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October 17, 2005 
VOL.
43, NO. 18Oakland,
CA
Diocese implements new norms for Mass celebration
As the Diocese
of Oakland joins with others throughout the U.S. in the implementation
of General Instruction of the Roman Missal, local priests and lay persons
are reviewing liturgical principles, evaluating parish liturgical celebrations
and, where necessary, adapting to new norms for the celebration of the
Eucharist that include some changes in when to stand or kneel during Mass.
Parishes are called to review points that have been in the General Instruction
since its initial edition (1969); among these are understanding full,
conscious active participation, the use of silence in the liturgy (for
example, following the readings and the homily, after the invitation “Let
us Pray”, and after all have received Communion) and the practice
that “all receive the Lord’s body from hosts consecrated at
the same Mass and that . . . they partake of the chalice so that even
by means of signs Communion will stand out more clearly as a participation
in the sacrifice actually being celebrated.”
The norms are intended to insure that the liturgy is celebrated consistently
and well throughout the Church.
By Nov. 27, the first Sunday in Advent, all parishes in the Oakland Diocese
will have adopted the new norms, according to a directive by Bishop Allen
Vigneron.
The changes are in accord with the third revision of the Roman (Rite)
Missal, approved more than three years ago, and prescribe the postures
and gestures to be used during Mass as well as materials for altars and
sacred vessels.
Some of the more detailed changes involve the reception of Holy Communion.
Communicants are to approach the priest or Eucharistic minister standing
and to bow their heads as a gesture of reverence before receiving the
host either on the tongue or in the hand. The sign of reverence is also
made before receiving the Precious Blood.
“The faithful are not permitted to take up the consecrated bread
or the sacred chalice themselves and still less hand them on to one another,”
according to directives approved by the U.S. Catholic bishops because
they receive Communion. They do not take
Communion.
The priest and congregation are to observe a period of silence for private
prayer after Communion has been distributed.
Ministers of the cup may consume what remains of the Precious Blood at
the altar, and they may help the priest clean the sacred vessels after
Communion at a side table or after the celebration of the Mass.
The periods of standing and kneeling during the Mass have changed in the
new norms. The congregation sits during the preparation of the gifts,
as usual, and then rises after the priest extends his hands and invites
all to pray saying, “Pray, brothers and sisters.”
| The people stand to say, “May the Lord receive…” and
remain standing until completion of the “Holy, Holy.”
During the Eucharistic Prayer the faithful kneel until the Great Amen
has been proclaimed. In the Diocese of Oakland, the assembly is asked
to stand from the beginning of the Communion Rite (immediately after the
Great Amen) until after receiving Communion.
Communicants may then stand, sit or kneel after receiving Communion.
When health reasons or other factors make kneeling impossible, congregants
should make a deep bow when the priest genuflects after the words of institution.
The priest gives the Sign of Peace to ministers serving near the altar
but is to remain within the sanctuary so as not to unnecessarily prolong
the Sign of Peace. On special occasions - such as a funeral, a wedding
or a Mass where civic leaders are present - he may offer the Sign of Peace
to a few persons near the sanctuary.
Fixed altars are to be made of stone or, in the U.S., of wood “which
is worthy, solid, and well-crafted,” the instructions state. The
materials for sacred furnishings are acceptable if they are durable and
“considered to be noble,” and sacred vessels - such as the
paten, monstrance and ciborium - are to be made of precious materials
that are solid and durable, such as metal or hard woods like ebony.
The full text of changes made in the General Instruction of the Roman
Missal is available online at www.usccb.org/liturgy/girm/fil2.shtml.
Further information about implementation in the Oakland Diocese is available
at: www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral/Liturgy.
Click on Liturgical Formation.
When receiving Communion, the communicant bows
the head and answers “Amen” to the minister’s words,
“The Body of Christ.”
CHRIS DUFFEY PHOTO
