Why the New Rite of Episcopal Consecration is Valid - or- Why the Anglican Rite of Episcopal Consecration is Valid

In preparation for the impending reconciliation of the Society of Saint Pius X, the traditionalist Latin Mass and Sacraments religious society, with the See of Rome, Angelus Press, the publishing wing of SSPX has reprinted a fascinating paper entitled Why the New Rite of Episcopal Consecration is Valid. Pope Benedict XVI has to be a real Bishop if the SSPX is going to reunite with him. In the essay, a traditionalist Dominican theologian, Father Pierre-Marie argues cogently and convincingly that the new sacramental form of the new Roman Pontifical of 1968 is valid, in spite of the fact that it is not the same form as used in ancient Latin rite, because it is an ancient Eastern prayer of consecration based on the Apostolic Tradition of Saint Hippolytus. We are told it is valid because it clearly invokes the Holy Ghost for the office and work of the Episcopal Office, what is called in Latin the Spiritum principalem, the Spirit of Authority, or the Governing Spirit. It suffices, we are instructed, to invoke the said Spirit, for with such prayer is affirmed the intention to confer the grace of the Episcopate.

My question is: how does this at all differ from the original sacramental form of the Anglican Ordinal in 1550? The two rites do exactly the same thing - that is, they both invoke the Holy Ghost for the grace of the Order of Bishops. Yet again it would seem that Apostolicae Curae has been outmoded and circumvented by a more biblical and patristic approach to the subject of the Sacraments and the grace they communicate.

The 1968 Rite:

Et nunc effunde super hunc electum eam virtutem, quae a te est, Spiritum principalem, quem dedisti dilecto Filio Tuo Jesu Christo, quem ipse donavit sanctis Apostolis, qui constituerunt Ecclesiam per singula loca et sanctuarium tuum, in gloriam et laudem indeficientem nominis tui.

So now pour out upon this chosen one that power which is from you, the governing Spirit whom you gave to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the Spirit given by him to the holy Apostles, who founded the Church in every place to be your temple for the unceasing glory and praise of your name.

The Anglican Rite of 1550:

Take the Holy Ghost, and remember that thou stir up the grace of God, which is in thee, by imposition of hands: for God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and of soberness.

The Anglican rite quotes II Timothy 1.6-7, in which Saint Paul describes his consecration of Saint Timothy to the Apostolate/Episcopate. This same quote is cited by the Council of Trent as the biblical basis for asserting the distinctive grace and order of the Episcopate:

SESSION THE TWENTY-THIRD,

CHAPTER III. That Order is truly and properly a Sacrament.
Whereas, by the testimony of Scripture, by Apostolic tradition, and the unanimous consent of the Fathers, it is clear that grace is conferred by sacred ordination, which is performed by words and outward signs, no one ought to doubt that Order is truly and properly one of the seven sacraments of holy Church. For the apostle says; I admonish thee that thou stir up the grace of God, which is in thee by the imposition of my hands. For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love of sobriety.

CANON IV.--If any one saith, that, by sacred ordination, the Holy Ghost is not given; and that vainly therefore do the bishops say, Receive ye the Holy Ghost; or, that a character is not imprinted by that ordination; or, that he who has once been a priest, can again become a layman; let him be anathema.

Both rites equally and explicitly confer the Spirit of Authority, the Spirit of the Apostolic Office and Ministry.

Accipe Spiritum Sanctum!