U.S. bishops to vote on issues pertaining to liturgy

Baltimore, MD - During their upcoming annual fall meeting in Baltimore, November 13-16, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops agenda will include voting on several issues pertaining to the liturgy.

A statement designed to help Catholics properly prepare to receive Holy Communion will be voted on. The proposed document, "Happy Are Those Who Are Called To His Supper": On Preparing To Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist, is not intended to be a technical document for bishops, pastors, or ministers, but is addressed to all the faithful and suitable for individual reading, parish study groups, and other education programs. Organized as a series of questions and answers, the statement explores topics such as what the Catholic Church believes about the Eucharist, who may receive Holy Communion, and how Catholics can prepare to receive the sacrament more worthily.

The bishops will also vote on updating the Mass readings for the First Sunday and all the weekdays of Advent. The update of the readings marks the first part of a planned revision of the Lectionary for Mass. The action, which is being submitted by the Committee on the Liturgy, requires approval by two-thirds of the Latin Church members and subsequent confirmation by the Holy See. Revisions of additional portions of the Lectionary will be submitted at future meetings.

A vote will also be taken to establish norms for hymns at Mass. The new norms, which will require a two-thirds vote by the bishops and subsequent recognition by the Holy See, are to ensure that liturgical songs will be doctrinally correct, based in the scriptural and liturgical texts and relatively fixed. The norms are part of a new "Directory for Music and the Liturgy for Use in the Dioceses in the United States of America." The directory responds to a recommendation of Liturgiam Authenticam, the fifth Vatican instruction on correct implementation of liturgical renewal called for by the Second Vatican Council. For a list of the specific norms or further information about these topics or other topics to be addressed at the annual meeting, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Web site at www.usccb.org.