About the GIRM.

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I’m curious about the General instruction of Roman Missal.

First, are there parts of it that are optional? I mean can Bishops and priests pick and choose how to observe the Instruction or not?

Second, is it available to the general public, as a book? I’ve read excerpts in my copy of the LOTH and missal but it seems like i’m always seeing people quoting it on all kinds of topics.

Third, is the GIRM the same as and or composed of rubrics?

I would apprieciate some (name removed by moderator)ut on this. Thanks in advance.
 
The GIRM itself is online at usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml (with modifications for the US). And yes there are parts that are optional. For example, in talking about the responsorial Psalm it says “it is preferable that the responsorial Psalm be sung…” Obviously “preferable” is not the same as “mandatory.” A bit further on it says “In the dioceses of the United States of America, the following may also be sung in place of the Psalm…” so you have options.
 
You can also find the GIRM in the form of a book. Check your local Catholic bookstore if you have one. If you don’t you can find it pretty easily at online stores.

God Bless,
Matt
 
sawman said:
I’m curious about the General instruction of Roman Missal.

First, are there parts of it that are optional? I mean can Bishops and priests pick and choose how to observe the Instruction or not?

Second, is it available to the general public, as a book? I’ve read excerpts in my copy of the LOTH and missal but it seems like i’m always seeing people quoting it on all kinds of topics.

Third, is the GIRM the same as and or composed of rubrics?

I would apprieciate some (name removed by moderator)ut on this. Thanks in advance.
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There are options printed in it in a few places and those are the only options, It is not optional to pick and choose which parts to follow and which to ignore.

It is available from the USCCB publications and from other Catholic book sellers.

Itself is not the rubrics, it is an instruction on and explaination of the rubrics.
 
The GIRM itself is not optional - it is considered a legal text, all of which is legally binding. As some have pointed out, though, parts of the GIRM are listed as options. So one must follow the GIRM to the T, but that can include employing any of various options afforded by the GIRM itself. Whenever I want to reference the GIRM, I just access it on the USCCB website.
 
Keep in mind, that it is a “to-DO” instruction.

If something is not listed in the GIRM, that does not mean you can do it just because the GIRM doesn’t say you can’t.
 
sawman said:
…Third, is the GIRM the same as and or composed of rubrics?
…
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Usually the term “rubrics” does not refer to the General Instruction found at the beginning of the liturgical books. Instead the rubrics are the instructions that go with the words to be spoken for the ceremony: For example the Roman Missal has for Holy Thursday:
Let us pray.
Pause for silent prayer
God our Father, …
The “Pause for silent prayer” is a rubric.

I know of three PDF versions of the GIRM. Getting one of these makes it easy to search and quote.
USA version at usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml .
England and Wales version at liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/GIRM/Documents/index.html .
Australian version at acbc.catholic.org.au/bc/liturgy/200707031933.htm (click on printable version).

There are also book editions of these GIRMs.
 
I thank you all for your responses. I’ve often times in the past read of abuses that are prohibited by the GIRM, but in many cases the excuse for the abuse is that there is an exception of sort to allow the act. I’ve given up trying to bring alleged instances up to the pastor,because I’ve no way to know the truth of the matter. Knowing the GIRM on agiven issue will help a lot in discusions. Now all I need to know is if exceptions are published as well. Thanks for the help!

Peace to all!
 
sawman said:
I thank you all for your responses. I’ve often times in the past read of abuses that are prohibited by the GIRM, but in many cases the excuse for the abuse is that there is an exception of sort to allow the act. I’ve given up trying to bring alleged instances up to the pastor,because I’ve no way to know the truth of the matter. Knowing the GIRM on agiven issue will help a lot in discusions. Now all I need to know is if exceptions are published as well. Thanks for the help!

Peace to all!
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The only things that might be called “exceptions” are the individual Bishops Conferencesrequests for modifications, those approved by Rome are included at the back.
 
sawman said:
I thank you all for your responses.** I’ve often times in the past read of abuses that are prohibited by the GIRM,** but in many cases the excuse for the abuse is that there is an exception of sort to allow the act. I’ve given up trying to bring alleged instances up to the pastor,because I’ve no way to know the truth of the matter. Knowing the GIRM on agiven issue will help a lot in discusions. Now all I need to know is if exceptions are published as well. Thanks for the help!

Peace to all!
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Can you give us an example?
 
Dear Thistle,
There are several incidents of abuses I think, in my parish or other places I’ve been to mass. I’m not sure of the correct terminology,sometimes abuse seems to be a rather strong word,other times it doesn’t seem strong enough.

First, concecrating the wine while still in the glass decanter instead of dividing it up into all the chalices first.
Second, at the Sanctus, not repeating the “Lamb of God” enough times, or not at all.
Third, allowing a pet dog to wander around the sanctuary during mass.
Fourth,Substituting the words of institution for Father’s own prefered words.
Fifth, Father wandering up and down the isles at the kiss of peace.
Sixth, the cleaning of the chalices and ciboriums after communion not by Father but by eems or not all,until after mass.

These are some of the things I’ve seen that I think are abuses.There are other things that may be more of a confusion abuot the rubrics,like clapping with music or applause or hand-holding during the Our Father.
I’m not trying to be a snitch or anything,but I need to know what to call these things when I speak to Father and whether or not they are allowed. I hope that helps.
 
The word “rubrics” comes from a word meaning “red.” Usually instructions/directions in a liturgical book are written in red, while the texts to be recited are written in black.
 
sawman said:
First, concecrating the wine while still in the glass decanter instead of dividing it up into all the chalices first.
Second, at the Sanctus, not repeating the “Lamb of God” enough times, or not at all.
Third, allowing a pet dog to wander around the sanctuary during mass.
Fourth,Substituting the words of institution for Father’s own prefered words.
Fifth, Father wandering up and down the isles at the kiss of peace.
Sixth, the cleaning of the chalices and ciboriums after communion not by Father but by eems or not all,until after mass.
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Not everything you mention above is mentioned in the Roman Missal or its General Instruction… but the GIRM has been supplemented by Redemptionis Sacramentum, “On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist”. You might want to give it read. It speaks about consecrating the wine while it’s still in a pitcher (which is an abuse, because then you have to pour the Precious Blood from one vessel to another, and that is not allowed). It absolutely prohibits changing the words of institution of course, because deviation from the Missal is prohibited except where expressly permitted (and that is not very often!). It also mentions that the priest should not (ordinarily) leave the Sanctuary during the Sign of Peace (quoting the GIRM).
 
Thank you, for your replies.Do you know if the Letter mentioned has the same weight as the GIRM?
 
sawman said:
Thank you, for your replies.Do you know if the Letter mentioned has the same weight as the GIRM?
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It has at least as much weight as the GIRM. It is an Instruction from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments: this Congregation puts forth instructions about the proper worship of the Church. Here’s the final paragraph of the Instruction:
This Instruction, prepared by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II in collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was approved by the same Pontiff on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, 19 March 2004, and he ordered it to be published and to be observed immediately by all concerned.
It’s had the full force of law for over FOUR years!
 
Because of the different printings, different editions, and different editions for different countries I think it is important to include exactly which book you are referring to.

So I suggest, for example:
Missale Romanum, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2002, ISBN: 8820972719, page 324.
Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 76.

Then add extra information that would help someone with a different edition find what you are citing, such as:
Ash Wednesday, Blessing and Giving of Ashes.
Easter Vigil, n. 39.
 
MrS said:
Keep in mind, that it is a “to-DO” instruction.

If something is not listed in the GIRM, that does not mean you can do it just because the GIRM doesn’t say you can’t.
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No, its not a “to-Do” instruction, its a “General” instruction. Dioceses may differ slightly based on the instruction of the Bishop, who is the authority.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
No, its not a “to-Do” instruction, its a “General” instruction. Dioceses may differ slightly based on the instruction of the Bishop, who is the authority.

Jim
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why do you emphasis “general”, and not “instruction”

or is it supposed to read General Suggestions…
 
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