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

Here is the statement of the Archdiocese of Denver.

Most of the USA diocesan statements include similar elements.  When the tone tends more to the negative, there are comments like "we don’t expect many people will want this" or "this document won’t make much difference here".   Many statements mentioned the need to consult and study.  Often there will be a mention of the place where the older Mass is already available.  When the approach is more negative and limiting, the statements often say that this move was to bring back into unity people who are separated or on the edge.

Here is the statement of Denver.  My emphases and comments.

An open letter to the faithful regarding
Pope Benedict’s instruction for extended use of Tridentine Mass

July 12, 2007
s
My brothers and sisters in Christ,

On July 7, 2007 His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI issued a Motu Proprio entitled Summorum Pontificum
(“The care of the Supreme Pontiffs for Divine Worship”). In the document he explains the two forms for celebrating the Holy Mass: the ordinary form of Mass, currently celebrated in our parishes according to the Roman Missal of Paul VI, and the extraordinary form which is the Mass celebrated according to the Roman Missal of 1962 promulgated by Blessed John XXIII, commonly known as the Tridentine Mass. Both are expressions of our one Roman Rite.

The Holy Father seeks to express the richness of the Church’s liturgical traditions and to care for the pastoral needs of those persons who are attached to the extraordinary form of the Mass.  [His Excellency DOESN’T try to give the impression that this is limited to people in questionable unity!  He gets it exactly right.] He also calls for a renewal in celebrating both forms with reverence and solemnity so that they may lead us to a deeper love of our Eucharistic Lord.  [Right!   This is really about how we see and celebrate the Eucharist.]

Here in the Archdiocese of Denver, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Latin Mass Community, served by the
Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, has provided for many years a pastoral welcome [This is a very different tone from manys statements.  It is positive.] to those who desired the Tridentine Mass. There daily Mass and Sunday Mass are celebrated according to the Missal of 1962 promulgated by Blessed John XXIII.

In the coming months I will be meeting with my Presbyteral Council, College of Consultors, and Presbyterate to assess the needs of the parish communities and our priestly resources. ["Assess the needs and resources" does not, to my ear, sound negative or restrictive.  It seems to be looking for ways to implement rather than block.] I ask for your patience, charity and prayer as we work to establish an appropriate and practical response to the Holy Father’s wishes for the wider availability of the Missal of 1962.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+ Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

Archbishop of Denver
Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.

You can see a pattern to the diocesan statements being issued.    Most often, they will include statements along the lines of "we have had a place since [fill in date] for the older Mass" and that the provisions of Summorum Pontificum "won’t make much of a difference".   These elements are exemplified in the following statement of the Diocese of Grand Rapids in Michigan (USA).

DIOCESE OF GRAND RAPIDS

Office of Communications

Bishop Walter A. Hurley’s Statement on “Tridentine Mass”

“In his recent statement our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has shown his pastoral care and
that of the Church by making an accommodation for those members of the faithful who desire to
worship God with the Mass prayers and related sacramental celebrations of the 1962 Missal of
Blessed Pope John XXIII commonly known as the “Tridentine Mass.” In many ways it reflects
the ability of the Church to incorporate multiple expressions of the same sacramental reality.
The Missal of 1970 of Pope Paul VI and John Paul II (the post-Vatican II liturgy) remains the
“ordinary form” for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The 1962 (pre-conciliar) Missal of
Blessed Pope John XXIII is the “extraordinary form” for celebration of the Eucharist.

The Holy Father stated that this accommodation allowing a wider celebration of the 1962
version of the Mass should not be seen as calling into question the abiding significance of the
teachings of the Second Vatican Council. He understood the fact that the teachings of the
Council are in no way diminished by allowing a wider usage of the former (pre-conciliar) ritual
for the Mass and other sacraments.

In the Diocese of Grand Rapids we have already been offering this form of the Mass at Sacred Heart of Jesus (and earlier at Our Lady of Sorrows) since 1990. This will continue as it has been. With this history and availability I do not foresee any significant change in the diocese.
The major change with the Motu Proprio is the elimination of the requirement that the priest
seek prior permission to celebrate according to the older traditional ritual.”

Most Reverend Walter A. Hurley
Bishop of Grand Rapids
July 8, 2007
Contact:
Mary H. Haarman
Director of Communications
616-475-1240
616-443-3860