Two observations on the Ordinary/Extraordinary Form

I am away from home at the moment, which creates opportunities to exchange views with one or two different people.

Two observations on the Ordinary/Extraordinary form.

The present situation in this regard is making some of us feel that we have to "take a position" - when we do not really want to feel forced to do so. Essentially, we are happy to participate in the life of the Roman Rite - period (as the Americans might say) - without really wanting to go further and define ourselves vis a vis the Extraordinary Form.

Is it possible for the availability of a celebration of the Extraordinary Form to be divisive, in a place where the Ordinary Form has previously been usual, accepted and celebrated correctly and reverently? In principle it should not be so, since the celebration of either form remains a celebration of the one Roman Rite, and the choice to attend one form rather than the other therefore does not have any "content" as far as theology of liturgy, communion with the local and universal Church etc are concerned. But how do people actually feel about this when it happens? This question applies equally to those who make both choices, and perhaps demands a careful evaluation of our response to this situation.

It might well be that we are in a phase where the more generous provision for the Extraordinary Form has a certain novelty for people (and I do not intend this to be disparaging to anyone, simply to describe the situation we find ourselves in), a novelty which they quite understandably wish to exercise, and that the two concerns above may resolve themselves as we move into a more settled phase.

It was mooted some time ago that there would be a second document making more precise some of the juridical provisions of Summorum Pontificum. I wonder whether a strategy of waiting to see how the situation develops before further juridical provision is made is perhaps a good one?

Meanwhile a considerable level of charitable give and take might well be in order - with people preferring celebration according to each form being willing to give way to a celebration of the other form out of charity and in the interests of a communion that can be experienced as well as one that we know is objective.