Interview

Positive impact of Pope's decree on the Latin Mass

Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos

Contents - May 2008 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Re-evangelising young unchurched Catholics - Michael Gilchrist Two changes: Bishop Jarrett explains upcoming Mass changes - Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett News: The Church Around the World Summorum Pontificum: Benedict XVI's Latin Mass document: a parish priest's response - Fr Andrew Wise Interview: Positive impact of Pope's decree on the Latin Mass - Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos Green sisters: New-look US religious: Al Gore's latest 'eco-justice' disciples - AD2000 REPORT Ballarat: Children's Spirituality Conference at ACU: not to be confused with religion! - Michael Gilchrist FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH: What are the basics of Catholic belief and practice? - Lucy Tucker Magisterium: When is it infallible? - John Young Youth: Eucharistic devotions: revival in Melbourne - Br Barry Coldrey Letters: Church architecture - Terry Parkhouse Letters: AIDS Prevention - Dr Arnold Jago Letters: Altar rails - John Murray Letters: Receiving Communion - Charles Haber Letters: Stations of the Cross - John D. Wightman Letters: Brisbane - Franklin J. Wood Letters: Cosmic Liturgy - Grahame Fallon Books: Irish journalist exposes 'Kathy's Story' book and movie as fabrications - Gary Brady (reviewer) Books: NEWMAN'S APPROACH TO KNOWLEDGE by Laurence Richardson - Philip Trower (reviewer) Books: THE REALM: An Unfashionable Essay on Converting England, Aidan Nichols OP - Tim Cannon (reviewer) Books: Books available from AD2000 Books Reflection: How to recover a sense of the sacred at Mass - Bishop Arthur Serratelli

In an interview in March with L'Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, explained that Pope Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, which liberalised the use of the Tridentine Mass, is not a return to the past and has brought many separated brethren back into full communion with the Church.

'In Spain,' he said, 'the Oasis of Jesus the Priest, an entire cloistered monastery of 30 nuns led by their founder, has been recognised and regularised by the Pontifical Commission.

'On the other hand there are American, German and French groups, and other members of the laity, who contact us, write us and call in search of reconciliation. And there are many faithful who express their gratitude to the Pope for issuing the Motu Proprio.

The cardinal noted that there have been some practical problems in implementing the directive, but the Ecclesia Dei Commission is planning to provide more help to 'seminaries, dioceses and bishops' conferences' to eliminate the difficulties.

'In addition,' he added, 'it is important that there are already priests who use the extraordinary form and make themselves available to celebrate or explain the Mass according to the 1962 Missal.'

The cardinal pointed out that 'the Pope has been clear' that it is 'an error' to assert that the use of the Latin language is only for the ancient rite, as it is foreseen in the Missal of Paul VI.' He also reiterated that the Motu Proprio grants any priest the right to celebrate the extraordinary form of the Mass and that the faithful have the right to this form 'when the conditions specified in the Motu Proprio exist.'

'The Pope is offering the Church a treasure that is spiritual, cultural, religious and catholic,' he continued, noting that the Commission has received letters of support from Orthodox, Anglican and even Protestant ministers.

Cardinal Castrillon also said priests and faithful of the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) have sought to regularise their status with the Church in the wake of the Motu Proprio, pointing out that members of the SSPX are not separated from the Church since 'the excommunication applied only to the four bishops' who were ordained by Archbishop Lefebrve.

Mass celebrated by priests of the Society is 'undoubtedly valid, but not licit. Therefore, attendance at these Masses is not advised, unless there is no other possibility on Sundays.'

Cardinal Castrillon offered his own personal reflection on the new directive. 'I very much like the Novus Ordo which I celebrate daily. I had never celebrated the Mass according to the 1962 Missal after the liturgical reform. Now, in joining in the extraordinary rite on a few occasions, I have rediscovered the richness of the ancient liturgy which the Pope wants to keep alive.

'We should never forget that the supreme point of reference in the liturgy, as in life, is always Christ. We are not afraid, therefore, in the liturgical rite as well, of turning to Him, towards the crucified one, together with the faithful, in order to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice, in an unbloody way, as the Council of Trent defined the Mass.'

Catholic News Agency

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 21 No 4 (May 2008), p. 7