Catholic Masses

  • Search for Mass Times
  • Catholic Faith Articles
    • News Briefs
    • Catholic Church
    • Vatican News
    • Catholic Gift Ideas
  • Online Masses
    • Daily Catholic Mass Online
      • Daily TV Mass from Toronto
      • EWTN Daily Mass
      • CTVN Daily Mass
      • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
      • Daily Mass (In Spanish)
  • Pray with Us
Home Test page Costa Rican bishop suspends priest for saying Novus Order Mass in Latin and ad orientem

Costa Rican bishop suspends priest for saying Novus Order Mass in Latin and ad orientem

When a priest celebrates Mass ad orientem, he faces in the same direction as the congregation. / Alexey Gotovskiy/CNA.

Alajuela, Costa Rica, Aug 21, 2021 / 19:04 pm (CNA).

The Diocese of Alajuela, in the Northern region of Costa Rica, confirmed to ACI Prensa, the Spanish sister news agency of CNA that Fr. Sixto Eduardo Varela Santamaría has been suspended from all ministries for six months, and will be sent to psychological treatment for celebrating in Latin the Mass of the Missal of Pope Paul VI, also known as “postconciliar” or “Novus Ordo.”

In a statement issued on behalf of the Bishop of Alajuela, Bartolomé Buigues Oller, Fr. Luis Hernández Solís, director of communications, explained that Fr. Varela Santamaría was “admonished two previous times” for celebrating one Mass in Latin at his parish of  St. Joseph the Patriarch.

According to the statement, his removal from the parish and the suspension of his priestly activities “are expected to be measures that will restore the ecclesial communion and the priest’s well being; for this, we ask all to unite in fervent prayer.”

According to the diocesean spokesman, Fr. Varela Santamaría “continued to celebrate the Tridentine (Traditional Latin Mass) after the publication of Pope Francis’ Motu Proprio Traditionis custodes.”

But the Summorum Pontificum Association in Costa Rica, which until the release of the motu proprio used to worship in the Extraordinary Form, insists that Fr. Varela Santamaría was not being disobedient. The association maintains that that from the moment the bishops in Costa Rica decided to ban the Extraordinary Form in all the country, Fr. Varela Santamaría has only celebrated the  “Novus Ordo” Mass but in Latin and ad orientem, “something not only permitted by the existing liturgical norms, but not addressed at all by Pope Francis in his Motu Proprio.”

A member of the association, speaking for background, told ACI Prensa that the penalty of Fr. Varela Santamaría is the consequence of the ignorant belief that Latin and ad orientem are equal to the Extraordinary Form.

Traditionis custodes was published July 16 to regulate the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. With this document, Pope Francis modified the provisions given by his predecessor, Benedict XVI, in his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.

In a letter that accompanies and explains the motu proprio sent to the world’s bishops, Pope Francis noted that “I am nonetheless saddened that the instrumental use of Missale Romanum of 1962 is often characterized by a rejection not only of the liturgical reform, but of the Vatican Council II itself, claiming, with unfounded and unsustainable assertions, that it betrayed the Tradition and the ‘true Church.’”

The Costa Rican bishops’ conference has been one of those that has responded most harshly against the Traditional Latin Mass after the publication of Traditionis custodes.

In a July 19 statement the Costa Rican bishops declared that “from now on the use of the Missale Romanum of 1962 or of any other expression of the liturgy prior to 1970 is not authorized.”

The Summorum Pontificum Association explained to ACI Prensa that after the publication of the motu proprio, “we respectfully requested the Bishop of Alajuela permission to continue to celebrate in the Extraordinary Form, something that the group has been doing for 8 years, but the request was denied.

“Bishop Buigues Oller gave as a truly confusing reason: according to him, the only way we could keep celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass  was for us to either be in existence before 1970 or to be related to the schismatic Society of St. Pius the X (SSPX,) something that is not mentioned either by Summorum Pontificum or Traditiones Custodes,” the association told ACI Prensa.

In a WhatsApp voice message sent to his former parishioners and obtained by ACI Prensa, Fr. Varela Santamaría stated, “I believe there was some confusion and more dialogue should have taken place with my Bishop,” but he insisted that “since the Bishop’s decree I never ever again celebrated the Tridentine Mass, but did continue to celebrate in Latin the Novus Ordo, as a way to accompany some of the faithful.”

The voice message continued: “I am aware that I can start a canonical process, or that I could appeal, I know there are many (legal) options … but I will do none of that. I love the Church.”

Fr. Varela Santamaría revealed that he has temporarily been sent to his sister’s home, and that the diocese will send him to a retreat house/clinic that will provide him, “spiritual, psychological and medical attention, at least according to the website of this place.”


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


Catholic World Report

Aug 21, 2021CatholicMasses

Share this post:

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestShare on EmailShare on LinkedIn
Life or deathOpinion: Mask Mandates, Sic et Non
You Might Also Like
 
Maryknoll has 'sending ceremony' for largest lay missioner class since 2005
 
Pelosi ‘misspoke’ on San Francisco Mass attendance, spokesman claims

You must be logged in to post a comment. - Log in

CatholicMasses
1 year ago Ad orientem, Americas, Catholic News, Costa Rica, Latin, News Briefs, Novus OrdoAd orientem, Americas, Catholic Church, Costa Rica, Latin, News Briefs, Novus Ordo14
Find Mass Schedules Near You

CatholicMasses.org allows you to search for Catholic Churches to find Mass times near you!

This unique feature helps while traveling.  Now along with Mass times, schedules and Catholic news you can also watch daily Catholic Mass online with your friends.

Try our free resource to “find Roman Catholic Churches near me” today!

St Alphonsus Liguori praised the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the best way to Honor God.  Join us as we celebrate Mass daily from various parishes around the world, online and offline, and please visit daily to pray with us as we recite the Rosary, offer daily scripture, readings, devotions and Catholic focused news. We bring you daily Catholic Mass from various parishes around the world and Catholic news.

Today’s Mass
Daily Mass Videos
  • Catholic Chicago
  • CatholicTVNetwork Daily Mass
  • Daily Mass from Toronto Canada
  • ETWN Daily Mass
  • Eucaristia en Vivo – Spanish Daily Mass
  • General Catholic Videos
  • Live video from Lourdes France
  • Masses from the Ascension Priests
  • Misa Hoy (en español)
  • National Shrine
  • News from a Catholic Perspective
  • News from CFN
  • Pope Francis and Vatican News
  • Rosary
  • Sunday Mass by the Passionists
What’s New
  • Archbishop condemns attacks by organized crime in US-Mexico border area
  • Start the new school year with pro-life education
  • Cardinal Ouellet named in Canadian sex abuse lawsuit
  • How does a book reading turn into an attempted murder? The threat against Salman Rushdie has been decades in the making
  • ‘Beyond Bad Apples’: A new report explores how clericalism is shaped by sex, gender and power
About

Providing up to date online access to information exclusively about Catholicism.

Visit our site map | Privacy Policy | About Us Page.

Streaming Catholic Mass Online

Watch Catholic Mass Online Today.

Find Churches Nearby
Email-Subscription

Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and event postings.

2019 © Catholic Mass Search - Search Catholic Churches and find Mass times while traveling.
Privacy Policy | About Us Page.
Truemag theme by StrictThemes
Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!