Implementing changes in liturgical law

[Andreas_Hofer]

This question is especially for the canonists and clergy out there, but anyone feel free to answer. An issue that has long irked me is the matter of implementing changes in universal liturgical law on the diocesan and parish level. So often when directives come from Rome we hear from our priests and sometimes even chanceries that “We’re not going to change anything until we receive instructions from the bishop on how and when to implement this in our diocese.” Laymen purifying the sacred vessels is a classic example. The Holy Father made it quite clear to the world that that particular indult was not being renewed, and the previous indult had an identifiable stop date on it (x amount of years from its start). Yet despite that indult having lapsed many months ago, almost no one has changed anything because the bishop hasn’t said to do it.

I would like to know if there is actually some sort of canonical time delay for dragging feet past the date when a law comes into effect, or at least if the Vatican expects the possibility of a short but reasonable lag. For me, being oh so Germanic and thus boggled by confusion over when to change things (takes effect 9/25? - that’s the day you have to change), I have simply never been able to understand why a parish priest needs a green light from his bishop to follow the known law of the Church. Any help?

 

[txangel]

This question is especially for the canonists and clergy out there, but anyone feel free to answer. An issue that has long irked me is the matter of implementing changes in universal liturgical law on the diocesan and parish level. So often when directives come from Rome we hear from our priests and sometimes even chanceries that “We’re not going to change anything until we receive instructions from the bishop on how and when to implement this in our diocese.” Laymen purifying the sacred vessels is a classic example. The Holy Father made it quite clear to the world that that particular indult was not being renewed, and the previous indult had an identifiable stop date on it (x amount of years from its start). Yet despite that indult having lapsed many months ago, almost no one has changed anything because the bishop hasn’t said to do it.

I would like to know if there is actually some sort of canonical time delay for dragging feet past the date when a law comes into effect, or at least if the Vatican expects the possibility of a short but reasonable lag. For me, being oh so Germanic and thus boggled by confusion over when to change things (takes effect 9/25? - that’s the day you have to change), I have simply never been able to understand why a parish priest needs a green light from his bishop to follow the known law of the Church. Any help?

Well, I can’t speak for most dioceses in the country, but I know that my parish made the change within a very short period of time from the announcement that the indult was not being renewed. I am sure that it does take time, depending on the size of the parish, to get everyone together to explain the new rules. However, I would like to assume that most parishes in our diocese did the same. Unfortunately, not all are so blessed with truly faithful and orthodox priests as we. I will be so sad when the day comes for our pastor to be transferred. Maybe I’ll ask our bishop if we can clone our pastor…

 

[John_Lilburne]

I share the frustration.

In this regard I did not find this part of the Pope’s explanatory letter on Summorum Pontificum as helpful:
“… There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place. …”.

I see it as giving too much encouragement for dragging feet, not following the latest instructions.

Particularly regarding instituted ministers (lectors and acolytes) we get confusing signals from the Vatican. Liturgical books saying instituted lectors should be used, but Midnight Mass with one reading by an instituted lector another by a women. I see statistics from the Vatican on catechists and deacons, but not on instituted lectors and acolytes.

Sometimes the end of instructions give implementation dates. For example the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum:
“This Instruction, prepared by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II in collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was approved by the same Pontiff on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, 19 March 2004, and he ordered it to be published and to be observed immediately by all concerned.”
Summorum Pontificum, unofficial translation on the Vatican’s website:
“We order that everything We have established with these Apostolic Letters issued as Motu Proprio be considered as “established and decreed”, and to be observed from 14 September of this year, Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, whatever there may be to the contrary.”