Preparing for the Indult

Early in 2007 great excitement was caused by the circulation of French, Italian, Polish and English petitions signed by large numbers of intellectuals, liturgy experts, leaders in the professions and others, all urging Pope Benedict XVI to free the Traditional Mass. The English petition can be seen on Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce web site, or in our own archives. At the same time the International Federation Una Voce was engaged in high level briefing in Rome. Una Voce Secretary, Leo Darroch, recounts the story.

Since autumn 2006 there has been growing speculation in the media, both national and international, about an expected document from our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI allowing greater freedom for the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass. Much of this speculation has been uninformed, inappropriate, and controversial. It is also clear that most of this adverse comment is being generated mainly by senior clergy and without any consultation with their priests or laity.

The International Federation Una Voce is a lay movement in the Church that was formed in 1966 to act on behalf of the faithful who wish to ensure the continuity of the Traditional Liturgy and to safeguard and promote the use of Latin, Gregorian Chant, and sacred polyphony in faithful obedience to the Second Vatican Council. The Federation represents many national associations around the world in every continent. In England and Wales we have the Latin Mass Society.

In order to counter the erroneous views being given to Pope Benedict the executive officers of the International Federation held meetings in Rome in September and late November 2006 with heads of Vatican Congregations and various officials, particularly in the Congregations for Divine Worship, for the Doctrine of the Faith, for the Clergy, and the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei. The Federation was thanked for what it is doing in the service of the Church and for trying to ensure the continuity of the Traditional Liturgy and sacred music. Although the Federation is a lay organisation we told the Congregations that many good and faithful diocesan priests who love the Traditional Liturgy ask us to speak on their behalf about having greater freedom to celebrate the Traditional Mass and sacraments.

During our November 2006 meetings the officers of the Federation, in order to restore the balance of the inaccurate picture given in Rome by various European prelates, presented a dossier on the reality of life in many countries under the restrictions imposed by many bishops. The German bishops, for example, reported to Rome in September 2006 that the demand for the Traditional Mass had not increased since 1993, and yet the number of such Masses in Germany since 1993 has quadrupled! In October 2006 the Society of St Pius X announced that it had sent out 6,800 letters to German priests offering a free 'starter kit' of a DVD and cards for anyone interested in learning the 'old' Mass and more than 1,000 accepted (and about 100 seminarians also wanted copies). These facts speak for themselves.

It is now publicly acknowledged that neither Pope Paul VI nor the other Council Fathers intended to suppress the 1962 forms of the Roman Rite. Therefore, one can only wonder why some still claim that the Pope's universal authorisation of those forms would lead to disunity. Quite clearly, some still confuse liturgical unity with liturgical uniformity. As the Pope is the visible principal of unity, how, then, can one logically assert that one disunites the Church by following a directive of a reigning Pontiff?

Many of the current difficulties are caused because some bishops will not allow celebrations of the Traditional Latin Mass even when it is desired by a large number of the faithful and a priest is available who is willing and able to celebrate it. What can be more uncharitable for many of the faithful and priests to be more or less constantly maligned and marginalised simply because they wish to follow the Catholic faith of their ancestors?

The definitive response to the erroneous opinions of many European prelates was published on 27 November 2006 when the Archdiocese of Genoa in Italy issued a statement in response to these adverse comments (published in Mass of Ages, February 2007). This remarkable official statement included the following: the Second Vatican Council did not abolish the Mass of St Pius V; the amplification of the indult regarding the so called liturgy of St Pius V is not equivalent in any way to rejecting the Second Vatican Council; two valid expressions of the same Catholic faith – that of St Pius V and that of Paul VI – cannot be presented as “expressing opposite views” and, thus, as mutually irreconcilable; in the liturgical ambit, the decisions and deeds of Popes and of Councils cannot be presented in a conflictual way and, even less, as alternatives to one another; the Pope, due to his supreme authority, has the power to put in practice universally valid and binding juridical and pastoral acts.

This statement finally and absolutely vindicates the action of those Catholics over the years who have long argued that the 'old' Mass had never been abolished by Vatican II or anyone else. To his credit, Pope Benedict, when Cardinal Ratzinger, always said this publicly. Now he is in a position to do something about it. It will be interesting to see the reaction when the indult is published.

[Taken from "Mass of Ages" May 2007, The Latin Mass Society's quarterly magazine]