Pope Francis issued the “Guardian of Tradition” manuscript on July 16, confirming the use of the rules of the Mass before the Second Vatican Council. The manuscript stipulates that groups that use the etiquette before the Second Vatican Council shall not refuse the etiquette reforms and the teachings of successive popes.
(Vatican News Network)After extensive consultations with bishops around the world, Pope Francis decided to revise the rules governing the use of the 1962 Mass by Pope Benedict XVI 14 years ago. The Pope issued the “Traditionis custodes” manuscript on July 16, and at the same time issued an open letter to bishops around the world explaining the reasons for issuing the manuscript. The following are the main points:
Pope Francis determined that “according to the decree of the Second Vatican Council, the Liturgical Scriptures issued by Pope Paul VI and John Paul II are the only expression of Roman rites.” As the presiding officer of the liturgical life of the diocese, the bishop’s responsibility for managing the use of the liturgical before the Second Vatican Council has returned to the bishop. “According to the guidelines of the Holy See, the power to authorize the use of the 1962 Mass in the diocese belongs to the bishop.” The bishops should verify the groups using the old rites in the diocese. “They cannot deny the validity and legitimacy of the ritual reforms stipulated by the Second Vatican Council and the precepts of the popes.”
The manuscript stipulates that the old mass will no longer be held in this church, and the bishop will determine the church and date for the old mass. In the etiquette, the scriptures are read in the local language and the translated text approved by the bishops’ conference is used. The priest should be appointed by the bishop. The bishop also has the responsibility to verify whether the old rites should be retained to hold masses “according to the actual effect of the old rites on spiritual growth”. The priests who hold the old masses should not only pay attention to the solemnity of the ceremony, but also pay attention to the pastoral and spiritual aspects of the believers. The bishop “be careful not to approve the establishment of a new community (using the old rites).”
If priests ordained after the issuance of this manuscript want to celebrate Mass in the old ceremony, “must make an official application to the bishop of the diocese, and the bishop can authorize it after consulting the Holy See”. For those groups that have celebrated Mass in the old ceremony, they must apply for the bishop’s permission to continue using the old ceremony. The consecrated life congregation and the apostolic life group established during the time of the Pontifical Council of the “Church of God” are now all under the jurisdiction of the Holy See Congregation.
The last reason why the Pope’s letter issued when he issued the manuscript explained that he revised the previous regulations: “The words and actions of many people increasingly show that they choose to hold mass based on the liturgical scriptures before the second Vatican Ecumenical Council. , Is closely related to the rejection of the church and its system in the name of what they consider to be the “true church”. This is an act of opposite communion and encourages division. In order to defend the unity of the body of Christ, I was forced to cancel my predecessors The concession granted.”
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