Changes in the General Instructions of the Roman Missal
On December 3, 2006, the First Sunday of Advent, all the parishes of the diocese of Norwich will be initiating some changes in the way Mass is celebrated. Through the month of November, this page on our web site will explain what the changes are, so that everyone will understand and be prepared.
The liturgy is the prayer of the whole Church. In 2003 a new document was issued for the whole world. It will be followed in a few years by a new translation of the Mass, but right now the changes being implemented in the diocese of Norwich deal with actions and gesture, rather than words. By implementing these things correctly, we will be joining together with the whole Church in the unity of our celebration and we will be encouraging one another to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist with more attention and understanding.
The document that mandated these changes is called the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. It was published by the Vatican in 2000 and the official English translation was published by the Bishop's Conference of the United States in 2003. The document provides directives about the actions and gestures of the priest and people at the celebration of the Eucharist. This new edition of the General Instruction is only the third one which has been issued in the last 40 years. Its main goal is to increase active participation in the celebration.
Three details of the change will be especially noticeable for the people. The first is how the Liturgy of the Word is carried out. The second is a change in when the community stands at the preparation of the gifts. The third is how we show a sign of reverence before receiving the Eucharist.
More broadly, the General Instruction puts much emphasis on the importance of congregational singing as a source of prayer and unity for the people, especially during the Communion procession. The opportunity for private prayer at Communion is provided in a period of silence which follows the Communion procession.
The General Instruction also gives some direction which will affect readers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. Of course, priests and deacons have several more technical issues concerning their own participation in the celebration and they also bear responsibility, along with parish lay ministers, for explaining and implementing the changes.
During the Entrance Procession the deacon or another minister is to carry the Book of the Gospels. This book is intended to remind us visually of the importance of the Gospels to our faith and in our lives. As a community, we greet the presence of the Gospel in our midst. Before the Gospel for the day is read we sing the Alleluia, or another acclamation during Lent, as the Book of the Gospels is brought to the ambo. The singing of this Gospel Acclamation is a sign of our faith in the Word we are about to hear.
The Liturgy of the Word, the three Sunday readings, the responsorial psalm and the homily, are to have certain "pace" and dignity. There is to be a brief period of silence following:
- Each reading
- The responsorial psalm
- The homily
The goal of these brief periods of silence is to make it possible to reflect on the Word of God which has just been proclaimed. The General Instruction says that the silences are intended to foster a spirit of reflection and meditation. Of course, these periods of silence shine new light on the ministry of readers. The people cannot meditate on what they have heard unless the readings are proclaimed well.
Periods of silence can present a great challenge to some people. Our world is not used to silence. Very often, every minute of our day is filled with sound - from music, games, television and so on. The challenge presented in the liturgy is that we greet the silence and become comfortable in it, allowing God's Word to take root in us. Mass is not a race to see how fast we can finish. These periods of silence will contribute to making Mass a time of prayer and peace.
In the Mass, as the gifts are being brought to the altar, the congregation is sitting. The General Instruction indicates that all the people should stand together when the priest invites them to pray by saying the words, "Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father." That is, the people should already be standing when they make their response: "May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good and the good of all His church."
The important point here is that standing is the proper posture for joining the priest in this prayer. The people, united by rising together and standing in unity, are ready to echo the priest's prayer that God accept the gifts being offered. Until we all get accustomed to this change, many parishes may have the priest, a deacon or a lay minister gesture to the congregation to stand together at the proper time.
In the last few years, there has been some confusion about whether people kneel or remain standing after the Lamb of God. The General Instruction states that the people kneel after the Lamb of God unless the diocesan bishop decides otherwise. In the diocese of Norwich we will kneel after the Lamb of God, although in other dioceses the practice may vary.
A few things will be changed for the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. For instance, in many parishes the ministers have been taking their place around the altar at the time of the Lamb of God. Now they will remain in their places until the priest is receiving Communion and then come to the altar.
For many years now, Catholics have been receiving Communion, either in the hand or on the tongue, while standing. The General Instruction reaffirms that standing is the correct posture for receiving Communion. The document also states that each person should make some "sign of reverence" before receiving the Host or drinking from the chalice. In the United States, that sign of reverence is a bow of the head.
The bow of the head, a very simple gesture, has two purposes. First, the person who is about to receive the Eucharist can be more mindful of what he or she is doing. Second, the whole congregation is united by posture (standing) and gesture (bow of the head) as they approach the altar in procession, singing and praising God. In addition to posture and gesture, the congregation is united through singing an appropriate hymn or psalm which expresses the joy of the occasion. Time for private prayer after Communion is provided in a period of silence after the distribution is completed.
The General Instruction contains many provisions which pertain directly to priests and deacons and not all the people. One provision of particular interest is that the bishops of the United States have directed that January 22 (January 23 if the 22nd is a Sunday) is to be observed throughout the country as a "particular day of penance for violations against the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion." On that day, the votive mass for Justice and Peace should be celebrated in parishes.
The entire General Instruction can be purchased online or purchased through a Catholic bookstore.
