An Interview with Father John Berg, FSSP Interviewed by the Latin Mass

An Interview with Father John Berg, FSSP interviewed by The Latin Mass n anticipation of the twenty-fifth anniversary to requests that had been made for years in some places. of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter on July Still it is God Himself who sends the vocations, and the 18, 2013, The Latin Mass requested and was constant stream over these last twenty-five years is a sign; granted an interview with Father John Berg, and I hope that I may say this, that God is pleased with the I FSSP, Superior General. Please note that this character of service which we in the FSSP strive to offer interview with Father Berg took place before the election Him through our fidelity to the traditional Mass as well of Pope Francis. as through our fidelity to the Sovereign Pontiff. More and more vocations come to us through our own apostolates TLM: Thank you, Father Berg, for and – and this I believe to be most granting this interview on the present The pontificate of Benedict significant – through the priests who and future of the Priestly Fraternity of XVI was certainly a large now, in the era of Summorum Pontifi- Saint Peter (FSSP) and the Latin Mass cum, celebrate the traditional Mass movement in general. help to opening doors regularly in their parish churches. At and giving legitimacy to the same time, I believe the growth The Progress of the Priestly requests that had been made would still best be described as being Fraternity’s Mission slow and steady due to our own limi- TLM: Regarding the present, where for years in some places. tations as a Society of Apostolic Life. does FSSP stand today in terms of the The pontificate allowed us in a certain number of priests, seminarians, and approved Latin Mass way to be more selective and to discern where our efforts centers as compared with ten years ago? Has the pontifi- would be most fruitful and which situations would be best cate of Benedict XVI produced marked growth in these for the life of our priests and their sanctification. This is areas or has it remained a slow and steady process of a frustration to the faithful at times who would like us to growth and expansion? begin more apostolates, but our first concern is to make sure that our foundation is solid, especially where the life Father Berg: There has been great growth in all of these of our priests is concerned. The urgency for expansion I areas for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter during these would say in one sense was actually reduced by the acts last ten years, and the pontificate of Benedict XVI was cer- of Benedict XVI as he opened up a greater number of av- tainly a large help to opening doors and giving legitimacy enues for the rightful desires of the faithful to be fulfilled, 6 Winter/Spring 2013 An Interview with Father John Berg, FSSP for example, by local priests. We have participated in the teaching and encouraging other priests to offer the old training of several hundred religious and diocesan priests Mass. We have also been able to work in cooperation for the traditional Mass both at our own houses and ‘on- with bishops to find the best solution for their dioceses. In site.’ And, as I say, we already benefit from the fruits of some cases this is an invitation to the Fraternity to open an these labors. apostolate, in others it has been to provide training for a priest or priests of the diocese. TLM: How would you describe the impact of Summorum Pontificum on FSSP’s mission? Have the bishops been TLM: Are there areas in the Church, here in the United more receptive to your presence in dioceses since its prom- States or abroad, where you are encountering actual resis- ulgation, and, if so, are we talking about a major thaw tance to Summorum on the part of the episcopacy? on account of Summorum or merely a slight softening of resistance to the return of the Latin Mass? Father Berg: There is undoubtedly some resistance, but this is mainly in places where the works of the Fraternity – Father Berg: The invitations extended to our Fraternity or simply the effects of the presence of the usus antiquior have increased to the point where we simply do not have in a diocese – are unknown. We are now present in enough the priests or resources to respond to all of them. But to dioceses for other bishops in those same countries to rec- measure the true impact of Sum- ognize the good work which is done morum Pontificum by the invita- The long-term and more and that it contributes greatly to the tions extended to our Fraternity into life of the diocese. It will always be dioceses would be to sell it far short. profound goal, however, is more difficult in countries where we Many saw the primary purpose of the for priests to appreciate are just starting and are unknown. document as providing the means to what this liturgy offers to increase the positive response to the TLM: Where has FSSP encountered requests of the faithful for what is their priestly life. When the most generous implementation of now called the extraordinary form. they do, they will want to Summorum by local ordinaries, and This was certainly part of the goal, offer it, and as pastors they where has it been the least generous? but the program of Benedict XVI was much wiser and more profound will explain to the flock Father Berg: The most generous than simply this. I believe that the entrusted to them what its response has actually been here in document was written primarily for North America. Here we have been priests. How else can one explain riches are. able to establish the largest number of certain points of the document such apostolates which are either parishes as the permission for all priests to also pray the Roman or have the equivalent of a full parochial life. Bishops Breviary according to the books of 1962 or supplement have been able to see from numerous other examples that in their parishes the new Holy Week services with the this is the best thing they can do for their faithful. Re- traditional ones? member, Pope Benedict has said that he wants the tradi- The constitution of the Church is such that it must be tional Mass available to all Catholics – even those who the pastors who lead. At times certainly the laity are a have not specifically requested it. Now that is something great and necessary aid when this is simply lacking, and worth pondering! When we first arrived some twenty-five they must make their needs known. In the short-term the years ago I think there was worry about what “Latin Mass debate has been about defining what constitutes a stable apostolates” would turn into. Today this worry is gone. group and how to make one’s request for a regular Mass Bishops see that by offering everything to the faithful, the offered in this form. Such matters have, since the promul- faithful will in turn embrace being a part of the diocese. gation of Summorum Pontificum, to a degree, been settled A parish is a particular unity in a whole. It has its own by questions posed to and answered by the Ecclesia Dei life, its own character, its own pastor, but through these Commission. The long-term and more profound goal, particular elements it fully participates in the life of the however, is for priests to appreciate what this liturgy offers whole diocese under its bishop. Where the local ordinary to their priestly life. When they do, they will want to offer believes in the good of parishes and parochial life, he it, and as pastors they will explain to the flock entrusted to sees the same good offered by a non-territorial parish for them what its riches are. those who wish to worship and receive all the sacraments It is this fact which has really impacted our mission. according to the traditional liturgical books. The imple- We have spent much more time than used to be possible mentation has been less generous in countries where they Winter/Spring 2013 7 An Interview with Father John Berg, FSSP think that Summorum Pontificum is primarily addressed, To destroy takes relatively little time. But to build up or limited, to countries in Europe and North America who again is a much longer and more difficult process. And experienced the full severity of liturgical abuses, while there is always the reality of mistrust – on both sides! – they did not. Oftentimes in these countries the demand which complicates the work. But the work goes on and is seen as coming from a fringe element or one which is increases. Religious communities gathered around the tied to politics. This is unfortunate, and there is still much traditional Mass continue to steadily grow in numbers. work to be done. This is a grass-roots effort, from the ground up. If you stop to watch the grass grow it will look as though The Prospect of a General Latin Mass Revival nothing is happening. But come back after a while and TLM: Is there a significant and growing interest in the you will have a rich and luxuriant lawn. The FSSP is in traditional Latin Mass among regular diocesan clergy and this work for “the long haul.” We may not all live to see seminarians, and can you give some examples of this? that richness and luxuriance fully established again in the Church, but each of us has his contribution to make Father Berg: The growth in interest is clear and one of toward that ultimate goal.

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