Msgr. Perl, “Ecclesia Dei”: we are drafting an instruction on Summorum Pontificum (Shortened title!)

What Does the Prayer Really Say? ^ | October 12, 2007 | Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

[Frank Sheed]

12 October 2007

Msgr. Perl of the Pont. Comm. “Ecclesia Dei”: we are drafting an instruction on the interpretation of Summorum Pontificum

CATEGORY: SESSIUNCULUM — Fr. John Zuhlsdorf @ 10:26 am

There is an interesting piece on Petrus.

My translation and emphases.

Mass in Latin, a "Petrus" exclusice – Msgr. Perl of the [Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" speaks up: "Too many disobedient bishops and priests, a clarification on the Pope’s Motu Proprio under consideration

by Bruno Volpe

CITTA’ DEL VATICANO - "It is true, we are drafting an instruction-document on the correct interpretation of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, which derestricted the Mass according to the liturgical books of St. Pius V as they were modified by Bl. John XXIII."  So did Msgr. Camille Perl, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" affirm in an exclusive interview with Petrus.  He added, "Even though it is not a Congregation, we have received the faculty to prepare this document to define some aspects of the papal Motu Proprio among which, for example, the meaning of "stable group" (gruppo stabile).  We have therefore to clear up what is meant by "stable group", precisely how many people have to ask their own parish priest (parroco) to celebrate Mass with the pre-Conciliar rite."

Q: Msgr. Peter, is this instruction needed because of various protests raised by bishops and priests who are contrary to the new norms concerning access to Mass with the Tridentine rite?

"The situation is in the plain sight of everyone. In any event, after the Pope’s Motu Proprio it was reasonable to foresee opposing reactions. Some people showed enthusiasm, others not. Still, it would be enough to consider that the Pope’s Motu Proprio didn’t fall out of the sky, but is the fruit of a long process."

Q: So why do some bishops and many priests not accept it?

You’d have to ask them. Personally, I believe that the problem is of a more general nature. Today, in many spheres of society, the sense of obedience and respect of authority has been lost.  Few truly are, so to say, able to obey."

Q: So the Tridentine rite of St. Pius V, characterized by liturgical beauty and spirituality, was never abolished by the Church…

Absolutely not.  The Second Vatican Council never canceled out the previous Missal.  I hold that Pope Benedict XVI has done well to derestrict it, thus underscoring the value of a patrimony, a jewel of the Church. I don’t want to make comparisons between the Mass of Pope Paul VI and the previous Mass, for that wouldn’t be right. But historically is it not well-advised blot out the value of tradition."

Q: Regarding liturgical abuses, defined as "at the edge of the bearable" by Benedict XVI himself in the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, there are always more…

"You’re telling me!" And no one manages to eliminate them, precisely because, as I was saying, there no longer exists a sense of respect for authority. The liturgy cannot be imposed, but it seems right to affirm that after the Second Vatican Council, and by this I obviously don’t mean to give out any opinion of condemnation, the Mass sometimes was transformed into something emotional, as if its true worth as sacrifice and gift was put aside. It was thought that the new might be better, that the new is always better. This happens also in daily life… new shoes are thought to be better than the old ones…".

Q: Finally, a clarification: The faithful in communion with the Pope and the Church of Rome can assist at Masses of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X or do they incur an excommunication?

"Those who assist at a Mass of the SSPX are absolutely not excommunicated.  The liturgy is valid, even if they are considered schismatic.  Moreover, the liturgy of the Orthodox is also valid for Catholics."

In a way, the interviewer wasted his precious questions on things that we already know. 

About that last point: Msgr. Perl is not saying something in contrast to the Cardinal President of the Commission.  He is just saying that even if the SSPXers were schismatic (he isn’t saying they are) Catholics would still be able to go to a Mass without incurring the censure.

Still, the golden nuggets in this interview are these:

 

• the Commission is considering interpretive guidelines for Summorum Pontificum
• the Commission has competence to issue such guidelines
• that competence supersedes that of individual diocesan bishops
• the Commission interprets the Motu Proprio
• the Commission is very aware of those who are opposing the Motu Proprio ("in plain sight")
  

  
  

And on the level of Msgr. Perl’s opinion:

• in this day and age few people are capable of true obedience
• many bishops and priests speaking and acting against the Pope’s provisions are showing disobedience
• just because something is newer it is not therefore better

I have known Msgr. Perl well since 1989. 

He is a very good man for this position in these times. 

I am glad he is speaking his mind about these issues.

UPDATE:

Furthermore: Andrea Tornielli of Il Giornale has a blurb on the Commissions guidelines.

[Frank Sheed]

Hammer, meet anvil!

[Frank Sheed]

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[Frank Sheed]

Bp. Rino Fisichella on the Traditional Mass at the Pope’s University, the Lateran
CATEGORY: SESSIUNCULUM — Fr. John Zuhlsdorf @ 11:58 am

It is a long tradition in the Roman academic institutions to have a meeting at the beginning of the academic year between the faculty and the head of the institution.

In the case of the “Pope’s University” as it is sometimes called, the Pontifical Lateran University (one of my almae matres), the meeting was held last Monday 8 October, between His Excellency Most Reverend Rino Fisichella, the rector mangificus and the faculty of all the institutes at the Lateran.

Bishop Fisichella, one of Rome’s auxiliary bishops, is a major player on the Roman scene. He is known to be very papalino (loyal to the Pope). People see him as moving upward. He is very articulate and speaks fuor’ di denti... with blunt frankness.

My spies have filled me in on the meeting with the faculty and what Bp. Fisichella said.

Beyond the usual blah blah that goes with all Italian meetings, there were some stunning fireworks.

Bp. Fischella made three powerful statements about issues of great concern at the Lateran.

The first doesn’t interest us as much here in this particular blog, though it is important. Bp. Fisichella indicated that there were some concrete instances of demonstration of rascist attitudes on the part of some faculty. Concrete instances were reported to him. This is totally unacceptable and in his words: “This stops now.” We can do nothing bu stand up an applaud this strong statement on the part of Bp. Fischella. This is a man who will not sweep anything under the tapetto. Frankly, in my experience students from third world countries are sometimes treated pretty poorly by the euro-liberal profs.

Secondly, he said that no student will be badly treated, looked askance at, or in any way belittled for wearing clerical clothing such as the cassock or Roman collar. Apparently there were instances of condescension on the part of some members of the faculty toward men who were more conservatively dressed. Again, as bishop Fischella put it: that stops now. In my experience, in years past students were often treated with disdain if they wore the cassock or collar regularly despite particular law in the Diocese of Rome that clerics and seminarians are to wear the cassock, habit or suit with collar. Times are changing.

Thirdly, and more important for the work of WDTPRS, he said no one is to make judgements about men who want to attend Masses celebrated with the older form of Missal, the Mass of Piux V. The Pope has spoken on this matter. His provisions are clear. They will be respected.

My spies say that Fischella was in no way kidding around. He was deadly serious, leaning forward and powerful, leaving no question in the minds of his listeners that anyone going against these points would have him to deal with.

There was nothing hypothetical about the points he brought up. He said he had “casi concretissimi”. “I am taling about concrete cases that have come to my attention. That ends now”.

Times are changing and the word has gone out.

The old aging-hippy liberalism, that was in no way respectful of liberty, has been handed its hat and shown the door.

[sageb1]

“The old aging-hippy liberalism, that was in no way respectful of liberty, has been handed its hat and shown the door.”

Love it!

[AnAmericanMother]

Wow.

Things could get ugly.

I love the Italian expression "fuor' di denti" - showing his teeth, I guess. . . .

[Frank Sheed]

Vatican preparing follow-up document on motu proprio

Vatican, Oct. 12, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The Ecclesia Dei commission is preparing a new document on the application of the motu proprio allowing wider use of the traditional Latin Mass, according to a report on the Italian Petrus web site.

Msgr. Camille Perl, the secretary of the Ecclesia Dei commission, told Petrus that the office is preparing a document on “the proper interpretation of Summorum Pontificum” The document will provide authoritative guidance on questions that have been raised frequently about the papal directive, such as how many parishioners would constitute a group sufficient to call for the use of the older liturgy.

The Vatican official acknowledged that the Ecclesia Dei commission is preparing the new document as a response to widespread limitations on the use of the 1962 Roman Missal. Msgr. Perl expressed some impatience with bishops who have set conditions that go beyond the framework of Summorum Pontificum, complaining that a “sense of obedience and respect for authority has been lost.” The Ecclesia Dei commission was created in 1988 to coordinate pastoral programs aimed at traditionalist Catholics. Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) has given the commission jurisdiction over the implementation of his motu proprio.