Posted on 07/11/2012 6:23:41 AM PDT by NYer
An Illinois priest forced out of his parish by Belleville's Catholic bishop for improvising prayers during Mass will no longer be able to preach in public as of today.
The Rev. William Rowe said Monday that Bishop Edward Braxton has suspended him and removed his "faculties," or license to practice ministry under church law. The move has been associated in recent years with the punishment of clergy accused of sexually abusing minors.
Rowe, the pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Mount Carmel, Ill., has not been accused of abuse, but he has clashed with Braxton over altering the liturgical prayers of the Roman Missal the book of prayers, chants and responses used during Mass.
Last month, St. Mary's parishioners learned that Braxton had officially removed Rowe, their pastor of 18 years. But a separate letter from Braxton recently informed Rowe, 72, that not only would he have to leave the church, but that he could not preach in public anywhere.
Rowe said he could no longer celebrate public Masses or preside at weddings, funerals or baptisms. The only exception, Rowe said, involves a dying person; he can still hear a confession, baptize or anoint that person.
Rowe was scheduled to witness a wedding Saturday and four others over the summer but won't be able to preside. He also will not be able to preside over a funeral Wednesday for an elderly St. Mary's parishioner.
"That's very hard for the family," Rowe said. "I'll be there, but I can't participate."
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
All the texts of the Mass - prayers, responses, Epistles, Gospel - must be according to the norms approved by the Church. Under no circumstances can anything be changed outside of the rules laid down by the Church. This is clearly stated, even in Vatican II! The modernist usage of inclusive language is getting more widespread.
Sacrosanctum Concilium #22: (1) Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See, and, as laws may determine, on the bishop. (2) In virtue of power conceded by law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of bishops' conferences, legitimately established, with competence in given territories. (3) Therefore no other person, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
Canon 928 The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out either in the Latin language or in another language, provided the liturgical texts have been lawfully approved.
Inaestimabile Donum #5. "Only the Eucharistic Prayers included in the Roman Missal or those that the Apostolic See has by law admitted, in the manner and within the limits laid down by the Holy See, are to be used. To modify the Eucharistic Prayers approved by the Church or to adopt others privately composed is a most serious abuse."
Be aware that it is possible to invalidate the Mass if the key words of the Eucharistic prayer are not properly performed as previously described. ("This is My Body" and "This is ... My Blood")
“...their pastor of 18 years”
Seems like that’s a big part of the problemo right there.
Freegards, thanks for all the pings
What’s wrong with this guy? Praying from the heart instead of repeating vain repetitions? Good grief! Probably he’ll use the Holy Spirit defense. If he wants to go that direction he should have chosen a church system that is not so ritualistic and legalistic. The authorities don’t want the Indians wandering off the reservation even if it’s to help some poor soul out. Show him no mercy.
There are times in Mass when the priest can ad lib and “pray from the heart” - the homily is an example. There are other times, however, such as when he is turning the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus, that there is no room for ad libbing. The priest must use the words of Jesus - “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood”.
Not all Christian denomination recognize the Biblical roots of the Eucharist and Jesus being present in the appearance of bread and wine. Those Christian denominations should refer to John 6 and they should refer to Matthew 16:18-20 to understand that Christ founded the Catholic Church.
What exactly did he do or change that caused this?
Is that what he changed?
The internet says yes. Just not the article in the OP. Another article says yes. This is very, very bad.
http://www.chicagocatholicnews.com/?p=1315
Here is an excerpt with one example:
During the Eucharistic prayer, instead of saying, Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection, we offer you . . . Rowe said, Therefore, as we celebrate how Jesus can free hearts from sin and fear and who died and rose again, we offer you . . .
Betcha this guy was a product of Kung/Rahner theology. “The Cosmic Christ”
When I was looking for a new church (the one I was raised in became part of the ELCA, which I did not know).
Anywho, I was calling Lutheran churches to interview the Pastors and one of the 1st questions was “Do you believe His Body and Blood are a symbol or the true Body and Blood of Christ”.
Most answered a “symbol”. Of course I thanked them for their time and told them they should really read up on their Bible.
Ohhhhhhhh. That’s one big boo boo! Jesus was VERY clear in His words.
Before we get into this discussion, lets start by saying the pledge of allegiance. Ill lead.
I pledge allegiance to the flag, and to the flag of any immigrants, and to the rainbow flag; and to the democracy for with it stands, multi-cultural, with liberty and justice for the disadvantaged.
Any problems with that?
Bob,
words matter. Their meanings matter. We Catholics have a saying: Lex Orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi - As we pray, we believe. As we believe, we live. When he changes the liturgy, he changes what it means. He may have meant no harm, but was likely warned to cease before having faculties removed, which means that he chose to continue, out of disobedience. This is a serious matter, and there has been much liturgical abuse in the last 40 years. It needs to stop, and this is actually a good thing. One hopes that this time apart will give the priest in question time to reflect, and to amend his ways. It is shame when a priest runs this particular risk to the souls in his care, not to mention the peril it places him in. Pray for him. Seriously. I will.
4. Serious Abuses - Those which Invalidate the Mass
The serious abuses which invalidate the Mass are all those which inhibit transubstantiation, that is fail to bring about Jesus’ True Presence in the Eucharist. The Church has very specifically defined what must - and must not - occur so that transubstantiation will result. There are four conditions required for a valid Consecration resulting in the miracle of transubstantiation. All of these conditions must be present for a valid Consecration. This is dogma. Therefore, anyone who denies these requirements is liable to heresy.”
But since the bread remains bread with all the attributes of bread and the wine remains wine with all the attributes of wine how would anyone know when or if this transubstantiation has taken place?
They don't, the whole doctrine is the result of a willful misunderstanding of the word “estin”.
I was to do a reading during a Mass once and forgot my prepared notes. I wasn't worried about it, because I figured they had a Bible there I could read from. I was wrong; there was no Bible. There's generally no Bible in a Catholic Church.
The lack of understanding could be on the other side. In no place do I see Jesus rebuke anybody for not repeating "magic words". Jesus looked upon the heart. Jesus knew what was inside of them. The Catholic Church does not know where the True Church is or Who the Head of it is. (Hint: It ain't in Rome and it ain't the Pope). Jesus fought against religious authorities who ritualized and commercialized the worship of God. They were the ones who incited the people against Him.
Peace be unto you.
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