(Telegraph) - Good news from Rome: the Vatican has further underlined the freedom of priests to celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form whenever they choose. Two important points have been clarified by Ecclesia Dei, which will make it more difficult for the English, Welsh and above all Scottish bishops to stall the implementation of Summorum Pontificum:THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Rome has spoken again. While rebel priests and bishops from all over the western world seek new ways to twist canon law and thwart the pope's will, the Vatican has now ruled the following. Any Roman Rite Catholic priest may celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass (Tridentine mass, Extraordinary Form or Usus Antiquior) or "Ancient Use" at any time, whenever he wants, for any reason, or no particular reason at all. It can be done privately (with or without guests), or publicly, and it may replace any ordinary mass at any time. The one and only requirement is that the priest be competent to celebrate it, and there are many means through which a priest may attain competency, either through training videos or short workshops.
1. A priest does NOT have to be approached by a “stable group” of the faithful in order to schedule a PUBLIC celebration of the Extraordinary Form – he may choose to do so, for example, in order to introduce his parishioners to this ancient form of the Roman Rite. Or because it’s his aunt’s birthday. Any reason, really.
2. A Mass in the Extraordinary Form may replace a regularly scheduled Mass in the Ordinary Form.
You can find more details of the Ecclesia Dei ruling here, on the excellent New Liturgical Movement blog....
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Pope Benedict XVI has effectively given the Usus Antiquior ("Ancient Use") just as much freedom in the modern Church as the ordinary modern mass. This freedom will prove essential to younger priests, just coming out of the seminaries, who tend to be more traditional in their liturgical practices, and will immediately be confronted by retro-1970s priests serving as rectors, chancellors and bishops. The retro-1970s clergy tend to express an open hostility toward the Usus Antiquior and/or anything having to do with traditional liturgical practices. For years now, young priests have found themselves immediately immersed in a culture of intimidation if they should display any traditional tendencies in diocesan parishes. "When you're fresh out of the seminary, and trying to please your superiors, there is tremendous pressure to just go along with the flow and maintain the status quo" said one newly ordained priest to 'The Catholic Knight' under condition of anonymity.
That "pressure" may still be there, but the "power" of these retro-1970s throwbacks to do any harm has now been significantly diminished. Young priests, fresh out of the seminaries, can now offer the Usus Antiquior whenever they want, and while they may incur the frowns and glares of their superiors, there is nothing they can lawfully do to stop them anymore. This most recent act by the Vatican signifies that the retro-1970s post-conciliar neopriests are now finally being put out to pasture.
7 comments; post here:
to answer your rhetorical question, Sir Knight: anywhere, anytime they damn well please! When I posted this same article, i got feedback liek "but our bishops says "we arent ready yet" or "only the elderly want it" etc. It's mostly just piles of the same substance one finds in cattle fields. The REAL reason is they just plain dont want it, and hate it. I told my posters that they should RUN not walk to their phone and call the Papal Nunciature and/or Ecclesia Dei. You may have heard, Mr Knight, that the archdiocese of Chicago (along with mine) haave started seminary courses on how to learn/say the EF with priests and seminarians signing up in DROVES. As you said, the 70s holdouts and throwbacks know that their game is up. I eagerly await Bishop Trautperson's retirement next year. Pete Frey
another thought Mr Knight: in the church where i go for the EF, the pastor is in his 30s, and several other priest qqunitances of mine who also regularly say the EF are all in their late 20s, just a yer or two out of seminary. Imagine what will happen in 5 years when more such guys pour out of the seminary and begin filling pastorhips. "Novus ordo??? what's that?" As a friend of mine says "the novus ordo is on life support" Pete Frey
What is wrong with these bishops??? Why would they discourage the EF? They shouldn't be bishops in the first place if they are going to act like children and throw a fit when they don't get their way. They've done enough obfuscating. Their little compulsory statements mean absolutely nothing in light of the words of the Pope. Truthfully, I'm sure a lot less people would be flocking to the EF if the bishops did their job for once and made sure the OF was celebrated properly and reverently within their diocese. Another thing, priests: what ever happened to the incense? I only saw it one time last year in my parish. It wasn't even their for Christmas or Easter for crying out loud!!!
I feel that latin mass should not be done unless the church wants to invest in teaching latin. Its hard for me to support the priests that want to do this when there are so few that understand latin. If I didn't know better I'd think that the reason for doing the latin mass is not for tradition but for obedience because only a few understand it. Worship doesn't mean much if you don't understand it. At a minimum the missel needs to have both latin and english for those that don't know latin.
To anonymous: based on you question I am assuming that you have never looked at a 1962 Missal. You are in luck because it is setup so that there is an English translation to the Latin on the next page so you can follow very easy. Also the Latin is very easy to learn, it doesn't change. So it won't be long, presuming you take the time to study on your part, as any good Catholic should do. The responses are very easy to remember and you will be proficent in no time. True it is hard and confusing at first, but with time you will get it. Just like learning to Pray the Rosary. So have no fear, our ancestors have done it for thousands of years!
I wish I had more access to the EF where I am. It seems so much more reverent and meaningful. The first one I went to was very confusing because we didn't know what was going on, but the experience definately made me yearn for more tradition.
Anonymous are you truly Catholic, or even Christian for that matter. You sound very angry in your religious beliefs and comments.
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