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

Yes, we have talked about Chillin’ the Veuve around here for a long time.  Other people out there are celebrating in other ways.  Some formally and liturgically, some less liturgically.  All joyfully.

Here is one e-mail I got.   My Finnish is as strong as my Turkish and my Basque, but our friend translated it for us:

http://gregorii.wordpress.com/2007/07/07/motu-party/

Rev. Fr. Z.,

here is a link to my blog in Finnish about Catholic Liturgy… this one article is telling how my family celebrated the motu: by eating Finnish caviar with toast and new potatoes and smetana (Russian sour cream) and onion AND having a bottle of Veuve, of course—it seemed like a universal thing to do for this reason.

Best, prayerful greetings,

MT

The vaticanista Luigi Accattoli, who writes for the NYT of Italy, Corriere della sera, has interesting comments about the way the two big recent documents were released, the Motu Proprio and the Letter to Chinese Catholics.  This is worth a scan.  You decide.  My translation:

The Vatican and Weekend Diplomacy



Two important documents of Pope Benedict – perhaps the most importance for "governance", among the many he has sighed until today – came out on a Saturday and were not presented with the ritual press conference: last Saturday the Letter to Chinese Catholics and today the "Motu Proprio" on the Tridentine Mass.  Though I don’t want to scrape up big meanings from little signs, as an old accredited vet of the Vatican Press Office I remember that the directors always took care not to publish important documents on Saturday they would not be lost in the weekend media desert, which in Italy we don’t experience so much, but which is nearly total in Germany, Great Britain, North America and the vast share of the world.  Another precaution was always to encourage media attention with a presentation entrusted to the major figures responsible for the document, who offered themselves for journalist’s questions.  The intention to lessen media impact for these two cases, today’s and last Saturday’s, is evident.  They had to be afraid that a good global echo from the Letter to the Chinese would drive Beijing to a precipitous negative response.  For the liturgy they thought that it was best not to give support to the excessive expectation that the controversy over the issue had already fired up in France and America.  A strategy of lowering the bar of perceptions was adopted – with another solution – in 2003 for the publication of a document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith entitled "Considerations regarding proposals to give legal recognition to unions between homosexual persons": instead of Saturday, that text was given to the media on 31 July which is perhaps, in Europe, the one day of the year with the least media vigilance there is.  It was given without a press conference, of course.

Il Vaticano e la diplomazia del weekend



Due importanti documenti di papa Benedetto – forse i più importanti come “governo”, tra quanti ne ha firmati fino a oggi – sono usciti di sabato e non sono stati presentati con la rituale conferenza stampa: sabato scorso la lettera ai cattolici cinesi e oggi il “motu proprio” sulla messa tridentina. Pur non volendo cavare grandi significati da piccoli indizi, da vecchio accreditato della Sala Stampa vaticana ricordo che sempre i suoi responsabili hanno avuto cura di non pubblicare documenti importanti il sabato per non incappare nel deserto mediatico del fine settimana, che in Italia avvertiamo poco ma che è totale in Germania, Gran Bretagna, America del Nord e vastamente nel mondo. Altra precauzione è stata sempre quella di incoraggiare l’attenzione dei media con una presentazione affidata ai maggiori responsabili del documento, che si offrivano alle domande dei giornalisti. E’ evidente per i due casi di oggi e di sabato scorso l’intenzione di alleggerire l’impatto mediatico. Devono aver temuto che una buona eco mondiale della lettera ai cinesi costringesse Pechino a una precipitosa risposta negativa. Per la liturgia avranno pensato che era bene non assecondare l’eccesso di attesa che la querelle in materia aveva già acceso in Francia e in America. Una strategia di abbassamento della soglia di percezione era stata adottata – con altra soluzione – nel 2003 per la pubblicazione di un documento della Congregazione per la dottrina intitolato “Considerazioni circa i progetti di riconoscimento legale delle unioni tra persone omosessuali”: invece che di sabato, quel testo fu dato ai media il 31 luglio che è forse – in Europa – il giorno dell’anno con la minore vigilanza mediatica in assoluto. Naturalmente fu dato senza conferenza stampa.

I received this via e-mail from Br. Thomas Augustine:

Dear Father,

Greetings from Still River. Our community will be offering a Te Deum after the 9:15 Sung Mass on Sunday in our Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel. Only the Traditional Latin Mass has been offered there since its completion in 1977. We are not a parish but there will be from 250 to 300 people attending that Mass.  We also have a Mass at 7:30 on Sunday and a daily Mass at 8:30.
http://www.saintbenedict.com God bless you and congratulations.

Br. Thomas Augustine

An APCOM story has Card. Ricard of Bordeaux saying that Summorum Pontificum produces "neither winners nor losers".

Sound familiar?

Other highlights of the interview with Card. Ricard in the French weekly Famille Chretienne. With my interlinear comments.

1. The Pope knew that some people would worry about this.
And he did it anyway. Let us remember that in ancient times, the doctor didn’t stop cutting just because the patient was screaming and begging him to stop. This is for our own good.

2. Not all priests are adequately prepared for this. They lack formation.
Priests are smart. We can learn. I will teach any priest how to say the older Mass and help him with Latin. This is not astrophysics.

3. Books are lacking.
Print new ones? We have the resources of entire conferences of bishops to back this initiative if the spirit of this MP is embraced.

4. Priests will have to prepare two homilies.
How ‘bout… make ‘em a little shorter?

5. The Cardinal is worried that people in general and priests won’t understand why this was done.
Hmmm… tough one. If only someone in a position of authority could speak to people from, say, a pulpit, publish bulletins and articles, speak with the media, hold conferencs and classes. Hmmm… who could do such a thing.

6. The Pope’s motive was reconciliation.
I hope that means also that the opponents of the MP are now reconciled to the idea that it is reality. Seriously, this is not just a matter of arguing and proposing laws. This is a matter of opening hearts. We must work now to open hearts on all sides. This is everyone’s job.

7. The Cardinal is not worried about the authority of bishops being diminished.
I think we all know that this was the real problem in most cases of opposition.

8. Parish priests will bear the brunt of the new work this creates.
What’s new? I hope and pray that lay people will not put their priests in impossible situations. That they will treat the priests well and keep the kvetching to a minimum.

9. This document will create difficulites for the followers of the SSPX
Nothing new there. But the door is open. People of good will will step to the threshold.

CARD.RICARD: MESSA LATINO,TEMO INCOMPRENSIONI SU MOTIVAZIONI
Il presidente dei vescovi francesi: "Né vincitori né perdenti"

Roma, 7 lug. (Apcom) – Dopo la pubblicazione di un Motu proprio che liberalizza la messa in latino, in una intervista concessa a l’agenzia stampa francese ‘I.Media’ e al settimanale francese ‘Famille Chretienne’, il cardinale Jean-Pierre Ricard, presidente della Conferenza episcopale francese, confida la sua "paura che le motivazioni reali del Papa non siano molto comprese", ed esprime le sue inquietudini quanto all’applicazione "pratica" del Motu Proprio. Il porporato afferma però che questo documento pontificio non fa "né vincitori né perdenti".
Il cardianal Ricard ammette che "sul piano pratico" ci potranno essere delle difficoltà nell’applicazione del Motu proprio. "Oggi molti sacerdoti sono spesso sovraccarichi di lavoro", afferma. "Molti di loro non hanno ricevuto la formazione adatta per celebrare secondo l’antico rito. Non sempre hanno i libri liturgici antichi. Senza contare che, poiché le letture non sono le stesse nei due messali, dovranno preparare due omelie".

"Dovremo inoltre gestire le reazioni dell’opinione pubblica in generale e quella dei sacerdoti in particolare", aggiunge il presidente dei vescovi francesi a ‘I.Media’ e ‘Famille chretienne’. "Ho anche paura che le motivazioni reali del Papa non siano ben comprese".

Il cardinal Ricard, che in passato non ha mancato di esprimere le preoccupazioni dei vescovi francesi sull’apertura di Benedetto XVI ai tradizionalisti, spiega così le intenzioni papali: "Il punto che mi tocca di più è la volontà di riconciliazione espressa da Benedetto XVI". Per il porporato "è la preoccupazione fondamentale del Papa. E’ importante che si riconcilino i fedeli cattolici affezionati a posizioni diverse, gli uni alla riforma del Concilio, gli altri alla forma antica del rito romano. Più che alla tolleranza, il Papa fa appello alla comprensione e all’accettazione reciproca degli uni e degli altri. Ha detto ad ognuno che deve fare una parte del cammino. Nella decisione del Papa non ci sono né vincitori né perdenti".

Quanto al ruolo dei vescovi, Ricard afferma: "Non ho alcuna inquietudine quanto alla diminuzione della mia responsabilità per quanto riguarda l’applicazione del Motu proprio". Secondo l’arcivescovo di Bordeaux, peraltro, "toccherà al sacerdote decidere nel caso in cui un gruppo di sensibilità tradizionalista si manifesti nella sua parrocchia. Ma dato il gran carico di lavoro che pesa sulle spalle di molti di loro, penso che sarà più facile trovare soluzioni a livello di diocesi".

Il cardinal Ricard esprime, infine, la sua opinione sui lefebvriani. Il Motu proprio è rivolto a loro? "Non è detto esplicitamente in nessuna parte del testo", risponde il porporato. "Ma in modo più generale, Benedetto XVI pensa anche alla Fraternità san Pio X. Ce l’ha detto a voce (nella riunione con alcuni vescovi che si è svolta in vaticano la settimana scorsa, ndr.). Ma a mio avviso questo Motu proprio creerà loro difficoltà, in particolar modo per tutto ciò che riguarda l’autorità della riforma liturgica che i preti e i fedeli di questa fraternità rifiutano di riconoscere".

The papal spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, rattled off a statement on Vatican Radio about the purpose of Summorum Pontificum. Not a lively reading, but there were some very good points in it.

Here are is a highlight in my translation:

In any case, the Pope wishes that the coexistence of the two forms of the rite will bring both of them not into opposition or exclusion of each other, but that each will mutually enrich the other, on the one hand with a greater depth concerning the sacred nature of the celebration, and on the other with a greater variety and modes of expression of (the rite’s) elements. Also, for those who don’t foresee in any way a change of their own present liturgical use there is however an important message: the liturgy must be celebrated with care and due respect precisely because through it the mystery of God is communicated. If this respect is lacking, not only the individual but the entire Church suffers from it, because abuses are always seeds of division.

The whole text is below. I don’t have the energy to translate it all right now. There are good points, even it Fr. Lombardi seems to be hammering somewhat too much the obvious point that Pope Benedict is not "turning the clock back".

Then again, given the dopey criticisms we have heard long before this happy day arrived, and what we are sure to hear in the future, I suppose we have to repeat it, don’t we:

The Pope isn’t turning back the clock!

Say it with me…

 

 Fr. Lombardi on MP [3:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Il modo migliore per capire bene il significato del nuovo documento è naturalmente leggere con attenzione la lettera del Papa che lo accompagna. Benedetto XVI non intende compiere alcuna rivoluzione rispetto all’odierno uso liturgico rinnovato dal Concilio, che continuerà ad essere seguito dalla stragrande maggioranza dei fedeli; non impone alcun ritorno indietro; non vuole nessun indebolimento dell’autorità del Concilio né dell’autorità e della responsabilità dei Vescovi.

Il Papa intende semplicemente offrire a chi ne sente un motivato e profondo desiderio, una più facile possibilità di celebrare la liturgia secondo la forma del rito romano precedentemente in uso, di farlo serenamente, sentendosi benevolmente accolto e inserito nella grande comunità cattolica. Se nonostante le obiezioni il Papa ha preso questa decisione – dopo lunga riflessione, consultazione e preghiera, come dice egli stesso – in favore di un numero relativamente piccolo di persone, ha certamente dei motivi degni di essere ben compresi. Benedetto XVI ha una visione teologica e spirituale molto profonda della liturgia, e quindi un senso di grandissimo rispetto per quanto viene celebrato: la morte e la risurrezione di Gesù. La liturgia è qualcosa che ci viene donato, non è un nostro prodotto, è la sorgente della nostra vita. L’Eucaristia è il luogo più alto dell’incontro fra Dio e l’uomo.

Il Papa ritiene quindi suo compito e dovere aiutare tutti i fedeli a vivere questo incontro nel modo più degno e consapevole, sia che ciò avvenga con la forma del rito romano rinnovato, sia che – per motivi di formazione, cultura o esperienza personale – per alcuni ciò avvenga più facilmente con la forma più antica del rito. In ogni caso, il Papa si augura che la coesistenza delle due forme del rito porti ambedue non a contrapporsi ed escludersi, ma ad arricchirsi a vicenda, da una parte con un maggior spessore della sacralità della celebrazione, dall’altra con una più ampia varietà ed espressività di elementi. Anche per chi non prevede in alcun modo di cambiare il proprio uso liturgico rispetto all’attuale c’è dunque un importante messaggio: la liturgia va celebrata con cura e rispetto proprio perché attraverso di essa si comunica con il mistero di Dio. Se manca questo rispetto, non è solo il singolo ma la Chiesa intera a soffrirne, perché gli abusi sono sempre seme di divisione.

C’è chi teme che la coesistenza delle due forme del rito possa essere causa di divisione. Il Papa – con ammirevole prudenza, ma con grande fiducia – dice di ritenere che questo timore non sia realmente fondato. Anzi, fa chiaramente capire che la sua intenzione è esattamente l’opposta, cioè “fare tutti gli sforzi, affinché a tutti quelli che hanno veramente il desiderio dell’unità, sia reso possibile di restare in quest’unità o di ritrovarla pienamente”. Benedetto XVI si sente profondamente responsabile dell’unità, e pensa naturalmente a chi si trova oggi ancora in rottura con la comunione ecclesiale, ma pensa anche a chi si trova in tensione all’interno di essa, e invita tutti all’apertura reciproca nell’unità della stessa fede. Ricorda che, come non si possono considerare proibiti o dannosi i libri liturgici più antichi, così nessuno ha il diritto di considerare negativamente quelli rinnovati. Chiunque si volesse quindi appellare al Motu proprio per accendere tensioni invece che per alimentare lo spirito di riconciliazione ne tradirebbe radicalmente lo spirito. Benedetto XVI ci ha spiegato che la corretta lettura del Concilio Vaticano II deve insistere sulla “continuità” piuttosto che sulla “rottura”. Anche la coesistenza delle due forme di un unico rito liturgico si deve interpretare in questa linea. Il nuovo si inserisce vitalmente sul precedente senza rifiutarlo.

Il Papa afferma in modo reciso che il timore che il documento intacchi l’autorità del Concilio è un timore infondato. Anche nella recente esortazione postsinodale Sacramentum caritatis ha ricordato “il benefico influsso che la riforma liturgica attuata a partire dal Concilio ha avuto per la vita della Chiesa”. Del resto, lo vediamo celebrare continuamente solennemente secondo il rito rinnovato. Lo abbiamo visto accogliere e lo abbiamo sentito spiegare egli stesso – possiamo ben dire affascinati – le sagge ed espressive innovazioni dei grandi riti dell’inaugurazione del suo Pontificato. Non abbiamo dunque alcun motivo di temere. Benedetto XVI non ci farà tornare indietro, ma ci conduce in avanti, tenendoci ben inseriti nella continuità del cammino storico della Chiesa. Un andare in avanti che mira anzitutto a progredire – come persone e come comunità – nella profondità dell’incontro con Dio.

If you want a video piece in Italian, go here.

There are zillions of errors in the piece, for example, no distinction about "Latin Mass".

The B role is amusing: it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the topic!  The video is nearly random and entirely irrelevant.  There is a long clip with some Legionaries.  Pointless.

The AP has a piece mentioning yours truly (my emphases and comments):

Pope Relaxes Restrictions for Latin Mass

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY (AP)—Pope Benedict XVI removed restrictions on celebrating the old form of the Latin Mass on Saturday in a concession to traditional Catholics, but he stressed that he was in no way rolling back the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Benedict issued a document authorizing parish priests to celebrate the Tridentine Mass if a "stable group of faithful" [Right! There is no minimum group.] request it. Currently, the local bishop must approve such requests – an obstacle that fans of the rite say has greatly limited its availability.

"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," Benedict wrote.

The Tridentine rite contains a prayer on Good Friday of Easter Week [Oops! Easter Week starts on Easter.] calling for the conversion of Jews, and the Anti-Defamation League criticized Benedict’s decision as "body blow to Catholic Jewish relations," [Oy! This is just their usual tsutcheppenish. Are we convinced they want relations with Catholics? Perhaps with watered-down Catholics but not the real thing. Vorden?] the Jewish news agency JTA reported.

In addition to Jewish concerns, some bishops in France and liberal-minded clergy and faithful elsewhere had expressed concerns that allowing freer use of the Tridentine liturgy would imply a negation of Vatican II, the 1962-65 meetings that modernized the Roman Catholic Church. They also feared it could create divisions in parishes since two different liturgies would be celebrated.

"This fear is unfounded," Benedict wrote in a letter to bishops accompanying the Latin text.

He said the New Mass celebrated in the vernacular that emerged after Vatican II remained the "normal" form of Mass while the Tridentine version was an "extraordinary" one that would probably only be sought by relatively few Catholics.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Benedict was not refuting Vatican II. [But we can say this a zillion times, but will they hear.]

The document, he said, "doesn’t impose any return to the past, it doesn’t mean any weakening of the authority of the council nor the authority and responsibility of bishops."

The decision was an effort to reach out to the followers of an excommunicated ultratraditionalist, the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, [If the writer thinks Archbp. Lefebvre was "ultraconservative", I could introduce her to some real doozies.] who split with the Vatican over the introduction of the New Mass and other Vatican II reforms.

The Vatican excommunicated Lefebvre in 1988 after he consecrated four bishops without Rome’s consent. The bishops were excommunicated as well.

Benedict has been eager to reconcile with Lefebvre’s group, the Society of St. Pius X, which has demanded freer use of the old Mass as a precondition for normalizing relations. The other precondition is the removal of the excommunication decrees.

The current head of the society, Bishop Bernard Fellay, welcomed the document. He said he hoped the "that the favorable climate established by the new dispositions of the Holy See" would eventually allow other doctrinal disputes to be discussed, [Correct.] including ecumenism, religious liberty and the sharing of power with bishops.

Benedict said his overall goal was to unify the church. In the past, he wrote, "at critical moments when divisions were coming about, not enough was done by the church’s leaders [Imagine what might have happened in the 16th c. had more been done in time.] to maintain or regain reconciliation and unity."

The document was sure to be welcomed by traditional Catholics, who remained in good standing with Rome but simply preferred the Tridentine liturgy and have long complained that bishops had been stingy [Excellent word.] in allowing it.

Some elements in the document may fall short of their demands: Benedict said the Biblical readings could be delivered in the vernacular, as opposed to Latin, and suggested that some amendments should be made to the old Mass.

"There will always be some people that will see this as a threat," said the Rev. John Zuhlsdorf, a columnist for the Catholic weekly The Wanderer, who celebrates the old rite as well as the New Mass. [The least substantive comment of those I made by phone, but waddyagonnado. I am happy to talk to the secular media, of course.  Always available. It would be nice to have been slightly better utilized as a resource. Alas, AP writers have editors to answer to. They have to write down rather than up.  Too bad, too, for the writer of the piece is sharp.]

The Official WDTPRS Parody Song Writer, the esteemed Tim Ferguson has been at it again.

As he put it,

“I ruminated a bit more … and came to the realization that, while “La Donna e Mobile” might be readily appreciated and understood by those with an interest in the motu proprio, there’s also a need to reach out to those who might not be so appreciative and who, in general, tend to have different musical tastes.”

So, reaching back to the halcyon days of folk music and came up with a version of the Pete Seeger classic (made famous by the Byrds in 1965) :

Go to the altar (turn, turn, turn)
look to the East now, (turn, turn, turn)
there’s a time for every Mass now, if it’s valid.
The time for banjos and dancing is gone,
dust off the censer, and toss out the bong.
No need for hugging, we all get along
let’s keep our focus together, on Jesus.

Page through the Missal (turn, turn, turn)
remember the rubrics (turn, turn, turn)
there’s a time and a purpose for those words there Pure,
humble rev’rence is what we now lack,
just do the red words and say those in black.
When we say High Mass, there’s no need for crack,
just let your deacon and subdeacon guide you.

Now weed your library, (turn, turn, turn)
use some discernment (turn, turn, turn)
it is time now to brush up on your Latin.
Farewell to Vosko, McBrien, Hans Keung,
deep down you knew that they just peddled deung,
the 60’s are old and the Church is still young
what still subsists is a thing of great beauty.

0707h 07/07/07

Our great friend Fr. Finigan over at The Hermeneutic of Continuity has this celebratory video, which he made. 

After that first entry, let’s get that flag out in front!



Champagne breakfast?  Or wait until later?

Thanks to be to Pope Benedict, who has given back to the Church and the world a great gift. As one friend put it, the world has been made just a little bit safer to live in. This document is about opening hearts and healing. In his explanatory letter Pope Benedict even quotes 2 Cor 6:13: “Widen your hearts!” Read Summorum Pontificum with a wide heart, and no one need fear that rights will be trampled or due authority undermined. The Motu Proprio goes into effect on 14 September. We have time to chew and digest, collect things and make arrangements. We must not jump the gun. But we can make a start. What this Motu Proprio does Effectively it levels the playing field for people who want to use the older liturgical forms. Remember: the MP applies to all the sacraments as they were before the Council, not just Holy Mass. It concerns the liturgy, not just Holy Mass. Thus clerics (bishops, priests, deacons), who are obliged to recite the Liturgy of the Hours can use the older Breviarium Romanum as it was in 1962. Benedict is establishing the older form of liturgy, as in was in 1962, as an extraordinary form (forma extraordinaria). The Novus Ordo of the Roman Missal and all other liturgical books remain the ordinary way of celebrating the liturgy. "Extraordinary", here, does NOT mean "rare" or "unusual" or "special". It simply means "out of the common order". If we turn to how the Church uses Latin in, for example, a pretty good Latinist, St. Jerome, the adverb extraordinarie means "with excessive frequency" (cf. On Ephesians 1 ad. 2, 13). It cannot be argued legitimately from the word "extraordinary" that use of the older forms must necessarily be "rare". It can be quite regular, depending on the circumstances, while in the larger scheme of things the Novus Ordo remains now the usual way things are done. The Motu Proprio responds to THREE GROUPS of people: 1) Followers of the SSPX, for whom this form of Mass is a "mark of identity", even though there are also deeper theological reasons for that break. 2) There are many lay people who also remember the older form of Mass from before the changes. And you don’t have to be to 80 to remember those days. There are people in the 40’s and 50’s who remember living with the old Mass. They have always remained attached to the old Mass or have regained a longing for it. 3) There are those who were neither in a separated group nor remember the pre-Conciliar Mass. These are younger people who have discovered the older form. As a result, it is unacceptable to suggest that these provisions were made merely to accomodate a bunch of nostalgic old foggies who can’t get with the program. The provisions were made with anyone in mind who wants older forms, for any decent reason. People who want to avail of this extraordinary use are not second rate citizens. They may not be treated any longer like the nutty aunt in the attic. There are a few things to dispell.

1. In the explanatory letter the Pope invites bishops, "I invite you, dear Brothers, to send to the Holy See an account of your experiences, three years after this Motu Proprio has taken effect. If truly serious difficulties come to light, ways to remedy them can be sought." This does NOT impose an expiration date. What it does is ask for information about what is going on. If, in light of experience, the provisions need to be changed, they can be changed based on experience. However, I hasten to point out to the whiners who will say this weakens the Motu Proprio, that this invitation is NOT in the Motu Proprio itself. I will remind those who see the glass always as half empty that if the experiences are POSITIVE, the provisions could be adjusted positively. So, in a way, it is up to you. Open hearts. Work together. Save the Liturgy – Save the World, as we say around this blog.
2. The bishops retain authority in their dioceses. Can it be any other way? This is entirely normal, good and proper. However, the Pope has with this Motu Proprio made many things that were once rather vague far more concrete and clear. Remember, bishops can be allies. You must approach them properly, which is only common sense. It may be that Fr. Guido O’Brien at St. Ipsydipsy doesn’t want to or in incapable of celebrating Mass in the old way. In that case, the bishop could be helpful in resolving the dilemma.
3. Private Masses/liturgies in the old form can’t be celebrated in private in the Triduum. That is normal and reasonable. that is the way it is in the Novus Ordo. In places where the older form is established in a parish for the older use, the Triduum CAN be celebrated with the older books. However, in parishes where the newer forms are the usual fare, and there is a regularly scheduled Mass with the older form, when the Triduum arrives, the older, extraordinary liturgy must give way to the ordinary. That is logical. In the Novus Ordo, as in the older days, there cannot be two Masses of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, two Good Friday liturgies, or two Vigils. So, in this case, the ordinary takes precedence.
4. The issue the Triduum and this reasonable restriction has nothing to do with the prayer about the Jews on Good Friday. This is simply a matter of what the Church’s logical practice is based on the sacred nature of those Triduum liturgies. The Jews were not part of the equation. Remember also that the 1962 Missale Romanum is used for the Triduum in those places where it will be permitted to use the older form at that time. The 1962 edition and not some earlier edition before the changes to those Good Friday petitions.
5. As stated above, the 1962 Missale, the Missal of Bl. John XXIII is to be used, and NOT some earlier edition. Priests who are not adhering to the 1962 rubrics should be now ready and willing to adjust what they are doing. Lay people must be ready and willing to adjust their expectations.
6. The Motu Proprio does NOT set a minimum number of people who must ask for the older form of Mass before it can be conceded. It does talk about stable groups for regularly scheduled Masses.

Attenzione: è stata tradotta solo la parte dispositiva del Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum (…….) ... Our predecessor John Paul II having already considered the insistent petitions of these faithful, having listened to the views of the Cardinal Fathers of the Consistory of 22 March 2006, having reflected deeply upon all aspects of the question, invoked the Holy Spirit and trusting in the help of God, with these Apostolic Letters We establish the following: Art. 1 The Roman Missal promulgated by Paul VI is the ordinary expression of the Lex orandi (Law of prayer) of the Catholic Church of the Latin rite. Nonetheless, the Roman Missal promulgated by St. Pius V and reissued by Bl. John XXIII is to be considered as an extraordinary expression of that same Lex orandi, and must be given due honour for its venerable and ancient usage. These two expressions of the Church’s Lex orandi will in no any way lead to a division in the Church’s Lex credendi (Law of belief). They are, in fact two usages of the one Roman rite. It is, therefore, permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church. The conditions for the use of this Missal as laid down by earlier documents Quattuor abhinc annis and Ecclesia Dei, are substituted as follows: Art. 2 In Masses celebrated without the people, each Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular, may use the Roman Missal published by Bl. Pope John XXIII in 1962, or the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970, and may do so on any day with the exception of the Easter Triduum. For such celebrations, with either one Missal or the other, the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his Ordinary. Art. 3 Communities of Institutes of consecrated life and of Societies of apostolic life, of either pontifical or diocesan right, wishing to celebrate Mass in accordance with the edition of the Roman Missal promulgated in 1962, for conventual or "community" celebration in their oratories, may do so. If an individual community or an entire Institute or Society wishes to undertake such celebrations often, habitually or permanently, the decision must be taken by the Superiors Major, in accordance with the law and following their own specific decrees and statues. Art. 4 Celebrations of Mass as mentioned above in art. 2 may – observing all the norms of law – also be attended by faithful who, of their own free will, ask to be admitted. Art. 5 § 1 In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willingly accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962, and ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonises with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the guidance of the bishop in accordance with canon 392, avoiding discord and favouring the unity of the whole Church. § 2 Celebration in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII may take place on working days; while on Sundays and feast days one such celebration may also be held. § 3 For faithful and priests who request it, the pastor should also allow celebrations in this extraordinary form for special circumstances such as marriages, funerals or occasional celebrations, e.g. pilgrimages. § 4 Priests who use the Missal of Bl. John XXIII must be qualified to do so and not juridically impeded. § 5 In churches that are not parish or conventual churches, it is the duty of the Rector of the church to grant the above permission. Art. 6 In Masses celebrated in the presence of the people in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII, the readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognised by the Apostolic See. Art. 7 If a group of lay faithful, as mentioned in art. 5 § 1, has not obtained satisfaction to their requests from the pastor, they should inform the diocesan bishop. The bishop is strongly requested to satisfy their wishes. If he cannot arrange for such celebration to take place, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei". Art. 8 A bishop who, desirous of satisfying such requests, but who for various reasons is unable to do so, may refer the problem to the Commission "Ecclesia Dei" to obtain counsel and assistance. Art. 9 § 1 The pastor, having attentively examined all aspects, may also grant permission to use the earlier ritual for the administration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Penance, and the Anointing of the Sick, if the good of souls would seem to require it. § 2 Ordinaries are given the right to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation using the earlier Roman Pontifical, if the good of souls would seem to require it. § 2 Clerics ordained "in sacris constitutis" may use the Roman Breviary promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962. Art. 10 The ordinary of a particular place, if he feels it appropriate, may erect a personal parish in accordance with can. 518 for celebrations following the ancient form of the Roman rite, or appoint a chaplain, while observing all the norms of law. Art. 11 The Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", erected by John Paul II in 1988, continues to exercise its function. Said Commission will have the form, duties and norms that the Roman Pontiff wishes to assign it. Art. 12 This Commission, apart from the powers it enjoys, will exercise the authority of the Holy See, supervising the observance and application of these dispositions. We order that everything We have established with these Apostolic Letters issued as Motu Proprio be considered as "established and decreed", and to be observed from 14 September of this year, Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, whatever there may be to the contrary. From Rome, at St. Peter’s, 7 July 2007, third year of Our Pontificate.

LITTERAE APOSTOLICAE MOTU PROPRIO DATAE BENEDICTUS XVI SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM cura ad hoc tempus usque semper fuit, ut Christi Ecclesia Divinae Maiestati cultum dignum offerret, «ad laudem et gloriam nominis Sui» et «ad utilitatem totius Ecclesiae Suae sanctae». Ab immemorabili tempore sicut etiam in futurum, principium servandum est «iuxta quod unaquaeque Ecclesia particularis concordare debet cum universali Ecclesia non solum quoad fidei doctrinam et signa sacramentalia, sed etiam quoad usus universaliter acceptos ab apostolica et continua traditione, qui servandi sunt non solum ut errores vitentur, verum etiam ad fidei integritatem tradendam, quia Ecclesiae lex orandi eius legi credendi respondet»1. Inter Pontífices qui talem debitam curam adhibuerunt, nomen excellit sancti Gregorii Magni, qui tam fidem catholicam quam thesauros cultus ac culturae a Romanis in saeculis praecedentibus cumulatos novis Europae populis transmittendos curavit. Sacrae Liturgiae tam Missae Sacrificii quam Officii Divini formam, uti in Urbe celebrabatur, definiri conservarique iussit. Monachos quoque et moniales maxime fovit, qui sub Regula sancti Benedicti militantes, ubique simul cum Evangelii annuntiatione illam quoque saluberrimam Regulae sententiam vita sua illustrarunt, «ut operi Dei nihil praeponatur» (cap. 43). Tali modo sacra liturgia secundum morem Romanum non solum fidem et pietatem sed et culturam multarum gentium fecundavit. Constat utique liturgiam latinam variis suis formis Ecclesiae in omnibus aetatis christianae saeculis permultos Sanctos in vita spirituali stimulasse atque tot populos in religionis virtute roborasse ac eorundem pietatem fecundasse. Ut autem Sacra Liturgia hoc munus efficacius expleret, plures alii Romani Pontifices decursu saeculorum peculiarem sollicitudinem impenderunt, inter quos eminet Sanctus Pius V, qui magno cum studio pastorali, Concilio Tridentino exhortante, totum Ecclesiae cultum innovavit, librorum liturgicorum emendatorum et «ad normam Patrum instauratorum» editionem curavit eosque Ecclesiae latinae usui dedit. Inter Ritus romani libros liturgicos patet eminere Missale Romanum, quod in romana urbe succrevit, atque succedentibus saeculis gradatim formas assumpsit, quae cum illa in generationibus recentioribus vigente magnam habent similitudinem. «Quod idem omnino propositum tempore progrediente Pontifices Romani sunt persecuti, cum novas ad aetates accommodaverunt aut ritus librosque liturgicos determinaverunt, ac deinde cum ineunte hoc nostro saeculo ampliorem iam complexi sunt redintegrationem»2. Sic vero egerunt Decessores nostri Clemens VIII, Urbanus VIII, sanctus Pius X3, Benedictus XV, Pius XII et beatus Ioannes XXIII. Recentioribus autem temporibus, Concilium Vaticanum II desiderium expressit, ut debita observantia et reverentia erga cultum divinum denuo instauraretur ac necessitatibus nostrae aetatis aptaretur. Quo desiderio motus, Decessor noster Summus Pontifex Paulus VI libros liturgicos instauratos et partim innovatos anno 1970 Ecclesiae latinae approbavit; qui ubique terrarum permultas in linguas vulgares conversi, ab Episcopis atque a sacerdotibus et fidelibus libenter recepti sunt. Ioannes Paulus II, tertiam editionem typicam Missalis Romani recognovit. Sic Romani Pontifices operati sunt ut «hoc quasi aedificium liturgicum [...] rursus, dignitate splendidum et concinnitate» appareret4. Aliquibus autem in regionibus haud pauci fideles antecedentibus formis liturgicis, quae eorum culturam et spiritum tam profunde imbuerant, tanto amore et affectu adhaeserunt et adhaerere pergunt, ut Summus Pontifex Ioannes Paulus II, horum fidelium pastorali cura motus, anno 1984 speciali Indulto "Quattuor abhinc annos", a Congregatione pro Cultu Divino exarato, facultatem concessit utendi Missali Romano a Ioanne XXIII anno 1962 edito; anno autem 1988 Ioannes Paulus II iterum, litteris Apostolicis "Ecclesia Dei" Motu proprio datis, Episcopos exhortatus est ut talem facultatem late et generose in favorem omnium fidelium id petentium adhiberent. Instantibus precibus horum fidelium iam a Praedecessore Nostro Ioanne Paulo II diu perpensis, auditis etiam a Nobis Patribus Cardinalibus in Concistorio die XXIII mensis martii anni 2006 habito, omnibus mature perpensis, invocato Spiritu Sancto et Dei freti auxilio, praesentibus Litteris Apostolicis DECERNIMUS quae sequuntur: Art. 1. Missale Romanum a Paulo VI promulgatum ordinaria expressio "Legis orandi" Ecclesiae catholicae ritus latini est. Missale autem Romanum a S. Pio V promulgatum et a B. Ioanne XXIII denuo editum habeatur uti extraordinaria expressio eiusdem "Legis orandi" Ecclesiae et ob venerabilem et antiquum eius usum debito gaudeat honore. Hae duae expressiones "legis orandi" Ecclesiae, minime vero inducent in divisionem "legis credendi" Ecclesiae; sunt enim duo usus unici ritus romani. Proinde Missae Sacrificium, iuxta editionem typicam Missalis Romani a B. Ioanne XXIII anno 1962 promulgatam et numquam abrogatam, uti formam extraordinariam Liturgiae Ecclesiae, celebrare licet. Conditiones vero a documentis antecedentibus "Quattuor abhinc annos" et "Ecclesia Dei" pro usu huius Missalis statutae, substituuntur ut sequitur: Art. 2. In Missis sine populo celebratis, quilibet sacerdos catholicus ritus latini, sive saecularis sive religiosus, uti potest aut Missali Romano a beato Papa Ioanne XXIII anno 1962 edito, aut Missali Romano a Summo Pontifice Paulo VI anno 1970 promulgato, et quidem qualibet die, excepto Triduo Sacro. Ad talem celebrationem secundum unum alterumve Missale, sacerdos nulla eget licentia, nec Sedis Apostolicae nec Ordinarii sui. Art. 3. Si communitates Institutorum vitae consecratae atque Societatum vitae apostolicae iuris sive pontificii sive dioecesani quae in celebratione conventuali seu "communitatis" in oratoriis propriis celebrationem sanctae Missae iuxta editionem Missalis Romani anno 1962 promulgatam habere cupiunt, id eis licet. Si singula communitas aut totum Institutum vel Societas tales celebrationes saepe vel plerumque vel permanenter perficere vult, res a Superioribus maioribus ad normam iuris et secundum leges et statuta particularia decernatur. Art. 4. Ad celebrationes sanctae Missae de quibus supra in art. 2 admitti possunt, servatis de iure servandis, etiam christifideles qui sua sponte id petunt. Art. 5, § 1. In paroeciis, ubi coetus fidelium traditioni liturgicae antecedenti adhaerentium continenter exsistit, parochus eorum petitiones ad celebrandam sanctam Missam iuxta ritum Missalis Romani anno 1962 editi, libenter suscipiat. Ipse videat ut harmonice concordetur bonum horum fidelium cum ordinaria paroeciae pastorali cura, sub Episcopi regimine ad normam canonis 392, discordiam vitando et totius Ecclesiae unitatem fovendo. § 2. Celebratio secundum Missale B. Ioannis XXIII locum habere potest diebus ferialibus; dominicis autem et festis una etiam celebratio huiusmodi fieri potest. § 3. Fidelibus seu sacerdotibus id petentibus, parochus celebrationes, hac in forma extraordinaria, permittat etiam in adiunctis peculiaribus, uti sunt matrimonia, exsequiae aut celebrationes occasionales, verbi gratia peregrinationes. § 4. Sacerdotes Missali B. Ioannis XXIII utentes, idonei esse debent ac iure non impediti. § 5. In ecclesiis, quae non sunt nec paroeciales nec conventuales, Rectoris ecclesiae est concedere licentiam de qua supra. Art. 6. In Missis iuxta Missale B. Ioannis XXIII celebratis cum populo, Lectiones proclamari possunt etiam lingua vernacula, utendo editionibus ab Apostolica Sede recognitis. Art. 7. Ubi aliquis coetus fidelium laicorum, de quo in art. 5 § 1 petita a parocho non obtinuerit, de re certiorem faciat Episcopum dioecesanum. Episcopus enixe rogatur ut eorum optatum exaudiat. Si ille ad huiusmodi celebrationem providere non potest res ad Pontificiam Commissionem "Ecclesia Dei" referatur. Art. 8. Episcopus, qui vult providere huiusmodi petitionibus christifidelium laicorum, sed ob varias causas impeditur, rem Pontificiae Commissioni "Ecclesia Dei" committere potest, quae ei consilium et auxilium dabit. Art. 9, § 1. Parochus item, omnibus bene perpensis, licentiam concedere potest utendi rituali antiquiore in administrandis sacramentis Baptismatis, Matrimonii, Poenitentiae et Unctionis Infirmorum, bono animarum id suadente. § 2. Ordinariis autem facultas conceditur celebrandi Confirmationis sacramentum utendo Pontificali Romano antiquo, bono animarum id suadente. § 3. Fas est clericis in sacris constitutis uti etiam Breviario Romano a B. Ioanne XXIII anno 1962 promulgato. Art 10. Fas est Ordinario loci, si opportunum iudicaverit, paroeciam personalem ad normam canonis 518 pro celebrationibus iuxta formam antiquiorem ritus romani erigere aut rectorem vel cappellanum nominare, servatis de iure servandis. Art. 11. Pontificia Commissio "Ecclesia Dei" a Ioanne Paulo II anno 1988 erecta5, munus suum adimplere pergit. Quae Commissio formam, officia et normas agendi habeat, quae Romanus Pontifex ipsi attribuere voluerit. Art. 12. Eadem Commissio, ultra facultates quibus iam gaudet, auctoritatem Sanctae Sedis exercebit, vigilando de observantia et applicatione harum dispositionum. Quaecumque vero a Nobis hisce Litteris Apostolicis Motu proprio datis decreta sunt, ea omnia firma ac rata esse et a die decima quarta Septembris huius anni, in festo Exaltationis Sanctae Crucis, servari iubemus, contrariis quibuslibet rebus non obstantibus. Datum Romae, apud Sanctum Petrum, die septima mensis Iulii, anno Domini MMVII, Pontificatus Nostri tertio. BENEDICTUS PP. XVI