Vatican clarifies rules on use of old rite

Source: Vatican News

Archbishop Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, has issued a letter responding to questions from local Churches regarding the application of the Motu proprio 'Traditionis custodes' that went into effect last July.

The first question asked whether the pre-Conciliar rite could be celebrated in a parish church should there be no other possibility of locating a church, oratory or chapel for a group of faithful that celebrate using the 1962 Missal. This possibility is excluded by the Motu proprio, to emphasize that the celebration of the Mass with the old rite is a concession limited to these groups and not part of the ordinary life of the parish community.

Permission will only be given if it impossible to find another place of worship - and if this Mass not included in the parish Mass schedule. In addition, such a celebration must not occur at the same time as other pastoral activities in the parish. The letter states that these directions are not intended to marginalise the faithful who frequent the old rite, but to serve as a reminder that it "is a concession to provide for their good", and not "an opportunity to promote the previous rite" no longer in force.

The second question concerns the possibility of celebrating not only the Eucharist (with the 1962 Missale Romanum which is the object of the concession), but also the other sacraments provided for by the Rituale Romanum (the last edition is dated 1952) and the Pontificale Romanum used prior to the liturgical reform. First of all, the response recalls that the Rituale Romanum contains the sacraments of Baptism, Penance, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick and rites such as funerals; while the Pontificale Romanum concerns those sacraments presided over by a Bishop - Confirmation and Ordination.

The answer was no. The authority of the Holy See holds that to progress in the direction indicated by Pope Francis, permission to use abrogated liturgical books should not be granted and that the faithful should be accompanied "towards a full understanding of the value of the celebration in the ritual form" flowing from the liturgical reform.

There are, however, some important distinctions. The responsum specifies that it would be possible to use the former Rituale only in "canonically erected personal parishes", that is, exclusively in those parishes already designated by the Bishop and dedicated to the faithful who frequent the former rite.

However, even in these parishes it is not permitted to use the Pontificale for Confirmation or Ordination. The reason for the prohibition regarding confirmation is that this sacrament was modified by Pope Saint Paul VI and, therefore, it is not considered possible to use the abolished rite, given that it underwent substantial changes.

Another question asked about the possibility of granting permission to use the old Missal to Priests who do not recognise the validity or legitimacy of concelebrating and who, therefore, refuse to concelebrate the Chrism Mass with the Bishop on Holy Thursday.

The response to this is negative. However, before revoking the concession, the Bishop is asked "to establish a fraternal dialogue with the Priest, to ascertain that this attitude does not exclude the validity and legitimacy of the liturgical reform" of the Second Vatican Council and the magisterium of the Supreme Pontiffs. Prior to revoking the concession, the Bishop should offer the Priest the necessary time for a "sincere discussion", inviting him to participate in the concelebration.

Another question asked if it is possible to choose the Scripture passages indicated in the old Missal from a complete Bible text. The Holy See responded yes to this.

The old Missal, in addition to containing the rite of the Mass, also contained the text of the Readings. It was after the reform that the Missal (containing the rubrics and prayers) was separated from the Lectionary (containing the texts from Sacred Scripture for the Readings). Since Pope Francis' Motu proprio prescribed that the Latin Readings contained in the old Missal were always to be proclaimed in the vernacular language of each country, the use of a translation of the Bible approved by the individual Episcopal Conferences for use in the liturgy was approved. What is not authorised, on the other hand, is the publication of a true and proper 'Lectionary' in the vernacular language with the cycle of Readings provided for in the old rite.

A fifth query concerned the 'consultation' of the Holy See required by the Bishop prior to responding affirmatively to a Priest ordained after 16 July 2021 who desires to celebrate the old rite. The response explains that in this case, a concession must be authorised by the Holy See.

The Congregation for Divine Worship encourages all seminary formators to accompany future Deacons and Priests to "understanding and experience of the richness of the liturgical reform".

To the question regarding whether a Bishop may grant permission to use the old Missal for a specific period of time, so as to reserve the possibility of an evaluation, the Holy See responds affirmatively. It also responds in the affirmative to the question of whether the concession is restricted to the territory of the Bishop's diocese.

In the response to another question, it is specified that if an authorised Priest is absent, the substituting Priest must also have received a formal authorisation to use the old Missal. Authorisation is also required for Deacons and other instituted ministers who participate in the celebration of the pre-Conciliar Mass.

The tenth and eleventh queries ask whether a priest may celebrate two Masses in a day - one in the new rite and then one in the old old rite, with an assembly or in private. This will not be allowed.

In a statement Joseph Shaw, Chairman of the Latin Mass Society said it is "greatly disappointed' by the Responsa ad dubia published by the Congregation for Divine Worship. In particular, we would like to note that the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation by bishops to groups of the Faithful attached to the older liturgy greatly strengthened the sense of communion between people and bishop: this was a regular event in several dioceses in England and Wales and around the world. The ban on this in this new document does immediate severe harm to the very thing it claims to be promoting--the unity of the Church--and will contribute to a sense among the faithful of deliberate marginalisation, and even a desire to impede our reception of the sacraments.

Even more severe is the ban on the use of older books for Ordinations. There have been many vocations from England and Wales to priestly Institutes which were set up with the Pope's approval to minister to the Faithful using the older liturgy. Preventing them from using the ancient rite of ordination undermines their whole raison d'etre.

We urge priests and bishops tasked with implementing this document to consider carefully the good of souls in doing so, which as the Code of Canon Law informs us, is the 'supreme law' (Canon 1752).

Read the full Letter: www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20211204_responsa-ad-dubia-tradizionis-custodes_en.html