Follow Up to "Of Leo XIII, Caruso, and Chess"

Fr Zed has a bit of fun with a commenter on the post I shared yesterday, but with a serious look at what is binding in a Council and what is not.

From Fr Z's Blog 

From a reader reacted to THIS post…

I see from your recent post that you are a denier of the Fifth Lateran Council. You resist its Canons on the playing of chess and association with actors.

After 800 years, we are still working to implement the decrees of the Fifth Lateran Council. Do you deny that is a legitimate ecumenical council??? No? Well, then its decrees most be obeyed!!!

I hope the Holy See takes further action to root out other resisters of the spirit of the Fifth Lateran Council. Basta!!!

Oh, to be so lambasted.  Oh, to be so misunderstood!

“Basta!!!”, you cry, in defense of the Spirit of the Fifth Lateran Council.

“Basta!!!”, I respond, for I did not write anything about the Fifth Lateran Council of 1517, but rather the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215.

You were only off by 300 years!

I see in your response a spirit of discontinuity and rupture, perhaps inspired by … Protestant leanings?   After all… 5th Lateran… 1517…. Luther and his Theses.  There are those who think that if Lateran V had done its work better, there might have been a new springtime in the Church and the Protestant Revolt would not have taken place.

Back to Lateran FOUR.

I do not resist the Canons of Council, nor its authentic spirit, that is the spirit of its canons as they are written, not necessarily as reported and wrongly interpreted.  For example, I think that Can. 16 of L4 errs in that Chess is not a game of chance.  Perpend…

16. Clerics should not practice callings or business of a secular nature, especially those that are dishonorable. They should not watch mimes, entertainers and actors. Let them avoid taverns altogether, unless by chance they are obliged by necessity on a journey. They should not play at games of chance or of dice, nor be present at such games. [Ad aleas vel taxillos non ludant nec huiusmodi ludis intersint.] They should have a suitable crown and tonsure, and let them diligently apply themselves to the divine services and other good pursuits. Their outer garments should be closed and neither too short nor too long. Let them not indulge in red or green cloths, long sleeves or shoes with embroidery or pointed toes,…

I do NOT wear shoes with pointed toes.   I detest mimes, as one does.  Nature and age have provided my tonsure.  I don’t loiter in taverns and I don’t indulge in red or green cloths or long sleeves.

Well, I do do that, I guess.  But I do NOT wear pointed shoes.

A taxillus is a small die.  An alea is also a die, as in Caesar’s phrase, “Alea iacta esto!” (Suetonius, Caes. 32).   The ancients had tesserae – sixed sided – and tali – rounded on two sides but only marked on four.   There is a fascinating description how they played at dice in Lewis & Short under the voice alea.  I digress.

Chess is not a game of chance.  That canon was clearly penned by someone who had not made the effort to get to know clerical chess players.   I’m not going to make that mistake.  Chess playing priests could wind up being the most marginalized group in the Church if this canon is poorly implemented.  All so unfair.

Since you have decided to challenge me on the Spirit of Lateran V… let’s suppose you meant Lateran IV… let’s see another Canon of that venerable Ecumenical Council.  So you think that the canons of these past Councils must be obeyed?

9. De diversis ritibus in eadem fide

Quoniam in plerisque partibus intra eandem civitatem atque dioecesim permixti sunt populi diversarum linguarum habentes sub una fide varios ritus et mores districte præcipimus ut pontifices huiusmodi civitatum sive dioecesum provideant viros idoneos qui secundum diversitates rituum et linguarum divina officia illis celebrent et ecclesiastica sacramenta ministrent instruendo eos verbo pariter et exemplo.

Concerning diverse rites in the same faith

Since in many places peoples of different languages live mixed together, having one faith but different rites and customs, we strictly order bishops of such cities and dioceses to provide suitable men who will do the following in the various rites and languages : celebrate the divine services for them, administer the church’s sacraments, and instruct them by word and example.

Hmmmm…. provide priests for those who want different rites.

No.  This can’t be authentic.  It doesn’t have an vituperative phrases and how they “cause division”… blah blah blah.

And I remind the readership that Vatican II – a real, authentic Ecumenical Council – did not issue any canons.  It was “pastoral” Council, whatever that is.

If there are any clerics out there who play chess, drop me a line – HERE – with the noticeable subject line: I’M A CLERIC AND I PLAY CHESS!