To Russ and others -reply about our Masses

Russ Chesebro said...
Are you still offering up prayers for those of us enrolled in the purgatorial society?

Dear Russ

You are not the first to write to us about this question. We have received many comments, emails and letters asking your question: Are we continuing to offer the daily Holy Mass for all the members of our Purgatorian Archconfraternity in Honour of the Most Holy Redeemer on Golgotha? And is it the Tridentine Mass, the Old Mass, the 1962 Missal?

The unambiguous answer to both of these questions is: Yes!

• Yes. Every day, as agreed, we offer the Holy Mass for the member of our Purgatorian Archconfraternity in Honour of the Most Holy Redeemer on Golgotha.
• Yes. We daily offer that Holy Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962, commonly called the Tridentine Mass.

The reason we are asked this question so often must be because many people seem to think that because we have been reconciled with the Holy See, it means that we are no longer permitted to offer the Old Mass. This is not true at all.

We became reconciled with the Holy See as a response to the Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum of 7 July 2007 where, among other important statements, the Pope made the following solemn judgments that affect us:

"Art. 1. It is, therefore, permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church.

Art. 3. Communities of Institutes of consecrated life..., wishing to celebrate Mass in accordance with the edition of the Roman Missal promulgated in 1962, for conventual or "community" celebration in their oratories, may do so. If ... an entire Institute or Society wishes to undertake such celebrations ...permanently, the decision must be taken by the Superiors Major, in accordance with the law and following their own specific decrees and statues."

These two articles are the Pope's judgment that the Old Mass has never been abrogated and that entire religious communities may decide to offer the Mass according to the 1962 Missal permanently. By the judgment of Pope Benedict XVI we are always permitted to offer Holy Mass according to the 1962 Missal. Thank you Holy Father!

In conclusion therefore:

1. We continue, with the Pope's blessing, daily to offer the Holy Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962.
2. Daily, we offer the Holy Mass, according to that Roman Missal, for the members of our Purgatorian Archconfraternity in Honour of the Most Holy Redeemer on Golgotha.

COMMUNICADO - With an Unofficial Translation

From the site of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei

Reference: http://www.ecclesiadei-pontcommissio.org/ then under: INFORMAZIONE document: 04/09/2008

Riconciliazione del gruppo Transalpine Redemptorists
(Redentoristi Transalpini)

Il Padre Gregory Wilson Rae Sim è tornato con la sua comunità alla piena comunione con la Chiesa Cattolica il 18 giugno 2008. Quest’atto di regolarizzazione è stato accettato da Sua Eminenza il Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, Presidente della Pontificia Commissione “Ecclesia Dei”. Padre Gregory aveva fondato un gruppo che si chiamava Transalpine Redemptorists (Redentoristi Transalpini) il 2 agosto 1988 sotto la guida di Sua Eccellenza Mons. Marcel Lefebvre e in quell’occasione ha preso il nome di Padre Michael Mary.

Adesso questa comunità è riconciliata con la Chiesa ed i tre sacerdoti membri sono stati regolarizzati. Come segno di questa piena comunione con la Chiesa Cattolica, hanno cambiato il nome in Figli del Santissimo Redentore e sono in cammino per l’approvazione del loro Istituto. La comunità conta 18 membri, tra i quali i tre sacerdoti, appena regolarizzati. Per le facoltà si procede “ad normam juris”. Da nove anni la comunità risiede nell’isola di Papa Stronsay nella diocesi di Aberdeen in Scozia.

(Translation from the Italian)

On 18 June 2008 Father Gregory Wilson Rae Sim returned with his community to full communion with the Catholic Church. This act of regularization was accepted by His Eminence Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”. Father Gregory had founded a group called the Transalpine Redemptorists on 2 August 1988 under the guidance of His Excellency Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and on that occasion took the name of Father Michael Mary.
Now this community is reconciled to the Church and the three priests members have been regularized. As a sign of this full communion with the Catholic Church, they have changed their name to Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer and are on the way to the approval of their Institute. The community has 18 members, among whom are the three priests who have just been regularized. For faculties they will proceed “ad norman juris”. For nine years the community has had its seat on the island of Papa Stronsay in the Diocese of Aberdeen, Scotland.