Una Voce America Expresses Thanks to Pope Benedict for the Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum
Representing over 60 chapters, several priests and religious and thousands of Catholic laity across North America, Una Voce America rejoices with gratitude for the publication of Pope Benedict XVI's, Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, extending the use of the traditional Roman liturgy for the good of the Church.
It has been the constant prayer and hope of all Una Voce members that the traditional Mass would be more widely available to those who desire it, and we find that hope realized in the generous and confident statements of the Holy Father on the importance of the traditional Latin Mass in the life of the Church.
Many Una Voce America supporters can fully appreciate the Holy Father's personal statement included in his letter accompanying the Motu Proprio where he said that he, himself, experienced difficulties in the liturgical life of the Church that were "hard to bear" and that he has "seen how arbitrary deformations of the liturgy caused deep pain to individuals totally rooted in the faith of the Church". His words of encouragement can help heal our own pains, and more importantly help give some hope that Catholics will have greater access to the liturgical tradition of the Church in their parishes.
We believe that the traditional Latin Mass will be a benefit to the entire Church and help enrich the Catholic spiritual and cultural landscape. It will be an important means of re-connecting the Catholic faithful with the spiritual tradition of the past and it will provide a tremendous encouragement for those who have been estranged from the Church over the years.
Many younger Catholics have never attended a traditional Roman Mass and a responsible application of Summorum Pontificum will open the opportunity for many to experience this liturgical usage. Based upon the experiences of the priestly societies who celebrate the classical rite exclusively, we anticipate that the Holy Father's far-sighted decision will also increase vocations to the priesthood and religious life throughout the Church.
We invite all Catholics to take this opportunity to support the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass in your diocese or home parish wherever there is enough support to sustain the Mass on a weekly (or even more frequent) basis.
Our thanks is also extended to all the priests who have celebrated the traditional Mass through the past decades, and for the growing number of priests who have recently expressed new interest in offering the traditional Roman liturgy for their flocks.
For our part, we pledge our continued support to all who are interested in learning about the tradtional Latin Mass and for those who need help in any way in establishing and maintaining these Masses. We invite any interested parties to email the Una Voce Board of directors (info@unavoce.org) with questions or concerns.
Una Voce America will be working to promote the correct understanding of Summorum Pontificum and to help promote an unobstructed implementation of the Pope's will. Una Voce will continue to work closely with the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei in Rome to ensure that all those who appeal to the manifest will of the Pope will be granted access to the traditional Mass as provided in the motu proprio.
As always, Una Voce America expresses its support to our bishops in helping to promote and foster the celebration of the traditional Mass across the United States.
With heartfelt trust and our prayerful we extend our most sincere thanks to Pope Benedict XVI for his pastoral care and consideration of the needs of all the faithful.
Una Voce America, Board of Directors and Chapter Leaders
Updated 12 Jul 2007