Toward Liturgical Peace: One Missal, Two Forms. A Public Proposal to Pope Leo XIV from the Prestigious Abbey of Solesmes
A French Benedictine abbot, Geoffroy Kemlin, proposed integrating the pre-Vatican II Roman Missal (Vetus Ordo) as an option within the current Roman Missal. The proposal aims to unify opposing ritual sensibilities within the Church under a single institutional framework, avoiding further fragmentation. Kemlin, head of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, bases his suggestion on his congregation's experience living with both the older and reformed rites. The plan explicitly avoids modifying the post-conciliar liturgy, instead suggesting the older Ordo Missae be included as a fully recognized alternative in the same book. This initiative addresses ongoing liturgical tensions that have persisted despite previous papal efforts to regulate the coexistence of the two forms of the Roman Rite.
2 days ago
Abbot Geoffroy Kemlin of the Abbey of Solesmes has proposed integrating the pre-Vatican II Ordo Missae (Vetus Ordo) into the current Roman Missal as a second form, without altering the post-conciliar liturgy.1 2
This "one missal, two forms" approach aims to foster liturgical peace by allowing mutual enrichment: priests could incorporate older elements like prayers at the foot of the altar into the new rite, while the older rite adopts options such as vernacular, concelebration, and the expanded lectionary.1 2
Kemlin draws from his Benedictine congregation's history, where monasteries like Solesmes (post-Vatican II rite with Latin and Gregorian chant) coexist with others like Fontgombault (1962 Missal).1 2
Internal tensions were resolved through a "commission for liturgical unity," enabling monks to adapt to each other's practices during visits.2
The abbey's legacy, restored by Prosper Guéranger in the 19th century, positions it as a model for balancing tradition and renewal.1 2
The proposal addresses ongoing divides since Vatican II, regulated by Benedict XVI's Summorum Pontificum and restricted by Francis' Traditionis custodes.1 2
Kemlin highlights profound differences in "liturgical sensibilities" and anthropologies, arguing adherents of the Vetus Ordo cannot simply switch rites.1 2
Recent escalations include SSPX's planned unauthorized episcopal ordinations in July 2026 and pressures on Ecclesia Dei communities like the FSSP in France and the US.2
Kemlin's letter, dated November 12, 2025 and publicized around March 16-23, 2026, has elicited mixed responses.1 2
Traditionalist critics, including Peter Kwasniewski, argue it dilutes the traditional rite's integrity and multiplies options rather than unifying.2
French Catholic press questions if institutional integration truly bridges deep theological gaps or merely highlights them.1
The proposal emerges amid Pope Leo XIV's attention to liturgical issues, including audiences with FSSP leaders in January 2026 and authors of a US Traditional Latin Mass study on March 5.2
A Vatican source praised the letter's "Benedictine serenity" and Solesmes' authority, suggesting it merits consideration.2
Kemlin frames his idea humbly as a "path for reflection," invoking unity over division.1
Propose unified missal to resolve Roman Rite liturgical division
The Roman Rite's liturgical landscape features a tension between the post-Vatican II liturgical books—promulgated by Paul VI and John Paul II as the ordinary expression of the lex orandi—and the 1962 Missal, previously permitted as an extraordinary form. This division, intensified by Summorum Pontificum (2007) and restricted by Traditionis Custodes (2021), risks ecclesial discord despite both forms expressing the same lex credendi. A unified Missal could restore harmony by integrating venerable elements of the pre-conciliar tradition into a revised ordinary form, under episcopal oversight, aligning with Vatican II's norms for liturgical renewal that nourish faith and promote unity.
The Roman Rite evolved through centuries of organic growth, with key interventions ensuring fidelity to apostolic tradition. Saint Pius V standardized the Missal in 1570 post-Trent, while Vatican II's Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963) called for prudent revisions to adapt the liturgy to contemporary needs while preserving its sacred character and instructional value: "the prayers addressed to God... are said in the name of the entire holy people," and visible signs signify divine realities, nourishing faith.
Benedict XVI's Summorum Pontificum (2007) framed the 1962 Missal (of John XXIII) as an "extraordinary expression" of the Roman Rite's lex orandi, alongside the ordinary form of Paul VI (1970), permitting broader use to foster unity among the faithful attached to ancient forms. This aimed to avoid division, harmonizing pastoral care under the bishop (Canon 392). However, post-2020 episcopal consultations revealed risks to unity, prompting Francis's Traditionis Custodes (2021). It reaffirmed the post-VII books as the "unique expression" of the Rite's lex orandi, delegating 1962 Missal authorization exclusively to bishops, who must ensure groups affirm the reform's legitimacy, limit locations, and appoint suitable priests—abrogating prior norms.
Scholarly reflections note that liturgical plurality need not threaten unity, though debates persist on the 1962 Missal's formal abrogation (e.g., a 1970s request was denied to avoid "persistent hatred of the liturgical tradition"). John Paul II emphasized liturgy as manifesting the Church's "sacrament of unity," respecting diverse heritages while harmonizing with authentic spirit.
Catholic teaching prioritizes ecclesial communion through the liturgy, governed by bishops in union with the Roman Pontiff. Key principles include:
These align with broader calls for unity, as in Pope John Paul II's vision of liturgy effecting communio in vinculo pacis.
To resolve division, a revised Missal—promulgated by the Roman Pontiff after synodal consultation—could integrate salutary pre-conciliar elements into the ordinary form, creating a single, enriched expression of the Rite. This honors Traditionis Custodes while fulfilling Summorum Pontificum's ecumenical spirit of continuity.
| Element | Current Ordinary Form (Post-1970) | 1962 Missal (Extraordinary) | Unified Missal Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lex Orandi Expression | Unique per TC | Restricted, bishop-authorized | Single, enriched ordinary form |
| Language | Vernacular primary, Latin optional | Latin primary | Latin baseline, vernacular readings |
| Participation | Active, communal | Contemplative, priest-led | Balanced: communal with reverent silence |
| Offertory | New prayers | Traditional Roman Canon expansions | Hybrid, sacrificial emphasis |
| Authorization | Universal | Diocesan bishop only | Universal, with episcopal options |
This avoids abrogation debates by evolving the ordinary form, not reviving the superseded. Implementation via the Dicastery for Divine Worship, consulting bishops as in 2020.
A unified Missal would heal divisions by embodying Sacrosanctum Concilium's vision of liturgy as faith's nourisher and unity's sacrament, superseding dual forms under Traditionis Custodes while honoring tradition per Summorum Pontificum. Bishops, as guardians, ensure pastoral fruitfulness, fostering the "concord and unity of the Church." This proposal, rooted in magisterial principles, invites ecclesial communion without overreaching sources.