Apostolicae Curae

In the Apostolic Letter Apostolicae Curae from September 13, 1896 analyzed and evaluated by Pope Leo XIII. the rites of the Anglican Church for the episcopate and priesthood. In his decision, he notes the invalidity of ordinations of Roman Catholic point of view, and thus maintains the interruption of the apostolic succession within the Anglican Church. The papal document has been answered by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York with the letter " Saepius Officio " of 19 February 1897. In it, they point to early Christian liturgies, which also had the same alleged deficiencies that. Leo XIII would be contested and have his claim back in relation to the invalidity of their ordinations.

• 2.1 rite of ordination
• 2.2 intention

Grounds

Rite of ordination

After Leo XIII. there is a significant deficiency in the consecration of the formula by King Edward VI. introduced the rite of ordination. In particular, he referred to the Anglican formula for the ordination Receive the Holy Ghost to be insufficient, even in its later form with the additions " for the office and work of the priest " or " for the office and work of the bishop ."

Intention

Since the intention ( intended action ) is internal, it can be noisy Leo XIII. be assessed only in so far as it makes its appearance to the outside. Since, however, was changed by the Anglicans of the consecration rite of the Catholic Church intentionally, could be assumed that there was no intention to do what the ( Catholic ) Church does.

Reply

The liturgy historical argument of " Saepius Officio " was prepared by the church historian Frank Edward Brightman.

Rite of ordination

After the Archbishops of York and Canterbury ( Traditio apostolica, beginning of the third century ) was also used in the liturgy of Hippolytus no reference to the priestly work as head of the Eucharist, but only to " the prayers that he approaches wear day and night before God will "and on his authority for the forgiveness of sins. If the argument of Leo XIII. incorrect, you should have the Apostolic Succession even at this stage and have been thus interrupted for the whole of Christendom and not just for Anglicanism. When the Roman bishop appeals to the Council of Trent (which Leo does), he must, in the opinion of the English (the " many truths with falsehoods mixed " in the council see) can also depend on the judgment of the council - was either the judgment of the council properly, and also the early Christian ordinations were invalid, or the judgment of the council may not be invoked.

Intention

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York complained that Leo XIII. the intentions that in the preface to the ordination rite. under Edward VI was introduced, which may be mentioned, was ignored. They claimed that the rites of the Roman Church were also not uniform, and the introduction of a new rite is therefore admissible, especially since this was one of the freedoms of the local churches and not " from the benevolence of Rome " dependent. The alleged " innovations " that were introduced in England in the 16th century were, revive traditions of the early Christian church again, which had been lost in the Roman custom; this, and no departure from the custom of the Church of Jesus Christ, are the intentions that come in the rite of the 16th century expressed.