The Balance After Three Years of Motu Proprio: Mass Locations Grow by 480%

More than twenty groups in Germany have requested an old Mass and receive from their old liberal Bishops not even one word. Actually, the Motu Proprio paves the way.


[Kreuz.net]The locations, where the old rite is usually celebrated, have increased 480 % since the Motu Proprio 'Summorum Pontificum'. This is according to the director of the German Lay Society 'Pro Missa Tridentina', Monika Rheinschmitt.

In June 2007 there were in total 35 locations, where the Old Mass was regularly said in the German speaking areas.

Three years after, on the beginning of July 2010, there were 203 Mass locations.


Mass Locations Divided by Country

In Germany there are 138 Mass locations where the Old Rite is regularly heard.

Only in 49 locations is there a regular Sunday Mass. In 24 of them the feast days are also served.

In 26 locations there are one to three Sunday Masses per month.

In 63 locations the priest only celebrates the old Mass on workdays.

In Austria there are only 28 Mass locations.

11 old Masses are regularly celebrated on Sunday, and seven also on feast days.

Of four Mass locations there are one to two Sunday Masses per month, in thirteen are only workday Masses.

In the confessional areas in the much smaller Switzerland there are 39 Mass locations.

In 21 Mass locations the priest celebrates the Mass every Sunday and 13 also feast days.

In four Mass locations there are one to two Sunday Masses per month.

In fourteen Mass locations the priest celebrates the Mass only on work days in the Old Rite.


As Usual: Bishops against the Old Mass

On a number of Mass locations the Old Rite must be reestablished again. For example is the town of Altötting where the celebrant has died.

In the last year some have dwindled and new Mass locations have quickly balanced the scales.

Anyway, Frau Rheinschmitt has in no way spoken of a "overabundance of demand".

Because: "There are more than 20 groups of traditional faithful known to us, who are desirous for a regular celebration of the Sacraments according to the 1962 Missal and have made requests of their pastors and respective Bishops -- but till now have either received no answer or a refusal."

The old Mass has a value in itself -- Frau Rheinschmitt stresses: "It will be especially poignant how thoroughly great, beautiful, sublime and sometimes even strange is the majesty of God."

The Church has developed and protected liturgical forms over the centuries, to help the believer to honor the triune God.

Frau Rheinschmitt also has made a graphic, which shows, how the old Masses are distributed throughout the German Diocese.

Little Understanding, Much Hate

Frau Rheinschmitt is certain that the anxiety toward the Traditionalists in some parishes is fading.

They enjoy the rich treasure of their own Church tradition.

In other locations the Traditionalists were always still, "thwarted, ignored, their proposals fought or answered in an unfriendly way."

Frau Rheinschmitt named examples:

The Traditionalists in Freiburg wanted every Sunday to have an Old Mass. Actually, they only may have Mass bi-weekly.

On short notice Prelate Alwin Renker declared -- the rector of the Church, where the old Mass in Freiburg will be celebrated -- on the 4th of July, that he, his housekeeper and sacristan will be on vacation traveling and therefore won't be able to say the old Mass on July 18th.

Actually, Prelate Renker isn't even the celebrant of the old Mass.

The coming date for the old Mass in Freiburg is still not known.

As a second example, Frau Rheinschmitt cited the example of the scandal in Weiden in the diocese of Regensburg.

There the Traditionalists, despite affirmation from Rome and a promise from Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller of Regensburg, who have waited for over a year to have the approval for a second Sunday Mass in the Month.


Many Larger Cities Still Without Old Mass

Frau Rheinschmitt observes finally, that in the German speaking areas there are still Churches which lack a regular Sunday Mass in the old Rite.

As an example Frau Rheinschmitt cited the city of Freiburg, Heidelberg, Konstanz, Ulm, Tübingen [No big surprise here], Reutlingen, Würzburg, Freising, Passau, Limburg, Speyer, Essen, Dortmund, Kassel, Hildescheim, Leipzig and Dresden.

One problem is that in the Chancery, "it is not well-received, when younger priests show interest in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite or even celebrate it."

Conclusion: "There still remains a lot to do for next year."

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