Luminous
A Catholic Woman and Her Thoughts on Life, the Universe, and Everything
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Various reactions to the Pope's Motu Proprio
Various reactions to the Pope's Motu Proprio
 
Dominic Bettenilli's done most of the work for me, summarizing various reactions to the Pope's Motu Proprio which clarified use of the 1962 Missal, authorized by Pope John XXIII. (It clearly stated, for one thing, that this Missal had never been banned or fallen out of use.)
 
 
Then we have the "ubiquitous Father Reese",  (who apparently didn't appreciate the Pope's action) - superbly anecdoted here on Free Republic:
 
 
In Boston, Fr. Lombardi, who writes for The Pilot, seems to understand what Pope Benedict is getting at: http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=4918
 
And here, Cindy Wooden, also writing from Boston, writes regarding the European reaction: "bishops in Europe stressed the pope's hope to promote greater unity within the church..." http://www.thebostonpilot.com/articleprint.asp?id=4919
 
Overall, it seems to me, that the world-wide reaction to the Pope's Motu Proprio has been favorable, with the biggest complaints coming from the most "liberal" corners. It's odd, but not unexpected. I wrote my parish priest, sending him copies of both the text of the Motu Proprio, and the Pope's letter, and his response was that he hadn't spoken Latin in years, and he hoped it wouldn't cause any "confusion" for the faithful. Huh?  
 
The norms are due to take effect on September 14th, 2007:
 
  1. The current Roman Missal, published after the Second Vatican Council, continues to be the "ordinary" form for celebrations of Mass in the Latin-rite Church. The 1962 missal is now simply considered the "extraordinary" form of the Mass.
  2. In Masses celebrated privately any priest may use the 1962 Missal on any day, except  during the Easter triduum, indlucing weekdays, Sundays, and on feast days. He does not require any  special permission to do this.
  3. If members of the public wish to be admitted to such Masses, it is permitted.
  4. In parishes where a group of the faithful who are attached to "the previous liturgical tradition" exists in a stable fashion, the pastor must willingly accede to their requests for the celebration of the holy Mass according to the rite of the Missal of 1962, "avoiding discord, and fostering unity of the whole church". If their request does not obtain what they request from their pastor, they should inform their bishop, and he is "earnestly requested to grant their desire". If he cannot provide for this kind of celebration, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission, "Ecclesia Dei", at the Vatican.
  5. These Masses may also take place in "particular circumstances" such as weddings, funerals, or occasional celebrations, other than pilgrimages.
  6. The priests using this missal must be "worthy and not impeded by law"
  7. A pastor may also grant permission to use this rite for the rituals of baptism, matrimony, penance, anointing of the sick, "as the good of souls may suggest", and bishops are granted the falculty to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation using the rite "as the good of souls may suggest", and priests may even use the Roman Breviary of 1962, if they so desire.
  8. If the bishop judges it necessary, he may erect a "personal parish" for celebrations according to this rite, or he may appoint a rector or chaplain to perform this rite (presumably at the diocean cathedral).  [Can. 518 As a general rule a parish is to be territorial, that is, one which includes all the Christian faithful of a certain territory. When it is expedient, however, personal parishes are to be established determined by reason of the rite, language, or nationality of the Christian faithful of some territory, or even for some other reason.]
  9. Readings using the Missal of 1962 can be proclaimed using the vernacular, using editions that have received the "recognitio" of the Vatican. [This means that while the prayers would be in Latin, the Mass Readings from the 3-year cycle of readings, that is common world-wide,  could be used, and read in the vernacular language, such as English, or Spanish, etc.]
  10. The Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei," erected in 1988 by John Paul II continues to carry out its usual function. The same commission, in addition to the faculties it already enjoys, will exercise the authority of the Holy See by maintaining vigilance over the observance and application of these dispositions.
  11. The Pope invites the bishops of the world to send an account of their experiences to the Holy See in 3 years, and if any "truly serious difficulties come to light, ways to remedy them can be sought."

Written at 2:16 AM by Luminaria2112.
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