(ZENIT News / Rome, 03.08.2024).- A recent publication (link at the end) of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (DDWDS) revealed that in 2022, only 57 parishes worldwide were given permission to celebrate this liturgical form, reflecting the impact of the restrictions imposed by the papal document Traditionis Custodes of 2021.
The document Traditionis Custodes, promulgated by Pope Francis, restricted the celebration of the Traditional Mass in Latin, transferring the authority of the local Bishops to the DDWDS, headed by Cardinal Arthur Roche. This change implied that Bishops had to designate specific places for these celebrations, excluding the parish churches, except in exceptional cases.
Article 3 of the Motu Proprio stipulates that the Bishop must designate places where groups that adhere to the Missal prior to the 1970 reform can celebrate the Eucharist, but outside the parish churches and without the creation of new personal parishes. The use of a parish church is allowed in exceptional cases , but only when there are no other viable options.
In December 2021, Cardinal Roche broadened these restrictions through a “Responsa ad Dubia,” allowing the limited use of parish churches only when other appropriate spaces aren’t available. Moreover, he established that these Masses should not appear in the parish’s regular program or coincide with other pastoral activities, arguing that the exclusion intends to underscore that the old liturgy is not part of the ordinary life of the parish community.
Since the end of 2022, the restrictions have continued to intensify and, in May of 2024, rumours arose that the DDWDS is working on a document to limit the traditional Mass even further. In response, several lay initiatives have been launched and prominent figures of the society in the United Kingdom, the United States and Mexico have urged Pope Francis not to impose further restrictions.
These initiatives have the backing of figures such as retired Mexican Cardinal Juan Sandoval, and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, USA. The latter highlighted the cultural importance of the traditional Mass, pointing out that “beyond its spiritual value, the Traditional Mass in Latin is a cultural treasure that has inspired artistic creativity in all ages, building what we know as Western Civilization.”
Here is the publication of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Thank you for reading our content. If you would like to receive ZENIT’s daily e-mail news, you can subscribe for free through this link.
