The diocese of Versailles allows the celebration of the “traditional mass” in Saint-Germain-en-Laye

“We are delighted to have found this satisfactory solution for everyone,” says Clémence Le Grelle of the Diocese of Versailles. Sunday March 19 at 11:30 a.m., after several years of talks between the diocese and the faithful attached to the Tridentine Mass, the latter were able to attend the Mass according to the ancient rite celebrated by one of the vicars general, Father Marc Boulle, in the Franciscan chapel in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

A mass according to the old rite will now be celebrated by a parish priest every Sunday and on feast days, except during the summer holidays, according to a press release from the diocese on March 16. One condition: the complete cessation of masses “outside the walls” against the advice of the diocese on the forecourt of the chapel of the former hospital of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which have been taking place for two and a half years.

The diocese and the faithful traditionalists are to meet in June for a “progress report” and this agreement is subject to an evaluation after one year. It marks the culmination of a long dialogue between the bishop and the community. On December 9, Msgr. Luc Crepy received their representatives in order to discuss a proposal, to “register in a parochial approach”. Already, midnight mass and Christmas day mass have been celebrated according to the Tridentine rite in the Franciscan chapel.

Mediation

The association of “the faithful outside the walls” and the collective Lex Orandi, who campaigned for the holding of a mass according to the ancient rite in a church in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, welcome the “soothing mediation of Mgr. Boulle”, vicar general of the diocese and delegate of the bishop on this subject, and “the paternal benevolence of Mgr Crepy”. The president of the association of “the faithful outside the walls”, Cyril Farret d’Astiès, underlines the action of Bishop Crepy who “seeks the good of his faithful” and defends, according to him, a “pragmatic vision” of events.

While according to the latest rescript of the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, Rome requires bishops throughout the world to obtain its agreement before authorizing a priest to celebrate Mass according to the old rite, or to authorize its celebration in a new parish, the bishopric of Versailles considers that “Mgr Crepy has taken the steps required of him by his status as bishop”.

“Finding a full and entire communion”

This agreement may mark the end of lively debates. Due to work in the church of Port-Marly, three canons of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICRSP) celebrated, from January 2017 to June 2020, the “traditional mass” in the chapel of the Franciscans, lent by the diocese. When they left in 2020, many lay people participating in this mass asked the Bishop of Versailles to keep it in a church in the city.

But, faced with the “categorical refusal” of Mgr Éric Aumônier, then bishop of Yvelines, according to Cyril Farret d’Astiès, the faithful thus began to participate in a mass on the forecourt of the Saint-Louis chapel of the former hospital of the city. During the installation of the new bishop Mgr Luc Crepy in April 2021, contacts were quickly established when the two parties wanted to get out “of this conflicting situation”, according to the president of the association of “the faithful outside the walls “. For its part, the diocese of Versailles says it is “very happy with this agreement” in order to “find a full and complete communion, among all”.

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