How much leeway exists in the Novus Ordo?

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I attended various Episcopalian Masses that all followed the Book of Common Prayer’s standard Mass rubric, but have some significant differences, parish to parish to parish.

Sometimes incense is used to a stifling degree and the priests do full genuflections every time they pass the altar.

Other times the priest walks around the sanctuary carrying the Gospel after his/her sermon, allowing parishioners to touch it as a sign of reverence.

Even once, we were told to go literally anywhere we want in the sanctuary to meditate and pray after communion. They dimmed the lights, and people were even shuffling along, pausing at each station of the cross.

They had laying on of hands right in the middle of the ceremony too, while I’m used to it happening after the Mass proper but before dismissal.

Anyway, there’s a ton of variation, but it all follows the BCP.

All the Catholic Masses I’ve attended are exactly the same (aside from the collects and prayers of the season). Are the priests more regulated in the Missal, or did I just get a bad sample?
 
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There are licit options though. Several options for the penitential rite, for instance, different prayer options elsewhere. And there is music, which can vary a lot according to local culture or preference.

There are options also for when to kneel at the Eucharistic Prayer. I believe in the US it is customary to kneel through the entire EP, whereas in French Canada for instance, it is at the words of the consecration only (which is the global norm, the US is a local variation).

So “the same” yes. But identical? No.
 
You will find lots of variation in music, the use of incense, the use of chant, the style of vestments… not to the extent that you may see in the Anglican Communion, but it’s still quite a spectrum.
 
At my parish there are no kneelers, no one kneels even at the Consecration, there’s no confiteor, creed, kyrie, or recognizable offertory. So I think there must be quite alot of leeway, because Mass there is drastically different than even the neighboring parishes.
 
There needs to be a creed on Sundays and solemnities. If there isn’t, then there’s a problem. The confiteor is only one option for the penitential rite, and the kyrie needs to be there unless the troped kyrie (an invocation followed by “Lord have mercy…”) option is used. The Offertory can be silent, that is a licit option, but it needs to be there.
 
When you say Creed what do you mean? I know for sure there is no Nicene creed said. What else is there? If there’s a creed being said, I’ve missed it.
 
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The Apostle’s creed. It is a licit option, at least in Canada.
 
At every Sunday or Holy Day Mass, the Creed is recited (Nicene unless it is a mass for children, then Apostles) unless there is a renewal of Baptismal Promises.
 
I agree with @(name removed by moderator), you may want to explore a different church. Are you sure there’s no profession of faith at all? Seems extremely odd that it doesn’t have that.

@powerandglory, I don’t mean to be rude, but are you sure you’re attending a Catholic Mass?
 
I forgot to mention there is no confiteor or Kyrie if the rite of aspersion with holy water is used.
 
Well, now I’m questioning everything. I’m 99.9% certain there is no creed. There’s definitely not a Nicene Creed where you bow or genuflect, but maybe there’s a “blurb” or something. I’m really not sure now. I know it’s quite open there, even the Consecration, Father circles the altar with the Host for all to see. I know it’s a little different but he also teaches at the seminary so I’m sure he knows what he’s doing.
 
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The Roman Missal’s Order of Mass has: “19. Instead of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, especially during Lent and Easter Time, the baptismal Symbol of the Roman Church, known as the Apostles’ Creed, may be used.”

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal has: “68. The Creed is to be sung or said by the Priest together with the people on Sundays and Solemnities. It may be said also at particular celebrations of a more solemn character.”

But …

The Creed is optional when there are the Scrutinies, (prayers for the elect who are to be baptised a few weeks later.) From the book Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: “… then, if required, the profession of faith is said. But for pastoral reasons these general intercessions and the profession of faith may be omitted.” (RCIA, n. 143, 157, 164 edition for Australia and England, n. 156, 170, 177 in the editon for the USA.).

The usual time for the Scrutinies is the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent. However, from the RCIA book with the Australian number “133. … When, because of unusual circumstances and pastoral needs, the period of purification and enlightenment takes place outside Lent, the scrutinies are celebrated on Sundays or even on weekdays, with the usual intervals between celebrations. They are not celebrated on solemnities of the liturgical year” (USA RCIA, n. 146).

At the Easter Vigil there is a renewal of baptismal promises, instead of the Creed.

Similarly if there is a baptism at Mass, from the Rite of Baptism for Children “29. … 2 … c. The Creed is not said, since the profession of faith by the entire community before baptism takes its place.” (The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 374).

(Continued in next post.)
 
(Continuing …)
And if there is a confirmation at Mass, from the Rite of Confirmation “31. … a) the profession of faith is omitted, since it has already been made;” (The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 492).

If there is an ordination of a deacon, priest or bishop in the Mass, from the rite of “Ordination of Deacons, Priests and Bishops”, n. “The profession of faith is not said, nor are the general intecessions.” (The Rites Volume Two, Liturgical Press, 1991, ISBN: 0-8146-6037-1, pages 28, 39, 66).

If there is a consecration to a life of virginity in the Mass: “12. … b) the profession of faith is not said, even if prescribed by the rubrics of the day”. (The Rites Volume Two, Liturgical Press, 1991, ISBN: 0-8146-6037-1, page 161, 177).

If there is a rite of religious profession in the Mass,

for a temporary profession by a man: “22 … b) the profession of faith may be omitted, even if prescribed by the rubrics of the day.” (The Rites Volume Two, Liturgical Press, 1991, ISBN: 0-8146-6037-1, page 213).

the same for a perpetual profession by a man, n. 52(b), page 221.

same if a man renews his vows, n. 83(b), page 233.

same for a women, temporary profession, 25(b), page 252.

same for a women, perpetual profession, 57(b), page 258.

same for a women, renewal of vows, 90(b), page 272.

If there is a blessing of an abbot “15. The profession of faith is not said in this Mass, and the general intercessions are omitted.” (The Rites Volume Two, Liturgical Press, 1991, ISBN: 0-8146-6037-1, page 304.

Same for the blessing of an abbess, n. 10, page 314.
 
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