STATEMENT OF THE CANONS REGULAR OF ST. JOHN CANTIUS
REGARDING THE MOTU PROPRIO: TRADITIONIS CUSTODES
Friday, July 16, 2021 - Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Today Pope Francis issued the Motu Proprio, Traditionis Custodis, concerning the use of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Understandably this presents questions for our friends and the faithful of our parishes.
The Canons Regular have offered both forms of the Roman Rite even prior to our founding, at the request of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin. For decades we have offered liturgical instruction to bishops, priests, and laity on the proper use of both liturgical forms, as well as its proper pastoral integration within parish life.
We believe we are in a unique position to show the unity and diversity of the liturgical heritage of the Church. We were founded to offer the gifts and treasures of Holy Mother Church for the sanctification of all, in communion with the Magisterium, and “in union with the local ordinary and his diocesan mission” — Constitutions of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius
Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. affirmed in 2003: “Here are the beginnings of a society, founded to make available to the people of God, the heritage and gifts of the universal Church in all their forms and all their splendor.”
The celebration of both forms of the Roman Rite remains proper law for our Institute as affirmed in our Constitutions. In 2019, our local ordinary Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, graciously approved these Constitutions which say -
“We strive to present to the Church gifts that we take from Her treasury, both old and new. ‘The sacred Council declares that Holy Mother Church holds all lawfully recognized rites to be of equal right and dignity; that she wishes to preserve them in the future and to foster them in every way.’ — Sacrosanctum Concilium
The Canons Regular of St. John Cantius are aware of the treasures that we have in both editions of the Roman Missal—the Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite (Forma ordinaria, according to the Roman Missal promulgated by Blessed Paul VI in 1970) in Latin and in the vernacular, as well as the Extraordinary Form of the Latin Rite (Forma extraordinaria, according to the Roman Missal promulgated by Saint John XXIII in 1962) along with all of its related liturgical books.” —Constitutions of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius
The Canons Regular of St. John Cantius look forward to working under their local ordinary, Cardinal Cupich to implement the Holy Father's Motu Proprio. We remain focused on our mission of Restoring the Sacred and will continue our work in our parishes.
Read the Statement from Cardinal Blase Cupich on Traditionis Custodes below.