Mass in Roman Rite "Temporarily Cancelled" in Sweden
Fr Ludvig Peter Ludvigsen announced on PaxEtBonum.se that Sunday Mass in the Roman Rite in Gothenburg, Sweden, will "temporarily cease" with effect from 10 August.
He is a priest of the Third Order Regular of St Francis (TOR) and superior of the local community in Gothenburg.
Masses in the Roman Rite were usually celebrated at 12:00 on Sundays, with an additional Novus Ordo Eucharist at 10:00.
Fr Ludvigsen cited "some tensions or misunderstandings" that "may" have arisen among the faithful of the diocese as the reason for the cancellation: "We are concerned that these tensions or misunderstandings may harm the unity of our community."
He added that the decision had been made after consulting Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm and following the advice of TOR Minister General Amando Trujillo Cano.
STATEMENT For several years, the friars of the Delegation of St. John the Baptist of the Third Order Regular have celebrated Holy Mass at the Franciscan Monastery according to the 1962 Roman Missal, which is the Extraordinary Form of the Church's Liturgy. These Holy Masses, which are usually celebrated at 12:00 on Sundays, have been celebrated in addition to the Ordinary Form of Holy Mass at 10:00. "Liturgical diversity can be a source of enrichment – but it can also provoke tensions, mutual misunderstandings and even divisions. In this area it is clear that diversity must not harm unity. It can only express itself in fidelity to the common faith, the sacramental signs that the Church has received from Christ and hierarchical communion. Adaptation to different cultures requires conversion of heart and, if necessary, also a break with ancestral customs and practices that are incompatible with the Catholic faith."(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1206). It has recently come to our attention that there may be some tensions or misunderstandings among the Christian faithful in our Diocese regarding the celebration of certain sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church in their various forms. We are concerned that these tensions or misunderstandings may harm the unity of our community. After consulting the Diocesan Bishop, and on the advice of our Minister General, we brothers at the Franciscan Monastery will temporarily cease celebrating Holy Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal pending further guidance on how to address these tensions or misunderstandings. We will continue to celebrate the Ordinary Form of the Church's liturgy in our daily Masses. The last Mass in the Tridentine form will be on August 10th and if there is a need to celebrate the ordinary form at 12 noon in the future, we will be happy to do so.