On Friday, July 16, Pope Francis issued new norms for the continued celebration of the Mass according to the Missal that had been used immediately before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The new norms, promulgated in a legislative document known as “Traditionis Custodes” (“Guardians of Tradition”), took effect that day.
(Get the background: With local discernment of Pope Francis’ new restrictions on the ‘old Mass’ underway, Catholics reflect on their experience of the liturgy)
In a geeky sort of way, I always get excited when new laws are issued by the Holy Father. From middle school civics, you will probably recall the three branches of government: the executive, the judicial and the legislative. In the Catholic Church, all three of those functions are united at the universal level in the person of the Holy Father: at the same time, the pope is the Chief Executive, the Supreme Judge and Supreme Legislator. As some of you may recall, I worked at the Vatican for 13 years in the office that assists the pope when wearing his “Supreme Legislator” hat. Our office would provide technical legal assistance to him when he was issuing new laws or when it was determined that there needed to be an authoritative clarification of the meaning of laws already on the books. When I began work at the Holy See in 1996, folks would quip that ours was the smallest office at the Vatican but had the longest name: The Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts. While the name of the office has since been shortened to the “Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts,” the staff remains amazingly small.
As you might imagine, the task of legislating for a global institution is challenging. How does one draft a one-size-fits-all norm for a Church that faces amazingly different challenges in the highlands of Papua New Guinea than in Rome or in the Twin Cities?
Pope Francis clearly recognizes that challenge. We read in the letter that accompanied “Traditionis Custodes” that he first consulted with bishops around the world to hear of their experiences. He evidently learned from that broad consultation that there were some areas of the world in which the celebration of the “old Mass” is leading to divisiveness and a rejection of the teachings and pastoral thrusts of the Second Vatican Council. Charged as Successor of Peter with maintaining the unity of the Church, he made the prudential decision to address that situation legislatively. At the same time, he acknowledges that local situations may vary greatly and that implementation of the norms will require further assessment and pastoral care at the diocesan level. With that in mind, he gives each diocesan bishop the “exclusive competence to authorize the use of the 1962 Roman Missal in his diocese.” Pope Francis makes it clear that it won’t be his call, or the local pastor’s call, or the parish council’s call; it will be the responsibility of the diocesan bishop, having assessed the situation and having taken into account the text of the legislation and the existing expressions of the “mind of the legislator,” to make the determination.
In a letter to bishops introducing “Traditionis Custodes,” Pope Francis indicated that how we proceed locally should be dictated by two touchstones: the good of those who are presently “rooted in the previous form of celebration” and the “real need of the holy people of God.”
The situation to be assessed in this archdiocese is relatively complex. On any given Sunday, Mass in what Pope Benedict called the “extraordinary form” is presently being offered at six of our 189 parishes, with over 1,300 members of the faithful in attendance. We have one parish, All Saints in Minneapolis, that only offers Mass and the sacraments according to the former missal and liturgical books, while the others offer Mass and sacramental care in both forms. Other parishes, schools or hospitals regularly or occasionally offer a weekday Mass in the extraordinary form. In addition, a number of priests have written since the promulgation of ““Traditionis Custodes” to ask for permission to continue to celebrate Mass according to the 1962 missal “privately” on their day off.
To assist me in thoroughly assessing the situation and making a determination as to how we should proceed in this archdiocese, I have established an advisory task force, under the leadership of Bishop Cozzens. While at least one commentator has referred to this as a “punt,” it’s really more of a “time out” to assess calmly where we are on the field and what will be the best way of heading to the goal that Pope Francis has set for us.
Reflecting the urgency of Pope Francis’ legislation, which went into effect the very day it was announced, the Task Force has already met once. They have indicated a need, however, to gather more information before proceeding further. I recognize that may take some time. Please keep them and their work in your prayers in the weeks to come.
I would also ask your prayers for the faithful of our archdiocese who regularly attend the traditional Latin Mass. Some of them have already shared with me the anxiety that they are feeling at this time and even a concern that they will be regarded as “suspect” by reason of attendance at Mass in the extraordinary form. In the five years that I have been archbishop here, I have come to know many of them not only as faithful daughters and sons of the Church but also as very supportive of the overall work of this archdiocese and its parishes, often in humble and hidden ways. I am grateful that the nourishment that they have found at the traditional Mass, and the support that they have drawn from their community, has enabled them to respond generously to Pope Francis’ call to be missionary disciples and compassionate servants. As I await the recommendations of our Task Force, I trust that the Holy Spirit will illuminate a path that will bring lasting fruit to this local Church.
