Getting the Indult: Help!

[DominvsVobiscvm]

Alright.

I live in the Archdiocese of Miami. Our bishop is not exactly Modernist, but not the best either. The only decent liturgies are the two indults of the Archdiocese, both of which are a 40-minute drive from my home.

One of these, north of me, is a Low Mass held twice a month on Sunday.

The other, south of me, is a High Mass, but one held at 8:00 AM in a not-so-good neighborhood. It is contnually running into that parish’s 9:30 AM English mass, and so we have admit things like the singing of the Gospel or singing the Dismissal. And they have to have a lay server read the Epistle in English while the priest is reading it silently in Latin.

It’s not hard to see why these aren’t getting the support they should. I mean, what family can really wake up early enough to get all their kids to an 8:00 AM Mass that might be up to an hour away? Quite undoable.

So I’ve spearheaded this movement in the South Broward area of the Archdiocese to get an indult in my area. My idea was to speak to a bunch of priests (pastors), and ask them if I can set up a booth in the narthex’s one Sunday, handing out pamphlets from Ecclesia Dei. The following week I would return with a petition form. Meanwhile, we would encourage atholics to visit the existing indults.

I just made an appointment with a pastor of a parish, for Tuesday at 3:00 PM.

I’m really nervous, and don’t know how to get across what I want to.

Am I going about this right? ANy suggestions?

I’m going to show up with a copy of a letter I’ve written to the Archbishop, as well as the pamphlets from Ecclesia Dei I plan on passing out.

Should I be doing more?

Also, does anyone know of Traditional Catholic chat rooms where I can find more supporters?

Thanks!

 

[deogratias]

You may have to be willing to comit yourself to securing enough signatures to show there will be enough attendance; finding a parish in your area that will allow a time for the Mass; finding someone to train altar boys; locating a priest who can and will celebrate the TLM if the Bishop gives him faculties.

There will also be the issue of vestment for priest and altar boys, obtaining missals from Ecclesia Dei for use of those attending, etc. etc.

I’d say do all your homework before hand.

You may also find some additional support and suggestions in this thread

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?=9447&highlight=Letter+Tridentine

PS: I travel 30 minutes and we have Mass at 1 p.m. - Phoenix Diocese.

When I lived in Colorado Springs, I traveled 20 minutes but Mass was at 7 a.m. and we could only have low Mass because we had to be out of the Cathedral before the 8:30 Mass (and it takes some time to remove all the paraphanalia used for the TLM)

Now they have it elsewhere at 8 a.m. and at noon

Prior to any being in COS, many drove 70 miles to Denver - so while it is a hardship - it is not impossible if you want to go badly enough. Then when there are just too many to accommodate, he also may be more willing to add another.

 

[jordan]

DV:

Good luck! If you want to get anywhere, don’t tell your pastor that the only “decent” liturgies are the two indult Masses. I’m fortunate enough to have an indult once a month (30 minute drive…also not in the best part of town, but adjacent to the new diocesan “pastoral” building).

I’m going to write a letter to our Bishop asking for more than the monthly indult.

I would be careful with the “Traditional Catholic” websites. You have to remember that traditional Catholics are loyal to the Bishop of Rome and the Magisterium of the Church. Many of these sites are questionable.

I’ve noticed that there are no “Una Voce” Chapters in Florida (in most states there are). You might want to talk to someone at Una Voce. There’s information on joining (and requesting to start a chapter at their website (I’m not a member…maybe I should be… heck, maybe I should start the first Florida Chapter!). A lot of other good info there too.

If you don’t already have the link, here it is:

unavoce.org/

Again, good luck!

 

[GrzeszDeL]

I was just about to recommend Una Voce. I am on an Una Voce listserve where people discuss just this question. Meanwhile, I can offer a few bits of advice from my own (sadly unsuccessful) efforts towards the same end.

1. Identify sympathetic priests - a lot of chanceries are downright hostile to indult petitions and will do everything in their power to keep you from presenting your petition. Priests have easier access to the bishop, and can be a very helpful go-between for you.
2. Don’t go public with your plans until you absolutely have to - I would strongly advise against setting up booths and suchlike until you are ready (preferably with like-minded volunteers) to start taking names on petitions. I know that we made the mistake of letting our intentions be known publically and soon found that this gave many unsympathetic forces a lot of time to organize against us.
3. Make sure that every scrap of paper on which you collect signatures has your goals stated quite explicitly at the top. Otherwise, you may find that your signatures will be questioned. In a similar vein, be as clear as you can that you do not question the validity of the Novus Ordo or your bishop or the pope (etc) at all. Nothing will kill your chances like the taint of association with schismatics. Likewise, make it quite clear to anyone helping you that they are never allowed to criticize the N.O. Mass, the bishop, the pope (etc.) in any sort of function where they are collecting signatures.
4. I offer this last tip only halfwise in jest: we have two indults in my diocese. The one in Jackson, MI is really small, and probably would never have been granted, save that the sedevacantists had started sending a priest there to say Mass in a hotel room on Sundays. When word of this got to the bishop, he granted the indult within a few days after the phone call informing him of the fact; the conclusion to be drawn is obvious. As such, perhaps you could invite the sedevacantists to come to your town?