From the time of the early Church Fathers who worked on Liturgical reform, such as St. Hippolytus, St. Gregory, and St. Leo, to the Council of Trent, to the Second Vatican Council, the nature of the Mass as the perpetuation of the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the elements of bread and wine have remained unchanged. The Second Vatican Council echoed the Council of Trent in calling for restoration of some of the rites of the Mass "to the original norms of the Holy Fathers." (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) The Roman Missal of 1969, using the wealth of literature from the early Church Fathers continued the drive begun by Pope Pius V and the Missal of 1570 "to bring the faithful closer to the sacred Liturgy." ( Preamble to the General Instruction).

Thus, after many years of study, a new Missal was approved by Pope John Paul II in 2001. The new General Instruction that followed was translated into English and that translation was approved for use in the United States, in November of 2002. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) sets the rubrics and movements, the guidelines and requirements that are necessary for the faithful celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. The new GIRM upholds the absolute necessity of the role of the priest and bishop as presider of the Mass. It also restates the teaching that the bishop is the final arbiter in any interpretation of the GIRM. Further, it restates those rubrics, mostly concerning posture and movement, that are to be decreed by the local Conferences. These decrees become particular law for those Conferences. The decrees that are particular law for the United Sates Conference are included in the translation approved for use in the United States. The GIRM emphasizes anew the importance of singing, especially during Sunday Masses. Silence is also a necessary part of the movement of the Mass. Brief periods of silence are called for after each of the readings, as well as at the conclusion of the homily and after Communion. "Even before the celebration itself, it is commendable that silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner." (GIRM Ch.II # 45.) In talking about movements and postures the General Instruction warns against individualism. Gestures and postures should reflect the unity the Liturgy fosters and so the participants ought to refrain from actions of private inclination or arbitrary choice. Therefore, a common posture, for example kneeling or standing, is to be observed by all.

Some instructions that are important for us to observe here in the United states involve the way we receive Holy Communion. The faithful are not permitted to take the Eucharist by themselves or pass it to others. Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist may assist the clergy in distributing Holy Communion but they must receive the Eucharist from the ordained. Holy Communion is encouraged under both species of bread and wine. This may be done by sharing from the Communion Cup or by intinction, the dipping of the Host into the Precious Blood. If intinction is used only the clergy (or extraordinary minister) may dip the Host and the communicant must receive on the tongue. The communicant may NEVER take the Host from the minister and dip it themselves. In the United States the proper posture for receiving Communion is standing. As the communicant approaches the minister he or she makes a simple bow and then, while standing, receives Communion either in the hand or on the tongue. As the minister says: "The Body of Christ," the communicant responds, "Amen." As soon as the communicant receives the host he or she must consume it entirely. If Communion is given under both kinds, the bow of reverence is also made before receiving the Precious Blood. The fullness of the Eucharistic Presence in embodied in either species of bread or wine. After the distribution of Communion is completed, the left over Precious Blood is consumed by the deacon or priest (or designated extraordinary minister) and the remaining hosts are placed in the tabernacle. The sacred vessels are then cleansed by the deacon (or in his absence the priest) either at the altar or at the credence table. It is also permitted to leave the vessels on a corporal, suitably covered, on the credence table to be purified immediately after Mass. However, this still must be done by the deacon or priest, or another minister designated for this purpose. The left over Precious Blood must be consumed and may NEVER be poured down the sacrarium. In reference to the reverence due the tabernacle and the altar the Instruction calls for the ministers to genuflect (or bow if genuflecting is difficult) before the tabernacle as they enter or leave the sanctuary. During the Mass itself, however, the altar of sacrifice is reverenced with a bow whenever one passes in front of or behind it.

We will have more information on the General Instruction in the months to come.

A copy of the GIRM may be purchased from United States Catholic Conference of Bishops in Washington, DC by calling 800-235-8722. You can also order it from the bishops’ web site; www.usccb.org.