The bishop’s permission is not needed. However, a “stable group” of parishioners can request for an EF and if the priest is willing and able he can have an EF Mass.Summorum Pontificum tells that no permission of the bishop is needed for the extraordinary Masses without the people. Here is my question. Then how about the Masses with the people? Does the priest need to be given a permission from his bishop when he was asked to celebrate one of his Sunday Masses in extraordinary form?
Any priest needs the permission of the local ordinary to administer any sacrament. For hearing confessions or witnessing marriages this is required for the validity, for masses for the licitness. Priests who have this permission do not need additional permission for the TLM.Summorum Pontificum tells that no permission of the bishop is needed for the extraordinary Masses without the people. Here is my question. Then how about the Masses with the people? Does the priest need to be given a permission from his bishop when he was asked to celebrate one of his Sunday Masses in extraordinary form?
I think you’re right, stable group definitely isn’t defined, but on other sites I’ve looked at (like Fr. Z) more traditional-minded people interpret a “stable” group being as small as three others see that provision as a way to hinder the celebration of the TLM. Perhaps the new instructions, when they are released, will clear up the stable group thing. I think that documents like SP aren’t designed for or supposed to get involved in the nitty gritty of daily administration or putting numbers to things. They seem to me to be more broad-picture things.The two main problems I see are a) “stable group” is not defined in terms of number or percentage of parishioners and b) it is highly likely that the priest does not know Latin and so is not in a position to have an EF anyway.
It is my understanding that there is a forthcoming clarification of the Summorum Pontificum in its limitations, availability, and requirements. So stay tuned.Summorum Pontificum tells that no permission of the bishop is needed for the extraordinary Masses without the people. Here is my question. Then how about the Masses with the people? Does the priest need to be given a permission from his bishop when he was asked to celebrate one of his Sunday Masses in extraordinary form?
Yes. The Liturgy in any given Church (every diocese is one particular Church) is under the control of the Bishop. It is his ministry. A priest cannot have any public Mass, OF or EF of any language, without the Bishop’s approval.Summorum Pontificum tells that no permission of the bishop is needed for the extraordinary Masses without the people. Here is my question. Then how about the Masses with the people? Does the priest need to be given a permission from his bishop when he was asked to celebrate one of his Sunday Masses in extraordinary form?
I doubt that he can change an already scheduled Mass into something else. Even if it were the OF and then use a different language (say from English to Spanish), it still would need approval from the Bishop.Thank you all for answering my question.
So I understand that the scheduled Masses can also be celebrated in TLM without the additional permission from local ordinary.
Your comments are so helpful and informative.
Summorum PontificumYes. The Liturgy in any given Church (every diocese is one particular Church) is under the control of the Bishop. It is his ministry. A priest cannot have any public Mass, OF or EF of any language, without the Bishop’s approval.
i believe the only exception to this is that a priest, of his own free will and without the permission of his bishop, may celebrate the OF in Latin at his own willI doubt that he can change an already scheduled Mass into something else. Even if it were the OF and then use a different language (say from English to Spanish), it still would need approval from the Bishop.
I’m suspecting that even that has to be run by with the Bishop’s office. I could be wrong. But the Liturgy is the Bishop’s ministry to his diocese. The priests are his helpers in this ministry and therefore nothing happens or changes without his knowing and approval. It may not be a complicated process, all it may take is a phone call.i believe the only exception to this is that a priest, of his own free will and without the permission of his bishop, may celebrate the OF in Latin at his own will
Remember that SP isn’t mean to usurp the Bishop’s authority on regulating Liturgy in his diocese. Also note that Canon 392 says the Bishop’s task is to preserve unity within his diocese. So if the Bishop suspects that these people asking for the TLM may view the OF as invalid, he may deny their request.Summorum Pontificum
Art. 5. § 1 In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willingly accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962, and ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonises with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the guidance of the bishop in accordance with canon 392, avoiding discord and favouring the unity of the whole Church.
This is my understanding too, although prudence dictates that this be announced ahead of time. However, the normal way of introducing Latin into the liturgy is doing parts such as the Sanctus or Agnus Dei, sung by the choir perhaps. The priest would have to use his judgement on this.i believe the only exception to this is that a priest, of his own free will and without the permission of his bishop, may celebrate the OF in Latin at his own will