Sarum rite Mass

[jonnyws]

Does anyone know if the Sarum rite is still allowed as an extraordinary rite Mass? If so does anyone know where I could find the Mass being said in England? It is such a rich Catholic English rite and so much part of the tradition of the Church in England that I’d love to experience it. Unfortunately so far I’ve only managed to find Anglican church’s doing it occasionally and I’m loath to attend.

 

[DL82]

Allegedly, some English seminarians in Oxford wrote to the local ordinary and received permission to say it in private within the seminary. Not sure any more details than that, though you might try finding the anecdote on the Traditionalist blogosphere in England and write to them and ask to attend.

I am dubious about this anecdote however, despite several traditionalist friends having recounted it to me. I don’t believe the bishop has the faculty to reinstate a rite that is no longer in use.

The Sarum Rite ceased to exist entirely after the English reformation, as from the 1600’s to the 1850’s all English Catholic priests were trained and equipped with missals etc. in France and Italy, and as such were trained in the Tridentine Rite, which meant that the Sarum rite ceased to exist. As I understand it, if a rite is no longer celebrated validly anywhere in the Church, that rite cannot then be revived.

 

[jonnyws]

As I understand it, if a rite is no longer celebrated validly anywhere in the Church, that rite cannot then be revived.

Thats a shame. Is there a specific reason for this? I could understand why if a rite in a Catholic country evolved and moved away from a previous one why you would not return to the original. However it must be a bit of a gray area when a rite goes out of practice due to the oppression and martyring of Catholics.

 

[snhs]

I think there was something about a yearly celebration at one of the colleges, although I think one of the Bishops might have put a stop to it. The current Archbishop of Glasgow also celebrated it at an anniversary Mass for the University of Aberdeen while Bishop of that area.

From what various sites say on the situation it seems that the Missal was never abrogated. The Bishops in the above cases decided that they didn’t need approval from the Holy See because of that reason. I suppose for a definitive clarification you’d need to send a query to the Vatican on it.

You might want to have a look at this.