Adding Our Own Lessons and Carols to the Mass

[ConstantineTG]

I’m sorry to say that the sources you cited are not ‘home run, direct hits’ in terms of being able to convince people not to do this. Meanwhile, if you do a search for Liturgical Dancing, you will see abundant and clear teachings by prominent authorities on this matter. But thank you for your time.

maggah, what I have given you are authoritative documents. Like I said, any bishop can make a statement based on his opinion, that doesn’t mean its Church Law. Would you take what Obama said on TV as law? Of course not. Same with Bishops with all due respect to them. Even if the statement is in reference to an authoritative document, I don’t know how that would beat the letter of the law itself.

 

[ConstantineTG]

SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM

22.3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

Isn’t that clear enough? “Anything” is all encompassing. Its specific. It basically means, whatever you’re thinking of the answer is “NO”.

Definitions of anything:

–pronoun
1.any thing whatever; something, no matter what: Do you have anything for a toothache?
–noun
2.a thing of any kind.
–adverb
3.in any degree; to any extent; in any way; at all: Does it taste anything like chocolate?

 

[MarkThompson]

Your reply is extremely helpful. Thank you. Nevertheless, as I pointed out, if you take something like Liturgical Dancing, eucharistic ministers giving blessings to non-communicants, laymen giving homilies, etc. there are abundant and specific statements made about these. I see no similar material for additional readings.

That’s because these are common abuses, so questions are frequently posed to Church officials about them. Adding readings to the Mass is uncommon (until today I’ve never heard of anyone even suggesting it), so no one discusses it and the Church has not seen fit to issue a lot of clarifications that it cannot be done. Likewise, if you proposed doubling the Offertory, or chanting Vespers in between the Sanctus and the Eucharistic Prayer, you would not be able to find Church documents saying, “You shall not double up the Offertory” or “You shall not chant Vespers in between parts of the Mass.” If would never occur to reasonable people to do this in the first place, so no one has bothered to give specific instructions on these issues.

They’re still covered by the general, explicit prohibition on adding or changing anything in the liturgy, of course. But you can’t simply come up with a bizarre, novel idea, and then say, “The Church has never specifically disapproved my idea! The silence is deafening!” No, your idea is just strange.

 

[dprewett]

Did you read my full post?

yes both of them you are looking for an easy way out and will hear nothing else

 

[maggah]

maggah, what I have given you are authoritative documents. Like I said, any bishop can make a statement based on his opinion, that doesn’t mean its Church Law. Would you take what Obama said on TV as law? Of course not. Same with Bishops with all due respect to them. Even if the statement is in reference to an authoritative document, I don’t know how that would beat the letter of the law itself.

The bishops and Vatican officials are the best ones to interpret their own documents. We can gain insights into the application of their documents by their comments, articles, etc.

 

[maggah]

SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM

22.3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

Isn’t that clear enough? “Anything” is all encompassing. Its specific. It basically means, whatever you’re thinking of the answer is “NO”.

Definitions of anything:

–pronoun
1.any thing whatever; something, no matter what: Do you have anything for a toothache?
–noun
2.a thing of any kind.
–adverb
3.in any degree; to any extent; in any way; at all: Does it taste anything like chocolate?

And this is why we need their commentary, articles, etc. Because, for example, Bishop Chaput has recommended Eucharistic Ministers say “receive the Lord Jesus” to non-communicants who present themselves for a blessing at communion time. So your interpretation is not accurate, and that is why I am seeking not only your personal interpretation of these matters, but the interpretation given by competent authorities. But I do thank you for you willingness to share your perspective.

 

[maggah]

yes both of them you are looking for an easy way out and will hear nothing else

I’m not sure what you mean about an easy way out? Of what?

 

[maggah]

That’s because these are common abuses, so questions are frequently posed to Church officials about them. Adding readings to the Mass is uncommon (until today I’ve never heard of anyone even suggesting it), so no one discusses it and the Church has not seen fit to issue a lot of clarifications that it cannot be done. Likewise, if you proposed doubling the Offertory, or chanting Vespers in between the Sanctus and the Eucharistic Prayer, you would not be able to find Church documents saying, “You shall not double up the Offertory” or “You shall not chant Vespers in between parts of the Mass.” If would never occur to reasonable people to do this in the first place, so no one has bothered to give specific instructions on these issues.

They’re still covered by the general, explicit prohibition on adding or changing anything in the liturgy, of course. But you can’t simply come up with a bizarre, novel idea, and then say, “The Church has never specifically disapproved my idea! The silence is deafening!” No, your idea is just strange.

Interesting. I like your logic. For now, I don’t have enough to go on, then, in terms of negatively speaking against it. But if any future issues like this arise, I will try to offer alternatives aside from adding any extra readings. I really do appreciate your help. It was very kind of you to take the time to respond. Peace.

 

[Joannm]

I suggest the OP call his or her diocesan worship office and ask the director to come to the parish to offer this committee some basic instruction on the liturgy, because obviously they have not read documents or studied anything to do with the structure and rubrics of the liturgy. Better yet, call the bishop and tell him what you want to do at Christmas Eve Mass and ask him if it is OK.

Liturgy is not planned by consensus, it is not subject to innovative ideas so that choirs can participate better. Choirs serve the liturgy not visa versa. Several documents were presented that basically show that what this committee wants to do is not allowed. They should accept NO as an answer and leave it at that. Maybe focus on getting the choir to sing more appropriate songs at the mass they do sing at.

.:banghead:

 

[Gaudium86]

I think GIRM 357 is helpful on this point:

1. For Sundays and solemnities, three readings are assigned: that is, from a Prophet, an Apostle, and a Gospel. By these the Christian people are brought to know the continuity of the work of salvation according to the God’s wonderful plan. These readings should be followed strictly. During the Easter Season, according to the tradition of the Church, instead of the reading from the Old Testament, the reading is taken from the Acts of the Apostles.

This makes two important points:

1. Three readings are assigned. No more and no less.
2. The readings are ASSIGNED. That is, while the Church may give us options, the range of choices is not unlimited.

GIRM 57 makes a related point:

Moreover, it is unlawful to substitute other, non-biblical texts for the readings and responsorial Psalm, which contain the word of God.

Again, the point is that the Mass needs to include the readings offered by the Church, not other material.

Surely your choir wouldn’t want to be the cause of a liturgical abuse. Perhaps the church could put on a “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” outside of Mass as many Angligan churches do. Everyone loves Christmas music, and I’m sure many people would turn out. I myself often go to a local Anglican church for this event - though I would love a Catholic alternative!

 

[stephraim]

Remember five different instructions, one from the 1960’s, one from the 1980’s, one from the 1990’s, and two from the last seven years forbid the alteration of the approved liturgical texts and actions. Sacrosanctum concilium, art. 22. 3; Canon 846.1; CCC 1125; GIRM, no. 24; and Redemptionis Sacramentum, nos. 31, 59 all specifically mandate that no one, not even a priest, may add, omit, or alter the texts of the sacred liturgical books.

The Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass states, “12. In the celebration of Mass the biblical readings with their accompanying scriptural chants may not be omitted, shortened, or, worse still, replaced by nonbiblical readings.”

Redemptionis Sacramentum states, "61. In selecting the biblical readings for proclamation in the celebration of Mass, the norms found in the liturgical books are to be followed, so that indeed ‘a richer table of the word of God will be prepared for the faithful, and the biblical treasures opened up for them’.

1. It is also illicit to omit or to substitute the prescribed biblical readings on one’s own initiative, and especially ‘to substitute other, non-biblical texts for the readings and responsorial Psalm, which contain the word of God’."

The GIRM states “357. For Sundays and solemnities, three readings are assigned: that is, from a Prophet, an Apostle, and a Gospel. By these the Christian people are brought to know the continuity of the work of salvation according to the God’s wonderful plan. These readings should be followed strictly. During the Easter Season, according to the tradition of the Church, instead of the reading from the Old Testament, the reading is taken from the Acts of the Apostles.”

and again, “57.Moreover, it is unlawful to substitute other, non-biblical texts for the readings and responsorial Psalm, which contain the word of God.”

---

If the morning choir wishes to participate, they could lead a service of carols before Mass, and then sing the evening choir’s programmed music. Readings could be added during the carol service.

I’m not sure if it’s allowed to join Evening Prayer 1 of Christmas with the Vigil Mass. If so, Mass could be extended that way. Other than combining an hour with Mass, I don’t believe there is any addition of lessons allowed.

 

[ConstantineTG]

The bishops and Vatican officials are the best ones to interpret their own documents. We can gain insights into the application of their documents by their comments, articles, etc.

So if you don’t find any such interview or statement made, you’re going to consent to something that is clearly a Liturgical abuse?

 

[pnewton]

I know the poll is just opinions, but it is rather one-sided. It does not appear there is more than one opinion on this topic.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I know the poll is just opinions, but it is rather one-sided. It does not appear there is more than one opinion on this topic.

I really don’t get what kind of other interpretation the OP is asking for. Can the statement “you cannot add, remove or change anything” be interpreted in any other way?

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Basically–and no disrespect to the OP, because it might not be that the OP is objecting per se, but is considering the ‘reactions’ of the clowns (and I AM putting it charitably!!) who came up with this incredibly stupid idea – the ‘answer’ is there but the ‘clowns’ won’t accept it.

If poor meggah has already heard, "But I can’t find anything official from the **VATICAN **that says that we absolutely cannot add Carols and readings at one itty bitty Mass", then he/she is dealing with the kind of nincompoop attitude that absolutely anything 'may be done’ unless it is prohibited, by name, in triplicate, and in exactly the words of the nincompoopists!

The same kind of buffoonery that says, "But JESUS never said anything about (abortion, gay marriage, sex outside marriage, cloning, in vitro, etc. etc. etc.) because there are no ‘red words’ in EXACTLY THOSE WORDS in the leatherette Bible, so they can somehow convince themselves that UNLESS it’s in the ‘red words’ they don’t ‘have to’ believe anything unless they WANT TO.

I hate to say it, but that kind of boneheaded thinking for whoever came up with this, aided by “Father” who, God help him, apparently thinks it a greater sin to ‘say no’ than to obey clear Church teaching, is probably not going to be swayed by ANYTHING. They’ve already decided that they’re right, and nothing, but nothing, will convince them otherwise.

Not even if Christ Himself came down and told them, “Don’t add those lessons and carols to the Mass”. They’d convince themselves that He MEANT, “Add some different lessons and carols to the Mass!!!”

I forget who said it, but the phrase, "You can’t argue with stupid’ surely does come to mind. I’ll say some prayers that meggah’s friends lose their misguided ‘thinking’ and embrace truth instead.

And we won’t argue. We’ll just keep on calmly proclaiming the truth.

 

[ConstantineTG]

maggah,

If the value of the interpretation of a person in authority in the Church is important, then do this. Call the office of your diocese. Tell them of the situation. Tell them you are aware of what we’ve given you to reference in Sacrosanctum Concilium, the GIRM and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Take their statement and bring it to your parish.

Most dioceses would have some sort of Liturgical commission or office that should be able to address this. If you are not satisifed, call the USCCB, this is what I got from their website:

Secretariat of Divine Worship | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC 20017-1194 | (202) 541-3060

 

[laszlo]

SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM

22.3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

The council also said

D) Norms for adapting the Liturgy to the culture and traditions of peoples

1. Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community; rather does she respect and foster the genius and talents of the various races and peoples. Anything in these peoples’ way of life which is not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error she studies with sympathy and, if possible, preserves intact. Sometimes in fact she admits such things into the liturgy itself, so long as they harmonize with its true and authentic spirit.

 

[stephraim]

The council also said

D) Norms for adapting the Liturgy to the culture and traditions of peoples

1. Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community; rather does she respect and foster the genius and talents of the various races and peoples. Anything in these peoples’ way of life which is not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error she studies with sympathy and, if possible, preserves intact. Sometimes in fact she admits such things into the liturgy itself, so long as they harmonize with its true and authentic spirit.

That’s true, but Fourth instruction for the right application of the Conciliar Constitution on the Liturgy issued on March 29, 1994 by the CDWDS says:

1. In the liturgy the faith of the church is expressed in a symbolic and communitarian form: This explains the** need for a legislative framework** for the organization of worship, the preparation of texts and the celebration of rites.[59] The reason for the preceptive character of this legislation throughout the centuries and still today is to ensure the orthodoxy of worship: that is to say, not only to avoid errors, but also to pass on the faith in its integrity so that the “rule of prayer” () of the church may correspond to “rule of faith” ().[60]
   However deep inculturation may go, the liturgy cannot do without legislation and vigilance on the part of those who have received this responsibility in the church: the Apostolic See and, according to the prescriptions of the law, the episcopal conference for its territory and the bishop for his diocese.[61]
2. Since it is a question of local culture, it is understandable that the constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium assigned special responsibility in this matter to the “various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established.”[69] In regard to this, episcopal conferences must consider “carefully and prudently what elements taken from the traditions and cultures of individual peoples may properly be admitted into divine worship.”[70] They can sometimes introduce “into the liturgy such elements as are not bound up with superstition and error … provided they are in keeping with the true and authentic spirit of the liturgy.”[71]
3. Conferences may determine, according to the procedure given below (cf. Nos. 62 and 6569),** whether the introduction into the liturgy of elements borrowed from the social and religious rites of a people, and which form a living part of their culture, will enrich their understanding of liturgical actions without producing negative effects on their faith and piety.** They will always be careful to avoid the danger of introducing elements that might appear to the faithful as the return to a period before evangelization (cf. below No. 47).
   In any case, if changes in rites or texts are judged to be necessary, they must be harmonized with the rest of the liturgical life and, before being put into practice, still more before being made mandatory, they should first be presented to the clergy and then to the faithful in such a way as to avoid the danger of troubling them without good reason (cf. below, Nos. 46 and 69).
4. Adaptations of the Roman rite, even in the field of inculturation, depend completely on the authority of the church. This authority belongs to the Apostolic See, which exercises it through the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments;[78] it also belongs, within the limits fixed by law, to episcopal conferences[79] and to the diocesan bishop.[80] “No other person, not even if he is a priest, may on his own initiative add, remove or change anything in the liturgy.”[81] Inculturation is not left to the personal initiative of celebrants or to the collective initiative of an assembly.[82]
   Likewise concessions granted to one region cannot be extended to other regions without the necessary authorization, even if an episcopal conference considers that there are sufficient reasons for adopting such measures in its own area.
5. The introduction of devotional practices into liturgical celebrations under the pretext of inculturation cannot be allowed “because by its nature, (the liturgy) is superior to them.”[97]**
   It belongs to the local ordinary**[98] to organize such devotions, to encourage them as supports for the life and faith of Christians, and to purify them when necessary, because they need to be constantly permeated by the Gospel.[99] He will take care to ensure that they do not replace liturgical celebrations or become mixed up with them.[100]

---

So, it seems that it’s not with the competence of a priest to add anything, even if he deems it for the good of the faithful.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Instead of having a lessons and carols service before Christmas Vigil Mass, we have been having discussions about adding a few of them into the Mass itself.

My gut instinct is that this is fine to do, especially since in America we do all kinds of extra stuff in our Christmas Masses, such as carrying in the statue of the baby Jesus, extra processions, etc. I just wanted to be sure that interspersing additional readings into the normal Mass readings of Christmas Vigil was not a totally MAJOR no-no.

Thanks for your help and your prayers!

In America, we have a General Instruction which is quite clear about what takes place during Mass. Anything extra, such as a lessons and carols service (a custom apparently borrowed from the Anglicans) or childrens’ performances, is to take place before or after Mass. Normally, the lessons and carols service takes place either before midnight Mass or on some evening before Christmas. The readings for all Christmas Masses are set by the lectionary and extra readings may not be added. The only Mass where extra readings occur is on Holy Saturday, but even those readings are specified by the lectionary.

 

[Bluegoat]

On a totally different note, why not keep the Mass intact, but have some sort of lessons and carols or whatever you want the bad choir to do either before or after?