Paix liturgique

Dear friends:

You already have all the information regarding the 15th *Summorum Pontificum* pilgrimage to Rome—a remarkable pilgrimage, though one during which we were treated as suspecious Catholics, as we were forbidden from entering St. Peter’s Basilica in procession.

For this reason, it seems worthwhile to recall how this initiative of a traditional pilgrimage to Rome began. During the first pilgrimage, in 2012, it was the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship himself, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, who celebrated the pilgrimage Mass at St. Peter’s. This same cardinal remarked to a Roman journalist that the traditional Mass was "normal."

Below, we present a document from that time: an article published on November 3, 2012—the very day of that Mass—by the blog *Riposte catholique*: "Live from Rome: this November 3rd, at St. Peter’s Basilica, the 'extraordinary' Mass is the normal Mass" (En direct de Rome : ce 3 novembre à la basilique Saint-Pierre, la messe « extraordinaire », est la messe normale).

As a prelude to this celebration, which has just concluded at St. Peter’s, Cardinal Cañizares explained to Vatican expert Andrea Tornielli—choosing his words carefully—the following: "It is a way of helping people understand that the use of the 1962 Missal is normal." For those familiar with the ways of the Roman Curia, such an action by the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship—taking place within the Pope’s own basilica—could only have been, in one way or another, inspired —as indicated by the Pope’s message (in French), which was read at the beginning of the ceremony.

At 2:30 p.m., the long procession—comprising confraternities, clergy, and the faithful—set off from San Salvatore, on the other side of the Tiber, crossed the Sant'Angelo Bridge, and made its way along the entire length of the Via della Conciliazione. The procession then passed through the doors of the Vatican Basilica to join the multitude of the faithful already waiting inside. At 3:00 p.m., looking visibly radiant, the Prefect for Divine Worship began the pontifical Mass beneath the Chair of Saint Peter. A congregation of between 2,000 and 3,000 people gathered around the Chair—a figure that does not include the crowd positioned behind the partitions, nor the large number of secular and religious clergy in attendance. As with other events during this *Summorum Pontificum* pilgrimage, one of the most striking features was the massive presence of diocesan priests and seminarians—hailing both from various pontifical universities and from countries such as France, the United States, and England, from which they had travelled specifically for the occasion.

Among the Roman prelates present at the ceremony—including Msgr. Perl; Msgr. Pozzo (who had been named an archbishop that very morning); and Msgr. Agostini, a Papal Master of Ceremonies etc.—the presence of the *Ecclesia Dei* Commission was particularly notable, appearing almost official in nature. The Commission was represented by its vice-president, Msgr. Di Noia, who was accompanied by his staff and presided over the clergy in attendance. Rev. De Andrade, a member of the same Commission, conducted the ceremony impeccably, assisted by a diocesan priest, Rev. Cuneo. The assisting priest was Msgr. Ferrer, Undersecretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship; the deacon was Rev. Barker, vicar of the personal parish in Rome dedicated to the traditional liturgy; the subdeacon was Rev. Reginal-Marie, of the Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrer; the other ministers were drawn from among the seminarians of the Roman colleges and the diocesan clergy.

Everything served to convey the idea that, moving beyond a state wherein this liturgy was allowed as a mere "privilege," and though still far from the ultimate goal, we are now already on a path toward a state wherein this liturgy is something normal. What was once considered extraordinary must now be integrated, gradually and step by step, into parishes, dioceses, youth movements, and the life of the Church as a whole.

This is precisely what Cardinal Cañizares himself emphasized at the conclusion of his homily—which was marked by great spiritual depth—as he explored a theme very dear to him: the *Motu Proprio* represents the Church making peace with herself—that is, with her own tradition, the cornerstone of which is the traditional Roman rite. When Benedict XVI’s "Minister of the Liturgy" alludes, with great subtlety, to the "illumination" that the constitution *Sacrosanctum Concilium* should bring to both forms of the Roman rite, is he not suggesting that, just as the Council was once interpreted in light of the liturgy of Paul VI, it might now be reinterpreted with the aid—or, perhaps, through the filter—of the liturgy of St. Pius V?

The emotion that filled those attending the Mass on this November 3rd stemmed, in part, from the awareness that they were witnessing the beginning of a Copernican revolution. The Cardinal recalled the objectives of the pilgrimage: thanksgiving and support for the intentions of the Holy Father, as well as an "affectionate" communion between the *Summorum Pontificum* community and the Common Father.

And here is a video from that time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGnVwoJtnz4&feature=youtu.be. I have nothing to add to these records, dear Parisian "sentinels," other than to note that by 2013—less than a year later—the Pope associated with *Summorum Pontificum* had resigned, and the Pope who would go on to issue *Traditionis Custodes* had already been elected. Nevertheless, our unceasing efforts to see the traditional Mass restored as a normal Mass have never stopped. This is true of the efforts made during our pilgrimages to Rome. The same applies to the work of the Parisian "sentinels" who pray the Rosary at 10 Rue du Cloître-Notre-Dame, Monday through Friday, from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM; at Saint-Georges de La Villette (114 Avenue Simon Bolivar) on Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:00 PM; in front of Notre-Dame du Travail on Sundays at 6:15 PM;

In union of prayer and friendship,

Christian Marquant