Below are Norms which I am
promulgating relative to the wishes of our Holy Father, Benedict
XVI as stated in his apostolic letter, Summorum
Pontificum, concerning the use of the old Latin Mass. They
are intended to serve as a guide for pastors and for the
faithful. There will be further refinements of these directives
as we receive word from the USCCB. These norms were developed
by the Diocese of St. Augustine. The bishops of Florida, as was
I, were impressed by their succinct and concise nature and we
have decided that they should be used throughout the Province
and the State of Florida. If you have any further questions
please call the Bishop’s Office or Father Paul White, director
of the Office of Liturgy, at 850-435-3500.
Most Rev. John H. Ricard, SSJ
Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee
August 21, 2007
Norms for the Implementation of
the Apostolic Letter, Summorum Pontificum
Pope Benedict XVI promulgated the
motu proprio Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum (SP) on July
7, 2007 extending the use of the Missal of John XXIII as an
“extraordinary form” of the Roman Rite. For all intents and
purposes, the Holy Father’s Letter speaks for itself. However,
there are some important points which all of the clergy in the
Diocese need to know in order to properly apply the
prescriptions of the document. The bishop, in his role as
“moderator of the liturgy within his own diocese,” promulgates
the following:
1.
The Roman Missal of Paul VI, referred to as the “ordinary
form,” remains the usual/normal manner in which the Eucharistic
liturgy is to be celebrated. The “extraordinary form” (the
so-called, Tridentine Rite) is contained in the Roman Missal of
Blessed John XXIII (1962 Missal).
2.
Only priests who are qualified may celebrate the
extraordinary form of the Mass and the sacraments, even
privately. Those qualified must evidence ability with the Latin
language as well as the rubrics for the proper celebration of
the Mass in the extraordinary form. The Bishop of the Diocese
reserves to himself the authority to determine whether a priest
is qualified to celebrate Mass and the other sacraments using
the extraordinary form. Generally, the priest must demonstrate a
sufficient knowledge of Latin such that the priest is not simply
reciting the words of the liturgy, but has an understanding of
the meaning of what he is saying. Additionally, the priest must
possess sufficient knowledge of the liturgical/rubrical
requirements of the 1962 Missal so that the Mass is celebrated
in a correct and dignified manner. This will apply to all
celebrations of the extraordinary form whether the priest is
incardinated or simply a resident in the Diocese.
3.
A private Mass is one celebrated by a priest on his own
initiative. By definition, this Mass is not scheduled nor
announced via the parish bulletin or other means. A private Mass
may be more or less regular as result of the personal schedule
of the priest. Any qualified priest in good standing may
celebrate a private Mass according to the extraordinary form
with at least the presumed permission of the pastor of the place
of celebration. [Please note: A private Mass is never to be
celebrated at the same time when public Masses are celebrated in
the same church or chapel. To preserve some order, a private
Mass (celebrated in either form) should never commence sooner
than 15 minutes following the completion of a public Mass or
other celebration of the sacred liturgy in the same church or
chapel.]
4.
A pastor may not, on his own initiative, schedule a
public Mass according to the extraordinary form. The Apostolic
Letter requires that a “stable group of the faithful who adhere
to the earlier liturgical tradition” make a request for the
extraordinary form to be celebrated. The Bishop has determined
that such a group should number at least 50 people for such a
request to be granted.
5.
When the services of a qualified priest are available,
and when the pastor has approved a request for the extraordinary
form, the celebration may never be the exclusive way in which
the Mass is celebrated on Sundays, feast days, or weekdays. No
more than one Mass according to the Missal of John XXIII may be
celebrated on a Sunday or feast day. If only one Mass is
celebrated in a parish or mission, it must be according to the
ordinary form.
6.
In cases where the pastor is unable to accede to the
request of the faithful (see no. 4 above) for Mass according to
the extraordinary form, the pastor is to contact the Bishop’s
Office for assistance.
7.
The use of the extraordinary form requires the presence
of a properly trained male altar server. In the Tridentine Rite,
the role of this person is much more significant.
8.
The Apostolic Letter abrogates all post-conciliar
legislation concerning the celebration of the Tridentine Mass,
including the indult permitting ordinaries to authorize the
celebration of the Tridentine Mass.
9.
The Apostolic Letter is clear that the extraordinary form
is NOT to be celebrated in any way during the Easter Triduum –
from the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday
through Evening Prayer of Easter Sunday.
10.
Deacons who are asked to participate in a Mass or sacred
liturgy according to the extraordinary form must meet the same
requirements as priests as outlined in no. 2 above.
All
laws governing the celebration of the extraordinary form must be
followed.
Further information can be obtained through the following
website –
www.usccb.org/liturgy
and clicking on the link marked “BCL NEWSLETTER ON SUMMORUM
PONTIFICUM.”
Along with the Holy Father’s Apostolic Letter, these norms are
effective on September 14, 2007. |