Replacing Creed with Advent Wreath Prayer

[woowar]

At Mass this morning the visiting priest said that we were not going to say the Creed, but instead we were going to replace it with an Advent prayer while lighting the first candle on the Advent wreath. Was he right to do this? Is it acceptable practice? My gut reaction is that it isn’t, but perhaps someone would like to comment.

 

[anthony321]

The Creed is always to be said on Sundays and Solemities. The visiting Priest decided on his own to make this change. You can find all the documentation on this matter in the Roman Missle, G.R.I.M and USCCB website. Pray for this Priest and his Priesthood and report this to your Pastor as he should be aware and should educate his Parish Flock as to the appropriateness of the Creed on Sundays. Our Holy Church is now doing a great job of addressing the sexual abuse by clergy but must be now encouraged to address all the liturgical abuse that seems to exist everywhere.

 

[Lancer]

Your instinct is correct!

General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM)

The Profession of Faith

1. The purpose of the Symbolum or Profession of Faith, or Creed, is that the whole gathered people may respond to the word of God proclaimed in the readings taken from Sacred Scripture and explained in the homily and that they may also call to mind and confess the great mysteries of the faith by reciting the rule of faith in a formula approved for liturgical use, before these mysteries are celebrated in the Eucharist.

68. The Creed is to be sung or said by the priest together with the people on Sundays and Solemnities. It may be said also at particular celebrations of a more solemn character**.**
http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter2.shtml#sect3b
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To make the point clearly…the GIRM states:

The Importance and Dignity of the Eucharistic CelebrationI.
The General Structure of the Mass
24. These adaptations consist for the most part in the choice of certain rites or texts, that is, of the chants, readings, prayers, explanations, and gestures that may respond better to the needs, preparation, and culture of the participants and that are entrusted to the priest celebrant**. Nevertheless, the priest must remember that he is the servant of the Sacred Liturgy and that he himself is not permitted, on his own initiative, to add, to remove, or to change anything** in the celebration of Mass.34

Footnote# 34. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 22.
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usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter1.shtml

I am sure that he meant well…but he was wrong…and simply “cheated” all out of a beautiful and very important (especially in todays world) part of our celebration of the mysteries of our faith.

Pax Christi

 

[stephraim]

Perhaps the priest was confused. Yes, the Creed should be Said on all Sundays and Solemnities; the Book of Blessings, though, is a little confusing about that point.

Here’s the Order for the Blessing of an Advent Wreath within Mass:

1517 After the gospel reading, the celebrant in the homily, based on the sacred text and pertinent to the particular place and the people involved, explains the meaning of the celebration.

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

1518 The general intercessions follow, either in the form usual at Mass or in the form provided here. The celebrant concludes the intercessions with the prayer of blessing. From the following intentions those best for the occasion may be used or adapted, or other intentions that apply to the particular circumstances may be composed.

Note that it says the general intercessions follow the homily. Normally, the Creed follows the homily, and the General Intercessions follow the Creed. It seems that if the blessing is done on a Sunday, the Creed (following GIRM, no. 68 quoted by other posters above) should be after the homily and the intercessions/blessing after the Creed. If a priest forgot about GIRM, no. 68, he could easily be confused by the rubric suggesting the intercessions follow the homily.

 

[pnewton]

Note that it says the general intercessions follow the homily. Normally, the Creed follows the homily, and the General Intercessions follow the Creed. It seems that if the blessing is done on a Sunday, the Creed (following GIRM, no. 68 quoted by other posters above) should be after the homily and the intercessions/blessing after the Creed. If a priest forgot about GIRM, no. 68, he could easily be confused by the rubric suggesting the intercessions follow the homily.

I could see where that could happen. Our priest did the blessing of the Advent wreath as part of the intercession, using the intercessions with the blessing instead.

 

[woowar]

Thank you for your responses, much appreciated. I’m sure this priest did it with the best intention in mind, but I’ll certainly pray for him.

 

[SMHW]

I do not have the ritual Advent Wreath blessing so I do not know what is proper in this circumstance

But it is often the case that when a rite takes place (especially when it is in the form of some kind of faith profession) that the Creed is omitted in that case. Such rites are not usually found in the G.I.R.M. (and typically aren’t found online either because then no one would want to buy the booklets.)

Perhaps this is one of those cases?

 

[stephraim]

ORDER FOR THE BLESSING OF THE WREATH WITHIN MASS

1509 The use of the Advent Wreath is a traditional practice which has found its place in the Church as well as in the home. The blessing of an Advent Wreath takes place on the First Sunday of Advent or on the evening before the First Sunday of Advent. The blessing may be celebrated during Mass, a celebration of the word of God, or Evening Prayer.

1510 Customarily the Advent Wreath is constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which are inserted four candles. According to tradition, three of the candles are violet and the fourth is rose. However, four violet or white candles may be used.

1511 The candles represent the four weeks of Advent and the number of candles lighted each week corresponds to the number of the current week of Advent. The rose candle is lighted on the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday.

1512 If the Advent Wreath is to be used in church, it should be of sufficient size to be visible to the congregation. It may be suspended from the ceiling or placed on a stand. If it is placed in the presbyterium, it should not interfere with the celebration of the liturgy, nor should it obscure the altar, lectern, or chair.

1513 When the Advent Wreath is used in church, on the Second and succeeding Sundays of Advent the candles are lighted either before Mass begins or immediately before the opening prayer; no additional rites or prayers are used.

1514 When the blessing of the Advent Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another member of the family; the shorter rite may appropriately be used for this purpose.

1515 When the Advent Wreath is used in the home, the opening prayer of the Sunday Mass is recited when the candles are lighted. The lighting of the candles may be preceded or followed by an Advent hymn and a Scripture reading. The lighting of the Advent Wreath may fittingly be included as a part of the evening meal.

1516 The Advent Wreath may be blessed by a priest, deacon, or a lay minister.

1517 After the gospel reading, the celebrant in the homily, based on the sacred text and pertinent to the particular place and the people involved, explains the meaning of the celebration.

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

1518 The general intercessions follow, either in the form usual at Mass or in the form provided here. The celebrant concludes the intercessions with the prayer of blessing. From the following intentions those best for the occasion may be used or adapted, or other intentions that apply to the particular circumstances may be composed.

The celebrant says:
Christ came to bring us salvation and has promised to come again. Let us pray that we may be always ready to welcome him.

R. Lord, hear our prayer.
Or:
R. Come, Lord Jesus.

Assisting minister:
That the keeping of Advent may open our hearts to God’s love, we pray to the Lord. R.

That the light of Christ may penetrate the darkness of sin, we pray to the Lord. R.

That this wreath may constantly remind us to prepare for the coming of Christ, we pray to the Lord. R.

That the Christmas season may fill us with peace and joy as we strive to follow the example of Jesus, we pray to the Lord. R.

PRAYER OF BLESSING

1519 With hands outstretched, the celebrant says the prayer of blessing:

Lord God,
your Church joyfully awaits
the coming of its Savior,
who enlightens our hearts
and dispels the darkness
of ignorance and sin.

Pour forth
your blessings upon us
as we light the candles
of this wreath;
may their light
reflect the splendor of Christ,
who is Lord, forever and ever.
R. Amen.

1520 Or:

Lord our God,
we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ:
he is Emmanuel,
the hope of the peoples,
he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the Savior of every nation.

Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light the candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light
be a sign of Christ’s promise
to bring us salvation.
May he come quickly and not delay.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

The first candle is then lighted.

 

[SMHW]

This seems to suggest to me that the creed is to be omitted. Otherwise the ritual ought to have said so.

 

[drforjc]

This seems to suggest to me that the creed is to be omitted. Otherwise the ritual ought to have said so.

Or it may be that the Creed is assumed to take its place in the normal order…

 

[stephraim]

It’s not very clear. Usually the rubrics specify it something is omitted. Still, this particular rubric is not very clear. I guess if the blessing takes place on Sunday, the Creed should be said in its usual place, per GIRM, no.68. Not positive, though.

 

[TheMc]

It’s not very clear. Usually the rubrics specify it something is omitted. Still, this particular rubric is not very clear. I guess if the blessing takes place on Sunday, the Creed should be said in its usual place, per GIRM, no.68. Not positive, though.

You’re right, but it usually specifically says “(if ABC happens,) XYZ is omitted”, so I would say the creed stays. I don’t blame the priest though for the confusion.

 

[stephraim]

You’re right, but it usually specifically says “(if ABC happens,) XYZ is omitted”, so I would say the creed stays. I don’t blame the priest though for the confusion.

Agreed.