Vatican Confirms Freedom of Priests to Celebrate Extraordinary Form– No Need For 'Stable Group'

The Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 2/16/10 | Damian Thompson

[marshmallow]

Good news from Rome: the Vatican has further underlined the freedom of priests to celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form whenever they choose. Two important points have been clarified by Ecclesia Dei, which will make it more difficult for the English, Welsh and above all Scottish bishops to stall the implementation of Summorum Pontificum:

1. A priest does NOT have to be approached by a “stable group” of the faithful in order to schedule a PUBLIC celebration of the Extraordinary Form – he may choose to do so, for example, in order to introduce his parishioners to this ancient form of the Roman Rite. Or because it’s his aunt’s birthday. Any reason, really.

2. A Mass in the Extraordinary Form may replace a regularly scheduled Mass in the Ordinary Form.

You can find more details of the Ecclesia Dei ruling here , on the excellent New Liturgical Movement blog. I do hope that priests will be encouraged by this document to exercise their full rights under Summorum Pontificum. I know of several instances in which British bishops are trying to undermine the Pope’s wishes, though I’m not going to go public where it would make the situation worse. But it is common knowledge that the situation is particularly serious is Scotland, where EF Masses are extremely rare and official claims that there is no demand for them need to be scrutinised very carefully, shall we say. More on that later.

[marshmallow]

Note to Mods; headline shortened from original version due to its excessive length (> 100 characters)

[pepperdog]

For dummies like me: Extraordinary Mass = Traditional Latin Mass.

[Claud]

Good news, and good to have this on paper.

[mlizzy]

Super news. Of course, a great number of priests do not know the Extraordinary Form, so it will take some time to learn.

I, myself, was introduced to the Tridentine Mass on January 1 (Mary's day!), and immediately fell in love with the respectful manner in which it is carried out, but also I love their (St. John Cantius, Chicago) Novus Ordo Masses as they conduct them with several of the rubrics of the Tridentine. Incredibly respectful masses. Much different from what I had been used to.

[NYer]

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[steve86]

Our youngest is scheduled for First Holy Communion in a couple months — There seemed to be no practical way I could swing this to be in the context of a Tridentine Mass or I would have. The Latin Mass Eucharist will have to wait until the next Sunday.

[Crolis]

Good news..thanks for posting. :)

[Dajjal]

bumpus ad summum