L iturgical celebrations in the forma extraordinaria. Apostolic letter motu proprio summorum pontificum on the use of the roman liturgy prior to the reform of 1970 here is a nonofficial english translation, issued by the vatican information service, of benedict xvis apostolic letter summorum pontificum, issued motu proprio, on ones own initiative, concerning the use of the roman missal promulgated by john xxiii in 1962. Francis surveys diocesan bishops on summorum pontificum latin. A document, signed personally by the pope, and issued solely on his authority and not in response to a request. The motu proprio summorum pontificum lays down new rules for the use of the roman liturgy that preceded the reform of 1970. The wanderer first published this article on summorum pontificum on july 19, 2007, and we are reprinting it here in view of the upcoming tenyear anniversary of pope benedicts landmark motu proprio, which allowed priests to say the traditional rite of the mass without asking for permission. As a cardinal, joseph ratzinger had already spoken favorably about the old mass many times.
This letter gave further explanations regarding the appropriateness and the need for the motu proprio. Furthermore, i establish that the present motu proprio, to be. Suggestions and sample letter for requesting the traditional latin mass following the motu proprio summorum pontificum. Letter of pope benedict to the bishops of the world on the motu proprio. My dear brother bishops, with great trust and hope, i am consigning to you as pastors the text of a new apostolic letter motu proprio data on the use of the roman liturgy prior to the reform of 1970. Up to our own times, it has been the constant concern of supreme. Apostolic letter in the form of motu proprio summorum. Motu proprio summorum pontificum on the roman liturgy. Pope benedict xvi altered rules from 1970 that limited the latin mass by releasing summorum pontificum, an apostolic letter that he issued motu proprio in. Later, in the year 1988, john paul ii with the apostolic letter given motu proprio, ecclesia dei, exhorted bishops to make generous use of this power in favor of all the faithful who so desired. Summorum pontificum is an apostolic letter issued motu proprio by the holy father in 2007. A motu proprio is a letter issued by the holy father on his own initiative for the good of the whole church, and has the force of both legislation and. Apostolic letter in the form of motu proprio on the.
Of the supreme pontiffs is an apostolic letter of pope benedict xvi, issued motu proprio i. On july 7, 2007 benedict xvi issued summorum pontificum, his longanticipated motu proprio allowing a more widespread use of the 1962 version of the traditional latin mass. In the introduction, he acknowledges that after the promulgation of pope paul vis reform 1970, in some regions, no small numbers of ntinue to adhere with great love and affection to the earlier liturgical forms. Ratzinger, hegel, and summorum pontificum novus ordo watch.
In the text it is clearly acknowledged that it was never abrogated. The document specified the rules, for the latin rite of the catholic church, for celebrating mass according to the missal promulgated by john xxiii in 1962 the form known as the tridentine mass, and for administering most of the sacraments in. The motu proprio summorum pontificum lays down new rules for the use of the roman liturgy that preceded the reform of. He tenth anniversary of pope benedict xvis motu proprio, summorum pontificum, is being marked in a variety of ways in different places. Motu proprio summorum pontificum on the roman liturgy prior to the reform of 1970 july 7, 2007. Furthermore, i establish that the present motu proprio, to be observed notwithstanding anything to the contrary.
Knowing of the documents imminent release, i awoke early that morning and eagerly devoured the text itself along with its accompanying letter to the bishops. Supreme pontiff is a title of the popes, and the opening sentence states that it has always been a concern of the supreme pontiffs that the church should offer fitting. What benedict accomplished with summorum pontificum. Johnstons care for the church and its liturgy joins an increasing number of recent works calling for a ceasefire in the liturgical wars of postconciliar catholicism. The explanatory note on motu proprio summorum pontificum. A motu proprio is usually issued to address what the pope regards as. Motu proprio, titled summorum pontificum, in which he greatly broadened the circumstances under which the old mass, that is, the prevatican ii mass, could be celebrated. This liturgical movement, one of the finest fruits of which was the constitution sacrosanctum concilium, is the context in which we ought to consider the motu proprio summorum. Grillo su riforma liturgica e motu proprio summorum pontificum. The document is well thought out and gives some precise juridical norms for. The holy see pope benedict xvi apostolic letter given motu proprio summorum pontificum on the use of the roman liturgy prior to the reform of 1970 the supreme pontiffs have to this day shown constant concern that the church of christ should offer worthy worship to the divine majesty, for the praise and glory of his name and the good of. Cardinal sarahs address on the 10th anniversary of. Subsequently, by the motu proprio summorum pontificum, of 7 july 2007, the pontifical commission extended.
The apostolic letter summorum pontificum of pope benedict xvi given motu proprio on 7 july 2007, which came into effect on 14 september 2007, has brought the riches of the roman liturgy closer to the universal church 2. Motu proprio data summorum pontificum on the roman. Summorum pontificum holds the weight of law and takes effect on september 14, 2007. Because as pope benedict xvi said, 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. When the pope releases a statement motu proprio its. Holy see sends survey to bishops on summorum pontificum exclusive, rorate caeli, apr. Apostolic letter in the form of motu proprio on the pontifical commission ecclesia dei. The supreme pontiffs have to this day shown constant concern that the church of christ should offer worthy worship to the divine majesty, for the praise and glory of his name and the good of all his holy church. Pope benedict xvi the apostolic letter motu propio. Pope benedict xvi the apostolic letter motu propio summorum pontificum motu proprio. Kenneth baker we had to wait a long time for the motu proprio, summorum pontificum, to be promulgated, but it was worth it. And so fidelity to this mass for the sake of which so many priests and lay people have been persecuted, or even severely punished, for almost forty years this fidelity was never disobedience. Motu proprio summorum pontificum on the roman liturgy prior to.
Apostolic letter summorum pontificum issued motu proprio english official latin text. As is customary for papal documents, the motu proprio which has no title is referred to by its incipit, the opening words of the original text. In the form of motu proprio summorum pontificum benedict xvi up to our own times, it has been the constant concern of supreme pontiffs to ensure that the church of christ offers a worthy ritual to the divine majesty, to the praise and glory of his name, and to the benefit of all his holy church. Advice offered by a parish priest from the midwest with additional material i suggest you read the document, summorum pontificum, first, especially the twelve points. While many rightly focus on summorum pontificum s restoration of the missal of st. Requesting the tlm after summorum pontificum una voce. Joseph ratzinger pope benedict xvi finally released an apostolic letter motu proprio, entitled summorum pontificum, on the use of the roman missal of 1962, the liturgical rite that is referred to by many as the traditional latin mass. His holiness benedict xvi issued the motu proprio summorum pontificum on july 7, 2007, concerning roman liturgy as used prior to the 1970 liturgical reform. How benedict xvis motu proprio summorum pontificum aims to destroy the traditional latin mass. With this letter given motu proprio, the supreme pontiff benedict xvi passed a universal law for the church, to make provision regarding the roman liturgy.
Extraordinary form of the roman ritetraditional latin mass. On 7 july 2007, pope benedict xvi promulgated new ecclesiastical legislation the apostolic letter motu proprio summorum pontificum which allows general use of the 1962 missale romanum, in addition to the preconciliar liturgical rites for the administration of the sacraments of baptism, marriage, penance, the anointing of the sick, and. Thank you, your holiness, for this act of pastoral charity, which has required of you, no doubt, much courage and suffering. Recognizing that this state of polarization was heightened after pope benedicts motu proprio summorum pontificum allowed for a broader use of the prevatican ii mass, johnston seeks to provide an irenic yet critical. Vatican instruction universae ecclesiae traditional. Dear faithful, the motu proprio, summorum pontificum, of july 7, 2007 reestablishes the tridentine mass in its legal right. The paragraphs deemed most important by the vatican are given below. On september 14 the church celebrates the feast of the exaltation of the holy cross commemorating the 4th century recovery of the true cross by st. Foreword by bishop dominique rey includes an index in july 7, 2007, pope benedict xvi released his motu proprio summorum pontificum, allowing for unprecedented freedom for priests to celebrate the socalled tridentine mass, now referred to as the extraordinary form of the mass, as opposed to the mass of paul vi, or the ordinary form. Pius v, by his apostolic constitution, quo primum, is only a liturgical book, as such it cannot be abrogated, because it is not a legal document. Norms for the implementation of the apostolic letter in. This year the date also marks the tenth anniversary of the implementation of pope benedicts landmark motu proprio, summorum pontificum. The motu proprio summorum pontificum was accompanied by a letter from the holy father to bishops, with the same date as the motu proprio 7 july 2007.
The day the motu proprio summorum pontificum was released was an exceptionally unusual one for me. Summorum pontificum is an apostolic letter of pope benedict xvi, issued in july 2007, which. As is customary for papal documents, the motu proprio which has no title is referred to by. While there came to us rumors of the agitation produced by the news of your. Summorum pontificum, motu proprio district of the usa sspx. The holy see press office issued an explanatory note on motu proprio summorum pontificum on july 7, 2007. In july 2014, saint mary parish merged with saint matthew parish, both located. Apple in the ibooks store and always available in pdf format on the archdiocesan website.
Communities which celebrate the extraordinary form of. Summorum pontificum and the future of the liturgy by fr. John xxiii as an extraordinary expression of the roman rite, it is often overlooked that pope benedicts motu proprio likewise reestablished the use of the other preconciliar. Up to our own times, it has been the constant concern of supreme pontiffs to ensure that the church of christ. Apostolic letter motu proprio on the liturgy entitled summorum pontifi cum cura. In this new book by french bishop marc aillet, the. Mass booklet ewtn televised mass, september 14, 2007 pdf 2. Motu proprio summorum pontificum the pope benedict xvi.
Summorum pontificum, second vatican council, archbishop lefebvre, rite, reform of 1970, 1970, bishops, motu proprio, roman liturgy. Which version of the rituale romanum is allowed by summorum pontificum, and does it allow for any english texts a. It affirmed the unity of the roman rite of the church, and recognized the missal originally promulgated by our brother pope st. And while the fear exists and i see it growing that summorum pontificum will be revoked, i do not believe this is truly possible. On saturday, july 7, 2007, pope benedict xvi issued an apostolic letter on the celebration of the roman rite according to. Thesis antithesis synthesis ratzinger, hegel, and summorum pontificum image. Xvis 2007 motu proprio, summorum pontificum, to describe the liturgy of the. Questions and answers on summorum pontificum catholic. The most significant change outlined in this apostolic letter is that permission by the diocesan bishop is no longer needed in order for priests to celebrate mass according to the.
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