[Major Catholic Schism Partially Ended!!!]: Lefebvre Catholics opt for full communion with Rome

www.FIDES.org ^ | 1-18-2002 | staff

[Notwithstanding]

Fides News 020118

BRAZIL
Lefebvre Catholics opt for full communion with Rome

Rio de Janeiro (Fides) – Today Friday January 18, the only schism in the Church on the most Catholic of continents, Latin America, is over. Brazilian Catholics who had followed the line of the late French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, are being welcomed back to the bosom of the Church after 20 years of separation. The "traditionalists", as the group is called, led by Bishop Licinio Rangel and 26 priests, are mostly in the state of Rio de Janeiro, in Campos dos Goytacazes region. They have decided to return to full communion with the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Rome. The decision was strongly opposed by Mgr. Bernard Fellay, head of the Saint Pius X Fraternity, who even traveled to Brazil to try to persuade the group not to make the step of reconciliation with Rome.

The official ceremony, with the reading of the statement of welcome written by Pope John Paul II, will take place in Campos, at Sao Salvador Cathedral at 6pm. After reciting the Creed and singing the Te Deum the congregation will move to the church Imaculado Coracao de Nossa Senhora do Rosario de Fatima – built by the traditionalists – for a prayer to Our Lady. The Holy Father will be represented by Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy. Others present will include the Nuncio in Brazil, Archbishop Alfio Rapisarda; emeritus Archbishop of Rio, Cardinal Eugenio Sales; the Bishop of Campos Roberto Guimaraes; the Metropolitan Archbishop of Niteroi Carlos Alberto Navarro.

Also present an official of the Congregation for the Clergy Rev. Fernando Guimaraes who spoke to Fides on the eve of the ceremony. "The great victory today is for Christ and his Church", Fr Fernando says, explaining that reconciliation began in 2000, during the Great Jubilee, when the group made a pilgrimage to Rome and was welcomed by Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos with a lunch and dialogue. Not long afterwards the group sent a letter with a request for reintegration which was granted by Pope John Paul II in a document, which will be read during the ceremony, containing indications to be followed. From now on they recognise: the authority of the Pope as Vicar of Christ and Shepherd of the Church; the legitimacy of the Second Vatican Council; the validity of the Mass approved by Pope Paul VI. The Traditionalists have permission to celebrate Mass in Latin (St Pius V rite ), using the Pope John XXIII Missal.

During these twenty years the Traditionalists have built churches and chapels, opened a seminary, a school, social centres and monasteries. Today in Brazil there are about 28,000 of them. The priests will form the Apostolic Administration of St Jean Marie Vianney, a form of ecclesiastical circumscription which will depend directly on the Pope. Their Bishop Licinio Rangel, now officially recognised Apostolic Administrator, says he and his priests will travel to Rome to thank the Pope personally. Bishop Rangel says that thanks to John Paul II the diocese of Campos is now in peace and "in full communion with the Vatican". He also said that the diocesan Bishop will continue to be Mgr. Roberto Guimaraes whom he praised highly attributing to him the merit for the end of the schism.

Fr Fernando Guimaraes told Fides that in Campos there is "an air of great rejoicing and participation". This event is "reunion in the spirit of Jesus Christ – <that they may be one>". Fr Guimares sees the event as "a moment of great historical value because the schism had its apex in this Pontificate of Pope Paul II, and now during the same Pontificate it is healed" and he added that "this is the first group to request reintegration. Dialogue with other groups remains open but, time is in God’s hands".

The Traditionalist Catholics of Campos diocese were followers of the French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and the Brazilian Bishop Antonio de Castro Mayer, contrary to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. In a joint celebration in Switzerland, both men ordained four bishops, in open contrast with directions issued by Pope John Paul II.

The situation in Campos is isolated while in other places dialogue is hampered by a certain rigidity on the part of the interlocutors. It is estimated that Lefebvre followers are about 300 priests and circa a million faithful. Some lay groups are forming communities which have no contact either with the Catholic Church or with the Traditionalist.    (Fides 18/1/2002)

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[pbear8]

Greek Orthodox

[jrherreid]

I haven't heard that the FSSP has been "forced" to celebrate the Novus Ordo, or forbidden to celebrate the Tridentine Mass. From all the reports I've read, the only change is that FSSP priests are now allowed to say Novus Ordo masses. Does that make you a liberal?

[marshmallow]

The appearance of the Novus Ordo is almost always, but erroneously linked with Vatican II.

The teaching of the Council on liturgical reform is contained in its "Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy" Sacrosanctum Concilium" , which is dated Dec. 4, 1963. There is not a single word in the entire Liturgy Constitution of Vatican II requiring a single change to be be made to the traditional Roman Rite, or the sanctuaries in which it was celebrated.

The Latin language was to be preserved in the Latin rites (Article 36) and steps were to be taken to ensure that the faithful could sing or say together those parts of the Mass that pertain to them (Article 54). All lawfully acknowledged rites were held to be of equal authority and dignity and were to be preserved in the future and fostered in every way (Article 4).

The story of how the Novus Ordo arose, is a long one and takes more time and space than I have here. However, its origin can be traced to the periti gaining power to interpret the council as they wished.

Article 128 of the Liturgy Constitution is a good example. It reads:" The canons and ecclesiastical statutes which govern the provision of external things which pertain to sacred worship should be revised as soon as possible, together with the liturgical books, as laid down in Article 25. These laws refer especially to the worthy and well-planned construction of sacred buildings, the shape and construction of altars, the nobility placing and structure of the eucharistic tabernacle, the suitability and dignity of the baptistry, the proper ordering of sacred images and the scheme of decoration and embellishment. Laws which seem les suited to the reformed liturgy should be amended or abolished. Those which are helpful are to be retained, or introduced , if lacking."

Looked at with the benefit of hindsight, this passage provides an open-ended mandate for drastic change to anyone with an agenda.

[ninenot]

Actually, the TridRite was supressed, not forbidden. It is still a legitimate Rite, and it is NOT likely that JPII or ANY of his successors will rub out the Rite. They may continue to limit its use, as is the case now; OTOH, there are many in the Curia who favor 'unrestricted' celebration of the Old Rite, and it may come to pass.

Of course, in the USA, we will have to revise Seminary education programs to include Latin--and Thomas Aquinas 101 wouldn't be a bad idea, either, along with Woywood...

[sinkspur]

Therefore matters of liturgy are matters of faith, to which Popes can bind their successors.

They are not. Liturgy is not a matter of faith, and has never been formally defined as such.

However, many of these practices which arose after Vatican II--mass in vernacular languages, Communion in the hand and under both species to the laity, priest facing the people--were in fact those carried out by the Protestant Reformers to deny the Real Presence and the sacrifical element of the Mass in favour of a symbolic celebration of a meal. For that reason alone, these changes are contrary to Catholic faith.

This is so riddled with falsehoods as to be laughable.

Communion in the hand can, in fact, be traced back to Jesus Himself. Did the apostles stick out their tongues to share in the Bread Jesus gave them?

The Last Supper WAS a meal. The Real Presence in the tabernacle is the same Real Presence as is celebrated in the Mass.

The Tridentine Mass is a manner of celebrating the Eucharist. The Novus Ordo is as well.

The SSPX is simply not going to turn back the clock and force the reimposition of the Tridentine Mass.

Those who wish to celebrate it, should do so.

[sinkspur]

I'm referring to the liberal Cardinals who surround him and insist he not acknowledge the right of every priest to celebrate the Tridentine Mass.

Those in the SSPX should be invited to join a separate rite in the Catholic Church.

The Novus Ordo is the normative Mass in the Latin Rite. Priests who wish to celebrate the Tridentine Mass are welcome to join the new "Old" rite.

[ninenot]

The Pope, speaking ex cathedra, is considered infallible

But of course, the Pope NEVER makes an infallible pronouncement about matters of discipline, such as the specific form of the Mass.

Infallibility is reserved for faith & morals, not discipline.

[sinkspur]

Looked at with the benefit of hindsight, this passage provides an open-ended mandate for drastic change to anyone with an agenda.

An "agenda"? Celebrating the Lord's Supper in a native language is an "agenda"? Receiving the Body of the Lord in the hand, as Jesus Himself invited His apostles to share His Body, is an "agenda"?

Celebrating the Sacraments, in which Jesus makes Himself present to His people, in their native language, is an "agenda"?

I'm not a "clown Mass" advocate, nor do I support those priests who play fast and loose with the officially approved Sacramentary.

But to act as if the Novus Ordo, in English, in its present format, fully approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship, is some kind of aberration is just ludicrous.

[ninenot]

The Last Supper WAS a meal, and as you know, happened BEFORE the Church existed--the birthday is Pentecost.

In other regards, your correspondent is quite correct. All Reformation churches removed as much Latin as fast as possible.

In a way, it is clear that the promise regarding the 'gates of Hell' applies to the Roman Catholic Church--because we have seen those gates (especially in Milwaukee) and have not yet disappeared.

[Renatus]

PRAISED BE JESUS CHRIST!!

[Notwithstanding]

Your comments about the liturgy are astute and accurrate. Kudos.

[sinkspur]

In a way, it is clear that the promise regarding the 'gates of Hell' applies to the Roman Catholic Church--because we have seen those gates (especially in Milwaukee) and have not yet disappeared.

The arrangement of the sanctuary of a church is hardly "the gates of Hell."

The Novus Ordo is hardly "the gates of hell" (though the SSPXers would have you think to the contrary).

I belong to a vibrant parish with 10,000 members, about 6,000 of whom come to Mass every Sunday.

I just can't imagine retrograding to a Tridentine Mass in our parish. That act alone would simply kill it.

[marshmallow]

Thanks for putting all those words in my mouth, with regard to the word "agenda".

I thought I made my point perfectly clear. It was not to flame the Novus Ordo. It was to explain how it was that the Tridentine Rite was suppressed and the Novus Ordo came to be.

Yes there was an "agenda" on the part of the periti. It was to ditch the Tridentine Rite. When not a single word was said about doing so in Vatican II documents. If there was, find it for me.

[JMJ333]

I see after reading your posts on this thread that I was wrong to make the comment about you putting your political party above your religion. My apologies.

[sinkspur]

Your comments about the liturgy are astute and accurrate. Kudos.

Thank you. You've made my day.

[Praxeologue]

accurrate

as accurate as Sinkspur

[marshmallow]

I just can't imagine retrograding to a Tridentine Mass in our parish. That act alone would simply kill it.

Don't worry. The Novus Ordo will be spared the ignominy which befell the Tridentine Rite, when it vanished, almost overnight.

The irony of all this is that those devoted to the Tridentine Rite ask simply for it to be made available. For some reason, this is construed as a threat to the Novus Ordo.

[sinkspur]

as accurate as Sinkspur

Thanks for spitting on the thread.

Got anything of substance to say?

[Notwithstanding]

Sadly your portrayal of the Tridents is not accurate. The Novus Ordo Mass is treated like merde by many if not most of the Tridents I know. They do NOW merely want to be able to have their favored Mass, they HATE the Novus Ordo Mass and now want it done away with.

[EODGUY]

I guess even hate mongers take a night off occasionally.:)