By Edward Pentin
To try to get authoritative confirmation on the rumoured instruction about the application of Pope Francis’ motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, today I contacted the heads of two dicasteries most likely involved in issuing the document — Archbishop Arthur Roche, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
As they both had declined to respond to questions I had sent them a week or so ago on the Rome instruction that prohibits celebration of all the traditional sacraments except the Eucharist, I sent them the following message:
“In view of the deep concerns about possible changes to the traditional form of the Roman Rite, I am writing to respectfully ask if you would answer this following question with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
Is a document being prepared on the application of Traditionis Custodes to the universal Church (i.e. beyond the Diocese of Rome) that would prohibit any of the sacraments other than the Eucharist being celebrated in the traditional form of the Roman Rite?”
As it was a straightforward question, I asked if they could respond by 1.30pm, the time when most of the Vatican offices close for the day. After emailing them, I followed up with calls to their respective secretaries to ensure they received my message, which they confirmed.
At 12.30, Cardinal Braz de Aviz’s secretary responded, saying His Eminence had “seen your message and asks me to reply that he has nothing to say about your question.”
Archbishop Roche did not respond.
Coupled with various Rome sources and Rorate Caeli’s Dec. 14 article insisting such a document is in the works, it therefore looks highly likely that one is imminent, and that some version of the Rome instruction involving similar prohibitions can be expected.
The application document is likely to have been discussed when Archbishop Roche and the Congregation Secretary, Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, had a private audience with Pope Francis on Nov. 18.
One way or another, we’ll know soon enough what they have unilaterally decided.
Pushing good Catholics to the fringes so that F1 might find them there…?!?
Thanks for your great efforts Edward for trying to bring their secret doings out into the light. But these men seem to prefer to hide in the dark. The reply that you received from one of them was arrogant and a true example of what some in the Vatican love to chatter about; clericalism! Career men whose sole enjoyment shortly before Christmas seem to be how they could best attack faithful Catholics and traditional beauty. Stabbing in the back.
Looks like this could very well be their ” Christmas gift “.
Norhing, absolutely nothing, could have prepared me for the amount of evil and cunning clerics in the Vatican; men who seem to have lost their faith and filled with hatred and envy seek to crush whatever is good holy and beautiful around them.
I am very sorry to say this but it comes from my heart.
Please let us pray much for a change of hearts and minds.
And of course for all the priests and Bishops who celebrate the Extraordinary Mass. And not to forget for all the faithful, among whom there are many young families, who attend this beautiful Mass.
Beautifully said.
I can’t get over how they don’t even have the courtesy to respond to this question, or to just completely ignore your previous inquiry. What else are we to think of their motives other than they are vindictive dictators on a mission to destroy the old rite?
Belloc had it right : “Of Courtesy, it is less than Courage or Heart or Holiness, Yet it seems to me the Grace of God is in Courtesy”.
For me, it is the quintessential, Christian, ie – Catholic – precept, sadly lacking in thought and action nowadays.
And Thank you greatly Edward, for providing such interesting and stimulating selections, they are much valued, believe me.
“Cardinal Braz de Aviz’s secretary responded, saying His Eminence had “seen your message and asks me to reply that he has nothing to say about your question.” Archbishop Roche did not respond.”
Which, fairly much, speaks volumes. [sigh]
Some questions are better not asked.
Just like with the Dubia.
Modernist Paul VI obviously wanted to kill the Latin Rite. Francis is Paul’s evil spawn. V2 is at the root of all of this.