The newspaper of the Diocese of Lafayette (Indiana), The Catholic Moment, reproduced an article by CNS about the Libreria Editrice Vaticana reprint of the 1962 Missale Romanum now flying off the shelves of the Vatican bookstore. Biretta tip SA. o{]:¬)
The diocesan newspaper left out couple paragraphs. Here is the article in question:
Vatican publishes copy of 1962 Roman Missal as part of study series
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY (CNS) — As part of a collection of studies on ancient liturgical texts, the Vatican publishing house has published a copy of the 1962 Roman Missal, the book of Mass prayers used for the Tridentine Mass.
Published Oct. 19, the book is basically a scholarly commentary on the old Mass, but it includes in the back a copy of the missal the Vatican had issued 45 years ago, said Carmelite Father Edmondo Caruana, secretary of the publishing house, Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
"We have inserted an exact copy of the 1962 text in the book together with the study. It is in the form of a small altar missal so it could be used for the liturgy," Father Caruana told Catholic News Service.
However, he said, it would be inaccurate to say the Vatican has republished the missal for liturgical use. Missals and other books of prayers and rituals designed exclusively for liturgical use have a special cover and binding and do not include commentary.
Here are the two final paragraphs of the CNS story that the paper of the Diocese of Lafayette cut off (my emphases).
Father Caruana said the Vatican publishing house has received many inquiries about buying liturgical copies of the 1962 Missal, and those calls are directed to the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei," which is responsible for matters concerning the implementation of Pope Benedict XVI’s July decree authorizing wider use of the old Mass.
In his decree, the pope said the Tridentine Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Roman Missal should be made available in every parish where groups of the faithful desire it. He also said the Mass from the Roman Missal in use since 1970 remains the ordinary form of the Mass, while celebration of the Tridentine Mass is the extraordinary form.
Interesting.
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What a great Catholic moment we are privileged to be living in.
What’s “interesting” to me, as a former resident of the diocese that publishes that newspaper, is that the Tridentine Mass was mentioned at all…
They can cut the words, but they can’t stop the REFORM! To echo Legisperitus what a great time to be living in!
There is a liturgical (i.e. altar) Missal forthcoming from PCP Books. (Details here http://www.pcpbooks.com/missale_romanum.htm) It seems to avoid the problems that you highlighted with the Roman Catholic Books altar missal i.e. it has St Joseph in the Canon etc. So, thank God, there is one more option for potential EF celebrants.
“As part of a collection of studies on ancient liturgical texts, the Vatican publishing house has published a copy of the 1962 Roman Missal…”
1962 is ancient? At 43 I’m taking that kinda personally!
That’s typical for the diocese, sadly. (I live in it)
I am personally aware of two instances of a pastor being asked if they would have the extraordinary form available at their parish. In no uncertain terms, both said “no”.
That’s OK…”God Himself chasteneth not with a rod but with time.”
Could the reason a liturgical copy is not being printed be that changes are soon going to be made to the Missal, such as the elimination of the Good Friday prayer for the Jews or the addition of certain prefaces and feasts?
Before the conspiracist theories go crazy here keep in mind a few things:
1) First lesson for any freshman journalist is to put the key points in the leading paragraphs. It is standard practice in the publishing industry for articles to be cut off. It’s a question of how many column inches are available on the page, not some evil censor at work. The fault, if any, is with CNS.
2) The article clearly states that this is NOT intended as a Missal although it might be used as one. If you need one, go elsewhere.
3) From the text on the cover it looks as though the commentary itself is in Italian. That’s a lot of book to buy if you can’t read Italian.
4) The Catholic Moment also points out (via an online letter to the editor) that there is already at least one weekly Tridentine Mass in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, and that’s more than a lot of dioceses can say.
Let’s try to give it a positive look!
I hope that Santa Claus brings me the PCP edition for Christmas because I’m very skeptical about the Vatican Publisher doing an appropriate job.
pdt: Before the conspiracist theories go crazy here keep in mind a few things:
Okay, your take is plausible.
Fr. Bartoloma: PCP edition
Care to flesh that out for the readers?
(In case Fr. Bartoloma’s busy) PCP = Preserving Christian Publications
http://www.pcpbooks.com/missale_romanum.htm
Coming soon (February 2008) to an altar near you:
Benziger Brothers’ 1962 (USA) edition MISSALE ROMANUM
This is a reprint of the final edition of the 1962 Missale Romanum*, so unlike the other “1962” missal being offered in the United States, it includes:
* St. Joseph’s name in the Canon (added in November 1962),
* the ad libitum prefaces (added in July 1962 and which includes the restored Advent preface!)
Is this not the same diocese in which (as I recall reading nearly a decade ago) a newly-ordained priest who had stated his intention to celebrate his first Mass in Latin (Novus Ordo, of course) received a public slap-down from his bishop (Heggi or Hegyi, as I recall) and was told that he would be suspended if he went ahead and did so. If my recollection of the diocese is indeed correct, it seems to be a case of “plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.”
pdt,
If I am not mistaken, Lafayette’s ‘weekly’ Tridentine Mass is on a Tuesday night.
William: Perhaps you should do some checking on that.
This is amusing to me, living in the diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana for almost thirty years now and having constant run-ins with the Chancery almost from the start. To give you an example of their mentality, James Hitchcock was once barred from speaking at our Newman Center on the grounds that he did not have “the Spirit of Vatican II.” (The irony in this, of course, is that to many of us Prof. Hitchcock has all too much of the said Spirit.)
Bishop Higi was never intended to be Ordinary, but the newly appointed bishop was killed in a car wreck in, I think, 1984, and Msgr. Higi was hastily installed, having been the Vicar General. At this point I am minded to be more charitable to him than I have been in the past. His ability to irritate comes from intellectual confusion as much as anything. One week he can write a beautifully edifying column on Confession, and the next be mandating Mahoney-esque liturgical norms. His vocations director, Fr. Brian Doerr, is one of the most remarkable priests I have ever met, and the seminarians for the diocese are solid as a rock. While the bishop certainly opposed the old rite in his diocese, he has been unfailingly cordial to the FFSP priests who come up from Indianapolis to say it. He attended the inaugural Mass in choir (I might say that Archbishop Buechlein, while supportive, has yet to show his face at the major Apostolate there), and I am told seemed genuinely pleased to be reminded of the Mass he was ordained to say. The bishop is scheduled to retire in a year or two, a rather sad victim of the times in which he lived.
The bishop of Lafayette will be 75 next August.
As a priest in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, I would say that the faithful might be surprised about what Bishop Higi thinks about the Traditional Latin Mass. I have discussed it with and read the correspondence he has mailed out to the presbyterate. His concern is that it be celebrated according to the rubrics by priests that have a minimal linguistic compentency in Latin. Sadly, the biggest problem now is that few priests who are open to doing have beyond a very elementary knowledge of the language.
Fr. Christopher: Would you say that Bp. Higi is being painted in the wrong colors in the comments here?
Fr. Z.: I can understand the frustrations of traditionally minded Catholics in the diocese about the things that are going on. What I am saying is that of the most traditionally minded priests in the Diocese, only one, maybe two, could offer the TLM tomorrow. The younger ones (myself included) need training (linguistic and rubrical). I’m trying to work on the lingustic, but there is so much evangelization work that needs to be done.
I think there is a real possibility that the bishop will do something very good for the tradition. Bishop Higi needs our prayers right now.
Father Christopher:
You mentioned, “…but there is so much evangelization work that needs to be done.” Could you be more specific? Thanks!
Dear Father Christopher,
I am thankful for your input, especially since you are a priest in the Lafayette diocese. I also live in the diocese, and I am always amazed at Bishop Higi’s negative attitude toward the extraordinary form of the Mass. I can tell you hat Bishop Higi was vehemently opposed to our request in 1996 and again in 1999 for a regularly-scheduled Traditional Latin Mass in our parish church, even after garnering approval from our pastor, and presenting him with a petition signed by over 120 members of our deanery. We even had a letter from the FSSP lending their support for a celebrant. We had an organist, choir, and over a dozen servers lined up as well. His reply was to quit bothering him and our pastor.
After sending our paperwork to the Ecclesia Dei Commission, he submitted to their (and our) request, but only gave us a Mass on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. He will not allow us to advertise the Mass, nor would he allow diocesan priests to celebrate this Mass. I read his letter to priests back in 2001 that stated this fact.
Bishop Higi also forbid mention of our weekly Mass in the diocesan newspaper, THE CATHOLIC MOMENT. He didn’t even mention it in his recent condescending article re: Summorum Pontificum! The only mention of it in the past six years was in an editorial written by one of his friends.
Maybe Father Z. can expound on THE CATHOLIC MOMENT’s article in July re: SP and Bp. Higi’s lackluster response.
– Mike
As a priest in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana, I would say that the faithful might be surprised about what Bishop Higi thinks about the Traditional Latin Mass. I have discussed it with and read the correspondence he has mailed out to the presbyterate. His concern is that it be celebrated according to the rubrics by priests that have a minimal linguistic compentency in Latin. Sadly, the biggest problem now is that few priests who are open to doing have beyond a very elementary knowledge of the language.
Comment by Father Christopher
Let’s see: Vat II is explicit that priests should be proficient in Latin (Optatam Totius no. 13). Bishop Higi has been ordinarius loci since 1984–over 23 years.
What does that say about the bishop’s negligence in seeing that his priests are properly formed?
In the July 15, 2007 edition of THE CATHOLIC MOMENT (Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana), the following article quoting our bishop was printed:
Bishop: Unanswered questions remain about actual practice
The Catholic Moment
Pope Benedict XVI’s relaxation of restrictions on the use of the Latin Mass leaves unanswered questions regarding the actual practice, says Bishop William L. Higi.
The pope’s directive was issued July 7 to bishops worldwide. When interviewed by The Catholic Moment, Bishop Higi said he understands the Holy Father’s desire to retain the Tridentine Massas an extraordinary part of Catholic liturgy, and is fully supportive, but he questions whether it will be possible to provide it in the Local Church .
By letter, Bishop Higi asked priests across the diocese to wait to see how procedural details are addressed by the Secretariat for the Liturgy of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The pope noted that use of the 1962 Missal “presupposes a certain degree of liturgical formation and some knowledge of the Latin language; neither of these is found very often.”
Bishop Higi, who was ordained in 1959, agreed.
“Even though I celebrated the Tridentine Mass for several years, I would no longer be able to do so using the Roman Missal of 1962 (the required text) without significant study of the rubrics and a refresher course in Latin,” he said. “I suspect that is true of most of not all priests of the diocese.”
“In this Local Church , pastoral sensitivity suggests an in-depth study of Spanish rather than Latin,” he said.
The pope’s directive states that a priest must be qualified to celebrate Latin Masses before he can celebrate one. But it sheds no light on who decides whose qualifications.
The 1962 Missal also requires the use of altar boys – not girls – and they must be capable of responding to the celebrant in Latin. Choirs also probably would have to be trained in the Gregorian chant, Bishop Higi said. The 1962 calendar would be followed, because no mixture of the 1962 missal and the current missal will be allowed. Only one form of Communion would be available.
Pope Benedict XVI said that any priest, without further permission, could celebrate the Latin Mass without the people at almost any time, and that laypeople could be admitted if they spontaneously requested to do so. It remains unclear whether such a Mass could be scheduled.
The pope’s directive states that where any group of parishioners attached to the Latin Mass “exists stably” it may request a pastor to offer one. Apparently, when only one Sunday Mass is offered, Latin may not be used.
No definition of “group” or “exists stably” was offered.
Bishop Higi needs our prayers right now.
Comment by Father Christopher
The previous letter indicates to me that what he needs is retirement.
I find it interesting that he seems concerned about whether mass according to the 1962 Missal would be celebrated properly. Is there similar concern about the use of the 1970 Missal? Or does he just consider it a lost cause?
I don’t want to get into defending my ordinary here. Certainly his approach to the TLM in the past did not anticipate Summorum Pontificum. His attitude toward Latin instruction was not any different than other bishops, which I don’t imagine says much for some, but it is what it was.
In the remaining months of his term as bishop, we can only pray that he does what he should do.
As far as evangelization goes, we have a lot of work to do: getting people to go to confession, teaching them basic, basic things. Just yesterday at Theology on Tap, I was asked by someone why the Church changed her teaching on Purgatory.
And, in order to be fair, we can’t necessarily but this on Bishop Higi. There has been a tremendous shift in demographics in our Diocese. Lots of manufacturing jobs have disappeared, new jobs in the far north side of Indy have been created for professionals. We take in the northern suburbs of Indy now because the city has grown so much. Throw the massive influx of Hispanics into the mix and the reality is that about half of the parishioners in many of the parishes have spent more than half of their lives in another diocese.
As RBrown noted, Bishop Higi turns 75 in August. More specifically, his birthday is on the 29th, which is precisely 301 days…not that anyone is counting.
I would only correct Prof Kubiak by mentioning that Bishop Gallagher did not die in that car accident (in 1982), but was very ill afterwards and unable to continue his episcopal duties. He lived at St Mary Parish in Muncie until he went to his reward in 1991.
Otherwise, I concur: Bishop Higi is on all accounts a holy and orthodox pastor, and in my experience mirrors the majority of his presbyterate in this regard, but is very hesitant – to say the least – to encourage the Latin Mass (according to any edition of the missal).
Father Christopher,
The fact that your bishop’s attitude toward Latin studies is not any different than most of the other bishops qualifies him as a trimmer.
IMHO, the Church’s universality is now expressed by having an excuse for everything. Not many vocations, lousy seminaries, homosexual priests, poor catechesis, annulment mills in diocesan tribunals–they’re all covered under the plenary indulgence of excuse making. None of it is anyone’s fault.
And the SSPX, just to show they’re still in communion with the other bishops–they have an excuse for schismatic consecration of bishops.
You mention Confession. There are four parishes here. Among the four there is a total of 50 minutes of Confession a week. No Confession before or after any daily mass.
Raymond Joseph Gallagher † (21 Jun 1965 Appointed – 26 Oct 1982 Resigned)
George Avis Fulcher † (8 Feb 1983 Appointed – 25 Jan 1984 Died)
William Leo Higi (7 Apr 1984 Appointed – )
Huh. I only lived in the Diocese of Lafayette twenty years after the fact, and was told by a friend (from that diocese) that it was Bishop Gallagher who was in the auto accident and subsequently forced to resign. I am so sorry for the confusion and the erroneous information.
Bishop Fulcher was the bishop who was killed in the automobile accident. He was our bishop before Bishop Higi. And I would agree with Fr. Christopher. There is much to pray for in our diocese. Our priests and Bishop Higi need our prayers that they will be good shepherds in the days God has given them. While the laity may be frustrated, our part is to pray and fast for our priests and Bishops. This time in the Church calls for heroes, and prayer is the answer.
A seminarian from our parish in Lafayette will be ordained for the
Priestly Fraternity (FSSP)in Lincoln , NE on November 10. I hope
that he will offer a (traditional) Mass of Thanksgiving within the boundaries
of the Lafayette Diocese, but nothing has been said.
The city of Lafayette/West Lafayette has a group of parishioners who have contacted the diocese office requesting the TLM. We have been rebuffed several times, while (according to the Liturgy Director, Julie Males) we wait for clarification on what “exists stably” means. Ostensibly, this is perfectly legitimate.
Behind the scenes, however, the story has it that Bishop Higi refused to allow the celebration of the TLM in his diocese until he was forced to in 2001 by the Holy See. When he was finally forced to allow it, it only took place on Tuesday nights in the small neighboring town of Muncie, with the demand that word not spread about it in any way, keeping it a virtual secret (e.g. *he demanded it not be mentioned at all in the diocese newspaper, “The Catholic Moment”*). So, though it’s true there is a TLM in the diocese, Bishop Higi had little if anything to do with its implementation. Rumor has it he is militantly against seeing a TLM in our area (especially, I would venture, as an alternative to the Novus Ordo for fulfilling a Sunday obligation). Editing the CNS story is no surprise at all, The Catholic Moment seems to be tightly controlled by the diocese: our group has been told that this newspaper is not a suitable way for checking diocese interest in the TLM, and the Bishop has refused our request for running something that might survey how many people who attend such a mass, were it offered. Not to speak badly about a good bishop, but with respect to the TLM our group will either have to wait for crystal clear instructions from Ecclesia Dei (and even then, I’m sure there would be something the diocese would need “clarification” about) or Bishop Higi’s retirement next year.
We are very blessed to have several Perpetual Adoration chapels in the diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana. I trust that for all the ink that is spilt over lamenting the absence of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, equal time is spent in those chapels, praying for priests and bishops and their leadership. All of this is in God’s Hands, not ours. Ours is to fast and pray. Spend less time complaining and more time praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament!!! And until the Extraordinary Form is offered here, go to Holy Rosary parish in Indianapolis. It’s a quick hour away from Lafayette. If that Mass means so much to you, you should be willing to drive there.
The distance between St. Mary’s Cathedral in Lafayette, Indiana and St. Mary’s Church in Muncie, Indiana:
Total Estimated Driving Distance: 113.60 miles
Total Estimated Driving Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes
Time of TLM at St. Mary’s Church in Muncie, Indiana on Tuesday Evenings: 7:00 PM
Source: Mapquest
The distance between St. Mary’s Cathedral in Lafayette, IN and Holy Rosary in Indianapolis, Indiana:
Total Estimated (one way) Driving Time: about 1 hour 10 mins (not including construction on Interstate-65)
Total Estimated (one way) Distance: 65.2 miles
Starting about 1990 we made the “quick” trip to Indianapolis
for the monthly offering of the TLM at Old St John’s.
We were pleased when the FSSP established their apostolate in
Indianapolis and even more pleased when the FSSP found a vocation
in our own parish.
But people and cars age. What was once a “quick hour” now seems
very distant. I do not “complain” or “lament” . I am just worn out.
This old man simply does not understand why the “Local Church” remains
so hostile to the TLM.
I’m not sure why. Part of it might be the bishop worked so hard as a priest and a bishop to implement the Pauline reform. When things in the parish slow down in the summer, I am planning to learn the TLM. Now I am trying to brush up on my Latin. Anyone in the diocese of Lafayette who might be interested in the TLM, might want to contact me, as there are currently discussions about how to implement SM very much alive.
“And until the Extraordinary Form is offered here, go to Holy Rosary parish in Indianapolis. It’s a quick hour away from Lafayette. If that Mass means so much to you, you should be willing to drive there.”
Claptrap!
Suggestion…try driving an hour or more (each way) to Mass at a parish outside your diocese for four or five years and see how cheery your “quick hour” becomes over that period of time. This “quick” jaunt doesn’t lend itself to getting too involved in parish life, either, for what it’s worth.
We have a right to the extraordinary form and shouldn’t have to drive an hour or more to get it. And not just a canonical right based on Summorum Pontificum…but a birthright to celebrate the Mass that formed and sanctified generations and generations of saints.
Keeping in mind the parable of the lost sheep, I find it hard to believe that the diocese can’t find the resources to train at least one priest per deanery to get the job done for us “lost” sheep.
I hear a good deal about “Small Faith Groups” from the local parish in town…apparently our “faith group” is too small for the Bishop.
Father Christopher said:
“Anyone in the diocese of Lafayette who might be interested in the TLM, might want to contact me, as there are currently discussions about how to implement SM very much alive.
Father Christopher:
What Father Christopher are you, Weldon or Roberts? After reviewing your profile and if I were a betting man, I’d say you were Father Christopher Roberts.
Father Z: Maybe you would consider selling a WDTPRS francise to the good people of the Lafayette Diocese in Indiana!
I am indeed Fr. Christopher Roberts. I can be contacted at the contact information given at http://www.olmc1.org
You might find it hard to believe, but finding one priest per deanery to do it would be very difficult.
finding one priest per deanery to do it [the TLM] would be very difficult.
As it likely would be in many dioceses. What a sad commentary on what’s been done to the Church.
With the FSSP , St John Cantius , and probably others offering
training , are we to conclude that the issue is a lack of
interest among the clergy ??
Among pastors who don’t know Latin and are already busy, I think that it has to come down to lack of interest and embarrassment. I speak Spanish and Italian fairly well, but, to be quite frank I would be really embarrassed if I had to even read Latin with a TLM priest.