• motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum

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[Web-editor's note: this plan of action was applicable during the period of the first motu proprios of Blessed Pope John Paul II, and no longer applies since the motu proprio of historic proportions, Summorum Pontificum, given by the Supreme Pontif Benedict XVI, of "his own initiative" (i.e., "motu proprio") 7 July 2007, in which His Holiness has redefined the Roman rite of sacred liturgy. Since acquiescence of the local Ordinary is no longer necessary, now that any Priest of the Latin church may, of his own election, celebrate the Roman Liturgy in its form extraordinaria (as it has come now to be designated), the lay faithful may ask any such priest to be permitted to pray with him at holy Mass or according to the other sacraments. Confer in particular the motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum at articles 1, 2, 4, and 5.2 & 5.3.]

The schema below should help in accomplishing the objective:
 
  I. Pray for the restoration of the traditional Latin/Roman rites.

 (1) Pray privately.

 (2) Pray publicly, i.e. with other Catholics in public.

 (a) Pray before and after Holy Mass, in Church.

 (b) Invite Catholics to pray with you in the home.

 (3) Pray, above all, the Holy Rosary.

 (4) Whether at home, in Church or elsewhere, be sure to express your intention.

II. Speak to other interested Catholics.

 (1) Call them on the telephone.

 (2) Meet with them in person.

 (3) Tell them:

  (a) to join you in prayer,

 (b) to call or visit others with the news and same message,

 (c) that there are others, many others, who want the traditional rites nowadays, and

 (d) that you are hoping and working to bring the Fraternity of Saint Peter to your region.

* (4) Request that they join you in writing to the bishop to express your desire to have the traditional rites and the Fraternity in your diocese. (See sample letter, below.) (Send a copy to the Nuncio.)

* Letters of this sort to the bishop are crucial, albeit a first step; see below for example. Repeating the request is equally, often even more important.

 (5) Keep a written list (for your records) of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of those interested.

III. Hold a public event to manifest the grassroots aspiration to restore the traditional Latin rites in your diocese. For example:

 (1) Invite someone in-the-know to lecture on the history and/or current status of the traditional rites.

 (2) Place a small advertisement online or in the newspaper, seeking other interested Catholics.

 (3) Most importantly, perform some act of public, collective charity with fellow Catholics wishing the restoration of the Roman missal; e.g., visit the sick (in a nursing home) or imprisoned. For, "charity covereth a multitude of sins ... without murmuring, ... as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." [I Pet. iv:8-10],

 (4) Submit a story to the press about the growing movement of Catholics in your region who hope to see restored the traditional rites (e.g. to report on any of your events).

 (5) Have a supper, party or get-together to celebrate a Saint's feast and to help support the effort.

 (6) Hold a bake-sale, coffee-klatch et cetera.

 (7) Place an ad in the parish bulletin of a pastor favorable to the effort.

IV. Address your rightful aspirations to the local bishop according to the exact norms published in the Pope's Apostolic Letter of July 2, 1988, Ecclesia Dei, and send a copy to the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington D.C. (See address of the Nuncio, below.)
 
 

His Excellency/Eminence

Most Reverend [NAME of LOCAL ORDINARY]

Bishop/Archbishop/Cardinal of [NAME of DIOCESE]

[ADDRESS]
 

Your Excellency/Eminence:

His Holiness Pope John Paul II has decreed, as I believe you know, that "respect must everywhere be shown for the feelings of those who are attached to the Latin liturgical tradition, by a wide and generous application of the directives issued some time ago [by the Pope] for use of the Roman Missal ... of 1962." (Apostolic Letter, Ecclesia Dei, July 2,1988.)

Please know that I [or "we", if spouses co-sign for selves - and children, friends etc.] am/are sincerely attached to the Latin liturgical tradition. Furthermore, I/we humbly request that you grant a wide and generous application in this, our diocese, of His Holiness' directives issued some time ago for use of the Roman Missal of 1962.

It would give me/us much satisfaction to speak or meet with Your Excellency/Eminence about my/our rightful aspirations for the traditional Latin rites. We already know of priests locally willing to celebrate the liturgy, but if you would prefer, perhaps a priest of the Fraternity of Saint Peter could be invited to serve the faithful who desire the traditional Roman Liturgy.

Awaiting your prompt and positive response, I/we thank Your Excellency, and ask that You believe me/us your obedient servant(s).

in Christ and Mary,

 SIGNATURE

 cc: Archbishop Nuncio Gabriel Montalvo
 
 

His Excellency, Apostolic Nuncio

 Most Reverend Gabriel Montalvo, D.D.

3339 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20008 USA

 tel 202/333-7121 * 202/337-4036 fax
 

Rev. Father Paul Carr, FSSP

Regional Superior, Fraternity of St. Peter

P.O. Box 196 Elmhurst, PA 18416 USA

tel 570/842-4000 * 570/842-4001 fax

www.fssp.com info@fssp.com
 

Mrs. Mary M. Kraychy, Executive Director

Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei

P.O. Box 2071

Glenview, IL 60025-6071 USA

tel 847/724-7151 * 847/724-7158 fax
 

Castrillón Cardinal Hoyos, President

Ecclesia Dei Commission

Piazza del S. Uffizio, 11

00120 VATICAN CITYSTATE

011-39-06/698-85-213 or 85-494 * fax 011-39-06/698-83-412