Further notes on the Motu Proprio “Summorum Pontificum”

Art. 1: The Roman Missal of Paul VI (the Ordinary Rite), and the Roman Missal of St. Pius V and reissued by Bl. John XXIII is to be considered as an (Extraordinary Rite), these two expressions of the Church’s ‘Lex Orandi’ will in not in any way lead to a division in the Church’s ‘Lex credendi’.

This is an extraordinarily important statement. No one may now argue either that the new rite expresses a new Faith, or that the old rite expresses an outmoded Faith. The Faith which the old rite so eloquently and precisely proclaims, remains absolutely normative.

The conditions for the use of this Missal as laid down by earlier documents ‘Quattuor abhinc annis’ and Ecclesia Dei,’ are substituted as follows:

These conditions replace those of the previous documents; we must not make the error of seeing what is here laid down as a mere gloss on the earlier documents: we are in an entirely new situation now, and mentalities must change along with the new realities.

Art. 2. In Masses celebrated without the people, etc, may use either the Missal of Bl. Pope John XXIII or the Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI, and may do so on any day with the exception of the Easter Triduum.

Without the people, means simply those Masses which are not part of a parish’s regular schedule. As article 4 makes clear, the faithful may attend such Masses. That such Masses without the people, are forbidden during the Easter Triduum is normal: they were never allowed, either in the old rite or the new. Further, Canon 906 forbids the celebration of Mass without at least some faithful present, so it seems that a priest should actually encourage people to attend a “private” celebration in the old rite.

Art. 4. Celebrations of Mass as mentioned 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.

Thus a pastor could announce that he will say Mass in the old rite every morning, in addition to the scheduled new rite Mass: any of his parishioners are free to attend, with either a minimum nor a maximum number specified.

Art. 5. In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willing accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal of 1962, and ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonizes 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.

The bishop is exhorted to further unity, and certainly not to thwart it by refusing what the pastor is told to allow: the celebration of the old rite publicly in parishes which request it. Nevertheless, it would seem reasonable to consolidate such groups into a “personal” parish where local circumstances favour such a solution.

Par. 2. Celebration in accordance with the Missal published in 1962 may take place on working days; while on Sundays and feast days one such celebration may also be held.

A precision of capital importance: these Masses in the old rite may take place every day of the week.

Par. 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.

A parish’s whole liturgical life, then, may be deeply impregnated with the spirit and the reality of the old rites; we are no longer living in an “indult” world.

Par. 4. Priests who use the Missal of 1962 must be qualified to do so and not juridically impeded.

This is perfectly sensible: a priest with no Latin will be told to become grounded in it before being allowed to celebrate Mass in the old rite.

Art. 7. If a group of lay faithful have not obtained satisfaction to their requests from the pastor, they should inform the diocesan bishop. The bishop is strongly requested to satisfy their wishes or if he cannot satisfy their wishes, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Die.”

This article will soon be tested. It is likely that some pastors will refuse the papal will, and sadly so sill some bishops. The papal commission should then be informed by the faithful; by this present law, it will then be required to act.

Art. 9. Par. 1. The pastor, having attentively examined all aspects, may also grant permission to use the earlier ritual for administration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick, if the good of souls would seem to require it. (Note: that the pastor is here given this authority and not, as was heretofore the case, the bishop alone.) (Note also in Par. 2. the Ordinary is given the right to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation using the earlier Roman Pontifical, if the good of souls would seem to require it.) (Note also in Par. 3. clerics who are bound by canon law to recite the divine office may now fulfill their obligation by using the older form.)

Art. 10. The ordinary of a particular place, if he feels it appropriate, may erect a personal parish in accordance with canon 518 for celebrations following the ancient form of the Roman rite or appoint a chaplain while observing all the norms of law.

This means that a bishop could erect a parish for a particular geographical area which would cater to those faithful within that area desiring the old rite exclusively. Or he could appoint a particular priests who would be responsible for the celebration of the old rites within that diocese.

Art. 11. The Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”, erected to exercise its function will have the form, duties and norms that the Roman Pontiff wishes to assign it.< /span>

It is clear from this article that the powers of “Ecclesia Dei” are soon to be expanded).