Order of mass

[Ssmats]

Hello everyone.
Question I’ve had for a while is that there are alternative sections in the order of mass. Just wondering why there are so many alternatives and when they are used. Also is it required that that one of them in the missal is used? I’ve been to mass and tried to follow along with the priest and it’s hard to know which one he’s using.

 

[FrDavid96]

Yes, there are some parts of the Mass which have options.

Every priest must use the texts printed in the Roman Missal. That’s the large book used by the priest.

Not all of those options are going to be printed in your own missal (if that were the case, then you would actually be using the Roman Missal).

Every Mass has two parts. The ordinary and the propers.

The ordinary part of the Mass is the part that’s done at every Mass, such as the Creed and the Eucharistic prayer. Some (but not all) of these ordinary parts have optional forms; for example, the priest can choose one of several different options for the Eucharistic Prayer, but the Lamb of God never changes.

The proper parts of the Mass change from one day to the next. An example of this would be the Collect (what used to be wrongly called the opening prayer). That changes depending on the day, or the theme of the Mass; for example, there is a Collect for the 10th Sunday of Ordinal Time, one for the feastday of a martyr, and one for the First Friday Mass of the Sacred Heart. Some of these have more than one option (there are several choices for martyrs).

All of these texts must be chosen from those printed in the Roman Missal.

Given all the available options, it’s impossible to predict what any priest is going to do at any particular Mass.

In order to get a better answer to your question, you’ll have to be more specific. I would suggest addressing just one part of the Mass at one time. One reason for this is that the answers will be entirely different for the various parts----the answer about the Penitential Rite will be completely different than the answer about the choice of the Collect, and so on.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Hello everyone.
Question I’ve had for a while is that there are alternative sections in the order of mass. Just wondering why there are so many alternatives and when they are used. Also is it required that that one of them in the missal is used? I’ve been to mass and tried to follow along with the priest and it’s hard to know which one he’s using.

I am not sure I understand what you mean by “alternative sections in the order of Mass.”

In fact, today, as a priest, I assuredly do not have to use exclusively what is in the Roman missal. There are varying options which govern each decision I make concerning the Mass.

As but one example, the Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children are now published as their own supplement which would not be found in the altar missal nor, likely, in whatever worship aid you are using. The same can be true, for example, with Mass texts and the lectionary readings concerning the Blessed Virgin.

I remember, when we went to the vernacular and for some period of time thereafter, at least some of us who were priests would announce, for example, “Eucharistic Prayer III, Acclamation c” so that people would know and could follow, as having more than one anaphora was a novelty. We stopped doing that as a normal practice some time back…although, when I celebrated the novus ordo Mass in Latin, I would always announce which Eucharistic Prayer I was saying so that those in the congregation who might have a lesser ear for Latin could know, even if their command of Latin did not allow them to instantly recognise it.

 

[PacoG]

I remember, when we went to the vernacular and for some period of time thereafter, at least some of us who were priests would announce, for example, “Eucharistic Prayer III, Acclamation c” so that people would know and could follow, as having more than one anaphora was a novelty. We stopped doing that as a normal practice some time back…although, when I celebrated the novus ordo Mass in Latin, I would always announce which Eucharistic Prayer I was saying so that those in the congregation who might have a lesser ear for Latin could know, even if their command of Latin did not allow them to instantly recognise it.

I remember when I was a kid in the 1970s and early 80s, our Pastor at the time would say “Eucharistic Prayer 2” at the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer and “Let us proclaim the mystery of faith by saying Acclamation B” or “My brothers and sisters, before we celebrate the Sacred Mysteries, let us first be sorry for our sins by reciting Option B.”

It seemed awkward but it did the job.

One question Fathers: were the older priests who grew up saying what is now the EF Mass have a harder time letting go of the old gestures and practices. I remember our Pastor in the 1970s would strike his chest at the Angus Dei, would hold his thumb and fingers together after the Consecration and would wash his hands after Communion.

 

[Ssmats]

Usually I’m not sure what my response should be when the priest says ‘the mystery of faith’.

I went to a different church last week where the priest said the first word of the response: We/When/Save… to help, and I did find that helpful.

Also is it common for the faithful to say the antiphon?

I’ve heard the priest say once after mass, that he didn’t think anyone authorised it to be said, but I’ve found many congregations say it…

 

[Phemie]

Usually I’m not sure what my response should be when the priest says ‘the mystery of faith’.

I went to a different church last week where the priest said the first word of the response: We/When/Save… to help, and I did find that helpful.

Also is it common for the faithful to say the antiphon?

I’ve heard the priest say once after mass, that he didn’t think anyone authorised it to be said, but I’ve found many congregations say it…

GIRM 48 (…)If there is no singing at the Entrance, the antiphon given in the Missal is recited either by the faithful, or by some of them, or by a reader; otherwise, it is recited by the Priest himself, who may even adapt it as an introductory explanation.
GIRM 87 (…)However, if there is no singing, the antiphon given in the Missal may be recited either by the faithful, or by some of them, or by a reader; otherwise, it is recited by the Priest himself after he has received Communion and before he distributes Communion to the faithful.