The doctrinal congregation adds saints, new prefaces to the Roman Missal of 1962

The Vatican doctrinal office announced the optional use of seven Eucharistic prefaces as well as the celebration of the feast days of the saints recently canonized in the "extraordinary" form of the Mass.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published two decrees on March 25 that complete "the mandate conferred by Pope Benedict XVI" on the former Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", said the Vatican.

St. John Paul II established the commission in 1988 to facilitate the "full ecclesial communion of priests, seminarians, religious communities or individuals" attached to the pre-Vatican II Mass.

However, Pope Francis closed the commission in 2019 and transferred their duties to a new section of the doctrinal congregation.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI allowed the celebration of the "extraordinary" form of the Mass, that is, Mass according to the Roman Missal published in 1962 before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

A decree allowed the use of seven new Eucharistic prefaces that could be optionally used for the feasts of saints, votive masses or "ad hoc" celebrations.

"This choice was made in order to safeguard, through the unity of the texts, the unanimity of the feelings and prayer that are appropriate for the confession of the mysteries of salvation celebrated in what constitutes the backbone of the liturgical year", said the Vatican.

The other decree allowed the optional celebration of the feasts of the saints canonized after 1962. It also allowed the possibility of honoring the saints appointed in the future.

"In choosing whether or not to use the provisions of the decree in liturgical celebrations in honor of the saints, the celebrant is expected to make use of common pastoral sense," said the Vatican.