杏MAP导航

by Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Just two days after Christmas, on the Feast of St John the Evangelist, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, has issued a policy governing the celebration of the pre-Vatican rites in that Archdiocese. This policy follows the 18 December response to questions received by the Congregation for Divine Worship in the wake of the July publication of the Motu proprio Traditionis custodes in which 杏MAP导航 Francis restored to local ordinaries the responsibility to govern the celebration of the liturgy using the 1962 Missal in their dioceses. Chicago thus becomes one of the first Dioceses in the United States to provide concrete directives regarding the new norms established by the 杏MAP导航. This local policy enters into effect in the Archdiocese of Chicago on 25 January 2022.

Consultation led to policy

Cardinal Cupich explains in a cover letter accompanying the new policy that he began a consultation process as soon as Traditionic custodes was published. 鈥淟iturgists as well as those priests and leaders of religious communities鈥� ministering to communities who 鈥渁ttend Mass celebrated in the earlier form鈥� were among those consulted, he writes. Most of the priests and faithful in the Archdiocese 鈥渁lways celebrate the Mass鈥� with the new rite, he admits. However, he asks Chicago鈥檚 parish priests to 鈥渢o be aware of the developments surrounding Traditionis custodes鈥�, and says they need to be able to answer questions about it.

Eucharistic and liturgical renewal

In continuity with 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� own desire, Cardinal Cupich states the hope that this policy will foster a renewed understanding of the 鈥渇oundations of the liturgical renewal鈥�. He also hopes that the priests will share this with their respective parish communities. The Cardinal then connects rediscovery of 鈥渢he value of the liturgical reform鈥� with the Eucharistic revival launched by the U.S. Bishops at their November plenary meeting. To this end, the Cardinal says that the Archdiocese鈥檚 liturgy office will be providing materials and support to priests in providing 鈥渓iturgical catechesis and formation鈥� so the faithful 鈥渃an come to a better understanding and deeper acceptance of the restored and renewed liturgy that is part of the precious heritage of the Second Vatican Council鈥�.

Worship as the Body of Christ

In concluding his cover letter, the Cardinal reminds the priests that an expression of their love for the Body of Christ is to 鈥渇aithfully adhere to the liturgical norms鈥�. In this way, 鈥渙ur worship may always enrich and never diminish the faith of our people鈥�, he writes. Cardinal then closes his letter with an 鈥渋nsightful observation of 杏MAP导航 Benedict鈥� who noted that the post-Vatican liturgy will be loved if it is celebrated 鈥渨ith great reverence in harmony with the liturgical directives. This will bring out the spiritual richness and the theological depth of this Missal鈥�.

Prayer expressing unity

In the Preamble to the policy implementing Traditionis custodes, the intention of the Motu proprio is clearly synthesised: 鈥渢o re-establish throughout the Church of the Roman Rite a single and identical prayer that expresses its unity, according to the liturgical books promulgated by the saintly 杏MAP导航s Paul VI and John Paul II, in conformity with the decrees of the Second Vatican Council鈥�.

Pastoral accompaniment

This requires that pastors accompany people to understand 鈥渢he link between the way we worship and what we believe鈥�, the preamble states. One specific recommendation is that priests visit those who regularly attend the pre-Vatican liturgy

In keeping with 杏MAP导航 Benedict XVI鈥檚 observation cited above, the preamble to the policy reminds priests that some elements from the pre-Vatican Missal are still an option in the current Missal: e.g., Gregorian Chant, Latin, incense, etc.

Priests seeking authorisation to use the pre-Vatican Missal are also requested to accompany the faithful who want to continue to attend Mass celebrated in that rite. They are asked to discuss the 鈥減ossibility of using the reformed liturgical rites鈥� which can be celebrated in Latin. In this way, the priest himself manifests that while 鈥渟eeking the good of those who are rooted in the previous rite,鈥� he is also 鈥渁ccompanying them towards the common use of the one lex orandi of the Roman Rite鈥�.

Policy

For the most part, the ten points of the new policy reiterate the content contained in Traditionis custodes with the recent clarifications provided by the Congregation for Divine Worship. These include the necessary authorisation required to celebrate using the pre-Vatican Missal, the modality by which it can be requested of the Archbishop, and specific regulations concerning the use of Biblical texts, the celebration of the other Sacraments, the location where the previous rite can be celebrated, bination, etc. While the policy states that the 鈥渞ule forbidding bination is to be observed鈥�, on a rare occasion when there may be just cause that a priest celebrate two Masses on Sunday, the 鈥淎rchbishop may grant the favor of bination鈥�.

Expressing the unity of the local Church

However, Latin Rite Catholics in Chicago will unite in celebrating the liturgy 鈥渆xclusively鈥� according to the Novus ordo Missae on specific days during the liturgical year: the first Sunday of every month, Christmas, the Triduum, Easter Sunday, and Pentecost Sunday. The policy indicates that this liturgy, which may be celebrated in Latin, must be celebrated with the priest facing the people. The intention for this policy is: