Carol from CNS: What prompted the community to agree to join in communion with the Holy See?
Fr. Michael Mary: Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father's Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum and the letter that accompanied the document led to our monastery council seeking expert advice from outside our community. The advice we received led us to more closely examine our ecclesial structures and their seeming absence of jurisdiction. While the question of supplied jurisdiction for Confessions and Marriages has been widely discussed, we had not come across any discussions on this point of jurisdiction for the religious life. We have concluded in fact, that there is no 'supplied jurisdiction' for traditional religious superiors receiving vows; nor does their power to command link back to the Holy Father and to the power of the Keys.
If this is so, it means that the superiors do not have supernatural authority to command and organise their communities in the traditional understanding, where the voice of the superior is the voice of Christ. This is an extremely important point.
We asked the SSPX about this question and also the traditionalist Dominicans in France. Both agreed that there was no "supplied jurisdiction" for religious superiors.
Once we were clearly aware of this lack of jurisdiction for the organisation of religious life we found that we would be building on sand, not to mention burying our heads in it, if we continued to try to live religious life in this way.
We were unhappy with the responsibilities and possible consequences that we would be taking upon ourselves in commanding people without sharing in the authority that comes from Christ, through His Vicar and through the delegated superiors whoever they may be. Continuing on in the face of these realities seemed to be like 'playing house' and we didn't want to have anything to do with it.
Read the entire interview >>>>
Friday, July 18, 2008
Interview with Transalpine Redemptorists
By Patrick Archbold
There is a fascinating interview with the Transalpine Redemptorists who have recently entered into communion with the Holy See. The interview covers many topics including having their newspaper banned in SSPX chapels since reuniting, the reasons for reunification, the future of their order, the view of the Redemptorists toward their traditional brethren, and more. A sample:
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I've recently received a letter from Fr. Clement of the T.A.R. Out of courtesy, I will not copy the entire letter to this site, but I think that he would want everyone to know that some rumours which have been circulationg are not accurate.
I would simply say that the T.A.R. is now working with the Holy See to iron out the details of a canonical structure. It may take a little time to get everything right. Better to take that time and not have to make corrections later.
So I would simply ask that everyone here pray for the Transalpine Redemptorists and thank God for their endeavour.
As for the nature of the canonical structure, I did not ask about this and have no idea what they have in mind. I imagine that it might be an institute of consecrated life. I would like to see them either granted ordinary jurisdiction or, better yet, that they be incorporated into an ordinary structure for tradition. But I note that the latter outcome, which I deem to be the better, is completely compatible with their being an institute of consecrated life. They could be made such an institute at first and then, at some later time, they could elect to be incorporated into an international diocese or apostolic administration.
Another route would be that they be erected as a 'discontinuous' abbacy nullius, embracing the territory of their two monasteries. One problem with this, though, would be the need for special permission to work outside or expand into other sees. Another would be that, as a 'particular church', they could then never be incorporated into another 'particular church': you can't have a diocese within a diocese!
I am hopeul that the T.A.R. will at least discuss the matter of an international apostolic administration or diocese with the curia. Rome might want to consider it right now.
P.K.T.P.
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