Vatican warns against pseudo-clerical lay ministry-English text of letter
Cathcon comment: The Vatican complains about the effect of the last 50 years of Vatican policy
The Vatican has warned against a false understanding of lay ministries in the Catholic Church. The vocation to such a ministry must not be confused with the ministerial priesthood, according to a Pope's message to a liturgical congress in Salerno published on Monday. Thus one must beware of interpreting the concept of "deputation" arbitrarily and of "clericalising" it. This could lead to a parallel ministry structure within the Church. Instead, he said, it is a matter of promoting among lay people a clearer awareness of their vocation, which is manifested in a variety of tasks and ministries.
Lectors read the readings, not the Gospel, and say intercessions. The tasks of an acolyte include distributing communion and serving as an altar server. Last year, Pope Francis upgraded these ministries by means of a decree. Since then, these ministries have been connected with an official commissioning.
The original cause of this catastrophic situation- the destruction of clerical status by the Vatican.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOLY FATHER
FRANCIS,
SIGNED BY CARDINAL SECRETARY OF
STATE PIETRO PAROLIN,
IN OCCASION OF THE 72nd NATIONAL
LITURGICAL WEEK
Source- translated by Cathcon
22-25 August 2022
Most Reverend Excellency
I am pleased to convey the
Supreme Pontiff's cordial greetings to the participants of the 72nd National
Liturgical Week, which will be held in Salerno, a city rich in natural and
artistic beauty, custodian not only of valuable works of sacred art but also of
the illustrious relic of the body of St Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist and
of the Holy Pontiff Gregory VII. The theme that you will discuss, 'Ministries
at the Service of a Synodal Church', is of particular significance for the
Church in the present historical moment and ties in with what the Holy Father
said at the opening of the Synod on Synodality. He urged us to live the Synodal
Path by becoming "experts in the art of encounter. ... meeting face to
face, letting ourselves be touched by the questions of our sisters and
brothers, helping each other so that the diversity of charisms, vocations and
ministries may enrich us" (Eucharistic Celebration, Homily, 10 October
2021).
Fifty years after the Motu
Proprio "Ministeria quaedam", with which Saint Paul VI had revised
the entire matter of minor orders, preserving those of Reader and Acolyte as
instituted ministries, no longer considered as reserved for candidates to the
Sacrament of Orders, the Liturgical Action Centre appropriately proposes a
reflection on the liturgical animation of the entire People of God, called in
the diversity of tasks and ministries to give praise to their Lord. The days of study and discussion may represent
an ideal place to verify the effective impact of the newly instituted ministries
of the Reader, Acolyte, as well as that of the Catechist in ecclesial practice,
looking at the promotion of the same ministries in the light of the Magisterium
of Pope Francis, who constantly invites to renew the forma Ecclesiae in a more
communal fashion, overcoming any residual temptation of clericalism.
With the Motu Proprio
"Spiritus Domini", he overcame the constraint, maintained at the
time, that destined the ministries of lector and acolyte to men only and
provided for the inclusion of women in the lay/baptismal ministries by amending
Canon 230 §2. Furthermore, with the Motu
Proprio 'Antiquum Ministerium', he gave the Church the figure of institution
into the ministry of the Catechist. The
then Congregation now the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of
the Sacraments, on the mandate of His Holiness, then followed up with a Letter
to the Presidents of the Conferences of Bishops on the Rite of Institution of
catechists, with the corresponding Rite attached. Your Conference, which brings together
Bishops, priests, deacons, men and women religious and numerous lay faithful,
engaged in the exercise of a diversified ministry, is along these lines. The Holy Father's hope is that this expert assembly,
which is at the service of the pastoral care of the Churches in Italy, starting
from an attentive look at the present situation, sixty years after the
beginning of the Second Vatican Council, will contribute to the
theological-liturgical-pastoral deepening of the ministerial reality, opening
perspectives to be offered to the pastoral discernment of the ecclesial
community.
"I am among you as one who
serves" (Luke 22:27), says the Lord: this is the model that must inspire
every ministry in the Church. From this
evangelical lesson, the Church's ministerial nature is continually renewed, so
that each person can live in authenticity of faith and service the role that,
by virtue of baptism and the gifts of the Spirit, he or she is called to play. The very vision of the Church as a mystery of
communion and a more acute consideration of the presence and action of the Holy
Spirit have contributed to better highlight the role of the laity in the
ecclesial Community. It is therefore a
matter of fostering in the lay faithful a clearer awareness of their vocation,
which is expressed in a plurality of tasks and services for the building up of
the entire Christian people. In dealing
with these issues, we must be careful not to confuse the priesthood of all
believers and the ministerial priesthood, arbitrarily interpreting the concept
of 'deputation', 'clericalising' and thus running the risk of actually creating
an ecclesial structure of service parallel to that founded on the Sacrament of
Orders.
The Holy Father assures our
prayers and, invoking the Maternal Protection of the Virgin Mother of the
Church, gladly sends the Apostolic Blessing to Your Excellency, to the host
Diocese and its Pastor, to the other Bishops, priests, deacons and consecrated
persons, as well as to the speakers and all those gathered.
In joining my personal best
wishes for the full success of this important pastoral initiative, I take
advantage of the occasion to confirm with a sense of distinguished reverence of
Your Most Reverend Excellency
most honoured in the Lord
Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State
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