Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has written to the Catholic Bishops of the world to present his new Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, made public on 7 July 2007 with regard to the Roman Liturgy. The Pope says in the Letter that “with great faith and hope ” he places the new document “fruit of much reflection, numerous consultations and prayer” in the hands of the Bishops. His Letter intends to dispel confusion caused by “news reports and judgements made without sufficient information” which provoked very divergent reactions ranging from "joyful acceptance to harsh opposition". In the Letter the Pope addresses to 'directly opposed fears' with regard to the new Motu Proprio.
“In the first place, there is the fear that the document detracts from the authority of the Second Vatican Council, one of whose essential decisions - the liturgical reform - is being called into question. This fear is unfounded. In this regard, it must first be said that the Missal published by Paul VI and then republished in two subsequent editions by John Paul II, obviously is and continues to be the normal Form - the Forma ordinaria - of the Eucharistic Liturgy. The last version of the Missale Romanum prior to the Council, which was published with the authority of Pope John XXIII in 1962 and used during the Council, will now be able to be used as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgical celebration. It is not appropriate to speak of these two versions of the Roman Missal as if they were “two Rites”. Rather, it is a matter of a twofold use of one and the same rite.” The Pope explains that the 1962 Missal “was never juridically abrogated and, consequently, in principle, was always permitted”.
“In the second place, the fear was expressed in discussions about the awaited Motu Proprio, that the possibility of a wider use of the 1962 Missal would lead to disarray or even divisions within parish communities. This fear also strikes me as quite unfounded. The use of the old Missal presupposes a certain degree of liturgical formation and some knowledge of the Latin language; neither of these is found very often. Already from these concrete presuppositions, it is clearly seen that the new Missal will certainly remain the ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, not only on account of the juridical norms, but also because of the actual situation of the communities of the faithful.”
Benedict XVI writes that he decided to issue this new Motu Proprio to update that of 1988 in view of “coming to an interior reconciliation in the heart of the Church”. A glance at the past imposes an obligation today: “to make every effort to unable for all those who truly desire unity to remain in that unity or to attain it anew… There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behoves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place. Needless to say, in order to experience full communion, the priests of the communities adhering to the former usage cannot, as a matter of principle, exclude celebrating according to the new books. The total exclusion of the new rite would not in fact be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness”.
The Pope reassures his Brother Bishops that in no way does the new document lessen their own authority and responsibility: "nothing is taken away, then, from the authority of the Bishop, whose role remains that of being watchful that all is done in peace and serenity". Each Bishop is the “moderator of the liturgy in his own Diocese ”. This is why the Pope asks the Bishops to send to the Holy See an account of their experiences, "three years after this Motu Proprio has taken effect. If truly serious difficulties come to light, ways to remedy them can be sought”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/7/2007: righe 47, parole 660)
