Liturgical Director

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Mt19_26

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Who should have the final say on how the Liturgy is done at a parish? I was talking with my parish priest about the liturgy and was surprised when he said he wanted to correct part of the Mass that was not inline with the GIRM but was overruled by the liturgical director. Does the liturgical director really have more say than a priest when it comes to the Liturgy?
 
Noooooo!!!

From RS:

[18.] Christ’s faithful have the right that ecclesiastical authority should fully and efficaciously regulate the Sacred Liturgy lest it should ever seem to be “anyone’s private property, whether of the celebrant or of the community in which the mysteries are celebrated”[38].

[25.] Commissions as well as councils or committees established by the Bishop to handle “the promotion of the Liturgy, sacred music and art in his diocese” should act in accordance with the intentions and the norms of the Bishop; they must rely on his authority and his approval so that they may carry out their office in a suitable manner[58] and so that the effective governance of the Bishop in his diocese will be preserved. As regards all these sorts of bodies and other entities and all undertakings in liturgical matters, there has long been the need for the Bishops to consider whether their working has been fruitful thus far,[59] and to consider carefully which changes or improvements should be made in their composition and activity[60]so that they might find new vigour. It should be borne in mind that the experts are to be chosen from among those whose soundness in the Catholic faith and knowledge of theological and cultural matters are evident.
  1. Complaints Regarding Abuses in Liturgical Matters
[183.] In an altogether particular manner, let everyone do all that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence or distortion and that all abuses be thoroughly corrected. This is a most serious duty incumbent upon each and every one, and all are bound to carry it out without any favouritism.

[184.] Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ’s faithful, has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.[290] It is fitting, however, insofar as possible, that the report or complaint be submitted first to the diocesan Bishop. This is naturally to be done in truth and charity.

CONCLUSION

[185.] “Against the seeds of discord which daily experience shows to be so deeply ingrained in human nature as a result of sin, there stands the creative power of the unity of Christ’s body. For it is precisely by building up the Church that the Eucharist establishes fellowship among men.”[291] It is therefore the hope of this Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments that also, by the diligent application of those things that are recalled in this Instruction, human weakness may come to pose less of an obstacle to the action of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, and that with all distortion set aside and every reprobated practice removed,[292] through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “Woman of the Eucharist”, the saving presence of Christ in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood may shine brightly upon all people.

[186.] Let all Christ’s faithful participate in the Most Holy Eucharist as fully, consciously and actively as they can,[293] honouring it lovingly by their devotion and the manner of their life. Let Bishops, Priests and Deacons, in the exercise of the sacred ministry, examine their consciences as regards the authenticity and fidelity of the actions they have performed in the name of Christ and the Church in the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. Let each one of the sacred ministers ask himself, even with severity, whether he has respected the rights of the lay members of Christ’s faithful, who confidently entrust themselves and their children to him, relying on him to fulfill for the faithful those sacred functions that the Church intends to carry out in celebrating the sacred Liturgy at Christ’s command.[294] For each one should always remember that he is a servant of the Sacred Liturgy.[295]

All things to the contrary notwithstanding.

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.

From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Rome, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, 25 March 2004.

Francis Card. Arinze
Prefect

Domenico Sorrentino
Archbishop Secretary
 
Mt19:26:
Who should have the final say on how the Liturgy is done at a parish? I was talking with my parish priest about the liturgy and was surprised when he said he wanted to correct part of the Mass that was not inline with the GIRM but was overruled by the liturgical director. Does the liturgical director really have more say than a priest when it comes to the Liturgy?
Of course not. The priest is not even under any obligation to have a “liturgical director”. I feel sorry for your priest, he doesn’t know that he’s supposed to be in charge.
 
The bishop is in charge of the liturgy for his diocese. As his cooperator in presbyteral ministry, the pastor is the bishop’s delegate for the parish liturgy. Unfortunately, many pastors will just let their liturgy director run wild and do whatever they want either to keep the peace or because the pastor just doesn’t know any better.
 
Mt19:26:
Who should have the final say on how the Liturgy is done at a parish? I was talking with my parish priest about the liturgy and was surprised when he said he wanted to correct part of the Mass that was not inline with the GIRM but was overruled by the liturgical director. Does the liturgical director really have more say than a priest when it comes to the Liturgy?
No!
 
Gosh, no!
Tell that priest to contact his bishop. It’s the bishop who is responsible for implementing the GIRM, so if the priest is being kept from doing so by a “liturgical director”, the bishop should be supporting his priest.
YOU should contact the bishop (after telling your priest) too. . .do it charitably and lovingly, but you and your priest and your fellow parishioners are entitled to a Mass the way it is supposed to be, not your dictator’s (er, director’s) “interpretation”. . .
 
Tantum ergo:
Gosh, no!
Tell that priest to contact his bishop. It’s the bishop who is responsible for implementing the GIRM, so if the priest is being kept from doing so by a “liturgical director”, the bishop should be supporting his priest.
YOU should contact the bishop (after telling your priest) too. . .do it charitably and lovingly, but you and your priest and your fellow parishioners are entitled to a Mass the way it is supposed to be, not your dictator’s (er, director’s) “interpretation”. . .
Tantum, you gotta be kidding. The Pastor whining to the Bishop that his (the Priest’s) subordinate won’t “let” him do the right thing? The priest should show the LD the appropriate document and insist that the instruction be observed. If the LD has problem with that, he can probably find the door all by himself.
 
What is that “Liturgical Director” doing there in the first place?
 
Oh my, a Priest delegates his own authority to some fly-by-night “:liturgical director”:. I am glad I have never hear of a “LD” in my town.

That sounds like the assistant football coach is telling the head coach what to do. It will not work for long.
 
My parish is forming a Worship committee and I have already volunteered to be on it. I hope it does not become contentious because I am a stickler for the rules.

In my parish, there is really only one glaring item that should be changed to have the Mass in-line with the GIRM (and it is a very minor one) and I will bring it up.

There are things I will bring up that I would like to see like Chant being used.

PF
 
Mt19:26:
Who should have the final say on how the Liturgy is done at a parish? I was talking with my parish priest about the liturgy and was surprised when he said he wanted to correct part of the Mass that was not inline with the GIRM but was overruled by the liturgical director. Does the liturgical director really have more say than a priest when it comes to the Liturgy?
My first reaction is, why does any parish have a “Liturgical Director?” My second reaction is, why is a priest bending his knee to this person. My third reaction is, this was/is NEVER an issue with the Traditional Latin Mass!

Another wonderful Novus Order invention.
 
I think that the priest is referring to the diocesan directory of liturgy, and not someone in his own parish. Since the bishop is in charge of liturgy in his diocese, he generally delegates much of that authority to a priest who is in charge of liturgy and worship for the entire diocese. Since he is delegated by the bishop, the pastor in question may find himself subject to this chancery figure.
 
Mt19:26:
Who should have the final say on how the Liturgy is done at a parish? I was talking with my parish priest about the liturgy and was surprised when he said he wanted to correct part of the Mass that was not inline with the GIRM but was overruled by the liturgical director. Does the liturgical director really have more say than a priest when it comes to the Liturgy?
The priest is the liturgy director. No lay person has had the education and training in liturgy that the priest has had, and no such person should presume to supercede the priestly function of presiding over the liturgy. Are we laying odds on whether this person is a woman?
 
I have to say that Chatter163’s explaination sounds the most logical. Any parish level Liturgy Director is actually an employee of the parish, and more specifically, the Pastor is his/her boss. However, if we are talking about the Diocese’s Director of Liturgy, that is another story.
 
I am hoping that the Worship committee that is being formed at my parish will be to assist the pastor in helping with the Liturgy and other Events not to overrule the pastor. If that happens, I will leave the committee. In fact, I am going to introduce the following (or something similar) into the rules for the committee:
The sole purpose of the Worship Committee is to assist the pastor in planning all Liturgical activity. The pastor has final say on all activities.
PF
 
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WanderAimlessly:
I am hoping that the Worship committee that is being formed at my parish will be to assist the pastor in helping with the Liturgy and other Events not to overrule the pastor. If that happens, I will leave the committee. In fact, I am going to introduce the following (or something similar) into the rules for the committee:The sole purpose of the Worship Committee is to assist the pastor in planning all Liturgical activity. The pastor has final say on all activities.

PF
You might want to add a clause about fidelity to the approved documents – GIRM, Redemptionis Sacramentum . . .
 
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WanderAimlessly:
My parish is forming a Worship committee and I have already volunteered to be on it. I hope it does not become contentious because I am a stickler for the rules.

In my parish, there is really only one glaring item that should be changed to have the Mass in-line with the GIRM (and it is a very minor one) and I will bring it up.

There are things I will bring up that I would like to see like Chant being used.

PF
Get it started on the right foot. Full fidelity to the rubrics from the get go. Have these documents in hand when you first meet and be prepared to reference them. In addition the GIRM is in the front section of the Sacramentary.
 
You know what’s the difference between a liturgist and a terrorist?

You can negotiate with a terrorist.

😃
 
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cheese_sdc:
You know what’s the difference between a liturgist and a terrorist?

You can negotiate with a terrorist.

😃
Why does a parish need a liturgy committee since the readings of the day are already set?. It seems redundant and busy work.
 
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