SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS

SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS is available at last on the Vatican's website! Update: The Vatican has released a better of the English version. The post has been updated to reflect those changes.

Reflection:

I have not yet read the document although many people commenting on Traditional blogs like Rorate Caeli are disappointed. The document is largely a summary of the resolutions from the Synod on the Eucharist from 18 months ago. Sacramentum Caritatis makes no mention of Ad orientam orientation being preferred and it does not address women in the sanctuary, like many Traditional Catholics wanted.

However, there was an emphasis on indulgences and Eucharistic Adoration, both are which are very positive signs. What little I have read, I have enjoyed. I am, however, still very eager for the release of the motu propio, which would allow the use of the Tridentine Mass without making a priest obtain the bishop's approval. Rather, Sacramentum Caritatis was not meant to address this issue, so I am still hoping for the release of the motu propio in the near future.

I found these paragraphs of the document uplifting:

None of the above observations should cast doubt upon the importance of such large-scale liturgies. I am thinking here particularly of celebrations at international gatherings, which nowadays are held with greater frequency. The most should be made of these occasions. In order to express more clearly the unity and universality of the Church, I wish to endorse the proposal made by the Synod of Bishops, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, (182) that, with the exception of the readings, the homily and the prayer of the faithful, it is fitting that such liturgies be celebrated in Latin. Similarly, the better-known prayers (183) of the Church's tradition should be recited in Latin and, if possible, selections of Gregorian chant should be sung.

Speaking more generally, I ask that future priests, from their time in the seminary, receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also to use Latin texts and execute Gregorian chant; nor should we forget that the faithful can be taught to recite the more common prayers in Latin, and also to sing parts of the liturgy to Gregorian chant. (184)(Sacramentum Caritatis, 62)

...

In continuity with the great ecclesial tradition, with the Second Vatican Council (76) and with my predecessors in the papacy, (77) I reaffirm the beauty and the importance of a priestly life lived in celibacy as a sign expressing total and exclusive devotion to Christ, to the Church and to the Kingdom of God, and I therefore confirm that it remains obligatory in the Latin tradition. Priestly celibacy lived with maturity, joy and dedication is an immense blessing for the Church and for society itself. (Sacramentum Caritatis, 24)

Note: Fr. John Zuhlsdorf discusses a poor translation in paragraph 23.

Links:

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf discusses the document
Rorate Caeli also discusses the document