Poland: Bishops’ guidelines for implementation of Motu Proprio
According to them, “the Motu Proprio and the Accompanying Letter to Bishops gave a basic outline for conditions to celebrate the Mass according to the Missale Romanum promulgated by Blessed Pope John XXIII”, whereas they intended to lay down precise conditions.
Thus we can note the following points:
1. The Parish Liturgy is to be celebrated in the ordinary form. Where a need arises, on Sundays and holy days of obligation, one additional Mass in the extraordinary form may be celebrated ; however this cannot replace the Mass in the ordinary form (cf. Summorum Pontificum, Art. 5 § 2).
2. The eventuality of the celebration of Mass in the extraordinary form in parish communities must take into account the spiritual well-being of the whole community, to which those making the request belong. The introduction of the extraordinary form of Mass must not give rise to tension or cause division (Cf. Summorum Pontificum, Art. 5 § 1). The desire of a certain group of the faithful to have a Mass celebrated according to the Missale Romanum of Blessed John XXIII must not create difficulties for those faithful taking part in the Mass celebrated in the ordinary form of the rite.(…)
4. Applications for permission to celebrate Mass in the extraordinary form may be made by groups of laymen actively engaged in a given Parish (cf. Summorum Pontificum, Art. 5 §1 and Art. 7) and directed to the Parish Priest/Rector. If the group includes members of different Parishes, the application should be addressed to the Diocesan Bishop.
Directive n° 5 of the Polish Bishops’ guidelines grants local bishops a right which was not anticipated in the Motu Proprio or its Accompanying Letter:
“5. The Diocesan bishops have the right to determine the nature and size of the group, which has the right to request the extraordinary form of the Mass.
N° 6 details the requisite qualities for the priests wishing to celebrate the traditional Mass:
“6. The priest who are to celebrate Mass in the extraordinary form of the rite (cf. Summorum Pontificum, Art. 5 §4) should meet the following requirements: they should :
- Accept the whole liturgy of the Church in its ordinary and extraordinary form (cf. Accompanying Letter of Pope Benedict XVI) :
- know well the extraordinary form of the rite;
- understand Latin;
- have well-trained altar servers for the celebration of the extraordinary rite.
The above conditions will be subject to formal verification by Diocesan Liturgical Committees".
The last sentence of point n° 7 underlines that although the Mass may be Tridentine, the sermon must be conciliar:
“7. The Calendar and order of readings of the Missale Romanum 1962 should be used for the celebration of Mass in the extraordinary form of 1962. Attention should be given to the additions, already specified for the Calendar, by the Ecclesia Dei Commission. For the reading of the Epistle and Gospel in the vernacular (cf. Summorum Pontificum Art. 6) the Pericopes must be taken from the recognised lectionary of the Missal for the Dioceses, i.e. Pallotinum Poznan of 1972-2004. Alternatively, the Missale Romanum by the Benedictines of Tyniec Abbey, (Pallotinum Poznan, 1963), may be used.
Preaching during Mass in the extraordinary form of the rite should be in line with the teaching of the Second Vatican Council.”
N°8 rules out the foundation of personal parishes:
“8. As of now, the Polish Bishops see no use for the right to establish personal parishes (cf. Summorum Pontificum, Art. 10) for the celebration of the extraordinary form of the Roman rite.”
N° 10 suggests that the Mass of Paul VI in Latin could favorably satisfy the faithful:
“10. With reference to the instructions of the Motu Proprio, it should be considered whether or not one Sunday Eucharist should be celebrated in Latin according to the Missale Romanum of Pope Paul VI. There are people who wish to take part in such a Mass. In certain churches, just such a liturgy in Latin is celebrated and is generally accessible to the faithful.”
Signed by Archbishop Jozef Michalik, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, and by Bishop Setan Cichy, President of the Polish Bishops’ Liturgical Committee, these guidelines were due to come into force as of October 15, 2007.
