Comments *before* readings?

[jbettin]

Our parish has a new pastor, as of last weekend. It seems that it’s his practice to make explanatory remarks before each of the readings. I checked the GIRM online, and it’s silent on the matter. Apparently, we’re also going to be facing other issues with him; he either used a Eucharistic prayer that I’ve never heard before, or he ad-libbed through the whole thing.

So, two questions: first, am I right that the remarks before the Scripture readings aren’t licit? And second, what would be the most delicate and charitable way to handle abuses with a brand new pastor?

 

[Phemie]

So, two questions: first, am I right that the remarks before the Scripture readings aren’t licit? And second, what would be the most delicate and charitable way to handle abuses with a brand new pastor?

No, you’re wrong. See below.

There are 13 different Eucharistic Prayers so it’s quite possible that he used one you’d never heard before.

As to how to handle abuses, the first thing would be to make sure they are actually abuses and, if they are, without accusing him politely ask the new Pastor about the things you are concerned about.

GIRM 31. It is also up to the priest, in the exercise of his office of presiding over the gathered assembly, to offer certain explanations that are foreseen in the rite itself. Where it is indicated in the rubrics, the celebrant is permitted to adapt them somewhat in order that they respond to the understanding of those participating. However, he should always take care to keep to the sense of the text given in the Missal and to express them succinctly. The presiding priest is also to direct the word of God and to impart the final blessing. In addition, he may give the faithful a very brief introduction to the Mass of the day (after the initial Greeting and before the Act of Penitence), to the Liturgy of the Word (before the readings), and to the Eucharistic Prayer (before the Preface), though never during the Eucharistic Prayer itself; he may also make concluding comments to the entire sacred action before the dismissal.

 

[puzzleannie]

Our parish has a new pastor, as of last weekend. It seems that it’s his practice to make explanatory remarks before each of the readings

there is no problem with this

he either used a Eucharistic prayer that I’ve never heard before, or he ad-libbed through the whole thing.
?

 

[ProVobis]

Our parish has a new pastor, as of last weekend. It seems that it’s his practice to make explanatory remarks before each of the readings. I checked the GIRM online, and it’s silent on the matter.

Believe it or not, it’s actually Church doctrine as defined as such by Trent:

CHAPTER VIII.

On not celebrating the Mass every where in the vulgar tongue; the mysteries of the Mass to be explained to the people.

Although the mass contains great instruction for the faithful people, nevertheless, it has not seemed expedient to the Fathers, that it should be every where celebrated in the vulgar tongue. Wherefore, the ancient usage of each church, and the rite approved of by the holy Roman Church, the mother and mistress of all churches, being in each place retained; and, that the sheep of Christ may not suffer hunger, nor the little ones ask for bread, and there be none to break it unto them, the holy Synod charges pastors, and all who have the cure of souls, that they frequently, during the celebration of mass, expound either by themselves, or others, some portion of those things which are read at mass, and that, amongst the rest, they explain some mystery of this most holy sacrifice, especially on the Lord’s days and festivals.

thecounciloftrent.com/ch22.htm

 

[John_Lilburne]

Also in the General Introduction to the Lectionary:

“15. There may be concise introductions before the readings, especially the first. The style proper to such comments must be respected, that is, they must be simple, faithful to the text, brief, well prepared, and properly varied to suit the text they introduce.30”

“42. The one presiding is responsible for preparing the faithful for the liturgy of the word on occasion by means of introductions before the readings.70 These comments can help the gathered assembly toward a better hearing of the word of God, because they enliven the people’s faith and their desire for good. He may also carry out this responsibility through other persons, the deacon, for example, or a commentator.71”

I have not included the footnotes, “30”, “70” and “71”.

 

[jbettin]

Wow, I had no idea that this was OK. Actually, that’s a relief.

With so much craziness these days, I’ll admit to having become hyper-sensitive. Thanks to all of you for the clarification.

 

[japhy]

The GIRM does not say that the comments about the readings come before “each reading”, but before “the readings.” (cf. 31) I would think that means the comments should be between the Collect and the First Reading, rather than before each reading.

ProVobis - I’m not sure the giving of instructions (whether in a homily or through comments before the Liturgy of the Word) is “doctrine”. That sounds like a disciplinary instruction.

 

[puzzleannie]

Wow, I had no idea that this was OK. Actually, that’s a relief.

With so much craziness these days, I’ll admit to having become hyper-sensitive. Thanks to all of you for the clarification.

this can be a huge danger to the faith. my advice to everyone who participates on this particular forum is for our own spiritual health and well being to drop immediately the habit of being our local liturgy police, or actively looking for abuses and judging each and every word or action during Mass as if they have to prove to us the practice is legit.

we need to just go to Mass, worship and participate in the mystery. leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.

 

[thistle]

this can be a huge danger to the faith. my advice to everyone who participates on this particular forum is for our own spiritual health and well being to drop immediately the habit of being our local liturgy police, or actively looking for abuses and judging each and every word or action during Mass as if they have to prove to us the practice is legit.

we need to just go to Mass, worship and participate in the mystery. leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.

I agree.

 

[Phemie]

The GIRM does not say that the comments about the readings come before “each reading”, but before “the readings.” (cf. 31) I would think that means the comments should be between the Collect and the First Reading, rather than before each reading.

OTOH, Introduction to the Lectionary #15 doesn’t discount having them before each reading.

I haven’t experienced this very often but we did have a visiting priest that gave a short homily before each reading and then go on to repeat himself in more detail in the long homily after the Gospel. It was most annoying.

 

[japhy]

OTOH, Introduction to the Lectionary #15 doesn’t discount having them before each reading.

Ah, so it does. I missed that. Thank you.

 

[promethius95945]

this can be a huge danger to the faith. my advice to everyone who participates on this particular forum is for our own spiritual health and well being to drop immediately the habit of being our local liturgy police, or actively looking for abuses and judging each and every word or action during Mass as if they have to prove to us the practice is legit.

we need to just go to Mass, worship and participate in the mystery. leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.

huzzah for this post. I suffered this problem as well, until reading “The Lamb’s Supper”, wherein I realized that in doing my job as “liturgical police (self appointed)” I was failing to give my utmost attention to worship of God… in other words, I was failing in my God-given job of being a good and reverent layperson.

I’m still working on it. These days I tend to only notice things like at last sunday (a crowded mass) when I watched several men fail to kneel right next to their wives, sons, and daughters kneeling… that just set off my “as the man of the house, the father should set the example” alarm, and my girlfriend duely chastised me for it when I said something about it after mass. Our dialogue went something like this:
Her: “Maybe they had bad knees.”
Me: “Fifteen or so people in the parish, including several my age, have bad knees?”
Her: “You can’t say for sure that they don’t. Besides, this was during the consecration, why were you paying attention to other people?”

I like this girlfriend. She rebukes/encourages me where I’m weak and supports me where I’m strong.

 

[ProVobis]

ProVobis - I’m not sure the giving of instructions (whether in a homily or through comments before the Liturgy of the Word) is “doctrine”.

Unless it’s been mistranslated or misinterpreted, it’s right there in the top of the document:

“Sessio Vigesimasecunda, (Twenty-second Session,)
celebrata die XVII. Sept. 1562. (held Sept. 17, 1562.)
DOCTRINA DE SACRIFICIO MISSÆ (DOCTRINE ON THE SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.)”

ccel.org/ccel/schaff/creeds2.v.i.i.ix.html

However, in all fairness, I don’t think the explanations about the Mass were very well presented pre-Vatican II.