LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS
BENEDICT XVI
TO THE BISHOPS ON THE OCCASION OF THE PUBLICATION
OF THE APOSTOLIC LETTER “MOTU PROPRIO DATA”
SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM
ON THE USE OF THE ROMAN LITURGY
PRIOR TO THE REFORM OF 1970

My dear Brother Bishops,

With great trust and hope, I am consigning to you as Pastors the text of a new Apostolic Letter “Motu Proprio data” on the use of the Roman liturgy prior to the reform of 1970.  The document is the fruit of much reflection, numerous consultations and prayer.

News reports and judgments made without sufficient information have created no little confusion.  There have been very divergent reactions ranging from joyful acceptance to harsh opposition, about a plan whose contents were in reality unknown.

This document was most directly opposed on account of two fears, which I would like to address somewhat more closely in this letter.

In the first place, there is the fear that the document detracts from the authority of the Second Vatican Council, one of whose essential decisions – the liturgical reform – is being called into question.

This fear is unfounded.  In this regard, it must first be said that the Missal published by Paul VI and then republished in two subsequent editions by John Paul II, obviously is and continues to be the normal Form – the Forma ordinaria – of the Eucharistic Liturgy.  The last version of the Missale Romanum prior to the Council, which was published with the authority of Pope John XXIII in 1962 and used during the Council, will now be able to be used as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgical celebration.  It is not appropriate to speak of these two versions of the Roman Missal as if they were “two Rites”.  Rather, it is a matter of a twofold use of one and the same rite.

As for the use of the 1962 Missal as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgy of the Mass, I would like to draw attention to the fact that this Missal was never juridically abrogated and, consequently, in principle, was always permitted.  At the time of the introduction of the new Missal, it did not seem necessary to issue specific norms for the possible use of the earlier Missal.  Probably it was thought that it would be a matter of a few individual cases which would be resolved, case by case, on the local level.  Afterwards, however, it soon became apparent that a good number of people remained strongly attached to this usage of the Roman Rite, which had been familiar to them from childhood.  This was especially the case in countries where the liturgical movement had provided many people with a notable liturgical formation and a deep, personal familiarity with the earlier Form of the liturgical celebration.  We all know that, in the movement led by Archbishop Lefebvre, fidelity to the old Missal became an external mark of identity; the reasons for the break which arose over this, however, were at a deeper level. Many people who clearly accepted the binding character of the Second Vatican Council, and were faithful to the Pope and the Bishops, nonetheless also desired to recover the form of the sacred liturgy that was dear to them. This occurred above all because in many places celebrations were not faithful to the prescriptions of the new Missal, but the latter actually was understood as authorizing or even requiring creativity, which frequently led to deformations of the liturgy which were hard to bear.  I am speaking from experience, since I too lived through that period with all its hopes and its confusion.  And I have seen how arbitrary deformations of the liturgy caused deep pain to individuals totally rooted in the faith of the Church.

Pope John Paul II thus felt obliged to provide, in his Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei (2 July 1988), guidelines for the use of the 1962 Missal; that document, however, did not contain detailed prescriptions but appealed in a general way to the generous response of Bishops towards the “legitimate aspirations” of those members of the faithful who requested this usage of the Roman Rite.  At the time, the Pope primarily wanted to assist the Society of Saint Pius X to recover full unity with the Successor of Peter, and sought to heal a wound experienced ever more painfully.  Unfortunately this reconciliation has not yet come about.  Nonetheless, a number of communities have gratefully made use of the possibilities provided by the Motu Proprio.  On the other hand, difficulties remain concerning the use of the 1962 Missal outside of these groups, because of the lack of precise juridical norms, particularly because Bishops, in such cases, frequently feared that the authority of the Council would be called into question.  Immediately after the Second Vatican Council it was presumed that requests for the use of the 1962 Missal would be limited to the older generation which had grown up with it, but in the meantime it has clearly been demonstrated that young persons too have discovered this liturgical form, felt its attraction and found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them. Thus the need has arisen for a clearer juridical regulation which had not been foreseen at the time of the 1988 Motu Proprio. The present Norms are also meant to free Bishops from constantly having to evaluate anew how they are to respond to various situations.

In the second place, the fear was expressed in discussions about the awaited Motu Proprio, that the possibility of a wider use of the 1962 Missal would lead to disarray or even divisions within parish communities.  This fear also strikes me as quite unfounded. The use of the old Missal presupposes a certain degree of liturgical formation and some knowledge of the Latin language; neither of these is found very often.  Already from these concrete presuppositions, it is clearly seen that the new Missal will certainly remain the ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, not only on account of the juridical norms, but also because of the actual situation of the communities of the faithful.

It is true that there have been exaggerations and at times social aspects unduly linked to the attitude of the faithful attached to the ancient Latin liturgical tradition. Your charity and pastoral prudence will be an incentive and guide for improving these. For that matter, the two Forms of the usage of the Roman Rite can be mutually enriching: new Saints and some of the new Prefaces can and should be inserted in the old Missal.  The “Ecclesia Dei” Commission, in contact with various bodies devoted to the usus antiquior, will study the practical possibilities in this regard. The celebration of the Mass according to the Missal of Paul VI will be able to demonstrate, more powerfully than has been the case hitherto, the sacrality which attracts many people to the former usage.  The most sure guarantee that the Missal of Paul VI can unite parish communities and be loved by them consists in its being celebrated with great reverence in harmony with the liturgical directives. This will bring out the spiritual richness and the theological depth of this Missal.

I now come to the positive reason which motivated my decision to issue this Motu Proprio updating that of 1988. It is a matter of coming to an interior reconciliation in the heart of the Church. Looking back over the past, to the divisions which in the course of the centuries have rent the Body of Christ, one continually has the impression that, at critical moments when divisions were coming about, not enough was done by the Church’s leaders to maintain or regain reconciliation and unity. One has the impression that omissions on the part of the Church have had their share of blame for the fact that these divisions were able to harden.  This glance at the past imposes an obligation on us today: to make every effort to enable for all those who truly desire unity to remain in that unity or to attain it anew.  I think of a sentence in the Second Letter to the Corinthians, where Paul writes: “Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide.  You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.  In return … widen your hearts also!” (2 Cor 6:11-13).  Paul was certainly speaking in another context, but his exhortation can and must touch us too, precisely on this subject.  Let us generously open our hearts and make room for everything that the faith itself allows.

There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal.  In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture.  What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful.  It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place.  Needless to say, in order to experience full communion, the priests of the communities adhering to the former usage cannot, as a matter of principle, exclude celebrating according to the new books.  The total exclusion of the new rite would not in fact be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness.

In conclusion, dear Brothers, I very much wish to stress that these new norms do not in any way lessen your own authority and responsibility, either for the liturgy or for the pastoral care of your faithful.  Each Bishop, in fact, is the moderator of the liturgy in his own Diocese (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, 22: “Sacrae Liturgiae moderatio ab Ecclesiae auctoritate unice pendet quae quidem est apud Apostolicam Sedem et, ad normam iuris, apud Episcopum”).

Nothing is taken away, then, from the authority of the Bishop, whose role remains that of being watchful that all is done in peace and serenity.  Should some problem arise which the parish priest cannot resolve, the local Ordinary will always be able to intervene, in full harmony, however, with all that has been laid down by the new norms of the Motu Proprio.

Furthermore, I invite you, dear Brothers, to send to the Holy See an account of your experiences, three years after this Motu Proprio has taken effect.  If truly serious difficulties come to light, ways to remedy them can be sought.

Dear Brothers, with gratitude and trust, I entrust to your hearts as Pastors these pages and the norms of the Motu Proprio.  Let us always be mindful of the words of the Apostle Paul addressed to the presbyters of Ephesus: “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the Church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son” (Acts 20:28).

I entrust these norms to the powerful intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing to you, dear Brothers, to the parish priests of your dioceses, and to all the priests, your co-workers, as well as to all your faithful.

Given at Saint Peter’s, 7 July 2007

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

We live today in a world of comfort.  You may disagree…perhaps you will tell me of the number of people suffering from hunger, poverty, and the like.  And you are correct, a portion of the world suffers, but overall we are an ungrateful glutton bunch.  Look around, note the number of things people own…the amount of wasted food at any restaurant or house…the amount of apathy among men. 

Last night while in Adoration I read this:

And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?” But Satan answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.”  - Job 1:8-11

While Job had everything he praised the Lord who is worthy to be praised.  Satan argued that Job is of course an upright servant of the Lord, for God has allowed him to have many possessions and a wonderful family.  The Lord hath looked with favor on Job.

So the Lord, knowing the strength of Job’s faith allowed Satan to test him.  In the first trial all of Job’s livestock is stolen and all of his seven children are killed on the same day at the same time.  Job, being the upright and fitting servant of the Lord responds by saying this…

Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God. – Job 1:20-22

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!  Are you kidding me!  Job praises God on the very day when his livelihood is taken from him!  And on the same day in which his children are killed!  Are you kidding me!!

See if you can follow me on this.  The U.S. is the richest country in the history of the world, we all have houses, cars, refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, Costco, Wal-Mart, Target, Guitar Center, Lehboner Children’s Hospital, St. Jude, and on and on and on.  People born in the U.S. are the luckiest people on the planet because no matter your race, in the U.S. you have more opportunity to survive then anywhere else. 

We have all of this, and yet we are not upright and worthy servants of the Lord.  You tell me how many people here truly, honestly, when attacked by Satin say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”  Rather people respond “God why have you forsaken me!” 

America…you are weak.  We call ourselves a Christian nation and then we live and act like pagans. 

Christ tells us in the Gospel of Matthew (7:21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

I wish to be like Job.  I wish to honor the Lord with all of my being every day, despite the weather, or my house, my car, my groceries, my friends, my family.  I wish to be like Job more today than ever before in my life.  Bring it on Satan…you haven’t met a man more focused on Praising the Lord.  I will not be stopped because I do not walk under my own power but only by the Grace of God go I. 

Please don’t mistake this as a woe to us post.  I am writing this more as a join me, let’s change the world, let’s make Christians Christian again.  We know that Christ has the victory!  This time will pass and He shall reign again in the hearts of all men.  Let us answer God’s call to carry our crosses, not count the cost of our labor, accept a fair daily wage, and Love unceasingly.  That maybe we could answer the Lord as Job does…

Then Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes. – Job 42:1-6

 I wish not to understand what God calls me to, but to have the Grace to say Yes and do it.  I pray that we all have this Grace and that, like Mary, we respond “Let it be done to me according to THY word.”

God bless you today and deliver you from all evil…because Satan isn’t done working, so neither should we be.

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Pronunciation: \?fr?-dumb\

Function: noun

Date: 21st Century

1: The quality or state of being enslaved as a: the presence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action by addiction to sin b: slavery or restraint from the power of the devil c: the quality or state of being ignorant of consequences of action or decision

2: a political right

The definition above is not found in any dictionary.  Throughout the ages words of slang or cultural reference have found their way into the trusty Webster’s Dictionary and become common language.  These words are created to define those situations that cannot be described accurately using traditional language.  Freedumb is just such a word. 

In the beginning of the United States we had Freedom: the quality or state of being free.  Free from the constraints of that mean ole monarch of England.  Free to become who we wanted to be.  Free to choose.  Free to live. 

Unfortunately, over the years that definition of freedom has been distorted.  See there is an element of Freedom that is required for it to be true.  The ability to follow God’s will.  Freedom is only true when one can decide their own destiny; when ones decision and actions cause them to either succeed, or fail.

Today however, these freedoms or “liberties” do not exist.  I cannot choose to follow God’s will the way He intended.  We are enslaved.  I’m not crying chicken little and saying we are all going to hell, nor am I saying the world is no longer God’s kingdom.  

What I am saying is that we have made this country into a freedom-less culture.  We now have a new phenomenon called Freedumb.  Freedumb is new word to describe the quality of being enslaved, but being told you are free.  Or put another way, “one who is ignorant of Freedom”.  And take that a step further to realize that Freedom is Truth. 

If Free Will is given to us by God, then Free Will is the ability to choose Truth, which is God.  Since we cannot fully choose God in our society, we can’t have true Freedom.  So we have Freedumb.  Millions of people attending church, reading the Bible, and yet still not knowing God.  I’m not knocking any denomination, we Catholics are in the same boat. 

Consider this.  Marriage used to be the Church’s responsibility.  It was the Church who determined who could marry, when, and under what form.  Yet now, it is the government that requires us to get a “license” to marry.  What preparation does our wonderful government require?  Nothing.  And many get married in Churches, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, with no preparation.  Their preparation consists of deciding they feel pretty strongly about someone, buying a ring, and committing to maybe.  If it doesn’t work out, they’ll just get divorced, why not their parents did it. 

Please note that if you come from a broken home, I am sorry you had to experience that.  That in fact, is the tragedy of our society.  Children grow up without both parents to nurture them, men and women deal with the soulful destruction of divorce, and our society becomes cold to the ideal of family.  But fear not!  The government has it under control!

So, in my humble opinion, simply with one example we can see how people who do not know Him, the Truth, can be enslaved to their decisions.  I “feel” good so I get married, I do not consult God, and the situation is doomed to fail.  I have Freedumb.

This is not a political post.  I am not bashing any politician or government employee.  It is a systematic problem.  There are many symptoms to the problem: divorce rates, healthcare costs, parentless children, sexual diseases…and a civil war fought in the courtrooms to decide if a baby can live or die, simply because mommy and daddy want to live without consequences. 

The problem with Freedumb is that people don’t know they are enslaved.  They are blinded by their sin and cannot see God.  Think about it like this…  If you live in a place where they don’t have any ice cream, and you have never eaten ice cream, how do you know how good it is.  When you travel later in life and come to the U.S. and have a waffle cone with mint chocolate chip ice cream you will be overwhelmed with joy….well, I would be…I love mint chocolate chip…you get the point.

So how do we fix it?  Well if I were a country singer I would write a song about traveling over the ocean and putting a boot in someone’s you know what….but I’m not.  So I think rather I will suggest this.

Pray.  How many of us really pray for others?  I mean really pray!  There are so many wonderful prayers to do, but I would suggest a different approach.  Pray for those you meet each day.  Not simply “God please help them.”  Really pray for them.  All of our problems can be solved with Faith, Hope and Love. 

We need the Faith to believe God will help.  Then we must have Hope to know he will help, even when feelings or time is telling us to give up.  Then we must have Love to act when He calls us to.  Praying for others to receive the gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love is offering them the best we have to offer, the personality of God…who is the solution to all the worlds problems. 

I hope you don’t take this as a sappy post.  I believe the power of God is overwhelming.  Trust me, if you know anything about my past I was more the free-dumb, I was free-ridiculously-stupid.  But God saw fit to fix me in a way I could never have imagined.  Like those in the Bible, he didn’t fix my physical problems; he forgave my sins…a far greater gift. 

If Christians but pray we will see the world transformed.  When we pray, we become like Him.  And then, once we become more like Christ on the inside, our actions will reflect our beliefs.  We need to pray for Faith, Hope, and Love to transform our lives.

By increasing Faith, Hope, and Love we can rid the world of Freedumb and return to God, gaining Freedom in the process.

Happy 4^th of July, America…I look forward to sharing Freedom with you.

Imagine, someone grows up and forgets who they are…..  Not so hard to think of is it.  In today’s world we have people of all ages forgetting who they are.  People focused on success, wealth, sex, possessions, importance, fame, etc.  We work so hard to become who we think we need to be, that we forget who we are. 

Peter Pan in this movie, played by Robin Williams, stayed in the real world to get married and become a dad.  He left Never Never Land and forgot all about who he was.  I think the greatest scene is when he begins to remember who he is and use his imagination, which allows him to see dinner…which moments previous was empty serving trays and plates…but now reveals a feast of great proportion.  Peter is re-learning how to be The Pan. 

Another scene is when Peter finds his happy thought, which allows him to fly.  He can fly, he can fight, he can crow.  He has reclaimed his identity and is again, The Pan.

So who are we?  Who am I?  Am I Peter Pan?  Could it be?  Well, in some ways…yes. 

Remember these:

V. Do you reject Satan?
R. I do.
V. And all his works?
R. I do.
V. And all his empty promises?
R. I do.
V. Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
R. I do.

V. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
R. I do.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
R. I do.

V. God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins. May he also keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever.

R. Amen.

In these we find our identity.  In these simple questions we find who we are, what we believe, and where we are going.

You see I visit Never Never Land frequently so I don’t forget who I am.  I go to Church and attend Mass.  Kneeling there I face Jesus Christ…the ultimate Pan. 

He can fly, He can fight, and oh yes, He can crow. 

I want to remember how it felt when I was Confirmed.  How it felt when I received Christ in the Eucharist for the first time.  How it felt when I said “I do” and received the Grace to be a husband.  I recall these feelings and Graces when I behold Christ in the Eucharist and when I receive.  Going to Mass for me is like standing before the great table of the Lost Boys and seeing all over again the feast laid out for me. 

Christ prepares a banquet table for all of us…the key is seeing through to the supernatural reality of God and not seeing empty vessels of man made bread and wine, but seeing the fullness of life in the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.

I pray I never grow up.  I don’t ever want to leave Never Never Land and forget who I am…A child of God.  I pray the same for you.

Tonight, tomorrow, or whenever you read this…I pray you also experience the feast of Christ laid out for you.  I pray you remember that you are Peter Pan and you too can fly… can fight… and Errr-uh-errr-uh-errrrrrrrr!!!!

God bless.