Pope Francis prohibits Mass in the ancient rite
In 2007 Pope Benedict XVI had permitted its celebration for all. Now Pope Francis prohibited the Mass in the ‘extraordinary’ rite within the communities of the congregation of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.
The Franciscans of the Immaculate are one of the most flourishing religious communities born in the Catholic Church in recent decades, with male and female branches, with many young vocations, spread over several continents. They want to be faithful to tradition, in full respect for the magisterium of the Church. So much so that in their communities they celebrate Masses both in the ancient rite and in the modern rite, applying the spirit and the letter of the motu proprio “Summorum Pontificum" of Benedict XVI.
A core group of internal dissidents contested this practise and appealed to the Vatican authorities. The Vatican authorities responded by sending an apostolic visitor one year ago.
As a result of this visitation a decree was signed on July 11, 2013, by Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, a focolarino, and by Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo, a Franciscan. With this decree the Capuchin Fidenzio Volpi as apostolic is appointed commissioner at the head of all the communities of the congregation of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.
Most astonishing however in this decree are the last five lines::
"In addition to the above, the Holy Father Francis has directed that every religious of the congregation of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate is required to celebrate the liturgy according to the ordinary rite and that, if the occasion should arise, the use of the extraordinary form (Vetus Ordo) must be explicitly authorized by the competent authorities, for every religious and/or community that makes the request.”
What is decreed contradicts the dispositions given by Benedict XVI, which for the celebration of the Mass in the ancient rite “sine populo" demand no previous request for authorization whatsoever.
From now on this is no longer the case, at least not for all. The Franciscans of the Immaculate will have to comply with the prohibition on celebrating the Mass in the ancient rite beginning Sunday, August 11.
In the future, what will happen, not only among them but in the whole Church?
