Visitors ask...Opus Dei - FSSP - Latin Mass? I'm confused!

I get many searches that show evidence of a misunderstanding between "Opus Dei," "F.S.S.P." and "Latin Mass." So, searches for "Opus Dei Latin Mass" are not uncommon.

Here is the link to Opus Dei in the U.S. with all the information you could wish. It is a "personal Prelature" and has nothing to do with the Latin or Traditional Mass. Its founder is a canonized saint, Saint Josemaria Escriva. Is it possible that an Opus Dei priest could say the TLM? Yes! See below!

The F.S.S.P. is actually shorthand for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter or, in Latin, Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri (thus the contraction, FSSP!). This Fraternity says Mass according to the Missal of 1962 (the Traditional Mass, Extraordinary Form or Usus Antiquior to use several acronyms). This group DOES celebrate the "Latin Mass." It is only one of several groups that use this Missal including the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem, Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius, etc. These priests are also trained to administer the sacraments in the Traditional form as well.

Another question: must a priest be from one of these fraternities in order to say the TLM? NO! Any priest trained to say Mass in both forms can say the Mass in either form. The seminarians at Mount Saint Mary's are being trained in this fashion, and some priests in the Archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington can say either form! This subject has been covered at great length by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf of the blog, "What Does the Prayer Really Say?"

One final note, the term, Latin Mass, actually could apply to the Novus Ordo or "Ordinary Form" as the Missal is written in Latin but translated into English. There is a Latin Mass each Sunday in Baltimore at the Basilica, for example, but it is NOT the Traditional Latin Mass! So, Latin Mass has a specific connotation. The "TLM" (Traditional Latin Mass) uses the Missal of 1962 as modified by Pope John XXIII and as stipulated within the "motu proprio, "Summorum Pontificum" of Pope Benedict XVI.

Hope that clarifies things!

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