The 1984 Indult

In 1984, after 14 years of the Mass of Paul VI, the strong desires of some to still celebrate the Mass (and other sacraments) according to the 1962 Missal had not declined. Some had broken away in the SSPX and other groups.

So in that year, the Congregation for Divine Worship extended permission to bishops to allow the celebration of the Mass according to the 1962 Missal. Conditions must be met, the most important of which was that those seeking this permission must affirm the validity of the 1970 Missal. In 1988, the year of the SSPX excommunications, a Pontifical Commission called Ecclesia Dei was set up to supervise and administer this process.

This was important because some figures in the anti-Paul VI MIssal movement believe, because of changes in wording to the prayers, that the 1970 Mass is not "valid" - the bread and wine do not become the Body and Blood of Christ. There are some that also believe that priestly and episcopal ordinations according to the post-Vatican II rite are not valid. Most in this movment do not share these views, but there were obviously enough to cause some bishops concern.

In the years since, several religious orders have been founded which exclusively use, with the permission of Rome, the 1962 Missal. Some are linked on the sidebar and here is an extensive list. Within the diocese of Campos, Brazil, a "Personal Apostolic Administration" (sort of a diocese within a diocese) exists - its origins are in bishops and priests who aligned themselves with the SSPX, but in 2001 reconciled with Rome.

Masses celebrated according to the 1962 Missal under this provision are commonly called "Indult Masses"

In your community there might be several parishes and groups that do celebrate Mass according to the 1962 MIssal. It is important to distinguish between those that are in full communion with Rome and those (SSPX and SSPV chapels) that are not. It would be interesting to ask members of the latter what they think of the Motu Proprio.

The reconciliation of the SSPX to Rome is related to the Motu Proprio, but a separate issue.

The excellent question arises: If the Indult was granted in 1984, why did Benedict deem this Motu Proprio necessary?

The permission to celebrate the 1962 Missal must be extended by a bishop if he deems there is a need or demand in his diocese. It is a system that has seemed to be flawed, as priests who would like to celebrate according to the 1962 Missal are denied permission, and groups of laity who request this Mass are either denied or given space at out-of-the-way parishes at inconvenient times.

This Motu Proprio establishes [To be inserted!]....