The Creed - when can it be omitted?

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As in the title - my daughter made her First Holy Communion today šŸ˜ƒ

However, I noticed during the NO rite, the Priest left out the Creed, saying weā€™ll go straight to the bidding prayers, then linked some parts of the words said the Eucharist and substituted his own, TOLD the congregation to open their hands out, riasing them up, during the Our Father, and had the Children all gather around the alter.

My daughter had the most wonderful day and Im so very very proud of her.

My question though, is, apart from me not liking some of the things the priest did during the mass, I was really shocked he left out the Creed.

Are there circumstances where he can do this, such as celebrating the special mass today for First Holy Communicants?
 
GIRM:
  1. 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.
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So, no, it wasnā€™t optional today. We didnā€™t say it, but thatā€™s because we had two baptisms and the baptismal promises were said.
 
Occasionally the Creed is replaced by the renewal of Baptismal vows (e.g., at the Easter Vigil, or when a Baptism is done during Mass). The Baptismal vows contain a version of the Creed within them.

Other than that, the Creed should be said on all Sundays and Solemnities.
 
Obviously the Mass was valid as it was said by a validly ordained priest, but is this what is referred to as not licit??
 
The last few masses I attended said by a particular priest had the Creed omitted. There was nothing else going on so I donā€™t know why he skipped it.:confused:
 
Unless youā€™re in Australia, and ā€œtodayā€ is actually tomorrow, it was probably an error to leave out the creed.

Perhaps the priest forgot what day of the week it was, most of the first communions Iā€™ve seen have been on Saturday.
 
If the Nicene Creed is omitted during a Sunday or Solemnity Mass, and is not replaced by Baptismal promises or the Apostles Creed (which may, although it is not mandatory, be used in ā€œMasses with Childrenā€), then the Mass is valid, but the omission of the Creed is not licit.

If this happens more than once when a particular priest is presiding, I would talk with the priest (very carefully and tactfully).
From what I understand, some priests (and possibly some bishops) have somehow gotten confused over what ā€˜canā€™ and ā€˜cannotā€™ be done at Mass. There are many ā€˜optionsā€™ (A, B, or C for the Penitential Rite), several different Eucharistic Prayers, ā€˜offeringā€™ the sign of peace, singing songs/hymns or chanting an antiphon, etc. I once attended a Mass where the presiding priest (of whom it must be acknowledged that he has a magnificent singing voice) sang the Kyrie, and ā€˜cantoredā€™ the Responsorial Psalm with 5 attendent verses. . .yet ā€˜had toā€™ omit the Creed because the Mass would otherwise ā€˜take too long.ā€™

Umm, if he had SPOKEN the Responsorial Psalm instead of singing it, with all the bells and whistles etc., guess what? There would have been plenty of time to say the Creed!!
 
There are lots of reasons for not having the Creed, as I have posted at #7 of forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=156467 .

But I do not think First Communion is a legitimate reason for not having the Creed at a Sunday Mass. The Directory for Masses with Children has:
ā€œ31. To facilitate the childrenā€™s participation in singing the Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei, it is permitted to use with the melodies appropriate vernacular texts, accepted by competent authority, even if these do not correspond exactly to the liturgical texts. [footnote 27: See Congregation of Rites, Instruction Musicam Sacram, on music in the liturgy, 5 March 1967, no. 55 ā€¦].ā€

It also has: ā€œ39. Some rites and texts should never be adapted for children lest the difference between Masses with children and the Masses with adults become too pronounced. these are ā€œthe acclmations and responses of the faithful to the priestā€™s greeting,ā€ the Lordā€™s Prayer, and the Trinitarian formulary at the end of the blessing with which the priest concludes the Mass. It is urged, moreover, that children should become accustomed to the Nicene Creed little by little, the right to use the Apostlesā€™ Creed indicated in no. 49 remaining intact.ā€

ā€œ49. If the profession of faith occurs at the end of the liturgy of the word, the Apostlesā€™ Creed may be used with children, especially because it is part of their catechetical formation.ā€

(My bold text, with some footnotes removed). Taking 39 and 49 together it does seem doubtful that the Creed is required for this type of Mass with Children.

So the next issue is: Does the Directory for Masses with Children (DMC) apply to this Mass? I would say: ā€œProbably not, probably lots of adults were present. Probably the bishop has not authorised these parts to apply in this Mass, although he could following DMC n. 19.ā€
 
For Holy Days of Obligation, the Creed canā€™t be omitted just for the heck of it.

Usually when there is a baptism or confirmation, it is replaced by the renewal of baptism promises or the confirmeeā€™s profession of faith is somehow done a little differently.

But like I said, on Holy Days (such as every Sunday) the Creed canā€™t just be left out entirely.

Also, the priest cannot instruct the congregation to have a specific gesture during the Lordā€™s Prayer, and the kids are not allowed to gather around the Altar at any time.

I donā€™t know if the Mass was valid because I donā€™t know what type of Hosts they used, but it sounds illicit.
 
Oddly enough, I was at a First Holy Communion Mass yesterday (in Virginia, for my niece and Goddaughter) and the Creed was omitted there too (and not replaced by anything).
 
Iā€™ve written to the Bishops Office in our Diocese to ask what instruction/clarification if any has been given to priests regarding the ommission of The Creed. Depending on the response, Iā€™ll take it up directly with the priest concerned.

Thanks to all for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
No, the creed is always to be recited on Sundays and other Solemnities. Occasionally the Profession of Faith can take the form as used in the rites of Baptism and Confirmation.

My former parish used to omit the Creed on Sundays on a regular basis. They hardly ever recited it. Except during the Easter season when the latter Profession of Faith was used. I suppose this particular parish took issue with all the pronouns referring to God as ā€œFather, Lord, Him, He, etcā€ They must have felt doing it the other way was less oppressive to women.
 
Just prior to administering the Eucharist, the priest said if anyone cant receive the host, or is not a catholic, they may come forward for a blessing. Iā€™m wondering if he also felt that saying the act of faith might be a bit off putting to the non catholics present :rolleyes:

Anyhows, I await a response from the Bishops office and shall take it up directly with the priest from there.
 
The Creed was not recited in the Mass at Rome until 1014AD. Thatā€™s a good ten centuries after Christ and more than six centuries after it was composedā€¦a whole lot of Masses. šŸ™‚

It does not appear to be that big an issue. šŸ¤·

Michael
 
Hesychios said:
The Creed was not recited in the Mass at Rome until 1014AD. Thatā€™s a good ten centuries after Christ and more than six centuries after it was composedā€¦a whole lot of Masses. šŸ™‚

It does not appear to be that big an issue. šŸ¤·

Michael
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On the contrary - regardless of what happened up to the 11th century - if the Creed is now SUPPOSED to be said at all masses, with some specific exceptions allowed for, then priests cannot simply CHOOSE to leave out the Creed, assuming that one of the legitimate cases for exception does not apply.

As far as Im concerned, and this is why Im asking the question and seeking more knowledge, at my daughters first Communion Mass the priest SHOULD and said the Creed, he did not have an exemption not to do so, and he was WRONG in leaving the Creed out of the Mass.

All posts so far seem to back this position up.
 
Was it a daily mass? If it was, then leaving out the Credo is fine.

The other stuff, well, it may just be an irritation. (I hate holding hands, the raised position, or anything else besides hands folded,) On the other hand, it may be abusive, depending on how much he changed, making the mass illicit, but not invalid.

That is as much as I know (or think :o ).
 
Well I finally heard back from The Chairman of The Liturgical Committee of our Diocese.

He points out that the GIRM is just that, a ā€˜ā€˜generalā€™ā€™ instruction, and all contingencies and possibilities cannot be accounted for. His email suggests that the priest could have simply forgotten to say the creed, or he may have decided that due to time constraints, he would just leave it out - remember this priest regularly leaves out the creed at his sunday masses - and seems to suggest that in doing so he is doing nothing wrong.

So thatā€™s all right then. :rolleyes:

Not enough time to wizz through the mass - just leave the creed out. Too many kids at the mass, just cut a few corners and leave the creed out.

Obviously the problem is with me :rolleyes:

Ho Humā€¦
 
CreatioNova said:
Well I finally heard back from The Chairman of The Liturgical Committee of our Diocese.*He points out that the GIRM is just that, a ā€˜ā€˜generalā€™ā€™ instruction, and all contingencies and possibilities cannot be accounted for. His email suggests that the priest could have simply forgotten to say the creed, or he may have decided that due to time constraints, he would just leave it out - remember this priest regularly leaves out the creed at his sunday masses - and seems to suggest that in doing so he is doing nothing wrong.*So thatā€™s all right then. :rolleyes: *Not enough time to wizz through the mass - just leave the creed out. Too many kids at the mass, just cut a few corners and leave the creed out. *Obviously the problem is with me :rolleyes: *Ho Humā€¦
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Uh huh ā€¦ except itā€™s more likely called ā€˜Generalā€™ because it applies throughout the world, with minor variations in different countries. And itā€™s called ā€˜INSTRUCTIONā€™ and not suggestion, so it canā€™t be dismissed willy-nilly. :rolleyes:
 
LilyM said:
Uh huh ā€¦ except itā€™s more likely called ā€˜Generalā€™ because it applies throughout the world, with minor variations in different countries. And itā€™s called ā€˜INSTRUCTIONā€™ and not suggestion, so it canā€™t be dismissed willy-nilly. :rolleyes:
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I find it very sad that this approach to The Mass is condoned by all too many Bishops. Iā€™ve read posts on this forum where people seem to have a bit of a bee in thier bonnet about the Latin Mass but when you think about the devotion those celebrants have to the rubics and prayers etc I can easily see what The Latin Rite is making such a comeback in many parishes.

The LAtin Masses Ive been to were faithful to the liturgical rites, and didnt seem to depend so much on the ā€˜ā€˜moodā€™ā€™ of the priest šŸ‘
 
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