Hints of Things To Come

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf has obtained a letter from the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei in response to a dubia. This response contains some very interesting hints of things to come in the forthcoming clarifying document. Damian Thompson expresses his joy here. See the full text of the letter below:

Dear Dr. ...

We wish to acknowledge your letter of 29 September 2007 and beg your indulgence for not having managed to respond sooner due to the volume of mail which we have received since the promulgation of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum and the many matter which have required our immediate attention.

With regard to your dubia, we respond as follows:

1. Candidates for the priesthood in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church have the right to be instructed in both forms of the Roman Rite.
2. Those responsible for the formation of candidates for the priesthood in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church should provide for the instruction of their candidates in both forms of the Roman Rite.

We expect that these matters will soon be treated in an instruction on the application of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.

With prayerful best wishes I remain.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Msgr. Camille Perl

Secretary

Norms Issued in San Francisco

Norms issued on pre-Vatican II Latin Mass celebration

By Dan Morris-Young

Norms specific to the Archdiocese of San Francisco for the celebration of the Mass and sacraments in Latin according to the missal of Blessed John XXIII of 1962 were promulgated on the Feast of the Assumption, Dec. 8, by San Francisco Archbishop George H. Niederauer and will officially take effect Jan. 8, 2008
The norms come in response to Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration in July which expanded Catholics’ access to what is commonly known as the Tridentine Mass. The pope issued a motu proprio (on his own initiative) instruction titled Summorum Pontificum which relaxed restrictions on the use of the Latin-language rite that predates the Second Vatican Council, and which said the rite should be made available at any parish where groups of the faithful desire it. The papal instruction took effect on Sept. 14.
Both the papal letter and local norms underscore that the Latin-language form of the Mass used prior to the Second Vatican Council will be the “extraordinary form.” Focusing primarily on celebration of the Mass, although other sacraments are mentioned, the new local regulations spell out requirements for clerical competency in the preconciliar form of the Eucharistic liturgy and provide some specifics on pastoral questions.
The norms, for example:

• Require that archdiocesan priests “give evidence of their ability with the Latin language as well as adequate knowledge of the rubrics for the proper celebration according to the 1962 missal” before they may celebrate in the older form; a priest not of the Archdiocese is required to “provide an authentic letter of good standing” and assurance of liturgical competency from his bishop or religious superior to the archdiocesan vicar for clergy or chancellor;
• Define “stable group” of parishioners who may seek a regular celebration of the Mass in the extraordinary form as 30 persons “in the same location and in an ongoing manner.”
• Suggest priests consider “the possibility of celebrating the ordinary form in the Latin language…as an alternative to using the extraordinary form in satisfying the spiritual needs of the faithful who desire a Latin Mass”;
• Instruct priests they may not on their “own initiative” schedule a public Mass according to the extraordinary form; that such public Masses are to be celebrated only “in parishes where there is a stable group of the faithful who adhere to the earlier tradition” and request such a liturgy;
• Note that the 1962 missal did not employ female altar servers, thus “the function of altar servers is reserved to males, whether youth or adults” in the extraordinary form;
• Remind priests that concelebration was “not envisioned in the 1962 Roman Missal” and therefore, “No priest may concelebrate or assist in any way that may be perceived as concelebrating at any Masses using the extraordinary form.”
• Emphasize that a pastor must keep parish harmony and unity in mind in the event celebration according to the extraordinary form is authorized.

Archdiocesan Chancellor Father Michael Padazinski emphasized that several issues and questions about Summorum Pontificum are currently before the pontifical commission Ecclesia Dei established to oversee implementation of the instruction, so the local norms might need updating in the future. Among those questions, he said, are the potential role of females as altar servers and the definition of “stable group.” Father Padazinski, who is also judicial vicar for the Archdiocese, spearheaded the preparation of the norms, consulting with other canonists, liturgical experts and with the archdiocesan Office of Worship.”
Priests of the Archdiocese have been mailed an explanatory cover letter from Archbishop Niederauer, a copy of the norms, the text of Summorum Pontificum, and a copy of Pope Benedict’s letter to the world’s bishops concerning his motu proprio, Father Padazinski said.
In his letter, Archbishop Niederauer says that he has asked Msgr. Steven D. Otellini and Father Lawrence C. Goode to “act as delegates on my behalf in regard to the implementation of the norms.”
Msgr. Otellini is to confirm Latin language competencyfor priests wishing to celebrate the extraordinary form. Father Goode is to verify priests’ proficiency “regarding the rubrics and practical aspects of implementing the motu proprio.”
Father Goode is pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, East Palo Alto. Msgr. Otellini is pastor of Church of the Nativity, Menlo Park.
Father Padazinski, who is also judicial vicar for the Archdiocese, spearheaded the preparation of the norms, consulting with other canonists, liturgical experts and with Patrick Vallez-Kelly, director of the the archdiocesan Office of Worship.

Cardinal George on the Motu Proprio

"We are somewhere else now."
John Allen Jr. of NCR has a wide ranging interview with Cardinal George of Chicago. In it, Allen asks the Cardinal about the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum. I have excerpted those questions and answers here with my emphases and [comments].

Will the Pope celebrate a Traditional Mass on December 2?

Will the Pope celebrate a Traditional Mass on December 2?

Rorate Caeli has a translation of a story from Corriere della Sera, reported today.
The heart of the story is "After the arrival of the new cerimoniere, it is "probable" that the Pope will celebrate a Mass in the old rite, in Saint Peter's, obviously entirely in Latin: it could take place on December 2, First Sunday in Advent. "

Bishop to Pope: Take a Flying Leap!

This is the most unbelievable thing I have seen! This Bishop is in open defiance of the Pope, Summorum Pontificum, and blatantly ridicules the Extraordinary form!
HT to Amy Welborn
Source

Caserta bishop prohibits traditional Mass -
Parish priest obeys but says he disagrees
By Angelo Agrippa
Corriere del Mezzogiorno

NAPLES - He is known as the bishop of tolerance. Of immigrants. Of deprived persons. He has opened diocesan structures for Muslims to say their Friday prayers, and Ukrainian/Moldavian Orthodox to use for their worship.

But now he has prohibited the celebration of the 1962 Mass restored as of September 14 by Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.

With a telephone call, Mons. Raffaele Nogaro ordered the rector of the Shrine of Sant'Anna in Caserta, Don Giovanni Battista Gionti, to stop the Mass he was planning to celebrate at 8 p.m. today.

"This case has nothing to do with tolerance," Nogaro said later.

"The Mass in Latin is a distortion of religious fact. Not even university professors who teach Latin pray in Latin. It is not an appropriate instrument for establishing a true relationship with God. To help people to pray is an honorable effort. That is what I try to do in allowing the Tent of Abraham to be used by Muslims and the chapel next to the Cathedral, to be used by the Orthodox.

"But to assail the faithful with sacred images, theatrical choreography and esthetic embellishments does the opposite. The faithful should be offered something valid and educational, not an occasion for disorientation. In short, murmuring prayers in Latin is good for nothing."

Strong words. A clear dissociation from Pope Benedict XVI's decree regarding the traditional Mass.

"The authority for the theological, liturgical and moral correctness of a diocese is the bishop," Nogaro continued, "even if the Pope has decreed an opening in favor of other rites. I am the only bishop in Campania who has asserted this so far to control the application of the Papal decree.

"Besides, the request of 30-40 persons is not sufficient in order for the traditional Mass to be celebrated. The parish priest is obliged to report it to his bishop. And I was never informed."

In his sacristy, Don Gionti is surrounded by many of those who had requested him for the traditional Mass, and is visibly disconcerted: "I will obey the bishop," he said, "even if this loses us the occasion for a liturgical experience that is important for our community, many of whom requested this. I considered it an experiment, certainly not a replacement for the post-Conciliar Mass.

"I think a priest should respond to a request by his congregation. But the bishop has ordered me to suspend the scheduled Mass, telling me that this would create a dangerous precedent. Though I still do not understand what danger he means."

In short, the Caserta case is everything but "Nulla veritas sine traditione" (Nothing is true outside tradition) as the followers of St. Pius V love to quote.

Fr. Louis Demornex, who studied at the Collegio Russium of Rome and has been the traditionalist parish priest of the Aulpi-Corigliani district in Sessa Auruna near Casertano, commented: "The Tridentine rite is not 'democratic' but for more than a millennium, it was the backbone of the Church. By destroying a traditional valid form of teh mass, one is tearing down the Church itself. The Pope knows this and that is why he issued this decree."

Nogaro, while protesting that he did not wish to be involved in any controversy, said further: "(Celebrating the traditional Mass) is like watching a statue passing in procession and simply admiring its artistic beauty. One cannot say that this is an act of faith or an occasion to inspire spirituality. This is what happens if we communicate in a language which no one knows at all, no one uses anymore, no one understands. The practice has nothing to do with the faith and someone must speak out on what the common thinking is about this."

Anyone want to take bets on whether satanic worship would illicit a similar response from the Bishop?

Summorum Pontificum - August 4, 2007

The St. Louis Review asks what's all the hubbub about in No Need for Mass Confusion

Fr Z. Has been busy fisking with Bishop of El Paso reacts to the Motu Proprio and Statement on M.P. by the Bishop of Kalamazoo

And Catholic Culture has a "Dossier on the Motu Proprio of Benedict XVI: Summorum Pontificum cura"

SP Roundup

Fr. Z. on In the UK: a conference for priests on the older form of Mass

Rorate Caeli reminds why it is so important to fix our liturgy. To keep the craziness from spreading. Read 'A Vatican II Moment'

Check out Alphonsus with his take on “Arbitrary Deformations of the Liturgy”

And finally we have
Benedict XVI's liturgical armistice: 'Summorum Pontificum' by Fr Glen Tattersall HT to NLM

Summorum Pontificum - July 14, 2007

News & Commentary

Bishop D'Arcy (of Fort Wayne - South Bend) responds to pope's decree - Asks FSSP fopr help.
Zenit - French Prelate Welcomes "Summorum Pontificum"
Pope Extends Use of the "1962 Missal"-- What Does this Mean? By Helen Hull Hitchcock
Alcuin Reid in The Catholic Herald
WSJ - The Language of Tradition BY RAYMOND ARROYO
The Sky is Not Falling, the Church is awakening!by Deacon Keith A Fournier
CMR- Patrick Archbold - Trautman: Not In My Diocese

Diocesan Statements
Bishop John Wester of the Diocese of Salt Lake City
Statement of the Diocese of Orange, CA

Resource
Summorum Pontificum Contact Database - In an effort to help Catholics who want to see the Traditional Latin Mass in their diocese connect with priests who want to provide the Traditional Latin Mass, LumenGentleman is now hosting a contacts database to help bring people together. The more data we can collect, the more successful this will be, so click here to add your information!

Summorum Pontificum - Round Up

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Documents

Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum - English
Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum - Latin

Letter Accompanying the Motu Proprio - English
Letter Accompanying the Motu Proprio - Spanish
Letter Accompanying the Motu Proprio - Other languages

USCCB Twenty Questions on the Apostolic Letter
Holy See Press Office - Explanatory Note on Motu Proprio

U.S. Diocesan Official Reactions Note: This is work in progress.

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Analysis & Reaction

Added 9-July-07
Rorate Caeli - Interview with Cardinal Castrillón

Added 8-July-07
Fr John Boyle - Summorum Pontificum on the "Roman liturgy prior to the reform of 1970" HT to Fr. Tim Finigan
Rorate Caeli - Axes of Interpretation
Jimmy Akin - Commentary on Summorum Pontificum

7-July-2007

Fr. Z. at WDTPRS
Fr. Z's Analysis of AP coverage

Rorate Caeli - Interview with Bishop Fernando Areas Rifan of the Apostolic Administration of Saint John Mary Vianney in Campos Brazil

NLM - Comments upon the Motu Proprio
NLM - Comments upon the Explanatory Letter

Gerald Augustinus' Cliff Notes on the Apostolic Letter
Gerald Augustinus' Cliff Notes on the Motu Proprio

CWN - Pope broadens access to 1962 Mass
Sandro Magister - Benedict XVI Liberalizes the Ancient Rite of the Mass – And Explains Why
Damian Thompson - The Pope speaks on the Latin Mass

SSPX Reaction in English French
Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest - Press Release

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News Coverage

Added 8-July-2007
NECN - Video - Popes Eases Restictions on Latin Mass
CNN - Video - Return of the Latin Mass
PBS Religion and Ethics

Added 7-July-2007
Chicago Tribune - Will return to Latin have mass appeal?
CNS - Pope relaxes restrictions on use of Tridentine Mass
Reuters - Pope revives old Latin Mass, says fears unfounded
AP -USA Today - Pope frees up use of old Latin Mass
Asia News - Pope: faithful may have “Tridentine” Mass if they wish
BBC - Pope ends Latin Mass restriction

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Note: I will be updating this site continually to provide you with the most up-to-date analysis and coverage. Stay tuned.

Summorum Pontificum - English

APOSTOLIC LETTER
SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
BENEDICT XVI
GIVEN MOTU PROPRIO
__________________

Up to our own times, it has been the constant concern of supreme pontiffs to ensure that the Church of Christ offers a worthy ritual to the Divine Majesty, 'to the praise and glory of His name,' and 'to the benefit of all His Holy Church.'

Since time immemorial it has been necessary - as it is also for the future - to maintain the principle according to which 'each particular Church must concur with the universal Church, not only as regards the doctrine of the faith and the sacramental signs, but also as regards the usages universally accepted by uninterrupted apostolic tradition, which must be observed not only to avoid errors but also to transmit the integrity of the faith, because the Church's law of prayer corresponds to her law of faith.' (1)

Among the pontiffs who showed that requisite concern, particularly outstanding is the name of St. Gregory the Great, who made every effort to ensure that the new peoples of Europe received both the Catholic faith and the treasures of worship and culture that had been accumulated by the Romans in preceding centuries. He commanded that the form of the sacred liturgy as celebrated in Rome (concerning both the Sacrifice of Mass and the Divine Office) be conserved. He took great concern to ensure the dissemination of monks and nuns who, following the Rule of St. Benedict, together with the announcement of the Gospel illustrated with their lives the wise provision of their Rule that 'nothing should be placed before the work of God.' In this way the sacred liturgy, celebrated according to the Roman use, enriched not only the faith and piety but also the culture of many peoples. It is known, in fact, that the Latin liturgy of the Church in its various forms, in each century of the Christian era, has been a spur to the spiritual life of many saints, has reinforced many peoples in the virtue of religion and fecundated their piety.

Many other Roman pontiffs, in the course of the centuries, showed particular solicitude in ensuring that the sacred liturgy accomplished this task more effectively. Outstanding among them is St. Pius V who, sustained by great pastoral zeal and following the exhortations of the Council of Trent, renewed the entire liturgy of the Church, oversaw the publication of liturgical books amended and 'renewed in accordance with the norms of the Fathers,' and provided them for the use of the Latin Church.

One of the liturgical books of the Roman rite is the Roman Missal, which developed in the city of Rome and, with the passing of the centuries, little by little took forms very similar to that it has had in recent times.

'It was towards this same goal that succeeding Roman Pontiffs directed their energies during the subsequent centuries in order to ensure that the rites and liturgical books were brought up to date and when necessary clarified. From the beginning of this century they undertook a more general reform.' (2) Thus our predecessors Clement VIII, Urban VIII, St. Pius X (3), Benedict XV, Pius XII and Blessed John XXIII all played a part.

In more recent times, Vatican Council II expressed a desire that the respectful reverence due to divine worship should be renewed and adapted to the needs of our time. Moved by this desire our predecessor, the Supreme Pontiff Paul VI, approved, in 1970, reformed and partly renewed liturgical books for the Latin Church. These, translated into the various languages of the world, were willingly accepted by bishops, priests and faithful. John Paul II amended the third typical edition of the Roman Missal. Thus Roman pontiffs have operated to ensure that 'this kind of liturgical edifice ... should again appear resplendent for its dignity and harmony.' (4)

But in some regions, no small numbers of faithful adhered and continue to adhere with great love and affection to the earlier liturgical forms. These had so deeply marked their culture and their spirit that in 1984 the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, moved by a concern for the pastoral care of these faithful, with the special indult 'Quattuor abhinc anno," issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship, granted permission to use the Roman Missal published by Blessed John XXIII in the year 1962. Later, in the year 1988, John Paul II with the Apostolic Letter given as Motu Proprio, 'Ecclesia Dei,' exhorted bishops to make generous use of this power in favor of all the faithful who so desired.

Following the insistent prayers of these faithful, long deliberated upon by our predecessor John Paul II, and after having listened to the views of the Cardinal Fathers of the Consistory of 22 March 2006, having reflected deeply upon all aspects of the question, invoked the Holy Spirit and trusting in the help of God, with these Apostolic Letters we establish the following:

Art 1. The Roman Missal promulgated by Paul VI is the ordinary expression of the 'Lex orandi' (Law of prayer) of the Catholic Church of the Latin rite. Nonetheless, the Roman Missal promulgated by St. Pius V and reissued by Bl. John XXIII is to be considered as an extraordinary expression of that same 'Lex orandi,' and must be given due honour for its venerable and ancient usage. These two expressions of the Church's Lex orandi will in no any way lead to a division in the Church's 'Lex credendi' (Law of belief). They are, in fact two usages of the one Roman rite.

It is, therefore, permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church. The conditions for the use of this Missal as laid down by earlier documents 'Quattuor abhinc annis' and 'Ecclesia Dei,' are substituted as follows:

Art. 2. In Masses celebrated without the people, each Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular, may use the Roman Missal published by Bl. Pope John XXIII in 1962, or the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970, and may do so on any day with the exception of the Easter Triduum. For such celebrations, with either one Missal or the other, the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his Ordinary.

Art. 3. Communities of Institutes of consecrated life and of Societies of apostolic life, of either pontifical or diocesan right, wishing to celebrate Mass in accordance with the edition of the Roman Missal promulgated in 1962, for conventual or "community" celebration in their oratories, may do so. If an individual community or an entire Institute or Society wishes to undertake such celebrations often, habitually or permanently, the decision must be taken by the Superiors Major, in accordance with the law and following their own specific decrees and statues.

Art. 4. Celebrations of Mass as mentioned above in art. 2 may - observing all the norms of law - also be attended by faithful who, of their own free will, ask to be admitted.

Art. 5. õ 1 In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willingly accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962, and ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonises with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the guidance of the bishop in accordance with canon 392, avoiding discord and favouring the unity of the whole Church. õ 2 Celebration in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII may take place on working days; while on Sundays and feast days one such celebration may also be held. õ 3 For faithful and priests who request it, the pastor should also allow celebrations in this extraordinary form for special circumstances such as marriages, funerals or occasional celebrations, e.g. pilgrimages. õ 4 Priests who use the Missal of Bl. John XXIII must be qualified to do so and not juridically impeded. õ 5 In churches that are not parish or conventual churches, it is the duty of the Rector of the church to grant the above permission.

Art. 6. In Masses celebrated in the presence of the people in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII, the readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognised by the Apostolic See.

Art. 7. If a group of lay faithful, as mentioned in art. 5 õ 1, has not obtained satisfaction to their requests from the pastor, they should inform the diocesan bishop. The bishop is strongly requested to satisfy their wishes. If he cannot arrange for such celebration to take place, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei".

Art. 8. A bishop who, desirous of satisfying such requests, but who for various reasons is unable to do so, may refer the problem to the Commission "Ecclesia Dei" to obtain counsel and assistance.

Art. 9. õ 1 The pastor, having attentively examined all aspects, may also grant permission to use the earlier ritual for the administration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Penance, and the Anointing of the Sick, if the good of souls would seem to require it. õ 2 Ordinaries are given the right to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation using the earlier Roman Pontifical, if the good of souls would seem to require it. õ 2 Clerics ordained "in sacris constitutis" may use the Roman Breviary promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962.

Art. 10. The ordinary of a particular place, if he feels it appropriate, may erect a personal parish in accordance with can. 518 for celebrations following the ancient form of the Roman rite, or appoint a chaplain, while observing all the norms of law.

Art. 11. The Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", erected by John Paul II in 1988 (5), continues to exercise its function. Said Commission will have the form, duties and norms that the Roman Pontiff wishes to assign it.

Art. 12. This Commission, apart from the powers it enjoys, will exercise the authority of the Holy See, supervising the observance and application of these dispositions.

We order that everything We have established with these Apostolic Letters issued as Motu Proprio be considered as "established and decreed", and to be observed from 14 September of this year, Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, whatever there may be to the contrary.

From Rome, at St. Peter's, 7 July 2007, third year of Our Pontificate.
BENEDICT XVI

" (1) General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 3rd ed., 2002, no. 397. (2) John Paul II, Apostolic Letter "Vicesimus quintus annus," 4 December 1988, 3: AAS 81 (1989), 899.

(3) Ibid. (4) St. Pius X, Apostolic Letter Motu propio data, "Abhinc duos annos," 23 October 1913: AAS 5 (1913), 449-450; cf John Paul II, Apostolic Letter "Vicesimus quintus annus," no. 3: AAS 81 (1989), 899. (5) Cf John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Motu proprio data "Ecclesia Dei," 2 July 1988, 6: AAS 80 (1988), 1498.


[Source]

Holy See Press Office

NOTICE TO JOURNALISTS: Publication of the Motu Proprio "SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM"

Journalists are informed that tomorrow, Saturday, July 7, 2007, the Apostolic Letter of His Holiness Benedict XVI "given Motu Proprio" SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, on the use of the Roman Liturgy prior to the reform of 1970, will be made public.

The Document will be accompanied by an explanatory Letter of the Holy Father.

(Both texts will be available to journalists from 9.00 [Rome], under embargo until 12 [noon] of the same day.)

HT to Rorate Caeli

Summorum Pontificum

From Rorate Caeli courtesty of I.Media:

Vatican - Agency I.MEDIA - July 4 2007

The Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum" for the liberalization of the Mass according to the Missal of 1962 will be published on July 7

The Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio which Benedict readies to publish in order to liberalize the use of the Mass and liturgical books according to the pre-Conciliar rite of 1962 will receive the name of "Summorum Pontificum", I.MEDIA has learned from Vatican sources. This document, greatly expected by the Traditionalist faithful and feared by a certain number of Bishops, will be published on July 7.

Summorum Pontificum (in [English], "...of the Supreme Pontiffs") is the incipit (beginning of the text) of the Motu Proprio of Benedict XVI liberalizing the use of the Mass said of "Saint Pius V", I.MEDIA has learned from Vatican sources. This Apostolic Letter which will be made public next July 7. The document will be accompanied by a long letter by the Pope explaining his motivations for this publication of which certain Bishops, particularly in France, disapprove [lit. "take a dim view"].