I mentioned the importance of “careful wording” in the Motu Proprio in a prior entry, and now I see that Pope Benedict did indeed make careful distinctions. In fact, my previous references to the “Tridintine Rite” must be changed to the “1962 Missal” as an extraordinary form of the Roman Rite. I still see many saying “Tridintine Rite” in reporting on the Motu Proprio, but the Pope is saying that there is one Roman Rite with an ordinary form and an extraordinary form which can be celebrated now.
This does make sense. The Roman Rite is the Roman Rite, and there have been different forms of it down through the centuries. The idea of “two forms at once” seems unusual, but there are plenty of good reasons for it. There are going to be some curious contrasts, such as the use of two different calendars at once, that will make for some interesting parish bulletins.
Overall, I see a brighter future for the Liturgy of the Roman Rite, both in the Novus Ordo in English (when will we get the new translation?) and Latin, and in the extraordinary form of the 1962 Missal.