Is a Vatican Plan Under Way to Prohibit Traditional Ordinations?

Rorate offers its readers a translation of the latest newsletter from Paix Liturgique.

Could Traditional Ordinations Be Banned?

Since the publication of the motu proprio Traditionis custodes on July 16, we know that, after a first assault on the liturgy as a whole, the Ecclesia Dei communities are to be targeted, and especially their seminaries.

In our Letter 816, dated August 20, 2021, we said, in effect, that, since Rome’s avowed intention is to stop the development of the traditional Mass and ultimately to suffocate its existence, the bringing to heel of the houses of formation of future priests should be a primary objective for the destroyers of liturgical peace.

An attack by the Congregation of Religious?

Father de Tanoüarn, IBP: "It is Francis who contradicts communion. We are witnessing a rare case where the pope destroys communion."

 Father Guillaume de Tanoüarn, one of the priests who involved in the foundation of the Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP), established by pontifical authority in the days of Pope Benedict XVI, is a well-known figure in conservative circles in France, and in Paris in particular, where his apostolate has been located for over a decade. He spoke to French website L'Incorrect on Francis' edict against the Latin Mass.

Were you surprised by the suddenness and severity of the measures enacted in the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes?

Yes, I didn't expect Pope Francis to hit so hard. Basically, this motu proprio is purely disciplinary, not doctrinal. It is a question of Pope Francis destroying the fruitfulness of the Ecclesia Dei institutes and derailing the movement that is going through the Church at the moment toward a coexistence of rites. It is now widely understood that the old rite can bring sacredness, transcendence and adoration, while the new rite has brought participation and proximity. Since 1988 and the motu proprio Ecclesia Dei of John Paul II, the Church has gradually become aware of the two rites’ complementarity.

I think that many young priests in parishes have practiced a mixture of the two, bringing their faithful a part of the verticality of the traditional rite. For my part, I insist that participation in the traditional rite is essential, and I believe it is very important for the future of the traditional rite to develop this reality.

We were in a peaceful situation, nothing like the conflicts of the 70s, 80s or even 90s. And suddenly, Pope Francis decides to dig up the old hatchet. His motu proprio is clearly written to achieve the extinction of the traditional rite. The most striking example - besides the fact that he refuses the erection of any new communities - is that priests ordained after this motu proprio will only be able to say the traditional Mass by asking permission from their bishop, who will himself have to ask Rome if it is appropriate. In other words, in the mind of the Pope, it will never be appropriate. It is in fact a disguised ban, and not very well disguised at that.

Do you understand the pontiff's grievance with traditionalists, that the traditional liturgy is being used to reject the Second Vatican Council?

Event: Corpus Christi Mass with Cardinal Burke in Brazil

This was sent to us just today, so here it is: Cardinal Burke will celebrate a Pontifical High Mass for the Feast of Corpus Christi in the city of Belém, state of Pará, in Brazil, the gateway to the Amazon.

Additional information below:

All Saints of God, Pray for Us! - Video of Litany of Saints during Priestly Ordination

Priestly Ordinations of five deacons of the Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP), in Bordeaux, on June 25, 2016.

A great new website for the Institute of the Good Shepherd

The Latin America District of the Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP) asked us to let our readers know about its new website. 

Click here to check it out. 

The Unstoppable Traditional Mass: Around the world with the TLM - Fully-traditional Ancient Chapel for the FSSP in the Bavarian Capital - Fully-traditional Brand New Chapel for the IBP in the Brazilian capital

1. Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Damenstiftskirche Sankt Anna, Choir

From Germany, a report that had been under embargo for weeks: the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), that already had a small presence in the Bavarian Capital, will have a permanent basis in the city - the second major world diocese to open up a permanent setting for the FSSP in just a few weeks time (the first having been Los Angeles).

Starting on September 1, the glorious Collegiate Church of Saint Anne (Damenstiftskirche Sankt Anna), a historic chapel in Munich, will host the FSSP permanently, with daily Traditional Masses. The apostolate will be headed by Father Christian Jäger, and the Mass times will be: on Sundays and public holidays. 9:30 a.m./ on Mondays, 8:00 a.m.; from Tuesdays to Fridays, 5:30 p.m.; on Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. (The local telephone number for more information is 094 46/99 11 051.)

Further information will be posted on the FSSP Germany website. Our heartfelt congratulations to the FSSP, Fr. Jäger, and the local community! Our gratitude to the local Archbishop of Munich and Freising, Cardinal Reinhard Marx!

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2. Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil

Capela de Nossa Senhora das Dores, still receiving its final touches

On July 13, 2014, a historic event of huge significance for the future of the Traditional Mass in the largest Latin American nation took place in the Brazilian national capital city, Brasilia. A brand new completely traditional Chapel was opened and blessed with the presence of Auxiliary Bishop José Aparecido Gonçalves de Almeida.

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Dores (Our Lady of Sorrows / Our Lady of Dolours) is run by the Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP), and the local priest is Fr. Daniel Pinheiro, who already celebrated the Traditional Mass in the city in loaned churches. Now, the IBP has a full chapel and the ability to offer daily Mass - Sundays at 10 a.m.

Institute of the Good Shepherd news: - 1 - Priestly Ordinations and Images - 2 - New IBP Foundation in Brazil - 3 - Vocational appeal

The most recent Ecclesia Dei foundation, the already burgeoning Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP, for its Latin name), makes public several excellent items.

First, on Friday, June 27, in the IBP Church of Saint-Eloi, in Bordeaux, the amazing Bishop Giuseppe Sciacca, current Adjunct Secretary of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, ordained three new priests for the Institute, Fathers Grégory Lutz-Wiest, Karol Zaleski, and Mateusz Markiewicz, and two deacons. Other images available here. Congratulations to the Institute and to the new priests!

Second, for several weeks now this excellent piece of news has been made public -- in the largest metropolis of the Southern Hemisphere, São Paulo, Brazil, the Institute has now a permanent official presence. Fr. Matthieu Raffray, Superior for Latin America, broke the news about a month ago:

On April 10, His Eminence Cardinal Odilo Scherer, Archbishop of São Paulo, granted his agreement to Father Philippe Laguérie, Superior General of the Institute of the Good Shepherd, to erect canonically a house of the IBP in São Paulo. This house was thus established, according to Canon Law, by a decree dated May 11, 2014, on the Feast of Saints Philip and James. [Source]

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The IBP has only one major international "handicap" at the moment, and that is its lack of presence in English-speaking nations. It is our belief that the Institute of the Good Shepherd is highly interested in vocations from English-speaking countries -- if you are considering a traditional vocation, take a close look at the IBP, exclusively dedicated to the Traditional Mass and whose doctrinal firmness is assured. The IBP international Seminary of Saint Vincent is located in the village of Courtalain, in the Diocese of Chartres, France.

[Update: some ordination details corrected.]

Ordinations in the upcoming days and weeks: Ecclesia Dei institutes

Ordination and First Mass of Saint John of Matha
(Vincenzo Carducci, Museo del Prado)

For the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. 

The events in Arizona were tragic, extremely sad and distressing - but not despairing, because the Lord does not abandon his faithful people, ever. As Fr. Walker taught, it is our duty to recognize our lifetime as the time for our visitation and, during that time, "make use of the means that God has provided for us to show our repentance, our submission, and our trust in Him." (Sermon) [Temporary link: Fr. Kenneth Walker's Funeral Fund - Update: total amount raised]

As reported here on May 31, seven priests were ordained for the FSSP on that day in Nebraska. Two other ordination ceremonies remain for the Fraternity:

In Virginia: the Rev. Deacons Zachary Akers and Daniel Heenan, who will be Ordained tomorrow (Saturday, June 14, 2014, 9:00 AM), by the Most Reverend James Conley, Bishop of Lincoln, in Leesburg, Virginia (St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 101 Oakcrest Manor Dr. NE, Leesburg, VA 20176). We have checked for confirmation, and the ceremony will take place as foreseen.

In Chartres: It is a highly historical event: since the advent of the new Pontificale Romanum, in 1968, there has not been a traditional ordination ceremony in that highly emblematic French cathedral, Our Lady of Chartres. On June 28, at 9:30 PM, Bishop Marc Aillet, of Bayonne, will ordain the Rev. Deacons Jean de Massia, Thibault Paris, and Olivier de Nedde (Orléans).

For the Institute of the Good Shepherd.

In Bordeaux: Archbishop Giuseppe Sciacca will be in the Church of Saint-Eloi on Friday, June 27, at 9:30 AM, for the ordination of three deacons to the Holy Priesthood: the Rev. Deacons Gregory Lutz-Wiest, Karol Zaleski, and Mateusz Markiewicz.

For the Institute of Christ the King.

In Tuscany: Cardinal Burke will confer the ordinations of European seminarians in the Institute's seminary in Gricigliano on July 3. A total of 4 deacons will be ordained on that day.

In Missouri: The priestly ordinations of American seminarians for the Institute will take place in America this year: Cardinal Burke will once again be present, now at the St. Francis de Sales Oratory, in Saint Louis, MO, on August 5, and will ordain to the Holy Priesthood the Rev. Deacons Benjamin Coggeshall, Joel Estrada, Andrew Todd, and Francis Altiere.

Two new permanent establishments for the Traditional Mass: Personal Parish in Australia, Personal Chaplaincy in Argentina

1. The long-established community of faithful attached to the Traditional Roman Rite in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia, has been raised to the canonical status of a Personal Parish. Fr. Tattersall informs in the Community website:

His Grace, Archbishop Denis Hart has promulgated a Decree, raising the Newman Community to the rank of a Personal Parish, effective 28th March.

On that day, we will become the Parish of Bl. John Henry Newman.

Archbishop Hart’s decree is available here.

We will celebrate the commencement of the new Parish with Solemn Mass at 10.30 am on Laetare Sunday, 30th March, followed by a BBQ picnic, and concluding with Solemn Vespers and Benediction.

Fr Tattersall will be formally installed by Archbishop Hart as Parish Priest of the Parish of Bl. John Henry Newman, on Anzac Day, Friday 25th April, at 11.00 am.

Congratulations to the local faithful and to Fr. Tattersall! (Tip: The Tablet; source.)

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2. In the province of Buenos Aires that surrounds, but does not include, the Federal Capital of the same name (contiguous with the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, in which there are no Masses in the Extraordinary Form), the Bishop of Zárate-Campana has just invited the Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP) to establish themselves permanently there, with responsibility for a local Oratory and a personal chaplaincy. Fr. Matthieu Raffray, IBP superior for Latin America, informs:

I am very happy to officially announce to you that on Tuesday, March 11, Bp. Oscar Sarlinga, bishop of Zárate-Campana (Province of Buenos Aires), granted authorization to our superior, Fr. Laguérie, for the canonical establishment of a house of the Institute of the Good Shepherd in his diocese.

As superior for the district, I signed with him an agreement that rules our pastoral activities in the diocese, in conformity with Canon 681. This agreement canonically grants to the Institute the Oratory of San Juan de Luz, at Maschwitz, Escobar Partido, which is next to the house currently lent to us by an association of faithful. He also named the superior of this house (myself at the moment), "chaplain for all faithful of the diocese who request the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite."

Congratulations to the local faithful and to Fr. Raffray! (Tip & source: Le Forum Catholique)