Exciting news is spreading through the Church! A beautiful proposal has been authored by Fr. Louis-Marie de Blignières, a French priest who founded the Fraternity of Saint Vincent Ferrer (FSVF). The letter was sent to Cardinals around the world shortly before the Consistory of January 7–8, 2026.
De Blignières is suggesting a way to give the faithful who love the Traditional Latin Mass a permanent, stable home within the Church. This proposal is to establish an ecclesiastical jurisdiction—basically a special diocese-like structure—dedicated entirely to the ancient Old Latin Rite.
The idea is to create something called a personal apostolic administration or an ordinariate. Think of it like a “spiritual neighborhood” that isn’t defined by city borders, but by the way people pray and their shared traditions.
Actually, this is a “re-proposal” and not a brand-new invention. In 1988, the founders of the Ecclesia Dei Institutes first suggested this. Then in 2001, many leaders of Traditional communities signed a “Supplication” to the Holy Father asking for the same. Lastly in 2002: The Holy See actually did this in Brazil by creating the Personal Apostolic Administration Saint John Mary Vianney. This group was given the right to use the 1962 missal and all the Traditional Sacraments.
By doing this again on a larger scale, the Church can move toward “stability, peace, and unity”. It would mean that those who love the Traditional Latin Mass are no longer in a “blocked” or temporary situation, but have a recognized place of their own.
For over sixty years, the group of people who love the Usus Antiquior has continued to grow. These aren’t just people who like “old things” or are “nostalgic”. Instead, they share beautiful Christian visions of life such as large, a happy families with many children, a strong sense of being part of the “Mystical Body of Christ”, a deep desire for spirituality and sacredness in every part of life, and a wish to stay connected to the Church’s past, not as a way to fight the present, but to keep the “anchors” of Christianity strong.
Because this group has such a clear and unique identity—in their prayer, their families, and their daily lives—Fr. de Blignières argues it is only natural for them to have their own leaders.
He suggests that these groups should be led by bishops who come from their own communities. These bishops would understand the traditions deeply and be able to provide all the Traditional sacraments—like Confirmations and Ordinations—without any confusion or difficulty.
One of the best parts of this proposal is how it helps everyone get along better. It uses something called “cumulative jurisdiction”. This is the same way the military handles chaplains.
Here is how it would look for a regular family:
- You would be a member of this new “Traditional Rite” jurisdiction.
- At the same time, you would still be a member of your local parish/diocese.
- You would not be cut off from your local neighbors or your local Bishop.
This is a win-win for everyone! It relieves local bishops who might not be familiar with the 1962 Missal or who feel caught between different groups of priests. It also allows traditional priests to focus on their mission under a leader who supports them. Most importantly, it takes away the “tensions” and “fights” that have happened in recent years. It allows everyone to focus on loving God and serving the Church in a spirit of justice and mercy.
This proposal is a way to honor the law and dignity of the Ancient Rite, recognizing that it is equal to the Modern Rite. It is time to find a stable solution that protects this beautiful identity for generations to come.
Let us all pray that the hearts of the Cardinals may be moved by this letter and that they respond with a resounding “Yes,” and that the Pope may follow the voice of the Holy Spirit in bringing healing and joy to all who have suffered under the painful restrictions imposed on the Traditional Latin Mass by Traditionis Custodes.
May the Church flourish in unity, and may the beauty of the Old Liturgy shine brightly once again!
Recommended Book: Christianity is Credible (2022) by Louis-Marie de Blignieres (Link: https://amzn.to/4qEmy9a)
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