About Preserve the Latin Mass
We wish to share our experience of the traditional liturgy, which has nourished many saints throughout the centuries and continues to edify a growing number of souls throughout the Catholic Church today. We will share why Catholics of all backgrounds value and treasure this Mass and why so many non-Catholics are inspired by its beauty and majesty. This Mass is an integral part of our collective heritage and must be preserved.
We are surprised and saddened by the issuance of the document Traditionis Custodes by Pope Francis and even more so by the recent response of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship. It is difficult to reconcile these actions with the commitments and promises made by Pope Francis' predecessors, St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
We wish to continue in harmony with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, while spiritually benefiting from the graciousness of Pope Benedict XVI who encouraged all priests of the Roman Rite who desired to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass and sacraments through his motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum.
The wide and generous acceptance of the usus antiquior, or traditional rites, has produced a healing within the Church that allows many Catholics to draw closer to Christ and to the heart of their Mother, the Church. It has been especially helpful in reconciling those who have felt abandoned by their shepherds in the past. Far from driving Catholics away, the Latin Mass has helped many to think with the mind of the Church, recognizing Vatican II as a true ecumenical council and the Liturgy of Pope Paul VI as a real re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
We are saddened too, at the thought of the possible loss of the beauty of the Traditional Liturgy which hearkens back more than fifteen hundred years and has inspired great works of art, literature, music, poetry, and architecture for centuries. We see the eventual prohibition or severe restriction of the Traditional Latin Mass and sacraments as a loss, not only to the many Catholics who regularly lift up their hearts to God in this form of worship, but to all Catholics, and to humanity in general.
First and foremost, we ask that you read our open letter to His Holiness Pope Francis and lend your name to the growing list of its signees.
Dear Pope Francis,
We, the undersigned, fervently appeal to Your Holiness for the preservation of the Traditional Latin Mass (usus antiquior) and the accompanying Sacraments.
The Traditional Latin Mass has helped many to find their home in the Catholic Church. It has given many a renewed purpose in life and has illuminated many souls with the light of God’s love. Please, Holy Father, help these souls continue to feel at home in the Catholic Church.
The ancient liturgy is breathtaking in its beauty and serves to lift the hearts of countless souls to God. It attracts diverse and often marginalized Catholics, including many young people and families. Prayerful participation in the Traditional Latin Mass has led many into a profound and sincere relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.
We appeal to you on behalf of the countless souls – priests, religious, and lay faithful of all ages and cultures – who suffer greatly and feel excluded and abandoned by their shepherds when the Traditional Liturgical Rites are restricted or prohibited. We pray that room may be found for the preservation of the Traditional Liturgical Rites in the Catholic Church, known for her beautiful diversity of liturgies that serve to unite the Faithful across boundaries, cultures, and centuries.
We humbly request that diocesan priests may continue to provide the Traditional Liturgical Rites to the faithful who ask for them. We appeal for the freedom of bishops to choose how to ordain new priests and confirm their flocks. We implore you also to allow the “Ecclesia Dei” communities to continue to serve the People of God as they have for the past thirty-three years, faithful to their constitutions and founding documents. They have pledged their lives for this, trusting in the support of the Church and her Pastors to live the charism approved and affirmed by Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Please, do not allow their trust to be violated, their faithfulness to be rejected, and their flocks to be forsaken.
We, the undersigned, are Catholics and non-Catholics alike, united by our support for diversity of liturgical expression in the Catholic Church.
We place this petition under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and St. Joseph, Protector of the Holy Church.
In Jesus' Name,
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