For more than 50 years, the Latin Mass Society has hosted this annual sung Mass, dedicated to the repose of the souls of its deceased members and benefactors.

However, plans for the celebration on 4 November were abruptly cancelled after the Diocese of Westminster informed the Latin Mass Society of the restrictions imposed by Pope Francis' 2021 motu proprio, Traditionis Custodes.

In his motu proprio, Pope Francis directed bishops to designate specific locations for the Latin Mass, excluding parish churches. Any exceptions to this rule require a dispensation from the Holy See and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, presiding over the Diocese of Westminster, clarified that the annual Mass "is not part of the cathedral's pastoral provision for the Traditional Mass."

Nichols did not request a dispensation to continue the tradition at Westminster Cathedral.

Consequently, the Latin Mass Society relocated the Requiem Mass to Corpus Christi Catholic Church on Maiden Lane, designated as a diocesan shrine.

Despite the move, Nichols did request a dispensation for the cathedral to continue its low Mass on the first Saturday of each month.

Traditionis Custodes frustration

The Latin Mass Society spokesperson emphasised that "each Mass at the cathedral needs explicit permission under the terms of Traditionis Custodes." These monthly Masses continue pending consideration.

Traditionis Custodes however has caused frustration among faithful attendees of the Traditional Latin Mass. Roger Wemyss Brooks, a long-time Catholic who regularly attended the Traditional Latin Mass, expressed his distress stating, "Elderly Catholics like me depend upon the comfort of this annual Mass."

Edward Windsor, who had served at the annual Requiem Mass for the past five years, questioned the cardinal's decision noting that it seemed to prioritise modernism over the significance of the Mass.

Since the issuance of Traditionis Custodes, the Traditional Latin Mass has faced restrictions worldwide. Some dioceses secured temporary dispensations for certain Masses in parish churches, while others have moved Masses outside of parish churches, further highlighting the impact of the Vatican restrictions.

Sources

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

At the conference last Thursday marking the 10th anniversary of Benedict's decree liberalizing use of the Latin Mass, the meeting organizer, the Rev. Vincenzo Nuara, didn't even mention Pope Francis in his opening remarks.

Among those at the conference was Cardinal Robert Sarah.

In his address, entitled "Silence and the Primacy of God in the Sacred Liturgy," he delivered a powerful message of continuity with Benedict's programme of liturgical renewal, including a prominent role for the ancient Roman liturgy.

The front-row participants at the conference honoring retired Pope Benedict and his 2007 decree included Cardinal Raymond Burke, a leading critic of the current pope whom Francis removed as the Vatican's supreme court judge in 2014; and Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, recently axed by Francis as the Vatican's doctrine chief.

Sarah, who was appointed by Francis as head of the Vatican's liturgy office but has been sidelined by his deputy, was also among those in the front row.

The pilgrims' attachment to the Latin mass defies Pope Francis's recent affirmation with "magisterial authority" that the reforms of the 1960s allowing for Mass to be celebrated in the vernacular rather than Latin were "irreversible.".

His views on the Latin Mass are very different from his predecessor's. Where Benedict passed a law allowing greater use of the Latin Mass, Francis has the opposite view.

In fact, rather than follow word-for-word the Latin translations, within the past fortnight or so Francis has given local bishops conferences authority to oversee the Latin Mass translations.

Source

• Religion News Service
• LifeSite News
• Image: National Catholic Reporter

A sung traditional Latin Mass will be celebrated each day, while pilgrims walk 55 miles to one of the greatest shrines in England. Participants on the walking pilgrimage will be praying for the conversion of England.

Inspired by the pilgrimages of Chartres in France, Christus Rex in Australia and the medieval pilgrims who walked from all over England, the LMS Walsingham Pilgrimage began in 2010 with just a handful of pilgrims and some vehicle support. Read more