Is changing the prayer before Communion OK?

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JoanMargaret

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For the last few weeks, our priest has been adding different words to this prayer before Communion:

This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world

"who gives us this sacrament to remind us to keep our eye on the prize"

“to remind us to be more neighborly”

Happy are those who are called to his supper.

Does anyone know if it is ok to change this part of the Mass? I would love to have an answer. Thank you.
 
Not okay.

See page Redemptionis Sacramentum which says in part,

51.] Only those Eucharistic Prayers are to be used which are found in the Roman Missal or are legitimately approved by the Apostolic See, and according to the manner and the terms set forth by it. “It is not to be tolerated that some Priests take upon themselves the right to compose their own Eucharistic Prayers”[129] or to change the same texts approved by the Church, or to introduce others composed by private individuals.[130]"
 
NO NO NO! I have had this same problem with a “progressive” priest at my parish. Keep your eye on the prize ?! :nope:
 
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JoanMargaret:
For the last few weeks, our priest has been adding different words to this prayer before Communion:

This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world

"who gives us this sacrament to remind us to keep our eye on the prize"

“to remind us to be more neighborly”

Happy are those who are called to his supper.

Does anyone know if it is ok to change this part of the Mass? I would love to have an answer. Thank you.
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Of course not. He cannot change any part of the Mass on his own. This may be however be a last attempt to thumb his nose at Rome.
 
YIKES!!! This is totally disrespectful and massively abusive. Please contact your priest in writing, giving him the quotes from the CCC or from the GIRM, and request a reply. If a reply does not come back, then please write to his bishop, copying the priest. Request a reply from the bishop, as well. IF that does not effect any change, write to the Papal Nuncio. Your priest needs many prayers and direction. Praying for you and your priest as well as your parish.

Eye on the prize…indeed! How insulting.
 
While I would certainly not call this “massively abusive” it is a violation of the directives contained in both the GIRM and the rubrics. There are places where the priest or deacon is told that he is to say something “using these or similar words” – but this is not the case here. The words are provided by the Church and the priest is to use them.

If I were you I would begin by discussing this respectfully with the priest in question. If you do not get a satisfactory answer from him you could document the problem (include dates and times along with the names of others who would be willing to testify to the offense) and send it to the bishop copying the priest. If you still get no satisfactory answer write to the papal nuncio copying the bishop and the priest. Each time you escalate make sure you copy those whom you have already contacted.

Deacon Ed
 
How about the Priest saying “My Lord and my God” while holding the Eucharist high in the air. Is this okay? Thanks!
 
I don’t know if it is O.K. or not. I would suspect that it isn’t exactly right. I must say that it reflects much more respect than “keep our eye on the prize”.
 
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Jamz:
How about the Priest saying “My Lord and my God” while holding the Eucharist high in the air. Is this okay? Thanks!
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As long as this is said silently there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, this traditional statement was made by St. Thomas, and most older Catholics were taught during the Tridentine era to say this during the elevation. The priest should not say it out loud, however, as this is a personal statement of faith.

Deacon Ed
 
I think this is one of those things Jimmy Akin would call a “Please don’t eat the daisies” problem. The pastor seems to have good intentions in making that prayer personal and applicable to the congregation. it is not right, but it is not overly abusive.
 
and most older Catholics were taught during the Tridentine era to say this during the elevation.
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And something this older Catholic still does at both the NOM and TLM. It seems we gently thumped our breast at that time in the Tridentine Mass long ago but my memory may have failed on that. However it does not seem appropriate now when I think about it because the striking of the breast is an ancient sign of sorrow and repentance.

I continue to do this during the Penitential Rite since it is symbolic of the feeling of repentance and the idea of humility. I don’t vigorously “thump” my breast while doing this, I do place my hand in a fist over my breast, and move it from the wrist while saying mea culpa (privately during the Tridentine Mass).

I think someone posted that we should not do this and I believe that to be in error and that rather it is one of the most neglected gestures. I can find nothing forbidding it and much supporting it.
 
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