Celebrant vs. Presider

[muledog]

I’m trying to find an article a read last year that was written by a Cardinal (Arinze, maybe?) describing the correct usage of “presider”. He was explaining that the term best describes a bishop who presides over a Mass celebrated by someone else. I think it was a written article based on a speech/interview.

I tried looking over at Adoremus.org, but couldn’t find it. The reason I’m interested in this, is that our pastor published an article in today’s bulletin abhorring the use of “celebrant” and praising the use of “presider” for the officiating priest at Mass. I explained to him later that the GIRM always uses terms such as “celebrant” or “priest celebrant”, but never the noun “presider” to describe such a person. Also, Redemptionis Sacramentum admonishes people from using terms such as “celebrating community” or “celebrating assembly”, since the term is one that is linked to the priest and no the congregation.

Does anyone else remember seeing this article/interview?

 

[tunemiester]

:twocents: hey muledog

You might want to get a copy of cardinal Ratzinger’s book The Spirit Of The Liturgy. On page 212 Ratzinger states the priest who uses the term “presider” sees the celebration of the Mass as a kind of meeting. But it’s more than that.
“The priest presides over an encounter with the living God and as a person who is on his way to God.”
He cautions this is also a term favored by priests who are activists and change the words of prayers to fit their liking or just don’t say them at all.

Good luck !

 

[mosher]

You are correct to say that there is a difference between a presider and the celebrant. I think you may find yoru answer in the rubrics of the mass itself. If it is not found in the Missale Romanum itself it is in the Pontifical which explains that a presider is a Bishop who is in attendance at the Liturgy in an official capacity dressed in Choir but does not celebrate the liturgy.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Cardinal Arinze in the first signatory to the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacarmentum. The idea of a priest presiding seems to be something he is comfortable with. Some quotes:

[20.] Indeed, the pre-eminent manifestation of the Church is found whenever the rites of Mass are celebrated, especially in the Cathedral Church, “with the full and active participation of the entire holy People of God, joined in one act of prayer, at one altar at which the Bishop presides”, surrounded by his presbyterate with the Deacons and ministers.

[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 and to provide a witness to and a service of communion not only for the community directly taking part in the celebration, but also for the universal Church, which is always brought into play within the context of the Eucharist.

[42.] … On the contrary, the Eucharist celebrated by the Priests “is a gift which radically transcends the power of the community. . . . The community that gathers for the celebration of the Eucharist absolutely requires an ordained Priest, who presides over it so that it may truly be a eucharistic convocation.

1. … Finally, in special cases of an unforeseen nature, permission can be given for a single occasion by the Priest who presides at the celebration of the Eucharist.

1. … Nor is it ever appropriate to refer to any member of the lay faithful as “presiding” over the celebration.

The last example is particularly surprising since the approved translation for the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours in the USA includes: “258. In the absence of a priest or deacon, the one who presides at the office is only one among equals and does not enter the sanctuary or greet and bless the people.”

The term “presider” is different from “celebrant” in the Ceremonial of Bishops (i.e. Ceremoniale Episcoporum, Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 1995, ISBN 88-209-4217-8). Here Part II, Chapter III describes what a bishop should do at a Mass when he presides but not as celebrant (“DE MISSA CUI EPISCOPUS PRAESIDET QUIN EUCHARISTIAM CELEBRET”).

 

[mosher]

The term presider cannot be used in an equivocal way when applied to the Mass versus other liturgical or paraliturgical situations.

 

[muledog]

You’ve all been a great help on this. I’m still looking for that article by, I believe, Cardinal Arinze, from last year in which he actually stated that ‘presider’ was a correct term only when describing the actions of a bishop at a Mass celebrated by someone else.

I’ve tried “googling” for it, but to no avail.

 

[buffalo]

muledog:

You’ve all been a great help on this. I’m still looking for that article by, I believe, Cardinal Arinze, from last year in which he actually stated that ‘presider’ was a correct term only when describing the actions of a bishop at a Mass celebrated by someone else.

I’ve tried “googling” for it, but to no avail.

You are right. I also read the article or it may have been an interview. I will try to find it.