Office of the Bishop

Bp. Zubik's letter on Summorum Pontificum

July 7, 2007

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

This weekend, our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI released his much anticipated Apostolic Letter entitled Summorum Pontificum on the use of the Roman Liturgy prior to the reform of 1970. While the Holy Father does in fact give permission for the broader use of the Roman Missal published by Pope Blessed John XXIII in 1962, he makes clear that the continued use of the Roman Missal promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970 is the ordinary and normative order of celebration throughout the world.

Most importantly, I wish to state emphatically that the Mass is not changing. The normal way that we have been celebrating the Mass for the past 40 years remains. It is important that we be careful not to arrive at early and false conclusions. What you and I are asked to do is to open our hearts and be more aware of and attentive to those who have a spiritual need for the extraordinary form of celebrating the Mass.

The Pope's Letter becomes effective on Friday, September 14, 2007, the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Very shortly, I will be inviting the priests of the diocese to a meeting where we can come to a better understanding of the Pope's Letter and its implementation in our local Church.

In the meantime, I ask you to both pray for and to secure that unity which is one of the four marks of the Church.

Please check the USCCB website www.usccb.org for access to the entire letter and additional materials.

Grateful for our belief that "Nothing is Impossible with God," I am

Your brother in Christ, [signed] Most Reverend David A. Zubik Bishop of Green Bay