This letter is a time capsule from 1978. Archbishop Sheen is calling out the SSPX for what they were in 1978 but also promoting the Bugnini Mass out of obedience to an Ecumenical Council that gave directions on how to revise the Mass and that the Bugnini Mass, despite the fact it did not do what Vatican II requested, is nonetheless the one Mass of the Roman Rite at that time and to be respected, especially its vernacular.
Archbishop Sheen uses the apologetic that I heard over and over and over again from 1965 onward and throughout the 70’s that Vatican II did not change doctrine or Divine Teaching but only discipline and human laws that could be changed.
But, but, but, even then, there were those promoting the changing of doctrines and morals, especially sexual morality, as is still continuing today and from the cabal still living today and still influential.
Somehow, I think Archbishop Sheen would have embraced Pope Benedict’s reform in continuity and that there can be two expressions of the one Roman Rite (although there are others too, like the Ordinariate’s).
But this is a fascinating letter to say the least given what we know today, not just about the SSPX but also the Bugnini Mass:
1 comment:
This is not Fulton Sheen's finest hour. But for Lefebrve and like-minded people we would not be recovering our liturgical heritage today. The Novus Bogus has been a flop.
Post a Comment