![]()
With respect to your inquiry, there is absolutely no need to investigate with Rome the validity of Redemptionis Sacramentum. It is an instruction made by a dicastery with plenary jurisdiction over the subject matter (c.c. 360; Paul VI, apconst Constans Nobis, July 11, 1975, CLD 8, 224-227). It was published in accordance with the mandate conferred by the Holy Father, John Paul II in the Encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia (AAS 95 (2003) pp. 433-475; see also can. 7, 8, & 11), and is declared to be “approved by the same Pontiff on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, 19 March 2004, and he ordered it to be published and to be observed immediately by all concerned.” RS is completely consistent will all Conciliar documents on the liturgy. As RS comes from a valid source of law, and is not in conflict with any other law, it enjoys the full force of law, as there exists canonically no doubt of law (c.c. 14). Furthermore, as it was approved by the Supreme Pontiff, and as no one judges the First See (c.c. 1404), there is no basis for questioning its validity. Circumstantially, every Episcopal conference that has commented on RS has recognized its validity. Bishops may seek a recognitio from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments for the approval of norms not in accordance with RS; no such approval has been granted to any Canadian ordinary. Furthermore, any norm which received previously a recognitio but which is in conflict with RS is rendered invalid as ” it must be borne in mind that: (1) “an Instruction may develop the manner in which a law is to be put into effect (cf. can. 34 §1)...” and (2) “the effect of Redemptionis Sacramentum, nos.105-106 was to render inoperative certain elements contained in nos. 36-37 of the Norms since a presumption upon which the complementary norm has been based could no longer be maintained as being in accord with the ius commune.” ( Prot. n. 660/04/L: Letter of Francis Card. Arinze to Francis Card. George OMI regarding norms in the United States concerning the pouring of the Sacred Blood into chalices from flagons). -Del Atwood |