Of Course He Did…

One Mad Mom has some choice thoughts on Cupic's limiting and banning of the Gregorian Rite in the Archdiocese of Chicago. (Sorry about the wonky formatting.)

From One Mad Mom

This should not be a surprise. Would we expect any less from Cardinal Blase Cupich? It’s been rumored for a while now that this was his plan. He’s been trying for years to crack down on orthodoxy in various dioceses and now he’s finally got a backer. He tried the very same thing back when he was Bishop of Rapid City, he literally locked people out of their church during the Triduum.  He’s living his dream now. Sadly, it will not end as he thinks.

Cardinal Cupich issues new restrictions on Traditional Latin Masses

By CNA Staff

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 27, 2021 / 11:30 am

Cardinal Blase Cupich has issued a new policy for the Archdiocese of Chicago that curtails the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass and other sacraments in Latin using liturgical books that pre-Vatican II.

If you are shocked at this, then you need to get out of your happy place and pay attention. He’s a seriously cruel man who wields his power like a club against anyone who raises an eyebrow about anything he does. These two sites do a nice job of detailing his activities. Heck, Complicit Clergy has 14 pages of Cardinal Cupich follies!  https://faithfulshepherds.com/bishop/blase-j-cupich/   https://www.complicitclergy.com/?s=cupich

Under the policy, which takes effect Jan. 25, priests, deacons, and ordained ministers who wish to use the “old rite” must submit their requests to Cupich in writing and agree to abide by the new norms.

Those rules specify that the Traditional Latin Masses must incorporate scripture readings in the vernacular, using the official translation of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“New norms” according to Cardinal Cupich? Let’s be clear. The Church’s bishops were given latitude on how to implement Traditionis Custodes. Barring an overhaul of Canon Law, this is Cardinal Cupich’s choice. It is not mandatory no matter what he tries to tell you. It also has nothing to do with Vatican II. How many times do you think permission will be granted? My guess is close to nil.

In addition, such Masses cannot take place in a parish church unless both the archbishop and the Vatican agree to grant an exemption.

OK, does this strike anyone as trying to corral everyone in a ghetto in a Nazi occupied country or today’s communist China? “You can live but you have to live here! And then you can’t live at all.” Whatever happened to collegiality and synodality? I thought those were to reign supreme? Oh yeah, I forgot. Those don’t apply to faithful Catholics. It only applies to those pushing for gay marriage, lgbtxzy lifestyles, etc. That’s when collegiality and synodality applies.

The new policy also prohibits the celebration of Traditional Latin Masses on the first Sunday of every month, Christmas, the Triduum, Easter Sunday, and Pentecost Sunday.

And this is totally Cardinal Cupich’s design. You don’t find that in Traditionis Custodes nor the answers to the dubia. It’s completely made up by him because when he goes all Grinchy, he goes big. He wants to be the trend setter in oppression. He always has and yet, consistently, his designs have been fought in three different dioceses now. Honestly, even if you liked him when he walked in the door of the diocese, you were at least irked by him by the time he left. There’s really no group he hasn’t tossed under a bus somewhere all the way, from traditionalists to abuse victims. No group that raises a peep against his designs gets away.

Set in motion by Pope Francis’ Traditionis custodes, the Chicago Archdiocese’s policy was issued Dec. 27 and first reported by Vatican News. Traditionis custodes is a July 16 motu proprio in which the pope placed sweeping restrictions on the celebration of Mass using the 1962 Roman Missal, known variously as the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, the Tridentine Mass, and the Traditional Latin Mass. (You can read a further explanation of the document here.)

And yet most Canon Lawyers will tell you that the bishops who cited a litany of canons in support of business as usual, above all Canon 87, were quite happy to leave the “Mass wars” behind. Most have figured out having a “John Cantius” parish works out just fine. There’s something for everyone and the pews are usually quite full.

Chicago’s new rules mirror those spelled out in an explanatory document regarding Pope Francis’ edict published Dec. 18 by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Vatican office responsible for matters related to the sacred liturgy.

This is where it gets laughable.

“My intention in sharing this policy is to encourage you to reflect on the duty we each must assist our people in this moment of Eucharistic revival by rediscovering the value of the liturgical reform in the rites given to us by the Second Vatican Council,” Cupich wrote in an accompanying letter to priests, Vatican News reported.

Bahahaha! This is rich. First of all, Cardinal Cupich is closing churches at lightning speed. He’s not trying to revive anything.

Next, do we remember the guy who tried to rally the troops against “Eucharistic Coherence”?!?!?! Yeah, that would be him. Trying to say he’s for the revival of the Eucharist is like saying Xi Jinping is graciously taking care of the Uyghurs. What. A. Crock. He’s doing everything he can to kill all belief in the Real Presence just like a good little minion would.

Let me explain to you what “Eucharistic revival” means to him. Or maybe it’s more helpful to explain what it doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean the Eucharist should continue as the source and summit of our Faith. That’s for sure. That would make it the dreaded “political football” he loves to talk about.  The funny thing is, he and his ilk are the only ones who refer to it that way. Faithful Catholics know that it’s the source and summit of the Faith and that it should be protected from sacrilege like it really is Christ. Hint, Cardinal Cupich: It is Christ. 

It also doesn’t mean that it should be passed around like an hors d’oeuvre at a cocktail party for his elite friends a la Lori Lightfoot, Rahm Emmanuel, etc. (Both are non-Catholics but were given the Eucharist under/by Cardinal Cupich.) Yes, that has happened on more than one occasion. https://onemadmom.foedus.co/cardinal-sit-it-out-cupich/ Ain’t nobody going to accuse him of being like St. Tarcisius. St. Tarcisius literally died protecting the Eucharist and, meanwhile, Cardinal Cupich is doing his best Oprah imitation – “You get one! And you get one! Everybody gets one!” He’s paving the road to hell with sacrilege and doing nothing to “revive” peoples’ belief in the Real Presence. 

The Vatican’s explanatory document states that the intent of Traditionis custodes is “to re-establish in the whole Church of the Roman Rite a single and identical prayer expressing its unity, according to the liturgical books promulgated by the Popes Saint Paul VI and Saint John Paul II, in conformity with the decrees of the Second Vatican Council and in line with the tradition of the Church.”

Meanwhile, somebody missed the fact that Saint John Paul II established the Ecclesia Dei Commission and granted indults for the “Traditional Latin Mass”. He also expanded the use of Latin in general, too. And, wouldn’t a “Traditional Latin Mass” also be in keeping with, uh, tradition?

Sorry, but this whole idea is just lame in a Church where we have Byzantine, Maronite, Dominican, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, etc., etc., etc. Latin was the most unifying thing and, frankly, that’s why satan wants it gone. If identical is unifying, then why the heck did we ditch the one language, asked the “I’m not even a trad” girl? There is no way to follow the logic of Cardinal Cupich and his ilk because it is ridiculously illogical.

And cracking down on traditionalism while this is going on in the very same diocese is insane. Is the do it yourself canon uniting? https://twitter.com/FlatCath/status/1475932733176221696

The explanatory document notes that Traditionis custodes stipulates that sacraments cannot be celebrated using the liturgical books Rituale Romanum and the Pontificale Romanum promulgated prior to the Vatican II reforms.

The Pontificale Romanum contains the rites and ceremonies usually performed by bishops and the Rituale Romanum is one of the official ritual books used by a priest or deacon for rites not found in the Roman Missal, which is used for Mass.

The Vatican congregation clarified that a diocesan bishop can authorize the use of the 1952 edition of the Rituale Romanum, but not the Pontificale Romanum, “only to those canonically erected personal parishes which, according to the provisions of the Motu Proprio Traditionis custodes, celebrate using the Missale Romanum [Roman Missal] of 1962.”

The supposed unifying rules are anything but. Like I said, we’ve just gotten beyond the Mass wars (Thank you, Pope Benedict!) and here comes Cardinal Cupich’s dream of pitting people against each other so they won’t notice how absolutely awful he is. The problem is, he will be your problem at some point unless the faithful band together against him. The trads and those who are ad orientem are just the first in his “I’ll get you, my pretty and your little dog too!” attempts. It will quickly trickle down to all facets of the Church. Pro-lifers, abuse victims, etc., you are all on his target list. He just hasn’t gotten to you yet!

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, one of the largest traditional societies of apostolic life, has said that the explanatory document “does not directly address the former Ecclesia Dei communities such as the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter who possess their own proper law.”

Can you blame them for ducking as long as they can? But, again, it won’t take long until he tries to squash them like a bug.

In another article take on the situation…

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-12/cardinal-cupich-chicago-policy-traditionis-custodes-1962-missal.html

Cardinal Blase Cupich publishes policy implementing Traditionis custodes

Shortly after the Congregation for Divine Worship responded to questions regarding Pope Francis’ Motu propio, Cardinal Cupich implements a policy that goes into effect 25 January — an opportunity to express the unity of the Church and to offer a ‘concrete manifestation of the acceptance of the Council’s teaching’.

by Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

“Unity” my foot. He just wants to express his totalitarianism.

Just two days after Christmas, on the Feast of St John the Evangelist, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, has issued a policy governing the celebration of the pre-Vatican rites in that Archdiocese. This policy follows the 18 December response to questions received by the Congregation for Divine Worship in the wake of the July publication of the Motu proprio Traditionis custodes in which Pope Francis restored to local ordinaries the responsibility to govern the celebration of the liturgy using the 1962 Missal in their dioceses. Chicago thus becomes one of the first Dioceses in the United States to provide concrete directives regarding the new norms established by the Pope. This local policy enters into effect in the Archdiocese of Chicago on 25 January 2022.

Um, no, he wasn’t the first, actually. Local ordinaries all around the world gave concrete directives of business as usual. Has anyone bothered to read Canon 87?

Can. 87 §1. A diocesan bishop, whenever he judges that it contributes to their spiritual good, is able to dispense the faithful from universal and particular disciplinary laws issued for his territory or his subjects by the supreme authority of the Church. He is not able to dispense, however, from procedural or penal laws nor from those whose dispensation is specially reserved to the Apostolic See or some other authority.

2. If recourse to the Holy See is difficult and, at the same time, there is danger of grave harm in delay, any ordinary is able to dispense from these same laws even if dispensation is reserved to the Holy See, provided that it concerns a dispensation which the Holy See is accustomed to grant under the same circumstances, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 291.

So, yeah, the people of the Chicago Archdiocese, sorry. The laity better start exercising their Canon 212 rights and duties because this is just the beginning.

Consultation led to policy

Cardinal Cupich explains in a cover letter accompanying the new policy that he began a consultation process as soon as Traditionic custodes was published. “Liturgists as well as those priests and leaders of religious communities” ministering to communities who “attend Mass celebrated in the earlier form” were among those consulted, he writes. Most of the priests and faithful in the Archdiocese “always celebrate the Mass” with the new rite, he admits. However, he asks Chicago’s parish priests to “to be aware of the developments surrounding Traditionis custodes”, and says they need to be able to answer questions about it.

Consulted or threatened? We know it’s probably the latter. And, he really just admitted that this wasn’t a problem. The Ordinary Form was not in jeopardy. And he couldn’t give a rip about questions. He wants his priests to spew his edicts just like when he made them all read a little letter from the pulpit under pain of punishment when he had them all lie about his “rabbit  hole” interview. Unedited tape doesn’t lie: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cdl-cupich-orders-statement-contesting-his-rabbit-hole-interview-read-at-c/

In continuity with Pope Francis’ own desire, Cardinal Cupich states the hope that this policy will foster a renewed understanding of the “foundations of the liturgical renewal”. He also hopes that the priests will share this with their respective parish communities. The Cardinal then connects rediscovery of “the value of the liturgical reform” with the Eucharistic revival launched by the U.S. Bishops at their November plenary meeting. To this end, the Cardinal says that the Archdiocese’s liturgy office will be providing materials and support to priests in providing “liturgical catechesis and formation” so the faithful “can come to a better understanding and deeper acceptance of the restored and renewed liturgy that is part of the precious heritage of the Second Vatican Council”.

Oh goody! Cannot wait to see the “liturgical catechesis and formation” he’ll provide. You and your buddies were the ones who crushed understanding of anything. Your felt and happy-clappy crowd were the ones who completely destroyed belief in the Real Presence. But, yeah, let’s listen to you all and crush the faithful.

Worship as the Body of Christ

In concluding his cover letter, the Cardinal reminds the priests that an expression of their love for the Body of Christ is to “faithfully adhere to the liturgical norms”. In this way, “our worship may always enrich and never diminish the faith of our people”, he writes. Cardinal then closes his letter with an “insightful observation of Pope Benedict” who noted that the post-Vatican liturgy will be loved if it is celebrated “with great reverence in harmony with the liturgical directives. This will bring out the spiritual richness and the theological depth of this Missal”.”

What in the what?!?!?! Did he actually say this all with a straight face or the awkward face he gets when he trots out Pope Benedict quotes? How about we go with all those liturgical directives that you all totally ignored instead of the made up ones you guys went with? You know you don’t want ad orientem, Latin of any amount, incense, sacred music, or anything else reverent.  I can count on one hand the churches who actually implemented the Vatican II Mass as it was intended. It’s literally so rare I’ve had to watch people all week calling that Mass the “Unicorn Mass” because it’s almost mythological. That is NOT what Cardinal Cupich is going for in the least, nor will it suffice for many attached to the Extraordinary Form.

Prayer expressing unity

In the Preamble to the policy implementing Traditionis custodes, the intention of the Motu proprio is clearly synthesised: “to re-establish throughout the Church of the Roman Rite a single and identical prayer that expresses its unity, according to the liturgical books promulgated by the saintly Popes Paul VI and John Paul II, in conformity with the decrees of the Second Vatican Council”.

Again, don’t give me the “unity” spiel. I can find a Vietnamese, Spanish, English and Tagalog Mass all in one parish. Pray tell, how is that unifying? While I can do Spanish because, well, I have a decent grasp on reading Latin, I NEVER see my fellow Catholics’ Tagalog or Vietnamese Mass. Do I now have to attend them or do they have to attend mine in the name of unity? Please.

While I’m not a traditionalist by the usual definition, Latin was the unifying thing for me. If everyone learns one language, they could actually all understand the same Mass. I could go to France, Spain or even Germany and understand the Mass. It’s a big ol’ “Duh!”

Pastoral accompaniment

This requires that pastors accompany people to understand “the link between the way we worship and what we believe”, the preamble states. One specific recommendation is that priests visit those who regularly attend the pre-Vatican liturgy “to help them understand the essential principles of renewal called for in the Second Vatican Council and appreciate how the reformed Mass introduces them to a greater use of Scripture and prayers from the Roman tradition, as well as an updated liturgical calendar of feasts that includes recently canonised saints.

In other words, you must de-program them from centuries of Catholicism! I will bet you dollars to doughnuts that the traditionalists that you think need de-programming have read the documents of Vatican II. Can we say that about those in the happy-clappy churches? And before someone gets huffy, I attend an ordinary form Mass, but the churches that educate their faithful are few and far between in my parts. “Let’s study the documents of Vatican II!” is not a cry I hear often outside of my circle of friends. And, since Fr. Pfleger is still running amok in Cardinal Cupich’s diocese, I’m pretty sure there’s probably more of a call for women priests than a study of the documents of Vatican II. Cardinal Cupich loves to talk about that but he doesn’t really want you to see.

“In keeping with Pope Benedict XVI’s observation cited above, the preamble to the policy reminds priests that some elements from the pre-Vatican Missal are still an option in the current Missal: e.g., Gregorian Chant, Latin, incense, etc.

How about what was actually in the missal? Ad orientem? You can’t turn around and face the people when you are already facing them. I feel like some rely a tad bit too much on hoping you never notice. Again, please see the link to Christmas Mass above. He has epically failed in this area but he’s going to start now??? Suuuurrreee he is.

Priests seeking authorisation to use the pre-Vatican Missal are also requested to accompany the faithful who want to continue to attend Mass celebrated in that rite. They are asked to discuss the “possibility of using the reformed liturgical rites” which can be celebrated in Latin. In this way, the priest himself manifests that while “seeking the good of those who are rooted in the previous rite,” he is also “accompanying them towards the common use of the one lex orandi of the Roman Rite”.

Let’s do this! “Let’s discuss the possibility of using the reformed liturgical rites.” “Consider it discussed.” “Moving on!”

Policy

For the most part, the ten points of the new policy reiterate the content contained in Traditionis custodes with the recent clarifications provided by the Congregation for Divine Worship. These include the necessary authorisation required to celebrate using the pre-Vatican Missal, the modality by which it can be requested of the Archbishop, and specific regulations concerning the use of Biblical texts, the celebration of the other Sacraments, the location where the previous rite can be celebrated, bination, etc. While the policy states that the “rule forbidding bination is to be observed”, on a rare occasion when there may be just cause that a priest celebrate two Masses on Sunday, the “Archbishop may grant the favor of bination”.

Like when all your priests can’t take it anymore and ask for excardination? And who could blame them if they did?! In fact, if they really want to turn this around, they should. Then Cardinal Cupich would have to answer in Rome and, just maybe, they would see he’s the wrong waterboy for the Vatican. Maybe some of you faithful bishops could extend an invitation, en masse’ to these good priests. It’s been working for Florida!

Expressing the unity of the local Church

However, Latin Rite Catholics in Chicago will unite in celebrating the liturgy “exclusively” according to the Novus ordo Missae on specific days during the liturgical year: the first Sunday of every month, Christmas, the Triduum, Easter Sunday, and Pentecost Sunday. The policy indicates that this liturgy, which may be celebrated in Latin, must be celebrated with the priest facing the people. The intention for this policy is:

“to foster and make manifest the unity of this local Church, as well as to provide all Catholics in the Archdiocese an opportunity to offer a concrete manifestation of the acceptance of the teaching of the Second Vatican Council and its liturgical books.”

So “no!” to the missal as it stands? Ad orientem is forbidden? Someone might want to read the documents of Vatican II and show me where this is. Here’s a bit of good Catholic-splaining. https://www.ccwatershed.org/2013/08/22/versus-ad-populum-conversus-ad-orientem/

His little ditty ends up pretty much “I demand you do what I want so you can prove your loyalty (to me)!” Seriously? Thanking God every day I don’t have a megalomaniac for a bishop.