Priest Rewording Gospel and Liturgy of the Eucharist

[GeorgiaPeach]

Many Catholics are surprised to learn just how much license the priest is actually given to change the words of the Mass. In Masses with Children, even more license is permitted.

In order for folks here to give you an accurate answer as to whether or not it’s allowed, we need to know just what changes you’re asking about.

The priest is bound to say the prayers as they are written, and unless the Church has specifically allowed changes to be made, those changes are illicit (the Church’s word for illegal). This especially applies to the Eucharistic Prayers. They cannot be changed. There are some minor changes that are permitted, but these are obvious (like omitting parts of the Roman Canon that are printed in parentheses).

The priest may not change the words in Sacred Scripture to suit himself or his own preferences, nor add his own comments in the middle of the readings (that’s what the homily is for, or the optional introductions). Only approved texts may be used.

There are times in the Mass when the priest is specifically permitted to introduce what is about to happen (such as introducing the Mass of the day, or introducing the readings), these may be done in his own words. But, of course, introducing is not the same as changing.

One issue that often comes up is the use of the words “brethren” or “brothers and sisters” or whatever else. In such instances, the priest may substitute one version for the other. Just as he may say “brothers and sisters” instead of “brethren” he can likewise use “brethren” instead of “brothers and sisters”.

Give us some specific examples.

Thanks for the information. It is helpful. I have to mention that we normally go to the teen Mass, if that makes a difference. Since the issue has been brought up in the past I tend to think he knows the rules and he likes to walk a fine line.

The most common example is substituting words. If the reading says “He” or “they” he will say their name/names. He occasionally adds a statement (no parentheses) in the middle of the reading to reiterate the statement he just read. Other times he just explains the situation a little more*. Example: the reading says “they questioned Him”* and the priest may add “because they were in disbelief/angry.” He doesn’t change the message.

The Eucharistic Liturgy is the part that bothers me most. A couple weeks ago at one point he said “no fair praying for the Rays” as a joke. During the Eucharistic prayer he says “this is my body which will be given up for you, for you, for you (pointing at different people), for all of you.” Maybe this is one of the Eucharistic prayer versions, but I didn’t see it in my missal.

We are fairly new to the area and our parish. Our other church was much more traditional. It is really hard to get used to something different.

 

[pismopal]

Thanks for the information. It is what I suspected, I just wasn’t sure where to look.

Our parish is large and has several priests. The priest I mentioned is an assistant pastor. For the life of me I can’t understand why, if he is doing things out of line, one of the other priests or deacons doesn’t take issue.

I will make an appointment with the pastor and discuss it with him. There are other things he does that seem a little off. Changing the words of the Mass are just the most bothersome.

Good for you. The pastor of your parish should know. He may but be uncomfortable correcting a brother priest…whatever, you are on the right track

 

[FrDavid96]

Thanks for the information. It is helpful. I have to mention that we normally go to the teen Mass, if that makes a difference. Since the issue has been brought up in the past I tend to think he knows the rules and he likes to walk a fine line.

The most common example is substituting words. If the reading says “He” or “they” he will say their name/names. He occasionally adds a statement (no parentheses) in the middle of the reading to reiterate the statement he just read. Other times he just explains the situation a little more*. Example: the reading says “they questioned Him”* and the priest may add “because they were in disbelief/angry.” He doesn’t change the message.

The Eucharistic Liturgy is the part that bothers me most. A couple weeks ago at one point he said “no fair praying for the Rays” as a joke. During the Eucharistic prayer he says “this is my body which will be given up for you, for you, for you (pointing at different people), for all of you.” Maybe this is one of the Eucharistic prayer versions, but I didn’t see it in my missal.

We are fairly new to the area and our parish. Our other church was much more traditional. It is really hard to get used to something different.

The changes that you have described, as you have described them are illicit and forbidden, even in a so-called teen Mass (which is not a “Mass for Children”)

As for the readings, sometimes a priest may unintentionally change the words. Let’s say perhaps that there’s a particular scripture verse that is very familiar to him, and he intends to read what is written, but the familiar line inadvertently rolls off his tongue. It’s better to just keep going rather than disrupt the reading with a “correction” Likewise, sometimes one simply mis-reads the word (say the word is in the plural, but the priest accidentally makes it singular). Same thing.
But to intentionally change the words of Scripture, or to add one’s own words which are not in the text is a different thing altogether. That is forbidden. And it certainly might change the message of Scripture. That’s why the Church is so careful in approving translations of Scripture and in absolutely requiring only approved translations.

It is very very very strictly forbidden to change the words of Christ in the Institution of the Eucharist, as this may (and I stress may) render the Mass invalid.

Edit: I should have added this; you are absolutely in the right and within your rights (and obligation) to speak to the pastor about it. That’s your best course of action.

 

[japhy]

Ah yes, the practice of changing the words in the Eucharistic Prayer.

The Eucharistic Prayer is directed to God the Father, not to the congregation.

This is the primary problem of the prayers of the priest being said aloud while he faces the congregation. Try this on your own: get together two of your friends, spaced apart by a few feet. Turn to one of them, and while looking at him/her, speak to the other one (without mentioning his/her name) without being distracted by the fact that you’re looking at someone else entirely. See if the person you’re looking at can tell you’re not addressing him/her, and see if the person you’re speaking to can tell you are addressing him/her.

The Eucharistic Prayer is not being spoken to us. Not even the “Words of Institution” (the “Institution Narrative”) are being spoken to us. The priest is saying those words, Christ’s words which were once spoken to Apostles, while addressing the Father. The reason it’s not clear is due to the translation, the prayer being audible, and the priest facing us.

 

[notsmart]

Oh, I have never been to a children’s mass or a teen mass, and the daily during the week masses are very up for grabs it appears here.
What better thing can I do than pray as I was instructed? I have no idea what else to do.

 

[benedictgal]

Perhaps this will help to understand why what the OP described is most troubling. This comes from Redemptionis Sacramentum:

30.] The office “that belongs to Priests in particular in the celebration of the Eucharist” is a great one, “for it is their responsibility to preside at the Eucharist in persona Christi and to provide a witness to and a service of communion not only for the community directly taking part in the celebration, but also for the universal Church, which is always brought into play within the context of the Eucharist. It must be lamented that, especially in the years following the post-Conciliar liturgical reform, as a result of a misguided sense of creativity and adaptation, there have been a number of abuses which have been a source of suffering for many”.70

[31.] In keeping with the solemn promises that they have made in the rite of Sacred Ordination and renewed each year in the Mass of the Chrism, let Priests celebrate “devoutly and faithfully the mysteries of Christ for the praise of God and the sanctification of the Christian people, according to the tradition of the Church, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation”.71 They ought not to detract from the profound meaning of their own ministry by corrupting the liturgical celebration either through alteration or omission, or through arbitrary additions.72 For as Saint Ambrose said, “It is not in herself … but in us that the Church is injured. Let us take care so that our own failure may not cause injury to the Church”.73 Let the Church of God not be injured, then, by Priests who have so solemnly dedicated themselves to the ministry. Indeed, under the Bishop’s authority let them faithfully seek to prevent others as well from committing this type of distortion.

Now, Francis Cardinal Arinze made a very astute observation concerning the matter of creativity in the Mass. He notes that:

First of all, it is necessary to bear in mind that the public worship of the Church is something that we receive in faith through the Church. It is not something that we invent. Indeed the essentials of the sacraments are established by Christ Himself. And the detailed rites, including words and actions, have been carefully worked out, guarded and handed down by the Church along the centuries. It would, therefore, not be the proper attitude for an individual or a committee to keep thinking and planning each week how to invent a new way of celebrating Mass.

Moreover, a priority at Mass and other liturgical acts is worship of God. The liturgy is not a field for self-expression, free creation and the demonstration of personal tastes. Idiosyncrasies tend to attract attention to the person rather than to the mysteries of Christ being celebrated. They can also upset, puzzle, annoy, mislead or confuse the congregation.

Now, there does exist some flexibility, but, as Cardinal Arinze notes:

The paragraph of Redemptionis Sacramentum concludes with a recall of the crucial observation that “it should be remembered that the power of the liturgical celebrations does not consist in frequently altering the rites, but in probing more deeply the word of God and the mystery being celebrated”. What the people are asking for every Sunday from their pastor is not a novelty but a celebration of the sacred mysteries that nourishes faith, manifests devotion, awakens piety, leads to prayer and incites to active charity in daily life.

1. Making the Mass Interesting
   Many priests are concerned with making the Eucharist celebration interesting. And they are not wrong. The Mass is not a dull carrying out of rituals. It is a vital celebration of the central mysteries of our salvation.

Care should be taken to prepare well for each celebration. The texts to be read, sung or proclaimed should be well studied in good time. The vestments and all altar fittings and furnishings should be in good taste. The people who carry out the roles of priest celebrant, altar servers, leader of song, readers of lessons, etc., should be at their best. The homily should give the people solid liturgical, theological and spiritual nourishment. If all that is done, the Mass will not be dull.

But when all is said and done, we have to come back to the fact that the Mass is not there to entertain people. Such horizontalism would be out of place. People do not come to Mass in order to admire the preacher, or the choir or the readers. The priority movement or direction of the Mass is vertical, toward God, not horizontal, toward one another. What the people need is a faith-filled celebration, a spiritual experience which draws them to God and therefore also to their neighbor. As a by-product, such a celebration will capture the people’s interest and attention.

It is also useful to remark that repetition of faith formulae and symbols, or of familiar words and gestures, need not make a liturgical celebration uninteresting. It matters, however, to what extent these formulae are understood, hence the importance of catechesis. In our daily lives, is it uninteresting for us to repeat our names or those of our loved ones? Do we not love our national anthem and sing it with piety? How much more that this has to do with our Christian identity!

I hope that this helps.

 

[notsmart]

I love all parts of the mass, but the one that really chokes me up, is when I hear the people say:
Lord, I am not worthy to recieve you
but only say the word…

I think this is right from the bible with Jesus and the centurian.

I cry each time I hear this, but silently of course.