Reuters story on Motu Proprio

Reuters has a piece about the Motu Proprio.  Yours truly is cited as one of a string of quips from various perspectives.  CNN.com picked up the Reuters article where you can read it in its entirety.

"The traditional Mass is a true a gem of the church’s heritage, and the Holy Father has taken the most important step toward making it available to many more of the faithful," said Michael Dunnigan, chairman of Una Voce America.

The Rev. John Zuhlsdorf, columnist for The Wanderer, a U.S. Catholic weekly, said: "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."

The schismatic Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), based in Switzerland, stressed it had to iron out doctrinal differences with the Vatican before a reconciliation could take place.

The decree made no change in the 1962 missal — the main prayer book for the old rite — which includes prayers on Good Friday for the conversion of the Jews.

"The language is insensitive. The language is insulting," said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, a U.S.-based Jewish civil rights group.

The Second Vatican Council repudiated the idea of collective Jewish guilt for Christ’s death. Relations improved markedly under Benedict’s predecessor, the late Pope John Paul II.

French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard said the Good Friday prayer could be changed if it caused difficulties with Jews. Church sources said it would rarely be prayed because the old rite was an exception and the new rite — which drops this text — would be used in most churches around the world on that day.

What I do appreciate is that the writer didn’t label The Wanderer with "conservative" or some other label.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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34 Comments

  1. Antonius says:

    It would seem proper to point out, there’s no formal schism with the SSPX, and the summary of Bp. Fellay’s comment done by Reuters / CNN is not a one any honest journalist would make.

  2. John V says:

    Article 2 indicates that priests may celebrate using the 1962 Missal or the 1970 Missal on any day “with the exception of the Easter Triduum.” There’s one Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, one commemoration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday, and one Easter Vigil. So it appears that the Missal of 1962 won’t be used on Good Friday. Am I missing something?

  3. Mark says:

    Fr Z., John V.,

    The Priest at today’s indult Mass, Fr. John Emerson FSSP, stated that the proscription on Masses during the Easter triduum applied to private Masses, something which is (apparently?) already the case?

  4. Mark: Yes, it applies to private Masses. However, as I understand it, in most cases where the older form is celebrated regularly at a church where the normal fare is the ordinary form of Mass (Novus Ordo), when it comes to the Triduum, the older extraordinary form of Mass must give way to the ordinary form. That would of course NOT pertain to churches where only the extraordinary form is used.

  5. Mary says:

    I just hope that the changes bring Catholics together.
    I always felt that All Catholics should praise our Lord as one.
    We have a Spanish Mass, Italian, Tamil and even different types of Spanish Masses.
    All that has done is separate the community of worshippers. We are one.
    But reading the comments on these pages, say to me that we have separated
    the Catholic community even more.
    The Holy Father did not say one is better than the other.
    Just different. Sometimes and lately I feel alot of the time your bloggers at are Pharisaical.
    No one is better than another. No one is superior. Jesus told us that. Please don’t forget it.
    We are One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. Universal.

  6. Monica says:

    According the my local newspaper, the Latin Mass would not be allowed from Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday unless the Bishop gives permission.

    http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=128066&ran=25970

  7. swmichigancatholic says:

    Mary, that will become apparent as many different language groups begin to speak Latin and become one. Imagine being able to travel the world (or go to the ethnic neighborhoods of Chicago, Toronto, Dallas, Miami, LA…), not understanding the language on the street, but instantly at home once one steps into a Catholic Church. English has not been able to do that for us, but Latin can.

  8. prof. basto says:

    Shouldn’t some semi-official Catholic newspaper rebuke the “body blow” thing,
    clarifying that we believe in the salvific universality of the Catholic Church
    and that one of the aspects of that is that we must pray for the conversion of
    the whole human race?

    I mean, basic “paenitemini and credite Evangelio” stuff; basic “euntes docete
    omnes gentes baptizantes…” command from God the Son Himself?

    And that in spite of teaching to all Nations and hoping for the conversion of
    all we still respect/tolerate their religious freedom and want to have good
    relations with them to promote the good based on our share of common values,
    to foster understanding and peace, but without watering down our Faith?

    That if they want to pray for our conversion in their liturgies that is
    understandable, but that they cannot try to dictate what our liturgy will be?

  9. Jay says:

    Mary said:
    “We have a Spanish Mass, Italian, Tamil and even different types of Spanish Masses.
    All that has done is separate the community of worshippers. We are one.
    But reading the comments on these pages, say to me that we have separated
    the Catholic community even more.”

    Tridentine Mass is in latin, the language of the Universal Church that can be attended by the faithful of every nation and language. No problem with vernacular.

  10. Mark says:

    Thank you, Father. That makes sense. :)

    I was concerned because I had seen some people saying “oh, no, the Tridentine Masses won’t be allowed at all during the Easter triduum, something that did not make sense”.

    On a tangential note, from your experience in Rome do you think this will effect Seminarians studying the liturgy post September 14th?

  11. Mark: This is the $64 question.

  12. Mark says:

    Oh, and regarding the SSPX, whilst they may say that in a Press communiqué, the Letter from the UK District Superior belies a certain obstinacy regarding the aggorniamento:
    “Ninety years ago the Holy Mother of God appeared to the three children at Fatima and foretold the three world wars which would afflict mankind, the third being Vatican II.”
    –hardly charitable!

  13. Sid Cundiff says:

    And no “to” before “come” in my post!

  14. Mark says:

    Well, I hope so, Father! Or, there might be a whole host of seminarians traipsing your way! ;-)

  15. Royce says:

    RichR,

    Thanks for sharing that link. I have actually been to the church with the bass player and the priest jumping about in the aisle during his homily (Church of the Ascencion — Upper West Side, NY) in the video. It is without a doubt my worst N.O. horror story. Worship at the Baptist church I went to that morning seemed more Catholic (well, until the sermon started). Imagine the horror this traditionalist felt when he showed up for Mass at this beaufiul old church, only to find it desicrated by a jazz band. Attendence wasn’t too great either, surprise surprise. To top it off, they served cocktails in the basement after Mass.

  16. swmichigancatholic says:

    Aren’t cocktails to New York the same as pancakes to Michigan and lefsa to Minnesota? ROFLOL. They don’t know what they are missing.

  17. Diane says:

    Sorry to hi-jack the combox, but AOL has a new poll out on the traditional form of the Roman Rite.

    Go Vote!!!

  18. John says:

    Our pastor is on vacation leave, here in Bedford, Virginia. The substitute priest from Charlotteville, VA on Satturday evening gave a reasonable homilie but a Mass with two major liturgical innovations. First, he directed the congregation to engage in a silent, self directed penitential rite without the usual follow-up immediately proceeded to the Gloria following the individual silent period of recollection.

    This was a little startling but later, when it came to the liturgy of the Eucharist, I believe he really went wrong. Instead of reciting the usual words of consecration over the bread and wine separtely while taking each of the species in his hands, he left them on the table, not touching either, and just recited the words of consecration as a reporter would tell a story. He did not act in persona Christi but just as an observer he reciced the story of the Last supper. There were other rubrical errors not worth mentioning at this point.

    This happened on the day of the Motu Proprio. We may have two chapels in the Richmond area that already have the extraordinary form of the rite, in the rest of the dioscese we have a mighty long way to go just to have a scandal-free Novus Ordo, now and then.

  19. Michael says:

    Can someone please explain to me why the media is so obsessed with the Good Friday prayer and ADL’s opinions on it?

    Why is it that eventhough there are prayers in the Good Friday liurgy that reffer to the Orthodox, Protestants, and Hindus, its the Jews who are offended and get air time?

    Also, have teachings actually changed regarding the Jews? Pre-VII books I read often make the claim that modern Jews can not be held responsible for Christ’s death. Does that mean it is wrong to reffer to them as “blind” as the Good Friday prayer does?

  20. Mark says:

    Michael,

    You have a point there. It seems that modern secular governments force Christianity to be politically correct, but do not demand the same of other faiths on the basis of ‘cultural sensitivity’ – which is a code-word for them not really knowing anything about those religions.

  21. Monica: the Latin Mass would not be allowed

    Nooo…. both the old Mass and new Mass can be in Latin. “The Latin Mass” is imprecise. We need greater precision now.

  22. Michael says:

    I agree, Father, but Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite takes a long time to say and type. Could we maybe say Johannine and Pauline Missal? Or maybe we could condence Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and Ordinary Form to the EF and OF?

    It still makes me smile whenever I hear Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. It’s like the Pope has resuscitated the Missal! Just think, as of yesterday, it’s once again a feature of the CONTEMPORARY worship of the Church.

  23. Florida John says:

    Everyone seems so worked up about having access to the TLM but we here in Florida are not jumping for joy. Sundays Orlando Sentinal had a Front Page article on the Pope’s Motu proprio and had a quote from a spokesperson from the Diocese who said “we already have two Traditional Latin Masses (both nowhere near me) and we don’t see any need for any more!” As usual, the Holy father’s directives will be ignored.

  24. Michael says:

    Floida John,

    Having evening Low Masses in out of the way places once a month is hardly generous. But at the same time, I’ve been told that the Indult Masses inthe Orlando Diocese are poorly attended, which might explain why the spokeman didn’t see the need for anymore. And maybe he’s right.

    But he might not be. It could be that people don’t want to skip Sunday dinner to go to Mass in an out of the way place, or that they know it will never become the center of their spiritual life if its only one a month, so why bother? That’s why the Holy Father has given us this Motu Proprio, so that such spokemen can’t control your spiritual life. I think the Holy Father anticipated this kind of response from dioceses. Otherwise, why would he have made it posssible for the faithful to appeal to Ecclesia Dei? If he really trusted the bishops to be generous, like JPII did, would he have made it possible for the faithful to appeal to Rome?

    I think the two limiting factors will now be a lack of enthusiasm for the Tridentine Mass (most people don’t care enough to make a request and a good portion of the faithful are against it’s liberalization), and unwilling pastors (the baby boomers who were ordained during the cultural revolution who represent the majority of parish priests). If you have a sympathetic pastor and a stable group of faithful yearning for the traditionl mass, you’re set to go. The diocese can ignore the MP, but they can’t keep you from following it.

  25. chiara says:

    RE: Prayers for the Jews. http://www.zenit.org 2007 07 06, has an excellent article providing FACTS about the prayers for the Jews which were already altered in the 1962 missal

  26. Ben of the Bayou says:

    Dear Father Z,

    Many in my neck of the woods have long been awaiting this document. We celebrated with rich cheesecake and wine. However, our celebrations were tinged with some question marks. For instance, what will be the practical results in dioceses? Will priests be receptive? Will the faithful really ask for it or will it just be the project of a few interested priests? Will the extraordinary form have an effect (hopefully swift) on the ordinary form, especially in Orienting it (properly speaking)? How long, O Lord, how long will it take?

    Finally, one note of interest: Sandro Magister, whose articles I normally find insightful and interesting, writes in his latest article that the 1962 MR contains no specific rubric directing the priest to face East with the people. He either states directly or at least implies that the 1962 Mass might then legitimately be celebrated versus populum. Is it true that no such rubric exists? What are the real chances that such a horror could occur?

    Pax et bonum.

  27. michigancatholic says:

    Practically speaking:

    I think we need to download, print out and staple copies of the 1962 missal and take them around with us in the car for when they’re needed. I’m an old retired teacher and I know from experience that *people will really really appreciate having the words in front of them if they need them, and it will be bewildering to them if they don’t. Experiences like these can make or break acceptance of new things!*

    I will have a cardboard box of these things in my car and will be able to pass them out pronto if needed. I encourage you to do the same.

    Inexpensive? yes. Temporary? yes. Important? VITALLY.

  28. Alex says:

    If I were the Pope I would insert the perfidis once again as a “Thank You Sir” to Ape Foxman, who was himself saved from neopagan Nazi deportation and incarceration by a Polish persecuted Catholic nanny who each Good Friday answered this “anti-semitic” prayer with a firm Slavic AMEN!

    The ADL is becoming a caricature ever more. Even liberal secularists come to see this and ignore them more and more. Cheap accusations in order to play the mighty reputation force. It is silly.

    Oremus et pro perfidis Judaeis. Abhorresce judaicam perfidem et Hebraicam superstitionem!

  29. Alex says:

    Addendum: My maternal great grandmother was a full Jew who converted to the Roman Catholic Church. Rabbinically speaking (according to the Talmud), I am a full Jew.

    And I do feel like a Jew. Every Catholic is a Jew. In the New Israel, which replaced and abolished the old, earthly Israel. It consists of the faithful few children of the Elder Brothers and Prophets (of old Israel) and of implanted Greeks joined to Christ. It is separated from pagans and Jews according to the blood, but not the faith. Abraham was justified by his faith, not his genes and blood.

  30. Pax says:

    Just another pocked bone from Ratzinger-Modernist-et.al.- The fight continues. Vatican2 ambiguity doesn’t ever spell correctly The Way, The Truth, The Life-IHS. Seek Council of Trent and the purity of rightness flows for all time!

  31. Another marvel in prose!

  32. Alex says:

    I guess it should be this for Foxman:

    Horresce Judaicam perfidiam, respue Hebraicam superstitionem.

    Oh boy would I love to see his face. He is the same like some American Republicans (with all due respect) who tell countries not supporting the attack on Iraq they are “against freedom and in fact fascist and against peace”.

  33. Mary says:

    Mary said:
    “We have a Spanish Mass, Italian, Tamil and even different types of Spanish Masses.
    All that has done is separate the community of worshippers. We are one.
    But reading the comments on these pages, say to me that we have separated
    the Catholic community even more.”

    Jay said:
    Tridentine Mass is in latin, the language of the Universal Church that can be attended by the faithful of every nation and language. No problem with vernacular.
    ___
    Of course I understand about the Latin being the language of the Church.
    I agree that being able to celebrate the Mass anywhere is wonderful.
    I meant that SOME of the proponents of the Tridentine Mass have an attitude that they are
    far superior than those who attend the regular Mass. Sadly some of the priests do also.
    There is no contest on who is more pious.
    That is what brings separation.
    No one is better than another.
    We are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Gal 12:5.
    No one is superior.
    …do not be wise in your own estimation. Gal 12:16.
    Remember: We are One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. Universal.
    “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

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