Summorum Pontificum at 10 again

Many thanks to Leo Darroch for giving his reflections on Summorum Pontificum on July 7th. His talk took us through from the beginnings of the struggle for the traditional Mass until the present. It was useful to be reminded of the story and to learn more of the background detail. 

One thing in particular struck me. Under the terms of the original indult for England and Wales Mass was celebrated at Esh Laude. This is an attractive and historic church but in a remote rural location.  However it was not far from Ushaw College, the seminary, as was, for the north, where I was studying, so it proved to be a convenient location from my point of view. Originally permission was given for Mass only three times a year. The then LMS diocesan rep, Jack Harvey, decided one year to ask for a fourth annual Mass to commemorate the anniversary of local martyrs.

Leo told the story thus:

In the late 1970s the LMS diocesan representative managed to obtain permission from the bishop for three Masses per year under the ‘English Indult’. They had to be late on a Wednesday evening in an isolated parish and no advertising was allowed. On one occasion the representative asked for a fourth Mass to commemorate the anniversary of four local Reformation martyrs. The bishop was furious and threatened that if he didn’t stop harassing him then he would stop the lot! Three Masses per year!!!

The bishop was bishop Lindsay. He retired in 1992 and died in 2009.  In his latter years we had a regular email correspondence, much of which I still have,  as he used to read Forest Murmurs and offered me his thoughts on the issues addressed. I was very sorry when I heard of his death as he had invited me to go to see him the following week to talk and, as he had been quite supportive in our meetings at diocesan events, I was very much looking forward to talking to him about it all.

There are rumours that Summorum Pontificum may be revoked. I can`t see how this is possible given the statement by pope Benedict that the traditional Roman missal had never been abrogated. (I had argued in my canon law tesina that it had been obrogated but not abrogated.) If such a thing happens then many may take inspiration from bishop Lindsay`s successor, bishop Ambrose Griffiths, who said that when he got new instructions from Rome he put them in the bottom draw of his desk and left them there.