CIEL is an international association of Catholics founded by young French laymen in 1994 for the
study of the liturgy, under the patronage of the late Cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler and also the late Cardinal Silvio Oddi.
CIEL, through an annual international Colloquium, provides an academic defence of the 'Forma extraordinaria'
of the Church which was alluded to most recently by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum
"...the Roman Missal promulgated by St Pius V and reissued by Bl John XXIII is to be considered as an extraordinary expression
of that [same] Lex Orandi and must be given due honour for its venerable and ancient usage". By doing so, CIEL is
contributing to a wider understanding and love of liturgy as the highest expression of prayer which the Church offers to God
and also contributing to the conditions for a more liberal acceptance of its usage, as most recently decreed by the Holy Father.
CIEL has now held over ten international colloquia since 1995, the Proceedings of which have been
published in several languages and distributed freely to the hierarchies across the world.
CIEL UK, formed in October 1996, was the first national association to be set up outside France.
CIEL UK is responsible for the translation and publication of the annual Proceedings in English.
CIEL UK draws its support from 'Friends' who identify with its objectives. Friends receive the newsletter
CIEL UK Chronicle two or three times a year for an annual donation of £15.
