Can you help me with GIRM references?

[Elzee]

Hi guys,
We do quite a few things in our parish that are not correct.
I’m having trouble finding the appropriate GIRM - or other church document - RS?? - to explain why some of the things we do are wrong, so that I can speak intelligently about them. I’ve found GIRM references to quite a few things, but not these Can you help me? Here they are:

During Lent, the Gospel is read by 3 lay people, and our priest, in a round-robin fashion. Every few paragraphs, the congregation is led in a short refrain such as ‘You are the living water’.

We sit during the Gospel during Lent (because the antics I told you about above ‘take so long’ - and God forbid those who are physically able have to stand longer than 30 seconds. )

During the Easter Vigil, instead of the priest blessing us with holy water, the congregation is processed into the sanctuary, right behind the altar, and to the baptismal font that is located right next to the altar to bless ourselves. I’m not sure if this is wrong…I thought I read somewhere the congregation is not supposed to be in the sanctuary and behind the altar.

Our Christian Rock Band plays their guitars during Mass literally 2 feet from the altar - also in the sanctuary.

EMHCs return the ciboriums to the tabernacle instead of a priest or deacon. They also retrieve them.

I’d appreciate any help you all could give me.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Hi guys,
We do quite a few things in our parish that are not correct.
I’m having trouble finding the appropriate GIRM - or other church document - RS?? - to explain why some of the things we do are wrong, so that I can speak intelligently about them. I’ve found GIRM references to quite a few things, but not these Can you help me? Here they are:

During Lent, the Gospel is read by 3 lay people, and our priest, in a round-robin fashion. Every few paragraphs, the congregation is led in a short refrain such as ‘You are the living water’.

59. By tradition, the function of proclaiming the readings is ministerial, not presidential. The readings, therefore, should be proclaimed by a lector, and the Gospel by a deacon or, in his absence, a priest other than the celebrant. If, however, a deacon or another priest is not present, the priest celebrant himself should read the Gospel. Further, if another suitable lector is also not present, then the priest celebrant should also proclaim the other readings.

The only exceptions being Passion Sunday and Good Friday. (The following comes from a 1974 Sacramentary, so may nt be quite current):

See *Lectionary for the Mass, *no. 38.
The passion is read by the deacon or, if there is no deacon, by the priest. It may also be read by lay readers, with the part of Christ, if possible, reserved to the priest. It is proclaimed without candles or incense. The greeting and signs of the cross are omitted. Only a deacon asks the blessing before the passion, as he does before the Gospel.

We sit during the Gospel during Lent (because the antics I told you about above ‘take so long’ - and God forbid those who are physically able have to stand longer than 30 seconds. )

43. The faithful should stand from the beginning of the Entrance chant, or while the priest approaches the altar, until the end of the Collect; for the Alleluia chant before the Gospel; while the Gospel itself is proclaimed; during the Profession of Faith and the Prayer of the Faithful; from the invitation, Orate, fraters (Pray, brethren), before the prayer over the offerings until the end of Mass, except at the places indicated below.
…]
60. The reading of the Gospel is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. The Liturgy itself teaches that great reverence is to be shown to it by setting it off from the other readings with special marks of honor: whether the minister appointed to proclaim it prepares himself by a blessing or prayer; or the faithful, standing as they listen to it being read, through their acclamations acknowledge and confess Christ present and speaking to them; or the very marks of reverence are given to the Book of the Gospels.

I can’t help with others off the top of my head (nor am I positive they are all abuses), but I’ll see if I stumble across them.

tee

 

[viktor_aleksndr]

Some are allowed to sit especially those aged and those who have infirmities like arthritis etc… But still standing is the appropriate posture…

 

[Elzee]

Thank you tee_eff_em. I don’t know why I couldn’t find these…I must not be navigating the on-line copy correctly. If you or anyone else finds anything to add, I’d appreciate it. I’ll keep looking too. Thank you so much!

 

[John_Lilburne]

About several readers, from From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

“109. If there are several persons present who are able to exercise the same ministry, nothing forbids their distributing among themselves and performing different parts of the same ministry or duty. For example, one deacon may be assigned to take the sung parts, another to serve at the altar; if there are several readings, it is well to distribute them among a number of lectors. The same applies for the other ministries. But it is not at all appropriate that several persons divide a single element of the celebration among themselves, e.g., that the same reading be proclaimed by two lectors, one after the other, except as far as the Passion of the Lord is concerned.”

Standing for the Gospel is in 2002 GIRM n. 43.

Not sprinkling people with water at the Easter Vigil.
“47. The priest sprinkles the people with blessed water, while all sing: I saw water; or any other song which is baptismal in character may be sung.”
(The Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 205).
There is a mention of a procession to the baptistry or vessels of water in the sanctuary – but the procession has: “the Easter candle is carried first, followed by the candidates with their godparents, and the priest with the ministers.” (The Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 193, n. 39). So it is not a procession for the whole congregation.

About the sanctuary, from the 2002 GIRM:
“295. The sanctuary is the place where the altar stands, where the word of God is proclaimed, and where the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their offices. It should suitably be marked off from the body of the church either by its being somewhat elevated or by a particular structure and ornamentation. It should, however, be large enough to allow the Eucharist to be celebrated properly and easily seen.”

On tabernacles, I do not believe there are rubrics requiring only an ordained minister go to it during Mass. The emphasis is on security of the Blessed Sacrament. So the Code of Canon Law, canon 938 §5 has: “The person in charge of a church or oratory is to see to it that the key to the tabernacle in which the blessed Eucharist is reserved, is in maximum safe keeping.” (The Code of Canon Law: New Revised English Translation, HarperCollins Liturgical, 1997, ISBN 0-00-599375-X, page 214).

The 2002 GIRM has: "317. In no way should all the other things prescribed by law concerning the reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist be forgotten. [Footnote 131: 131. Cf. particularly in Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments, Instruction Nullo umquam tempore, 28 May 1938: AAS 30 (1938), pp. 198-207; Codex Iuris Canonici, cann. 934-944.]

This footnoted 1938 document, Nullo Unquam Tempore is at romanrite.com/nullo.html . It includes:

"… 6. (c) The key of the tabernacle must be most diligently kept by a priest. All the cautions mentioned up to the present will be in vain, if the chief caution, namely, the safe-keeping of the key of the tabernacle be neglected. The fourth paragraph of the above canon expressly mentions in respect to this point that a grave burden rests on the conscience of the priest to whom the key of the tabernacle is entrusted. In order to satisfy this obligation of most diligent custody in regard to the key, the Rector is solemnly warned that the key of the tabernacle must never be left on the table of the altar, nor in the door of the tabernacle, not even at the time when the divine offices are carried out in the morning at the altar of the Blessed Sacrament, or communion is distributed, especially if this altar is not in open view. When these offices are over, the key must be kept by the Rector at home, or always carried about by him, care being taken against losing it; or let it be kept in the sacristy in a safe and secret place, under lock and key, the second key being kept by the Rector as above. [Footnote 6: Cfr. Encycl. litt. iussu Benedicti XIV edit. a S.C.EE. et RR, die 9 Feb. 1751.] … "

But it is clear that Extraordinary Ministers may go to the tabernacle, at least for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:

“Such ministers may open the tabernacle and also, if suitable, place the ciborium on the altar or place the host in the monstance. At the end of the period of adoration, they replace the blessed sacrament in the tabernacle. It is not lawful, however, for them to give the blessing with the sacrament.”
(From Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass, published by E.J. Dwyer, Sydney, 1975, ISBN 0-85574-401-4, page 68, n. 91).