Traditional Latin Mass Will Continue For Twin Cities Catholics

TWIN CITIES, MN — Following the new restrictions announced by Pope Francis, Archbishop Bernard Hebda Friday assured local Catholics that pre-Vatican II, Latin Masses will continue to be celebrated in churches of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Hebda's remarks came hours after Francis reversed his predecessor, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, by restricting the celebration of the "Tridentine Mass" or "Extraordinary Form" of the liturgy, which is said in Latin. Francis' guidance came through an apostolic letter titled "Traditionis custodes."

Priests now must receive explicit permission from their local bishop in order to celebrate the Latin Mass.

"I am happy to grant the necessary faculties so that those priests who are already celebrating the rites of the Extraordinary Form may continue to do so," Hebda wrote. "I similarly direct that the Mass in the Extraordinary Form continue in those locations where it is currently being offered in the Archdiocese."

Hebda did say that "no new public liturgical celebration of the Extraordinary Form, however, should be introduced anywhere in the Archdiocese at this time without my written permission."

Priests who currently celebrate the Latin Mass must ask Hebda's permission by Aug. 15.

The local auxiliary bishop, Andrew Cozzens, will chair a task force to study the new norms written by Francis.