+de Mallerais -Defect 1968 Episcopal Consecration Rite(1992)
Jan 27, 2021 12:50:41 GMT -5
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Post by Pacelli on Jan 27, 2021 12:50:41 GMT -5
The following is section 2, "Bp. Tissier on Bishops Ordained in the New Rite" of the post "SSPX Bishops on Bishops and “Bishop,'" on November 28, 2013 from Fr. Cekada on his Quidlibet forum. All emphasis added to highlight particular points.
The post can be found HERE
The post begins with Fr. Cekada's commentary and an assertion from Fr. Cekada, as someone who studied at Econe, and therefore personally knew Archbishop Lefebvre, therefore, a direct witness that Archbishop Lefebvre stated sometime in the mid-1970's that the new Conciliar rite was invalid due to the change in its essential sacramental form.
Following Fr. Cekada's introduction is a photo of the letter from Bp. Tissier, followed by the translation of the letter:
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Translation of +Bishop Tissier's August 12, 1992 letter:
The post can be found HERE
The post begins with Fr. Cekada's commentary and an assertion from Fr. Cekada, as someone who studied at Econe, and therefore personally knew Archbishop Lefebvre, therefore, a direct witness that Archbishop Lefebvre stated sometime in the mid-1970's that the new Conciliar rite was invalid due to the change in its essential sacramental form.
Following Fr. Cekada's introduction is a photo of the letter from Bp. Tissier, followed by the translation of the letter:
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2. Bp. Tissier on Bishops Ordained in the New Rite
As I pointed out at the beginning of Absolutely Null and Utterly Void, Abp. Lefebvre personally told me in the mid-70s that he regarded the 1968 Rite of Episcopal Consecration as invalid because of a change in its essential sacramental form (=the one necessary phrase in a rite that makes it “work”).
By 1982, however, once Lefebvre undertaken another of his periodic bouts of negotiation with the Vatican, he changed his position, apparently under the impression that Paul VI form was used in the Eastern Rites, and therefore unquestionably valid. (The basis for his impression, it seems, was a “study” by Fr. Franz Schmidberger, who favored reconciling with John Paul II. According to a seminarian who later asked to read the study, it turned out to be nothing more than a single page in a folder!)
Surprisingly, it seems that no one in the traditionalist movement had attempted to analyze the new rite in any great detail until Rama Coomaraswamy published his own study in the early 1990s. This focused on the phrase spiritus principalis in the essential form. What did it mean? Was it sufficient to signify the order of bishop, and thus effect the sacrament? Dr. Coomaraswamy concluded that it was not.
Even though Abp. Lefebvre had changed his position to favor validity and even though a bishop ordained in the new rite, Mgr. Salvador Lazo Lazo, had worked with the Society and confirmed under its auspices, some in the organization were now willing to consider the possibility that the new rite was doubtful or invalid — i.e. that it did not therefore make real bishops.
Someone passed Dr. Coomaraswamy’s study along to Bp. Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, who was then residing at SSPX headquarters in Menzingen Switzerland. In a August 12, 1998 letter, the bishop replied:
As I pointed out at the beginning of Absolutely Null and Utterly Void, Abp. Lefebvre personally told me in the mid-70s that he regarded the 1968 Rite of Episcopal Consecration as invalid because of a change in its essential sacramental form (=the one necessary phrase in a rite that makes it “work”).
By 1982, however, once Lefebvre undertaken another of his periodic bouts of negotiation with the Vatican, he changed his position, apparently under the impression that Paul VI form was used in the Eastern Rites, and therefore unquestionably valid. (The basis for his impression, it seems, was a “study” by Fr. Franz Schmidberger, who favored reconciling with John Paul II. According to a seminarian who later asked to read the study, it turned out to be nothing more than a single page in a folder!)
Surprisingly, it seems that no one in the traditionalist movement had attempted to analyze the new rite in any great detail until Rama Coomaraswamy published his own study in the early 1990s. This focused on the phrase spiritus principalis in the essential form. What did it mean? Was it sufficient to signify the order of bishop, and thus effect the sacrament? Dr. Coomaraswamy concluded that it was not.
Even though Abp. Lefebvre had changed his position to favor validity and even though a bishop ordained in the new rite, Mgr. Salvador Lazo Lazo, had worked with the Society and confirmed under its auspices, some in the organization were now willing to consider the possibility that the new rite was doubtful or invalid — i.e. that it did not therefore make real bishops.
Someone passed Dr. Coomaraswamy’s study along to Bp. Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, who was then residing at SSPX headquarters in Menzingen Switzerland. In a August 12, 1998 letter, the bishop replied:
Translation of +Bishop Tissier's August 12, 1992 letter:
Thank you for sending me a copy of Dr. Rama Coomarawamy’s pamphlet “Le Drame Anglican.”
After reading it quickly, I concluded there was a doubt about the validity of episcopal consecration conferred according to the rite of Paul VI.
The [phrase] “spiritum principalem” in the form introduced by Paul VI is not sufficiently clear in itself and the accessory rites do not specify its meaning in a Catholic sense.
As regards Mgr Lazo, it would be difficult for us to explain these things to him; the only solution is not to ask him to confirm or ordain.
Yours very truly in Our Lord Jesus Christ,
+Bernard Tissier de Mallerais
PS: Another thought: Mgr Lazo has already confirmed “quite a few” [people] with us. Obviously, this is valid because “the Church supplies” (canon 209), because a simple priest can confirm with jurisdiction. And it is difficult to see how to make our doubt known to Mgr Lazo. So silence and discretion about this, please!
After reading it quickly, I concluded there was a doubt about the validity of episcopal consecration conferred according to the rite of Paul VI.
The [phrase] “spiritum principalem” in the form introduced by Paul VI is not sufficiently clear in itself and the accessory rites do not specify its meaning in a Catholic sense.
As regards Mgr Lazo, it would be difficult for us to explain these things to him; the only solution is not to ask him to confirm or ordain.
Yours very truly in Our Lord Jesus Christ,
+Bernard Tissier de Mallerais
PS: Another thought: Mgr Lazo has already confirmed “quite a few” [people] with us. Obviously, this is valid because “the Church supplies” (canon 209), because a simple priest can confirm with jurisdiction. And it is difficult to see how to make our doubt known to Mgr Lazo. So silence and discretion about this, please!