| [The following "informative sheet" was provided by the Press Office of
the Holy See.] 1. The Motu Proprio 'Summorum Pontificum' lays down new
rules for the use of the Roman liturgy that preceded the reform of 1970.
The reasons for such provisions are clearly explained in the Holy
Father's letter to bishops which accompanies the Motu Proprio (the two
documents have been sent to all the presidents of Episcopal conferences
and to all nuncios, who have arranged to distribute them to all
bishops).
2. The fundamental provision is as follows: the Roman liturgy will
have two forms ('usus'):
a) The ordinary form is the one that follows the liturgical reform
undertaken by Pope Paul VI in the year 1970, as it appears in the
liturgical books promulgated at that time. There is an official edition
in Latin which may be used always and everywhere, and translations in
divers languages published by the various Episcopal Conferences.
b) The extraordinary form: which is that celebrated in accordance
with the liturgical books published by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962."
3. The Motu proprio allows the use of the prior liturgy for those who
desire it; it does not intend, on the other hand, to impose the
extraordinary form, that is, the prior liturgy, on those who are happy
with the ordinary form.
4. The liturgy according to the 1962 books is celebrated in the Latin
language but the readings contained in the Missal can be read to the
people in the vernacular. To favor an active participation, the faithful
who attend such celebrations are invited to recite together with the
celebrant the diverse parts of the ‘Ordinarium Missae’ (Ordinary of the
Mass – Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) which, in sung Masses,
may be sung and if possible even by the people. When there are faithful
present, it is not suitable for the entire Mass to be celebrated in a
low voice. It is recommended that the faithful follow the prayers of the
Mass with a bi-lingual missal, such as those that already exist and
which will certainly be re-edited.
5. In parishes, in practice, the liturgy being used will not change:
instead, it will be possible for the pastor to add to the Masses
celebrated in the ordinary form, a second Mass according to the
extraordinary form.
6. The two forms of the liturgy follow two diverse calendars,
different on the dates of several secondary feasts, and they have two
diverse lectionaries. Such differences should not create great
difficulties: for example, the Ambrosian rite, celebrated in the Diocese
of Milan, has its own calendar and lectionary.
7. The Motu proprio foresees the possibility of using the earlier
rite for the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony. If such a
reasonably-motivated demand exists, the pastor can decide to use the
earlier missal; it is clear, however, that all prescriptions on the
preparations for these sacraments, that have been set forth by the
Episcopal Conferences, remain in force. The same possibility exists for
funerals, both for the funeral Mass in church and for the funeral rite
at the cemetery.
8. The local bishop may erect a personal parish, when in that place
is found a very substantial number of faithful who wish to follow the
earlier liturgy. It would be appropriate for the numbers of faithful to
be substantial, even if not comparable to those of other parishes.
9. The liturgical books needed for the extraordinary form of the
Roman liturgy are:
- The Roman Missal in the 1962 edition; previous editions differ in
the rubrics on the status (level) of feasts. In the 1962 edition there
is always the ‘Ordo Hebdomadae Sanctae,’ previously renewed in 1955 by
Pope Pius XII. Pope John XXIII reformulated the prayer ‘Pro Judaeis’ in
the Good Friday liturgy, and inserted it in this edition of the Roman
Missal. Thus, it is not licit to use the Holy Week liturgy prior to the
1962 edition.
- The Roman Ritual, for the Sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony,
Penance, Anointing of the Sick and other Blessings and Prayers contained
in the Ritual.
- The Roman Pontifical for the case in which the bishop decides to
confer Confirmation on a group of faithful who wish it in the earlier
rite. The use of the 1962 Roman Pontifical was permitted in 1988 for
those communities who followed the entire earlier rite of conferring the
Sacrament of Orders.
- The Roman Breviary, for priests who wish to recite the Divine
Office in consonance with the 1962 Missal.
All four of these liturgical books must be reprinted for practical
use. Those publishing houses that specialize in such books must be
charged with this, with the ‘recognitio’ of the competent Pontifical
Commission.
10. The priests necessary for the celebration of the liturgy in the
extraordinary form must be prepared for this task.
11. The Motu proprio foresees that the jurisdiction for the
application of the new dispositions belongs to the “Ecclesia Dei”
Pontifical Commission which will take care of problems that could arise.
12. The Motu proprio is scheduled to enter into force on September
14. The Pope’s Letter explicitly asks Bishops to give an accounting
after three years, in such a way as to be able to find solutions if
“serious difficulties” arise.
The explanatory note also highlights several characteristics of the
1962 Missal:
"It is a 'plenary' or 'integral' Missal in the Latin language, that
is, it also contains the readings for the celebrations (it is not
distinct from the 'Lectionary' as the later 1970 Missal is).
"It contains just one Eucharistic prayer, the 'Roman Canon'
(corresponding to the first Eucharist Prayer of the later Missal, which
includes a choice of various Eucharistic Prayers).
"Various prayers (including a large part of the Canon) are recited by
the priest in a low voice inaudible to the people.
"Other differences include the reading of the beginning of the Gospel
of John at the end of Mass.
"The 1962 Missal does not provide for concelebration. It says nothing
concerning the direction of the altar or of the celebrant (whether
facing the people or not).
"The Pope's Letter envisages the possibility of future enrichment of
the 1962 Missal (inclusion of new saints, new prefaces, etc.)."
[Translation of Italian original by Joan Lewis, EWTNews]
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