[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]On February 11, 2022, but just released to the public, Pope Francis promulgated a decree giving full permission to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) to continue to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass and the other sacraments according to the older rite.

The featured photo of this post is copyright of the FSSP. It shows two FSSP priests who met with Francis on February 4, 2022.

In the course of the audience, the Pope made it clear that institutes such as the Fraternity of St. Peter are not affected by the general provisions of the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes, since the use of the ancient liturgical books was at the origin of their existence and is provided for in their constitutions.

Many traditional Catholic media outlets have been speculating that we could expect a document laying the hammer on groups like the FSSP and Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP) to be coming sometime around Ash Wednesday. Perhaps there is still more to come.

On the surface, this recent decree from Francis is obviously good for the FSSP (for now) but leaves a lot to wonder about. What of the other groups? More importantly for us, what of the 1000, more or less, Faithful Catholics here in the Diocese of Cleveland who are attached by their innermost personal constitutions to the Traditional Latin Mass and all the sacraments that go along with it? We don’t have the Fraternity here in this diocese.

I guess I’ll stay tuned.

Here’s the announcement from the FSSP:

Official communiqué of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
Published 21 February 2022
Fribourg, February 21, 2022

On Friday, February 4, 2022, two members of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, Fr. Benoît Paul-Joseph, Superior of the District of France, and Fr. Vincent Ribeton, Rector of St. Peter’s Seminary in Wigratzbad, were received in private audience by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for nearly an hour.

During the very cordial meeting, they recalled the origins of the Fraternity in 1988, the Pope expressed that he was very impressed by the approach taken by its founders, their desire to remain faithful to the Roman Pontiff and their trust in the Church. He said that this gesture should be “preserved, protected and encouraged”.

In the course of the audience, the Pope made it clear that institutes such as the Fraternity of St. Peter are not affected by the general provisions of the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes, since the use of the ancient liturgical books was at the origin of their existence and is provided for in their constitutions.

The Holy Father subsequently sent a decree signed by him and dated February 11, the day the Fraternity was solemnly consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, confirming for the members of the Fraternity the right to use the liturgical books in force in 1962, namely: the Missal, the Ritual, the Pontifical and the Roman Breviary.

Grateful to the Holy Father, the members of the Fraternity of St. Peter are in thanksgiving for this confirmation of their mission. They invite all the faithful who feel close to them as a spiritual family to attend or join them in prayer at the Mass tomorrow, on the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, and to pray for the Supreme Pontiff.

And the actual Decree:

Decree of Pope Francis confirming the use of the 1962 liturgical books
Published 11 February 2022

The Holy Father Francis, grants to each and every member of the Society of Apostolic Life “Fraternity of Saint Peter”, founded on July 18, 1988 and declared of “Pontifical Right” by the Holy See, the faculty to celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass, and to carry out the sacraments and other sacred rites, as well as to fulfill the Divine Office, according to the typical editions of the liturgical books, namely the Missal, the Ritual, the Pontifical and the Roman Breviary, in force in the year 1962.

They may use this faculty in their own churches or oratories; otherwise it may only be used with the consent of the Ordinary of the place, except for the celebration of private Masses.

Without prejudice to what has been said above, the Holy Father suggests that, as far as possible, the provisions of the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes be taken into account as well.

Given in Rome, near St. Peter’s, on February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, in the year 2022, the ninth year of my Pontificate.

Francis

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