Instructional Mass

[Steve-o]

I wanted to mention this just after it happened, but my computer was in traction, so I guess better late than never!

In November, my parish celebrated Mass Sunday at 9:30 am and for the benefit of my RCIA group as well as the parish, our pastor held an “instructional Mass”, with the Deacon narrating while the Mass was being celebrated. It was of course great for the Candidate (me) and the Catechumens, but I also think the Confirmed members of our parish learned a lot from it. The parishoners were very patient considering Mass lasted about 20 minutes longer as a result of the process. It went over pretty well and a lot of people are hoping that this is done on an annual or even better–a seasonal basis.

Anyone’s parish do something similar?

 

[GoLatin]

I believe that an “instructional Mass” might be FORBIDDEN, but I cannot cite the exact rule governing this matter.

Maybe instead of having the narration, there could be sheets of paper printed with the pertinent information.
Perhaps someone more knowledgeable in Church rules could help?

 

[Kielbasi]

I believe that an “instructional Mass” might be FORBIDDEN, but I cannot cite the exact rule

Why would you think that, particularly in this situation where it was being said for RCIA potential converts and inquirers.

Actually it sounds like a pretty good idea, and is very similar to the broadcast of the pope’s Christmas mass on TV with the commentator talking about the meaning of various parts of the mass, although the commentator at the TV Christmas mass also gives commentary about various artwork and history in the St. Peter’s basilica worship site.

 

[GoLatin]

Kielbasi:

Why would you think that, particularly in this situation where it was being said for RCIA potential converts and inquirers.

Actually it sounds like a pretty good idea, and is very similar to the broadcast of the pope’s Christmas mass on TV with the commentator talking about the meaning of various parts of the mass, although the commentator at the TV Christmas mass also gives commentary about various artwork and history in the St. Peter’s basilica worship site.

The commentators on TV are not providing commentary to those who are actually present at the Mass. They are providing commentary to people who are watching Mass on TV.

Commentary at the actual Mass is disruptive. It tends to turn the Mass into a school session, and most likely decreases the reverential atmosphere.

 

[asquared]

we inquired about this at a parent meeting for 1st communion and the priest, who is in charge of liturgy for the diocese, told us it is forbidden. he can do a “dry mass” as a walk-through for instructional purposes, but the Mass itself may not be interrupted for instructional sessions, nor can the children gather around the altar for such a session.

 

[John_Lilburne]

There can be a commentator at Mass. From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) 105b:

“The commentator, who provides the faithful, when appropriate, with brief explanations and commentaries with the purpose of introducing them to the celebration and preparing them to understand it better. The commentator’s remarks must be meticulously prepared and clear though brief. In performing this function the commentator stands in an appropriate place facing the faithful, but not at the ambo.”

This ministry is mentioned in the 1965 Instruction “Doctrina et exemplo”: “Clerics should be prepared for the difficult role of commentator in the parish liturgy. They should learn to discharge that office with proper prudence and seriousness, care being taken that they understand that the commentator should never become an obstacle between the celebration goinig on at the altar and the assembly of the faithful called to participate in it. Priests expert in this field will carefully observe and evaluate the student’s attempts at this function.” (From Documents on the Liturgy, Liturgical Press, 1982, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4, page 852.

It is also mentioned in the first document of Vatican II, the 1963 Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Liturgy), n. 29: "Servers, readers, commentators, and members of the choir also exercise a genuine liturgical function. They ought to discharge their office therefore with the sincerely devotion and decorum demanded by so exalted a ministry and rightly expected of them by God’s people.
“Consequently, they must all be deeply imbuded with the spirit of the liturgy, in the measure proper to each one, and they must be trained to perform their functions in a correct and orderly manner.”

 

[tom.wineman]

I’ve been to one of those but it was done during a weekday evening not as one of the regular Sunday Masses. The priest saying the Mass was also the commentator.

 

[irish1]

I’m not sure if it’s the same thing, but our parish has held a “mass in slow motion” in which the priest explains everything, from the way he is robed, to why each action is taken during the mass. This was an advertised event that was considered part of the parish’s Faith Enrichment (adult catechesis) series. People also had oppotunities to ask questions about the mass. I liked this approach to it.

 

[Steve-o]

John Lilburne:

There can be a commentator at Mass. From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) 105b:

“The commentator, who provides the faithful, when appropriate, with brief explanations and commentaries with the purpose of introducing them to the celebration and preparing them to understand it better. The commentator’s remarks must be meticulously prepared and clear though brief. In performing this function the commentator stands in an appropriate place facing the faithful, but not at the ambo.”

This ministry is mentioned in the 1965 Instruction “Doctrina et exemplo”: “Clerics should be prepared for the difficult role of commentator in the parish liturgy. They should learn to discharge that office with proper prudence and seriousness, care being taken that they understand that the commentator should never become an obstacle between the celebration goinig on at the altar and the assembly of the faithful called to participate in it. Priests expert in this field will carefully observe and evaluate the student’s attempts at this function.” (From Documents on the Liturgy, Liturgical Press, 1982, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4, page 852.

It is also mentioned in the first document of Vatican II, the 1963 Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Liturgy), n. 29: "Servers, readers, commentators, and members of the choir also exercise a genuine liturgical function. They ought to discharge their office therefore with the sincerely devotion and decorum demanded by so exalted a ministry and rightly expected of them by God’s people.
“Consequently, they must all be deeply imbuded with the spirit of the liturgy, in the measure proper to each one, and they must be trained to perform their functions in a correct and orderly manner.”

Thanks for posting that, John. BTW, the priest was celebrating the Mass just as he would on Sunday, only the Deacon was providing explanation on what was being done. I am very glad that this was done, it cleared up a lot of questions that I had.