This morning, the 30th anniversary of the assassination attempt on Blessed John Paul II in St Peter's Square, the long-awaited clarification on the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum was issued by the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, as an Instruction entitled Universae Ecclesiae.
The text may be downloaded here in English or here in Latin, thanks to Fr Z of WDTPRS, who has an excellent commentary here. And Fr Tim Finigan here.
"...Among the statements of the Holy Father was the following: “There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the Liturgy growth and progress are found, but not a rupture. What was sacred for prior generations, remains sacred and great for us as well, and cannot be suddenly prohibited altogether or even judged harmful.”
"8. The Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum constitutes an important expression of the Magisterium of the Roman Pontiff and of his munus of regulating and ordering the Church’s Sacred Liturgy. The Motu Proprio manifests his solicitude as Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pastor of the Universal Church, and has the aim of... promoting reconciliation at the heart of the Church." Universae Ecclesiae § 7 and 8.
The whole Latin Rite world is very grateful to the Holy Father for his solicitous care of the Liturgy, and for the love with which he passes on sacred Tradition to the next generation. Ad Multos Annos.
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