They don't call us Italians Machiavellian for nothing! I suspect everything will be back to the way it was at St. Peter's daily Masses very soon. Mark my Machiavellian word on it!
After Outcry, Vatican Eases Restrictions on Individual Masses in St. Peter’s Basilica
In a note issued today, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, clarified some of the controversial restrictions that were imposed in March.
A further significant element of Cardinal Gambetti’s statement involves Masses in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Under the Secretariat of State’s directive, these Masses, which are always celebrated individually, were ordered to only take place in a small, ornate chapel in the Vatican grottoes — a change that critics said was a breach with Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 decree that liberalized celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.
Although he did not say specifically what changes would be made to the celebration of Mass in the Extraordinary Form in the basilica, Cardinal Gambetti wrote that “everything possible must be done to fulfill the wishes of the faithful and priests as foreseen by the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.”
8 comments:
Misdirection. Political theater again. More pieces moved on the chessboard.
The pontificate modeled on Juan Peron can be counted on to make contradictory moves, ever edging the establishment leftward, bit by bit.
My guess is this only a delaying tactic as far as the 1960 Mass is concerned, pending the abolishment/modification of the right to celebrate same at all. The rest is a stilted attempt to deal with the fallout from pilgrims, priests etc who do not speak Italian.
I really wonder as for the original action how much of it is tied up in making sure money goes to "official" Masses and in official coffers rather than elsewhere.
I never doubted that this would be reversed. The big clue was that the restrictions came after Cardinal Comastri stepped down but before Cardinal Gambetti was installed. It just looked like someone was taking advantage of a power vacuum and now Gambetti has to delicately walk it back. (I mean did anyone really think that Cardinal Krajewski and scores of polish pilgrims would be forbidden to celebrate Mass on the tomb of St. John Paul II?)
Follow the money !
Tom,
If it was only that simple. If it was ONLY that (political theatre, Peronist games etc) …that all since 2013 has been about; how lucky we would be!
Also, “leftist” thinking started, with liberal Catholic priests and a number of Catholic theologians and intellectuals, within the Church, approximately in the mid 19th century. And later came to a head with the “Modernist Crisis” c. 1890 to 1910.
It could be argued, The “establishment” started edging “leftward” after WW2, even before John XXIII (1958-1963).
By the way, i imagine only Vatican insiders at the time, know with any certainty why Montini was “kicked upstairs” to Milan by Pius XII; and also why Pius XII did not make Montini, the future Paul VI, a cardinal before his death in 1958.
I am aware some serious thinkers have speculated that had Paul VI began his pontificate in 1958 instead of 1963 then Vatican II (the event) would not have occurred. That is possible; but we’ll obviously never know. What I think is likely is that with or without a second Vatican council; the 101 aspects of what has been known as “the Spirit of Vatican II” still would have largely rolled out, as they actually did from the late 1960s to the mid 1980s.
It has often been said: “The Catholic Church thinks in centuries”.
I believe that it is likely the enemies of the Catholic Church think at least in decades.
Some see this as an indication there will be no restrictions placed on the Latin Mass, but I disagree. Why limit the Latin Mass at St Peter's now if an upcoming document modifying Summorum Pontificum is on the way that will do the job? Perhaps the EF will be allowed at the Vatican under very limited circumstances per the new document, such as if a group of FSSP folk are on a pilgrimage.
Paul,
Agreed. I have heard conflicting information about Pius XII's reservations about Montini. But you are right, the planning for this mess began over a century ago, possibly longer. All any Catholic needs to do is look up The Permanent Instruction of the Alta Vendita and start connecting the dots.
I do not like or condone character assassination of the Pope, but I do not think he is up to masterminding half of the things attributed to him. I do think he believes that people will find their way to God if given the right combination of latitude and encouragement. I also think he tries some semi sophisticated palace intrigue. I also think he is easily manipulated by others. More than likely he has been guided through a pointless conflict with no real long term goal of his own.
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