There is a book published in 2008 called "Communicatio in Sacris", by William J. DeTucci (It can be purchased at lulu.com), that I strongly recommend all Catholics to get. The book is quite unique of its kind, and is a great eye-opener to why it would be wrong to go to validly ordained heretics for confession or other Sacraments. DeTucci has gathered numerous quotes from Popes, Saints and Church Councils on the above-mentioned subject, and may best be summed up in the authors own, strong
words:
"The CMRI, SSPX, SBC, Dimond Brothers (MHFM) and any other so-called Traditional Catholic Sects, are no different than the Heretical-Intercommunion of Vatican II (1962-1965). Since, these so-called Traditionalists lament the fact that Vatican II has permitted, allowed or encouraged "Intercommunion" with non-Catholics. Nevertheless, they are just as guilty (if not even more) since the Sacraments of the aforesaid so-called Traditionalists appear Valid, while the Vatican II Sect's Sacraments are dubious and highly questionable. The pseudo-Traditionalists throw boulders at the Vatican II Sect, yet they commit the most grievous of Sins and Heresies with their so-called Traditionalist-Ecumenism! Anathema to those that Intercommunicate with the Heterodox! Shame on the CMRI, SSPX, SBC, Dimond Brothers (MHFM) and any other that "appear" to profess Roman Catholicism, but are really sharers in Heretical-Communion among so-called Traditionalists!"
I would say that the most powerful quote of the entire book, is one by the Cardinal Saint Bonaventure, explaining how being validly ordained is not enough to actually give you absolution for your sins, when it is provided outside of the Church Unity:
"Once these conditions [intentions of orders] are present, the sacraments may be conferred by either the good or the wicked, the faithful or the heretical, within the Church or outside it: but within the Church, they are conferred both in fact and in effect, while outside it, although conferred in fact, they are not effective."
(Saint Bonaventure, The Breviloquium II, part VI, chapter 5, Article 1)
In this way you don't actually reap the fruits of the Sacrament, you are not absolved of your sins. Pope Leo XIII is quoted on the same subject-matter:
Letter Exima Nos laetitia, July 19, 1893, by Pope Leo XIII:
"From this is follows also that they cannot promise themselves any of the graces and fruits of the perpetual sacrifice and of the sacraments, which, although they are sacrilegiously administered, are nonetheless valid and serve in some measure that form and appearance of piety which St. Paul mentions (1:Cor. 13:3.) and which St. Augustine speaks of at greater length: 'The form of the branch,' says the latter with great precision, 'may still be visible, even apart from the vine, but the invisible life of the root can be preserved only in union with the stock. That is why the corporal sacraments, which some keep and use outside the unity of Christ, can preserve the appearance of piety. But the invisible and spiritual virtue of true piety cannot abide there any more than feeling can remain in an amputated member,' (Serm. LXXI, in Matt.,32)
The Papal Encyclical Graves Ac Diuturnae, March 23, 1875, Art 4, by Pope Pius IX, concerning the schismatic and heretical so called Old Catholics:
" They [the faithful] should totally shun their [the Old Catholics] religious celebrations, their buildings, and their chairs of pestilence which they have with impunity established to transmit the sacred teachings.
They should shun their writings and all contact with them. They should not have any dealings or meetings with usurping priests and apostates from the faith who dare to exercise the duties of an ecclesiastical minister without possessing a legitimate mission or any jurisdiction."
In England, during the reign of Henry VIII, some Catholics would still go to the validly ordained priests and bishops who had fallen into the Anglican heresy. The Pope refused Catholics to join these in prayers and rites, not due to their effect in validity. On the contrary, the Pope refused as well because their rites were indeed, if not most, very valid but most illicit and unfruitful at the hands of heretics and schismatics. Furthermore, His Holiness, had such a horror of Heresy, that he even stated: "Even if my own father was a heretic, I would gather the wood to burn him!"
Quoting Pope Paul IV:
"We are forced to admonish and conjure you, that on no account you go to the churches of heretics, or hear their sermons, or join in their rites, lest he incure the wrath of God; for it is not lawful for you to do such things, without dishonoring God, and hurting your own souls." (Communicatio in Sacris, p.149)
In the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas he quotes, "The Canon says (Dist. 32) 'But when the Arian bishop arrived, God's devoted servant rebuked him, as was right for him to do.' I answer that, As was said above, heretical, schismatical, excommunicate, or even sinful priests, although they have the power to consecrate the Eucharist, yet they do not make a proper use of it; on the contrary, they sin by using it. But whoever communicates with another who is in sin, becomes a sharer in his sin. Hence we read in John's Second Canonical Epistle (11)-(10) that 'He that saith unto him, God speed you, communicateth with his wicked works.'
Consequently, it is not lawful to receive Communion from them, or to assist at their mass. Still, there is a difference among them above, because heretics, schismatics, and excommunicates, have been forbidden by the Church's sentence, to perform the Eucharistic rite. And therefore whoever hears their mass or receives the sacraments from them, commits sin. But not all who are sinners are debarred by the Church's sentence from using this power..."
Summa Theologica, Pt.III, Q.82, Art.9: "By refusing to hear the masses of such priests, or to receive Communion from them, we are not shunning God's sacraments; on the contrary, by so doing we are giving them honor..."
"Let a bishop, presbyter, or deacon, who has only prayed with heretics, be excommunicated: but if he has permitted them to perform any clerical office, let him be deposed." (Canon 44/or XLV; Canones Apostolorum, Mansi, Tom. I, col. 39).
The Fourth Council of Carthage (398 A.D.) presided over by St. Augustine:
"One must neither pray nor sing psalms with heretics, and whosoever shall communicate with those who are cut off from the communion of the Church, whether clergy or layman, let him be excommunicated." (Mansi, Tom. III, col. 957, Canons 72 and 73).
It is my hope that this small selection of quotes from "Communicatio in Sacris" will help Catholics to make the right decisions and carry their Crosses, even if they should feel like the "last man standing."
Remember, God can do anything. He is able to save you, and He is a Sovereign God, not depending upon anything or anyone to do whatever He pleases. Only God can save you. Have Faith in Him.
"The CMRI, SSPX, SBC, Dimond Brothers (MHFM) and any other so-called Traditional Catholic Sects, are no different than the Heretical-Intercommunion of Vatican II (1962-1965). Since, these so-called Traditionalists lament the fact that Vatican II has permitted, allowed or encouraged "Intercommunion" with non-Catholics. Nevertheless, they are just as guilty (if not even more) since the Sacraments of the aforesaid so-called Traditionalists appear Valid, while the Vatican II Sect's Sacraments are dubious and highly questionable. The pseudo-Traditionalists throw boulders at the Vatican II Sect, yet they commit the most grievous of Sins and Heresies with their so-called Traditionalist-Ecumenism! Anathema to those that Intercommunicate with the Heterodox! Shame on the CMRI, SSPX, SBC, Dimond Brothers (MHFM) and any other that "appear" to profess Roman Catholicism, but are really sharers in Heretical-Communion among so-called Traditionalists!"
I would say that the most powerful quote of the entire book, is one by the Cardinal Saint Bonaventure, explaining how being validly ordained is not enough to actually give you absolution for your sins, when it is provided outside of the Church Unity:
"Once these conditions [intentions of orders] are present, the sacraments may be conferred by either the good or the wicked, the faithful or the heretical, within the Church or outside it: but within the Church, they are conferred both in fact and in effect, while outside it, although conferred in fact, they are not effective."
(Saint Bonaventure, The Breviloquium II, part VI, chapter 5, Article 1)
In this way you don't actually reap the fruits of the Sacrament, you are not absolved of your sins. Pope Leo XIII is quoted on the same subject-matter:
Letter Exima Nos laetitia, July 19, 1893, by Pope Leo XIII:
"From this is follows also that they cannot promise themselves any of the graces and fruits of the perpetual sacrifice and of the sacraments, which, although they are sacrilegiously administered, are nonetheless valid and serve in some measure that form and appearance of piety which St. Paul mentions (1:Cor. 13:3.) and which St. Augustine speaks of at greater length: 'The form of the branch,' says the latter with great precision, 'may still be visible, even apart from the vine, but the invisible life of the root can be preserved only in union with the stock. That is why the corporal sacraments, which some keep and use outside the unity of Christ, can preserve the appearance of piety. But the invisible and spiritual virtue of true piety cannot abide there any more than feeling can remain in an amputated member,' (Serm. LXXI, in Matt.,32)
The Papal Encyclical Graves Ac Diuturnae, March 23, 1875, Art 4, by Pope Pius IX, concerning the schismatic and heretical so called Old Catholics:
" They [the faithful] should totally shun their [the Old Catholics] religious celebrations, their buildings, and their chairs of pestilence which they have with impunity established to transmit the sacred teachings.
They should shun their writings and all contact with them. They should not have any dealings or meetings with usurping priests and apostates from the faith who dare to exercise the duties of an ecclesiastical minister without possessing a legitimate mission or any jurisdiction."
In England, during the reign of Henry VIII, some Catholics would still go to the validly ordained priests and bishops who had fallen into the Anglican heresy. The Pope refused Catholics to join these in prayers and rites, not due to their effect in validity. On the contrary, the Pope refused as well because their rites were indeed, if not most, very valid but most illicit and unfruitful at the hands of heretics and schismatics. Furthermore, His Holiness, had such a horror of Heresy, that he even stated: "Even if my own father was a heretic, I would gather the wood to burn him!"
Quoting Pope Paul IV:
"We are forced to admonish and conjure you, that on no account you go to the churches of heretics, or hear their sermons, or join in their rites, lest he incure the wrath of God; for it is not lawful for you to do such things, without dishonoring God, and hurting your own souls." (Communicatio in Sacris, p.149)
In the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas he quotes, "The Canon says (Dist. 32) 'But when the Arian bishop arrived, God's devoted servant rebuked him, as was right for him to do.' I answer that, As was said above, heretical, schismatical, excommunicate, or even sinful priests, although they have the power to consecrate the Eucharist, yet they do not make a proper use of it; on the contrary, they sin by using it. But whoever communicates with another who is in sin, becomes a sharer in his sin. Hence we read in John's Second Canonical Epistle (11)-(10) that 'He that saith unto him, God speed you, communicateth with his wicked works.'
Consequently, it is not lawful to receive Communion from them, or to assist at their mass. Still, there is a difference among them above, because heretics, schismatics, and excommunicates, have been forbidden by the Church's sentence, to perform the Eucharistic rite. And therefore whoever hears their mass or receives the sacraments from them, commits sin. But not all who are sinners are debarred by the Church's sentence from using this power..."
Summa Theologica, Pt.III, Q.82, Art.9: "By refusing to hear the masses of such priests, or to receive Communion from them, we are not shunning God's sacraments; on the contrary, by so doing we are giving them honor..."
"Let a bishop, presbyter, or deacon, who has only prayed with heretics, be excommunicated: but if he has permitted them to perform any clerical office, let him be deposed." (Canon 44/or XLV; Canones Apostolorum, Mansi, Tom. I, col. 39).
The Fourth Council of Carthage (398 A.D.) presided over by St. Augustine:
"One must neither pray nor sing psalms with heretics, and whosoever shall communicate with those who are cut off from the communion of the Church, whether clergy or layman, let him be excommunicated." (Mansi, Tom. III, col. 957, Canons 72 and 73).
It is my hope that this small selection of quotes from "Communicatio in Sacris" will help Catholics to make the right decisions and carry their Crosses, even if they should feel like the "last man standing."
Remember, God can do anything. He is able to save you, and He is a Sovereign God, not depending upon anything or anyone to do whatever He pleases. Only God can save you. Have Faith in Him.
