What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

With the sun going west on its way to bed, the light in the Sabine chapel is beautiful right now.  You can see it on the Z-Cam, but it won’t last long.

FYI: On the altar are glorious peonies, incredibly fragrant.  No wonder the Chinese love them.  The relics present are St. Augustine, St. Monnica, St. Ambrose and St. Philip Neri. 

Over at Petrus (coincidently the name of a very good Bordeaux) there is a report by Bruno Volpe that the Holy Father will publish the Motu Proprio before he leaves the Apostolic Palace in Rome for his summer break in favor of the residence at Castelgandolfo in the castelli romani.

Here are the main points in the piece, which I have in Italian below (with my emphases).

• The document is ready and signed.
• It is being translated.
• It will be issued before the Pope’s summer break.
• There is a long explanatory letter from the Pope, of a theological nature to the bishops of the world to help the MP’s reception.
• There will be a press conference with Cardinals Arinze (CDWDS), Castrillon Hoyos (P.Comm. Ecclesia Dei) and Herranz (PC Leg. Texts – retired).
• The delay resulted from strong opposition of bishops conferences.
• A friend of the Pope, Msgr. Nicholas Bux (a well-known author I respect on traditional matters), says it is a matter of days.

I would have expected at the press conference the present President of PC Legislative Texts, H.E. Archbp. Francesco Coccopalmerio, but who knows.  

Esclusivo: firmato dal Papa il "Motu Proprio", imminente la liberalizzazione della Messa in latino

di Bruno Volpe

Il “Motu Proprio” papale per la liberalizzazione della Messa in latino secondo il rito tridentino di San Pio V è pronto, sta per essere tradotto in diverse lingue e sarà pubbblicato poco prima della partenza di Benedetto XVI per le vacanze estive. Il testo è stato già firmato dal Pontefice, che ha anche redatto una lunga carta esplicativa, di carattere teologico, "indirizzata a tutti i vescovi del mondo", così come si può leggere nell’introduzione, "perché possano accogliere con serenità e pazienza questo documento". Il Papa chiede quindi ai vescovi, al clero e ai fedeli un clima sereno nell’accettare il “Motu Proprio”, che sarà presentato con una conferenza stampa dai Cardinali Francis Arinze, Dario Castrillon Hoyos e Julian Herranz. Il ritardo nella pubblicazione del documento pare si debba a forti resistenze in alcuni settori del clero (specialmente da parte della Conferenza episcopale francese). Il teologo e collaboratore della Congregazione per la Dottrina della fede, Monsignor Nicola Bux (amico personale del Santo Padre), afferma: "Potete scriverlo tranquillamente, il Papa Benedetto XVI ama la concertazione e la collaborazione e non vuol decidere tutto da solo, per questo ha ascoltato vari e ripetuti pareri, ma il Motu Proprio per la liberalizzazione della Messa in latino è stato firmato ed è imminente la sua pubblicazione, direi che è questione di giorni". ... 

There was more, but that is the business end of the piece. 

The comments of Msgr. Bux are interesting.  He explains that the Pope likes both a tussle and collaboration.  He doesn’t want to decide everything on his own.  For this reason he listened to various points of view.  Still, the MP is signed and will come out "in a matter of days".

KATH.NET reports that Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, the official spokesman for the Holy See, says that the Motu Proprio should be out "this year".

P. Federico Lombardi, der Pressesprecher des Vatikans, bestätigte am Mittwoch gegenüber KATH.NET, dass der Papst das Schreiben noch in diesem Jahr veröffentlichen wird.

Wien (www.kath.net)
Vatikansprecher P. Federico Lombardi hat am Mittwoch in Wien im Gespräch mit KATH.NET bestätigt, dass das Motu proprio zur „Alten Messe“ durch Papst Benedikt auf jeden Fall kommen wird. Angesprochen auf die Frage des Termins meinte Lombardi, der genaue Zeitpunkt sei noch nicht bekannt; die Veröffentlichung sei jedoch für dieses Jahr zu erwarten.

Über die Veröffentlichung des Schreibens gibt es seit Monaten Spekulationen. In den letzten Wochen haben bereits hochrangige Kardinäle des Vatikans bestätigt, dass ein Motu proprio kommen wird. Darin soll festgehalten werden, dass jeder Priester die Heilige Messe auch im tridentinischen Ritus feiern darf.

Meanwhile, on STLToday.com, a news instrument in St. Louis, MO, where the Institute of Christ the King is about to have their ordinations, we find this tidbit:

 

Vatican watchers say the decree could be released July 14, the date, in 1570, when Pope Pius V published the liturgical text that would be used to celebrate Mass for the next 400 years — until the reforms of Vatican II.

Let’s just say this.  I am a Vatican watcher.  I know Vatican watchers. No Vatican watcher I know is saying that. 

At the same time, if thing doesn’t come out by the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, we might as well drink the Veuve we have chilling now and then buy another bottle sometime at the beginning of September and start the clock again.