Pope Saint Pius V's QUO PRIMUM-Apostolic Constitution Degree

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[Lady In Blue]

			QUO PRIMUM Apostolic Constitution decreed by Pope Saint Pius V on July 14, 1570 which set in stone for all time the exactness of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to be said in the Mother Tongue of the Church     To Our Venerable Brethren: the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Local Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See -- Venerable Brethren, health and Apostolic Benediction!     From the very first, upon Our elevation to the cheif Apostleship, We gladly turned our mind and energies and directed all out thoughts to those matters which concerned the preservation of a pure liturgy, and We strove with God's help, by every means in our power, to accomplish this purpose. For, besides other decrees of the sacred Council of Trent, there were stipulations for Us to revise and re-edit the sacred books: the Catechism, the Missal and the Breviary. With the Catechism published for the instruction of the faithful, by God's help, and the Breviary thoroughly revised for the worthy praise of God, in order that the Missal and Breviary may be in perfect harmony, as fitting and proper - for its most becoming that there be in the Church only one appropriate manner of reciting the Psalms and only one rite for the celebration of Mass - We deemed it necessary to give our immediate attention to what still remained to be done, viz, the re-editing of the Missal as soon as possible.     Hence, We decided to entrust this work to learned men of our selection. They very carefully collated all their work with the ancient codices in Our Vatican Library and with reliable, preserved or emended codices from elsewhere. Besides this, these men consulted the works of ancient and approved authors concerning the same sacred rites; and thus they have restored the Missal itself to the original form and rite of the holy Fathers. When this work has been gone over numerous times and further emended, after serious study and reflection, We commanded that the finished product be printed and published as soon as possible, so that all might enjoy the fruits of this labor; and thus, priests would know which prayers to use and which rites and ceremonies they were required to observe from now on in the celebration of Masses.     Let all everywhere adopt and observe what has been handed down by the Holy Roman Church, the Mother and Teacher of the other churches, and let Masses not be sung or read according to any other formula than that of this Missal published by Us. This ordinance applies henceforth, now, and forever, throughout all the provinces of the Christian world, to all patriarchs, cathedral churches, collegiate and parish churches, be they secular or religious, both of men and of women - even of military orders - and of churches or chapels without a specific congregation in which conventual Masses are sung aloud in choir or read privately in accord with the rites and customs of the Roman Church. This Missal is to be used by all churches, even by those which in their authorization are made exempt, whether by Apostolic indult, custom, or privilege, or even if by oath or official confirmation of the Holy See, or have their rights and faculties guaranteed to them by any other manner whatsoever.     This new rite alone is to be used unless approval of the practice of saying Mass differently was given at the very time of the institution and confirmation of the church by Apostolic See at least 200 years ago, or unless there has prevailed a custom of a similar kind which has been continuously followed for a period of not less than 200 years, in which most cases We in no wise rescind their above-mentioned prerogative or custom. However, if this Missal, which we have seen fit to publish, be more agreeable to these latter, We grant them permission to celebrate Mass according to its rite, provided they have the consent of their bishop or prelate or of their whole Chapter, everything else to the contrary notwithstanding. All other of the churches referred to above, however, are hereby denied the use of other missals, which are to be discontinued entirely and absolutely; whereas, by this present Constitution, which will be valid henceforth, now, and forever, We order and enjoin that nothing must be added to Our recently published Missal, nothing omitted from it, nor anything whatsoever be changed within it under the penalty of Our displeasure.     We specifically command each and every patriarch, administrator, and all other persons or whatever ecclesiastical dignity they may be, be they even cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, or possessed of any other rank or pre-eminence, and We order them in virtue of holy obedience to chant or to read the Mass according to the rite and manner and norm herewith laid down by Us and, hereafter, to discontinue and completely discard all other rubrics and rites of other missals, however ancient, which they have customarily followed; and they must not in celebrating Mass presume to introduce any ceremonies or recite any prayers other than those contained in this Missal.     Furthermore, by these presents [this law], in 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 no one whosoever is forced or coerced to alter this Missal, and that this present document cannot be revoked or modified, but remain always valid and retain its full force notwithstanding the previous constitutions and decrees of the Holy See, as well as any general or special constitutions or edicts of provincial or synodal councils, and notwithstanding the practice and custom of the aforesaid churches, established by long and immemorial prescription - except, however, if more than two hundred years' standing.     It is Our will, therefore, and by the same authority, We decree that, after We publish this constitution and the edition of the Missal, the priests of the Roman Curia are, after thirty days, obliged to chant or read the Mass according to it; all others south of the Alps, after three months; and those beyond the Alps either within six months or whenever the Missal is available for sale. Wherefore, in order that the Missal be preserved incorrupt throughout the whole world and kept free of flaws and errors, the penalty for nonobservance for printers, whether mediately or immediately subject to Our dominion, and that of the Holy Roman Church, will be the forfeiting of their books and a fine of one hundred gold ducats, payable ipso facto to the Apostolic Treasury. Further, as for those located in other parts of the world, the penalty is excommunication latae sententiae, and such other penalties as may in Our judgment be imposed; and We decree by this law that they must not dare or presume either to print or to publish or to sell, or in any way to accept books of this nature without Our approval and consent, or without the express consent of the Apostolic Commissaries of those places, who will be appointed by Us. Said printer must receive a standard Missal and agree faithfully with it and in no wise vary from the Roman Missal of the large type (secundum magnum impressionem).     Accordingly, since it would be difficult for this present pronouncement to be sent to all parts of the Christian world and simultaneously come to light everywhere, We direct that it be, as usual, posted and published at the doors of the Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles, also at the Apostolic Chancery, and on the street at Campo Flora; furthermore, We direct that printed copies of this same edict signed by a notary public and made official by an ecclesiastical dignitary possess the same indubitable validity everywhere and in every nation, as if Our manuscript were shown there. Therefore, no one whosoever is permitted to alter this notice of Our permission, statute, ordinance, command, precept, grant, indult, declaration, will, decree, and prohibition. Should know that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.

Given at St. Peter's in the year of the Lord's Incarnation, 1570, on the 14th of July of the Fifth year of Our Pontificate.

QUO PRIMUM www.DailyCatholic.org

[Lady In Blue]

FYI and Discussion.

[BlessedBeGod]

I hope this isn't too far off-topic.

I think Latin is beautiful, and I'm trying to learn it.

I'm starting by concentrating on learning hymns in Latin, beginning with those that have the same melody as their counterparts in English. I've been through a number of hymnals, the Liber Usualis (Solemses Gregorian Chant), and the internet trying to find as many as I can.

If the Novus Ordo is left in place, I would, at minimum, want to see a smattering of Latin hymns and Gregorian chant back at Mass.

(I'd much rather see, at minimum, some kind of cross between the Novus Ordo and Tridentine, with the priest facing away from the congregation.)

[american colleen]

*Bumpus maximus* ;-)

[Mike Fieschko]

I think Latin is beautiful, and I'm trying to learn it.

There's LatinTeach, and many other resources, including some discussion groups on Yahoo.

[nickcarraway]

Furthermore, by these presents [this law], in 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 no one whosoever is forced or coerced to alter this Missal, and that this present document cannot be revoked or modified, but remain always valid and retain its full force notwithstanding the previous constitutions and decrees of the Holy See, as well as any general or special constitutions or edicts of provincial or synodal councils, and notwithstanding the practice and custom of the aforesaid churches, established by long and immemorial prescription - except, however, if more than two hundred years' standing.

[Mike Fieschko]

Be careful. Unless you are able to establish that Pius V was some sort of 'super-pope' with authority to bind future popes, the argument about 'perpetuity' will go nowhere.

When language peculiar to a particular situation is employed, reading our own definitions into that language is misleading.

[sinkspur]

No Pope kind bind another Pope on matters of liturgical rubrics.

[nickcarraway]

I didn't say anything myself, but the fact is that all Popes ``bind'' future popes to some degree. Infallible teachings of the church can't be change, and each succesive pope has less to define, because of what has come before him, starting with Peter. No pope can say that Jesus was only human, only devine, etc., etc.

[sinkspur]

In matters of faith, Popes bind future Popes all the time.

The manner and language of the Eucharist is not a matter of faith.

[Lady In Blue]

The Mass of Vatican 11

[Lady In Blue]

I think Latin is beautiful too,as well as Gregorian Chant.My parish has the Novus Order(in Latin),the way Pope Paul V1 wanted the revised to be on Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m.It's beautiful.In my area of Southern California,it's possible to go to the Tridentine Mass every Sunday at 1:30p.m.at one parish.It's very conventient.

[Lady In Blue]

Thank you so much for your "Big Bump!"

[history_matters]

Good post, dear Lady in Blue. I remember those days when I could go to Mass anywhere in the world and be completely at home in Latin.

I understand how well the vernacular can serve for evangelization purposes, but I would much prefer singing Agnus Dei to a simple Gregorian chant than singing a "Lamb o' God" that sounds like Jimmy Buffet's "Tin Cup Chalice".

[history_matters]

To quote from dear Colleen:

BUMPUS MAXIMUS!!!

Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis!

[patent]

>>>If the Novus Ordo is left in place, I would, at minimum, want to see a smattering of Latin hymns and Gregorian chant back at Mass.

I suspect many parishes will go in this direction over time, but you need sympathetic Bishops. In Latin the Novus Ordo is much more doctrinally sound then in the ICEL translation, and those parishes that do it in Latin tend to use the Latin hymes and the chants. We have one up here we go to from time to time, and we also have an Indult we go to a bit more frequently.

The thing that I like the best is kneeling for the Eucharist.

patent

[JMJ333]

thanks! bttt!

[RobbyS]

As delightful as I find the Tridentine mass to be, I can't forget that the original lanuage of ther Church was koine Greek, and the language(s) of our Lord, Aramaic and Hebrew. I assume that Our Lord also knew Greek, else how could he have had any conversation with Pilate? The real point, of course, is the unsatisfactory nature of the new mass, which is lacking in beauty.

[saradippity]

When I was about 10,we were coming home from Mass and I complained that I couldn't understand why it was in Latin.My father stopped the car turned to face me and said:

"One God,one prayer,one tongue,24 hours a day all around the world",turned back and continued driving.

At that age I wasn't quite sure what he meant but I knew it was important.Now I know,it was profound and we lost a lot.

Blessed Be God,I wish the priest would turn around too. I get the most uncomfortable feeling sometimes that the priest is concentrating on how he looks and totally forgets that it doesn't matter. I believe the verticality is retained when he faces as we do and lifts up our prayers to the Lord.This horizontal,just us folks celebrating each other is so kitchy and superficial and contrived. Its funny,as they tell us,we have matured,we are adults they keep lowering the bar so that it might be enjoyable for a child or teenager and I ask myself where is the Mass for the mature adults we have become?

Excuse the rant,but for some reason this thread touched a sore spot in me. Incidentally,I do go to the New Order eucharist because our bishop,listening to his brainwashed,brain dead nun staff told us he had no authority to permit the Tridentine Mass,this was after Ecclesia Dei.Several years later when we had all the documents,we asked again and had petitions and priests who were willing and he had some other reason why it could not be permitted. There are several priests who do offer the Mass reverently and according to the rubrics and I appreciate that but it is rare.

And,I don't care what it means this going to or partaking in,or whatever we are doing at eucharist,it is a word that despite its etiology is for the birds. All I can think of is years of working for government and finding half the staff in somebody's office playing "euchre"(rhymes with lucre). Well,Lady in Blue,you put this up for discussion. I hope your not sorry.(smile)

I am so grateful for Adoration,the rosary,the Catechism,the Bible and the Pope,I only go to Mass on Sunday to receive the Body and Blood and to fulfill my obligation.

[maryz]

I think Latin is beautiful too,as well as Gregorian Chant.

I agree. And nobody seems to have foreseen the problems with a vernacular Mass. First (for English anyway), to my ear contemporary English is not an especially good language for public prayer, which I think must have an element of the poetic -- and contemporary English poetry has moved in an intensely private and idiosyncratically personal direction. Contemporary English is well suited for prose in the hands of a master (though even here there's an "individualism" that works against it as public prayer) -- and I believe English is becoming or has become the language of science and of business, neither of which is suited for public prayer but both of which are the forms most of us lapse into. Unfortunately, too, a requirement for translators of the Mass seems to be a tin ear.

Then -- whose vernacular? I saw an article recently about a parish with a large immigrant population, mostly Spanish or Portuguese speaking, a source of controversy, with the Spanish-speaking having the numbers at present to prevail. If Mass were still in Latin, nobody would have an advantage. And we really don't need more sources of controversy.

And then there are the advantages of a "dead" language: it doesn't change. Words don't acquire new connotations. (I still find it hard to accept "Heaven and earth are full of Your glory" because "full of" has so many -- shall we say -- less exalted connotations. Words also don't have local connotations. I worked years ago with a guy who had studied Spanish for a long and time and traveled in South America trying to perfect it. He said that sometimes it was only a matter of a few miles between a word that was perfectly innocent and humdrum and the same word as an obscenity.

I love Gregorian chant, too. The parish I was in when these changes started coming used some of the English set to chant. Some of the arrangements were very pretty, but I think unsustainable over a long passage. Chant grew up around Latin, which because of the structure of its declensions and conjugations has very few monosyllables apart from prepositions; English has many, many nouns, verbs, adjectives that are monosyllables.

I might as well put in here, too, that I hate those stupid little "missalettes." I see no point in them: the responses are few enough to memorize in no time, and -- English being my first language -- I have no need to follow along in reading what I'm listening to. They are an anachronism that has lost its point -- we used Missals with the Latin Mass because we had to, and as I recall it the effect was an aid to concentration. (We also had a place to keep holy cards and prayer cards for the dead.)

Maybe we all just love best what we grew up with.

[ventana]

Jimmy Buffet is what they serve up in your neck of the woods? In our neck of the woods, it's very Andrew Lloyd Weberish, with a Phantom meets Cats kind of theatricality! V's wife.