Some Rubrical Questions

[SpiritFire]

Hello.

I recently attended an OF Mass at a very traditional parish. It was entirely in Latin, except the readings, homily.

I went on Thursday, September 1, a Feria. I’m pretty sure it was a votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist or of Jesus, High and Eternal Priest or something along those lines, being Thursday. Again, it was in Latin and I didn’t understand many of the words, although I do know latin pretty well.

For those who may know, when is the appropriate time for the priest to recite the Entrance Antiphon? Father did it before the sign of the cross at the beginning of Mass. Is this correct?
The GIRM isn’t exactly clear on this. (Imagine that)

Also, the general intercessions were omitted. GIRM says they are “as a rule” said during
Masses with a congregation. Was it appropriate to omit them?
It seems rather odd they would become obligatory at every Mass, especially during the week. Are they optional?
Where does it say this?

The gifts were placed, veiled, on the altar before Mass began.
I know this is the procedure for Masses without a congregation, but what about those with one?

All in all, does this seem like a hybrid of the Order of Mass Without a Congregation and the Order of Mass With a Congregation, or was it just a properly celebrated weekday Mass
without sung propers?

Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[OraLabora]

The entrance antiphon at the very traditional (OF though) Benedictine abbey where I attend Mass, is chanted prior to the sign of the cross as the monks process into the sanctuary.

They always have intercessions at ever Mass (and at Lauds and Vespers). However where I used to attend weekday Mass in Montreal, they were omitted on weekdays.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Hello.

I recently attended an OF Mass at a very traditional parish. It was entirely in Latin, except the readings, homily.

I went on Thursday, September 1, a Feria. I’m pretty sure it was a votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist or of Jesus, High and Eternal Priest or something along those lines, being Thursday. Again, it was in Latin and I didn’t understand many of the words, although I do know latin pretty well.

For those who may know, when is the appropriate time for the priest to recite the Entrance Antiphon? Father did it before the sign of the cross at the beginning of Mass. Is this correct?
The GIRM isn’t exactly clear on this. (Imagine that)

Also, the general intercessions were omitted. GIRM says they are “as a rule” said during
Masses with a congregation. Was it appropriate to omit them?
It seems rather odd they would become obligatory at every Mass, especially during the week. Are they optional?
Where does it say this?

The gifts were placed, veiled, on the altar before Mass began.
I know this is the procedure for Masses without a congregation, but what about those with one?

All in all, does this seem like a hybrid of the Order of Mass Without a Congregation and the Order of Mass With a Congregation, or was it just a properly celebrated weekday Mass
without sung propers?

Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

If the priest is going to recite the Entrance Antiphon on his own, he is to recite it after the Greeting (The Lord be with you or alternative).

Like you, I thought that the Prayers of the Faithful had to be done at every Mass. I can’t recall a Mass where they were omitted, not even on a weekday.

I have seen the gifts prepared on a table almost next to the Altar on a weekday. Obviously, it wasn’t a Mass without a congregation but the priest didn’t have a server.

 

[AJV]

If the priest is going to recite the Entrance Antiphon on his own, he is to recite it after the Greeting (The Lord be with you or alternative).

No, he may recite it before the Greeting OR use it in the introductory remarks after the Greeting. The only time where a priest had to recite the antiphon after the greeting was in the Mass without a congregation but this rubric was changed in the 2002 GIRM.

I recently attended an OF Mass at a very traditional parish. It was entirely in Latin, except the readings, homily.

I went on Thursday, September 1, a Feria. I’m pretty sure it was a votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist or of Jesus, High and Eternal Priest or something along those lines, being Thursday. Again, it was in Latin and I didn’t understand many of the words, although I do know latin pretty well.

For those who may know, when is the appropriate time for the priest to recite the Entrance Antiphon? Father did it before the sign of the cross at the beginning of Mass. Is this correct?
The GIRM isn’t exactly clear on this. (Imagine that)

Also, the general intercessions were omitted. GIRM says they are “as a rule” said during
Masses with a congregation. Was it appropriate to omit them?
It seems rather odd they would become obligatory at every Mass, especially during the week. Are they optional?
Where does it say this?

The gifts were placed, veiled, on the altar before Mass began.
I know this is the procedure for Masses without a congregation, but what about those with one?

All in all, does this seem like a hybrid of the Order of Mass Without a Congregation and the Order of Mass With a Congregation, or was it just a properly celebrated weekday Mass
without sung propers?

Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

The Prayers of the Faithful are not obligatory for weekday Masses - I have been to several places in Asia and it is never used (and often, a homily is not given either) at weekday Masses.

The chalice, etc. should not be placed on the altar before the Mass but at the time of the Preparation of the Gifts.

 

[John_Lilburne]

…For those who may know, when is the appropriate time for the priest to recite the Entrance Antiphon? Father did it before the sign of the cross at the beginning of Mass. Is this correct?
The GIRM isn’t exactly clear on this. …

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

"47. After the people have gathered, the Entrance chant begins as the priest enters with the deacon and ministers. The purpose of this chant is to open the celebration, foster the unity of those who have been gathered, introduce their thoughts to the mystery of the liturgical season or festivity, and accompany the procession of the priest and ministers.

1. … If there is no singing at the entrance, the antiphon in the Missal is recited either by the faithful, or by some of them, or by a lector; otherwise, it is recited by the priest himself, who may even adapt it as an introductory explanation (cf. above, no. 31)."

I have removed the section on singing. But I think the instruction applies to the antiphon: “the Entrance chant begins as the priest enters” and it “accompany the procession”. The priest is given the option to “adapt it as an introductory explanation”. The time for this, from no. 31: “In addition, he may give the faithful a very brief introduction to the Mass of the day (after the initial Greeting and before the Act of Penitence)”.

 

[John_Lilburne]

…Also, the general intercessions were omitted. GIRM says they are “as a rule” said during
Masses with a congregation. Was it appropriate to omit them?
It seems rather odd they would become obligatory at every Mass, especially during the week. Are they optional?
Where does it say this?..

Clearly they are optional in Mass without a Congregation. From the GIRM:
“264. The Prayer of the Faithful follows, which may be said even in this form of Mass. The priest introduces and concludes it, with the minister announcing the intentions.”

But what is the option suggested by “as a rule” in no. 69: “It is fitting that such a prayer be included, as a rule, in Masses celebrated with a congregation, so that petitions will be offered for the holy Church, for civil authorities, for those weighed down by various needs, for all men and women, and for the salvation of the whole world.[footnote 67: Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 53.]”

The footnote’s paragraph is: “53. Especially on Sundays and feasts of obligation there is to be restored, after the Gospel and the homily, “the common prayer” or “the prayer of the faithful.” By this prayer, in which the people are to take part, intercession will be made for holy Church, for the civil authorities, for those oppressed by various needs, for all mankind, and for the salvation of the entire world [footnote 39: Cf. 1 Tim. 2:1-2.].”

From this, one interpretation would be that they are optional on days that are not Sundays or feasts of obligation.

Here is another interpretation. In the liturgical book, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, it has in The Scrutinies:

“164 When the eucharist is to follow, intercessory prayer is resumed with the usual general intercessions for the needs of the Church and the whole world; then, if required, the profession of faith is said. But for pastoral reasons these general intercessions and the profession of faith may be omitted.” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Study Edition, E.J. Dwyer, Sydney, 1987, ISBN 0855741643, page 101.)

Another specific option is given in the General Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours, in the section, “The Way of Joining Hours of the Office with Mass or Among Themselves”:

“94. … The Prayer of the Faithful is said at the normal time and in the form customary at Mass. During the morning Mass of a ferial day, however, the intercessions of Lauds may replace the Prayer of the Faithful.” (Divine Office, published by E.J. Dwyer, Sydney, 1974, ISBN 085574233X, page li).

Perhaps these specific options are what is meant by “as a rule”.

 

[Chatter163]

I have attended plenty of weekday Masses where there was no prayer of the faithful. Sometimes the priests would say a few holy words after the homily and then move into the offertory and sometimes they would proceed directly from the gospel to the offertory, especially when people were going directly from Mass to work.

 

[OraLabora]

I have attended plenty of weekday Masses where there was no prayer of the faithful. Sometimes the priests would say a few holy words after the homily and then move into the offertory and sometimes they would proceed directly from the gospel to the offertory, especially when people were going directly from Mass to work.

At the Benedictine abbey I mentioned above, while there are intercessions at weekday Mass, there is no homily at weekday Mass, except for solemnities, or special occasions such as the anniversary of a monk’s profession. The big difference with the intercessions is that on weekdays they are recited, whereas on Sundays or solemnities they are chanted.

 

[John_Lilburne]

At the Benedictine abbey I mentioned above, while there are intercessions at weekday Mass, there is no homily at weekday Mass, except for solemnities, or special occasions such as the anniversary of a monk’s profession. The big difference with the intercessions is that on weekdays they are recited, whereas on Sundays or solemnities they are chanted.

With the homily the GIRM has:

“66. … There is to be a homily on Sundays and holy days of obligation at all Masses that are celebrated with the participation of a congregation; it may not be omitted without a serious reason. It is recommended on other days, especially on the weekdays of Advent, Lent, and the Easter Season, as well as on other festive days and occasions when the people come to church in greater numbers.”

So there is considerable interpretation needed for: “serious reason”, “recommended” and “recommended … especially”. But I still think it is more clear than the instructions for the Prayer of the Faithful (with “as a rule” and a footnote to Sacrosanctum Concilium).