Encouraging Words from Australia

The following is reproduced from an Australian website. The penultimate sentence is particularly interesting.

Archbishop Christopher Prowse of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn has emphasised the importance of reading calmly Pope Francis’s recent document on the Latin Mass.

He also underlined the need to understand exactly what its teaching contained.

The Archbishop was referring to Traditionis Custodes (Guardians of the Tradition) which was issued on 16 July and is available at Apostolic Letter on the Latin Mass.

The letter is a significant statement that puts in place restrictions on celebrations of the Mass where it is practised in its “extraordinary form” (i.e., in Latin).

The Pope said he issued the document after considering the wishes expressed by bishops and others, including hearing opinion from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

“The recent Papal document can easily evoke vigorous reactions from Catholics throughout the world,” Archbishop Prowse said.

“It is imperative for us all to respond to this important instruction and not simply react.

“As an initial pastoral response, as Archbishop I am very pleased with the presence of the Latin Mass community in the Archdiocese.

“I look forward to examining the document with them and discussing implications for our Archdiocese.”