In traditional Catholic websites and blogs, a lot is being said about Pope Francis' position on the Tridentine Mass. Some say that he promoted the Tridentine Mass while the majority are saying that the former Cardinal Bergoglio restricted (to put it mildly) celebration of this Mass in the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires.
In this article (in Spanish) written from a third party perspective on 17 September 2007 i.e. just three days after the entry into force of Summorum Pontificum it is stated that:
The very first thing Bergoglio did after the publishing of Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI was to promote the Traditional Latin Mass, the Extraordinary Form, in his Archdiocese, immediately directing that a chapel, to start with, be set up for this end.
However, in blogs such as Rorate Coeli, the opinion is much different. See e.g. How Summorum Pontificum was blocked and trampled on in Buenos Aires: facts, not fantasy and disinformation. The tone is somewhat bitter and unwarranted, in our opinion.
Whatever the case about how things developed in Buenos Aires (bearing also in mind the strong presence of SSPX there), Bergoglio certainly tried to do the right thing from the beginning.
A good strategy, in our opinion, is to continue to use the provisions of Summorum Pontificum. If no provision is made for those who ask, the matter can always be brought to the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED).
Whatever the case about how things developed in Buenos Aires (bearing also in mind the strong presence of SSPX there), Bergoglio certainly tried to do the right thing from the beginning.
A good strategy, in our opinion, is to continue to use the provisions of Summorum Pontificum. If no provision is made for those who ask, the matter can always be brought to the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED).
Trying to be optimistic, as the Pope does seem prayerful and humble. As one of my friends said, a Thomas a Becket moment,when that saint rose to the role, ascending anything he had done previously. However, you better read this.
ReplyDeletehttp://the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/an-apology-to-rorate-caeli-and.html
Liturgy never was the Jesuits's strong point.
ReplyDeletePART 1
ReplyDeleteA nice way to say Happy Birthday to Benedict XVI and also to reply to the SSPX after one year!
Bishop Fellay's reply to the "Doctrinal Preamble" of 14 September 2011 was sent a year ago (15 April 2012).
I. We promise to be always faithful to the Catholic Church and to the Roman Pontiff, the Supreme Pastor, Vicar of Christ, Successor of Peter, and head of the body of bishops.
II. We declare that we accept the teachings of the Magisterium of the Church in the substance of Faith and Morals, adhering to each doctrinal affirmation in the required degree, according to the doctrine contained in No. 25 of the dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium of the Second Vatican Council.
PART 2
ReplyDeleteIII. 1. We declare that we accept the doctrine regarding the Roman Pontiff and regarding the college of bishops, with the pope as its head, which is taught by the dogmatic constitution Pastor Aeternus of Vatican I and by the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium of Vatican II, the chapter De constitutione hierarchica Ecclesiae et in specie de episcopatu, explained and interpreted by the nota explicativa praevia in this same chapter.
2. We recognize the authority of the Magisterium to which alone is given the task of authentically interpreting the word of God, in written form or handed down in fidelity to Tradition, recalling that "the Holy Ghost was not promised to the successors of Peter in order for them to make known, through revelation, a new doctrine, but so that with His assistance they may keep in a holy and expressly faithful manner the revelation transmitted by the Apostles, that is to say, the Faith."
3. Tradition is the living transmission of revelation "usque ad nos" and the Church in its doctrine, in its life and in its liturgy perpetuates and transmits to all generations what this is and what she believes. Tradition progresses in the Church with the assistance of the Holy Ghost, not as a contrary novelty, but through a better understanding of the Deposit of the Faith.
4. The entire tradition of Catholic Faith must be the criterion and guide in understanding the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, which, in turn, enlightens - in other words deepens and subsequently makes explicit - certain aspects of the life and doctrine of the Church implicitly present within itself or not yet conceptually formulated.
5. The affirmations of the Second Vatican Council and of the later Pontifical Magisterium relating to the relationship between the Church and the non-Catholic Christian confessions, as well as the social duty of religion and the right to religious liberty, whose formulation is with difficulty reconcilable with prior doctrinal affirmations from the Magisterium, must be understood in the light of the whole, uninterrupted Tradition, in a manner coherent with the truths previously taught by the Magisterium of the Church, without accepting any interpretation of these affirmations whatsoever that would expose Catholic doctrine to opposition or rupture with Tradition and with this Magisterium.
6. That is why it is legitimate to promote through legitimate discussion the study and theological explanations of the expressions and formulations of Vatican II and of the Magisterium which followed it, in the case where they don't appear reconcilable with the previous Magisterium of the Church.
7. We declare that we recognize the validity of the sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacraments celebrated with the intention to do what the Church does according to the rites indicated in the typical editions of the Roman Missal and the Sacramentary Rituals legitimately promulgated by Popes Paul VI and John Paul II.
8. In following the guidelines laid out above (III.5), as well as Canon 21 of the Code of Canon Law, we promise to respect the common discipline of the Church and the ecclesiastical laws, especially those which are contained in the Code of Canon Law promulgated by John Paul II (1983) and in the Code of Canon Law of the Oriental Churches promulgated by the same pontiff (1990), without prejudice to the discipline of the Society of Saint Pius X, by a special law.
PART 3
ReplyDeleteAnd Pope Francis said:
We offer this mass for him [Benedict XVI], so that the Lord be with him, confort him, and give him great consolation. ... The Council was a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit. Think of Pope John: he looked like a good parish priest, and he was obedient to the Holy Spirit, and he did that. But, after 50 years, have we done everything that the Holy Spirit told us in the Council? In the continuity of the growth of the Church that the Council was? No. We celebrate this anniversary, we make a monument, but do not bother. We do not want to change. And there is more: there are calls [voci, also 'voices'] wanting to move back. This is called being stubborn, this is called wanting to tame the Holy Spirit, this is called becoming fools and slow of heart.
Franciscus
Daily mass at Domus Sanctae Marthae - homily
April 16, 2013
A sad day for the Church. I think there are only two possibilities.
1: Pope Francis REALLY IS ignorant of the importance and value of the Traditional Mass and the fervent love that an ever-growing number of Catholics around the world celebrate daily.
(Possible because of his geography and upbringing. Does anyone know if he has even ever attended a Traditional Mass?)
2: He knows exactly what he's doing and aims to make the progressive, liberal, "God is love" mass of the 70's a permanent reality and stamp out for good the mass preferred by "stubborn fools".
If number 1 is true, we need to round up Ranjith and Burke and send them in to do some schoolin.
If it's number 2... no chance he'll win. We've waited this long, we'll go back underground and wait for God to do his work.