Following the insistent prayers of these faithful, long deliberated upon by our predecessor John Paul II, and after having listened to the Cardinals in the Consistory of 22 March 2006, having reflected deeply upon all aspects of the matter, having invoked the Holy Spirit and relying on God, with this Apostolic Letter we establish the following: 1
Art. The Roman Missal promulgated by Paul VI is the ordinary expression of the "lex orandi" (Law of prayer) of the Catholic Church of Latin rite. However, the Roman Missal promulgated by St. Pius V and reissued by B. John XXIII is to be regarded as an extraordinary expression of that "lex orandi" and must be given due honor for its venerable and ancient usage. These two expressions of "lex orandi" of the Church will in no any way lead to a split in the "lex faith "(" law of faith ") of the Church are in fact two usages of the Roman rite.
So it permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Blessed John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church. The conditions for the use of this Missal established by earlier documents "Quattuor abhinc annos and Ecclesia Dei, are substituted as follows: Art
2. In Masses celebrated without the people, each Catholic priest of Latin rite, whether secular or regular, may use the Roman Missal published by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962, or the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970, and so on any day, except the Easter Triduum. For such celebrations, with either one Missal, the priest does not need any permission, neither from the Apostolic See or from his Ordinary.
Article 3. Communities of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life of either pontifical or diocesan right, that in the celebration conventual or "community" into their speakers wishing to celebrate Mass according to the edition of the Roman Missal promulgated in 1962, may do so . If an individual community or an entire Institute or Society wishes to undertake such celebrations often, habitually or permanently, the decision must be taken by Superiors Major, in accordance with the law and the laws and statues.
Article 4. Celebrations of Mass as mentioned above in art. 2, may be allowed - observing all the norms of law - even the faithful who ask of their own free will.
Article 5. § 1. In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willingly accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962. And ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonizes with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the guidance of the bishop in accordance with can. 392, avoiding discord and favoring the unity of the whole Church.
§ 2. The celebration according to the Missal of Bl John XXIII may take place on weekdays and on Sundays and holidays you may also have a celebration of this kind.
§ 3. For faithful and priests who request it, the pastor allow celebrations in this extraordinary form in special circumstances such as marriages, funerals or occasional celebrations, eg pilgrimages.
§ 4. Priests who use the Missal of Bl John XXIII must be qualified and not juridically impeded.
§ 5. In churches that are not parish or conventual, it is up to the rector of the church to grant the above license.
Article 6. In Masses celebrated with the people according to the Missal of Bl John XXIII, the readings can be proclaimed even in the vernacular, using editions approved by the Apostolic See.
Section 7. If a group of lay faithful, as mentioned in art. 5 § 1, has not obtained satisfaction to their requests from the pastor, they should inform the diocesan bishop. The bishop is strongly requested to satisfy their desire. If he can not arrange for such celebration, the matter should be referred to the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei".
Article 8. The Bishop, who want to respond to such requests of lay faithful, but for various reasons is unable to do so, may refer the matter to the Commission "Ecclesia Dei" to obtain counsel and assistance.
Article 9 § 1. The pastor, having attentively examined all aspects, may also grant permission to use the earlier ritual for the sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony, Penance and the Anointing of the Sick, if it recommends the good of souls.
§ 2. Ordinaries are granted the right to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation using the earlier Roman Pontifical, if this tips the good of souls.
§ 3. Clerics to be 'in sacris "one may use the Roman Breviary promulgated by Blessed John XXIII in 1962.
Article 10. The local Ordinary, if it deems appropriate, may erect a personal parish in accordance with can. 518 for celebrations following the ancient form of the Roman rite, or appoint a chaplain, while observing the rules of law.
Article 11. The Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", erected by John Paul II in 1988
[5] , continues to exercise its function.
The Commission has the form, duties and norms that the Roman Pontiff wishes to assign.
Article 12. This Commission, apart from the powers it enjoys, will exercise the authority of the Holy See, supervising the observance and enforcement of these provisions.
Everything that we have established with this Apostolic Letter given by way of the Motu Proprio, we order to be considered as "established and decreed", and to be observed from Sept. 14 this year, the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, whatever there may be no objection.
Given at Rome at St. Peter's, July 7, 2007, third year of Our Pontificate.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI