Liturgy tidbits - are these correct?

[Elzee]

We were taught several things a couple weeks ago at church…can anyone tell me if they’re accurate:

The invocations used during the penitential rite (option C, I think) should glorify God’s goodness (for example: “Praise to you God for Your love for us”) and should not be penitential in nature (for example: “Lord we have sinned against you”).

If a Deacon is present, he is supposed to read the Gospel - it would be wrong for the priest to read it instead of the Deacon. This is how it was always meant to be.

The ‘sprinkling penitential rite’ (is this Option B?) is the preferred rite for every Sunday, but most parishes only do it during Easter.

Only a priest or deacon can give a homily, but a lay person can get up and talk about other matters after the homily (new building fund, for example). (I thought things like this were supposed to be done AFTER Mass, before the final blessing?)

 

[Titus]

We were taught several things a couple weeks ago at church…can anyone tell me if they’re accurate:

The invocations used during the penitential rite (option C, I think) should glorify God’s goodness (for example: “Praise to you God for Your love for us”) and should not be penitential in nature (for example: “Lord we have sinned against you”).

They do tend to be glorificatory not penitential, yes. As to why, I have no idee. Certainly it is the Penitential Rite!

If a Deacon is present, he is supposed to read the Gospel - it would be wrong for the priest to read it instead of the Deacon. This is how it was always meant to be.

Yes. In fact it is forbidden for a priest to read the Gospel when a deacon is present.

The ‘sprinkling penitential rite’ (is this Option B?) is the preferred rite for every Sunday, but most parishes only do it during Easter.

**It is not preferred. It is an option. There is no preference in the CCL/GIRM. **

Only a priest or deacon can give a homily, but a lay person can get up and talk about other matters after the homily (new building fund, for example). (I thought things like this were supposed to be done AFTER Mass, before the final blessing?)
**That stems from the old view of the homily (pre-VII) that it was a break from the mass and thus announcements were generally included. Now, they ought to follow the Prayer after Communion. **

 

[childofmary1143]

If a Deacon is present, he is supposed to read the Gospel - it would be wrong for the priest to read it instead of the Deacon. This is how it was always meant to be.

**Yes. In fact it is forbidden for a priest to read the Gospel when a deacon is present. **

Are you sure about that? I find it hard that a Priest is somehow FORBIDDEN to say the Gospel when a Deacon is present.

A Priest outranks a Deacon. I can go along with it being a preference but to say a Priest is forbidden doesn’t make sense.

 

[BobP123]

We were taught several things a couple weeks ago at church…can anyone tell me if they’re accurate:

I understand that the ICEL has submitted a new translation for the Vatican to approve. These include responses as well as prayers reserved for the priest. When and what will be released I don’t know but, not to knock what you hear at church, I wouldn’t put too much **long-term ** stock into it.

 

[MusicMan]

Are you sure about that? I find it hard that a Priest is somehow FORBIDDEN to say the Gospel when a Deacon is present.

A Priest outranks a Deacon. I can go along with it being a preference but to say a Priest is forbidden doesn’t make sense.

It would be an abuse of the Mass for the Priest to proclaim the Gospel with a Deacon vested and present for Mass. Proclaimation of the Gospel is a liturgical function that is reserved to the Deacon. When the Priest proclaims the Gospel, he does not do it as a function of his Priestly orders, but as a function of his Diaconal orders.

The GIRM is also very specific about ministries reserved to certain people being performed by them, even if someone of superior ecclesiastical rank is present. For example, if an instituted Lector is present, then the Deacon (or Priest) should not read the readings, as that task is technically reserved to an instituted Lector.

The Deacon proclaiming the Gospel also falls under this part of the GIRM, in addition to a separate part of the GIRM instructing the Deacon to proclaim the Gospel if he is present.

 

[G_S]

A lay person may not preach the homily or give any sort of address that might be confused with the homily. A lay person may address the congregation after the closing prayer of the Mass, just before the final blessing and dismissal. This is also a time when announcements may be made.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Some references on the deacon proclaiming the Gospel.

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“B. MASS WITH A DEACON
171. When he is present at the Eucharistic Celebration, a deacon should exercise his ministry, wearing sacred vestments. For the deacon …
c. Proclaims the Gospel and, at the direction of the priest celebrant, may preach the homily (cf. above, no. 66);”

“*The Liturgy of the Word *
175. If incense is used, the deacon assists the priest when he puts incense in the thurible during the singing of the Alleluia or other chant. Then he makes a profound bow before the priest and asks for the blessing, saying in a low voice, Iube, domine, benedicere (Father, give me your blessing). The priest blesses him, saying, Dominus sit in corde tuo (The Lord be in your heart). The deacon signs himself with the Sign of the Cross and responds, Amen. Having bowed to the altar, he then takes up the Book of the Gospels which was placed upon it. He proceeds to the ambo, carrying the book slightly elevated. He is preceded by a thurifer, carrying a thurible with smoking incense, and by servers with lighted candles. There the deacon, with hands joined, greets the people, saying, Dominus vobiscum (The Lord be with you). Then, at the words Lectio sancti Evangelii (A reading from the holy gospel), he signs the book with his thumb and, afterwards, himself on his forehead, mouth, and breast. He incenses the book and proclaims the Gospel reading. …”.

“212. … In a concelebration where a priest presides, however, the concelebrant who in the absence of a deacon proclaims the Gospel neither requests nor receives the blessing of the principal celebrant.”

 

[marty1818]

Are you sure about that? I find it hard that a Priest is somehow FORBIDDEN to say the Gospel when a Deacon is present.

A Priest outranks a Deacon. I can go along with it being a preference but to say a Priest is forbidden doesn’t make sense.

If you ever see a Papal Mass which is being televised you will always see a deacon read the Gospel rather than the Pope. This is the liturgically correct thing to do.