Is there a precise formula for the words of the Orate Fratres, or is the celebrant at liberty to use whatever words suit his own taste? …
My understanding is that the celebrant must use the approved translation in the Missal. But the 1975 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) was a little confusing on this point. I think the 2002 GIRM makes things clearer.
The 1975 GIRM had:
“11. It is also up to the priest in the exercise of his office of presiding over the assembly to pronounce the instructions and words of introduction and conclusion that are provided in the rites themselves. By their very nature these introductions do not need to be expressed verbatim in the form in which they are given in the Missal; at least in certain cases it will be advisable to adapt them somewhat to the concrete situation of the community. [footnote 20: See Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, Circular letter on the eucharistic prayers, 27 April 1973, no. 14. ] It also belongs to the priest presiding to proclaim the word of God and to give the final blessing. He may give the faithful a very brief introduction to the Mass of the day (before the celebration begins), to the Liturgy of the Word (before the readings), and to the eucharistic prayer (before the preface); he may also make comments concluding the entire sacred service before the dismissal.”.
The 2002 GIRM replaced the above with:
“31. It is also up to the priest, in the exercise of his office of presiding over the gathered assembly, to offer certain explanations that are foreseen in the rite itself. Where it is indicated in the rubrics, the celebrant is permitted to adapt them somewhat in order that they respond to the understanding of those participating. However, he should always take care to keep to the sense of the text given in the Missal and to express them succinctly. The presiding priest is also to direct the word of God and to impart the final blessing. In addition, he may give the faithful a very brief introduction to the Mass of the day (after the initial Greeting and before the Act of Penitence), to the Liturgy of the Word (before the readings), and to the Eucharistic Prayer (before the Preface), though never during the Eucharistic Prayer itself; he may also make concluding comments to the entire sacred action before the dismissal.”
What introductions was 1975 GIRM n. 11 saying “do not need to be expressed verbatim in the form in which they are given in the Missal”? The footnote refers to a 1973 letter, which mentions “for example, the introductions to the penitential rite and the Lord’s Prayer.” (This letter is in the book Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4, pages 623-629).
So instead of saying “Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us” the priest was encouraged to adapt this “introduction”. Does this also apply to “Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.”? It was not specifically mentioned in the 1973 letter, but it seems very similar.
With the 2002 GIRM it is not a case of deciding what is an “introduction”. It has about explanations: “Where it is indicated in the rubrics, the celebrant is permitted to adapt them somewhat in order that they respond to the understanding of those participating.” I am struggling to think of an example of such an “explanation” in the Mass that the rubrics indicate may be modified.
Perhaps an example is if there is the institution of readers in the Mass. The rubrics have “Then all sit, and the bishop gives the homily, which he concludes by speaking to the candidates in these or similar words.” (The Rites Volume Two, Liturgical Press, 1991, ISBN: 0-8146-6037-1, page 104).
Anyway, the point is that the 2002 GIRM is more restrictive about what the priest can adapt, compared to the 1975 GIRM.
