Called and Gathered: The Introductory Rites

The Introductory Rites preceding the liturgy of the word, namely the opening liturgical song, greeting, penitential rite, Kyrie, Gloria and opening prayer have the character of a beginning, introduction, and preparation. The purpose of these rites is that the faithful coming together take on the form of a community and prepare themselves to listen to God’s word and celebratethe Eucharist worthily.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal #46

by Jane Bernard Hanson

In this article we continue our reflection on the Mass in preparation for the publication of the new Sacramentary (the Big Red Book on the altar), and the revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal. This time we take a look at the basic structure of liturgy and focus on the Introductory Rites.

There is a pattern to the way we humans get together. Think of gatherings and celebrations with family and friends. The first thing that usually happens is an invitation. It could be a formal

one on fancy paper and pretty printing . . . "The pleasure of your company is requested . . ." or an informal one. Great Aunt Martha calls. . . "I’m doing Christmas this year! Let’s all get together about 3:00. You bring the fruitcake." The invitation is accepted. . . "Thanks, Great Aunt Martha! We’ll be there with the fruitcake." And then you show up and along with the other folks, you gather at Great Aunt Martha’s house. There are stories told, old memories called to mind and heart, and new memories made. Then the meal . . . we enjoy that essential, defining human action of dining together. We are nourished and strengthened with not only food but with conversation and companionship as well. And after the meal and perhaps some more stories, and of course the cleaning up, you make your way home. It’s the same pattern for getting together whether it’s a birthday party or Thanksgiving dinner or having coffee in a friends kitchen or a big, fancy dinner party. . . we gather, we listen, we do and we go.

That’s the way it is for us as church too. We gather as the Body of Christ, not because we think it’s a good thing to do on Sunday mornings, but because God’s gracious invitation calls us together. We listen to the stories of our faith. We recall God’s presence and action among human beings not as once-upon-a-time stories, but as the living, challenging Word of God present and active here and now. We do the Eucharistic action and are nourished and strengthened by the Body and Blood of Christ. And we go forth into the world as faithful disciples and living witnesses of the Gospel.

The gathering part is important. We have all said, "We’re off to a good start." Getting off to a good liturgical start is all about hospitality and paying attention to the presence of Christ. It is within our very act of hospitable and gracious gathering, that we first encounter Christ. He said it himself, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20). This is the kind of hospitality that recognizes and respects the presence of Christ in each and every person. This is the kind of hospitality that says for the time that we are together there is a privileged place for you in my life. The late Father Gene Walsh said it well, "Gathering is the first step in Christian love. It is the initial movement in fulfilling God’s command to love one another."

Next time, "The Word of the Lord: the Liturgy of the Word."

Jane Bernard Hanson is the director of Worship & Spiritual Life for the Diocese of New Ulm.

Recent history of the Sacramentary

Here’s a brief look at the recent history of the Sacramentary (the big red book of prayers.) The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) mandated that the order of Mass and all the sacraments be revised and renewed. The first revision was published in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. It introduced the changes in the Mass envisioned by the Council Fathers. Knowing that all living things, including the liturgy, evolve and develop, the Sacramentary was revised, again in 1975. That revision took into consideration the experience of the changes in the Mass and the revisions of the other rites of the church. And now, based on the wisdom gleaned from more than 30 years of liturgical renewal and pastoral practice, the Sacramentary is again being fine-tuned.

The first part of the Sacramentary, its introduction, is called the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM). The GIRM describes the structure of the Eucharistic celebration and also explains the liturgical and doctrinal principles that are the foundation of the Mass.