What are 'new rules' in the GIRM, and are they to be implemented now?

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Dearest fellow practicing Catholics... I've been hearing bits and pieces of the 'new' practices of the General Instr. of the Roman Missal. What's up? I heard they need to be in place now, I've heard June. Will we wonder which bishops will really implement them?

Anything new?

-- Theresa Huether (RodnTee4Jesus@aol.com), February 18, 2003

Answers

Hi Theresa, I can't begin to expound on all that the new GIRM may encompass, but I do know that it was intended to correct many liturgical errors and bring the Church in the U.S. into greater conformity. Kneeling immediately following the Agnus Dei is one change which is welcomed by conservative-minded Catholics. However, some aspects concern me. The new GIRM grants the American bishops the right to dictate postures of the faithful during the liturgy, and as such, the American bishops have chosen to make "standing" to receive Holy Communion the norm in the U.S., following a bow of the head as a sign of reverence. Kneeling for Holy Communion, or genuflecting prior to reception, are considered "illicit" postures or gestures here in the U.S., according to the new GIRM. Although the Vatican recommended an adaptation "protecting those whose sensibilities dictate kneeling" (to receive Holy Communion), the wording of the USCCB's adaptation indicates that those who kneel to receive Holy Communion are in need of pastoral counsel. In some parishes across the U.S., the changes are already being implemented, and some of the faithful have been refused Holy Communion due to their posture of kneeling. This also has been addressed by the Vatican in very strong language, calling it a "grave pastoral abuse" to refuse the faithful who kneel from recieving Holy Communion. I thought the USCCB had the new GIRM posted on their website...But now I am not finding it there, so perhaps not. Many of the changes were covered quite well in the Adoremus Bulletin, and may be found on their website also. Pax Christi.

-- Anna <>< (Flower@youknow.com), February 18, 2003.

As one who attends 4 different churches during the course of the week (one for Sunday Mass, alternating between two for weekday Masses, and one for Saturday morning Mass), I have definitely noticed more conformity to the rubrics in the past several months. Whether that's due to the GIRM, or whether we're just getting more obedient priests, I can't say ... but I like it! :-)

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), February 19, 2003.

Jmj
Hello, Theresa.

One of the very important liturgically-related pages at the USCCB Internet site that is not linked at the good page given to you by Patrick is this one.

It shows the adaptations to the new 2000 edition of the G.I.R.M. that have been approved (by U.S. bishops and Vatican). Though dated November, 2001, they did not take effect until the beginning of Advent, a few months ago. (I have also heard that they are in effect only in a certain portion of the U.S., but I am not certain that this claim is accurate.)

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 11, 2003.


Wait a minute. I haven't had enough coffee this morning to wake up yet!
It is not that the adaptations just went into effect in December. (Many of them have been in effect since the newer rite of Mass started to be celebrated in 1970.) Rather, the entire new 2000 G.I.R.M. edition went into effect (at least in one region of the nation) at the start of Advent. I found this interesting, because there is still no official English translation of the new G.I.R.M.. (There would have been one by now, but the corrupt official translation committee for English, ICEL, had to be reformed, and the misinterpreted official translating guidelines had to be rewritten.)

In my diocese, where the new G.I.R.M. and adaptations are now in effect, we had four straight Sundays of lengthy preparatory instructions -- mandated by the bishop -- given to us at Mass just before Advent. Many topics were covered, including the minimal changes that have taken place (e.g., standing immediately after the priest washes his hands ["Pray, brethren ..."]), the roles of the laity and ordained at Mass, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, postures and gestures (especially when receiving Communion), etc..

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 11, 2003.


John,

In our diocese we are implementing these "norms" (not so much "changes" as a call by our bishops back to conformity with the GIRM) beginning now - Lent 2003. Our priests have between Lent and Pentecost to instruct their congregations and implement the norms as determined for our diocese (eastern NC).

And we, too, received catechesis on consecutive Sundays (for us, 3 Sundays). Additionally, I attended a diocesan workshop given by the head of our bishop's liturgical committee. At that workshop, we were told that the official English translation of the new GIRM was expected very soon (any week... which I took to mean by years end, maybe?). And it was also said that the remaining "issues" holding up official Vatican approval were minor (e.g., prepositions, minor wording, etc) - no major unresolved content. Hopefully that will turn out to be the case.

We were also told that the new English translation will have a nice change - the US adaptations will be folded right into the Instructions themselves (rather than put in an appendix). So not only will it be in English, but it should also be more intelligible to read. That'll be nice!

I'm very pleased that the US bishops are making attempts like these to call for conformity of worship. I've read with interest some folks' descriptions of the "changes" (back to the GIRM as already written, in most cases). As people briefly describe what strikes them as different or new (or retro), I'm reminded that many of the Instructions call for a decision by the bishop made for his entire diocese. So if we go from one diocese to another and find things a bit different, we need not be shocked... one bishop may declare a posture (e.g., standing after the Agnus Dei) for his diocese that is different from what we find in our home diocese. If these efforts by our bishops are successful with this emphasis on conformity, we will at least see conformity in worship within each diocese. [While keeping in mind that SOME of the details are still up to the pastor or the individual]

It's interesting to learn more about our worship and how what we do and say at Mass impacts our faith (and that of the whole congregation).

May Christ give you His peace...

-- Greg Adas (gadas@familink.com), March 11, 2003.



John to the rescue! thank you! This is clear and concise.

-- Theresa (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), March 11, 2003.

You're welcome, Theresa.
Thanks, Greg, for that rundown on events in your neck of the woods. Glad to hear that the English G.I.R.M. will soon be out.
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 11, 2003.

During a recent visit to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) site, I stumbled upon the new English translation (June/03) of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), which has now been confirmed (approved) for use in the United States of America (March/03 - by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments).

I recall John expressing anticipation that such a translation would soon be available and so, decided to resurrect this thread (and the other one - GIRMS, GIRMS, GIRMS)for him and others who might be interested in examining the document and, who might not yet be aware of its existence. You can find it here at: http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.htm

This document has been approved/adapted for American use and the U.S.C.C.B. cautions: “Persons from other nations should consult the local Episcopal Conference regarding the appropriate text for their nation.”

-- Ed (catholic4444@yahoo.ca), September 18, 2003.


Thanks, Ed. I should have remembered to update this thread. Glad you did. JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 21, 2003.

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