Posted on 06/02/2003 6:06:40 AM PDT by NYer
There is nothing like the "old Mass" to spawn new rumors.
On May 24 at the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Major, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos will celebrate Mass according to the 1962 missal, the last missal before the liturgical reforms of Vatican II. The 1962 Mass is often called the "Tridentine Mass," the "Mass of St. Pius V" or just the "old Mass." Sometimes it is even called the "Latin Mass," which is incorrect, because of course the current rite of Mass can be celebrated in Latin - it's still the official language, after all. In fact, I use it often.
The 1962 Mass at St. Mary Major is news, as usually the 1962 Mass is not permitted to be celebrated in the major basilicas in Rome. The ostensible reason for the special Mass is "to honor the Holy Father" in relation to his upcoming 25th anniversary - a sort of gift from those Catholics who prefer the 1962 Mass. But the occasion has given rise to wild rumors.
The number of Catholics who prefer the 1962 Mass are a tiny minority, but they are generally very devout, intelligent and intensely interested in Catholic news. They have magazines, conferences and laudable Web site and e-mail networks. Those networks have been humming with speculation on what the Mass at St. Mary Major might mean.
Then there are the former Catholics who follow the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who was excommunicated in 1988. They, too, celebrate the sacraments according to the 1962 liturgical books. The Mass remains valid because the priests were validly ordained, even if they are no longer Catholic priests, having cut themselves off from communion with the Catholic Church. Their confessions and would be invalid, as they no longer enjoy the proper jurisdiction of a Catholic bishop.
Cardinal Castrillon is head of the Ecclesia Dei commission, which is responsible for looking after those Catholics who would prefer the 1962 Mass as well as for initiatives that might reconcile the Lefebvrist schismatics. That he is going to celebrate the 1962 Mass in such a prominent place has given rise to speculation about what might be in the offing.
The first big rumor was that he would announce the healing of the Lefebvrist schism.
The second big rumor was that Cardinal Castrillon would announce the granting of a universal "indult" - meaning permission for any Catholic priest to celebrate the 1962 Mass if he wanted. At the moment, a priest must ask for this indult from his own bishop, who may grant it. A universal indult would mean that no request would be necessary.
The third big rumor was that the forthcoming disciplinary document on Eucharistic abuses - promised in the recent encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia - would actually call for widespread celebration of the 1962 Mass.
All three rumors are false. So how did they get started?
One reason is institutional. Vatican officials are not permitted to speak to journalists on the record without official permission. Yet news reporters have to talk to officials in order to do their jobs. Everything remains off the record, from "anonymous sources." A mischievous - or incompetent - source or reporter can therefore start a rumor without anyone being able to check up on it.
Another reason is the linking of the 1962 Mass to the Lefebvrist schism. It is clear that there is a great desire in Rome to heal the schism. Rome is prepared to be generous in this regard - last year an entire schismatic diocese which followed the 1962 books was reunited with Rome, without penalties and with extraordinary privileges. They were allowed to have their own bishop as a prelature (nonterritorial diocese) exempting them from the authority of the local bishop. That precedent has led observers to judge that Rome will give the Lefebvrists whatever is possible if they agree to return to full communion.
The reverse is also true; Vatican officials familiar with the issue say that further movement on the celebration of the 1962 Mass - particularly the universal indult - will never happen unless it is tied to an immediate and substantial healing of the schism.
Therefore, it is possible for any reporter to find senior Vatican officials - even cardinals - who will happily say that they would favor the universal indult, the 1962 Mass in St. Peter's, tonsuring seminarians or just about anything else if it would heal the schism. The ground is fertile for rumors to grow. Yet if the Lefebvrists are not particularly interested - and they do not seem to be, though that is for another day - then there is nothing more than good will fathering rumors.
All of which is frustrating for loyal Catholics who prefer the 1962 Mass. Their desire for more such Masses is tied in practice to the Lefebvrist schism, even though they have no connection to the schism.
A final note - in practice, the universal indult would not make much difference.
While a priest would no longer need to ask specific permission from his bishop, the bishop, as the regulator of the liturgy in his diocese, would still have to determine where and when Masses were being offered in his parishes, according to whichever books. His approval would still be necessary.
Furthermore, the number of priests ordained in the last 30 years who are able to celebrate the current Mass in Latin is minuscule; the even fewer who are interested in the 1962 Mass have most likely already obtained permission from their bishops. The issue is really beside the point.
Which makes it perfect for rumors.
Father Raymond J. de Souza
writes from Rome.
Someone recently mentioned that the traditionalist rite is drawing many seminarians. Does anyone have any good numbers or a link to them? Thanks
Very disappointing.
He can't and doesn't. He also seems to contradict himself. On the one hand he says all of the rumors are false, while on the other hand, he cites encouraging news, like this.
It is clear that there is a great desire in Rome to heal the schism. Rome is prepared to be generous in this regard - last year an entire schismatic diocese which followed the 1962 books was reunited with Rome, without penalties and with extraordinary privileges. They were allowed to have their own bishop as a prelature (nonterritorial diocese) exempting them from the authority of the local bishop. That precedent has led observers to judge that Rome will give the Lefebvrists whatever is possible if they agree to return to full communion.
I think the reason for Cardinal Castrillon saying the Latin Mass was to dispel the schismatic myth that the modernist, masonic denizens of the Vatican so oppose the "old mass" that they would never allow it to be said, or say it themselves.
In their desire to end the schism the Vatican is doing everything it can to foster trust and the saying of the mass was yet another goodwill gesture.
This would lend credence to your statement.
We are migrating to MS Office at work right now and Microsoft assigned an engineer/trainer to assist. He is from Colombia. I was showing him the pictures from last week's mass that had been posted to this forum. He smiled and said that is how the mass is always said in Colombia. He went on to describe the sacred vestments worn by Cardinal Castrillon. Told me the nuns make each one of these by hand.
Cardinal Castrillon is head of the Ecclesia Dei commission, which is responsible for looking after those Catholics who would prefer the 1962 Mass
This mass was no fluke! My thinking is that the good cardinal, like Elwood & Jake, is on a mission from God. Somehow or other, I don't believe he will take no for an answer.
Just how does he know, with moral certainty, that ALL the 'rumors' are false?
I don't know about moral certainty, but all three rumors can easily be dismissed with little to no thought.
1. The SSPX is so bogged down by their confusion that reconciliation is not a paramount aim at this time. Ever since negotiations (as if the SSPX had anything to negotiate) began the SSPX has, through it's "bishops", apologists, and followers, conveyed a distinct reluctance to be united with Rome. Their unrelenting attack on Rome, the pope, the N.O. mass,... everything.... indicates that unification is very unlikely.
2.The universal indult, for all practicality, exists. Few are the bishops that would deny an indult. Few are the priests that request an indult. Few are the faithful who don't have access to a Latin Mass. Many are the SSPXers who do have access to an indult yet prefer to support the SSPX. A universal indult would not change the status quo significantly enough to hold one's breath for it or in the case of SSPXers, hold up communion with Rome for it. A universal indult is unnecessary.
3. See number 2. If the universal indult is not coming, it's not coming in a future encyclical. In fact,if an encyclical addressing the abuses of the mass is forthcoming and it is followed; if the result is a more devout N.O. mass, then the need to take refuge in the Tridentine will deminish.
Maybe, maybe not. I think Rome is VERY interested in recon. w/SSPX--viz., the Campos situation, which certainly did not subsume the Trads into the 'regular' Church.
Admittedly, there are those within SSPX who will be unhappy (we have a few on FR like that,) but Rome will take 90% rather than wait until 2060 for the 100%.
As to the 'indult,' I agree that a tightening of the rubrics/rules for NO is easier. At the same time, I suspect that the 'indult' is part of the SSPX strategy.
Finally, as to the NO, they will have to do better than the new GIRM's "guidelines" (at least in music) to effect an improvement.
All that needs to be done with that is place anything published by OCP on the Syllabus of Errors.
All the more reason for bishops to sponsor courses in Latin for priests, seminarians, and the laity.
Thank you for correctly paraphrasing my question.
The FSSP seminary in Nebraska had 81 applicants last year, but because of space constraints, could only accept 16.
And thank you, JNB, for the numbers. I have heard that the numbers entering the Traditional seminary are higher than those applying to the modern seminaries (I have no numbers either, but the Albany diocese is constantly praying for priests).
Now, are those being trained in Nebraska sent off to serve in other states? Across the river, in the city of Troy, we have one Indult Tridentine rite celebrated in a church where the Tridentine and Novus Ordo rites are both celebrated. Could this parish benefit from the graduates at the Nebraska semianary?
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