Changes in Mass not due till fall, say liturgists

The Roman Missal is also known as the Sacramentary, the book that contains the order of the Mass. The revisions include several changes in how the Mass is celebrated, which concerned many Catholics.

But Elizabeth Simcoe, director of the diocesan Office of Prayer and Worship, explained that the recently released Missal is simply a study translation, and "will be replaced in the future by a more definitive version" approved by the Vatican and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB).

Mrs. Simcoe said that according to Rev. James Maroney, executive director of the NCCB's Secretariat for the Liturgy, the changes will not go into effect until the Latin edition of the revised Roman Missal is published, probably in the fall.

Changes

* the Book of the Gospels, but not the Lectionary, being carried in procession;

* both the processional cross and the cross on the altar having a figure of Christ crucified on them;

* the tabernacle not being on the altar where Mass is celebrated;

* the priest facing the people whenever possible;

* the priest staying in the sanctuary during the Sign of Peace;

* only priests and deacons breaking the bread before Communion, and only they or formally instituted acolytes cleansing the sacred vessels afterward; and

* lay Eucharistic ministers not approaching the altar until the priest has received Communion.

Status quo

Mrs. Simcoe added that the Diocesan Liturgical Commission's liturgy subcommittee will begin reviewing the study translation in September as they await publication of the new Missal, "to reflect on how to implement it in our Diocese."

She reassured Catholics of the Diocese that the document will be "studied and prayed over."

(Readers can download a summary of the study translation at the website for the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for the Liturgy: www.nccbuscc.org.)

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