Concerning the problem of the "una cum"
in the "Te igitur" of the canon of the mass
by
Eberhard Heller
(transl. by Gladys Resch)
In his detailed explanations, referring to the fact that holy Mass can only be said ab Ecclesia, Mgr. Guérard des Lauriers has proved that in the "Te igitur" is expressed, who is the direct, real actual authorized representative of the Church: the "una cum famulo tuo Papa nostro N." does not only express the visible union of the faithful and priest with their Head, but it means at the same time the actual, juristic delegation of power of the celebration of the Mass by the Pope, whom Christ has appointed as His representative here on earth. (Compare EINSICHT X, 3 and 4).
To be able to express this mandate of the celebration of holy Mass ab Ecclesia in todays religious and chaotic circumstances, Mgr. des Lauriers suggested to pray "una cum sede apostolica" instead of "una cum famulo tuo Papa nostro N.", by which the words "sede apostolica" should be understood as the institution as such. By making out this formula, Mgr. des Lauriers had considered that Wojtyla is in fact a heretic materially but not formally. (N.b. this problem has in the meantime been solved in all details, I hope.) To say the truth: the learned Mgr. Himself was not quite happy about the suggestion to express the mandate to say the Mass ab Ecclesia with the set form of words "una cum sede apostolica".
How then can this problem be solved? The dogmatic demand of the Council of Trent, that the Mass has to be said ab Ecclesia, still remains, even in these confusing times. The examples of Écône and Palmar de Troya show clearly where one goes astray if one does not bear in mind this instruction. Where then is today for the holy Mass the mandatory real Church, and how, respectively where is named the mandator in the "Te igitur"?
We read in the "Ritus celbrandi missam" of the Missale Romanum, published by Pius V: "Ubi dicit: una cum famulo tuo Papa nostra N. exprimit nomen Papae: Sede autem vacante verba praedicta omittuntur." (Where he says: una cum famulo tuo Pap nostro N., he pronounces clearly the name of the Pope: but if the See is vacant, the usual laid down words are omitted.) The same applies for the name of the resident bishop. (Compare also Lurz, Wilhelm: "Ritus und Rubriken der Heiligen Messe" (Rites and Rubrics of Holy Mass), Würzburg 1941, pg. 139) The apostolic, respectively episcopate See is vacant a) at the physical or b) moral death of the bearer of office; this moral death occurs when the bearer falls into public, subborn heresy, respectively has previously fallen into it. (Compare Rev. Dr. O. Katzer: "The vacant apostolic See", EINSICHT VIII, pg. 68ff; as well CIC, Canon 188 Nr.4; as will Paul IV's Papal bull: "Cum ex apostolatus officio".) This case, that both, the apostolic as well as the episcopate See are vacant, is the actual state today. (N.b. It should be noted for the Lefebvrists: it is even not permitted to members of the Fraternity to name Lefebvre in the "una cum ..." as "Antiste nostro", as he has no rights as resident Ordinary! Compare A.A.S. XI, Rome 1919, page 145.)
Nowadays the part of the "Te igitur" should therefore be said: in primis, quae tibi offerimus pro Ecclesia tua sancta catholica: quam pacificare, custodire, adunare, et regere digneris toto orbe terrarum: una cum omnibus orthodoxis atque catholicae, et apostolicae fidei Cultoribus." (in unity with all orthodox faithful and all those who promote the Catholic and Apostolic faith.) By those mentioned in this way, the mandate, to say the Mass ab Ecclesia, is being accomplished, and respectively by them the mandate is being represented in the appropriate sense. One must retain a mind for the unity and simplicity of the Catholic faith: this is the saying of the Holy Ghost! There is no better answer to the difficult question, where the Church can be found today.
Notice: Above article was published in EINSICHT XI, 3rd of August, 1981. In spite of having got a lot of bishops in the meantime, who administer the Sacraments, the problem of the unity of the Church, her administration and the jurisdiction of each individual bishop is not solved, which means: none of those bishops may be mentioned as Resident Ordinary in the "Te igitur" of the Canon. |
