Let’s take a moment to review a few things:
The “TLM”, or Mass according to the most recent pre-Vatican II Missal, finally codified by Blessed John XXIII, was never abrogated or banned, which the Holy Father makes clear in his moto proprio Summorum Pontificum. However, it was restricted.
After Msgr. Marcel Lefebvre of the Society of St. Pius X defied the Holy Father (John Paul II) and consecrated bishops without approval, the pontiff established the rules of when the Missal of John XXIII could be used in the moto proprio Ecclesia Dei adflicta. This required the local ordinary (bishop of the diocese, basically) to give his permission for a properly trained priest to use the older missal. The reason for this was several-fold. First, the bishop is the moderator of the liturgy in his diocese. Second, it is important that the older Mass not be said out of protest of the Novus Ordo and that we remain in filial communion with each other. In the spirit of the moto proprio, any reasonable request made by a qualified priest to use the older missal should have been approved.
However, this was not the case. Bishops turned down stable groups of the faithful with trained priests. Orders who were trained in the traditional Mass were cast out of diocese and the power the bishops had over the use of the Missal of John XXII became a power tool and overly politicized. John Paul II and Benedict XVI both encouraged bishops to be liberal in their granting of these indults. However, many were not.
In response to this, Benedict issued Summorum Pontificum. This allowed ANY priest to use the Missal of John XXIII in his private Masses (except during the triduum) and a stable community to request that the pastor allow a Mass according to the older missal. If the pastor was unable to do this himself, he should do everything in his power to facilitate their request, even bringing in someone with the proper skills.
Some people have, incorrectly, said that this is Benedict’s “giving in” to the SSPX and to those who have great nostalgia for the old rite. However, it is much deeper than that. It is the Holy Father taking Ecclesia Dei adflicta to the next step because of many of the bishops’ disobedience.
Unfortunately, many bishops don’t quite seem to “get it” and have issued “guidelines” for the implementation of Summorum Pontificum. Some of these prelates have, again, disobeyed the spirit of this apostolic letter and are requiring their approval before the Missal of John XXII can be used, taking hold of the requirement in the letter that priests be knowledgeable of the rubrics and of the Latin language, even going so far to require tests. Thankfully, the Holy See is reportedly preparing an explanatory statement concerning the requirements.
So, there ya go.
Adam
