Application of the Motu Proprio on the Traditional Mass in Germany and Switzerland

On 09.14.2007, the Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum (SP) began to be enforced. This Motu proprio, the release of which was accompanied by a letter by Pope Benedict XVI to the bishops, sets the conditions for the celebration of the holy Mass according to the Missal promulgated by Pope John XXIII, as the extraordinary form of the Church’s liturgy.

Two texts are available in the documentation published by the Secretariat of the German Bishops’ Conference “Publications of the Apostolic See” N° 178.

On September 14, 2007 the Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum (SP) began to be enforced. This Motu proprio, the release of which was accompanied by a letter by Pope Benedict XVI to the bishops, sets the conditions for the celebration of the holy Mass according to the Missal promulgated by Pope John XXIII, as the extraordinary form of the Church’s liturgy.

In view of the authority and responsibility which is theirs in liturgical matters - as the Holy Father recalled in his accompanying letter, making reference to the Second Vatican Council (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 22) - the bishops of the German dioceses, meeting for their Fall General Assembly from September 24 to 27, 2007,

have agreed upon the following directives for the celebration of Mass in parish communities. These directives are meant to help the faithful who remain attached to the old form of the liturgy to obtain the celebration of the Mass in its extraordinary form, inasmuch as is feasible given the possibilities available.

In view of the authority and responsibility which is theirs in liturgical matters - as the Holy Father recalled in his accompanying letter, making reference to the Second Vatican Council (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 22) - the bishops of the Swiss dioceses as well as of the territorial Abbeys, meeting for the 277^th Ordinary Assembly of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference from September 10 to 12, 2007, in Givisiez/FR,

have agreed upon the following directives for the celebration of Mass in parish communities. These directives are meant to help the faithful who remain attached to the old form of the liturgy to obtain the celebration of the Mass in its extraordinary form, inasmuch as is feasible given the possibilities available.

1. The faculty of celebrating the Mass in its extraordinary form rests on the principle of the harmony between the interest and the good of the believers who request it, on the one hand, and the ordinary pastoral of the parish under the government of the bishop, on the other hand. The permission of the extraordinary form must not exacerbate existing tensions or give rise to new ones (cf. SP art. 5 § 1).

1. The faculty of celebrating the Mass in its extraordinary form rests on the principle of the harmony between the interest and the good of the believers who request it, on the one hand, and the ordinary pastoral of the parish under the government of the bishop, on the other hand. The permission of the extraordinary form must not exacerbate existing tensions or give rise to new ones (cf. SP art. 5 § 1).

2. The ordinary form for the celebration of the Mass is that of the Missale Romanum of 1970 (according to the Editio typica tertia of 2002 and - until the release of the 3rd German edition - the Missal for German-speaking Dioceses 2nd edition of 1988). For the extraordinary form of the Mass, the Missale Romanum of 1962 (for instance, Editio juxta typicam Regensburg of 1962, with the proper Masses for the dioceses) must be used (cf. SP art. 1).

2. The ordinary form for the celebration of the Mass is that of the Missale Romanum of 1970 (according to the Editio typica tertia of 2002 and - until the release of the French edition of the latter - the Roman Missal for French-speaking countries of 1978). As a complement, in the case of a celebration of the Mass in the extraordinary form, the Missale Romanum of 1962 (according to the Editio juxta typicam Regensburg of 1962, with the proper Masses for the dioceses) can be used -- cf. SP art. 1.

Parish Eucharistic celebrations will follow the ordinary form. On Sundays, one Mass in the extraordinary form may be considered, however it should not replace the Mass in its ordinary form (cf. SP art. 5 § 2).

Parish Eucharistic celebrations will follow the ordinary form. On Sundays, and feast days, one Mass in the extraordinary form may be considered, however it should not replace the Mass in its ordinary form (cf. SP art. 5 § 2). Masses in the extraordinary form must be publicly announced as such.

4. Within one parish, respectively within one parish grouping or one pastoral unit, groups of lay people (cf. SP art. 7) may request the authorization from their parish priest (according to SP art. 5 § 1).

When the groups of participants come from various parishes, respectively from various parish grouping or pastoral units, the request must be addressed to the bishop.

4. Within one parish, respectively within one pastoral unit, groups of lay people (cf. SP art. 7) may request the authorization from their parish priest (according to SP art. 5 § 1).

When the groups of participants come from various parishes, respectively from various pastoral units, the request must be addressed to the bishop who may appoint someone to be responsible for these questions. The latter will strive to consider the situation at the level of a regional consensus with the parish priests.

5. As for the size and the kind of groups who express such a request, nothing is prescribed. It will be a matter of assessing what is suitable given the local circumstances.

5. As for the size and the kind of groups who express such a request, nothing is prescribed. It will be a matter of assessing what is suitable given the local circumstances. There is however a demand concerning duration, which excludes requests for an isolated celebrations (cf. SP art. 5 § 1).

6. In order that a priest may celebrate according to the extraordinary form of the rite (cf. SP art. 5 § 4), the qualifications prescribed here below are necessary:

 - The general aptitude required for any priest

- Acceptance of all the liturgy of the Church both in its ordinary and in its extraordinary form (Cf. accompanying letter by Pope Benedict XVI);

- To be familiar with the extraordinary form of the rite

- A knowledge of the Latin language.

For a good knowledge of the extraordinary rite and of Latin, diocesan bishops will provide means of permanent training according to the needs.

6. In order that a priest may celebrate according to the extraordinary form of the rite (cf. SP art. 5 § 4), the qualifications prescribed here below are necessary:

- The bishop’s authorization

- Acceptance of all the liturgy of the Church both in its ordinary and in its extraordinary form (Cf. accompanying letter by Pope Benedict XVI);

- To be familiar with the extraordinary form of the rite

- A knowledge of the Latin language

7. The parish priest, i.e. the rector of a church, is not obliged, even if he possesses the required aptitude, to celebrate himself according to the Missale Romanum of 1962. If he sees himself unable to satisfy the request of the faithful either because of the cares of his ministry or for personal reasons, he will refer the case to his bishop.

The right of the faithful on this score remains whole and entire (SP. art. 7).

7. No priest can be obliged to celebrate according to the extraordinary rite.

Parish priests and rectors remain nevertheless bound to take seriously the wishes expressed to them for the celebration of the holy Mass in its extraordinary form and to seek a pastorally acceptable solution.

8. For the celebration of the Mass in its extraordinary form, the calendar and the cycle of readings of the Missale Romanum of 1962 are valid. The complementary prescriptions concerning the calendar which have been announced and will be given in due time by the Commission Ecclesia Dei will have to be considered. For the proclamation of the readings in the vernacular (cf. SP art. 6), the pericopes of the lectionary approved for the Missal for German-speaking dioceses of 1988 will be used. The translation from the “Schott” of 1962 may also be used.

8. For the celebration of the Mass in its extraordinary form, the calendar and the cycle of readings of the Missale Romanum of 1962 are valid. The complementary prescriptions concerning the calendar which have been announced and will be given in due time by the Commission Ecclesia Dei will have to be considered. For the proclamation of the readings in the vernacular (cf. SP art. 6), the pericopes of the lectionary approved for French-speaking countries -- Sundays (1980) ferial days (1982), and sanctoral (1986) -- will be used. The translation from the “Missel Feder” of 1962 may also be used.

9. Until further notice, the German bishops will not make use of the right to erect personal parishes for the celebration in the extraordinary form of the roman rite (SP art. 10).

10. In order to be able, in three years from now, to give an account of the experiment made within the framework of the dispositions of the Motu Proprio (cf. accompanying letter by Pope Benedict XVI), the parish priest, respectively the rector, must warn his bishop if he gives the authorization of celebrating the Mass according to the extraordinary form. Parish priests and rectors who allow the celebration of the Mass according to its extraordinary form in their parishes or churches must inform the bishop of the development of this celebration as it goes.

9. In order to be able, in three years from now, to give an account of the experiment made within the framework of the dispositions of the Motu Proprio (cf. accompanying letter by Pope Benedict XVI), the parish priest, respectively the rector, will kindly inform the official appointed by the diocesan bishop of the implementation of the measure authorizing the Mass in its extraordinary form, and of the follow-up to give to it.

These directives will become effective as of 10.01.2007 and an assessment will be made after one year.

These directives become effective as of October 1, 2007.

Fulda, September 27, 2007

Givisiez, September 10, 2007