in accordance with

Summorum Pontificum

(Click Here to Sign Petition)

In January 2008 the following letter was sent to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, accompanied by a list of petitioners affiliated with the U. S. Armed Forces:

Your Excellency,                                

             In the short time that has elapsed since the implementation of the Holy Father’s motu proprio Summorum Pontificum one reads and hears of more and more traditional Latin Masses being offered in most every diocese in the nation. This is indeed a happy time for the church as it marks the discovery for many of the rich treasure of the ancient liturgy and, with it, of a deeper dimension of Catholic spirituality. Most encouraging has been the response of the young, with whom the Tridentine rite resonates in a way that some find surprising.

            Pope Benedict XVI has made it clear that he wishes the beauty and holiness of the extraordinary rite to be made available to all those who desire it. Enclosed please find a list of names, as well as comments, of active duty and retired military personnel, as well as their family members, who earnestly entreat you to act in accord with the Holy Father’s wishes and provide the extraordinary rite at major military bases, including the service academies. My son is a cadet at West Point and only one of several Catholic cadets who have grown up with the Tridentine Mass and sorely miss it.  This list of names was gathered over the internet* from Veterans Day, 11 November 2007, to the present.

            Due to the fact that many service people who requested the 1962 Missal under the provisions of Ecclesia Dei subsequently suffered personal and professional consequences, we ask that you respect the confidentiality of these petitioners, particularly those in active duty.

We realize, of course, that implementation of the Motu Proprio cannot be accomplished overnight, but there are surely priests from traditional orders, such as the Fraternity of St. Peter and the Institute of Christ the King, as well as diocesan clergy offering the Tridentine rite, who would be willing to help. There is probably no diocese that does not, or will not, have an active Latin Mass community.

            We thank you for your kind attention to our request and hope that soon the joyful words, “Introibo altare Dei,’ will be intoned by our chaplains.

                                     Yours in Jesus and Mary,

                                     Mr. T.

(Enclosure)

Petition to Archdiocese for the Military Services

In keeping with the recent document Summorum Pontificum recently issued by our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, we request that the Mass of Blessed John XXIII be made available within each major command on Sundays and Holy Days.  This request is made in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 of Summorum Pontificum.  We also request that priests from traditional societies be included in the Chaplains Corps.

With the understanding that it may take a period of time for arrangements to be made, we offer you any form of assistance possible in satisfying our humble request, and we assure you of many prayers on your behalf, as well as for our future bishop, and for the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.

 BRANCH   NAME                  GRADE   ADDRESS                                                                               STATUS

Army            TTT, TTT           Lieutenant    123  TTT Dr., Fort TTT                                                               Active

Air Force       TTT, TTT           Captain        45 Bigwing Road, TTT Air Force Base                                            Active

Army Reserve TTT, TTT           SSG            67 Hometown Rd. Anytown, USA                                                   Reserve

...            ...           ...                  ...                                               ...