SP Update

Definitive text of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum published

Gianni Cardinale reports in today's issue of the semi-official daily of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Avvenire (transcript), that the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum has been finally published in the official gazette of the Holy See, the Acta Apostolicae Sedis (dated September 7, 2007, and including the official acts of the preceding months), with the following changes:

• A subtitle was given to the motu proprio: «De uso extraordinario antiquae formae Ritus Romani» ("On the extraordinary use of the ancient form of the Roman Rite");


• In article 1, the word «conditiones» was replaced with the more correct form «condiciones», with no change in meaning ("conditions");


• In article 3, the word «plerumque» was replaced with «habitualiter» (our translation remains "habitually");


• In article 5, § 1, «continenter» was replaced with «stabiliter», avoiding the notion that the group of faithful would have to be continuous in a certain parish - it only has to exist in a stable, but not necessarily in a permanent and continuous fashion;


• In article 7, «non potest» ("cannot")was replaced with «non vult» ("does not want to"): «Art. 7 If a group of lay faithful, as mentioned in art. 5 § 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 does not want to arrange for such celebration to take place, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”.»

More from the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei

We wish to acknowledge receipt of your lcttcr of 7 November 2007 addressed to His Eminence Cardinal Dzirio Castrillôn Hoyos and beg your indulgence for not having managed to respond sooner due to the volume of mal which we have received since the promulgation of the Motu Propilo Suummorum Pontificum and the many matters which have required our immediate attention. We will respond to your questions in the order in which you have raised them, pointing out at the same time that we are expecting the publication of an instruction on the application of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum sometime in the relatively near future and this should deal in more detail with some of the questions which you raise.

It is too difficult to make categorical statements about whether every parish. where there is interest, should provide the extraordinary form of the Mass on a weekly basis. There are many variants involved including the number of the faithful, the availability of’ priests etc. This matter would have to be considered from many practical perspectives.

The Motu Proprio itself does not speak specifically of college and university chaplaincies. but in article 5, 5 it states quae non sunt nec paroeciales nec conventuales Rectoris ecclesiae est concedere licentiam de qua supra. This is understood as referring also to college or university chaplains.

The correct word, that which is contained in the Motu Proprio signed by the Holy Father is stabiliter and the instruction should deal specifically with its correct interpretation.

With prayerful best wishes I remain
Since y yours in Christ,
Rev. Msgr Camille Perl
Secretary

Via Fr. John Zuhlsodorf