<continued from last message>
9th Jan 1995
Subject: Sunday Mass obligation 4 of 4
CONCLUSIONS
Fortunately, very few if any of us are in the same predicament as
the parishioners of St. Alfred Loisy. At the very least, the
options of the "parish shopping," indult Traditional Masses and
Eastern Catholic liturgies are often available. If they are not,
however, what can we do?
As we have seen, opinions are divided and, in any event, I have no
authority or competence to give you advice. All I can do is tell
you what I might do if I lived in Point Omega and was a member of
St. Alfred Parish. Please keep in mind that the following are
nothing more than speculative, personal opinions.
First and foremost, using every legitimate means available, I
would continue to work for the restoration of my right to true
liturgy in the parish and the provision for celebration of Mass
according to the 1962 *Missale Romanum* for those who prefer it.
With due regard for the precept to support the work of the Church,
I would direct my contributions to Church agencies and religious
work outside the diocese of Ignavia and urge other to do the same.
As long as the abuses continued unabated, I would not consider
myself bound to satisfy my obligation at St. Alfred and would,
instead, attend the Masses celebrated by Fr. Benedict out of a
sense of spiritual necessity rather than my personal preference
for the Tridentine rite. I would not, however, attend a Mass
celebrated by a priest affiliated with the SSPX.
On Sundays and other holy days when Fr. Benedict was not
celebrating Mass, I would either attend Mass at St. Alfred and
offer up my suffering or attend the Greek Orthodox liturgy,
*remembering that the Eastern Orthodox churches do not admit Roman
Catholics to Communion.*
Reception of the sacraments at any of the alternative Masses
mentioned above is really a separate issue, so I will not offer
any conclusions here except to note that c. 844 S2 says: "Whenever
necessity requires or genuine spiritual advantage suggests, and
provided that the danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it
is lawful for the faithful for whom it is physically or morally
impossible to approach a Catholic minister, to receive the
sacraments of penance, Eucharist and anointing of the sick from
non-Catholic ministers in whose churches these sacraments are valid."
This is certainly a cursory treatment of a complicated issue.
Nevertheless, I hope it has been of some help and I ask that you
join me in working and praying for the day when Catholics do not
have need to consider the kind of alternative discussed here."
End of repeated messages.
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Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -
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