Mass
in ‘Extraordinary Form’
Priests receive guidelines for traditional Latin Mass
By Lou Baldwin
Special to The CS&T
Cardinal Justin Rigali has sent a letter to all priests of the Archdiocese
announcing he has promulgated guidelines for the implementation of new
norms set by Pope Benedict XVI for the Mass familiar worldwide through
the 1960s, which was celebrated mainly in Latin.
The Holy Father issued the new norms last July in his apostolic letter,
Summorum Pontificum.
In Cardinal Rigali’s Jan. 8 letter, he encouraged all priests who
wish to celebrate the 1962 Roman Missal Mass — now officially called
the Extraordinary Form of the Mass of the Roman Rite — to avail
themselves of a six-week program that will be offered by the Theological
Institute for Priests at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
The program, which begins Jan. 24, “will offer priests the opportunity
to study the theology and rubrics of the Extraordinary Form so that Mass
may be celebrated with the proper dignity and understanding,” the
Cardinal wrote.
The 1962 Mass contained the final amendments, promulgated by Blessed John
XXIII, to the Tridentine Mass, which was originally issued by St. Paul
V in 1570 after the Council of Trent.
The amended 1962 Mass was in general use through the Second Vatican Council.
In 1970, Pope Paul VI promulgated the missal that is now officially the
Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
Two archdiocesan parishes, Holy Saviour in Norristown and Our Lady of
Consolation in Philadelphia, were already celebrating, with the necessary
indult, a weekly Mass according to the 1962 missal prior to the issuance
of Summorum Pontificum.
“I am grateful to these parishes for their generous response to
the needs of the faithful as they continue to celebrate the Mass according
to the Extraordinary Form,” Cardinal Rigali wrote.
The guidelines, the Cardinal said, were issued “after consultation
with the Council of Priests as well as with other priests of the Archdiocese.
I pray that these guidelines will assist all clergy to respond appropriately
and generously to the pastoral needs of the faithful in their care.”
Father Brian P. Hennessy, assistant to the vicar for the clergy, said
the six-week series will be presented by Msgr. Charles L. Sangermano and
Msgr. Michael K. Magee, both of whom have been celebrating Extraordinary
Form Masses at the parishes where they are offered.
Father G. Dennis Gill, a former director of sacred liturgy at the North
American College in Rome, commented: “This was not an easy decision
on the part of the Holy Father. One of his chief aims is the authentic
celebration of the sacred liturgy, whether in the ordinary or the extraordinary
form.
“Aside from any reconciliation with disaffected Catholics because
of liturgical reform,” Father Gill said, “Pope Benedict’s
desire is to promote the celebration of the sacred liturgy in either form,
with the sacrality of the older form mentoring the current form.”
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo parish and a freelance writer.
Highlights
of Cardinal Rigali’s coordinating guidelines for the implementation
of Summorum Pontificum:
• A priest is qualified to celebrate the Extraordinary Form when
he possesses the requisite knowledge of the rubrics of the Mass and he
is competent in the Latin language. If he wishes to celebrate the Extraordinary
Form publicly, he must demonstrate this required competence to the regional
auxiliary bishop or his delegate. The same requirement holds for deacons
who are asked to participate in a Mass or sacred liturgy in the Extraordinary
Form.
• For Masses without a congregation, the Extraordinary Form may
be celebrated any day except during the Easter Triduum. The faithful may
attend such a Mass if they ask to be admitted of their own free will.
An additional Mass is never to be celebrated at the same time a public
Mass is being celebrated in the same church or oratory.
• A public Mass in the Extraordinary Form with a congregation may
be celebrated when a stable group of the faithful makes a request of the
pastor. The pastor must first consult with the regional auxiliary bishop
before acceding to such a request. The Mass may be celebrated by a priest
who has demonstrated his competence to celebrate in the Extraordinary
Form.
• The Extraordinary Form may be permitted by the pastor for the
celebration of other sacraments, funerals or occasional celebrations when
requested by the lay faithful. The pastor is to consult with the regional
auxiliary bishop before acceding to such a request and also, if he cannot
accede to the request, he must consult the regional auxiliary bishop.
• Religious orders and congregations who wish to celebrate Mass
in the Extraordinary Form may do so. However, if they wish to celebrate
in this manner often, habitually or permanently, the decision must be
taken to major superiors. If such celebrations are to take place in a
parish church entrusted to the care of the religious, the archdiocesan
coordinating guidelines must be followed.