Vatican Communiqué concerning the SSPX

Updates are at the end of the post.

VATICAN CITY, 14 SEP 2011 (VIS) - At midday today the Holy See Press Office released the following communique concerning the postion of the Society of St. Pius X:

"On 14 September at the offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the congregation and president of the Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei'; Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer S.J., secretary of the congregation, and Msgr. Guido Pozzo, secretary of the pontifical commission, met with Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the Society of St. Pius X, who was accompanied by Fr. Niklaus Pfluger and Fr. Alain-Marc Nely, respectively first and second assistant general to the society.

"Following the appeal of 15 December 2008, addressed by the superior general of the Society of St. Pius X to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, the Holy Father decided to remove the excommunication against the four bishops consecrated by Archbishop Lefebvre. At the same time, he approved the opening of discussions with the society in order to clarify doctrinal problems and to heal the existing rift.

"In order to put the Holy Father's instructions into effect, a joint study commission was set up, composed of experts from the Society of St. Pius X and from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith who met in Rome on eight occasions between October 2009 and April 2011. Their discussions, which aimed to identify and study the essential doctrinal difficulties in the controversial issues, had the result of clarifying the positions of the two sides and their respective motivations.

"While bearing in mind the concerns and demands presented by the Society of St. Pius X about protecting the integrity of the Catholic faith against Vatican Council II's 'hermeneutic of rupture' with Tradition (a theme addressed by Pope Benedict XVI in his address to the Roman Curia on 22 December 2005), the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith maintains that the fundamental basis for achieving full reconciliation with the Apostolic See is the acceptance of the text of the Doctrinal Preamble, which was handed over during a meeting on 14 September 2011. The Preamble defines certain doctrinal principles and criteria for the interpretation Catholic doctrine, which are necessary to ensure faithfulness to the Church Magisterium and 'sentire cum Ecclesia'. At the same time, it leaves open to legitimate discussion the examination and theological explanation of individual expressions and formulations contained in the documents of Vatican Council II and later Magisterium.

"At the same meeting, certain suggestions were made for a canonical solution to the position of the Society of St. Pius X, with a view to achieving the desired reconciliation".

___________________

CNS: Although the Vatican did not give the society a deadline, in order to move toward full reconciliation, leaders are expected to study and sign the preamble "within a few months," said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman.
The cardinal and bishop also discussed possible "elements of a canonical solution" for the society after "the eventual and hoped-for reconciliation," said a statement issued by the Vatican after the meeting.

Father Lombardi said, "Today the most likely solution would be a personal prelature," which is a church jurisdiction without geographical boundaries designed to carry out particular pastoral initiatives. It is headed by a prelate, who is appointed by the pope.

++++++

William Cardinal Levada

Catholic Herald: Fr Lombardi would not respond to questions about specific Church teachings and developments listed in the preamble, but said Church tradition has always held there are varying degrees of Church teaching; some require an absolute assent while others are open to interpretation.

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Fr. Zed

WDTPRS:

In sum, the CDF has leaned far toward reconciliation with the SSPX, but it has placed a condition.

The CDF is signaling that some aspects of the documents of Vatican II are open to discussion.

They are talking about canonical solutions.

Pope Benedict is the Pope of Christian Unity.

********

Bishop Fellay

SSPX:

Interview with Bishop Fellay after the meeting with Cardinal Levada.

Bishop Fellay: This document is entitled “Doctrinal Preamble”; it was handed over to us for in-depth study. Hence it is confidential, and you will understand why I say no more about it to you. However the term “preamble” does indicate that acceptance of it is a preliminary condition for any canonical recognition of the Society of St. Pius X on the part of the Holy See.

... Today, for the sake of objectivity, I must acknowledge that in the doctrinal preamble there is no clear-cut distinction between the inviolable dogmatic sphere and the pastoral sphere that is subject to discussion. The only thing that I can say, because it is part of the press release, is that this preamble contains “certain doctrinal principles and criteria for the interpretation of Catholic doctrine, which are necessary to ensure faithfulness to the Church’s Magisterium and to "sentire cum Ecclesia" [thinking with the Church]. At the same time, it leaves open to legitimate discussion the examination and theological explanation of individual expressions and formulations contained in the documents of Vatican Council II and of the later Magisterium.” There you have it; no more and no less. (For more click the SSPX link above.)

Alas! waters are murky now, the devil will be fishing

It was a great disappointment to read Fr. Regis de Cacqueray's Monday statement made with the approbation of Bishop Fellay; at a time when we needed give no opportunity to the devil.

The content of the statement is not the particular issue here; the SSPX has been able to discuss this matter with the Holy See since the beginning of the year.

What is wrong is this:
Barely two days before the Holy See presents its considered judgment to the Society, Bishop Fellay, jumping in first, approves an SSPX judgment against the person of the Holy Father; without even waiting for the Holy Father to speak through His representative.

A very serious issue, Assisi, has been abused here, and used as a smoke-screen as if to distract from a fundamental fact.

The fundamental fact is, that whoever the true Pope may be, it is necessary for Catholic bishops and priests who accept him, to have hierarchical submission to that Pope of the here and now, irrespective of the other grave theological or moral issues of the time.

Fr. de Cacqueray's statement and Bishop Fellay's approval of it reads as an unworthy tactic. Why didn't the bishop say it himself: si si, no, no?

The issue of the day is fronting up to submission to Peter.

The successive resolution of all other serious Church matters until the end of time, follows after, and only after, submission to Peter, Benedict XVI, the Vicar of Christ.

Fr. Michael Mary, F.SS.R.

"Cristiada" to be released soon.

We hope that we are alerting you
to a suitable Catholic movie
concerning the Mexican War
for
Christ the King.

Blessed Miguel Pro, S.J.
Martyr
(13 January, 1891 - 23 November, 1927)

Blessed Miguel Pro, was a Mexican Jesuit priest,
executed during the persecution of the Catholic Church
and Beatified on September 25, 1988. As Blessed Fr. Pro walked from his cell
to the courtyard and the firing squad,
he blessed the soldiers, knelt and briefly prayed quietly.

Declining a blindfold, he faced his executioners
with a crucifix in one hand and a rosary in the other
and held his arms out in imitation of the crucified Christ
and shouted out,
"May God have mercy on you! May God bless you!
Lord, Thou knowest that I am innocent!
With all my heart I forgive my enemies!"

Before the firing squad were ordered to shoot,
Blessed Father Pro raised his arms in imitation of Christ
and shouted the defiant cry of the Cristeros,
"Viva Cristo Rey!" -
"Long live Christ the King!"

When the initial shots of the firing squad failed to kill him,
a soldier shot him point blank.

Blessed Miguel shot point blank.

+
Cristiada
is a drama film and historic epic,
currently in post-production,
directed by Dean Wright and written by Michael Love.

It is based on the true story of the Cristero War (1926-29),
a rebellion which arose out of
the Mexican government's persecution of Catholics in the 1920s.

Although filmed in Mexico, it is in English.
The film is the directorial debut for Wright,
veteran visual effects supervisor on films including
The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003).
It is projected to be released in 2011.

(Source)

Markets - September 12th to 18th

SATURDAY 17th SEPTEMBER
Bayside
Boroondara
Buninyong
Echuca
Fairfield
Gasworks
Highlands
Hume Murray
Moyhu
Myrtleford
Park Orchards
Pearcedale
Port Fairy
Prom Country
Riddels Creek
Sunraysia
Trentham
Wellingson
Wheelers Hill

SUNDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER
Ashwood
Inverloch
Melbourne Showgrounds
Mulgrave
Seaford
Talbot
Yarra Valley

Our Brothers in Christ according to the flesh.

In response to some of the lively comments made to our last post,
which, according to Ven, Pius XII,
would derive
"from the poisoned source of religious and moral agnosticism,"
we give here some authority for calling our Jewish brothers
"our brothers."



Venerable Pius XII
in the Encyclicals

Summi Pontificatus
and
Mystici Corporis Christi.

Among the many errors
which derive from the poisoned source
of religious and moral agnosticism,
We would draw your attention, Venerable Brethren,
to two in particular, as being those which more than others
render almost impossible or at least precarious and uncertain,
the peaceful intercourse of peoples.
(Summi Pontificatus, 34)

...Ven. Pius XII offering the redeeming sacrifice...
The first of these pernicious errors, widespread today,
is the forgetfulness of that law of human solidarity and charity
which is dictated and imposed by our common origin
and by the equality of rational nature in all men,
to whatever people they belong,
and by the redeeming Sacrifice
offered by Jesus Christ on the Altar of the Cross
to His Heavenly Father
on behalf of sinful mankind.

(Summi Pontificatus, 35)

"...all mankind..brothers..."
The Apostle of the Gentiles later on makes himself
the herald of this truth
which associates men as brothers in one great family,
when he proclaims to the Greek world
that God "hath made of one, all mankind..." (Acts 17:26)

(Summi Pontificatus, 37)

...The Jewish people ... our brothers in Christ...
True love of the Church, therefore, requires
not only that we should be mutually solicitous one for another
as members and sharing in their suffering
but likewise that we should recognize in other men,
although they are not yet joined to us in the body of the Church,
our brothers in Christ
according to the flesh, (c.f. below, Rom. 9:3)
called, together with us, to the same eternal salvation.

(Mystici Corporis Christi, 96.)

...Our Brothers in Christ according to the flesh...

For I wished myself to be an anathema from Christ,
for my brethren,
who are my kinsmen according to the flesh,
Who are Israelites,
to whom belongeth the adoption as of children,
and the glory, and the testament,
and the giving of the law,
and the service of God,
and the promises:
Whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ,
according to the flesh,
who is over all things,
God blessed for ever.
Amen.
(Rom. 9:3-5 )

#284 - Sensation

There are a lot of ways you can go with this word, and I'm not going to sway you either way so that your imagination can run wild!

Week #172 - 10th September - Sponsored by Simon Says Stamp

Good morning sketch fans!
Did you all enjoy playing with Lisa's fab sketch last week?
Thank you for joining us if you did.

This weeks challenge, is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp!

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Not forgetting their HUGE Magnolia range HERE

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and right now, SSS have a fab range of autumnal and Halloween themed stash - you'll be spoilt for choice!

Did you know that you can buy e-gift cards too?

any amount from $5.00 - $100.00 is available, ideal to send to a crafty friend if you're unsure of what to buy them eh?

A very generous $25 gift certificate will be awarded to our lucky winner this week to spend on goodies in the SSS store!

Thank you to everyone at SSS xx

Here is this weeks sketch...

Here is the beautiful card created by

our Guest Designer Jessica Fick

You'll love what The Saturdays have created for your inspiration this week!...

Jilli

Maya

Faye

Karita

Cazza

Simonne

Paula

Bente

Jeanette:

Jo

Lisa

Terry

Come and join in the fun with this weeks sketch.  To get your hands on the fab prize please leave a DIRECT LINK to your creation with Mr. Linky below x ....