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Timeline for The Ottaviani Intervention

 April 3, 1969 – the Novus Ordo Missæ and General Instruction promulgated by Pope Paul VI.  April to May 1969 – A group of theologians, liturgists, and pastors met to prepare a theological study of the contents of the Novus Ordo Missæ and General Instruction resulting in A Short Critical Study of the New Order of Mass (known in English speaking countries as The Ottaviani Intervention).  September 29, 1969 – the Critical Study along with a cover letter prepared by Cardinal Ottaviani were presented to Pope Paul VI. The cover letter was signed by Cardinal Ottaviani, former Prefect of the Holy Office, and Cardinal Antonio Bacci, a Latinist who served on the Vatican Congregations for Religious, Causes of Saints, and Catholic Education.  October 22, 1969 – Pope Paul VI sent the Intervention to the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for evaluation.  November 12, 1969 – The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith stated in a letter to the Vatican Secretary of State that “the work Short Critical Study…contains many statements which are superficial, exaggerated, inexact, impassioned and false.”…but we do not have access to the entire document.  November 1969 – The Consilium met in Rome and noted that “Some difficulty emerged over certain points of the General Instructions of the Roman Missal, in particular over Article 7”  March 1970 o New 15-paragraph Foreword in the Missal to demonstrate that the doctrine in the new Missal was identical to that in the old o Revised General Instruction (changes in italics) § 7 At Mass or the Lord’s Supper, the people of God are called together, with a priest presiding and acting in the person of Christ to celebrate the memorial of the Lord or Eucharistic sacrifice.

For this reason Christ’s promise applies supremely to such a local gathering of the Church: “Where two or three come together in my Name, there am I in their midst” (Mt 18:20).

For at the celebration of Mass, which perpetuates the sacrifice of the Cross, Christ is really present to the assembly gathered in His name; He is present in the person of the minister, in His own word, and indeed substantially and permanently under the Eucharistic elements. o No changes made to the text of the Missal itself