Ecclesia Dei: Mass Obligation NOT Fulfilled at SSPX-Affiliated Chapel

On February 19, 2012, a letter was written to His Eminence William Cardinal Levada, President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei asking if a Catholic may fulfill the precept to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at a chapel which is affiliated with the Society of St. Pius X.  Queen of Martyrs Press has received a transcription of the letter written to the Pontifical Commission with the latter's response (both with necessary editions).  The response is an apparent 180° reversal of the previously - publicized responses from Roman authorities, including that of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (which may be viewed here and here) in regards to the fulfillment of the precept to assist at Holy Mass at SSPX-affiliated chapels.   What is interesting about the date of the response from Ecclesia Dei is that it was written 12 days after deadline requesting Bp. Fellay to clarify his stance on the doctrinal preamble was publicized.

What is the significance of publishing it 12 days after the deadline?

The point is just that it came after the expiration of the deadline, so can be seen as a response to that.

Ecclesia Dei: Mass Obligation NOT Fulfilled at SSPX-Affiliated Chapel

On February 19, 2012, a letter was written to His Eminence William Cardinal Levada, President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei asking if a Catholic may fulfill the precept to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at a chapel which is affiliated with the Society of St. Pius X.  Queen of Martyrs Press has received a transcription of the letter written to the Pontifical Commission with the latter's response (both with necessary editions).  The response is an apparent 180° reversal of the previously - publicized responses from Roman authorities, including that of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (which may be viewed here and here) in regards to the fulfillment of the precept to assist at Holy Mass at SSPX-affiliated chapels.   What is interesting about the date of the response from Ecclesia Dei is that it was written 12 days after deadline requesting Bp. Fellay to clarify his stance on the doctrinal preamble was publicized.

Yawn.

So who is Pope these days anyway?

Is that Paul guy still head honcho?

That's how much attention I pay to what Rome has to say.

 

I think, although I'm not absolutely certain, that because it was a private exchange, it is merely the opinion of Pozzo.  I think that the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts is the only body authorized to issue definitive interpretations of canon law.  Therefore, this letter would be a private opinion, as was the previous opinion of Cardinal Castrillon that SSPX Masses DO fulfill the Sunday obligation.  In the absence of an authoritative interpretation by the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, it seems to me that the faithful can safely follow Cardinal Castrillon’s opinion.  

Lex dubia non obligat.

Poor, beleaguered Catholics who simply want to be faithful and obedient to the truth, can't find any truth to hold on to. In our area, a couple of years ago, Bishop Todd Brown in Orange County announced that everyone absolutely had to remain standing when they return from communion-in-the-hand. If that wasn't bad enough, he put whip cream and a cherry on the top, with nuts: Anyone who disobeys this order and kneels after communion-in-the-hand commits a MORTAL SIN.

So, in light of thinking like that, is it any wonder that the Canonized Traditional Latin Mass, even though it was "freed up" with Summorum Pontificuм is not to be misconstrued as legitimate for Sunday obligation. What a joke.

Where is the open denunciation of the 85% of the diocese that doesn't bother to show up at ANY Mass? You see the rule: so long as they don't support the Mass of Ages, they will not be corrected. If St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church, where to show up today, he would be told he was doing all the wrong things, and has to change his practice if he would avoid serious sin.

The only crime there is anymore in the eyes of these wolves in sheep's clothing, is the crime of practicing the same Faith of our Fathers that Catholics have always practiced.