"The Roman Missal promulgated by Paul VI is the ordinary expression of the lex orandi (law of prayer) of the Catholic Church of the Latin rite. Nonetheless, the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII is to be considered as an extraordinary expression of that same lex orandi, ... These two expressions of the Church's lex orandi...are, in fact two uses of the one Roman rite." +Benedictus PP. XVI "Summorum Pontificum," art. 1.**RANT ADVISORY**
I am sickened and wearied, nearly to the point of regurgitation, over Catholics, including, unfortunately, otherwise loyal priests, who continue to post and share a YouTube video in which one Fr. Stephen F. Someverville "Repents" of his involvement in the translation of the Mass into English, after the Second Vatican Council (*It should be noted that Fr. Somerville "repented" of his translation work, only after he got into trouble and was suspended from ministry).
This priest is in open rebellion against his legitimate superiors, and has taken, unofficially, or perhaps now officially, to cavorting with, and catering to the SSPX.
The video is an unmitigated slam on the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, and thus -- no matter how anyone, priest or lay, tries to slice it -- is an attack on the Holy Mass, and against the unity and peace of the Holy Catholic Church.
Our Pope Emeritus, His Holiness Benedict XVl, while yet on the Chair of Peter, declared that the one Roman Rite is comprised of two forms; the Ordinary, and the Extraordinary.
These veiled, and all too often not-veiled attacks on the Ordinary Form are shameful coming from anyone, and all the more shameful when coming from within the ranks of the clergy.
So that the status of Fr. Somerville may be known, here is the letter in which he was suspended from public (and, in all but one emergency case) private ministry:
~~ + ~~
(Father Stephen F. Somerville was suspended by the Cardinal Archbishop of Toronto on July 15, 2004. Here is the suspention letter- Truncated as it was very long and specific as to the reasons.)(Originally Posted by +Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic)
Dear Father Somerville:
For the last several months, I have tried unsuccessfully to reason with you about your grave and persistent disobedience in continuing your association with and in celebrating the Eucharist for adherents to the schismatic Society of St. Pius X. Given your earlier and more recent communications with myself and with Monsignor John Murphy, Chancellor of Spiritual Affairs, it appears all our efforts to deal pastorally with your obstinacy in this matter have been in vain.
It is my understanding that you have not “formally” affiliated yourself with the Society of St. Pius X already mentioned. Such formal affiliation to that Society, whose founder’s ipso facto excommunication was declared by the Apostolic See on July 1, 1988, would, as you are probably aware, according to Canon 1364, likewise result in your own immediate de jure excommunication from the Church.
On the other hand, your ongoing association with and celebration of the Tridentine Mass for members of the Society of St. Pius X give external recognition to their illegitimate claims and their lack of submission to our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, to Bishops appointed by him, and to the teachings of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council.
In light of all the foregoing, with due observance of Canon 1342, 1, and Canons 1717-1720:
-Given your flagrant disregard for my previous warnings to cease and desist from your disobedient behaviour (fc. Canons 1330; 1347. 1);
-Given the existence of the condition for grave imputability of your actions (cf. Canon 1321);
-Given the absence of extenuating circumstances (cf. Canons 1322-1324);
-I hereby decree, in your regard, the imposition of the censure of suspension as laid down in Cannon 1333, 1, 1-3. That is, as of this 15th day of July 2004, you no longer enjoy the faculties of the Archdiocese. To wit, you are prohibited all public and private acts of the power of Order and of the power of governance. Namely, you are forbidden to celebrate, either publicly or privately, any of the Sacraments, including the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation (this latter, outside the danger of death of a penitent [cf. Canon 1335]) You are likewise forbidden the faculty to preach or to celebrate publicly the Divine Office or the Liturgy of the Word. Thus, this censure of suspension is global (cf. Canon 1334, 1).
This censure does not prevent you from receiving the sacraments in the churches of the Archdiocese provided you are otherwise well-disposed. It does prevent you from offering the sacraments to members of the faithful of our Archdiocese and elsewhere, even to those legitimately asking, the sole exception being the absolution of a penitent in danger of death (cf. Canons 976 &1335).
This censure of suspension is personal, that is, in keeping with Canon 1351, binds you not only within the territory of the Archdiocese of Toronto, but everywhere in the world.
With the assurance of my prayers, I remain
Yours in Christ
Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic
Archbishop of Toronto
[*Nota Bene: The fact that the excommunication mentioned in the above letter was later lifted by His Holiness Benedict XVI, does not relieve Fr. Somerville of his suspension for disobedience.]
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