A growing number of bishops in the United States, including Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington, have issued guidance regarding groups celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass in their dioceses, after a new document from Pope Francis on Friday imposed restrictions on the use of the traditional liturgy.
The pope’s document, a motu proprio entitled Traditionis custodes, made sweeping changes to his predecessor Benedict XVI’s 2007 apostolic letterSummorum Pontificum, which acknowledged the right of all priests to say Mass using the Roman Missal of 1962, which is in Latin.
The new motu proprio states that it is each bishop’s “exclusive competence” to authorize the use of the 1962 Roman Missal in his diocese.
Bishops across the U.S. have granted permission for the Traditional Latin Mass to continue in their dioceses while they study the document and determine how to proceed.
“I will prayerfully reflect upon Traditionis custodes in the coming weeks to ensure we understand fully the Holy Father’s intentions and consider carefully how they are realized in the Archdiocese of Washington,” Cardinal Gregory of Washington wrote in a July 16 letter to his priests.
“In the interim, I hereby grant the faculty to those who celebrate the Mass using the liturgical books issued before 1970 to continue to do so this weekend and in the days to come, until further guidance is forthcoming.”
The new document sets out the responsibilities of bishops whose dioceses already have one or more groups that offer Mass in the extraordinary form, mandating that bishops determine that these groups do not deny the validity of Vatican II and the Magisterium.
Bishops are instructed to “designate one or more locations where the faithful adherents of these groups may gather for the eucharistic celebration (not however in the parochial churches and without the erection of new personal parishes).”
It also imposes new requirements for newly ordained priests wishing to celebrate the Extraordinary Form, and instructs bishops to verify that already-established parishes that celebrate the Extraordinary Form “are effective for their spiritual growth and to determine whether or not to retain them.” It further instructs bishops to “take care not to authorize the establishment of new groups” that celebrate the Extraordinary Form.
The pope says he wrote the document in response to a 2020 survey of bishops, and explained that he was saddened by what he sees as a rejection of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a brief statement on the matter July 16.
“Today Pope Francis published Traditionis custodes, an Apostolic Letter issued motu proprio on the use of Latin liturgical texts approved prior to the reform of 1970. I welcome the Holy Father’s desire to foster unity among Catholics who celebrate the Roman Rite,” Gomez wrote.
“As these new norms are implemented, I encourage my brother bishops to work with care, patience, justice, and charity as together we foster a Eucharistic renewal in our nation.”
The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), which celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass, addressed the situation in a July 16 statement.
“At this point, it is too early to tell what all the implications will be for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, but we assure you that we remain committed to serving the faithful attending our apostolates in accordance with our Constitutions and charism as we have done since our founding,” the order said in a statement provided to CNA.
“We must strive to see this Cross as a means of our sanctification, and to remember that God will never abandon His Church.”
Other bishops have issued statements about the celebration of the Traditional Mass in their dioceses.
“I have informed our clergy that I am granting temporary permission for those priests competent in offering Mass in the Extraordinary Form to continue to do so in churches that already have an Extraordinary Form Mass on their schedule or in a private setting until further study and clarification can inform an appropriate implementation of this document,” Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City said in a July 16 tweet.
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco told CNA July 16 that “The Mass is a miracle in any form: Christ comes to us in the flesh under the appearance of Bread and Wine. Unity under Christ is what matters. Therefore the Traditional Latin Mass will continue to be available here in the Archdiocese of San Francisco and provided in response to the legitimate needs and desires of the faithful.”
The Diocese of Arlington told CNA that all parishes that had planned on offering Masses in the Extraordinary Form would be able to do so.
“Bishop Burbidge has read the motu proprio regarding the 1962 Missal,” said a statement from Billy Atwell, chief communications officer for the Diocese of Arlington.
“He will review it in greater detail and offer further guidance to our priests in the near future. Parishes currently scheduled to offer Mass in the Extraordinary Form this weekend have received permission to do so.”
Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas said on Twitter that two parishes in his diocese that use the 1962 missal have “asked for & received permission to continue doing so while local norms appropriate to the motu proprio promulgated by His Holiness Pope Francis are being prepared.”
Bishop Anthony Taylor of Little Rock, Arkansas said the new restrictions “do not apply” to the diocese’ two personal parishes for the celebration of the Latin Mass.
“There is no change for these parishes or the priests serving them. All that is required of them and the Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) priests serving them is that they accept the validity and legitimacy of the liturgical reform of Vatican II, which they do. ‘Traditionis Custodes’ does caution me not to establish any additional personal parishes for the celebration of the Latin Mass going forward,” Bishop Taylor said in a July 16 letter.
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Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Oct. 5, 2016. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA
CNA Staff, Mar 13, 2024 / 12:00 pm (CNA).
March 13 marks the anniversary of the election of Pope Francis as the 266th successor of St. Peter. Here is a timeline of key events during his papacy:
2013
March 13 — About two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI steps down from the papacy, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is elected pope. He takes the papal name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi and proclaims from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Let us begin this journey, the bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another.”
March 14 — The day after he begins his pontificate, Pope Francis returns to his hotel to personally pay his hotel bill and collect his luggage.
July 8 — Pope Francis visits Italy’s island of Lampedusa and meets with a group of 50 migrants, most of whom are young men from Somalia and Eritrea. The island, which is about 200 miles off the coast of Tunisia, is a common entry point for migrants who flee parts of Africa and the Middle East to enter Europe. This is the pope’s first pastoral visit outside of Rome and sets the stage for making reaching out to the peripheries a significant focus.
Pope Francis gives the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 2, 2013. Elise Harris/CNA.
July 23-28 — Pope Francis visits Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to participate in World Youth Day 2013. More than 3 million people from around the world attend the event.
July 29 — On the return flight from Brazil, Pope Francis gives his first papal news conference and sparks controversy by saying “if a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” The phrase is prompted by a reporter asking the pope a question about priests who have homosexual attraction.
Nov. 24 — Pope Francis publishes his first apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). The document illustrates the pope’s vision for how to approach evangelization in the modern world.
2014
Feb. 22 — Pope Francis holds his first papal consistory to appoint 19 new cardinals, including ones from countries in the developing world that have never previously been represented in the College of Cardinals, such as Haiti.
March 22 — Pope Francis creates the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The commission works to protect the dignity of minors and vulnerable adults, such as the victims of sexual abuse.
Pope Francis greets pilgrims during his general audience on Nov. 29, 2014. Bohumil Petrik/CNA.
Oct. 5 — The Synod on the Family begins. The bishops discuss a variety of concerns, including single-parent homes, cohabitation, homosexual adoption of children, and interreligious marriages.
Dec. 6 — After facing some pushback for his efforts to reform the Roman Curia, Pope Francis discusses his opinion in an interview with La Nacion, an Argentine news outlet: “Resistance is now evident. And that is a good sign for me, getting the resistance out into the open, no stealthy mumbling when there is disagreement. It’s healthy to get things out into the open, it’s very healthy.”
2015
Jan. 18 — To conclude a trip to Asia, Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Manila, Philippines. Approximately 6 million to 7 million people attend the record-setting Mass, despite heavy rain.
March 23 — Pope Francis visits Naples, Italy, to show the Church’s commitment to helping the fight against corruption and organized crime in the city.
May 24 — To emphasize the Church’s mission to combat global warming and care for the environment, Pope Francis publishes the encyclical Laudato Si’, which urges people to take care of the environment and encourages political action to address climate problems.
Pope Francis at a Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on June 17, 2015. Bohumil Petrik.
Sept. 19-22 — Pope Francis visits Cuba and meets with Fidel Castro in the first papal visit to the country since Pope John Paul II in 1998. During his homily, Francis discusses the dignity of the human person: “Being a Christian entails promoting the dignity of our brothers and sisters, fighting for it, living for it.”
Sept. 22-27 — After departing from Cuba, Pope Francis makes his first papal visit to the United States. In Washington, D.C., he speaks to a joint session of Congress, in which he urges lawmakers to work toward promoting the common good, and canonizes the Franciscan missionary St. Junípero Serra. He also attends the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which focuses on celebrating the gift of the family.
Pope Francis speaks to the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 24, 2015. . L’Osservatore Romano.
Oct. 4 — Pope Francis begins the second Synod on the Family to address issues within the modern family, such as single-parent homes, cohabitation, poverty, and abuse.
Oct. 18 — The pope canonizes St. Louis Martin and St. Marie-Azélie “Zelie” Guérin. The married couple were parents to five nuns, including St. Therese of Lisieux. They are the first married couple to be canonized together.
Dec. 8 — Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Mercy begins. The year focuses on God’s mercy and forgiveness and people’s redemption from sin. The pope delegates certain priests in each diocese to be Missionaries of Mercy who have the authority to forgive sins that are usually reserved for the Holy See.
2016
March 19 — Pope Francis publishes the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, which discusses a wide variety of issues facing the modern family based on discussions from the two synods on the family. The pope garners significant controversy from within the Church for comments he makes in Chapter 8 about Communion for the divorced and remarried.
April 16 — After visiting refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos, Pope Francis allows three Muslim refugee families to join him on his flight back to Rome. He says the move was not a political statement.
Pope Francis at the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Feb. 24, 2016. Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
July 26-31 — Pope Francis visits Krakow, Poland, as part of the World Youth Day festivities. About 3 million young Catholic pilgrims from around the world attend.
Sept. 4 — The pope canonizes St. Teresa of Calcutta, who is also known as Mother Teresa. The saint, a nun from Albania, dedicated her life to missionary and charity work, primarily in India.
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 — Pope Francis visits Georgia and Azerbaijan on his 16th trip outside of Rome since the start of his papacy. His trip focuses on Catholic relations with Orthodox Christians and Muslims.
Oct. 4 — Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to Amatrice, Italy, to pray for the victims of an earthquake in central Italy that killed nearly 300 people.
2017
May 12-13 — In another papal trip, Francis travels to Fatima, Portugal, to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. May 13 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Marian apparition to three children in the city.
July 11 — Pope Francis adds another category of Christian life suitable for the consideration of sainthood: “offering of life.” The category is distinct from martyrdom, which only applies to someone who is killed for his or her faith. The new category applies to those who died prematurely through an offering of their life to God and neighbor.
Pope Francis greets a participant in the World Day of the Poor in Rome, Nov. 16, 2017. L’Osservatore Romano.
Nov. 19 — On the first-ever World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis eats lunch with 4,000 poor and people in need in Rome.
Nov. 27-Dec. 2 — In another trip to Asia, Pope Francis travels to Myanmar and Bangladesh. He visits landmarks and meets with government officials, Catholic clergy, and Buddhist monks. He also preaches the Gospel and promotes peace in the region.
2018
Jan. 15-21 — The pope takes another trip to Latin America, this time visiting Chile and Peru. The pontiff meets with government officials and members of the clergy while urging the faithful to remain close to the clergy and reject secularism. The Chilean visit leads to controversy over Chilean clergy sex abuse scandals.
Aug. 2 — The Vatican formally revises No. 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which concerns the death penalty. The previous text suggested the death penalty could be permissible in certain circumstances, but the revision states that the death penalty is “inadmissible.”
Aug. 25 — Archbishop Carlo Viganò, former papal nuncio to the United States, publishes an 11-page letter calling for the resignation of Pope Francis and accusing him and other Vatican officials of covering up sexual abuse including allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The pope initially does not directly respond to the letter, but nine months after its publication he denies having prior knowledge about McCarrick’s conduct.
Aug. 25-26 — Pope Francis visits Dublin, Ireland, to attend the World Meeting of Families. The theme is “the Gospel of family, joy for the world.”
Pope Francis at the 2018 World Meeting of Families in Ireland. Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
Oct. 3-28 — The Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment takes place. The synod focuses on best practices to teach the faith to young people and to help them discern God’s will.
2019
Jan. 22-27 — The third World Youth Day during Pope Francis’ pontificate takes place during these six days in Panama City, Panama. Young Catholics from around the world gather for the event, with approximately 3 million people in attendance.
Feb. 4 — Pope Francis signs a joint document in with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, titled the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.” The document focuses on people of different faiths uniting together to live peacefully and advance a culture of mutual respect.
Pope Francis and Ahmed el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar, signed a joint declaration on human fraternity during an interreligious meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Feb. 4, 2019. Vatican Media.
Feb. 21-24 — The Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church, which is labeled the Vatican Sexual Abuse Summit, takes place. The meeting focuses on sexual abuse scandals in the Church and emphasizes responsibility, accountability, and transparency.
Oct. 6-27 — The Church holds the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region, which is also known as the Amazon Synod. The synod is meant to present ways in which the Church can better evangelize the Amazon region but leads to controversy when carved images of a pregnant Amazonian woman, referred to by the pope as Pachamama, are used in several events and displayed in a basilica near the Vatican.
Oct. 13 — St. John Henry Newman, an Anglican convert to Catholicism and a cardinal, is canonized by Pope Francis. Newman’s writings inspired Catholic student associations at nonreligious colleges and universities in the United States and other countries.
2020
March 15 — Pope Francis takes a walking pilgrimage in Rome to the chapel of the crucifix and prays for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. The crucifix was carried through Rome during the plague of 1522.
March 27 — Pope Francis gives an extraordinary “urbi et orbi” blessing in an empty and rain-covered St. Peter’s Square, praying for the world during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pope Francis venerates the miraculous crucifix of San Marcello al Corso in St. Peter’s Square during his Urbi et Orbi blessing, March 27, 2020. Vatican Media.
2021
March 5-8 — In his first papal trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis becomes the first pope to visit Iraq. On his trip, he signs a joint statement with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani condemning extremism and promoting peace.
July 3 — Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, who was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis, is indicted in a Vatican court for embezzlement, money laundering, and other crimes. The pope gives approval for the indictment.
July 4 — Pope Francis undergoes colon surgery for diverticulitis, a common condition in older people. The Vatican releases a statement that assures the pope “reacted well” to the surgery. Francis is released from the hospital after 10 days.
July 16 — Pope Francis issues a motu proprio titled Traditionis Custodes. The document imposes heavy restrictions on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.
Dec. 2-6 — The pope travels to Cyprus and Greece. The trip includes another visit to the Greek island of Lesbos to meet with migrants.
Pope Francis greets His Beatitude Ieronymos II in Athens, Greece on Dec. 5, 2021. Vatican Media
2022
Jan. 11 — Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to a record store in Rome called StereoSound. The pope, who has an affinity for classical music, blesses the newly renovated store.
March 19 — The pope promulgates Praedicate Evangelium, which reforms the Roman Curia. The reforms emphasize evangelization and establish more opportunities for the laity to be in leadership positions.
May 5 — Pope Francis is seen in a wheelchair for the first time in public and begins to use one more frequently. The pope has been suffering from knee problems for months.
Pope Francis greeted the crowd in a wheelchair at the end of his general audience on Aug. 3, 2022. Daniel Ibanez/CNA
July 24-30 — In his first papal visit to Canada, Pope Francis apologizes for the harsh treatment of the indigenous Canadians, saying many Christians and members of the Catholic Church were complicit.
2023
Jan. 31-Feb. 5 — Pope Francis travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. During his visit, the pope condemns political violence in the countries and promotes peace. He also participates in an ecumenical prayer service with Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Moderator of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields.
Pope Francis greets a young boy a Mass in Juba, South Sudan on Feb. 5, 2023. Vatican Media
March 29-April 1 — Pope Francis is hospitalized for a respiratory infection. During his stay at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, he visits the pediatric cancer ward and baptizes a newborn baby.
April 5 — The pope appears in the Disney documentary “The Pope: Answers,” which is in Spanish, answering six “hot-button” issues from members of Gen Z from various backgrounds. The group discusses immigration, depression, abortion, clergy sexual and psychological abuse, transgenderism, pornography, and loss of faith.
April 28-30 — Pope Francis visits Hungary to meet with government officials, civil society members, bishops, priests, seminarians, Jesuits, consecrated men and women, and pastoral workers. He celebrates Mass on the final day of the trip in Kossuth Lajos Square.
Pope Francis stands on an altar erected outside the Parliament Building in Budapest’s Kossuth Lajos’ Square during a public outdoor Mass on April 30, 2023. Vatican Media
June 7 — The Vatican announces that Pope Francis will undergo abdominal surgery that afternoon under general anesthesia due to a hernia that is causing painful, recurring, and worsening symptoms. In his general audience that morning before the surgery, Francis says he intends to publish an apostolic letter on St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “patroness of the missions,” to mark the 150th anniversary of her birth.
June 15 — After successful surgery and a week of recovery, Pope Francis is released from Gemelli Hospital.
Aug. 2-6 — Pope Francis travels to Lisbon, Portugal, for World Youth Day 2023, taking place from Aug. 1-6. He meets with Church and civil leaders ahead of presiding at the welcoming Mass and Stations of the Cross. He also hears the confessions of several pilgrims. On Aug. 5, he visits the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima, where he prays the rosary with young people with disabilities. That evening he presides over the vigil and on Sunday, Aug. 6, he celebrates the closing Mass, where he urges the 1.5 million young people present to “be not afraid,” echoing the words of the founder of World Youth Days, St. John Paul II.
Pope Francis waves at the crowd of 1.5 million people who attended the closing Mass of World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal on Aug. 6, 2023. Vatican Media.
Aug. 31-Sept. 4 — Pope Francis travels to Mongolia, the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign country. The trip makes Francis the first pope to visit the Asian country that shares a 2,880-mile border with China, its most significant economic partner. Mongolia has a population of about 1,300 Catholics in a country of more than 3 million people.
Pope Francis meets with local priests and religious of Mongolia, which includes only 25 priests (19 religious and six diocesan), 33 women religious, and one bishop — Cardinal Giorgio Marengo — in Ulaanbaatar’s Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul on Sept. 2, 2023. Credit: Vatican Media
Sept. 22-23 — On a two-day trip to Marseille, France, Pope Francis meets with local civil and religious leaders and participates in the Mediterranean Encounter, a gathering of some 120 young people of various creeds with bishops from 30 countries.
Pope Francis asks for a moment of silence at a memorial dedicated to sailors and migrants lost at sea on the first of a two-day visit to Marseille, France, Sept. 22, 2023. A Camargue cross, which comes from the Camargue area of France, represents the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. The three tridents represent faith, the anchor represents hope, and the heart represents charity. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Oct. 4-29 — The Vatican hosts the first of two monthlong global assemblies of the Synod on Synodality, initiated by Pope Francis in 2021 to enhance the communion, participation, and mission of the Church. Pope Francis celebrates the closing Mass of the synod at St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 29. The second and final global assembly will take place at the Vatican in October 2024.
Pope Francis at the Synod on Synodality’s closing Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 29, 2023. Vatican Media
Nov. 25 — Pope Francis visits the hospital briefly for precautionary testing after coming down with the flu earlier in the day. Although he still participates in scheduled activities, other officials read his prepared remarks. The Vatican on Nov. 28 cancels the pope’s planned Dec. 1–3 trip to Dubai for the COP28 climate conference, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech, due to his illness.
Dec. 18 — The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issues the declaration Fiducia Supplicans, which authorizes nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples and couples in “irregular situations.” Various bishops from around the world voice both support for and criticism of the document.
2024
Jan. 4 — Amid widespread backlash to Fiducia Supplicans, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, publishes a five-page press release that refers to Fiducia Supplicans as “perennial doctrine” and underlines that pastoral blessings of couples in irregular situations should not be “an endorsement of the life led by those who request them.”
Jan. 14 — Pope Francis for the first time responds publicly to questions about Fiducia Supplicans in an interview on an Italian television show. The pope underlines that “the Lord blesses everyone” and that a blessing is an invitation to enter into a conversation “to see what the road is that the Lord proposes to them.”
Feb. 11 — In a ceremony attended by Argentine president Javier Milei, Pope Francis canonizes María Antonia of St. Joseph — known affectionately in the pope’s home country as “Mama Antula” — in a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. The president and the former archbishop of Buenos Aires embrace after the ceremony. Pope Francis, who has not returned to his homeland since becoming pope in 2013, has said he wants to visit Argentina in the second half of this year.
Pope Francis meets with Argentina President Javier Milei in a private audience on Feb. 12, 2024, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican Media
Feb. 28 — After canceling audiences the previous Saturday and having an aide read his prepared remarks at his Wednesday audience due to a “mild flu,” Pope Francis visits the hospital for diagnostic tests but returns to the Vatican afterward.
March 2 — Despite having an aide read his speech “because of bronchitis,” the pope presides over the inauguration of the 95th Judicial Year of the Vatican City State and maintains a full schedule.
March 13 — Pope Francis celebrates 11 years as Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
South Bend, Ind., Jan 30, 2019 / 02:00 pm (CNA).- Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend has encouraged students at the University of Notre Dame to join the Knights of Columbus.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins hosts a USDA all-staff meeting on May 23, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Rollins announced the termination of household food insecurity reports in September 2025. / Credit: USDAgov, Public domain, via Wikimedi… […]
25 Comments
Traditionis custodes makes it clear practice of the TL Mass cannot expand. If it were to die it would be on the Vine. Archbishop Cordileone interprets the Motu Proprio as leaving the decision to end or continue with the discretion of the Ordinary, as it appeared to state when read. Whatever may transpire in the future during this presumed interim, perhaps permanent Latin may still be used with the Novus Ordo and adaptation taken from the TLM as I believe suggested by Fr Longenecker. I offer my private Masses in Latin and would be quite pleased to offer the same with the community. Although it is not the same it nonetheless is a good option. And lest it’s forgotten we still have the Roman canon I in the Novus Ordo, which I have used on solemnities. Certainly we’re free to use it on Sundays in Latin.
The Latin language New Order is not a suitable alternative, not that it requires any dispensation. It has been “legal” since 1970. But why would anyone bother? I accept the New Order Mass as the standard but it does not speak to my soul and never has. I would prefer the 1962 Missal in English to the modern Mass, but the Traditional Latin Mass ins sublime. Surely it is more pompous than the Last Supper, but it inspires devotion.
The Old Mass was said for 1600 years and longer than that in different forms but forms very much like it. No one complained. The New Order of Mass has been said for 51 years and now we must drop every form of Traditional prayer for novelties? I’m glad these Bishops that are mentioned are at least going to be prudent enough to think over the Motu Propio and perhaps make a decision on the 1600-year-old decision inspired by the Holy Ghost. Enough of a Catholic Church bereft of God!
The 1962 Roman Missal is also less sacrilegious than the Crucifixion, and yet it inspires me to total devotion to that act of total love on our behalf.
My Novus Ordo experiences barely brought such an image near the lens for even a momentary fuzzy focus. Indeed, my NO experiences were more like festive celebratory parties, with dancing, chatting, texting, invitations to join the Consecratory gathering in the sanctuary, etc. Palm Sunday and Good Friday liturgies were like parades.
We wrote the archbishop more than once and never once heard back. I live on one of the US coasts, the most liberal one.
Oh. We did hear from the Archbishop. For a few years, on the basis of larger than usual gifts to the annual appeal, we were invited to Christmas parties and membership in some select Archdiocesan club. Then we heard from the archbishop.
Pope Francis —“The pope says he wrote the document in response to a 2020 survey of bishops, and explained that he was saddened by what he sees as a rejection of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council.” All that had to be done to solve the issue was encourage all those who love the TLM , to weed out those who rejected the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Likewise weed out those who staunchly hold that only the Latin makes the Holy Sacrifice valid.
Richard
Weeding out sounds like Stalin’s purges. Do people not have a right to their own viewpoint in a democracy? We might note that the authorities, clerical and lay, in the TIM movement did not launch any attack on the church. So, why attack them?
We need to thank Pope Francis for what he has done for the Latin Mass Community
in the twilight of his papacy. By persecuting them, he has made them attractive
to many non-Catholics and lukewarm Catholics. So, please Pope Francis, please
issue more dictums against the Latin Mass Community and any other truly Catholic
community that you despise for their “rigidity”. After all, it is
Good Shepherd Sunday and the words of today’s reading of Jeremiah 23:1-6 are most apt.
Today, my FSSP pastor sought to encourage the faithful. He did not mention our diocesan bishop by name, title, or office. I heard the words ‘contract’ and ‘legal’ and ‘too early to tell’ the ramifications. Reading between the lines, I sensed a canonical battle. He asked for prayers and offerings of our Communion to those less fortunate than we–FSSP parishes, priests, parishioners in Europe. He asked for prayers for the pope. He reminded that sadness, despair, discouragement are sins against hope, and we must hope since God’s foreknowledge allows all for our sanctification.
Question: Has any one of you ever heard this pope spout one iota of such a theology?
Cardinal Gregory of Washington wrote in a July 16 letter to his priests: “In the interim, I hereby grant the faculty to those who celebrate the Mass using the liturgical books issued before 1970 to continue to do so this weekend and in the days to come, until further guidance is forthcoming.”
Thus, in the Archdiocese of Washington the 1954 liturgical books may be used, at least pro tempore.
Of course it must be remembered that there is no obedience required to “Traditionis Custodes“ since one must never obey a sinful command or law. “ Traditionis Custodes” is a violation of the most basic and fundamental primary law of the Church because it endangers the eternal salvation of souls. The number of souls is irrelevant. Even if there were no souls so so endangered the fact that there could be renders the motu proprio null and void.
Sadly this won’t matter since few bishops and priests have the moral courage to stand up to their superiors and will commit grave sin because of their cowardice.
Funny thing is, I am a priest and I don’t celebrate the TLM….yet.
In regards to the statement “[Francis] was saddened by what he sees as a rejection of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council” – News flash, Pope Francis; The so-called rejection of the N.O. has nothing to do with it arising out of the documents of Vatican II (documents which were abused, BTW, by faithless clergy), nor is it because we somehow consider it invalid. It is because it is boring, banal, tedious, often irreverent, empty of passion and fervor, and, although it is only an hour long, I dread going, something I never felt when getting ready for a TLM mass. The Eucharist is confected in both, yes; but, frankly, that is the only thing a N.O. mass has going for it.
Jessie – You’ve exactly nailed my sentiments. I would change your “often irreverent” to usually irreverent because its rubrics invite creative ‘improvement’. It invites participants to chatter, to back-slap, to hand-shake and/or to kiss one’s neighbor rather than pay even the same sort of homage to God who sacrificed his human life for us silly stupid stinky sheep.
Archbishop Cordileone’s statement is clear, concise and straight to the point. Methinks that Mrs. Pelosi is more than a bit wary of him, as she should be.
I wish the Pope could somehow sneak into a modern day guitar ‘mass’ and be FORCED to listen to modern day songs about ‘glad tambourines’ and the like, and then God grant him the grace to say “Never mind!!”.
Beloved Catholics: I am in concert with all of you. The overwhelming sadness of such a focus by our Pope is very difficult to understand in any form. Why did he not write a letter to the world on the murder of the innocents? Does he not have eyes to see and ears to hear their torture and screams. He could teach and lead millions to a very deep understanding of that apocalypse, as he has the center stage. I do not understand. He could open the eyes and ears of all countries and present it to the Father,The Son and the Holy Spirit when he stands before them. Lets continue to pray for that! I love you all, Teresa Brownlee
Traditionis custodes makes it clear practice of the TL Mass cannot expand. If it were to die it would be on the Vine. Archbishop Cordileone interprets the Motu Proprio as leaving the decision to end or continue with the discretion of the Ordinary, as it appeared to state when read. Whatever may transpire in the future during this presumed interim, perhaps permanent Latin may still be used with the Novus Ordo and adaptation taken from the TLM as I believe suggested by Fr Longenecker. I offer my private Masses in Latin and would be quite pleased to offer the same with the community. Although it is not the same it nonetheless is a good option. And lest it’s forgotten we still have the Roman canon I in the Novus Ordo, which I have used on solemnities. Certainly we’re free to use it on Sundays in Latin.
The Latin language New Order is not a suitable alternative, not that it requires any dispensation. It has been “legal” since 1970. But why would anyone bother? I accept the New Order Mass as the standard but it does not speak to my soul and never has. I would prefer the 1962 Missal in English to the modern Mass, but the Traditional Latin Mass ins sublime. Surely it is more pompous than the Last Supper, but it inspires devotion.
Have you actually examined Roman Canon I in the Novus Ordo. If you haven’t and examine it you may find it does indeed inspire devotion.
When it’s used.
Sad but true.
The Old Mass was said for 1600 years and longer than that in different forms but forms very much like it. No one complained. The New Order of Mass has been said for 51 years and now we must drop every form of Traditional prayer for novelties? I’m glad these Bishops that are mentioned are at least going to be prudent enough to think over the Motu Propio and perhaps make a decision on the 1600-year-old decision inspired by the Holy Ghost. Enough of a Catholic Church bereft of God!
The 1962 Roman Missal is also less sacrilegious than the Crucifixion, and yet it inspires me to total devotion to that act of total love on our behalf.
My Novus Ordo experiences barely brought such an image near the lens for even a momentary fuzzy focus. Indeed, my NO experiences were more like festive celebratory parties, with dancing, chatting, texting, invitations to join the Consecratory gathering in the sanctuary, etc. Palm Sunday and Good Friday liturgies were like parades.
We wrote the archbishop more than once and never once heard back. I live on one of the US coasts, the most liberal one.
Oh. We did hear from the Archbishop. For a few years, on the basis of larger than usual gifts to the annual appeal, we were invited to Christmas parties and membership in some select Archdiocesan club. Then we heard from the archbishop.
Pope Francis —“The pope says he wrote the document in response to a 2020 survey of bishops, and explained that he was saddened by what he sees as a rejection of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council.” All that had to be done to solve the issue was encourage all those who love the TLM , to weed out those who rejected the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Likewise weed out those who staunchly hold that only the Latin makes the Holy Sacrifice valid.
Richard
Weeding out sounds like Stalin’s purges. Do people not have a right to their own viewpoint in a democracy? We might note that the authorities, clerical and lay, in the TIM movement did not launch any attack on the church. So, why attack them?
We need to thank Pope Francis for what he has done for the Latin Mass Community
in the twilight of his papacy. By persecuting them, he has made them attractive
to many non-Catholics and lukewarm Catholics. So, please Pope Francis, please
issue more dictums against the Latin Mass Community and any other truly Catholic
community that you despise for their “rigidity”. After all, it is
Good Shepherd Sunday and the words of today’s reading of Jeremiah 23:1-6 are most apt.
The blood of martyrs seeds the faith.
Today, my FSSP pastor sought to encourage the faithful. He did not mention our diocesan bishop by name, title, or office. I heard the words ‘contract’ and ‘legal’ and ‘too early to tell’ the ramifications. Reading between the lines, I sensed a canonical battle. He asked for prayers and offerings of our Communion to those less fortunate than we–FSSP parishes, priests, parishioners in Europe. He asked for prayers for the pope. He reminded that sadness, despair, discouragement are sins against hope, and we must hope since God’s foreknowledge allows all for our sanctification.
Question: Has any one of you ever heard this pope spout one iota of such a theology?
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=6861&v=sI4NaxzwMUY :
FSSP Ordination mass, with commentary about the cloth used to bind the priest’s hands
Start at 1:49:00, go to 1:54:02 .
“And that gift of her son to the priesthood will be to her eternal glory in heaven.”
Thank you, Mr. Flynn. Touchingly beautiful it is. May Francis come to know what he has wrought.
Amen to that.
Interesting.
Cardinal Gregory of Washington wrote in a July 16 letter to his priests: “In the interim, I hereby grant the faculty to those who celebrate the Mass using the liturgical books issued before 1970 to continue to do so this weekend and in the days to come, until further guidance is forthcoming.”
Thus, in the Archdiocese of Washington the 1954 liturgical books may be used, at least pro tempore.
Of course it must be remembered that there is no obedience required to “Traditionis Custodes“ since one must never obey a sinful command or law. “ Traditionis Custodes” is a violation of the most basic and fundamental primary law of the Church because it endangers the eternal salvation of souls. The number of souls is irrelevant. Even if there were no souls so so endangered the fact that there could be renders the motu proprio null and void.
Sadly this won’t matter since few bishops and priests have the moral courage to stand up to their superiors and will commit grave sin because of their cowardice.
Funny thing is, I am a priest and I don’t celebrate the TLM….yet.
key phrase – “until further guidance is forthcoming.”
“Further guidance” – Interpret that to mean – NO guidance.
IOW – If it ain’t broke – don’t fix it.
I don’t attend the TLM but now I am ready to attend it, if it did come to my area. More than ever, I am ready.
In regards to the statement “[Francis] was saddened by what he sees as a rejection of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council” – News flash, Pope Francis; The so-called rejection of the N.O. has nothing to do with it arising out of the documents of Vatican II (documents which were abused, BTW, by faithless clergy), nor is it because we somehow consider it invalid. It is because it is boring, banal, tedious, often irreverent, empty of passion and fervor, and, although it is only an hour long, I dread going, something I never felt when getting ready for a TLM mass. The Eucharist is confected in both, yes; but, frankly, that is the only thing a N.O. mass has going for it.
Jessie – You’ve exactly nailed my sentiments. I would change your “often irreverent” to usually irreverent because its rubrics invite creative ‘improvement’. It invites participants to chatter, to back-slap, to hand-shake and/or to kiss one’s neighbor rather than pay even the same sort of homage to God who sacrificed his human life for us silly stupid stinky sheep.
Archbishop Cordileone’s statement is clear, concise and straight to the point. Methinks that Mrs. Pelosi is more than a bit wary of him, as she should be.
I wish the Pope could somehow sneak into a modern day guitar ‘mass’ and be FORCED to listen to modern day songs about ‘glad tambourines’ and the like, and then God grant him the grace to say “Never mind!!”.
Meanwhile, I’ll go to the Latin Mass in Lewiston.
Except that he’d probably like it.
Beloved Catholics: I am in concert with all of you. The overwhelming sadness of such a focus by our Pope is very difficult to understand in any form. Why did he not write a letter to the world on the murder of the innocents? Does he not have eyes to see and ears to hear their torture and screams. He could teach and lead millions to a very deep understanding of that apocalypse, as he has the center stage. I do not understand. He could open the eyes and ears of all countries and present it to the Father,The Son and the Holy Spirit when he stands before them. Lets continue to pray for that! I love you all, Teresa Brownlee
If you want to understand then Look through our Lady’s prophesies on what is coming to the church.