Changes in certain Mass procedures to be implemented by Palm Sunday

Here in this diocese, Bishop Nienstedt, in consultation with the Priest Council, has decided to postpone the implementation of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) until April 13, 2003 (Palm Sunday) in order to provide an opportunity for a fuller catechesis.

In other diocesan newspapers throughout the province, the following Mass changes for the new GIRM have been emphasized.

These changes are prescribed in one or more of three church documents: the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and two other documents, written after the GIRM revisions that allow U.S. parishes to use certain modifications, used in conjunction with the GIRM - "Adaptations for the United States" and "Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America".

- Perhaps the most noticeable change in many parishes will be that when receiving Holy Communion standing, the communicant is to bow his or her head as a gesture of reverence, say "Amen" prior to receiving Communion and then accept the Body of Christ from the priest, deacon or eucharistic minister. When Holy Communion is received under both kinds, the bow signifying reverence also is made before receiving the Precious Blood. The gesture of the bow replaces other gestures such as genuflections, profound bows, and prostrations. How Holy Communion is received — whether on the tongue or in the hand — is determined by the individual communicant rather than by the minister of Holy Communion. This gesture of reverence was decided by the Bishops of the United States for every communicant in the Dioceses of the United States.

- "The norm for reception of Holy Communion in the dioceses of the United States is standing," says the "Adaptations." It continues, "Communicants should not be denied Holy Communion because they kneel. Rather, such instances should be addressed pastorally, by providing the faithful with proper catechesis on the reasons for this norm."

- The single genuflection toward the tabernacle at the beginning and end of Mass (GIRM, 274). This rubric helps to clarify a long standing confusion in offering due respect to the reserved sacrament during the celebration of the Mass. Implicit in this directive is the belief that once Mass has begun, the action of the Mass — in both the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist — should fully occupy the attention of all. Hence, while the reserved sacrament is acknow-ledged, its veneration is not a direct part of the living celebration of the Eucharist on the altar.

- The posture of standing "from the invitation Pray, brethren, before the prayer over the offerings. . ." (GIRM, 43). This change of posture is made in order to assure that the faithful are standing for the start of the prayer over the gifts which — like the other presidential prayers (the Opening Prayer and the Prayer after communion) — is always prayed with the whole congre-gation standing.

- The norm of kneeling after "the Sanctus until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer" (GIRM, 43). The Bishops of the United States have affirmed that this posture is to continue as a sign of our reverence and our offering of ourselves with the one sacrifice of Christ. The practice of kneeling through the completion of the Great Amen is in order to prevent the singing of this important acclamation from being interrupted by the change of posture anticipated by the faithful.

- The norm of kneeling from after the Agnus Dei until moving forward for the reception of Holy Communion (GIRM, 43).

- The approach of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to the altar as the priest receives Communion (GIRM, 162). The GIRM states that the communion of the priest is to be respected by the faithful prior to their approaching the altar. Since the communion of the priest is necessary for the validity of the sacrifice, and is that moment when the Lord is received by the priest personally, extra-ordinary ministers may be in the sanctuary but should not enter the celebrant’s usual space at the altar, nor present any distraction to his recollection at so important a moment in the celebration.

- The Lectionary may not be carried into church at the beginning of Mass. Instead, the book of Gospels may be carried. If the church has no book of Gospels, no book is carried in procession.

- The preferential use of music at all Masses is addressed. For instance, the eucharistic acclamations are to be sung. Those are the "Holy, Holy," the memorial acclamation ("Christ has died, Christ has risen..." or its variations) and the Great Amen. Also, the preference is that psalms are to be sung.

- It has been common practice in the United States for deacons to say, "Let us proclaim the mystery of faith," leading the memorial acclamation. The new practice will be for the priest to issue that invitation.

- There will be more emphasis on offering Holy Communion under both species. During the 1970s, consecrated wine was only given to people on special occasions, but during the past 25 years, through practice, those occasions have increased. Now the GIRM encourages, but does not require the use of both species.

Among the changes mandated in the "Norms", but changed by an approved exemption by the Bishops’ Conference are the following two that pertain to Eucharistic Ministers:

- Although the GIRM (the 2000 version that came out in April 2002) specifies that lay people no longer were to purify vessels after communion, the "Norms" allow them to do so, based on a special permission given to the U.S. bishops.

- Similarly, regarding consumption of Precious Blood that remains after distribution of Communion, the "Norms" provide an exception from the GIRM. The GIRM says only priests and deacons are allowed to consume this Precious Blood. The "Norms" provide that in the United States, lay people also may do this.

The "Adaptations" also contain other changes. Among them:

- The general instruction indicates that when the Sign of Peace is exchanged, the priest is not to leave the sanctuary, the logic being that he already has wished the congregation peace. The deacon then says, "Let us all exchange a sign of peace." But the "Adaptations" provide that for a good reason or on a special occasion, the priest may go outside the sanctuary to exchange a sign of peace.

- At the time of the psalm between the first and second reading, a responsorial psalm has customarily been used with a cantor singing the verses and the congregation singing a refrain. Now, a "metrical psalm" - like a hymn - is allowed, and the cantor and congregation may sing it together.

- Diocesan bishops can add special days of prayer to the liturgical calendar. The U.S. bishops have declared that Jan. 22 (Jan. 23 if Jan. 22 is a Sunday) is to be observed as such a special day of prayer. It will not be a holy day of obligation. Jan. 22 is the day the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 upheld the Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion the law of the land. This day, says the "Adaptations," shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass "For Peace and Justice" should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day."

Excerpts of this article have been published courtesy of The Catholic Spirit and the New Earth.