Its basic purpose is "to favour
reconciliation within the Church," the Vatican statement issued today on
governing the manner and conditions for the celebration of Mass
according to the liturgy before the Vatican II reform.
Entitled
"Universae Ecclesiae”, the instruction from the juridical viewpoint
targets the application of the motu proprio" Summorum Pontificum "of
Pope Benedict XVI, in force since 14 September 2007 and takes into
account observations that the bishops were invited to make.
The document, published by the "Eclesia Dei" commission,
specifies two purposes: t offer all faithful, the Roman Liturgy in its
most ancient usage, considered a precious treasure to be preserved and
really ensure the use of the forma extraordinaria to those who
request, while reaffirming the fundamental principle that these two
forms of the Roman Liturgy, defined respectively ordinary and extraordinary are two usages of the Roman Rite, one alongside the other ".
In essence, the statement affirms the responsibility of bishops
to allow the celebration of "extraordinary form" and provides for
appeals to the Commission against the orders of bishops. As for the
celebration itself, permission should be “granted” with "generous
welcome, if " a group of faithful " should so request it, which need not
necessarily be from the same parish or the diocese itself. But "must
not in any way support or belong to groups that show themselves to be
contrary to the validity or legitimacy of forma ordinaria or ordinary form" and / or authority of the Pope as Supreme Pastor of the universal Church”.
In short that main aim is to avoid traditionalist groups who opposed the Council reforms (such
as the Lefebvrists) demanding the "extraordinary" celebration and
opening a dispute with the bishop should he deny them it. This concern
is also apparent in the provisions about the "suitable priest" to
celebrate in this form.
"Of course - reads a note by Father Federico
Lombardi, director of the Vatican Press Office - he should have no
impediments in canonical terms, he must have a sufficient knowledge of
Latin and know the rite to be celebrated. Bishops are therefore
encouraged to make proper formation for this purpose available in
seminaries, and the possibility of recourse, if there are no other
suitable priests, to the collaboration of priests from the Institutes
set up by the "Ecclesia Dei" Commission (which normally use the forma extraordinaria) is also indicated."