Decree in Motu proprioPope Francis announced today that he has decided to tighten the use of the messala before Vatican Council II, that is, there are restrictions on holding the Mass according to the “Old Rite”.
In 2007, Benedict XVI presented a document in which he facilitated the celebration of the Mass in Latin, and in a letter explained that the Messalas issued by the Second Vatican Council “is and remains a ‘normal’ form of liturgy and that the Trident is ‘extraordinary’.
In addition, he then explained that the Latin mass, in accordance with the Tridentine ritual, was never suspended by law and was always permitted, and that during these years many people and movements, such as Archbishop Lefebvre, remained associated with the cult, hence the need for greater regulation, it is clear even to achieve “internal reconciliation in the church.”
Francis is now limiting celebrations in Latin by submitting a 2020 questionnaire to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to find out how the masses view Pope Benedict XVI’s document. Confirming that the answers he received worried him, he decided to intervene.
“This is evident for all the reasons that prompted Saints John Paul II and Benedict XVI to provide the possibility of using the Roman Missal promulgated by Saint Pius V and published by John XXIII in 1962 to perform the Eucharistic sacrifice. . John Paul II in Motu proprio Ecclesia Dei 1988 was motivated primarily by the desire to support the re-creation of the schism by the movement led by Archbishop Lefebvre. The request addressed to the bishops to generously accept the “just aspirations” of the believers who asked for the use of this Missal, therefore had an ecclesiastical reason for restoring the unity of the Church, ”began with the mention of Francis, who later justified the reason for your current decision.
“Unfortunately, the pastoral intention of my predecessors, who intended to ‘make every effort so that all those who truly desire unity, can remain in this unity or rediscover it,’ was often seriously ignored,” he explained.
Thus, according to the Pope, “the opportunity, offered by St. John Paul II and with the even greater generosity of Benedict XVI, to restore the unity of the church body in various liturgical feelings, served to increase distances, enhance differences, and create contrasts. which damage the Church and impede its progress, putting it at risk of division. “
Francisco also mentioned that he “was equally grieved at the abuse on the one hand and on the other in the celebration of the liturgy.” As for the liturgy after the Council, the pontiff recalled the words of the Honorary Pope. “Like Benedict XVI, I also believe that” in many places the prescriptions of the new Missal are not honestly followed, but are even understood as a permission or even a duty of creativity, which often leads to distortions to the point that it is tolerable. “
Regarding the Old Rite, Francis said that he was “saddened by the instrumental use of the Missale Romanum of 1962, which is increasingly characterized by a growing rejection not only of liturgical reform, but also of the Second Vatican Council, with the unfounded and untenable claim that Tradition and the“ true Church “”, – he stressed.
“If it is true that the path of the Church is to be understood in the dynamism of Tradition,“ which is born of the Apostles and progresses in the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit, ”Vatican II represents the most important stage. about this dynamism recently, when the Catholic episcopate listened to discern the path that the Spirit indicated to the Church, “he pointed out, stressing that” to doubt the Council means to doubt the Fathers’ own intentions (…) and, ultimately, to doubt in the very Holy Spirit who leads the Church. “
Pope Francis also explained that the unity of the Church is at stake. “It is to protect the unity of the Body of Christ that I am compelled to deprive me of the right granted by my predecessors. Their distorted use contradicts the reasons that prompted them to grant freedom to celebrate Mass with the Missale Romanum. 1962 As“ liturgical celebrations are not private events, but church holidays which are the sacrament of unity, “they must be carried out in communion with the church,” it says.
What has changed with this decision of Pope Francis?
By this, Pope Francis determines that the responsible diocese has “exclusive competence to authorize the use of the Missale Romanum of 1962”, following the instructions of the Apostolic See. Thus, given that the Old Rite is used in different places, each bishop must ensure that groups already celebrating with the old missal do not rule out the validity and legitimacy of liturgical reform, the directives of the Second Vatican Council and the Magisterium of the Supreme Pontiffs.
On the other hand, “old rite” masses should not be held in parish churches, where each bishop must designate the church in question and the days of the celebration. In such cases, the readings must be proclaimed “in the local language” using translations approved by episcopal conferences, and the person celebrating the feast must be a priest delegated by the bishop.
Also, the diocesan bishop should check the feasibility of celebrating in accordance with the old missal, in accordance with the criterion of “usefulness for spiritual growth.” However, you need to “be careful not to give permission to create new groups.”
It should be remembered, however, that these rules apply to diocesan priests, as members of religious orders, including those using exclusively the Old Rite, come under the direct jurisdiction of the Holy See and its congregations for worship and worship. Institutions of a consecrated life.