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Dear faithful,
The
motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, of July 7, 2007
re-establishes the Tridentine Mass in its legal right. In the text it is clearly
acknowledged that
it was never abrogated. And so fidelity to this Mass
- for the
sake of which so many priests and lay people have been persecuted, or even
severely punished, for almost forty years - this fidelity was never disobedience.
Today it is only right and just to thank
Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre for having
maintained us in this fidelity to the Mass of All Time in the name of true
obedience, and against all the abuses of power. Also there is no doubt that this
recognition of the right of the traditional Mass is the fruit of the vast number
of rosaries offered up to Our Lady during our Rosary Crusade last October; let
us not forget now to express to her our gratitude.
Beyond the re-establishment of the Mass of St.
Pius V in its legitimate right, it is important to study the concrete measures
issued by the motu proprio and the justification given by Benedict XVI in
the letter which accompanies the text:
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By right, the practical measures taken by the
pope must enable the traditional liturgy - not only the Mass, but also the
sacraments - to be celebrated normally. This is an immense spiritual benefit for
the whole Church, for the priests and faithful who were hitherto paralyzed by
the unjust authority of the bishops. However, in the coming months it remains to
be seen how these measures will be applied in fact by the bishops and parish
priests. For this reason, we will continue to pray for the pope so that he may
remain firm following this courageous act.
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The letter accompanying the motu proprio
gives the pope’s reasons. The affirmation of the existence of one single rite
under two forms - the ordinary and the extraordinary forms - of equal right, and
especially the rejection of the exclusive celebration of the traditional
liturgy, may, it is true, be interpreted as the expression of a political desire
not to confront the bishops’ conferences which are openly opposed to any
liberalization of the Tridentine Mass. But we may also see in this an expression
of the "reform of the reform" desired by the pope himself, and in which, as he
himself writes in this letter, the Mass of St. Pius V and that of Paul VI would
mutually enrich one another.
In any event, there is in Benedict XVI the
clear desire to re-affirm the continuity of Vatican II and the Mass which issued
from it, with the bi-millenial Tradition. This denial of a rupture caused by the
last council - already shown in his address to the Curia on December 22, 2005
- shows that what is at stake in the debate between Rome and the Priestly Society
of St. Pius X is essentially doctrinal. For this reason, the undeniable step
forward made by the motu proprio in the liturgical domain must be
followed - after the withdrawal of the decree of excommunication - by theological
discussions.
The reference to Archbishop Lefebvre and the
Society of St. Pius X made in the accompanying letter, as well as the
acknowledgment of the testimony given by the young generations which are taking
up the torch of Tradition, clearly show that our constancy to defend the lex
orandi has been taken into account. With God’s help, we must continue the
combat for the lex credendi, the combat for the faith, with the same
firmness.
Menzingen, July 7, 2007
+ Bernard Fellay
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