Short form: This is sooo good. This is not perfect in my perfect little traddie world, but this is soooo good.
Let’s look at the Motu Proprio “Summorum Pontificum”
Skipping down to the meat of the matter:
Art. 1 The Roman Missal promulgated by Paul VI is the ordinary expression of the Lex orandi (Law of prayer) of the Catholic Church of the Latin rite. Nonetheless, the Roman Missal promulgated by St. Pius V and reissued by Bl. John XXIII is to be considered as an extraordinary expression of that same Lex orandi, and must be given due honour for its venerable and ancient usage. These two expressions of the Church’s Lex orandi will in no any way lead to a division in the Church’s Lex credendi (Law of belief). They are, in fact two usages of the one Roman rite.
It is, therefore, permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church. The conditions for the use of this Missal as laid down by earlier documents Quattuor abhinc annis and Ecclesia Dei, are substituted as follows:
[DT: Now, will every reporting using a variation of the line, “which was banned by the Second Vatican Council” please knock it off? Actually, the uh, document you’re reporting on here, it says that like, that never happened. Every conservative or neo-cath or heretic that’s still burrowed into the bosom of Holy Mother the Church and trying to destroy her by using that canard: DROP AND GIVE ME TWENTY!]
Art. 2 In Masses celebrated without the people, each Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular, may use the Roman Missal published by Bl. Pope John XXIII in 1962, or the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970, and may do so on any day with the exception of the Easter Triduum. For such celebrations, with either one Missal or the other, the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his Ordinary.
[DT: Quick, someone smarter than me: Is there a general rule about saying what they used to call “private Masses” during the Triduum? Oh, and btw, there is no Mass on Good Friday. This says nothing about being unable to use the Good Friday service according to the 1962 Missal. Before anyone freaks out about no Holy Thursday or Vigil Mass, read this thing strictly. It says you can’t offer that Mass without the people. This is a case of a priest saying a private Mass. There are different rules later on which covers Masses said because a bunch of folks in the parish are asking for it. ]
Art. 3 Communities of Institutes of consecrated life and of Societies of apostolic life, of either pontifical or diocesan right, wishing to celebrate Mass in accordance with the edition of the Roman Missal promulgated in 1962, for conventual or “community” celebration in their oratories, may do so. If an individual community or an entire Institute or Society wishes to undertake such celebrations often, habitually or permanently, the decision must be taken by the Superiors Major, in accordance with the law and following their own specific decrees and statutes.
[DT: Wow. I think most of us forgot about those guys. This is good, but from what I’m reading it sounds like if a monastery or a convent wants to only use the 1962 Missal, the big superior has to ok this. Like, if a bunch of Dominicans wanted to go 1962, the Superior General would have to ok it. I’m not so hot on that, because one guy can veto an entire place. Kinda like what we had with our bishops for too long. Then again, I’m not sure I’m following the ins and outs of that.]
Art. 4 Celebrations of Mass as mentioned above in art. 2 may – observing all the norms of law – also be attended by faithful who, of their own free will, ask to be admitted.
[DT: Remember Father, no waterboarding.]
Art. 5 § 1 In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willingly accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962, and ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonises with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the guidance of the bishop in accordance with canon 392, avoiding discord and favouring the unity of the whole Church.
[DT: He should, but does that mean must? On the other hand, I think that in many instances, the pastor is going to want to say it, and he’s going to get the faithful excited about it. It’s going to come from the top down.]
§ 2 Celebration in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII may take place on working days; while on Sundays and feast days one such celebration may also be held.
[DT: There’s your restriction, it can only be held on weekdays, on Sunday, and on feast days. That leaves out….is someone going to get creative and say no Saturday Mass in the US? Your average parish has what, 3 or 4 Masses on Sunday? Only one isn’t such a limit when you consider it in context. I think this would also work in with the whole thing on the Triduum. In general, you’re not going to have two Easter Vigils or two Holy Thursday Masses (as what we usually consider “Holy Thursday Mass”]
§ 3 For faithful and priests who request it, the pastor should also allow celebrations in this extraordinary form for special circumstances such as marriages, funerals or occasional celebrations, e.g. pilgrimages.
[DT: Did you read that, Archbishop Sheehan and every bishop that’s denied marriages and funerals?]
§ 4 Priests who use the Missal of Bl. John XXIII must be qualified to do so [in good standing] and not juridically impeded.
[DT: I’m calling this, “The Father Moderator Clause”]
§ 5 In churches that are not parish or conventual churches, it is the duty of the Rector of the church to grant the above permission.
Art. 6 In Masses celebrated in the presence of the people in accordance with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII, the readings may be given in the vernacular, using editions recognised by the Apostolic See.
[DT: My reading of this is it does NOT allow “mixing of the Rites”. We’ve got vernacular translations of the 1962 readings. You can find them in any Missal. IIRC, even Archbishop Lefebvre had no problem with this, way back in the day.]
Art. 7 If a group of lay faithful, as mentioned in art. 5 § 1, has not obtained satisfaction to their requests from the pastor, they should inform the diocesan bishop. The bishop is strongly requested to satisfy their wishes. If he cannot arrange for such celebration to take place, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”.
[DT: This is the most critical part of the whole thing! What is Ecclesia Dei going to do? Will they have the authority to authorise this?]
Art. 8 A bishop who, desirous of satisfying such requests, but who for various reasons is unable to do so, may refer the problem to the Commission “Ecclesia Dei” to obtain counsel and assistance.
[DT: In my wildest of dreams, the implied meaning of this is…..”who will then get an indult community priest ninja-dropped into the area.” If that’s anywhere near correct, that’s nuclear.]
Art. 9 § 1 The pastor, having attentively examined all aspects, may also grant permission to use the earlier ritual for the administration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Penance, and the Anointing of the Sick, if the good of souls would seem to require it.
[DT: AGAIN, are we clear on this Archbishop Sheehan?]
§ 2 Ordinaries are given the right to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation using the earlier Roman Pontifical, if the good of souls would seem to require it.
[DT: Y’all had that right, we both know this.]
§ 2 Clerics ordained “in sacris constitutis” may use the Roman Breviary promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962.
[DT: So the pope just took a 2×4 to obstructionists. Now imagine they’re laying there in a pool of defeat and despair as the Pope walks away. All of a sudden, POW, the Pope runs back and gives a final headshot with a lead pipe. The Breviary? The Breviary was’t even on anyone’s radar! Oh by the way, POW, the 1962 Breviary is back.]
Art. 10 The ordinary of a particular place, if he feels it appropriate, may erect a personal parish in accordance with can. 518 for celebrations following the ancient form of the Roman rite, or appoint a chaplain, while observing all the norms of law.
[DT: We all know you could do this before too. Go check out Mater Ecclesiae. I think this is the “If you really want to just get the whole thing out of your hair….” Clause. Here’s the other part of that: don’t take all the prior articles and subparts and stuff we listed here to mean we’re going to destroy your FSSP thing. We’re not saying the indult communities can only have one Traditional Mass on Sunday. This means the Novus Ordo parishes can schedule one Traditional Mass on Sunday. If three of them did that in every major city….just three…think on it. Everyone please read this part and not freak out about your current Trad community, this is not aimed at you.]
Art. 11 The Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”, erected by John Paul II in 1988, continues to exercise its function. Said Commission will have the form, duties and norms that the Roman Pontiff wishes to assign it.
Art. 12 This Commission, apart from the powers it enjoys, will exercise the authority of the Holy See, supervising the observance and application of these dispositions.
[DT: They will exercise the authority of the Holy See. If I’m not mistaken, that’s like shorthand for “When they speak, the Pope speaks.” Remember that lead pipe? Now the Pope has put the boots to them. Ecclesia Dei can’t be ignored. This is even better when they were handing our celebrets for like a week or so in ‘88.]
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