Pope's Plan to Restrict Traditional Latin Mass Backed by Two Curial Cardinals Written by Diane Montagna VATICAN CITY, June 1, 2021 — The Remnant has independently confirmed that a Vatican document restricting Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum is backed by at least two Vatican cardinals, is in its third draft, and threatens to thwart the growth of the Traditional Latin Mass and other sacraments particularly among diocesan clergy. Two senior members of the hierarchy confirmed May 31 that the document, first reported by Messainlatino.it on May 25, is currently under review at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). Multiple sources have also told The Remnant that Pope Francis wishes to soon publish the document, and that it is alleged to be receiving backing in varying degrees from two cardinal consultors to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. The sources also said that these restrictive measures will most probably be carried out by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and its newly appointed under-secretary Msgr. Aurelio García Marcías, whom Pope Francis is said to have raised to the episcopate for the very purpose of executing these plans. Several senior Vatican sources have also confirmed that the first draft document was preceded by an introductory letter from Pope Francis that is said to have been very harsh and acrimonious toward the Tridentine Mass. The document is now in the third draft, the first two having been thought to be too severe. If it is eventually published, it is likely to roll back the liberalization of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass introduced by Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 apostolic letter, Summorum Pontificum. That document authorized any stable group of faithful attached to the “previous liturgical tradition” to ask their local priest for the Mass who “should willingly accede to their requests.” The decree stated that the older form of the Mass was “never abrogated” and that both the Extraordinary and Ordinary Forms were “two expressions” of “one Roman Rite.” The Remnant has learned that the first draft put strict limitations on the age of the celebrants and is described as somewhat similar to the indult of Paul VI, which allowed elderly priests to continue offering the Tridentine Mass after the promulgation of the Novus Ordo Missae by Paul VI. It also discussed whether to allow or prohibit the administration of the other sacraments in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. In its present form, communities and diocesan priests who already offer the Mass in the Extraordinary Form may continue to do so, but diocesan clergy who wish to begin offering the Traditional Mass would have to obtain authorization. Whether local bishops or the Holy See will be responsible for granting such permissions is still under discussion. The administration of the other sacraments in the Extraordinary Form, i.e. marriage, baptism, confirmation, etc., would be maintained for those who already have permission to celebrate the Traditional Mass. The third draft moves the office of recourse for matters pertaining to the Traditional Latin Mass and oversight of priestly societies and religious communities that use the pre-1970 Missal, from the fourth section of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly the pontifical commission Ecclesia Dei) to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The first draft initially discussed placing these priestly societies (e.g. Fraternity of St. Peter, Institute of Christ the King, and Institute of the Good Shepherd) and other traditional communities under the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, two senior Vatican sources confirmed. Such a move would be considered potentially more problematic for these communities, in light of the way the congregation has handled contemplative orders in the recent past, namely, through the 2018 Instruction Cor Orans, which requires autonomous female monasteries to belong to a wider federation, and asks novices and professed cloistered contemplative nuns to leave their enclosure for initial and ongoing formation, something alien to cloistered contemplative life. Under the current plan, Msgr. García, who has served as head of office in the Congregation for Divine Worship since 2016, has been elevated to the episcopate in order to assume the responsibilities formerly carried out under Ecclesia Dei by its former president, Archbishop Guido Pozzo. A professor at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute at the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmo, Msgr. García is not known to share Benedict XVI’s views on the sacred liturgy, one source describing him as “the most anti-Tridentine Mass person ever known.” It is not clear yet whether the fourth section of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will continue to handle doctrinal matters and relations with the Society of St. Pius X. Several senior Vatican sources have also confirmed that the first draft document was preceded by an introductory letter from Pope Francis that is said to have been very harsh and acrimonious toward the Tridentine Mass. Jesuit Cardinal Luis Ladaria, Prefect of the CDF, strongly opposed both the first draft and the letter, senior Vatican sources confirmed. The letter has since been revised. Concerns over possible curtailments of the Extraordinary Form arose after the CDF sent a letter to the presidents of bishops’ conferences worldwide asking them to distribute a nine-point questionnaire about Summorum Pontificum. Cardinal Ladaria said the questionnaire was issued because the Pope wanted to be “informed about the current application” of the apostolic letter. Approximately thirty percent of the world’s bishops responded to the questionnaire, and more than half of those who responded had a favorable or neutral response, multiple sources confirmed. One source familiar with the consultation document said that, although the questions were notably biased against Summorum Pontificum, or formulated in a manner that did not always elicit a clear and specific response, what emerged from the questionnaire is how the Traditional Latin Mass has taken root. It has revealed that even in unexpected places, the old Mass is embraced and loved by young people and families, is bearing fruit in flourishing parishes, priestly and religious vocations, and in greater prayer and devotion among the faithful. On May 31, the French traditional website Paix Liturgique, which was among the first to report on the forthcoming document, published an article titled, “The Summorum Pontificum Galaxy Prepares to Resist!” Describing Summorum Pontificum as “provisions for peace” that “sought to bring peace to a Church that was sinking deeper and deeper into crisis,” the authors note how “from the very beginning, the traditional movement has been grounded in the action of laymen.” Their efforts, it continues, were “a surprising and providential manifestation of the sensus fidelium, of the instinct of the faith among the faithful, which defends tooth and nail the lex orandi’s expression of the doctrines of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the Real Presence, the hierarchical priesthood, and more generally of the transcendence of the mystery: ‘Do this in memory of Me!’” Should Pope Francis decide to restrict Summorum Pontificum by issuing such a document, Paix Liturgique asserts that “this capacity to resist ‘on the ground’… may well come to include powerful demonstrations and actions. “Already now,” they add, “in various spots of the globe, they are being given serious consideration.” *** Author’s Note: To those who love the Traditional Latin Mass, please know that we understand this news may cause distress. Those who wish to write respectfully to the Vatican to express their concerns about potential restrictions to Pope Benedict XVI’s Summorum Pontificum may contact the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith here: Email: cdf@cfaith.va Postal address: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Palazzo della Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede 00120 Città del Vaticano Those who wish to write respectfully to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to express concern about potential restrictions to Pope Benedict XVI’s Summorum Pontificum, may do so at this address: Postal address: Sua Santità Papa Francesco Domus Santa Marta 00120 Città del Vaticano
this is so sad. I have just gained great interest in the TLM. I purchased a Latin/English hymnal and planned to go to a TLM every Thursday at 7pm this summer. I believe they will be grandfathered in to continue, though.
I am sad about the coming suppression but in the bad old days of the 70's and 80's there simply wasn't a TLM to be had anywhere--active suppression! We only attended NO because that was all we had. I craved the old Mass and in the late 80's had a VHS of the Tridentine Mass from many years before that I prayerfully watched. In Medjugorje in 1988 there was only the NO. When I went on retreat only the NO. Graces were there. Jesus was there. I don't want to see the TLM so restricted but what I am saying is we went through this before and Jesus was still very much with us.
This is very distressing. However, this pope is sawing away at the branch upon which he sits. If the considered announcements of Pope Benedict can be cancelled even while he lives, how much more will this apply to those of this pope when he's dead and gone?
This pope cannot tolerate the Mass that sustained every Catholic for centuries, but actively and deliberately places the symbol of a demon on the altar in St Peter's. Are these not simply the facts of the case? What do these facts tell us about him and those who aid and abet him?
The thought just struck me that the liturgical problems in the Church are inherently a result of Clericalism, a hierarchy and clergy broadly gone wild. Perhaps this is the reason for the collapse in vocations? Is it possible that the Lord has decided to only choose those upon whom he can rely and evidently that does not amount to very many?
I have the very strongest prayerful feeling that all this nonsense is going to end very soon. ..and very ,very abruptly and finally. I suspect these awful people are at the end of a very long rope. Reading what Our Lady has been saying recently at a variety of apparition sites confirms that radical things are about to happen very,very soon. I think Satan is in for a big surprise.
Please watch the Papal Posse evaluate the TLM attack on World Over with Raymond Arroyo start at 10 min
It all seems optimistic in the video, but I wish it was that easy to believe we will be left with access to TLM the way things are being done in the Vatican at the moment. And that is exactly how I feel too. We are at the mercy of our Diocesan Bishop. For now we are fortunate in our diocese. There seems to be a pattern coming from Rome for some time now, first we hear of something very encouraging that all seems to be well, followed by another deadly blow. First we heard Pope Francis has said NO to any ordination of women, thank God. followed by rumours of restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass, a deadly blow. The same old same old. And only God knows where it will all end.
It's surely very distressing, but Pope Francis is shoving on, yet his longevity ensures that more of his contemporaries will be gone past curial voting age. He might have been electing his own lackies, but was limited by the choices available to him-perhaps succeeding generations of Churchmen are less hostile to the Church than that from which Pope Francis emerged. He has spoken of a 'God of Surprises', but that can cut both ways.
In the USA, we have the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, traditional order, fully in communion with the Church. Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) Traditional Latin Mass & Sacraments They have an instructional channel, I think also they are headquarter in the US in Pennsylvania where there Seminary is: Map of where they are active in North America: Locations - Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (fssp.com) And active in the world: Where are we? – FSSP
