Doctrinal Capitulary No. 2 (February 1970, Summary)
Approval
Cardinal OTTAVIANI:
Rome, February 11, 1970
“Very Reverend Father [Dom Lafond],
I received your letter of 23 January and the Doctrinal Note, dated January 29. I commend you for your work, which is remarkable for its objectivity and the dignity of his expression. This was not always, alas, the case in this controversy in which we saw ordinary Christians, genuinely offended, mixed with those who use disorder souls to increase the confusion of minds. For my part I only regret having been abused in a way that I did not wish, by the publishing a letter that I sent to the Holy Father without allowing anyone to publish it. I was very pleased to read the speech of the Holy Father on the issues of the new Ordo Missae, and especially its doctrinal clarifications contained in the Public Addresses of 19 and 26 November, after which, I believe, no can honestly be shocked. This Note will make a careful and intelligent work of catechesis to remove some genuine bafflement that the text may generate. In this sense I wish your Doctrinal Note and activity of the Militia Mariae wide dissemination and success.
Sincerely, Most Reverend Father, the expression of my distinguished honors, accompanied by a blessing for all your employees and members of the Militia.
A. Card. Ottaviani”
Cardinal Charles Journet:
Fribourg, January 30, 1970
“Thank you for your kind letter of 25 January. Thanks again for the Doctrinal Note on the new Ordo Missae, which I have just read with joy. I am in full agreement with everything you say. I hope you pass your study to Rome. I know your work will be considered there in the preparation of a new edition of the "typical" of the Ordo which has considered the requested changes. [...] I thank you for the solid, bright, balanced pages you allowed to me to read.
I assure you, etc.
Journet Ch [...]”
Monsignor Nestor ADAM, Bishop of Sion, Prelate of the Order for Switzerland:
“I received your letter of February 21, 1970 and the note that accompanied it. I took good knowledge of it. It is a work that deserves the highest praise. The author has expressed what we believe in our heart and conscience, and that which we supported whenever the opportunity presented itself. He really brings out the character of the new Catholic Mass, and he had the courage to formulate several requests with relevant explanations on passages that demanded clarification. We must commend the emphasis he put on demanding respectful obedience to the Holy Father, because we absolutely must stick to the doctrine and legislation of Pope Paul VI...
Journet Ch [...]”
Monsignor Nestor ADAM, Bishop of Sion, Prelate of the Order for Switzerland:
“I received your letter of February 21, 1970 and the note that accompanied it. I took good knowledge of it. It is a work that deserves the highest praise. The author has expressed what we believe in our heart and conscience, and that which we supported whenever the opportunity presented itself. He really brings out the character of the new Catholic Mass, and he had the courage to formulate several requests with relevant explanations on passages that demanded clarification. We must commend the emphasis he put on demanding respectful obedience to the Holy Father, because we absolutely must stick to the doctrine and legislation of Pope Paul VI...
Please accept, etc.
Nestor Adam, Bishop of Sion [...]”
PREAMBLE
[...] Our study is sufficient, with the very high approvals it has collected, to demonstrate the spirit of good faith and the traditional character and the orthodoxy of the new Ordo, and the obligation of every Catholic to obey the Pope, who was legitimately issued it. [...]
THE SOVEREIGN POWER OF THE HOLY LITURGY
[...] The Roman Pontiff, acting supremely in the matter of paramount importance which the way to celebrate the sacrifice of the New Covenant represents, enjoys the charism of infallibility. It is inconceivable that he could deceive, mislead the bishops, all priests and all the faithful of the Latin Church, by enacting a Mass that would be heretical or close to heresy, or is likely to induce the Church into error on the nature of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. […] The new order is fully Catholic. This is evident from the scrutiny that we have done. It relies on papal infallibility, which is a dogma of Catholic faith.
GENERAL CONCLUSION
In this study, we have shown, texts in hand, that the new order, while bringing about significant changes in the way of celebrating the Mass, in no way constitutes a subversion of the traditional liturgy. Our Catholic Mass remains what it has always been: the renewal of the sacrifice of the Cross. [...] Do not yield to the temptation of the Little Church, nor that of the Little chapels. Since the Pope gives us a new order, receive it with respect; enthusiasm and joy will follow. [...]
Note 4.
The petition that we address the Holy Father lists a considerable number of points, especially in the Institutio Generalis, which should be written with a greater concern for doctrinal accuracy. In a "normal" era, interpretations of the Ordo of a liberal or modernist nature would not necessarily come to anyone's mind. But we are not in a normal time ... The Declaration of the Congregation for Divine Worship, dated 18 November (see Cath. Doc. of 1 March 70) clearly indicates that changes may be suggested to the typical edition: “If one can find expressions for clearer understanding pastoral and catechetical and greater perfection of topics, the Apostolic See will ensure that this is so.”
Nestor Adam, Bishop of Sion [...]”
PREAMBLE
[...] Our study is sufficient, with the very high approvals it has collected, to demonstrate the spirit of good faith and the traditional character and the orthodoxy of the new Ordo, and the obligation of every Catholic to obey the Pope, who was legitimately issued it. [...]
THE SOVEREIGN POWER OF THE HOLY LITURGY
[...] The Roman Pontiff, acting supremely in the matter of paramount importance which the way to celebrate the sacrifice of the New Covenant represents, enjoys the charism of infallibility. It is inconceivable that he could deceive, mislead the bishops, all priests and all the faithful of the Latin Church, by enacting a Mass that would be heretical or close to heresy, or is likely to induce the Church into error on the nature of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. […] The new order is fully Catholic. This is evident from the scrutiny that we have done. It relies on papal infallibility, which is a dogma of Catholic faith.
GENERAL CONCLUSION
In this study, we have shown, texts in hand, that the new order, while bringing about significant changes in the way of celebrating the Mass, in no way constitutes a subversion of the traditional liturgy. Our Catholic Mass remains what it has always been: the renewal of the sacrifice of the Cross. [...] Do not yield to the temptation of the Little Church, nor that of the Little chapels. Since the Pope gives us a new order, receive it with respect; enthusiasm and joy will follow. [...]
Note 4.
The petition that we address the Holy Father lists a considerable number of points, especially in the Institutio Generalis, which should be written with a greater concern for doctrinal accuracy. In a "normal" era, interpretations of the Ordo of a liberal or modernist nature would not necessarily come to anyone's mind. But we are not in a normal time ... The Declaration of the Congregation for Divine Worship, dated 18 November (see Cath. Doc. of 1 March 70) clearly indicates that changes may be suggested to the typical edition: “If one can find expressions for clearer understanding pastoral and catechetical and greater perfection of topics, the Apostolic See will ensure that this is so.”
Looks good in theory; but, alas in practice...
ReplyDeleteDear Carl -Thanks for your comment. In the '70s, when the Doctrinal Capitulary was published, there were fewer options that there are today in terms of access to the Extraordinary Form. The members of the MSM, as Latinists, however tend to celebrate and attend Mass in Latin in the Ordinary Form. While we cherish the millennial liturgical and cultural treasures of Christendom, we will always fervently love and defend Mother Church and the Chair of St. Peter -including at the Brompton Oratory later today. United in Prayer -Jean-Paul Gauthier, MSM Preceptor for the UK and Delegate for the US
ReplyDeleteWhere can I find a full copy of this "Doctrinal Note on the New Ordo Missae"?
ReplyDelete