The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments responded to an inquiry from the bishop of the Australian Archdiocese of Melbourne, Monsignor Peter A. Comensoli, requesting a dispensation to celebrate Mass in the cathedral using the Missal from before 1962.
Through a letter signed by Bishop Vittorio Francesco Viola, Secretary of the Dicastery, a dispensation is granted: “to the parish churches of Saint Michael and Saint Philip for a period of two years. If, after this period of time, you wish to renew the permission then you will need to send us a further relatio along with your request”.
However, the dispensation for the cathedral is not granted: “While we recognise that Mass according to the Missale Romanum of 1962 has been celebrated in the Cathedral Church for some time, we are, nonetheless, constrained to deny this request”.
The reason given is that “it does not seem appropriate for the antecedent liturgy to be celebrated in the place that should serve as an example for the liturgical life of the entire diocese. The Cathedral is the first place where the celebration of the liturgy must use the current liturgical books, which form the unique expression of the lex orandi of the Roman Rite”.
Read the full text of the letter of response from The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments here.
With thanks to Zenit, where this article originally appeared.
