Here is what Fr. Z writes:
On Wednesday afternoon the Secretary of State, Tarcisio Card. Bertone gave the Motu Proprio to 30 bishops from around the world on Wednesday afternoon in the Apostolic Palace. The bishops were explicitly chosen and invited for this. (I am guessing that they were heads of Bishops Conferences.) Pope Benedict XVI later came to the meeting. The document is three pages long, though what the format is in not revealed. The Pope’s accompanying letter is four pages.
It is clear from the way this was done that the Holy Father wanted to make sure that bishops got this document in this way, rather than having to read about it in the paper. I assume that what will happen now is that these bishops, if they are heads of conferences, will return home and distribute the document to the bishop members of the conference.
[UPDATE: They are not only heads of conferences: H.E. Archbp. Raymond Burke of St. Louis and H.E. Sean Card. O’Malley of Boston was there, whether because of this meeting or a coincidental meeting is not clear.]
The general publication is July 7th, 2007
Source post
CWNews reports on the July 7th release
CNA quotes German newspaper on release date
Fr. Z talks about longer article in French Newspaper La Croix
The French paper Le Croix confirms with a longer article what Kath.net and Die Welt reported.
Highlights of new items:1) It says that the bishops were representatives of bishops conferences.
2) After the plenary meeting ofthe Pont. Comm. Ecclesia Dei security on the MP was tightened.
3) Not only some French bishops but also some American bishops had complained to the Holy See about this.
4) Bishops were concerned about losing some of their authority to oversee the liturgy.
5) The MP should have some way to protect the bishop’s rights in disputes.The rest rehashes some old issues, such as whether some Jews may be upset by "anti-semitic" prayers, etc. Old stories.
Fr. Zuhlsdorf has also provided 5 rules for all to ponder when the motu proprio is fully released:
1) Rejoice because our liturgical life has been enriched, not because "we win". Everyone wins when the Church’s life is enriched. This is not a "zero sum game".See original "5 rules" post here, with over 100 comments to read through.
2) Do not strut. Let us be gracious to those who have in the past not been gracious in regard to our "legitimate aspirations".
3) Show genuine Christian joy. If you want to attract people to what gives you so much consolation and happiness, be inviting and be joyful. Avoid the sourness some of the more traditional stamp have sadly worn for so long.
4) Be engaged in the whole life of your parishes, especially in works of mercy organized by the same. If you want the whole Church to benefit from the use of the older liturgy, then you who are shaped by the older form of Mass should be of benefit to the whole Church in concrete terms.
5) If the document doesn’t say everything we might hope for, don’t bitch about it like a whiner. Speak less of our rights and what we deserve, or what it ought to have been, as if we were our own little popes, and more about our gratitude, gratitude, gratitude for what God gives us.
Now we wait to see the major news networks and magazines paint "the earth is falling" version. No one will be forced to assist at a Classical Roman Rite Mass. However, if this motu proprio is all that we can hope for, the burden will be on the bishops to explain to the Vatican why they want to deny it's celebration to a particular priest. Currently, priests must request permission of his bishop and be granted the indult to celebrate the Tridentine. Pope John Paul II asked that bishops be generous in granting the indult and permission has been far from generous.
EDIT: H/T to Thomas the American Papist for including a link to the release of an article by Dr. Robert Moynihan entitled, Benedict and the Mass, to be published in the June/July issue of Inside the Vatican.
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