Vatican Restricts Traditional Latin Mass for Pilgrims in Spain

By David Ramos

The Vatican has imposed a ban on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Covadonga. This Mass traditionally marks the end of the annual Our Lady of Christendom pilgrimage in Spain. The organizers of the fourth edition of the pilgrimage shared this news in a July 6 post on X: “The Archdiocese of Oviedo informed us that they received instructions from the Dicastery for Divine Worship stating that the Traditional Holy Mass is not to be celebrated in Covadonga.”

The pilgrimage, scheduled from July 27–29, will start from Oviedo. According to Our Lady of Christendom’s website, the pilgrimage is organized by a group of faithful lay Catholics dedicated to celebrating the Holy Mass according to the extraordinary form of the Roman rite, also known as the Traditional Latin Mass or Tridentine Mass.

The pilgrimage aims to sanctify souls through the graces requested from Our Lord, via the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, offering prayers, sacrifices, and mortifications over three days. The website highlights that during these days, the pilgrims especially pray for their homeland and the Holy Father.

The pilgrimage, covering about 60 miles, is independent of any institute, community, or religious organization. The Archdiocese of Oviedo notes that devotion to the Virgin Mary at the Covadonga shrine dates back to “many years before the battle of Covadonga,” where Christians led by King Don Pelayo defeated the Muslim army in the eighth century A.D. Covadonga now attracts over a million visitors annually from around the world.

‘Not a Reason to Be Sad’

Despite the prohibition of the Traditional Latin Mass at the basilica, the organizers announced on X that this year’s Mass on the third day will be celebrated in the pilgrims’ camp in the morning before the final leg of the pilgrimage. This Mass will be in the extraordinary form.

“This circumstance should not be a reason for sadness but should encourage us to persevere in the love and devotion that we profess for the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar within Holy Mother the Church,” they stated.

Instead of Mass at Covadonga, the pilgrims will sing the Te Deum before the Blessed Sacrament, which will be solemnly exposed, and the pilgrimage will conclude with a consecration to the Blessed Virgin.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, EWTN Norway’s Spanish-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted by EWTN Norway.

Photo credit:
Our Lady of Christendom is an annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Covadonga (Asturias) that takes place around the feast of St. James the Apostle (July 25), patron saint of Spain. | Credit: Our Lady of Christendom Pilgrimage