Since the publication of the motu proprio “Summorum Pontifcum”, requests have been made to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, to provide Tridentine Mass at military installations. To demonstrate the widespread desire for such a provision, a petition was briefly posted on a Web site during the Veterans Day holiday in the U.S. and more than 150 military personnel signed the petition and added their heartfelt comments. This information was forwarded to the new archbishop, Timothy Broglio, who delegated the matter to one of his subordinates, Msgr. James Dixon, whose disappointing response appears (at the bottom) on this page. According to Msgr. Dixon, there will be no attempt made to implement the motu proprio in the archdiocese on the grounds that the military do not constitute a stable community.
We cannot accept such reasoning, as it would also preclude celebrations of the Tridentine Mass on college and university campuses, where students also come and go; yet, we have seen several such Masses being offered on a regular basis and attracting large followings. The refusal of the archdiocese also appears to presume that no such Masses can be offered without a request by what it considers a stable community. This is simply not the case, as in many locales Masses have been initiated by priests, even with the help of their ordinaries, and drawn many of the faithful. The community request appears to require a response, but not to be a sine qua non.
In any event, there is a demonstrated widespread desire for the ancient Mass in all branches of the military. The previous ordinary, Archbishop O’Brien, refused implementation of the 1988 indult, despite repeated requests; his successor seems intent upon continuing this policy, suggesting that those who want the Latin Mass look elsewhere. But this is not possible in many cases. My son, a cadet at the military academy at West Point, is restricted to post most weekends and, were he not, there is no Latin Mass available within a reasonable distance. His situation is quite common.
Despite its somewhat unctuous tone, Msgr. Dixon’s letter makes it evident that the military archdiocese has bent its mind, not to finding ways to provide Traditional Latin Masses, but to preventing them. There is no provision in the motu proprio that allows an ordinary to send those who want the Tridentine Mass on a search through neighboring dioceses. And many in the military, for one reason and another, cannot travel far from their duty station.
There have been generous responses to the Holy Father’s motu proprio, such as that of Archbishop Burke in St. Louis, who is providing training for those priests who wish to say the Tridentine Mass. Several workshops have also sprung up in various dioceses and those orders specially dedicated to offering the Tridentine Mass have been providing help to the many priests who want to learn this ancient and beautiful rite. There is no reason that the military archdiocese should not take steps to conform itself to the mind of the Holy Father and satisfy the legitimate aspirations of those in its spiritual charge. The problem is not the lack of a stable community, but the lack of good will in high places.
I would ask all of you who are reading this to please speak up for those members of the military who want the Tridentine Mass offered at major military installations. Below is the contact information for the Archdiocese for Military Services and the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei. There is also an interactive Web site offering information, updates and comments on this situation: milmotu.lyon.edu I have also included a brief sampling of the comments we have received from members of the military.
These brave people in our military are willing to lay down their lives for us. Surely, it is not too much to ask that their shepherds provide them with the spiritual nourishment they need in the legitimate form in which they request it.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio
Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
Post Office Box 4469
Washington, D.C. 20017-0469
Telephone: 202-269-9100
Fax: 202-269-9022
Dario Castrillon Hoyos, Cardinal, President
Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei
Palazzo della Congr. Per la Dottrina della Fede
00193 Roma
Piazza del S. Uffizio, 11
Comments Affixed to Petition
“As the father of three military veterans, two of whom are ordained priests and the third to be ordained this May 2008 in the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, I respectfully request that the Traditional Mass be permitted in the military.”
“My wife and five children drive one and half hours one way every Sunday to attend the Latin Mass. We would both love the Latin Mass to be offered at the military base.”
“At my current post, the nearest Tridentine Mass is over 80 miles away. My wife and I are both profoundly attached to the old rite, but we have a 2 month old daughter, so making the 160 mile round trip is simply too tough on her.”
“I am normally at Ft. Stewart, Ga., and have to travel 250 miles each way for a properly celebrated Mass in the old rite.”
“Please bring the Traditional Latin Mass back for the troops!”
“My father was killed in the Air Force. He would have wanted this service”
“We desperately need this Mass now.”
“Please – it’s about time.”
“Please allow the option of the Old Latin Mass for our troops. Praise God for their faithfulness.”
(Comment by a priest) “I’d be happy to serve again.”
“This would mean a lot to many Catholics. Veteran, 82nd Airborne Division.”
“Please hear the requests of those who sacrifice everything for their country.”
Sign the Petition for the Restoration
of the Tridentine Mass for the
U.S. Armed Forces
To anyone who's served in the military, there are obvious and numerous reasons why it would be impossible for the Archdiocese to mandate the TLM on a macro level at this time, even if it wished to.
Depending on where and when, there is often only one priest, if even that, to regularly serve any particular installation, base, post etc. Most priests who are stationed at any given location wouldn't even know the TLM. Also, the military ecclesiastic structure nothing like a diocese with civilian priests that come an go to various parishes or visit from neighboring parishes.
Now, if the Church required all priests to learn the Mass, then the TLM would naturally be far more ubiquitous.
The responsibility falls more on the Church more than the AMS to ameliorate the problem.
I spent 10yrs overseas with the military. The Military Chaplains normally get 1 weekend off per month. They always had a visiting Priest on those weekends. Where we were it was always a Priest from Louvain. So it would be quite possible to allow the TLM in some Chapels.
State side it is entirely possible as they quite often use local Diocesan Priest on some weekends.
Mandating it would be quite another story but for them to say its not allowed is quite a different story. I see no basis for not allowing it provided the Chaplain could make the arrangement.
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 918 Location: Guildford, UK
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:09 am Post subject:
If the military now invites witches and satanists onto its bases, I am sure there is much scope for independent priests to test the market. I have in mind Bishop Williamson doing a tour of Iraqistan and delivering a few home truths!
There were of course more priests during the times of WWI and WWII and all the wars in between, but they still found a way to provide the Mass of all time. "The Church to REQUIRE prists to know it?" Great topic for future developments!!
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