The Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Most Reverend John H. Ricard, SSJ has issued his norms for the implementation of the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum. They were borrowed from the Diocese of St. Augustine. You might remember those. I called some of their points "shocking". They were developed by Bishop Galeone. They contain some pretty surprising and problematic points.
They have been adopted by all the bishops in Florida.
My emphases and comments.
Below are Norms which I am promulgating relative to the wishes of our Holy Father, Benedict XVI as stated in his apostolic letter, Summorum Pontificum, concerning the use of the old Latin Mass. They are intended to serve as a guide for pastors and for the faithful. There will be further refinements of these directives as we receive word from the USCCB. These norms were developed by the Diocese of St. Augustine. The bishops of Florida, as was I, were impressed by their succinct and concise nature and we have decided that they should be used throughout the Province and the State of Florida. [!] If you have any further questions please call the Bishop’s Office or Father Paul White, director of the Office of Liturgy, at 850-435-3500.
Most Rev. John H. Ricard, SSJ
Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee
August 21, 2007Norms for the Implementation of the Apostolic Letter, Summorum Pontificum
Pope Benedict XVI promulgated the motu proprio Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum (SP) on July 7, 2007 extending the use of the Missal of John XXIII as an “extraordinary form” of the Roman Rite. For all intents and purposes, the Holy Father’s Letter speaks for itself. However, there are some important points which all of the clergy in the Diocese need to know in order to properly apply the prescriptions of the document. The bishop, in his role as “moderator of the liturgy within his own diocese,” promulgates the following:1. The Roman Missal of Paul VI, referred to as the “ordinary form,” remains the usual/normal manner in which the Eucharistic liturgy is to be celebrated. The “extraordinary form” (the so-called, Tridentine Rite) is contained in the Roman Missal of Blessed John XXIII (1962 Missal).
2. Only priests who are qualified may celebrate the extraordinary form of the Mass and the sacraments, even privately. Those qualified must evidence ability with the Latin language [The Latin word idoneus is used in the Motu Proprio to indicate the qualifications of the priest. Idoneous never means "expert" or "well-trained" or "schooled" or anything of the kind. It refers to the minimum qualifications. This is why the eminent canonist and Archbishop of New York, Edward Card. Egan stated that "II. Priests who choose to celebrate Mass in the "extraordinary" form must have a sufficient knowledge of the Latin language to pronounce the words correctly."] as well as the rubrics for the proper celebration of the Mass in the extraordinary form. The Bishop of the Diocese reserves to himself the authority to determine whether a priest is qualified to celebrate Mass and the other sacraments using the extraordinary form. Generally, the priest must demonstrate a sufficient knowledge of Latin such that the priest is not simply reciting the words of the liturgy, but has an understanding of the meaning of what he is saying. Additionally, the priest must possess sufficient knowledge of the liturgical/rubrical requirements of the 1962 Missal so that the Mass is celebrated in a correct and dignified manner. This will apply to all celebrations of the extraordinary form whether the priest is incardinated or simply a resident in the Diocese. [So… is there going to be a test? Will there be tests also for priests celebrating the Novus Ordo as well? If not, it sounds like a terrible double-standard is about to be applied.]
3. A private Mass is one celebrated by a priest on his own initiative. By definition, [whose?] this Mass is not scheduled nor announced via the parish bulletin or other means. [As in a priest saying during coffee and donut time, "I will be saying Mass tomorrow at…" ] A private Mass may be more or less regular as result of the personal schedule of the priest. Any qualified priest in good standing may celebrate a private Mass according to the extraordinary form with at least the presumed permission [Hang on. A priest should have at least the presumed permission of the pastor to say Mass at all, but according to the Motu Proprio, the choice of Missal is his own.] of the pastor of the place of celebration. [Please note: A private Mass is never to be celebrated at the same time when public Masses are celebrated in the same church or chapel. To preserve some order, a private Mass (celebrated in either form) should never commence sooner than 15 minutes following the completion of a public Mass or other celebration of the sacred liturgy in the same church or chapel.]
4. A pastor may not, on his own initiative, schedule a public Mass according to the extraordinary form. [Ummm… I don’t think that is what the Motu Proprio says. Will the bishop now be micro-managing parish schedules? The M.P. says that pastors not bishops respond to the faithful making requests.] The Apostolic Letter requires that a “stable group [Here is that bad translation of coetus which we have seen constantly in these statements.] of the faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition” make a request for the extraordinary form to be celebrated. The Bishop has determined that such a group should number at least 50 people for such a request to be granted. [This is ABSURD. The M.P. does not establish a minimum number of people. A coetus can be as small as 3 people.]
5. When the services of a qualified priest are available, and when the pastor has approved a request for the extraordinary form, the celebration may never be the exclusive way in which the Mass is celebrated on Sundays, feast days, or weekdays. No more than one Mass according to the Missal of John XXIII may be celebrated on a Sunday or feast day. If only one Mass is celebrated in a parish or mission, it must be according to the ordinary form.
6. In cases where the pastor is unable to accede to the request of the faithful (see no. 4 above) for Mass according to the extraordinary form, the pastor is to contact the Bishop’s Office for assistance. [Right.]
7. The use of the extraordinary form requires the presence of a properly trained male altar server. [This is interesting. I wonder if there is permission in that diocese for service at the altar by females?] In the Tridentine Rite, the role of this person is much more significant. [This is a bit ironic, no? The usual (incorrect) way of thinking about "active participation" suggests that the roles of the laity in the old days were less significant than today. Curious.]
8. The Apostolic Letter abrogates all post-conciliar legislation concerning the celebration of the Tridentine Mass, including the indult permitting ordinaries to authorize the celebration of the Tridentine Mass. [What a very curious statement.]
9. The Apostolic Letter is clear that the extraordinary form is NOT to be celebrated in any way during the Easter Triduum [This is not really true. In those places where the older use is used exclusively, as in a parish or chapel set up by the bishop, where there is no "competition" for the time slot, the older books would be used.] – from the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday through Evening Prayer of Easter Sunday.
10. Deacons who are asked to participate in a Mass or sacred liturgy according to the extraordinary form must meet the same requirements as priests as outlined in no. 2 above.
All laws governing the celebration of the extraordinary form must be followed.
Further information can be obtained through the following website – www.usccb.org/liturgy and clicking on the link marked “BCL NEWSLETTER ON SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM.”
Along with the Holy Father’s Apostolic Letter, these norms are effective on September 14, 2007.
6. In cases where the pastor is unable to accede to the request of the faithful (see no. 4 above) for Mass according to the extraordinary form, the pastor is to contact the Bishop’s Office for assistance. [Right.]
