July
7, 2007
Dear faithful,
The
motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, of July 7, 2007
re-establishes the Tridentine Mass in its legal right. In the text it
is clearly acknowledged that it was never abrogated. And so fidelity
to this Mass —for the sake of which so many priests and lay people
have been persecuted, or even severely punished, for almost forty years
—this fidelity was never disobedience. Today it is only right
and just to thank Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre for having maintained us
in this fidelity to the Mass of all times in the name of true obedience,
and against all the abuses of power. Also there is no doubt that this
recognition of the right of the traditional Mass is the fruit of the
vast number of rosaries offered up to Our Lady during our Rosary Crusade
last October; let us not forget now to express to her our gratitude.
Beyond
the re-establishment of the Mass of St. Pius V in its legitimate right,
it is important to study the concrete measures issued by the motu
proprio and the justification given by Benedict XVI in the letter
which accompanies the text:
- By right,
the practical measures taken by the pope must enable the traditional
liturgy —not only the Mass, but also the sacraments —to
be celebrated normally. This is an immense spiritual benefit for
the whole Church, for the priests and faithful who were hitherto
paralyzed by the unjust authority of the bishops. However, in the
coming months it remains to be seen how these measures will be applied
in fact by the bishops and parish priests. For this reason, we will
continue to pray for the pope so that he may remain firm following
this courageous act.
- The letter
accompanying the motu proprio gives the pope’s reasons. The
affirmation of the existence of one single rite under two forms
—the ordinary and the extraordinary forms —of equal
right, and especially the rejection of the exclusive celebration
of the traditional liturgy, may, it is true, be interpreted as the
expression of a political desire not to confront the bishops’
conferences which are openly opposed to any liberalization of the
Tridentine Mass. But we may also see in this an expression of the
"reform of the reform" desired by the pope himself, and
in which, as he himself writes in this letter, the Mass of St. Pius
V and that of Paul VI would mutually enrich one another.
In
any event, there is in Benedict XVI the clear desire to re-affirm the
continuity of Vatican II and the Mass which issued from it, with the
bi-millenial Tradition. This denial of a rupture caused by the last
council —already shown in his address to the Curia on December
22, 2005 —shows that what is at stake in the debate between Rome
and the Priestly Society of St. Pius X is essentially doctrinal. For
this reason, the undeniable step forward made by the motu proprio in
the liturgical domain must be followed —after the withdrawal of
the decree of excommunication —by theological discussions.
The
reference to Archbishop Lefebvre and the Society of St. Pius X made
in the accompanying letter, as well as the acknowledgment of the testimony
given by the young generations which are taking up the torch of Tradition,
clearly show that our constancy to defend the lex orandi has
been taken into account. With God’s help, we must continue the
combat for the lex credendi, the combat for the faith, with
the same firmness.
Menzingen,
July 7, 2007
+ Bernard Fellay
