May
we associate with
Traditional Catholic Priests?
They adhere
to the Catholic Religion:
In its doctrine:
they have pronounced solemnly and publicly the following formula:
"I sincerely hold that the doctrine of faith was handed down to
us from the Apostles through the orthodox Fathers in exactly the
same meaning and always in the same purport. Therefore I entirely
reject the heretical misrepresentation that dogmas evolve and change
from one meaning to another different from the one which the Church
held previously" (Pope St. Pius X, Oath against Modernism).
That is why
they simply preach and teach the traditional Catechism.
In its worship:
- For the Mass,
they make use of the right granted by St. Pius V: "By virtue of
our Apostolic authority, We give and grant in perpetuity that for
the singing and reading of Mass in any church whatsoever this Missal
may be followed absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or
fear of incurring any penalty, judgment or censure, and may be freely
and lawfully used" (Pope Pius V, Bull Quo Primum).
They follow therefore the missal published by Pope John XXIII in
1962.
- In the administration
of the other Sacraments, they make use of the last traditional ritual
published in Rome, also in 1962, for "if anyone says that the accepted
and approved rites of the Catholic Church that are customarily used
in the solemn administration of the sacraments can, without sin,
be belittled or omitted by the ministers as they see fit, or that
they can be changed into other new rites by any pastors in the Church;
let him be anathema" (Council of Trent, Decree on the Sacraments).
- In its prayer:
because "among the public prayers which we profitably address to
the Virgin Mother of God, the holy rosary occupies a special and
exceptional place. Every Christian knows this. This
form of prayer, which some call the 'Psalter of the Virgin' or the
'breviary of the Gospel and the Christian life', was described and
recommended by (...) Leo XIII, of happy memory, in these forceful
terms: It is a wonderful garland, woven by the Angelic Salutation,
interspersed with the Lord's Prayer, combined with the obligation
of meditation. It is a most excellent manner of praying ...
and very fruitful for the attainment of eternal life.' (...)
And We do not wish here to pass over in silence the fact that the
Blessed Virgin herself, even in our times, earnestly recommended
this manner of praying when appearing in the grotto of Lourdes to
an innocent girl, she taught her by her example how to recite the
Rosary. Therefore why should we not hope for every grace if
we, with a devout disposition and befitting devotion, supplicate
our heavenly Mother in this manner?" (Pope Pius XI, Encyclical
Ingravescentibus malis on Our Lady).
- They believe
in the Roman Catholic Church: for they have publicly and solemnly
pronounced the following formula: "I believe with equally firm faith
that the Church, the guardian and teacher of the revealed word,
was personally instituted by the real and historical Christ, when
He lived among us, and that the Church was built upon Peter, the
prince of the apostolic hierarchy, and his successors for the duration
of time" (Pope St. Pius X, Oath against Modernism).
- They acknowledge
and pray daily for Pope John Paul II at every one of their Masses:
"We offer Thee for Thy Holy Catholic Church, to which vouchsafe
to grant peace, and also to protect, unite, and govern it throughout
the world together with Thy servant John Paul, our Pope, N... our
bishop, as also all orthodox believers and professors of the catholic
and Apostolic faith" (Canon of the traditional Mass).
What are
the rights granted by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on the Catholic
faithful?
- For Baptism:
"In a case of necessity, any person who has the requisite intention
may baptise" (Code of Canon Law, 1983, c. 861,2)
- For the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass: "On Sundays and other Holydays of obligation,
the faithful are obliged to assist at Mass" (Ibid., c. 1247)
"The obligation of assisting at Mass is satisfied wherever Mass
is celebrated in a Catholic rite" (Ibid., c. 1248,1)
- For Confession:
"All to whom by virtue of office the care of souls is committed,
are bound to provide for the hearing of the confessions of the faithful
entrusted to them, who reasonably request confession (...).
In an urgent necessity, every confessor is bound to hear the confessions
of Christ's faithful, and in danger of death, every priest is so
obliged" (Ibid., c. 1003,1).
- For the Sacrament
of Extreme Unction: "Every priest, but only a priest can validly
administer Extreme Unction" (Ibid., c. 1003,1).
What is
the practical conclusion of all this?
"The true friends of the people are neither revolutionaries nor
innovators, but traditionalists" (Pope St. Pius X, Letter on
the Sillon).
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