He said that this gesture should be “preserved, protected and encouraged”.
In the course of the audience, the Pope made it clear that institutes such as the Fraternity of St. Peter are not affected by the general provisions of the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes, since the use of the ancient liturgical books was at the origin of their existence and is provided for in their constitutions.
The Holy Father subsequently sent a decree signed by him and dated February 11, the day the Fraternity was solemnly consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, confirming for the members of the Fraternity the right to use the liturgical books in force in 1962, namely: the Missal, the Ritual, the Pontifical and the Roman Breviary.
(Excerpt) Read more at fssp.org ...
Ping. My copy of the Catholic ping list may be out of date.
I suspected this was going to be the case.
I don't think the leadership in the Vatican has any affection for these traditional institutes at all. Instead, I believe they are simply recognizing that they would have enormous problems under both Canon Law AND civil law in many countries (especially in the U.S.) if they try to push those organizations around.
Pinging ebb tide on this.
Potentially excellent news.
To me, it sounds more like a veiled threat that he can take them out any time he chooses to. And he made no mention of whether or not he’ll allow ordinaries to continue consecrating new priests for FSSP.
It does imply that. However, I would still hold my breath.
My first question would concern any women’s orders that the FSSP serves. I wouldn’t count on anything.
Agreed, with the note the Francis is likely the best ally of these folks in the curia who is in Francis’ good books.
If you look at his core principles, I believe that you will find that he is a Jesuit (although that begs the question-—what, if any are Jesuit core principles).
Especially as we have an active FSSP parish only a few miles away from our new house.
As I understand it ((and I’m not expert on these questions), the pope can suppress any order. But, again, as I understand it, he cannot unilaterally change the constitution of an order.
So, he’s avoiding a larger, messier battle, at least for now.
Or not. Interesting twitter thread:
https://twitter.com/MattGaspers/status/1495871682950615040
The question is whether Bergoglio’s successor will pull the rug out at a later date. But for now, it looks like the FSSP (and others?) can continue.
I’d also think that they may take over existing personal parishes.
St. Clement’s in Ottawa predates the SSPX. However, a while after the FSSP was formed, they were invited in to staff a very established community.
Ping
This would appear to be a welcome minor retreat from Bergoglio’s all-out war on the TLM. But I trust him as far as I can throw him. Haven’t there been rumors of new document that will put the hammer down on ecclesia dei groups? Perhaps he’s just playing “good cop” in advance of a new round of Roche playing bad cop?
Without prejudice to what has been said above, the Holy Father suggests that, as far as possible, the provisions of the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes be taken into account as well.
Decree of Pope Francis confirming the use of the 1962 liturgical books
It's like squaring a hole.
Also, in the above linked decree there is no mention of any other Ecclesia Dei priestly societies thay enjoy this "permission".
And as others have pointed out: who will ordain future FSSP priests and is the FSSP prohibited from establishing new "missions"?
Like most of Bergoglio's promulgations, this "decree" is very ambiguous and not very well thought out. I do think it's a hasty retreat from his initial attack. The predicted hammer was to come down on Ash Wednesday on the FSSP. I would like to believe the Novena to the Blessed Mother called for by the FSSP may have been answered by Mary, not Jorge.
Finally, what other pope has reduced his authority to merely "suggesting" that his moto proprio be followed? Why do we need a pope who just makes "suggestion" on some occasions and acts like a dictator on others?
I love how this guy just keep yanking everyone’s chains. And everyone keeps falling for it.
French Archbishop to Expel Traditional Priestly Fraternity in Anticipation of New Papal Decree
Immediately following Traditiones Custodes, SSPX chapels across America began seeing a significant increase in attendees. It is almost a certainty that Rome saw this as well.
Francis, therefore, may now be realizing that driving traditional Catholics over to a priestly society that he cannot control may not have been his wisest move.
There are still many unanswered questions, such as which are the other organizations who are “like” the FSSP, and will he still require some or all priests who celebrate the TLM to jump through the many hops he had earlier demanded of them.
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