The Vatican State Secretariat has established a hierarchy in St. Peter's Basilica: Novus Ordo above, Traditional Rite below?
Edit: the Bugninine Liturgy is ascendant!
(Rome) as the retirement of Angelo Cardinal Comastri as Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica was only a rumor, already there were worries, that it could have negative consequences for the celebration of the Immemorial Rite in the Papal Basilica. On February 20th, the time had come - and the fears came true.
Pope Francis retired Cardinal Comastri and appointed Mauro Cardinal Gambetti as his successor. Gambetti, member of the Minorites was previously Custos of the Holy Convents of Assisi. Not a month has passed since then and the fears are already becoming reality.
The First Section of the Vatican State Secretariat sent a letter to the Extraordinary Commissar of the Cathedral Administration, the canons of the Vatican Chapter and the service for the liturgical celebrations of the basilica. On June 29, 2020, Pope Francis provided Cardinal Comastri with a commissar in the form of Archbishop Mario Giordano. Cardinal Gambetti, who was created by Francis as cardinal at the end of November 2020, has officially been Vicar General of Vatican City, archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica and head of St. Peter's Cathedral Building since February. The tasks of Msgr. Giordano as acting head were not canceled, as the new document shows.
The State Secretariat's letter is not signed, which, among other things, cast doubts as to its authenticity. The document has since been published by the Vaticanist Diane Montagna and its authenticity has been confirmed by Edward Pentin (National Catholic Register). The First Section is headed by the Substitute of the Cardinal Secretary of State. The Venezuelan Vatican diplomat Edgar Peña Parra has been a substitute since 2018.
The Section issued five instructions on March 12:
- 1. Individual celebrations should be suppressed;
- 2. The priests and the faithful who come to the basilica every day for Holy Mass should have the opportunity to participate in the following celebrations: at 7 am in the choir chapel; at 7:30 am at the Cathedra Altar; at 8 o'clock in the choir chapel; at 9 o'clock at the Cathedra altar. The times of the other Masses remain unchanged. On the occasion of a saint's remembrance, the remains of which are kept in the basilica, one of the Holy Masses can be celebrated at the corresponding altar. On Sundays and public holidays, the maintenance of the times mentioned must be checked;
- 3. the concelebrations are to be liturgically animated with the help of lecturers and cantors;
- 4. Groups of pilgrims who are accompanied by a bishop or a priest ensure the possibility of celebrating Holy Mass in the Vatican grottoes;
- 5. As for the Extraordinary Rite, the authorized priests can celebrate at 7 am, 7:30 am, 8 am and 9 am in the Capella Clementina in the Vatican Grottoes.
The regulations will come into force next March 22nd.
The Cathedra altar is one of the two papal altars and is located in front of the Cathedra Petri. The choir chapel is the westernmost chapel in the south (left) aisle. It lies opposite the sacrament chapel in the north aisle and is separated from the rest of the church by a grill. This is where the canons perform their divine office, hence the name.
Traditional Rite to the catacombs?
The arrangement has banished the Traditional Rite, which had been well tolerated in St. Peter's Basilica, in the Vatican Grottos. Who has been bothered the previous early morning celebrations? [Satan?] The pilgrims and tourists hardly, as not so many of them are in St. Peter's Basilica at this time. This is especially true for the past few months with the low number of visitors due to the corona restrictions.
The Traditional Rite only became visible in St. Peter's Basilica in Autumn 2012, when the international pilgrimage Summorum Pontificum ad Petri Sedem took place for the first time. It was created to express gratitude and solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI. to express and to give the Traditional Rite greater public visibility through the celebration of the closing Mass in St. Peter's Basilica (cathedra altar). At that time there was even hope that Benedict XVI. could personally celebrate the first final mass in St. Peter's. This hope was not fulfilled. Rather, he unexpectedly resigned from office a few months later. The pilgrimage was retained, however, had to be canceled last year due to the corona restrictions by the state and Church authorities. The Pontifical Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, which Robert Cardinal Sarah was supposed to celebrate on October 24th, was made impossible by the restrictions imposed. Without a special permit, according to the instructions that have now been issued, the final Mass of this pilgrimage would also be banished to the crypt under St. Peter's Basilica.
How does the State Secretariat justify the new provisions?
“Lent invites us to return to the Lord with all our hearts (cf. Gl 2:12). This gives greater centrality to the word of God and the celebration of the Eucharist. With this in mind, in order to ensure that the holy masses in St. Peter's
A connection with the celebration in the Traditional Rite is not evident, which is why the only recognizable consequence remains to visibly downgrade the Holy Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite compared to the Novus Ordo. St. Peter's Basilica is reserved exclusively for the novel liturgy, while the Traditional Rite is banished to the catacombs. It is also used physically, intentionally or unintentionally, to express who is “up” and who is “down” or who is above whom.
The Vatican knows about the power of symbols.
Text: Giuseppe di Nar-
image: Summorumpontificum.org (screenshot) / Wikicommons / Diane Montagna (Twitter, screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG
