Saturday, March 31, 2007

Cardinal Bertone Confirms Motu Proprio

Thanks to Rorate-Caeli blog for this news:

Click HERE

For the Record: Sévillia says Bertone confirms motu proprio


Pope Benedict's Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, was interviewed by French journalist Jean Sévillia for the cover story of this week's Le Figaro Magazine (the weekly magazine of the French national daily Le Figaro).

The interview has not yet been made available on the web, but Sévillia has confirmed in an interview to Radio Courtoisie (Source: Una Voce France) that, in his interview, Cardinal Bertone said that "the recently-published Apostolic Exhortation is not a substitute for and is not additional to the Motu Proprio on the liturgy expected from the Pope".

The text has been confirmed by the Cardinal, but not any date of publication. Naturally, we will wait for the article in Le Figaro Magazine to provide the exact words of Cardinal Bertone -- who, by the way, is finally moving (around Easter) to his apartment in the Apostolic Palace, only recently vacated by Cardinal Sodano, according to L'Indipendente.

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In an interview for the cover story (pages 56-60) of Le Figaro Magazine (weekly magazine of the French national daily Le Figaro), published today (not yet available on the newspaper's website); excerpt:

Is a Decree widening the possibility of celebrating the Latin Mass according to the rite from before Vatican II (the so-called Mass of Saint Pius V) still expected?

[Secretary of State] Cardinal Bertone: The merit of the conciliar liturgical reform is intact. But both [for reasons of] not losing the great liturgical heritage left by Saint Pius V and for granting the wish of those faithful who desire to attend Masses according to this rite, within the framework of the Missal published in 1962 by Pope John XXIII, with its own calendar, there is no valid reason not to grant to every priest in the world* the right to celebrate according to this form. The authorization of the Supreme Pontiff would evidently preserve the validity of the rite of Paul VI. The publication of the motu proprio which specifies this authorisation will take place, but it will be the pope himself who will explain his motivations and the framework of his decision. The Sovereign Pontiff will personally explain his vision for the use of the ancient Missal to the Christian people, and particularly to the Bishops.


*au prêtre du monde entier: literally, to the priest of the whole world

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Could it? This week? Start practicing your responses!!!!

From Fr. Zuhlsdorf's blog "WDTPRS (What does the prayer really say)"

Something is up.

From the Bolletino:

Yesterday evening the Pope received in audience:

His Eminence Francis Card. Arinze, Prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments;

His Eminence Darío Card. Castrillón Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei".

Remember that reports have the Motu Proprio coming out after 25 March but before the Triduum.

Today I spoke with someone to whom a bishop recently received by the Pope said that the Pope was "determined".


Start practicing your responses…


"Introibo ad altare Dei…"

GET YOUR MISSALS READY!

A rough translation from Babelfish. This article comes from the French magazine "Golias"
Thanks to Rorate-Caeli for the link.

With your missals Black and white St V !
Our information concerning the imminent publication of the motu proprio which would allow a use much broader pre-conciliar rite gives rise us to think than it could take place before Easter.

The document will be indeed published before the end of the Lent : in any case, Pope Benedict would be solved there. Mgr Malcolm Ranjith, the secretary of the Congregation for the divine worship specified always that the document was now in the hands of the Pope himself which will choose the most convenient moment. Besides Rome fears certainly a general outcry, being made perhaps illusions on the real determination of those who oppose it.
The " motu proprio " would not consist of a recognition but questioning of the reform of Paul VI of the right for any priest to celebrate in private the Tridentine mass. Moreover, the text would grant groups of faithful the true right to celebrate a mass according to its rite : it would force to some extent the restive bishops. It is known that there were a long time an iron arm with Nanterre between Mgr François Favreau then Mgr Gerard Daucourt and a bunch of traditionalists very few but determined who obtained finally profit of cause. A special episcopal vicar even given, Father Yvon Aybram. Currently, such an arm-of-iron continues between traditionalist group and Mgr Thierry Jordan, archbishop. This last was secretary of cardinal Villot in Rome and division with its former spiritual Master in Rome a visceral aversion for lefebvrism. It moreover was given the responsability by the French episcopate " to recycle " without too much benevolence the young ecclesiastics who left Ecône.
This " motu proprio " would change completely : he would transform a concession (what the bishop of Metz, Mgr Pierre Raffin, called a " merciful bracket " in a true right). In the ecclesiological plan, this " motu proprio " should cause very critical reaction. Indeed, it reduces the responsibility for the bishop, guarantor of the authentic communion for a particular Church.
It is rather probable that this " motu propio" supports the development of the communities thus having recourse from now on to the indult. Moreover, the commission " Ecclesia Dei " would see its capacities grow. Since in a diocese a group does not find a priest laid out to celebrate the mass with its request, it could impose a solution and undoubtedly send a priest of its choice. With term, the idea cherished by Mgr Perl would be that of the creation of a ordinariat which can incardinate the priests what would also make it possible to accomodate wandering ecclesiastics. For the record, Mgr Perl could thus cap the mitre and become a kind of universal bishop of the traditionalists.
Another " monsignore " whose name also returns for this possible episcopal ministry near the traditionalists, Rudolf Michael Schmitz, of the diocese of Cologne and of the Institute of Christ King Superior (created by Mgr Gilles Wach) also let hear that a very advantageous solution for the traditionalists would be found soon. In a maintenance granted to the review " Enjoy ", Schmitz affirms that this document should make it possible to any priest to celebrate in public according to the Tridentine rite (and thus not only in private).
This "motu proprio" should have appeared at the end of January. The opposition of a certain number of prelates was what prompted Benedict XVI to be patient. Among the opponents to this "motu proprio", Cardinals Karl Lehmann, Jean-Pierre Ricard (forced by his brothers of the French episcopate, being himself [personally] quite favorable to it), Jean-Marie Lustiger, Godfreed Danneels, Giovanni Battista Re should be particularly mentioned... The opposition to this project does not follow the usual criteria of conservatism. The archbishop of Paris, André Vingt-Trois, is very hostile to the project itself, though he is counted among the conservatives. Other prelates, such as Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, are, on the contrary, favorable to it.

Reprinting of the old missal in progress...
Another sign that the publication is very near from now, and that this text would be released, is the decision of houses Italian editors... to reprint the old missal according to the rite of Black and white Saint V In an implicit way, at the time of a maintenance granted to the monthly magazine " Inside the the Vatican " (of preserving tendency and very Roman), archbishop Ranjith recognized that they are the reserves of many bishops who delayed the project, even if in the beginning it was also they who in the opinion of the Pope made necessary a standpoint of authority on behalf of Rome. For Joseph Ratzinger, as for the cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler, the mass of Black and white Saint V not having never been prohibited, needs to be authorize: it is simply a question of recognizing a right which already exists. In fact, this " motu proprio " initially intends to cure the problem arising from bishops who according to Mgr Ranjith would exert an abuse of power.
The coexistence of two stages of same and single Roman rite would undoubtedly constitute an exception. If there are many rites in the catholic Church, and if they can coexist, there in general exists only one " stage " of each one of them (even if there are alternatives). Cannot thus coexist of the various layers, for example a liturgical book of the XVIII century and another of XX for the same rite. From where, the opposition of the current known as of Solesmes to the coexistence of two missals which represent two versions of the same Roman rite, the last having replaced that of Black and white Saint V This position is defended by the archbishop Benedictine of Toulouse, Mgr Robert LeGall and by Mgr Raffin, already quoted. In Rome by the ceremonial of the Pope, Mgr Piero Marini, and by the former "évincés " secretaries of the Congregation for the liturgy, Mgr Francesco Pio Tamburrino and Mgr Domenico Sorrentino.
The response of the defenders of two rites, Mgr Ranjith and even... Joseph Ratzinger is inspired in particular by a thesis of the liturgist Klaus Gamber. For this last, because of the importance of the introduced changes, it is not a question of a new version of the same single Roman rite but of a new laughter, the " modern rite " different from the traditional rite. Consequently, their cohabitation is completely possible, legitimate and even desirable.
In the optics however of Joseph Ratzinger, who remains that of a " reform of the reform ", in the long run, it would be to arrive to a single Roman rite, undoubtedly nearer to the old rite than of new.
More reserved and pessimist that the traditionalists known as rejoined in Rome, Mgr Bernard Fellay, the Holy Superior of Fraternity Black and white X expresses the fear which lapse of time does not become interminable.