Are Priests allowed to remove the Penitential Rite from the Mass?

[benedictus2]

I belong to a group where we celebrate the Mass at the end of a 2 day seminar. Our priest always omits the penitential rite saying that since it is a small private celebration we are allowed liberties. He also says that the 2 day seminar since it is about the Eucharist will suffice for the penitential rite.

We neither have the “I Confess” nor the Kyrie Eleison.

But even the seminar content does not have any thing that resembles a penitential rite.

I must also say that the priest also told me that Christ did not come to save us from our sins ( which is probably the reason discussions regarding sin is avoided).

I wanted to ask our Bishop but do not want to get the priest into trouble.

So please, your responses would be very much appreciated especially if you can give me citations from Church documents or even if you could ask your Bishop. I should research this myself but I am being lazy . Besides, many heads are better than one.

Peace and Joy of Christ.

 

[Vince1022]

Are Priests allowed to remove the Penitential Rite from the Mass?

no

 

[japhy]

Our priest always omits the penitential rite saying that since it is a small private celebration we are allowed liberties. He also says that the 2 day seminar since it is about the Eucharist will suffice for the penitential rite.

The only way the Penitential Act can be omitted is if the Mass begins in some other special way; for example, sprinkling with Holy Water, or beginning with the Liturgy of the Hours, or if there’s going to be a baptism.

But if it’s a “regular” Mass, there is no allowance for omitting the Penitential Act.

I must also say that the priest also told me that Christ did not come to save us from our sins ( which is probably the reason discussions regarding sin is avoided).

“You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matt. 26:28)

“[John the Baptist] will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins.” (Luke 1:76-77)

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

I could go on and on. The priest is simply incorrect on this matter.

I would bring this to the attention of the bishop… although I’m not sure which issue is more serious, the priest’s deviation from the liturgy, or his complete error regarding Christ and our sins!

 

[JerrySeibert]

No, because “He who eats and drinks the blood unworthily, drinks judgement upon himself.”

 

[Damase]

No, because “He who eats and drinks the blood unworthily, drinks judgement upon himself.”

My understanding is that the Penitential Rite does not forgive sins; there are two things that do this.

1. Reception of Communion while in a state of grace (i.e., no mortal sins) forgives venial sins.
2. The sacrament of Confession forgives mortal and venial sins insofar as they are confessed properly, etc.

So participating in a Mass that does not include the Penitential Rite does not mean (necessarily) that one receives Communion unworthily.

 

[benedictus2]

The only way the Penitential Act can be omitted is if the Mass begins in some other special way; for example, sprinkling with Holy Water, or beginning with the Liturgy of the Hours, or if there’s going to be a baptism.

But if it’s a “regular” Mass, there is no allowance for omitting the Penitential Act.

“You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21)

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matt. 26:28)

“[John the Baptist] will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins.” (Luke 1:76-77)

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

I could go on and on. The priest is simply incorrect on this matter.

I would bring this to the attention of the bishop… although I’m not sure which issue is more serious, the priest’s deviation from the liturgy, or his complete error regarding Christ and our sins!

Thanks very much for your response.

I did check the order of Mass and that is what it said.

We have received quite suspect teachings from the priest but I have been sort of going easy on this because I have to think of our group as well.

I will bring it up with him before our next meeting and see how he responds.

Thanks Vince, Jerry and Damase as well.

Peace and Joy of Christ!

 

[markomalley]

I belong to a group where we celebrate the Mass at the end of a 2 day seminar. Our priest always omits the penitential rite saying that since it is a small private celebration we are allowed liberties.

The Act of Penitence
51. Then the priest invites those present to take part in the Act of Penitence, which, after a brief pause for silence, the entire community carries out through a formula of general confession. The rite concludes with the priest’s absolution, which, however, lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance.
On Sundays, especially in the Season of Easter, in place of the customary Act of Penitence, from time to time the blessing and sprinkling of water to recall Baptism may take place.

- General Instruction of the Roman Missal
​

• From time to time on Sundays, especially in Easter time, instead of the customary Penitential Act, the blessing and sprinkling of water may take place (as in Appendix II, pp. 000-000) as a reminder of Baptism.
  
  - *from the *Roman Missal, 3rd English Edition
  ​
  So the question is if they performed the Asperges or not.

If not, then consider these extracts from the CDW Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum: [18.] Christ’s faithful have** the right** that ecclesiastical authority should fully and efficaciously regulate the Sacred Liturgy lest it should ever seem to be “anyone’s private property, whether of the celebrant or of the community in which the mysteries are celebrated”
NB: You have a right to a proper liturgy. [27.] As early as the year 1970, the Apostolic See announced the cessation of all experimentation as regards the celebration of Holy Mass[62] and reiterated the same in 1988.[63] Accordingly, individual Bishops and their Conferences do not have the faculty to permit experimentation with liturgical texts or the other matters that are prescribed in the liturgical books. In order to carry out experimentation of this kind in the future, the permission of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is required. It must be in writing, and it is to be requested by the Conference of Bishops. In fact, it will not be granted without serious reason…
NB: Your bishop does not have the right to make alterations to the Mass without written permission of the CDW (which, oh, by the way, isn’t going to grant it unless there is a really good reason in the view of the CDW, not in the view of the individual bishop)
[30.] The office “that belongs to Priests in particular in the celebration of the Eucharist” is a great one, “for it is their responsibility to preside at the Eucharist in persona Christi It must be lamented that, especially in the years following the post-Conciliar liturgical reform, as a result of a misguided sense of creativity and adaptation, there have been a number of abuses which have been a source of suffering for many”.[70]…
NB: The CDW notes that there have been many abuses because of priests who wanted to get creative. But wait, there’s more:

[31.] In keeping with the solemn promises that they have made in the rite of Sacred Ordination and renewed each year in the Mass of the Chrism, let Priests celebrate “devoutly and faithfully the mysteries of Christ for the praise of God and the sanctification of the Christian people, according to the tradition of the Church, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation”.[71] They ought not to detract from the profound meaning of their own ministry by corrupting the liturgical celebration either through alteration or omission, or through arbitrary additions.[72]
Also within Redemptionis Sacramentum there are methods for recourse (yes, you have recourse because a properly celebrated liturgy is your right). You can look them up yourself.

Personally, what I would do is to read Redemptionis Sacramentum so that you have a good mastery of what it is saying. Then I would ask the priest in question if there is a reason for him omitting the Penitential Rite from his masses. If he doesn’t give you a reason that jibes with either the Roman Missal (see above), the GIRM (see above), or Redemptionis Sacramentum (see above), I would point out, tactfully, that he is not authorized to make unauthorized changes, deletions, or additions – and show him where, in the above instruction, that it says that this is not to be done.

If he blows you off, you have three choices:

1. suffer
2. go to your bishop and complain, as is your right
3. find another parish that celebrates the Mass properly

 

[benedictus2]

The Act of Penitence
51. Then the priest invites those present to take part in the Act of Penitence, which, after a brief pause for silence, the entire community carries out through a formula of general confession. The rite concludes with the priest’s absolution, which, however, lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance.
On Sundays, especially in the Season of Easter, in place of the customary Act of Penitence, from time to time the blessing and sprinkling of water to recall Baptism may take place.

- General Instruction of the Roman Missal
​

• From time to time on Sundays, especially in Easter time, instead of the customary Penitential Act, the blessing and sprinkling of water may take place (as in Appendix II, pp. 000-000) as a reminder of Baptism.
  
  - *from the *Roman Missal, 3rd English Edition
  ​
  So the question is if they performed the Asperges or not.

If not, then consider these extracts from the CDW Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum: [18.] Christ’s faithful have** the right** that ecclesiastical authority should fully and efficaciously regulate the Sacred Liturgy lest it should ever seem to be “anyone’s private property, whether of the celebrant or of the community in which the mysteries are celebrated”
NB: You have a right to a proper liturgy. [27.] As early as the year 1970, the Apostolic See announced the cessation of all experimentation as regards the celebration of Holy Mass[62] and reiterated the same in 1988.[63] Accordingly, individual Bishops and their Conferences do not have the faculty to permit experimentation with liturgical texts or the other matters that are prescribed in the liturgical books. In order to carry out experimentation of this kind in the future, the permission of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is required. It must be in writing, and it is to be requested by the Conference of Bishops. In fact, it will not be granted without serious reason…
NB: Your bishop does not have the right to make alterations to the Mass without written permission of the CDW (which, oh, by the way, isn’t going to grant it unless there is a really good reason in the view of the CDW, not in the view of the individual bishop)
[30.] The office “that belongs to Priests in particular in the celebration of the Eucharist” is a great one, “for it is their responsibility to preside at the Eucharist in persona Christi It must be lamented that, especially in the years following the post-Conciliar liturgical reform, as a result of a misguided sense of creativity and adaptation, there have been a number of abuses which have been a source of suffering for many”.[70]…
NB: The CDW notes that there have been many abuses because of priests who wanted to get creative. But wait, there’s more:

[31.] In keeping with the solemn promises that they have made in the rite of Sacred Ordination and renewed each year in the Mass of the Chrism, let Priests celebrate “devoutly and faithfully the mysteries of Christ for the praise of God and the sanctification of the Christian people, according to the tradition of the Church, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation”.[71] They ought not to detract from the profound meaning of their own ministry by corrupting the liturgical celebration either through alteration or omission, or through arbitrary additions.[72]
Also within Redemptionis Sacramentum there are methods for recourse (yes, you have recourse because a properly celebrated liturgy is your right). You can look them up yourself.

Personally, what I would do is to read Redemptionis Sacramentum so that you have a good mastery of what it is saying. Then I would ask the priest in question if there is a reason for him omitting the Penitential Rite from his masses. If he doesn’t give you a reason that jibes with either the Roman Missal (see above), the GIRM (see above), or Redemptionis Sacramentum (see above), I would point out, tactfully, that he is not authorized to make unauthorized changes, deletions, or additions – and show him where, in the above instruction, that it says that this is not to be done.

If he blows you off, you have three choices:

1. suffer
2. go to your bishop and complain, as is your right
3. find another parish that celebrates the Mass properly

Thank very, very, very much indeed. This is brilliant.

Thanks for the work that went into putting this together.

 

[ppponky143]

Three readings and a psalm. On Sundays there are three readings from the Bible. The first reading will be from the Hebrew Scriptures. We recall the origins of our covenant. It will relate to the Gospel selection and will give background and an insight into the meaning of what Jesus will do in the Gospel. Then we will sing or recite a psalm—a song from God”s own inspired hymnal, the Book of Psalms of the Hebrew Bible. The second reading will usually be from one of the letters of Paul or another apostolic writing. The third reading will be taken from one of the four Gospels.

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