THE RITE MASS

The Novus Ordo Missale Or the Traditional Latin Mass

To begin, the word Rite, refers to a Liturgical Tradition. Every Church that is in communion with the Holy See has a Liturgical Tradition. It is the form and matter of how the Sacrifice of the Mass is done. For instance, the Maronites have a certain Liturgical Tradition, the Byzantine have another and the Roman Rite also has one etc.

Each Rite has only one Liturgy  and this has been true for centuries. The Latin Rite was no exception until recently, that is.  The Roman Catholic Church, also known as the Latin Rite (because of the language that is used) is by far the largest and the one Rite of the Catholic Church that has the successor of Peter as the head of the Church.

Now, to understand our point there are only two main documents that need to be read and discerned. These documents are Apostolic Constitutions; QUO PRIMUM and MISSALE ROMANUM, written by Pope Pius V in 1570 and by Pope Paul VI in 1969 respectively.

I ask that you read QUO PRIMUM first because in this Apostolic Constitution, Pope Pius V, decrees that, what is now known as the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, is to be the only Missal, the only Mass in the Roman Rite Church. The document is as clear as can be, with directives that any previous forms be “discontinued entirely and absolutely.”

Pope Pius V then continues to decree that all Churches use this new Rite/Missal “Furthermore, by these presents [this law], in virtue of Our Apostolic authority, We grant and concede in perpetuity that, for the chanting or reading of the Mass in any church whatsoever, this Missal is hereafter to be followed absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment, or censure, and may freely and lawfully be used.”

When you read the entire document, you will plainly see that the “old Mass” was from that point on, the only lawful Mass to be said in the Churches, minus the exceptions noted.

In April of 1969, Pope Paul VI also publishing an Apostolic Constitution, (MISSALE ROMANUM) created a New Rite and this is what is now known as the Novus Ordo, (New Order of the mass). Here is the part that makes no sense, Pope Paul VI, in Missale Romanum, specifically decrees that a new Rite be created, that a new Missal be printed and that is it! Pope Paul VI NEVER abrogated the Mass from Pope Pius V, never mentions anything about not using the previous Mass. Pope Benedict confirms this in his Moto Proprio, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, “As for the use of the 1962 Missal as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgy of the Mass, I would like to draw attention to the fact that this Missal was never juridically abrogated and, consequently, in principle, was always permitted. ”  

When you read Pope Paul VI Apostolic Constitution, not only does he not abrogate/cancel/stop/end the previous Mass he does not even decree that the new Mass be used/sang/read in the Churches. No mention of which Churches must use it and which ones should not use it. In fact, the only thing Pope Paul VI says at the end of the document is “we hope nevertheless that the Missal will be received by the faithful as an instrument which bears witness to and which affirms the common unity of all.”

In other words, Pope Paul VI, ordered that a new Rite be created and a new Missal be printed, that is it! You can print this book but you can’t do anything with it! Why do we say that you ask? Because the last paragraph of the Missale Romanum states the following; “We wish that these Our decrees and prescriptions may be firm and effective now and in the future, notwithstanding, to the extent necessary, the apostolic constitutions and ordinances issued by Our predecessors, and other prescriptions, even those deserving particular mention and derogation.” Now, friends, who ever actually drew up this document is what is known as a wordsmith! Replace the word “notwithstanding” with “without being prevented by” because that is what it means. Pope Pius V’s Constitution most definetly prohibits the use of the New Rite because Pope Paul VI never abolished the previous one.

You must read these documents yourself, do not let us make any decisions for you but we think you will come to the conclusion that the Latin Rite Mass also known as the Tridentine Mass instituted by Pope Pius V, is the only Mass that is still in force.  Whether the Novus Ordo Rite can co-exist with the Latin Rite is a topic so complicated, so convoluted that we believe a new council, Vatican III will need to be convened in order to iron that out. If for any other reason, then to at least figure out how a Church can operate under two different Rites at the same time! It is our opinion that there cannot be two Rites at the same time for a Church, it is a duplicity, it is in opposition to the prayer that our Lord prayed,  that His Church be one.

In Christ