WASHINGTON - A new Vatican instruction on the extraordinary form of the Mass intends to make it easier for Catholics who want to worship this way to do so. In lay terms, it has eliminated some red tape.

For example, in years past, Catholics who wanted to attend the Latin-language liturgy celebrated according to the 1962 Roman Missal had to request this from their parish priest, who then had to receive permission from the bishop to offer these Masses.

Now, according to a Vatican instruction released May 13, pastors do not have to get the local bishop’s permission to approve these Masses for Catholic groups even when these groups are small or formed of people from different parishes or dioceses.

The instruction calls on bishops and pastors to respond generously to Catholics who seek to attend this Mass, commonly known as the Tridentine Mass.