40 years of Missale Romanum and the new Roman Rite - IVA liturgical tale in three acts

Dramatis Personae

Pope Saint Pius V
Pope Paul VI
Pope Benedict XVI

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Act I

Pope Saint Pius V: "Furthermore, by these presents [this law], in virtue of Our Apostolic authority, We grant and concede in perpetuity that, for the chanting or recitation of the Mass in any church whatsoever, this Missal is hereafter to be followed absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment, or censure, and may freely and lawfully be used. Nor are superiors, administrators, canons, chaplains, and other secular priests, or religious, of whatever title designated, obliged to celebrate the Mass otherwise than as enjoined by Us. " (Quo Primum Tempore - July 14, 1570)

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Act II

Pope Paul VI: "We wish that these Our decrees and prescriptions may be firm and effective now and in the future, notwithstanding, to the extent necessary, the apostolic constitutions and ordinances issued by Our predecessors, and other prescriptions, even those deserving particular mention and derogation." (Apostolic Constitution "Missale Romanum" - April 3, 1969)

"The Novus Ordo was promulgated in order to replace the old one, after studied deliberation, in the execution of the norms which emanated from the Second Vatican Council." (Speech to the Secret Consistory - on the matter of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre - May 24, 1976)

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Act III

Pope Benedict XVI: "It is, therefore, permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church." (Summorum Pontificum - July 7, 2007)

"What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful." (Letter to the Bishops on the publication of Summorum Pontificum - July 7, 2007)