Yesterday The Great Roman™ informed me of the news that for this year’s Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage in October (I hope to be there), the locum tenentes of St. Peter’s Basilica have forbidden the celebration of Mass in the Vetus Ordo.
I was told that the reason for not allowing the TLM in St. Peter’s for the Pilgrimage is that the Synod (“walking together”) on Synodality (“walking together-ity”) ends the day before.
So, obviously, there can’t be a Mass in St. Peter’s the day after.
Instead, so I was told, there will be the recitation of Sext. The pilgrimage website also indicates “adoration”.
I have another idea.
Picture this.
A hundred or so priests with hundreds of lay people and religious process into St. Peter’s as they do each year. They head to the “Altar of the Chair” in the apse (which isn’t really the “altar of the chair” anymore after Virgilio Noè destroyed it … I was there that morning).
Recitation of the office of Sext…or some devotion… say, the Novena Prayers of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, since it is her Feast today under that title… take place. Exposition and adoration begin.
Upon a given sign, as all the lay people kneel, all the priests simultaneously put on purple stoles, take out their Rituale Romanum and, sotto voce, begin to recite the Chapter 3 exorcism of the place from Title XII.
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Perhaps they should tell them that they’re Anglicans, Copts, Nestorians or Eastern Orthodox. I do wonder if those opposed to the TLM can identify one without the aid of a brightly coloured picture book that has large letters and simple sentences.
Perhaps another possibility is that they could all claim to be Anglicans? Either at St. Peter’s, or at St. John Lateran?
That is disappointing news Father – I have booked to be in Rome for my 60th birthday and to participate in the Pilgrimage this year (was there two years ago) – but agree we should go ahead with the procession – can you imagine how it would look to the world if we were turned away? Also, if you will be there could we meet for lunch one day?
Can we hear the story of the morning you were at St. Peter’s when +Noe did that? Or a link to it, if already posted?
I can’t help but think that, should they carry felt banners, they’d be granted immediate entry.
Love that idea. But since the basilica falls under the authority of the Bishop of Rome, would any permission be needed that would affect the efficacy?
Truly, it’s what’s needed.
One wonders what blood-chilling groaning, growling and screaming one would hear if priests were to offer such powerful prayers in unison, so painfully needed in the Vatican Basilica today… especially since the events of the Amazon Synod.
I respectfully second @introibo2016’s request above: more people, especially more young people, should be informed about this act of architectural violence.
I love the idea. It is clearly needed in the Vatican, but you’ll need to stand back once all those people start running through the walls or jumping out windows.
Jesus (The Christ, that is) instructed: “Do this….”
How is it that gli “locum tenetes” may misuse their place to thwart Our Lord? To Whom do priests owe their obedience?
Offer the Mass of the Ages immediately following Sext !