Monday, August 12, 2013

Quotes to reflect upon (6)

Redemptionis Sacramentum
Redemptionis Sacramentum (On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist) from the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments was requested by John Paul II in his 2003 encyclical letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia. In order to bring out more clearly the deeper meaning of liturgical norms, Redemptionis Sacramentum gives clear guidelines and norms concerning specific practices which are to be praised or stopped.

3. Sacred Vessels
[117.] Sacred vessels for containing the Body and Blood of the Lord must be made in strict conformity with the norms of tradition and of the liturgical books. The Bishops’ Conferences have the faculty to decide whether it is appropriate, once their decisions have been given the recognitio by the Apostolic See, for sacred vessels to be made of other solid materials as well. It is strictly required, however, that such materials be truly noble in the common estimation within a given region, so that honour will be given to the Lord by their use, and all risk of diminishing the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic species in the eyes of the faithful will be avoided. Reprobated, therefore, is any practice of using for the celebration of Mass common vessels, or others lacking in quality, or devoid of all artistic merit or which are mere containers, as also other vessels made from glass, earthenware, clay, or other materials that break easily. This norm is to be applied even as regards metals and other materials that easily rust or deteriorate. 

Alas, in Malta it is becoming a common occurrence to see Sacred Vessels made of breakable material being used.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Official Note from the FFI

http://maryvictrix.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/newly-elected.jpg
Father Stefano Manelli


An official note from the FFI issued yesterday as a reply to a number of allegations by an Italian Vaticanist, 
presumably Andrea Tornielli states that:


a) Fr. Stefano Manelli not only has never imposed to all Communities the exclusive use of the Tridentine Mass, but did not even want it to become the exclusive Rite. He himself set the example by celebrating anywhere according to one or the other Ordo.
b) Before, during and after the Apostolic Visitation (July 2012-July 2013), most communities of the FFI made either exclusive, or in the majority of cases, use of the Novus Ordo.
c) Fr. Stefano Manelli, as Minister General, together with the General Council has undertaken legitimately the work of promoting the Vetus Ordo in accordance with the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum (2007), in accordance with the decisions of the FFI's General Chapter of 2008 and in respect of Universae Ecclesiae (2011).
d) By letter Prot. 77/2011, dated 21 November 2011, the FFI Secretary General, on behalf of the General Council, informed all FFI houses, about non-binding rules on the use of the Vetus Ordo and the harmony between the Vetus Ordo and the Novus Ordo in its communities and in its Institute.
e) After that letter, various communities have continued peacefully to privilege the Vetus or the Novus Ordo. So, there was no imposition by Fr. Manelli.
f) Some monks, however, objected to the letter. Therefore, the FFI asked the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, which in its reply of 14 April 2012, (Prot. 39/2011L), established that there is conformity between the same letter Prot. 77/2011 and the mens of Pope Benedict XVI expressed in Universae Ecclesiae (No. 8a).