Saturday, June 30, 2007

Motu proprio coming July 7

Vatican, Jun. 27, 2007 (Kath.net/CWNews.com) - The long-awaited motu proprio in which Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) liberalizes access to the traditional Latin Mass will be released on July 7, according to the German-language Kath.net news service.

Kath.net reports that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (bio - news), the Vatican Secretary of State, introduced the text of the motu proprio to a group of 30 bishops at the Vatican on June 27. Pope Benedict made a brief appearance at the meeting, the Kath.net story indicates.

The June 27 meeting drew bishops from all around the world, who had been invited to the Vatican for an advance briefing on the papal document. Pope Benedict has taken special pains to ensure that the world's bishops are well prepared for the motu proprio, hoping to minimize opposition to the move. The Pontiff also wanted to inform the bishops personally rather than having them learn about the document through the media.

The motu proprio itself is a 3-page document. It will be made public along with an explanatory letter from Pope Benedict to the world's bishops; that letter is somewhat longer, at 4 pages.

The document emphasizes the unity of the Roman rite, and the Pope explains that he hopes the two forms of the Mass will enrich each other. The ordinary form of the Roman rite will continue to be the Novus Ordo Mass; the extraordinary form will be the Latin Mass, using the 1962 Missal.

Friday, June 22, 2007

Motu Proprio

Motu proprio imminent, Vatican sources confirm

Vatican, Jun. 15, 2007 (CWNews.com) - A papal document calling for broader use of the Tridentine liturgy has been completed and signed, and is now being translated and prepared for publication, according to two different Roman news agencies.

The motu proprio will be released along with an accompanying letter from Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) to the world's bishops, according to Petrus, an Italian internet site devoted to news about the Vatican.

The Italian site quotes Msgr. Nicola Bux, a personal friend of the Holy Father, as saying that the document's publication is "imminent," saying that it is "a question of days." However, the site also suggests that the long-awaited motu proprio will be released as Pope Benedict begins his summer vacation in July.

The I Media news agency reports that Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, confirmed that the document is being readied for publication. According to I Media, a date has been chosen for the release of the motu proprio, but Vatican officials are not ready to disclose that date. One Vatican source told I Media that it might be wise to think in terms of weeks rather than days before publication.

The Petrus report said that the formal release of the motu proprio would be accompanied by a press conference at which three Vatican officials will introduce the document. Petrus even named the three prelate who will reportedly brief the press: Cardinals Francis Arinze, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship; Dario Castrillon Hoyos, the president of the Ecclesia Dei commission; and Julian Herranz, the former president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Corpus Christi

I have wondered for quite a long time why it is the Church moves feast days like this. The Feast of Corpus Christi is the Thusday after Trinity Sunday. Why are people not allowed to celebrate this day on Thursday. Tell people to get up and go to Mass.

Monday, June 04, 2007

Universal Approval of Latin Mass

It's comming soon. Soon no one will be able to stop it. IT LIVES!...IT LIVES!!!

Cardinal Bertone announces Latin Mass to be universally authorized “soon”

Vatican City, Jun 4, 2007 / 10:50 am (CNA).- In an interview published this Sunday by the Italian Catholic daily “Avvenire”, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, announced that the Motu Propio authorizing the universal celebration of the Mass of St. Pius V—known as the Tridentine Mass—will be made public “soon.”

During the interview, Cardinal Bertone, said the Motu Propio that would be signed by Pope Benedict XVI would authorize any priest to celebrate the Tridentine Mass without the need for prior approval by the local bishop.

The Vatican secretary of State said Catholics “will not have to wait long” for the publication of the Motu Propio, adding that the Pope “has written an accompanying letter that explains the reasons for the decision and why he hopes the authorization will be calmly accepted.”

Cardinal Bertone did not say whether the Motu Propio would open the possibility for the return to communion with the Rome of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X, founded by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who was excommunicated by the Vatican on June 30, 1988 after ordaining four bishops without the Pope’s consent.

The cardinal also said the Pope’s letter to Catholics in China would also be published soon, and that it has “already been approved by the Pope and is being translated into various languages.