Do you know about the US Introduction to the Order of Mass: A Pastoral Resource of the Bishop’ Committee on the Liturgy? Did you know that it says, for example, that the celebrant may sprinkle the people during the entance procession if the greeting and blessing take place at the door? This official document is still in effect as far as we know – but sort of by a loophole. Recently its status was taken up by Alan Hommerding and Sr. Georgette Zalewska on the online liturgy network of Notre Dame’s Center for Liturgy. Here we give each of them a paragraph:
The “Introduction to the Order of Mass” document was intended for the 1998 ICEL translation/revision of the Sacramentary. It was sent to Rome and actually received recognitio/approval by the Congregation. As a separate document, it still has approval, so whatever is contained therein, I believe, has the weight of liturgical law. But I’m not sure if, as the introduction to the Sacramentary that never was, what its official status might be. – AH
The Introduction to this document states that it was approved in 1997 by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and was revised in 2000 by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the light of changes introduced to the Order of Mass in the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani. – GZ
#1 by Rita Ferrone on August 3, 2010 - 11:29 am
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It’s nice to know that it has such high approval, but it has never been a phantom document so far as I know. I’ve been using it for years! A nice, well-turned summary. It’s in print, it’s for sale. USCCB publishing doesn’t get into everybody’s sightlines of course, but the book has been “out there” for some time.
#2 by Adam Setmeyer on August 3, 2010 - 11:33 am
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For better or worse (that’s not for me to decide) the intro of the document says that it has no legislative power, it’s just a teaching instrument. In that sense I suppose it still does have power, but not the “weight of liturgical law.” Correct? Or, am I reading this wrong?
#3 by bari colombari on August 3, 2010 - 1:23 pm
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FWIW:
The USCCB edition is also available from OCP as item #12826 ($10).
-bari
#4 by Jerry Galipeau on August 3, 2010 - 1:35 pm
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It’s also a document that WLP distributes, thanks in part to the fine work of Steven Janco, when he was on the staff here. Item #017072.
#5 by Anthony Ruff, OSB on August 3, 2010 - 1:46 pm
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Have you ever noticed that the document is not mentioned once in Sing to the Lord? The drafting committee began by studying the relevant preceding documents, especially MCW and LMT – but never once looked at the Introduction to the Order of Mass. Looking back, I have the impression someone at headquarters thought it was best to ignore it because things were moving in a different direction. SttL’s treatment of the parts of Mass doesn’t let people know about some of the legitimate options in the Introduction, and that’s a shame.
awr
#6 by Tim English on August 3, 2010 - 9:47 pm
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The Introduction to the Order of the Mass by the USCCB is the companion document to the GIRM. Those of us who plan liturgies have known about it and don’t consider it a “phantom document” . It’s best to use that document in connection with the GIRM which should be cross referenced when using the document. As the blog suggests, it is a pastoral aid, and merely restates the rubrics that are delineated in the GIRM. MCW LMT and STL are all pastoral aids and are NOT Vatican approved liturgical rubrics on liturgical music. That is why the Introduction to the Order of the Mass is not cited anymore as an official Church document.