Missal synchronisation

[crai7]

To what extent are Catholic churches synchronised globally by Missals? To elaborate:
1.) How accurately do churches really come in practice to the ideal of a unified mass; so that no matter which church you attend, you will be exposed to a predictable list of bible readings, liturgy, songs etc.
2.) Is the 3 year cycle of a missal, in theory, perpetual? Does it simply repeat once you reach the end of the first 3 year period?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

1.) How accurately do churches really come in practice to the ideal of a unified mass; so that no matter which church you attend, you will be exposed to a predictable list of bible readings, liturgy, songs etc.

The readings are the same worldwide with a few exceptions. The liturgy is the same worldwide with exceptions. The music is not centralized so you will hear different music in different places, or potentially different music at different Masses in the same place.

Exceptions regarding the readings: There are sometimes options such as optional memorials, so different readings would be used depending on whether or not it is observed. Religious orders sometimes will celebrate the saints of that order that are not celebrated more generally, so the readings would be different at one of their Masses. Masses in the Ordinary Form follow a different calendar than Masses in the Extraordinary Form, so the readings would be different in the two forms but the same among Masses of the same form. And frankly, I’m not sure what readings are used in Eastern Catholic parishes.

Exceptions regarding the liturgy: There are different forms that are all allowed. The Ordinary Form is the post-Vatican II Mass; the Extraordinary Form is the pre-Vatican II Mass. There’s another form for the Ordinariate (formerly Anglicans). There are a few other options. Each form has its own way of being celebrated. And again, I’m not familiar enough with Eastern Catholics to comment but I know their liturgies are different from Latin Catholics.

2.) Is the 3 year cycle of a missal, in theory, perpetual? Does it simply repeat once you reach the end of the first 3 year period?

Yes. You go through cycles A, B, and C, then start over again with cycle A.

 

[crai7]

The readings are the same worldwide with a few exceptions. The liturgy is the same worldwide with exceptions. The music is not centralized so you will hear different music in different places, or potentially different music at different Masses in the same place.

Exceptions regarding the readings: There are sometimes options such as optional memorials, so different readings would be used depending on whether or not it is observed. Religious orders sometimes will celebrate the saints of that order that are not celebrated more generally, so the readings would be different at one of their Masses. Masses in the Ordinary Form follow a different calendar than Masses in the Extraordinary Form, so the readings would be different in the two forms but the same among Masses of the same form. And frankly, I’m not sure what readings are used in Eastern Catholic parishes.

Exceptions regarding the liturgy: There are different forms that are all allowed. The Ordinary Form is the post-Vatican II Mass; the Extraordinary Form is the pre-Vatican II Mass. There’s another form for the Ordinariate (formerly Anglicans). There are a few other options. Each form has its own way of being celebrated. And again, I’m not familiar enough with Eastern Catholics to comment but I know their liturgies are different from Latin Catholics.

Yes. You go through cycles A, B, and C, then start over again with cycle A.

Okay thanks for the detailed response. I’m guessing the publisher doesn’t matter too much - whether St Joseph or Roman Daily Missal - it should be roughly the same?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Okay thanks for the detailed response. I’m guessing the publisher doesn’t matter too much - whether St Joseph or Roman Daily Missal - it should be roughly the same?

Yes. If you’re buying a missal, you want one that corresponds to the form of the Mass you attend (ordinary or extraordinary).

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

My husband has the Roman Daily Missal, so that he has everything for attending the Latin Rite and Roman Rite. Although, I have to say that he has had a rather hard time (at times) trying to find the readings for the Sunday that we are on.

I have the St. Joseph’s Sunday Missal and it is much easier to use, IMO. My husband usually asks me what readings there are for that Sunday to make sure he is on track. Also, when we get to the Eucharistic Prayer, I am usually able to find out which version the priest is using that Sunday, and then I let my husband know which version he should be looking at.

That leads me to a question: Sometimes I am not able to find the Eucharistic Prayer that the priest is using and wonder why it isn’t in the Missal. I know when I’ve looked a few times and I look around, and see everyone kneeling with their hands folded (no Missal) to stop looking.

 

[Rolltide]

To what extent are Catholic churches synchronised globally by Missals? To elaborate:
1.) How accurately do churches really come in practice to the ideal of a unified mass; so that no matter which church you attend, you will be exposed to a predictable list of bible readings, liturgy, songs etc.
2.) Is the 3 year cycle of a missal, in theory, perpetual? Does it simply repeat once you reach the end of the first 3 year period?

In response to question 1, it should be the same around the world among rites. HOWEVER… keep in mind that there are many different rites, especially among the Eastern Catholic Churches. The readings in their lectionaries would only have to be the same within their rite, although I’m sure that they’re still roughly similar to the Latin Rite.

 

[Magdalen2013]

2.) Is the 3 year cycle of a missal, in theory, perpetual? Does it simply repeat once you reach the end of the first 3 year period?

The Sunday readings follow a repeating three-year cycle, the daily mass readings follow a repeating two-year cycle.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

That leads me to a question: Sometimes I am not able to find the Eucharistic Prayer that the priest is using and wonder why it isn’t in the Missal. I know when I’ve looked a few times and I look around, and see everyone kneeling with their hands folded (no Missal) to stop looking.

There are several Eucharistic Prayer options from which the priest may choose. My Daily Roman Missal only has the standard 4, but I know there are a handful of other approved ones that can be used, particularly on special occasions.

 

[ProVobis]

That leads me to a question: Sometimes I am not able to find the Eucharistic Prayer that the priest is using and wonder why it isn’t in the Missal. I know when I’ve looked a few times and I look around, and see everyone kneeling with their hands folded (no Missal) to stop looking.

The missalettes give very few prefaces which lead to those Eucharistic Prayers as well. Perhaps the number is too many to print. But in any case, it might be helpful if more would use the missalettes anyway. So, if you’re lost, you can simply look to see what page the others are on, like in classrooms. I’ve only had one person, a child at that, who turned around to see what page I was on, so he could follow. And this was a Spanish Mass.

 

[Big_Feet]

To what extent are Catholic churches synchronised globally by Missals? To elaborate:
1.) How accurately do churches really come in practice to the ideal of a unified mass; so that no matter which church you attend, you will be exposed to a predictable list of bible readings, liturgy, songs etc.
2.) Is the 3 year cycle of a missal, in theory, perpetual? Does it simply repeat once you reach the end of the first 3 year period?

The readings are the same worldwide with a few exceptions. The liturgy is the same worldwide with exceptions. The music is not centralized so you will hear different music in different places, or potentially different music at different Masses in the same place.

Exceptions regarding the readings: There are sometimes options such as optional memorials, so different readings would be used depending on whether or not it is observed. Religious orders sometimes will celebrate the saints of that order that are not celebrated more generally, so the readings would be different at one of their Masses. Masses in the Ordinary Form follow a different calendar than Masses in the Extraordinary Form, so the readings would be different in the two forms but the same among Masses of the same form. And frankly, I’m not sure what readings are used in Eastern Catholic parishes.

Exceptions regarding the liturgy: There are different forms that are all allowed. The Ordinary Form is the post-Vatican II Mass; the Extraordinary Form is the pre-Vatican II Mass. There’s another form for the Ordinariate (formerly Anglicans). There are a few other options. Each form has its own way of being celebrated. And again, I’m not familiar enough with Eastern Catholics to comment but I know their liturgies are different from Latin Catholics.

Yes. You go through cycles A, B, and C, then start over again with cycle A.

[My answers are with regard to the Ordinary Form of the Roman (Latin) Liturgy]

1. I concur with SuscipeMeDomine, as he/she is correct about the readings, but in regards to the optional memorials, these are only allowed during the weekday masses (Monday-Saturday[non-vigil]). There are some (rarely) feasts and solemnities that will take precedence over the normal Sunday readings, but when this happens, it would be a universal (world-wide) exception to the normal.

Unless the memorial is for the patron of your parish or area, for Sundays, your parish should follow the universal calendar, which the whole world uses.

(there are other minor exceptions allowed during various parts of the year, but they are rarely used)

Also, the Collect (opening prayer), Communion antiphon, and prayer after communion are all the same throughout the Church (with difference in translations) as well as the majority of the introductions, minor sayings and the fact that both the Gloria (during Ordinary time, Easter and Christmas) and Creed (of some form) are recited or sung (especially Sundays/Solemnity).

1. Again, I concur with SuscipeMeDomine, but that is only for the Sunday readings. There is a two year cycle (universal) that occurs for daily masses (Monday - Saturday[non-vigil]) where the first reading and responseorial psalm cycles through ever two years (cycles 1-2 - odd/even years) but where the Gospel remains the same ever year on the liturgical day of the year. This is where the optional memorials regularly come into play.

 

[Mark121359]

That leads me to a question: Sometimes I am not able to find the Eucharistic Prayer that the priest is using and wonder why it isn’t in the Missal. I know when I’ve looked a few times and I look around, and see everyone kneeling with their hands folded (no Missal) to stop looking.

That’s because the Daily Roman Missal and the St. Joseph’s Sunday Missal only includes Eucharistic Prayers I-IV. There’s only one missal that I’m aware of, the Daily Roman Missal 7th edition with additional Eucharistic Prayers from the Midwest Theological Forum that includes Eucharistic Prayers I-IV, Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation I-II, and Eucharistic Prayers for use in Masses for various needs I-IV for a total of ten. Although it’s a bit pricey, it does have the additional benefit of having much larger print than other missals. Amazon sells it among others.

Peace, Mark

 

[ProVobis]

2.) Is the 3 year cycle of a missal, in theory, perpetual? Does it simply repeat once you reach the end of the first 3 year period?

As I understand it, the Gospel readings from cycle A are from Matthew, cycle B from Mark, and cycle C from Luke. They are considered to be the synoptic gospels and there is a certain amount of redundancy in the passages between the three cycles but yes they are repeated every three years.

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

That’s because the Daily Roman Missal and the St. Joseph’s Sunday Missal only includes Eucharistic Prayers I-IV. There’s only one missal that I’m aware of, the Daily Roman Missal 7th edition with additional Eucharistic Prayers from the Midwest Theological Forum that includes Eucharistic Prayers I-IV, Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation I-II, and Eucharistic Prayers for use in Masses for various needs I-IV for a total of ten. Although it’s a bit pricey, it does have the additional benefit of having much larger print than other missals. Amazon sells it among others.

Peace, Mark[/QUOTEMy St. Joseph’s Missal has two Euchiaristic Prayers for Reconciliation, and I believe four Eucharistic Prayers for Various Needs.

This is the Missal that I have: http://www.christianbook.com/new-saint-joseph-sunday-missal/9780899428185/pd/428188