Statement of Cardinal Maida on Tridentine Mass Print this Statement

For Release July 7, 2007

Contact: Office of Public Relations
(313) 237-5943

Summorum Pontificum, the Apostolic Letter given Motu Proprio by Pope Benedict XVI on the use of the "Roman Liturgy prior to the reform of 1970," was made public at the Vatican on Saturday, 7th July 2007.  The following statement from Cardinal Maida will appear in the upcoming edition of The Michigan Catholic. 

I am grateful that our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has shown his pastoral care for those members of the faithful who desire to worship God with the Mass prayers and related sacramental celebrations of the 1962 Missal.

It is important to underscore the fact that the Missal of 1970 (the post-Vatican II liturgy) remains the "ordinary form" for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.  The 1962 (pre-conciliar) Missal is the "extraordinary form" for celebration of the Holy Eucharist.  There are not "two rites" for the Mass; as Pope Benedict XVI explains, "it is a matter of a two-fold use of one and the same rite."

Citing words from the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy from Vatican II, Pope Benedict XVI explained that in both forms for celebrating the Roman ritual, the intent is the same:  "full, conscious, and active participation of the faithful."  Both forms celebrate our participation in sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ:  in the "ordinary" form or post-Vatican II, we do so by means of our English (vernacular) language and communal prayer, while in the extraordinary or pre-Vatican II form, participation also includes listening to the prayers in Latin and joining our hearts to the words and actions.

Furthermore, allowing a wider celebration of the 1962 version of the Mass should not be seen as calling into question the abiding significance of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council.  In his Motu Proprio, our Holy Father underscored the fact that the teachings of the Council are in no way diminished by allowing a wider usage of the former (pre-conciliar) ritual for the Mass and other sacraments.

Our Holy Father shared his motivation and intention for issuing the Motu Proprio:  strengthening the unity of the Church by preserving the riches of the faith and prayer of her full liturgical tradition.  Like his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, he has been concerned about reaching out to those who felt alienated from the Church because of the exclusive use of the post-conciliar ritual.  Opening the door to wider use of the pre-conciliar liturgy builds on earlier concessions of Pope John Paul II which have proven to be a means of reconciliation.  The Holy Father also believes there are Catholics— of all generations— who have expressed a sincere desire to experience the pre-conciliar liturgy and have found it a compelling and attractive means for worshipping the Lord.

In the Archdiocese of Detroit, we have already been offering this form of the Mass at St. Josaphat Church for the past several years and we look forward to continuing to provide such opportunities according to the needs and requests of the faithful.

The Motu Proprio does not take effect until September 14, 2007.  In the weeks ahead, the priests and faithful of the Archdiocese will have ample time to reflect with me upon its implementation through our consultative bodies.  For now, let us continue to work and pray for the unity of our Church, to worship the Lord with loving hearts, and put our faith into practice through lives of service.

Related links: