Vatican Instruction demands equal dignity for traditional liturgy

May 13, 2011

In a new Instruction, the Vatican has made it clear that the use of the extraordinary form—the traditional Latin liturgy—should be available to all the faithful.

Universae Ecclesiae, released on May 13, follows up on the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum and clarifies the intent of Pope Benedict XVI. The Instruction says that the extraordinary should be given equal dignity in the Latin liturgy, and should be available whenever the faithful request it.

Universae Ecclesiae repeats that the traditional liturgy was never abolished, and no special permission is needed for priests to use the older rite. Bishops should not place any restrictions on the traditional liturgy, the Instruction says. On the contrary, seminaries should train priests to use the extraordinary form. The Instruction adds that a priest should be presumed qualified to celebrate Mass in the traditional form if he can pronounce the Latin, understand its meaning, and has used the liturgy in the past—including, it seems, in the many workshops that have been scheduled to train priests in the older rite.

The Instruction also emphasizes that Summorum Pontificum was not merely a response to traditionalists who have broken with the universal Church, but a response to a legitimate demand from many of the faithful, an effort to promote reverence in the liturgy, and a means of ensuring continuity with the traditions of Catholicism.

In another indication of the Vatican’s intention to encourage traditional liturgy, a Mass in the extraordinary form will be celebrated at the main altar of St. Peter’s basilica on Sunday, May 15. The celebrant will be Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship.

A Reuters story on the new Instruction is inaccurate in two respects: First, in saying that the pressure for the traditional liturgy came—exclusively, the report implies—from members of the Society of St. Pius X. Second, in saying that the Vatican is now putting “pressure” on bishops to allow the use of the extraordinary form, when in fact the motu proprio was a directive from the Holy Father requiring the bishops’ adherence.

 

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Further information:

• "Universae Ecclesiae" to favour reconciliation within the Church (Vatican Radio)
• New Instruction “Universae Ecclesiae” on the application of the motu proprio "Summorum Pontificum (VIS)
• Instruction “Universae Ecclesiae” – the text and my initial observations (Father Zuhlsdorf)
• Two Masses for a Single Church (L'Espresso)
• Vatican upholds and strengthens Summorum Pontificum (Daily Telegraph)
• Vatican issues instructions for old Mass, warns against questioning papal authority (AP)
• Vatican increases pressure to allow Latin mass (Reuters)