cms@gatech.edu (08/30/90)
In the spirit of the importance of reading the originals, I am herein
reproducing (in resurrecting our ecumencial discussion) the original
condemnation of Anglican orders by Pope Leo coupled with the official
Anglican response. First "Pope Leo VIII On Anglican Orders" from the
Epistle Apostolicae curae, 13 September 1896. Acta Sanctae Sedis
(96/97), 198 sqq. Extract in Denzinger, 1963 sqq." (No, I don't know
what all that means; this is quoted from "Documents of the Christian
Church," second edition, selected and edited by Henry Bettenson;
Oxford University Press, 1963.) Begin quote.
[In 1894, largely through the efforts of Lord Halifax, Leo XIII
appointed a commission to inquire into Anglican Orders. Some members
of the commission were convinced of their validity, but a further
commission of Cardinals laid down the view which the Pope published in
his letter.]
...In the rite of the accomplishment and administration of any
sacrament we rightly distinguish between the ceremonial part and the
essential part, which are usually called the matter and the form. And
all are aware that the sacraments of the new law, being sensible signs
and signs efficacious of invisible grace, ought both to signify the
grace which they effect and to effect the grace they signify....Now
the words which up to the last generation were universally held by
Anglicans to be the proper form of ordination to the priesthood, viz.
Receive the Holy Ghost, are surely far from the precise signification
of the order of the priesthood, or its grace and power, which is
especially the power of consecrating and offering the true body and
blood of the Lord in that sacrifice which is no mere commemoration of
the sacrifice accomplished on the cross. This form was indeed
afterwards augmented by the words "for the Office and work of a
priest," but this rather proves that Anglicans saw that the first form
was defective and inadequate. And the addition, even if it were able
to give the necessary significance to the form, was brought in too
late, for a century had elasped after the acceptance of the Edwardian
Ordinal: the hierarchy had died out and there remained no power to
ordain.
Similarly in the case of episcopal consecration. For to the formula
"Receive the Holy Ghost" the words "for the office and work of a
bishop" were not only added too late but, as we shall soon remark, a
different interpretation is to be placed on them than [is understood]
in the catholic rite....So it came about that, sincethe sacrament of
ordination and the true Christian priesthood has been utterly cast out
of the Anglican rite, and thus in the consecration of bishops of the
said rite no priesthood is conferred, so no episcopacy can be truly or
right conferred....
With this deep-seated defect of form is joined a defect of intention,
which is equally necessary for the performance of a sacrament....And
so...we pronounce and declare that ordinations performed according to
the Anglican rite are utterly invalid and altogether void.
End quote.
--
Sincerely,
Cindy Smith
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