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"Total War" Against the Franciscans of the Immaculata? The Unspeakable "Blemish"
(Rome) No other order has suffered such dramatic consequences on the change of pontificate in late winter 2013 as the Franciscans of the Immaculate. In July, the Order was placed under provisional administration by order of the Congregation for Religious with papal approval. Although the Order actually exactly corresponds to what Pope Francis wishes, namely evangelical poverty, missionary zeal and new evangelization, of which the Franciscans of the Immaculate are one of the only orders, against which the new pope has proceed with drastic measures.
So dramatically that even a progressive Vatican expert like Marco Tosatti has now asked what should have these poor friars have only arranged, yes, done wrong, to deserve such a harsh punishment? He could not fine an answer because he could not find a "crime", with which to burden them. He therefore published a letter that describes the radicality with which the Order is being rebuilt. The question remains: Why did you destroy a thriving Order?
Young, Poor, Missionary and Evangelizing, but with a "Blemish" ...
The answer is in fact to look at a whole different level and observe the punished innocently. It immediately arives at the level of intrigue. As a cold as well as brutal coup by a minority in the Order. This was possible but only because this minority has been heard by the Congregation for Religious and in his turn heard by the Pope. The Order had a major "flaw." The "flaw" was that under the leadership and guidance of Pope Benedict XVI. they rediscovered the traditional rite and implemented it internally within the Order. The pastoral care of the Order was bi-ritual, internally it was old ritual. All in perfect accordance with the applicable rules and the canon law.
The Order is one of the few orders that have numerous vocations and can be described as a flourishing religious family in both the male and the female branches. The cons discovery of the liturgical riches of the Church makes the Franciscans of the Immaculate more to a unique phenomenon in the Catholic Church. Franciscan, missionary, flourishing and altrituell. Was unique to the Franciscans of the Immaculate, that a New Order was changing to the Old Rite. It was a combination that didn't only win the Order friends in the Vatican. With the rediscovery of the ancient liturgy, the Order began to intensively study the Second Vatican Council and of its examination and interpretation took place, working in the light of the ever valid tradition.
The Order Followed Benedict XVI. and discovered the Old Rite
A "flaw", which was all the more serious, because the Order had numerous vocations. A "blemish", that certain church circles of little friendliness and probably envious, did not dare to criticize under Pope Benedict XVI.. All the more uninhibited and with incredible haste they struck after his resignation. And Pope Francis gave them leave. For none of the other orders were effected in the change of pontificate more dramatically than for the Franciscans of the Immaculate.
Let us hear so what Marco Tosatti wrote in the newspaper La Stampa on Wednesday:
"We received a letter from a layman who is close to the Franciscans of the Immaculate, a small Order, which is under an acting manager (a highly debatable matter), and he complained of a special hardness posed by the new management. Based on many years of experience, we know of the cruelty in dealing with fellow brothers in church circles toward those other circles inferior to nothing. But just as Pope Francis, who signed the provisional administration, demanded in his interview with the chief editor of the Civilta Cattolica an attitude of Compassion 'and softness'. He was as one of those in the Church, who entered the field hospital after a battle and said, I see clearly that what the Church needs today is the ability to heal wounds,' because, 'Nevertheless, there are people weary of authoritarianism '.
Each reader should decide for themselves whether in fact the authoritarianism plays a role in the Franciscans of the Immaculate and arrogance among the Sisters. What have these poor men done? Have they speculated in money, sexually abused minors or maintained an immoral lifestyle? So here's the letter. "
Letter from a layman who is close to the Franciscans of the Immaculate
Little is known about how things went on after the Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate was placed under provisional administration. Therefore, a brief summary is necessary.
After Father Stefano Maria Manelli, the worthy and pious founder of the Franciscans of the Immaculate (FI) was placed under charges that he had led the brothers away from their founding charism, without explaining this to date, of which the father is said to have concretely carried anyone away; then, the priests' celebration of the old rite was prohibited, a ban that applies to this day, and has been followed in the Order with absolute and faithful obedience; after which the brothers, who are faithful to the charism of the founding fathers, were hastily charged in summary proceedings and removed, and all those brothers who support the "new" line were promoted in the various monasteries around the world, then without a visible reason, the General Procurator Father Apollonio, Director of the Theological Seminary and Guardian of the Cloister Roma-Boccea was dismissed and sent to Portugal, as the Order's Superior of Florence was dismissed and sent to Austria; then Father Settimio Manelli and Father Siano, were dismissed as Rector and Vice Rector of the Order Seminary and sent to Africa; then they were replaced by two brothers of the "new" line, one of which does not even have a degree; then Father Budani, who was in the middle of completing his studies of the canon law to end overnight and without possibility of completing his studies was sent to Africa; then, after Founder Father Stefano Manelli was deposed as Superior General and exiled and even though he has met all instructions and guaranteed absolute obedience, even his closest relatives are forbidden to visit him, and it is forbidden to make phone or receive phone calls and any contact with the outside world is denied to him ... after all, now it's the Apostolic Commissioner, the Capuchin Father, Fidenzio Volpi, with the assistance of Father Alfonso Bruno, who is the new powerful man in the Order, and it's all-out war against the laity who are in continuing connection to the Order.
By a letter dated 27 November, he forbade any activity of the lay members of the Mission Immaculate Mediatrix (MIM) and the Third Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate (Tofi). He refused that the Tertiaries to wear their robes.
Is it resolving alleged internal difficulties claimed f a thriving religious community with such incredible hardness and such Stalinist purges? Or its charisma be destroyed instead, which was not only able to arouse increasing number of vocations and to attract and expand the Order on all continents, but was, until yesterday, praised and promoted by the highest ecclesiastical authorities. Just think that the now outlawed Father Manelli and Father Lanzetta, were once welcome until a few months ago by cardinals and bishops and were welcome in the columns of the Osservatore Romano Publications were even open to them. Eponymous Flower
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Attack Against Franciscans of the Immaculate Because "Crypto-Lefebvrian, Anyways Traditional"
(Rome) The Apostolic Commissioner, the Capuchin Father Fidenzio Volpi OFM Cap from the Congregation of Religious, with the approval of Pope Francis, instead of the Order leadership, with sole decision-making power at the head of the Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate set (FI), has given the real reason for the drastic intervention in the life of the Order for the first time.
The progressive Vaticanist Mario Tosatti had published a few days ago in the daily newspaper La Stampa a letter from a member of the Third Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, in which the radical approach of the Commissioner has been criticized (see separate report "Unrestricted War" against the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception? The Unspeakable "Blemish" ). The interventions affect not only the male religious branch, but also the Third Order, which was completely paralyzed by Father Volpi.
Commissioner Confirmed for the First Time What Observers Suspected from the Beginning
The Apostolic Commissioner responded with a letter to Tosatti's publication. In it, he explained for the first time the actual reason for the actions of the Vatican against the Order and its founder. The Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception is alleged to have "drifted" in a "Crypto-Lefebvrian, anyways traditionalist" direction. Even Tosatti reads from the extensive letter, in addition to several minor matters, what "the real problem" is.
The Commissioner stated thus confirming what was immediately clear to observers by the prohibition of the traditional rite and in the decree made by the Religious Congregation. The tough measures are directed against the rediscovery of the traditional rite and against the defense of the Church's tradition. Commissioner Father Volpi does not distinguish between "Lefebvrian" and "traditionalist", and thus, not even between the canonically unrecognized Priestly Society of St. Pius X and the canonically recognized Ecclesia Dei communities. Obviously, an attachment to tradition is for the Commissioner basically a "problem". A direction that is not only displeasing to the Capuchin, but must be fought. And he has done so with great zeal since last August. Obviously, it was this aversion that qualified him for the task of the Apostolic Commissioner.
De Matteis "Prediction" Came True
Already in August wrote the well-known historian Roberto de Mattei:
In the coming days and weeks we will know better the plans of the Commissioner, Fidenzio Volpi, but their rough lines can already be guessed: isolate the Founder, Father Manelli; decapitate the heads in the General Council of the Order faithful to him, deport the "traditionalist" brothers to the periphery, give the reins of the Order to the dissidents; entrust the novitiates to Fathers who are not under suspicion of "traditionalist" sympathies; sterilization of the publications and the Franciscan writings that deal in particular with "controversial" issues within the Church "controversial": avoid Marian "maximalism," an "exaggerated" rigor in moral teaching and especially any criticism, be it ever so respectful of the Second Vatican Council, plus opening of the Order for "ecumenical dialogue" with other religions; restriction of Vetus Ordo to special exceptions; in short, the destruction of the identity of the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception, which is even worse than their removal.
The public response by Father Mario Volpi Tosatti confirmed in black on white, the fears expressed immediately by de Matteis and others. It also reveals what the Congregation of Religious has moved under Cardinal Prefect João Braz de Aviz and apparently Pope Francis, to smash this thriving Order of pious men. An Order that, a few months ago, had access to Pope Benedict XVI.
Different Ways of Handling: a Comparison
As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope in 2005, he personally went and decided against Marcial Maciel Degollado, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ (LC). Benedict XVI. said about Maciel that he revealed "a very serious and objectively immoral behavior that is confirmed by indisputable testimony" and "sometimes in the form of real crimes" and expressed "an unscrupulous life without true religious sentiment". Yet Benedict XVI. did not proceed against the Order, which had distinguished itself in many ways. Due to the commotion in the Order about the Founder and Superior General, and to allow a new beginning, he placed the Order under provisional administration. For this purpose he appointed Cardinal Velasio de Paolis, who accompanied the Order in a fatherly way to start anew. A path that will be successfully completed in early 2014.
As Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope in 2013, he agreed to a decisive action by the Congregation of Religious against the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate to (FI). Neither the Order nor its founder, Father Stefano Manelli were guilty in any way. They had not committed neither shameful crimes, as Marcial Maciel had, nor spread heresies, caused confusion or violated in any other way against Church doctrine and order. It was the alignment of the Order, although recognized in the Church and legitimate and encouraged till February by the previous Pope which do not fit anymore. A direction that has now been referred to the Commissioner responsible, disparagingly, as a "crypto-lefebvrian, anyways traditionalist". Not a Cardinal, but a simple Capuchin, was used by the Congregation of Religious as Commissioner, not a fatherly friend of the Order, but a declared opponent of tradition.
Commissioner Volpi also want to put hand to the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
Even against the female branch, the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, the Commissioner would like to proceed, although the decree of appointment says nothing about that. Father Volpi has accused the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of being traditional and even more "unruly" than to be the male branch. In reaching this conclusion, the Apostolic Commissioner came to it because the female convents immediately expressed the desire to cling to the Old Rite. The female branch of the Order has insisted on its independence since the announcement of the decree against the male branch. Father Volpi has even accused the CDF last October, and even Cardinal Prefect Braz de Aviz, of not pushing hard enough against the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, because the Commissioner has not been extend a grant of jurisdiction. Eponymous Flower
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Franciscans of the Immaculate Require "Permit" to Say Mass: Life Under the Commissar
(Rome) "It takes a permit." A letter from a Franciscan of the Immaculate describes the life subject to approval, that the brothers have to lead, since they were placed under provisional administration.
In 1990, the Order was recognized at the diocesan level and 1998 by Rome, the Orden internally moved from the Old Rite under Pope Benedict XVI. f to the Old Rite and for pastoral care it was specified by the Pope as bi-ritual, since 11 July 2013 it has been under provisional administration by the Congregation of Religious. Acting Administrator is the Capuchin Father, Fidenzio Volpi, "a skilled and proven man of power (who is known to move between the internal equilibria of the Superior Conference of Male Religious Communities of Italy - CISM ), with mephistophelian smile and biting repartee, " said Messa in Latino .
"We Are no Longer Able to Print and Disseminate Our Own Books"
The Franciscan of the Immaculate Conception described in his letter that he passed by the office of Order internal publishing, Casa Mariana, in Frigento recently. "My heart beat. I felt in me an unusual emptiness and dismay at the thought that we can no longer write for our own publishing house, and are not even allowed to distribute the books of our own publishing company in our convents.
I look at the house. In there are our books. Many of them we have written, and much more contributions to our religious journals: Fides Catholica , Annales Franciscani , Immculata Mediatrix ... Many books have been translated by us from Latin, others we have from Italian, the language most used in the order, translated into other languages.
That is our life inside, years of study, sweat and sacrifice. The Apostolic Commissioner has ruled that we are no longer authorized to use them. What sin do they represent?
"But it Needs a Permit"
I took courage and rang the bell at the door. A sister opens and I ask her about the new liturgical calendar of the Order, because we didn't have one in the monastery.
"I can not give you one Father, you know that it requires a permit," replied my sister, kind and understanding.
What could be sinful about a liturgical calendar?
"But it needs a permit."
Exactly the permit.
Whose?
"From the Apostolic Commissioner of course!"
"Our Life is Made by Applications, Special Permits'"
Since we have been under provisional administration, our life is governed by applications for "special permits" to the Commissioner. You are to provide a copy in writing and are granted permission only by expressed personal validation .
A permit is needed to use the books of the Order from the Order's own publishing house and be able to impart them. Any "public dissemination" is prohibited.
A permit is required to celebrate the Holy Mass in the traditional Rite.
A permit is required to use the Roman Ritual for the Old Rite.
A permit is required for the Liturgy of the Hours to celebrate it in the Vetus Ordo.
A permit is required to celebrate the Holy Mass with the Sisters of the Order, for both the Old and the New Rite.
A permit is required to conduct a meeting of the lay community of the Order or of the Third Order.
A permit is required to carry out a "Day for Maria" (a day of prayer, which is performed by the Order on pilgrimage or in parish churches and is open to all).
A permit is required to visit our Founder. It is strongly advised not to make such a request at all, which is actually not approved anyway.
A permit is required for any initiative in the Order. "
Even more permits are needed of the founders of religious orders:
"Our Founder even needs explicit permission to be treated at the hospital. He needs an explicit authorization in order to move from one convent to another. He was blamed on the official website of the Order publicly for the fact that he had at first dared to visit the convent of Teramo. In reality, the Apostolic Commissioner had even given the permission to do so." A grueling guerrilla war.
[a href=" Post by donkath on 3 minutes ago Franciscans of the Immaculate Require "Permit" to Say Mass: Life Under the Commissar (Rome) "It takes a permit." A letter from a Franciscan of the Immaculate describes the life subject to approval, that the brothers have to lead, since they were placed under provisional administration. In 1990, the Order was recognized at the diocesan level and 1998 by Rome, the Orden internally moved from the Old Rite under Pope Benedict XVI. f to the Old Rite and for pastoral care it was specified by the Pope as bi-ritual, since 11 July 2013 it has been under provisional administration by the Congregation of Religious. Acting Administrator is the Capuchin Father, Fidenzio Volpi, "a skilled and proven man of power (who is known to move between the internal equilibria of the Superior Conference of Male Religious Communities of Italy - CISM ), with mephistophelian smile and biting repartee, " said Messa in Latino . "We Are no Longer Able to Print and Disseminate Our Own Books" The Franciscan of the Immaculate Conception described in his letter that he passed by the office of Order internal publishing, Casa Mariana, in Frigento recently. "My heart beat. I felt in me an unusual emptiness and dismay at the thought that we can no longer write for our own publishing house, and are not even allowed to distribute the books of our own publishing company in our convents. I look at the house. In there are our books. Many of them we have written, and much more contributions to our religious journals: Fides Catholica , Annales Franciscani , Immculata Mediatrix ... Many books have been translated by us from Latin, others we have from Italian, the language most used in the order, translated into other languages. That is our life inside, years of study, sweat and sacrifice. The Apostolic Commissioner has ruled that we are no longer authorized to use them. What sin do they represent? "But it Needs a Permit" I took courage and rang the bell at the door. A sister opens and I ask her about the new liturgical calendar of the Order, because we didn't have one in the monastery. "I can not give you one Father, you know that it requires a permit," replied my sister, kind and understanding. What could be sinful about a liturgical calendar? "But it needs a permit." Exactly the permit. Whose? "From the Apostolic Commissioner of course!" "Our Life is Made by Applications, Special Permits'" Since we have been under provisional administration, our life is governed by applications for "special permits" to the Commissioner. You are to provide a copy in writing and are granted permission only by expressed personal validation . A permit is needed to use the books of the Order from the Order's own publishing house and be able to impart them. Any "public dissemination" is prohibited. A permit is required to celebrate the Holy Mass in the traditional Rite. A permit is required to use the Roman Ritual for the Old Rite. A permit is required for the Liturgy of the Hours to celebrate it in the Vetus Ordo. A permit is required to celebrate the Holy Mass with the Sisters of the Order, for both the Old and the New Rite. A permit is required to conduct a meeting of the lay community of the Order or of the Third Order. A permit is required to carry out a "Day for Maria" (a day of prayer, which is performed by the Order on pilgrimage or in parish churches and is open to all). A permit is required to visit our Founder. It is strongly advised not to make such a request at all, which is actually not approved anyway. A permit is required for any initiative in the Order. " Even more permits are needed of the founders of religious orders: "Our Founder even needs explicit permission to be treated at the hospital. He needs an explicit authorization in order to move from one convent to another. He was blamed on the official website of the Order publicly for the fact that he had at first dared to visit the convent of Teramo. In reality, the Apostolic Commissioner had even given the permission to do so." A grueling guerrilla war. Eponymous Flower
(Rome) No other order has suffered such dramatic consequences on the change of pontificate in late winter 2013 as the Franciscans of the Immaculate. In July, the Order was placed under provisional administration by order of the Congregation for Religious with papal approval. Although the Order actually exactly corresponds to what Pope Francis wishes, namely evangelical poverty, missionary zeal and new evangelization, of which the Franciscans of the Immaculate are one of the only orders, against which the new pope has proceed with drastic measures.
So dramatically that even a progressive Vatican expert like Marco Tosatti has now asked what should have these poor friars have only arranged, yes, done wrong, to deserve such a harsh punishment? He could not fine an answer because he could not find a "crime", with which to burden them. He therefore published a letter that describes the radicality with which the Order is being rebuilt. The question remains: Why did you destroy a thriving Order?
Young, Poor, Missionary and Evangelizing, but with a "Blemish" ...
The answer is in fact to look at a whole different level and observe the punished innocently. It immediately arives at the level of intrigue. As a cold as well as brutal coup by a minority in the Order. This was possible but only because this minority has been heard by the Congregation for Religious and in his turn heard by the Pope. The Order had a major "flaw." The "flaw" was that under the leadership and guidance of Pope Benedict XVI. they rediscovered the traditional rite and implemented it internally within the Order. The pastoral care of the Order was bi-ritual, internally it was old ritual. All in perfect accordance with the applicable rules and the canon law.
The Order is one of the few orders that have numerous vocations and can be described as a flourishing religious family in both the male and the female branches. The cons discovery of the liturgical riches of the Church makes the Franciscans of the Immaculate more to a unique phenomenon in the Catholic Church. Franciscan, missionary, flourishing and altrituell. Was unique to the Franciscans of the Immaculate, that a New Order was changing to the Old Rite. It was a combination that didn't only win the Order friends in the Vatican. With the rediscovery of the ancient liturgy, the Order began to intensively study the Second Vatican Council and of its examination and interpretation took place, working in the light of the ever valid tradition.
The Order Followed Benedict XVI. and discovered the Old Rite
A "flaw", which was all the more serious, because the Order had numerous vocations. A "blemish", that certain church circles of little friendliness and probably envious, did not dare to criticize under Pope Benedict XVI.. All the more uninhibited and with incredible haste they struck after his resignation. And Pope Francis gave them leave. For none of the other orders were effected in the change of pontificate more dramatically than for the Franciscans of the Immaculate.
Let us hear so what Marco Tosatti wrote in the newspaper La Stampa on Wednesday:
"We received a letter from a layman who is close to the Franciscans of the Immaculate, a small Order, which is under an acting manager (a highly debatable matter), and he complained of a special hardness posed by the new management. Based on many years of experience, we know of the cruelty in dealing with fellow brothers in church circles toward those other circles inferior to nothing. But just as Pope Francis, who signed the provisional administration, demanded in his interview with the chief editor of the Civilta Cattolica an attitude of Compassion 'and softness'. He was as one of those in the Church, who entered the field hospital after a battle and said, I see clearly that what the Church needs today is the ability to heal wounds,' because, 'Nevertheless, there are people weary of authoritarianism '.
Each reader should decide for themselves whether in fact the authoritarianism plays a role in the Franciscans of the Immaculate and arrogance among the Sisters. What have these poor men done? Have they speculated in money, sexually abused minors or maintained an immoral lifestyle? So here's the letter. "
Letter from a layman who is close to the Franciscans of the Immaculate
Little is known about how things went on after the Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate was placed under provisional administration. Therefore, a brief summary is necessary.
After Father Stefano Maria Manelli, the worthy and pious founder of the Franciscans of the Immaculate (FI) was placed under charges that he had led the brothers away from their founding charism, without explaining this to date, of which the father is said to have concretely carried anyone away; then, the priests' celebration of the old rite was prohibited, a ban that applies to this day, and has been followed in the Order with absolute and faithful obedience; after which the brothers, who are faithful to the charism of the founding fathers, were hastily charged in summary proceedings and removed, and all those brothers who support the "new" line were promoted in the various monasteries around the world, then without a visible reason, the General Procurator Father Apollonio, Director of the Theological Seminary and Guardian of the Cloister Roma-Boccea was dismissed and sent to Portugal, as the Order's Superior of Florence was dismissed and sent to Austria; then Father Settimio Manelli and Father Siano, were dismissed as Rector and Vice Rector of the Order Seminary and sent to Africa; then they were replaced by two brothers of the "new" line, one of which does not even have a degree; then Father Budani, who was in the middle of completing his studies of the canon law to end overnight and without possibility of completing his studies was sent to Africa; then, after Founder Father Stefano Manelli was deposed as Superior General and exiled and even though he has met all instructions and guaranteed absolute obedience, even his closest relatives are forbidden to visit him, and it is forbidden to make phone or receive phone calls and any contact with the outside world is denied to him ... after all, now it's the Apostolic Commissioner, the Capuchin Father, Fidenzio Volpi, with the assistance of Father Alfonso Bruno, who is the new powerful man in the Order, and it's all-out war against the laity who are in continuing connection to the Order.
By a letter dated 27 November, he forbade any activity of the lay members of the Mission Immaculate Mediatrix (MIM) and the Third Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate (Tofi). He refused that the Tertiaries to wear their robes.
Is it resolving alleged internal difficulties claimed f a thriving religious community with such incredible hardness and such Stalinist purges? Or its charisma be destroyed instead, which was not only able to arouse increasing number of vocations and to attract and expand the Order on all continents, but was, until yesterday, praised and promoted by the highest ecclesiastical authorities. Just think that the now outlawed Father Manelli and Father Lanzetta, were once welcome until a few months ago by cardinals and bishops and were welcome in the columns of the Osservatore Romano Publications were even open to them. Eponymous Flower
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Attack Against Franciscans of the Immaculate Because "Crypto-Lefebvrian, Anyways Traditional"
(Rome) The Apostolic Commissioner, the Capuchin Father Fidenzio Volpi OFM Cap from the Congregation of Religious, with the approval of Pope Francis, instead of the Order leadership, with sole decision-making power at the head of the Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate set (FI), has given the real reason for the drastic intervention in the life of the Order for the first time.
The progressive Vaticanist Mario Tosatti had published a few days ago in the daily newspaper La Stampa a letter from a member of the Third Order of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, in which the radical approach of the Commissioner has been criticized (see separate report "Unrestricted War" against the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception? The Unspeakable "Blemish" ). The interventions affect not only the male religious branch, but also the Third Order, which was completely paralyzed by Father Volpi.
Commissioner Confirmed for the First Time What Observers Suspected from the Beginning
The Apostolic Commissioner responded with a letter to Tosatti's publication. In it, he explained for the first time the actual reason for the actions of the Vatican against the Order and its founder. The Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception is alleged to have "drifted" in a "Crypto-Lefebvrian, anyways traditionalist" direction. Even Tosatti reads from the extensive letter, in addition to several minor matters, what "the real problem" is.
The Commissioner stated thus confirming what was immediately clear to observers by the prohibition of the traditional rite and in the decree made by the Religious Congregation. The tough measures are directed against the rediscovery of the traditional rite and against the defense of the Church's tradition. Commissioner Father Volpi does not distinguish between "Lefebvrian" and "traditionalist", and thus, not even between the canonically unrecognized Priestly Society of St. Pius X and the canonically recognized Ecclesia Dei communities. Obviously, an attachment to tradition is for the Commissioner basically a "problem". A direction that is not only displeasing to the Capuchin, but must be fought. And he has done so with great zeal since last August. Obviously, it was this aversion that qualified him for the task of the Apostolic Commissioner.
De Matteis "Prediction" Came True
Already in August wrote the well-known historian Roberto de Mattei:
In the coming days and weeks we will know better the plans of the Commissioner, Fidenzio Volpi, but their rough lines can already be guessed: isolate the Founder, Father Manelli; decapitate the heads in the General Council of the Order faithful to him, deport the "traditionalist" brothers to the periphery, give the reins of the Order to the dissidents; entrust the novitiates to Fathers who are not under suspicion of "traditionalist" sympathies; sterilization of the publications and the Franciscan writings that deal in particular with "controversial" issues within the Church "controversial": avoid Marian "maximalism," an "exaggerated" rigor in moral teaching and especially any criticism, be it ever so respectful of the Second Vatican Council, plus opening of the Order for "ecumenical dialogue" with other religions; restriction of Vetus Ordo to special exceptions; in short, the destruction of the identity of the Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception, which is even worse than their removal.
The public response by Father Mario Volpi Tosatti confirmed in black on white, the fears expressed immediately by de Matteis and others. It also reveals what the Congregation of Religious has moved under Cardinal Prefect João Braz de Aviz and apparently Pope Francis, to smash this thriving Order of pious men. An Order that, a few months ago, had access to Pope Benedict XVI.
Different Ways of Handling: a Comparison
As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope in 2005, he personally went and decided against Marcial Maciel Degollado, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ (LC). Benedict XVI. said about Maciel that he revealed "a very serious and objectively immoral behavior that is confirmed by indisputable testimony" and "sometimes in the form of real crimes" and expressed "an unscrupulous life without true religious sentiment". Yet Benedict XVI. did not proceed against the Order, which had distinguished itself in many ways. Due to the commotion in the Order about the Founder and Superior General, and to allow a new beginning, he placed the Order under provisional administration. For this purpose he appointed Cardinal Velasio de Paolis, who accompanied the Order in a fatherly way to start anew. A path that will be successfully completed in early 2014.
As Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope in 2013, he agreed to a decisive action by the Congregation of Religious against the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate to (FI). Neither the Order nor its founder, Father Stefano Manelli were guilty in any way. They had not committed neither shameful crimes, as Marcial Maciel had, nor spread heresies, caused confusion or violated in any other way against Church doctrine and order. It was the alignment of the Order, although recognized in the Church and legitimate and encouraged till February by the previous Pope which do not fit anymore. A direction that has now been referred to the Commissioner responsible, disparagingly, as a "crypto-lefebvrian, anyways traditionalist". Not a Cardinal, but a simple Capuchin, was used by the Congregation of Religious as Commissioner, not a fatherly friend of the Order, but a declared opponent of tradition.
Commissioner Volpi also want to put hand to the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
Even against the female branch, the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, the Commissioner would like to proceed, although the decree of appointment says nothing about that. Father Volpi has accused the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of being traditional and even more "unruly" than to be the male branch. In reaching this conclusion, the Apostolic Commissioner came to it because the female convents immediately expressed the desire to cling to the Old Rite. The female branch of the Order has insisted on its independence since the announcement of the decree against the male branch. Father Volpi has even accused the CDF last October, and even Cardinal Prefect Braz de Aviz, of not pushing hard enough against the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate, because the Commissioner has not been extend a grant of jurisdiction. Eponymous Flower
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Franciscans of the Immaculate Require "Permit" to Say Mass: Life Under the Commissar
(Rome) "It takes a permit." A letter from a Franciscan of the Immaculate describes the life subject to approval, that the brothers have to lead, since they were placed under provisional administration.
In 1990, the Order was recognized at the diocesan level and 1998 by Rome, the Orden internally moved from the Old Rite under Pope Benedict XVI. f to the Old Rite and for pastoral care it was specified by the Pope as bi-ritual, since 11 July 2013 it has been under provisional administration by the Congregation of Religious. Acting Administrator is the Capuchin Father, Fidenzio Volpi, "a skilled and proven man of power (who is known to move between the internal equilibria of the Superior Conference of Male Religious Communities of Italy - CISM ), with mephistophelian smile and biting repartee, " said Messa in Latino .
"We Are no Longer Able to Print and Disseminate Our Own Books"
The Franciscan of the Immaculate Conception described in his letter that he passed by the office of Order internal publishing, Casa Mariana, in Frigento recently. "My heart beat. I felt in me an unusual emptiness and dismay at the thought that we can no longer write for our own publishing house, and are not even allowed to distribute the books of our own publishing company in our convents.
I look at the house. In there are our books. Many of them we have written, and much more contributions to our religious journals: Fides Catholica , Annales Franciscani , Immculata Mediatrix ... Many books have been translated by us from Latin, others we have from Italian, the language most used in the order, translated into other languages.
That is our life inside, years of study, sweat and sacrifice. The Apostolic Commissioner has ruled that we are no longer authorized to use them. What sin do they represent?
"But it Needs a Permit"
I took courage and rang the bell at the door. A sister opens and I ask her about the new liturgical calendar of the Order, because we didn't have one in the monastery.
"I can not give you one Father, you know that it requires a permit," replied my sister, kind and understanding.
What could be sinful about a liturgical calendar?
"But it needs a permit."
Exactly the permit.
Whose?
"From the Apostolic Commissioner of course!"
"Our Life is Made by Applications, Special Permits'"
Since we have been under provisional administration, our life is governed by applications for "special permits" to the Commissioner. You are to provide a copy in writing and are granted permission only by expressed personal validation .
A permit is needed to use the books of the Order from the Order's own publishing house and be able to impart them. Any "public dissemination" is prohibited.
A permit is required to celebrate the Holy Mass in the traditional Rite.
A permit is required to use the Roman Ritual for the Old Rite.
A permit is required for the Liturgy of the Hours to celebrate it in the Vetus Ordo.
A permit is required to celebrate the Holy Mass with the Sisters of the Order, for both the Old and the New Rite.
A permit is required to conduct a meeting of the lay community of the Order or of the Third Order.
A permit is required to carry out a "Day for Maria" (a day of prayer, which is performed by the Order on pilgrimage or in parish churches and is open to all).
A permit is required to visit our Founder. It is strongly advised not to make such a request at all, which is actually not approved anyway.
A permit is required for any initiative in the Order. "
Even more permits are needed of the founders of religious orders:
"Our Founder even needs explicit permission to be treated at the hospital. He needs an explicit authorization in order to move from one convent to another. He was blamed on the official website of the Order publicly for the fact that he had at first dared to visit the convent of Teramo. In reality, the Apostolic Commissioner had even given the permission to do so." A grueling guerrilla war.
[a href=" Post by donkath on 3 minutes ago Franciscans of the Immaculate Require "Permit" to Say Mass: Life Under the Commissar (Rome) "It takes a permit." A letter from a Franciscan of the Immaculate describes the life subject to approval, that the brothers have to lead, since they were placed under provisional administration. In 1990, the Order was recognized at the diocesan level and 1998 by Rome, the Orden internally moved from the Old Rite under Pope Benedict XVI. f to the Old Rite and for pastoral care it was specified by the Pope as bi-ritual, since 11 July 2013 it has been under provisional administration by the Congregation of Religious. Acting Administrator is the Capuchin Father, Fidenzio Volpi, "a skilled and proven man of power (who is known to move between the internal equilibria of the Superior Conference of Male Religious Communities of Italy - CISM ), with mephistophelian smile and biting repartee, " said Messa in Latino . "We Are no Longer Able to Print and Disseminate Our Own Books" The Franciscan of the Immaculate Conception described in his letter that he passed by the office of Order internal publishing, Casa Mariana, in Frigento recently. "My heart beat. I felt in me an unusual emptiness and dismay at the thought that we can no longer write for our own publishing house, and are not even allowed to distribute the books of our own publishing company in our convents. I look at the house. In there are our books. Many of them we have written, and much more contributions to our religious journals: Fides Catholica , Annales Franciscani , Immculata Mediatrix ... Many books have been translated by us from Latin, others we have from Italian, the language most used in the order, translated into other languages. That is our life inside, years of study, sweat and sacrifice. The Apostolic Commissioner has ruled that we are no longer authorized to use them. What sin do they represent? "But it Needs a Permit" I took courage and rang the bell at the door. A sister opens and I ask her about the new liturgical calendar of the Order, because we didn't have one in the monastery. "I can not give you one Father, you know that it requires a permit," replied my sister, kind and understanding. What could be sinful about a liturgical calendar? "But it needs a permit." Exactly the permit. Whose? "From the Apostolic Commissioner of course!" "Our Life is Made by Applications, Special Permits'" Since we have been under provisional administration, our life is governed by applications for "special permits" to the Commissioner. You are to provide a copy in writing and are granted permission only by expressed personal validation . A permit is needed to use the books of the Order from the Order's own publishing house and be able to impart them. Any "public dissemination" is prohibited. A permit is required to celebrate the Holy Mass in the traditional Rite. A permit is required to use the Roman Ritual for the Old Rite. A permit is required for the Liturgy of the Hours to celebrate it in the Vetus Ordo. A permit is required to celebrate the Holy Mass with the Sisters of the Order, for both the Old and the New Rite. A permit is required to conduct a meeting of the lay community of the Order or of the Third Order. A permit is required to carry out a "Day for Maria" (a day of prayer, which is performed by the Order on pilgrimage or in parish churches and is open to all). A permit is required to visit our Founder. It is strongly advised not to make such a request at all, which is actually not approved anyway. A permit is required for any initiative in the Order. " Even more permits are needed of the founders of religious orders: "Our Founder even needs explicit permission to be treated at the hospital. He needs an explicit authorization in order to move from one convent to another. He was blamed on the official website of the Order publicly for the fact that he had at first dared to visit the convent of Teramo. In reality, the Apostolic Commissioner had even given the permission to do so." A grueling guerrilla war. Eponymous Flower