Congratulations to all who are now able to participate !!!
Please pray for those whose bishops are attempting to block usage.
Please read the following issued from Bishop Ronald Herzog, bishop of the diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana.
**MEMO to Priests:
September 11, 2007
RE: Motu Proprio
As you know Pope Benedict XVI issue a Motu Proprio that becomes effect on September 14, 2007 allowing the celebration of an extraordinary form of the Mass, commonly called the Tridentine Mass, under certain circumstances. This does not require special permission from me. However, the Holy Father is very clear that it is the Bishop’s responsibility to ensure that the liturgy is celebrated properly and that the priests who celebrate it are sufficiently knowledgeable in Latin. Since very few of our priests were ordained while this form was in common use, it will be necessary to establish a process to train and/or evaluate this competency the Holy Father mandates.
We do not yet have the details of this in place but hopefully we will have it in place soon. In the meantime, please do NOT presume such competency. Do not celebrate using the extraordinary form until you have been certified.
Even after certification, please be aware that it may only be used for private celebrations (without people present, except for a properly trained male altar server) or at the request of an established, stable group of lay faithful who request it and with the pastor’s approval. Such public celebrations are not at the initiative of the priest. The proper liturgical books must be used as well as the vestments required for the 1962 rite. Information about where you may acquire these will also be provided.
To the best of my knowledge there are no groups that meet the conditions of the Motu Proprio. For the purpose of clarity, such groups would need to number at least 20 people.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to refine this option to avoid unnecessary confusion for our people. Consistency in the practice will help.
+Ronald P. Herzog**
I can’t help but wonder, why wait until just before the implementation date of the motu proprio to require a “certification”…Why weren’t the wheels already in motion to provide the priests ample time to receive some sort of training earlier…
Just my opinion folks, but it smells like only one thing:
DISOBEDIENCE !!!
Pray for bishop Herzog.