Redemptionis Sacramentum

[morostheos]

Yippee!! I just printed it out, can't wait to read it this weekend!! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to read about proper respect for the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Eucharist!

[Theoketos]

Thanks dUSt, I thought I had not seen it posted yet.

Maybe you could show some linkage to that thread about us all anticipating it...

I would but can not find it.

[Dave]

Question is, how many priests and others obey and stop doing their own thing?

[Fiat_Voluntas_Tua]

This is PHAT

[Im4Him]

I printed it out and am about half way though it. It's awesome!

[immaculata]

*does happy dance*

[cmotherofpirl]

This Instruction, prepared by the Congregation for Divine Worship and
the Discipline of the Sacraments by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff
John Paul II in collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith, was approved by the same Pontiff on the Solemnity of
St. Joseph, 19 March 2004, and he ordered it to be published and to
[u]be observed immediately by all concerned.[/u]
From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the
Discipline of the Sacraments, Rome, on the Solemnity of the
Annunciation of the Lord, 25 March 2004.

Francis Card. Arinze
Prefect

Domenico Sorrentino
Archbishop Secretary

[Thomas Michael]

On altar servers:

"Girls or women may also be admitted to this service of the altar, at the discretion of the diocesan Bishop and in observance of the established norms."

THANK YOU to the Vatican for clearing this up... I hope that this settles any debate over whether or not the Magisterium permits altar girls.

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On the Eucharistic Prayer:

"While the Priest proclaims the Eucharistic Prayer 'there should be no other prayers or singing, and the organ or other musical instruments should be silent', except for the people’s acclamations that have been duly approved."

Sounds like bad news for St. Philip's in Lewisville... they like to turn the Eucharistic Prayer into a big elaborate musical performance.

--------

On the Gospel readings:

"Within the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy, the reading of the Gospel, which is 'the high point of the Liturgy of the Word', is reserved by the Church’s tradition to an ordained minister. Thus it is not permitted for a layperson, even a religious, to proclaim the Gospel reading in the celebration of Holy Mass, nor in other cases in which the norms do not explicitly permit it."

Um... does this mean no more "assigned roles" in the Passion reading on Palm Sunday and Good Friday? (And does this mean we can do away with the big musical performances some churches turn the RCIA Gospel readings into during Lent?)

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On the Homily:

"The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass and is a part of the Liturgy itself, should ordinarily be given by the Priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but never to a layperson. In particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a Priest who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate."

PLEEEEEASE tell me this means no more "guest speakers" during the Homily!!! That's one of my major pet peeves about the Mass.

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On the Breaking of the Bread:

"...The rite must be carried out with great reverence. Even so, it should be brief. The abuse that has prevailed in some places, by which this rite is unnecessarily prolonged and given undue emphasis, with laypersons also helping in contradiction to the norms, should be corrected with all haste."

Maybe this will put an end to the extended versions of "Lamb of God". I tolerate five rounds at the most.

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On the kneeling/standing for the Eucharist issue:

"In distributing Holy Communion it is to be remembered that “sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them in a reasonable manner, are rightly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them”.[177] Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. [b]Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing[/b]." (my emphasis)

There you have it. The official word from Vatican City... you can kneel and not be denied Communion.

--------

On Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist:

"Only when there is a necessity may extraordinary ministers assist the Priest celebrant in accordance with the norm of law."

I guess this will still remain up for debate, as to what constitutes a "necessity".

--------

On both species:

"So that the fullness of the sign may be made more clearly evident to the faithful in the course of the Eucharistic banquet, lay members of Christ’s faithful, too, are admitted to Communion under both kinds, in the cases set forth in the liturgical books, preceded and continually accompanied by proper catechesis regarding the dogmatic principles on this matter laid down by the Ecumenical Council of Trent."

This should hopefully silence the "bread-only" crowd.

--------

On the use of Latin:

"Mass is celebrated either in Latin or in another language, provided that liturgical texts are used which have been approved according to the norm of law. Except in the case of celebrations of the Mass that are scheduled by the ecclesiastical authorities to take place in the language of the people, Priests are always and everywhere permitted to celebrate Mass in Latin."

Well, there's your endorsement of using the Latin language. I hope all American Bishops are paying attention.

Edited April 23, 2004 by Thomas Michael

[Katholikos]

Hey dUSt, remember a couple of years ago when I wrote to Cardinal Arinze about liturgy abuses? I think I just got my answer! I'm sure this is in response to thousands of cries for help from all over the world. Deo Gratias!

Thanks for posting this, Cmom.

Ave Cor Mariae, Likos

[dUSt]

[quote name='Katholikos' date='Apr 23 2004, 06:02 PM'] Hey dUSt, remember a couple of years ago when I wrote to Cardinal Arinze about liturgy abuses? I think I just got my answer! I'm sure this is in response to thousands of cries for help from all over the world. Deo Gratias!

Thanks for posting this, Cmom.

Ave Cor Mariae, Likos [/quote]
I remember. I was waiting for you to get something back. haha
It doesn't address holding hands during the Our Father though.

[L5]

[quote][184.] Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ’s faithful, has the [b]right [/b]to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.[290] It is fitting, however, insofar as possible, that the report or complaint be submitted first to the diocesan Bishop. This is naturally to be done in truth and charity.
[/quote]

We have a [b]right[/b] to complain the Bishop's ear off if we continue to see disobedience.

[cmotherofpirl]

Dust it doesn't have to address the handing holding since the US bishops have already stated the orans position is preferable.

[cmotherofpirl]

RGis should stop the altar-gathering:

114.] “At Sunday Masses in parishes, insofar as parishes are ‘Eucharistic communities’, it is customary to find different groups, movements, associations, and even the smaller religious communities present in the parish.”[202] While it is permissible that Mass should be celebrated for particular groups according to the norm of law,[203][u] these groups are nevertheless not exempt from the faithful observance of the liturgical norms[/u]

[Katholikos]

[quote name='L5' date='Apr 24 2004, 08:24 AM']
We have a [b]right[/b] to complain the Bishop's ear off if we continue to see disobedience. [/quote]
Just for the record, I reported liturgical abuses to the former bishop of this diocese, repeatedly, over a long period of time. My complaints fell on deaf ears. So, in desperation, I finally wrote to Cardinal Arinze in Rome. We have a new bishop now, Deo gratias, in whom I have complete confidence.

JMJ Likos

[Spiritual_Arsonist]

Great document. Lets see if the hierarchy is going to have the guts to use it.