Posted on 06/30/2025 2:13:27 PM PDT by ebb tide
The Vatican has granted a Traditional Latin Mass in Texas a two-year extension, the first such reprieve from Traditionis Custodes under Pope Leo XIV.
“I’m grateful to @Pontifex and to the Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments for allowing the TLM to continue to exist in our parish church, extending permission for another two years,” announced Father Ryan Rojo on Friday.
The extension has been granted to St. Margaret’s in San Angelo, which holds Traditional Latin Masses once on Sundays, as well as on Thursday mornings.
Fr. Rojo, who is the director of vocations for the Diocese of San Angelo and assists with the TLM at St. Margaret’s when the chaplain is unavailable, clarified in the X thread that the decision was dated May 28, 2025.
He confirmed the decision in an email to LifeSiteNews, stating, “We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to shepherd the community into the future. It’s my prayer that similar extensions happen around the country.”
Bishop Michael Sis of the Diocese of San Angelo also confirmed to LifeSiteNews in a Monday statement:
“The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments informed me in a decree of May 28, 2025, that my request has been granted for a further two years for a dispensation from article 3§2 of the Motu proprio Traditionis custodes, so that Mass according to the Missale Romanum of 1962 may be celebrated in the parish church of St. Margaret of Scotland in San Angelo. Just as before, the granting of this dispensation is based upon an ongoing effort to promote the full appreciation and acceptance of the liturgical books renewed by decree of the Second Vatican Council and promulgated by Popes Saint Paul VI and Saint John Paul II.”
Fr. Rojo said on X that he was “encouraged” by the decision, a sentiment affirmed by many “likes.”
One social media user, self-identified as a traditional Catholic “layman,” pointed out that the decision suggests Pope Leo XIV will not revoke Traditionis Custodes.
“If they are granting extensions then I fear the full removal of traditiones custodes is not happening,” said the Catholic layman.
Another X user highlighted the fact that the decision reinforces the view that the TLM can be subject to limitations and restrictions.
“Why only for 2 years?? What is wrong with the TLM, the Mass of our Saints,” questioned Cla Marzewski.
Pope Francis’ TLM-suppressing Traditionis Custodes, aimed at tightly restricting the Traditional Latin Mass, stipulating that TLMs not be held in parish churches and contrary to Pope Benedict XVI’s Summorum Pontificum, says that priests must ask permission from their bishop to continue to offer the TLM.
Liturgist and author Dr. Peter Kwasniewski has pointed out that the Traditional Latin Mass has been definitively authorized by St. Pius V’s bull Quo Primum, which states:
(I)n virtue of Our Apostolic authority, We grant and concede in perpetuity that, for the chanting or reading of the Mass in any church whatsoever, this Missal is hereafter to be followed absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment, or censure, and may freely and lawfully be used. Nor are superiors, administrators, canons, chaplains, and other secular priests, or religious, of whatever title designated, obliged to celebrate the Mass otherwise than as enjoined by Us. We likewise declare and ordain … that this present document cannot be revoked or modified, but remains always valid and retains its full force …
Would anyone, however, presume to commit such an act (i.e., altering Quo Primum), he should know that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.
Ping
The Vatican shouldn’t have a say in the matter if a diocese or church wants to retain Latin in their services.
We’ve gotten a new TLM service at at least one Church (that I know of) in Arlington Diocese of Virginia. A small step back from the abyss...
Yesterday I donated to Peter’s Pence for the first time since Francis started showing his true colors
I realize the Catholic Church is not a democracy. However, if a church decides to hold the Mass in Latin, what’s the harm?
I remember my grandmother being devastated when her church switched the Mass to English. She said it made the Mass feel less holy.
This is discouraging. Instead of ending the restrictions on the TLM, they are just giving a one-off delay? I assume it Pope Leo intended to go back to allowing the TLM, this brief extension would not be necessary. I guess this means he’s going to go along with what Pope Francis put in place
How were you able to get a new one, in the face of the suppression?
It was the Mass of the Church for ages.
The Catholic Church is divided between two factions: those who believe that the mission of the Church is to spread the Good News of salvation through the Son of God, and those who believe that the mission of the church is to campaign for social justice, like an NGO.
There is also a vast number of Catholics who have absolutely no clue that this struggle is taking place.
Our Bishop played ball w/ Francis’ order to shut down TLM by closing about half (I think) the Masses. Those that he allowed to remain have flourished. It’s good to see he’s allowed at least this one new one — though I suspect there will be more. Here for https://www.catholicherald.com/article/bishop-burbidge/vatican-renews-permission-for-celebration-of-traditional-latin-mass-in-the-arlington-diocese/ I learned about TLM at the new Parish after that announcement.
We’ve seen in the recent news several diocese that have gone the other way, and I suspect they did so in order to get in front of any change of tolerance for TLM from Pope Leo.
That article is almost a year old. Is there more recent news from Arlington that I’m missing?
2 years, then it will be a SIN, again.
Jerk.
Frankie2
It’s more than just the language. They changed the prayers and the focus of the mass.
Yep. He’s now repeating the Bergoglian heresy that the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves was about “sharing”.
https://novusordowatch.org/2025/06/leo14-christs-real-miracle-sharing-loaves/
Be not fooled. He is Francis II. But for some, as long as he looks Traditional with his vestments and speaks in Latin, then he’s totally fine.
I don’t have anything on the new TLM addition here in Arlington Diocese. I’ll post it if I find one.
Thanks
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.