Jesuits are encouraged to become knowledgable about local diocesan liturgical practices. For example, some dioceses prescribe kneeling after the Agnus Dei while others prescribe standing. Some dioceses prescribe standing during the Gospels while others prescribe sitting down. Some dioceses encourage the assembly to remain standing until the end of Communion, while others have not made any such determination.
In following the recommendations of 2002 GIRM 85 about distributing Communion from what has been consecrated at that Mass to the entire assembly, some dioceses do not permit bringing previously consecrated hosts from the tabernacle unless and before they are, in fact, absolutely needed during the distribution of Communion. Some Bishops\' Committee on the Liturgy has also reiterated on various occasions that the norm should be to consecrate enough bread and wine at each Mass for the communicants expected and never to plan on going to the tabernacle. (Note that no liturgical books explicitly permit using hosts from the tabernacle during Communion at Mass.)
Sacristans should also note, in preparing for Mass, that the celebrant is "bound to" receive Communion from what has been consecrated at that Mass (2002 GIRM 85). This rule also applies to any concelebrants, and is related to the "integrity of the sacrifice" mentioned by Pius XII in Mediator Dei (nos. 112, 115. Also see Summ Theol, IIIa, q 82, art 4).
Thus, hosts from a tabernacle must never be distributed to concelebrants in place of what has been consecrated at that Mass.
Page compiled in 0.001 secondsCalendar to be followed
- "On Solemnities the Priest is obliged to follow the Calendar of the church where he is celebrating." (2002 GIRM, no. 353).
- "On Sundays, on the weekdays during Advent, Christmas Time, Lent, and Easter Time, on Feasts, and on Obligatory Memorials:
"a) If Mass is celebrated with the people, the Priest should follow the Calendar of the church where he is celebrating;
"b) If Mass is celebrated with the participation of one minister only, the Priest may choose either the Calendar of the church or his own proper Calendar." (2002 GIRM, no. 354).- "Members of religious institutes join with the community of the local Church in celebrating the dedication of the cathedral and the feasts of the principal patrons of the place and of the wider geographical region in which they live (GILH, no. 241; UNLYC, no. 52c). These are celebrated as feasts (see TLD, 8a, b).
- The titular of a church is celebrated as a solemnity in that church; the same is true of the anniversary of the church\'s dedication (TLD, 4c, 4b).
Mass for the People (Pro Populo)- A pastor "is obliged to apply a Mass for the people of his parish on Sundays and holy days of obligation in his diocese" (CIC 534.1).
Precedence of Liturgical Celebrations
- Solemnities and Feasts of the Lord take precedence over Sundays in Ordinary Time. Other feasts and memorials falling on Sundays are omitted. Sundays of Advent, Lent and Easter take precedence over solemnities. In these cases and when solemnities occur on privileged weekdays, the solemnities are transferred, usually to the following (or first free) Monday (UNLYC 5, 60).
The following weekdays are considered in some sense "privileged."
-- All days of the Octave of Easter are celebrated as solemnities of the Lord (UNLYC 24) and take precedence over all other celebrations.
-- Ash Wednesday and Holy Week also have precedence over all other celebrations.
-- The last week of Advent (Dec 17-24), the octave of Christmas, and the weekdays of Lent are privileged with respect to memorials (UNLYC 16).
Obligatory memorials occurring on Lenten weekdays are celebrated as optional memorials (UNLYC 14). The calendar itself only includes optional memorials during the last week of Advent and includes feasts and optional memorials during the Christmas octave. On weekdays of the Easter Season, memorials of Saints may be celebrated fully (2002 GIRM 355a).
Choice of Mass Texts
- On the liturgical days noted in nos. 1 and 2, the Priest uses the texts associated with the celebration prescdribed or chosen according to the norms noted above.
- "On Memorials of Saints [outside of Advent II, Lent, and Easter Time], the proper Collect is said or, if this is lacking, one from an appropriate Common. As to the Prayer over the Offerings and the Prayer after Communion, unless they are proper, they may be taken either from the Common or from the weekday of the current time of year." (2002 GIRM, no. 363).
- "On Optional Memorials,
"a) On the weekdays of Advent from Dec 17 to 24, on days within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord, and on the weekdays of Lent, except Ash Wednesday and during Holy Week, the Mass texts for the current liturgical day are used; but the Collect may be taken from a Memorial which happens to be inscribed in the General Calendar for that day, except on Ash Wednesday and during Holy Week. On weekdays of Easter Time, Memorials of Saints may rightly be celebrated in full.
"b) On weekdays of Advent before Dec 17, on weekdays of Christmas Time from Jan 2, and the weekdays of Easter Time, one of the following may be chosen: either the Mass of the weekday, or the Mass of the Saint or of one of the Saints whose Memorial is observed, or the Mass of any Saint inscrdibed in the Martyrology for that day." (2002 GIRM, no. 355).- "On weekdays in Ordinary Time, ..., besides the orations from the previous Sunday, orations from another Sunday in Ordinary Time may be used, or one of the Prayers for Various Needs provided in the Missal. However, it shall always be permissible to use from these Masses the Collect alone." (2002 GIRM, no. 363).
"On weekdays in Ordinary Time, there may be chosen either the Mass of the weekday, or the Mass of an Optional Memorial which happens to occur on that day, or the Mass of any Saint inscribed in the Martyrology for that day, or a Mass for Various Needs, or a Votive Mass." (2002 GIRM, no. 355c)
"Daily" Masses for the dead "may be celebrated on weekdays in Ordinary Time on which Optional Memorials occur or when the Office is of the weekday, provided such Masses are actually applied for the dead" (2002 GIRM, no. 381). These should be used in moderation (2002 GIRM, no. 355).
When a Mass of an optional memorial is celebrated, all is done as for an obligatory memorial (see 2002 GIRM 355, GILH 234).- When a priest celebrates with the people, in his choice of a Mass formulary, he "should be attentive rather to the common spiritual good of the People of God than to his own inclinations" (2002 GIRM, no. 352).
The entry "Mass ad libitum" in this Ordo is a reminder that the various choices described above under no. 10 are available to the celebrant.
Norms in this Ordo regarding the Collect, Gloria, Readings, Creed, Preface, Eucharistic Prayer IV (and similar Eucharistic Prayers)- "At Mass only a single Collect is ever said." (2002 GIRM, no. 54) This rule also applies to the Prayer over the Offerings and the Prayer after Communion (2002 GIRM, nos. 77, 89).
When a Collect of a commemoration may be optionally used (see no. 9a above) in Advent from December 17 to 24, within the octave of Christmas, and on weekdays of Lent, it is noted in this Ordo.- The Gloria is prescribed "on Sundays outside Advent and Lent, and also on Solemnities and Feasts, and at particular celebrations of a more solemn character." (2002 GIRM, no. 53).
- The special readings prescribed in the Lectionary for Sundays, Solemnities, and Feasts, and also for those Obligatory Memorials that have proper readings are noted in this Ordo.
- On weekdays, apart from Solemnities, Feasts, and Memorials with proper readings, the continuous readings assigned in the Lectionary are noted.
"[T]hese readings will in general be used on the days to which they are assigned...
"Should,however, the continuous reading during the week from time to time be interrupted, on account of some Solemnity or feast, or some particular celebration, then the Priest shall be permitted, bearing in mind the scheme of readings for the entire week, either to combine parts omitted with other readings or to decide which readings are to be given preference over others." (2002 GIRM, no. 358).
One should note that the Lectionary for Weekdays does provide for each Memorial appropriate readings which may be used when the Memorial is celebrated with greater solemnity.- The Creed is prescribed on "Sundays and Solemnities" and may also be used at "particular celebrations of a more solemn character" (2002 GIRM, no. 68).
- The preface is noted when it is not one of the proper, common (weekday), or seasonal prefaces.
a. Prefaces for apostles, martyrs, pastors, virgins, religious, or holy men and women should be used on Solemnities and Feasts of saints. Such prefaces may also be used on memorials, an option that has been noted each time in this Ordo (see Notitiae 11 [1975]:312).
(b) Eucharistic Prayer IV must be used with its invariable preface (2002 GIRM, no. 365d). However, when a seasonal preface is prescribed, except on Christmas, Easter, and during their octaves, Eucharistic Prayer IV may nonetheless be used, along with its invariable preface.
(c) The Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation, for Masses with Children, and for Various Needs and Occasions also have invariable prefaces. The same norms govern their use as for Eucharistic Prayer IV. Nevertheless, although the Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation are provided with their own prefaces, they may be used with other prefaces that refer to penance and conversion, for example, those of Lent (cf. 2002 Missale Romanum, Appendix to Ordo Missae).
Masses for Various Occasions- Among Masses for various occasions "are included Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions and Votive Masses." (2002 GIRM, no. 371):
(a) "Ritual Masses are connected with the celebration of certain Sacraments or Sacramentals" (2002 GIRM, no. 372).
(b) "Masses for Various Needs and Occasions are used in certain situations either as occasion arises or at fixed times" (2002 GIRM, no. 373).
(c) "Votive Masses of the mysteries of Christ or in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary or of the Angels or of any given Saint may be said in response to the devotiion of the faithful on weekdays in Ordinary Time, even if an Optional Memorial occurs" (2002 GIRM, no. 375).
(d) When the devotion of the faithful is obvious, the votive Mass of Christ the Eternal High Priest may be celebrated on the first Thursday of the month, that of the Sacred Heart on the first Friday, and that of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the first Saturday if a weekday Mass or an Optional Memorial occurs (see Notitiae 5 [1969]: 404, no. 17). Colors: Ritual Masses are celebrated in their proper color, in white, or in a festive color; Masses for Various Needs are celebrated in the color proper to the day or the season or in violet (if the Mass has a penitential character); Votive Masses are celebrated in the color suited to the Mass itself or even in the color proper to the day or the time of the year (2002 GIRM, no. 347).
Permitted Use: Ritual Masses are prohibited on Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, on solemnities, during Holy Week and the Easter Octave, and on Ash Wednesday and All Souls\' Day (2002 GIRM, no. 372).
On weekdays in Ordinary Time, even if an optional memorial occurs, Votive Masses may be celebrated for the sake of the faithful\'s devotion (2002 GIRM 373) or a Mass for Various Needs or prayers from those for special circumstances may be used (2002 GIRM 377). Traditional devotions are associated with Christ the Eternal High Priest on the first Thursday of the month, the Sacred Heart on the first Friday, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the first Saturday of each month. In addition, a Mass of the BVM is encouraged to be offered on free Saturdays (2002 GIRM 378). (see Notitiae 5 1969]: 404, no. 17)
"On days when there occurs an Obligatory Memorial or on a weekday of Advent up to and including Dec 16, of Christmas Time from Jan 2, and of Easter Time after the Octave of Easter, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions and Votive Masses are in principle forbidden. If, however, some real necessity or pastoral advantage calls for it, in the estimation of the rector of the church or the Priest Celebrant himself, a Mass appropriate to the same may be used in a celebration with peopole" (2002 GIRM, no. 376).
In case of serious need or pastoral advantage, at the direction of the diocesan Bishop or with his permission, an appropriate Mass may be celebrated except on solemnities, the Sundays of Advent, Lent, and Easter, during Holy Week and the Easter Octave, or on Ash Wednesday or All Souls\' Day (2002 GIRM, no. 374).
Norms Governing the Liturgy of the Hours- On proper solemnities and feasts such as are described under no. 4 above, the corresponding office is said by those who are considered assigned to that church, e.g., pastors and associates (Gen. Inst. Lit. Hours [GILH], no. 243).
- "In private recitation [of the Liturgy of the Hours], the calendar of the place or the person\'s own calendar may be used, except on proper solemnities and feasts" (GILH, no. 243).
- In the Liturgy of the Hours, the arrangement of the Office is presented in the Ordinary for each of the seasons of the liturgical year.
- For the Scripture reading of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, "especially in a celebration a congregation, a longer Scripture reading may be chosen either from the office of readings or the Lectionary for Mass, particularly texts that for some reason have not been used. From time to time some other more suitable readings may be used, in accordance with the rules in GILH, nos. 248, 249 and 251" (GILH, no. 46).
In the prayers of intercession, the introductory formula is provided for use when Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer is recited in common (see GILH, no. 190).
Evening Prayer is normally taken from the Office of the occurring day, except on Saturdays and the day before solemnities, when the liturgical day begins the previous evening with EP I. If two solemnities occur on successive days, or a solemnity occurs on a Saturday or Monday, the Evening Prayer between the two celebrations is of the higher ranked celebration. If both are of equal rank, Evening Prayer of the current day is celebrated (cf. UNLYC 61).
Instead of the weekday Night Prayer, either of the Sunday Night Prayers can alwyas be said (see GILH, no. 88, Ordinary of the Liturgy of the Hours, Night Prayer).
Moments of silence are encouraged after each psalm and the readings (GILH, nos. 112, 202).
Permitted Variations in the Office or Some of its Parts- "On weekdays when an optional memorial is permitted, for a good reason the office of a saint listed on that day in the Roman Martyrology, or in an approved appendix to it, may be celebrated in the same way as other memorials" (GILH 234).
"In the Office for Sundays, solemnities, feasts of the Lord listed in the General Calendar, the weekdays of Lent and Holy Week, the days within the Octaves of Easter and Christmas, and the weekdays from Dec 17 to 24 inclusive, it is never permissible to change the formularies that are proper or adapted to the celebration, such as antiphons, hymns, readings, responsories, prayers, and very often also the psalms" (GILH, no. 247).- The "cycle of readings from Scripture that is provided in the Office of Readings must not be set aside during the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. During Ordinary Time, on a particular day or for a few days in succession, it is permissible, for a good reason, to choose readings from those provided on other days or even other biblical readings; for example, on the occasion of retreats, pastoral gatherings, prayers for Christian unity, or other such events" (GILH, no. 248).
"The readings, prayers, songs, and intercessions appointed for the weekdays of a particular season may be used on other weekdays of the same season" (GILH, no. 251, see also ibid., 248-50).- Alternative psalms may be chosen as follows:
"In place of the Sunday psalms of the current week, there is an option to substitute Sunday psalms of a different week, and, in the case of an office celebrated with a congregation, even other psalms especially chosen to lead the people step by step to an underestanding of the psalms" (GILH, no. 247).
"Everyone should be concerned to respect the complete cycle of the four-week psalter. Still, for spiritual or pastoral advantage, the psalms appointed for a particular day may be replaced with other from the same hour of a different day" (GILH, no. 252).
"There are also circumstances occasionally arising when it is permissible to choose suitable psalms and other texts in the way done for a votive office" (GILH, no. 252).
Celebration of Memorials Occurring on Privileged Days and during Privileged Seasons- "On Sundays, solemnities, and feasts, on Ash Wednesday, during Holy Week, and during the Octave of Easter, memorials that happen to fall on these days are disregarded" (GILH, no. 237) in the Liturgy of the Hours.
"On weekdays from Dec 17 to 24, during the Octave of Christmas, and on the weekdays of Lent, no obligatory memorials are celebrated even in particular calendars. When any happen to fall during Lent in a given year, they are treated as optional memorials" (GILH 238).
"During privileged seasons, if it is desired to celebrate the office of a saint on a day assigned to his or her memorial,
"a) in the office of readings, after the patristic reading (with its responsory) from the Proper of Seasons, a proper reading about the saint (with its responsory) may follow, with the concluding prayer of the saint;
"(b) at Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, the ending of the concluding prayer may be omitted and the saint\'s antiphon (from the proper or common) and prayer may be added" (GILH, no. 239);
(c) At Mass, the Collect may be of the saint (cf. 2002 GIRM 355a).
The Use of the Te Deum- The Te Deum is used at the end of the Office of Readings on Sundays outside of Lent, during the octaves of Easter and Christmas, on solemnities, and on feasts (GILH, no. 68).