Vatican says Mass norms must be followed exactly to ensure reverence

Catholic News Service ^ | April 23, 2004 | Cindy Wooden

[Desdemona]

Vatican says Mass norms must be followed exactly to ensure reverence

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The norms for celebrating Mass must be followed exactly to ensure reverence for the Eucharist and to preserve the unity of the Catholic Church, said a new Vatican document.

"In some places the perpetration of liturgical abuses has become almost habitual, a fact which obviously cannot be allowed and must cease," said the document, "Redemptoris Sacramentum" ("The Sacrament of Redemption"), written by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

The instruction, approved by Pope John Paul II and released at an April 23 Vatican press conference, particularly cited as abuses the use of eucharistic prayers not approved by the church, changing approved prayer texts, and allowing lay people to carry out functions reserved to a priest or deacon.

The document said that while it was "laudable" to encourage boys and young men to be altar servers, girls and women can be altar servers if the local bishop permitted the practice.

Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the congregation, told reporters, "No one should be surprised that over the course of time the holy church, our mother, has developed words, actions and, therefore, directives regarding this supreme act of worship.

"The eucharistic norms were elaborated to express and safeguard the eucharistic mystery and, even more, to demonstrate that it is the church which celebrates this august sacrifice and sacrament," he said.

Because the Mass and Eucharist are so important to the church, he said, practices that violate the church's norms cannot be taken lightly.

The norms reaffirm church teaching that a Catholic, in a situation of serious sin, must go to confession before approaching the Eucharist.

Cardinal Arinze refused to answer a direct question about whether Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry, the probable Democratic nominee for U.S. president and a supporter of legalized abortion, should be denied Communion unless he goes to confession and repents for his position.

"The norm of the church is clear," he said. "The church exists in the United States. There are bishops there, let them interpret it."

However, when asked more generally if a priest should refuse Communion to a politician who supports abortion, Cardinal Arinze said, "Yes."

"If the person should not receive Communion, then he should not be given it," the cardinal said.

Introducing the document, Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which collaborated in writing the instruction, said that celebrating the Mass in an "arbitrary" manner not only "deforms the celebration, but provokes doctrinal insecurity, perplexity and scandal among the people of God."

The document highlighted violations of existing church norms, but did not set new rules.

It recognized as legitimate the various practices that local bishops have been authorized to permit, including Communion in the hand and the distribution of Communion under the species of bread and wine.

At the same time, it insisted that lay people delegated to assist with the distribution of Communion be referred to as "extraordinary ministers of holy Communion," rather than as eucharistic ministers to emphasize the fact that in the Catholic liturgy the priest is the minister of the Eucharist.

Extraordinary ministers are to assist only when the number of communicants would make it difficult for the priests present to distribute Communion to everyone.

If other priests are present at the Mass and able to help distribute Communion they must do so before extraordinary ministers are employed, it said.

The instruction explicitly bans the practice where priests, "although present at the celebration, abstain from distributing Communion and hand this function over to laypersons."

Any member of the church, it said, "has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan bishop ... or to the Apostolic See."

The document said, however, that a complaint should be submitted first to the local bishop and that it should be done "in truth and charity."

Unlike an early draft of the document, which was leaked to the press last summer, the instruction did not ban liturgical dance; it did not mention dance at all.

The document said the Second Vatican Council fostered the participation of lay people in the Mass through "responses, psalmody, antiphons and canticles, as well as actions or movements and gestures, and called for sacred silence to be maintained at the proper times."

Following the council's direction, it said, in the choice of music, optional prayers, church decoration and the homily, "there is ample possibility for introducing into each celebration a certain variety."

But only approved Scripture readings are allowed, only a priest or deacon may give the homily and only approved eucharistic prayers can be recited -- and those only by priests.

Anyone at Mass who gives "free reign to his own inclinations, even if he is a priest, injures the substantial unity of the Roman rite, which ought to be vigorously preserved," said the instruction.

"The reprobated practice by which priests, deacons or the faithful here and there alter or vary at will the texts of the sacred liturgy that they are charged to pronounce must cease," it said.

The instruction emphasized that the Eucharist is the memorial of Christ's sacrifice and is not simply a "fraternal meal."

Standing, sitting and kneeling, singing, reciting prayers and praying in silence are all part of an active participation in the Mass, it said.

Reaffirming previous Vatican directives, the instruction said wheat is the only grain acceptable for making hosts and that honey or sugar are not to be added.

While priests who have been laicized may administer the sacrament of confession to someone in danger of death, they are not to celebrate Mass under any circumstances, nor should they serve publicly as lectors or altar servers "lest confusion arise among Christ's faithful."

According to the instruction, some very serious abuses arise from a misplaced desire to promote ecumenism; the document said Mass is not to be concelebrated with a non-Catholic minister.

"The Eucharist is the apex of a Catholic celebration," Cardinal Arinze said. Shared Communion is the goal of Christian unity, not a means to foster full unity in faith and doctrine.

"The Eucharist is not our possession to be given to our friends," he said, but rather it belongs to the church and is a sign of faith held in common.

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[ninenot]

Well, in the Good Old Days, there was an excellent program at Manhattanville College, in addition to CU, as well as one in Ohio (forgot where) and at least one on the West Coast (Marymount, I think...)

AND each Seminary had at least 2 years' work on the topic, largely practicum, not 'theoretical underpinnings.'

Now one has to wave a flag to make people understand that "sacred" music is NOT the same as "liturgical" music.

Yeeeeeeshhhh

[B-Chan]

VOLVAMUS!

[Desdemona]

Now one has to wave a flag to make people understand that "sacred" music is NOT the same as "liturgical" music.

And people will argue with you over that, too.

I don't know. I doubt much will change without a document specific and pointed with teeth. There needs to be a list of music out there that does NOT meet the criterea and the Vatican is going to have to audit various dioceses and publically state who is in error. It's moving toward that, but in church time.

[Desdemona]

Musicians as a group tend to think that continuous music is a good thing, which demonstrates that they are a bit dotty.

Or have an ego problem.

(I didn't say that.)

[Desdemona]

With battle-axes and firewood aplenty, the TTGC stands ready to assist, vigorously.

Tie them up and we can sing really high notes in their ears.

[ninenot]

uhhhnnuuuhhh...

I dunno. "Cruel/unusual" likely applies even under the rules of combat of TTGC.

[Desdemona]

"Cruel/unusual" likely applies even under the rules of combat of TTGC.

I guess a tablespoon of freshly ground horseradish (the REAL stuff they grow here) is out too. Darn.

[gemoftheocean]

Christ said "Do this in remembrance of me." As far as I can tell he did not set down a hundred rules at the same time. I am out of here. Let the flames begin...

Don't let the door hit you on the hiney.... Seriously, you're "shocked, shocked" that the church is demanding that the Roman Ritual be said the same way without everyone doing a free-for-all? Perhaps you need to go out an establish your own Protestant denomination! Then you can do whatever the heck you want to....

[Maximilian]

Is it me or does this actually say nothing changes? We will still have Altar girls, 15 lay people handing out communion and raising our hands at the Our Father, type stuff.

No, it's not just you. This document appears to be a major disappointment. What will change in your parish after this document has come out, whether your parish be liberal or conservative? Nothing. It looks like Dr. Thomas Drolesky had the inside scoop when he wrote

Worse than deja vu all over again

[Desdemona]

That's very unkind. Faced with such a response, I might just walk out too. The church is open to everyone.

[Desdemona]

We don't always get what we want. I get the distinct impression that this is a strike two situation.

As for girls serving - note how the virtues of having boys served are laid out specifically and girls and women are listed in what will probably be described as an afterthought. It's obvious what the Vatican prefers in this case.

[Investment Biker]

Nothing like a Christian attitude to make me want to change. At least I will not have to put up with the folks that share your attitude.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

What kind of bike do you ride?

BigMack

[Desdemona]

Please understand that not all of us think that way and some of us mourn greatly those who walk away.

It is unchristian to do anything else.

[ArrogantBustard]

It's obvious what the Vatican prefers in this case.

It's just as obvious that many American bishops don't give a rodent's rump what the Vatican prefers.

[Desdemona]

It's just as obvious that many American bishops don't give a rodent's rump what the Vatican prefers.

Somehow, I don't think this is a problem limited to the Americas.

[ArrogantBustard]

Tie them up and we can sing really high notes in their ears.

Or render them fit only to sing really high notes themselves...

(Yes, I'm still CE, TTGC!)

[franky]

The opening page looks like a copy of the wall painting at the Basilica of the Blessed Mother in Washington, DC

One priest mentioned that it looked like a pump up version of God.

I'm not sure if it represents God or Christ?

Anyway, the site was great.

[conservonator]

Next time I see him and we are out together I will kid him and ask him if they brought back the selling of indulgences yet because I need some.

Why practice simony when you can earn them with out much difficulty? I, like may other freeper Catholics earned a plenary indulgence last Sunday. Didn't cost a dime.;)

[franky]

The first two I emailed the two priest at my church. I'm tired of people falling over two aisles to shake hands and the "extra ordinary servers" walking up the aisle for a hand shake. Also, those receiving communion in the hand and walking about 15 feet from the altar as they put the host in thier mouths.

The third is for a church I went to for a novena and they had the Euharist and the 2 challices were of glass holding the wine.

[72.] It is appropriate “that each one give the sign of peace only to those who are nearest and in a sober manner”. “The Priest may give the sign of peace to the ministers but always remains within the sanctuary, so as not to disturb the celebration. He does likewise if for a just reason he wishes to extend the sign of peace to some few of the faithful”. “As regards the sign to be exchanged, the manner is to be established by the Conference of Bishops in accordance with the dispositions and customs of the people”, and their acts are subject to the recognitio of the Apostolic See.[152]
90.] “The faithful should receive Communion kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops will have determined”, with its acts having received the recognitio of the Apostolic See. “However, if they receive Communion standing, it is recommended that they give due reverence before the reception of the Sacrament, as set forth in the same norms”.[176]

92.] Although each of the faithful always has the right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue, at his choice,[178] if any communicant should wish to receive the Sacrament in the hand, in areas where the Bishops’ Conference with the recognitio of the Apostolic See has given permission, the sacred host is to be administered to him or her. However, special care should be taken to ensure that the host is consumed by the communicant in the presence of the minister, so that no one goes away carrying the Eucharistic species in his hand. If there is a risk of profanation, then Holy Communion should not be given in the hand to the faithful.[179]

[117.] Sacred vessels for containing the Body and Blood of the Lord must be made in strict conformity with the norms of tradition and of the liturgical books.[205]The Bishops’ Conferences have the faculty to decide whether it is appropriate, once their decisions have been given the recognitio by the Apostolic See, for sacred vessels to be made of other solid materials as well. It is strictly required, however, that such materials be truly noble in the common estimation within a given region,[206]so that honour will be given to the Lord by their use, and all risk of diminishing the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharistic species in the eyes of the faithful will be avoided. Reprobated, therefore, is any practice of using for the celebration of Mass common vessels, or others lacking in quality, or devoid of all artistic merit or which are mere containers, as also other vessels made from glass, earthenware, clay, or other materials that break easily. This norm is to be applied even as regards metals and other materials that easily rust or deteriorate.[207