How are readings for Mass selected and how much flexibilty is there?

[driedel07]

Hello Everyone,

I have a quick question that came up in my faith sharing group recently. I know that for Mass readings we follow the three year cycle with different themes for different seasons. I also know that there are special readings for feast days that can be substituted for the cyclical readings. Is it permissible for the readings to be changed to fit in with the theme of a retreat or other event that the Mass is a part of? For example, can the Gospel reading for the 32nd Sunday, be used the week before instead of the reading for the 31st Sunday or the Feast of All Souls or Saints?

Thanks!

 

[benedictgal]

Hello Everyone,

I have a quick question that came up in my faith sharing group recently. I know that for Mass readings we follow the three year cycle with different themes for different seasons. I also know that there are special readings for feast days that can be substituted for the cyclical readings. Is it permissible for the readings to be changed to fit in with the theme of a retreat or other event that the Mass is a part of? For example, can the Gospel reading for the 32nd Sunday, be used the week before instead of the reading for the 31st Sunday or the Feast of All Souls or Saints?

Thanks!

During the Sundays in Ordinal Time, there can be some flexibility to the usage of the readings. For example, if a solemnity or a commemoration falls during that time, then the readings for that special occasion supercede the ones for that particular Sunday. This year, we had the examples of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Triumph of the Holy Cross and the Commemoration of All Souls. The readings for these particular solemnities and, as in the case of the Solemnity of all Saints, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception, are fixed ans cannot be changed. Now, next year, in observance of the Pauline Year, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, on the recommendation of the Holy Father, has declared that the readings for Sunday, January 25th be used for the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

Now, in the event that a parish or religious community has a special solemnity celebrating its patronal feast, then, the Church allows for the readings related to that particular feast day be used in lieu of the readings for Ordinary Time. This has happened with the Paulists, the Salesians and the Franciscans.

The other time where flexibility can come into play concerns the dedication of a new church or a new altar. In that particular case, as we saw when the Holy Father dedicated a new altar on a Sunday, the readings for that occasion were used in the place of the ones for Ordinary Time.

For WYD, the readings were substituted, but, that was an event of enormous magnitude, and it was also a Papal event.

Apart from Sundays, there are two occasions that I know of where flexibility is involved: the Nuptial Mass and the Mass of Christian Burial. The Church allows the faithful to select readings for these particular liturgies from the lectionary.

Now, during the week, there is also flexibility. During Ordinary Time, the priest can choose to celebrate a votive Mass (of the Holy Spirit, of the Sacred Heart, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of Sts. Peter and Paul,etc) and use the readings attached to that votive Mass.

However, for the retreat setting, I would be hesitant to substitute at will, especially if Sunday Mass is a part of the event.

 

[Aramis]

The assigned readings may only be deviated from with good cause… most of which Benedictgal has stated clearly.

There are a number of approved alternate readings with specific themes. If one of those works, then its suitable. If not, it needs the bishop’s permission to go off-calendar.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Hello Everyone,

I have a quick question that came up in my faith sharing group recently. I know that for Mass readings we follow the three year cycle with different themes for different seasons. I also know that there are special readings for feast days that can be substituted for the cyclical readings. Is it permissible for the readings to be changed to fit in with the theme of a retreat or other event that the Mass is a part of? For example, can the Gospel reading for the 32nd Sunday, be used the week before instead of the reading for the 31st Sunday or the Feast of All Souls or Saints?

Thanks!

Special Masses such as for a Retreat can be celebrated at any time other than the regular Mass times of a parish and use different Readings selected for that Mass theme. If celebrated on Saturday evening or Sunday and do not use the proper readings for that Sunday, the Mass would not satisfy the Sunday obligation…

 

[EasterJoy]

The assigned readings may only be deviated from with good cause… most of which Benedictgal has stated clearly.

There are a number of approved alternate readings with specific themes. If one of those works, then its suitable. If not, it needs the bishop’s permission to go off-calendar.

I would think that for a special event such as a retreat that either a pre-approved Mass with a particular theme might be chosen (there are quite a few) or that special permission for appropriate readings would not be difficult to obtain from the chancery office.

 

[DixitDominus]

If celebrated on Saturday evening or Sunday and do not use the proper readings for that Sunday, the Mass would not satisfy the Sunday obligation…

This is incorrect:

Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.

 

[Kielbasi]

Special Masses such as for a Retreat can be celebrated at any time other than the regular Mass times of a parish and use different Readings selected for that Mass theme. If celebrated on Saturday evening or Sunday and do not use the proper readings for that Sunday, the Mass would not satisfy the Sunday obligation…

I don’t believe you are correct on this. Eastern rite liturgies as well as sometimes the Tridentine mass as well have different readings on Sunday, yet those masses definitely satisfy the obligation, even though they might not meet the theme for that Sunday.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I don’t believe you are correct on this. Eastern rite liturgies as well as sometimes the Tridentine mass as well have different readings on Sunday, yet those masses definitely satisfy the obligation, even though they might not meet the theme for that Sunday.

As long as they are the correct readings for that Rite, for that Sunday. See the Liturgy section on Zenit for 10/21/2008.

Pay attention to these paragraphs:

" …**even regular Mass goers are likely to presume that a Saturday evening Mass is sufficient to fulfill their Sunday precept and the distinctions between different Mass formulas are likely to be lost on them.
**
Therefore, except in those cases when the majority of guests are well-formed and committed Catholics, it is better to assure as far as possible that they attend a celebration valid for Sunday, even though this can mean that on some occasions certain aspects of the regular nuptial Mass may not be celebrated.

To be sufficient to satisfy the Sunday obligation it has to be the SUNDAY mass. What makes the distinction between the “Sunday” mass and another Mass celebrated on Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon? The formulas of the Mass including the Readings specified in the Lectionary (Latin Rite) for that Sunday.

 

[Aramis]

Zenit doesn’t trump canon law.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Zenit doesn’t trump canon law.

You are reading too much into it, in my opinion. You want it to say something that it does not say. I’ll take Fr’s narrower interpretation of it.

 

[benedictgal]

Here is a note from Redemptionis Sacramentum:

[39.] For promoting and elucidating active participation, the recent renewal of the liturgical books according to the mind of the Council fostered acclamations of the people, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and canticles, as well as actions or movements and gestures, and called for sacred silence to be maintained at the proper times, while providing rubrics for the parts of the faithful as well.99 In addition, ample flexibility is given for appropriate creativity aimed at allowing each celebration to be adapted to the needs of the participants, to their comprehension, their interior preparation and their gifts, according to the established liturgical norms. In the songs, the melodies, the choice of prayers and readings, the giving of the homily, the preparation of the prayer of the faithful, the occasional explanatory remarks, and the decoration of the Church building according to the various seasons, there is ample possibility for introducing into each celebration a certain variety by which the riches of the liturgical tradition will also be more clearly evident, and so, in keeping with pastoral requirements, the celebration will be carefully imbued with those particular features that will foster the recollection of the participants. Still, it should be remembered that the power of the liturgical celebrations does not consist in frequently altering the rites, but in probing more deeply the word of God and the mystery being celebrated.100

However, this “flexibility” would not necessarily apply to solemnities, wiht the exception of the Commemoration of All Souls.

We are not tied down to reading what the disposable missallettes print as the readings for November 2nd. Because the Church allows us the freedom to pick the readings from the Masses for the Dead for All Souls Day, we have an ample selection from which to choose. When I have planned the All Souls liturgy, I have never used what the missallettes have printed. I will usually use the reading from Maccabbees, the epistle from Thesalonians and the Gospel from St. John (many mansions).

I hope this helps.

 

[FrDavid96]

Here is a note from Redemptionis Sacramentum:

However, this “flexibility” would not necessarily apply to solemnities, wiht the exception of the Commemoration of All Souls.

We are not tied down to reading what the disposable missallettes print as the readings for November 2nd. Because the Church allows us the freedom to pick the readings from the Masses for the Dead for All Souls Day, we have an ample selection from which to choose. When I have planned the All Souls liturgy, I have never used what the missallettes have printed. I will usually use the reading from Maccabbees, the epistle from Thesalonians and the Gospel from St. John (many mansions).

I hope this helps.

The operative phrase in what you quoted from Redemptionis Sacramentum is “according to the established liturgical norms”

You have a good point about not being bound to use what’s in the missallettes. But we are still required to use only the approved readings for the day, as they are found in the official Lectionary. Your example is certainly within liturgical norms, but I don’t believe that’s what the original poster is getting at. It’s not a question of choosing one of the six Gospels given for that day, it’s a question of substituting altogether different readings from a different day or occasion.

 

[Corki]

Here is a note from Redemptionis Sacramentum:

However, this “flexibility” would not necessarily apply to solemnities, wiht the exception of the Commemoration of All Souls.

We are not tied down to reading what the disposable missallettes print as the readings for November 2nd. Because the Church allows us the freedom to pick the readings from the Masses for the Dead for All Souls Day, we have an ample selection from which to choose. When I have planned the All Souls liturgy, I have never used what the missallettes have printed. I will usually use the reading from Maccabbees, the epistle from Thesalonians and the Gospel from St. John (many mansions).

I hope this helps.

This is what happened to us today. While I concede that different reading choices are allowed, it is very disconcerting to be following along in the missal but then have the readings changed. In our case, only the first reading was changed. Half the congregation was flipping around, looking for the right reading. Then we were back to the missalette for the psalm. I am sure only about half of those there were paying attention to the first reading because of the distraction.

 

[FrDavid96]

As long as they are the correct readings for that Rite, for that Sunday. See the Liturgy section on Zenit for 10/21/2008.

Pay attention to these paragraphs:

" …**even regular Mass goers are likely to presume that a Saturday evening Mass is sufficient to fulfill their Sunday precept and the distinctions between different Mass formulas are likely to be lost on them.
**
Therefore, except in those cases when the majority of guests are well-formed and committed Catholics, it is better to assure as far as possible that they attend a celebration valid for Sunday, even though this can mean that on some occasions certain aspects of the regular nuptial Mass may not be celebrated.

To be sufficient to satisfy the Sunday obligation it has to be the SUNDAY mass. What makes the distinction between the “Sunday” mass and another Mass celebrated on Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon? The formulas of the Mass including the Readings specified in the Lectionary (Latin Rite) for that Sunday.

Hmmmmm…

While I would agree absolutely if the Mass is celebrated on Saturday evening, I’m not so sure about saying the same thing for a Mass celebrated on Sunday itself.

What if we have an Ordination to the Priesthood at 3:00 PM on a Sunday in Ordinary time?

Clearly, the ritual Mass of Ordination would be used, and the readings would be those of the Ordination Mass.

But I would find it hard to imagine that anyone would even think of saying that such a Mass would not fulfill the Sunday obligation.

 

[FrDavid96]

This is what happened to us today. While I concede that different reading choices are allowed, it is very disconcerting to be following along in the missal but then have the readings changed. In our case, only the first reading was changed. Half the congregation was flipping around, looking for the right reading. Then we were back to the missalette for the psalm. I am sure only about half of those there were paying attention to the first reading because of the distraction.

Corki,

I have found as a general rule that the people who print the missallettes choose to give the options which suit their own agenda more than any other criteria.

 

[Corki]

Corki,

I have found as a general rule that the people who print the missallettes choose to give the options which suit their own agenda more than any other criteria.

I agree and I would have loved to hear Maccabbees. But if you deviate from the missalette, you should warn us. Or use a “worship aid”. Not leave us flipping around trying to find out what’s “wrong”.

I have the same gripe about using the seasonal responses in place of the responsorial psalm of the day. Sure, it’s allowed. But if we don’t know it’s coming, and we don’t know what page it is printed on (in our parish the seasonal responses are in the other book) so we can’t sing the response. And people wonder why we don’t participate or sing more. Sheesh!

 

[FrDavid96]

Hello Everyone,

I have a quick question that came up in my faith sharing group recently. I know that for Mass readings we follow the three year cycle with different themes for different seasons. I also know that there are special readings for feast days that can be substituted for the cyclical readings. Is it permissible for the readings to be changed to fit in with the theme of a retreat or other event that the Mass is a part of? For example, can the Gospel reading for the 32nd Sunday, be used the week before instead of the reading for the 31st Sunday or the Feast of All Souls or Saints?

Thanks!

Driedel:

2 different answers, one for Sundays, one for weekdays.

Here’s exactly what the GIRM says

• 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.

For Feasts, on the other hand, two readings are assigned. If, however, according to the norms a feast is raised to the rank of a solemnity, a third reading is added, taken from the Common.

For memorials of Saints, unless strictly proper readings are given, the readings assigned for the weekday are customarily used. In certain cases, readings are provided that highlight some particular aspect of the spiritual life or activity of the Saint. The use of such readings is not to be insisted upon, unless a pastoral reason suggests it.

1. In the Lectionary for weekdays, readings are provided for each day of every week throughout the entire year; as a result, these readings are for the most part to be used on the days to which they are assigned, unless there occurs a solemnity, feast, or memorial that has its own proper New Testament readings, that is to say, readings in which mention is made of the Saint being celebrated.

If, however, the continuous reading during the week is interrupted by the occurrence of some solemnity or feast, or some particular celebration, then the priest, taking into consideration the entire week’s scheme of readings, is allowed either to combine parts omitted with other readings or to decide which readings are to be preferred over others.

In Masses with special groups, the priest is allowed to choose texts more suited to the particular celebration, provided they are taken from the texts of an approved lectionary. *

(the bold type is my own editorial)

On weekdays, I think it’s clear that if the priest presiding decides for a good pastoral reason (during a retreat or something similar) that other readings from the approved lectionary would be more suited to the occasion, that’s fine.

On Sundays, it’s a little more subtle. “these readings should be followed strictly” (not “must” be followed) implies that there might be a good reason to substitute other approved readings, but at the same time, the priest would have to have a very, very good reason.

I think the bold-type in the quote specifically addresses your question and answers it in the affirmative.

Here’s my take on it. If the Sunday on which the Mass is happening is a very specific Sunday (say All Souls Day, or a Sunday in Advent or Lent, or Corpus Christi) then it would be very difficult indeed to justify using other readings, regardless of the circumstances. However, if it’s a Sunday in Ordinary Time, and the priest feels that other readings would be more suitable (say the Corpus Christi readings during a Eucharistic Conference), then that would be permitted.

A change in the choice of readings though (everything else being the same) would not in itself mean that attending that Mass on a Sunday fails to fulfull the Sunday obligation. The obligation is to attend Mass on Sunday, not to attend a specific set of readings.

 

[FrDavid96]

You are reading too much into it, in my opinion. You want it to say something that it does not say. I’ll take Fr’s narrower interpretation of it.

Actually, Br. Rich, I’m with Aramis on this one. If the Canon says that a Catholic fulfills the obligation by attending any Catholic Mass, then the plain meaning of the words apply. A Catholic fulfills the obligation by attending any Catholic Mass.

When interpreting the Canons, we cannot add obligations which aren’t there. The canon doesn’t make qualifications for “if the readings are the Sunday readings” and therefore we can’t say that either.

I can’t access the article to which you refer on zenit, so I’m not going to refute it without reading it. I’m willing to listen to an argument that says attending a valid and licit Catholic Mass on Saturday evening does not fulfill the Sunday obligation, but it’s going to take a lot of convincing.

If the Mass in question happens on a Sunday, though, I would say without any qualifications that it fulfills the Sunday obligation.

 

[Digitonomy]

When interpreting the Canons, we cannot add obligations which aren’t there. The canon doesn’t make qualifications for “if the readings are the Sunday readings” and therefore we can’t say that either.

Isn’t that exactly what you said on this thread?

FrDavid96:

It all comes down to one important question:

Which Mass is the priest celebrating at that particular Mass? In other words, which Mass text is he using? Which prayers and readings?

 

[FrDavid96]

Isn’t that exactly what you said on this thread?

Yep. I’ve been thinking about exactly that. Nice catch there (or should I say interception?)

I think the difference is that in the other thread I was addressing the issue of having 2 different days of obligation one right after the other, since that was the question at hand.

Since 2 different obligations have to be fulfilled, the question would be: which “day” is it on Saturday evening. There, there is about a 6 hour time period in which either Mass for either obligation might be celebrated. The way to answer “which day is it” is to look at the Mass text. A person cannot fulfill 2 obligations by attending 1 Mass. And the intent of the Church is that a Catholic attend both the Mass of All Saints and the Mass of All Souls. In the other thread, I was trying to provide the original poster with some guidance on how he should go about determining which Mass satisfied which obligation (since that was his question). My response was essentially to say that it’s not a matter of the time-of-day that the Mass is celebrated, but a matter of “which” Mass is being celebrated. My concern was that other posters were concentrating only on the time-of-day question without addressing the matter of the Mass text, and I felt that I should clarify it.

In this thead here, we’re only talking about fulfilling 1 obligation, Sunday. That obligation is fulfilled by attending 1 Mass (a 2nd Mass on the same liturgical day is not required).

I’ve also been thinking about a twist on that. If a person attends a Saturday morning Mass for All Saints and then later attends a Saturday evening Mass (and the text is also All Saints), would that second Mass fulfill the obligation for Sunday? My imaginary conclusion there would be that it does fulfill it, but a person should not do this intentionally. If it happens by accident, then the person would not be obligated to attend a 3rd Mass that weekend. Yet if it is done intentionally then the peson would culpable for missing the Sunday Mass because he had the intention of missing it.