The mass never ends?

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cmacagno

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My husband and I just moved to a new area, and at our new parish, the priest says at the end of mass, “the mass never ends” instead of “the mass has ended”. Does anyone know if this is liturgically correct. I’ve never heard it said at any other church.
 
cmacagno said:
My husband and I just moved to a new area, and at our new parish, the priest says at the end of mass, “the mass never ends” instead of “the mass has ended”. Does anyone know if this is liturgically correct. I’ve never heard it said at any other church.
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I have no idea if this is correct or not, but I sure have been to a few masses where it felt that way!:o
 
First of all, Vatican II explicitly stated that no priest has the authority to alter the liturgy promulgated by the Church, so yes, it is an abuse, and someone should mention it to the priest.

However, it is very true that the Mass never does end; it is the eternal Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. I think that’s pretty cool 😉

Pax domini sit semper vobis cum!
 
It comes from LifeTeen. In past years, they used a dismissal that went something like, “The Mass never ends. It must be lived. Go in peace, etc.” In the past couple of years, the Vatican asked them to make some changes to bring the LifeTeen Mass into compliance with liturgical norms, and this dismissal was removed. However, there are some priests and deacons who think this dismissal is “pretty cool,” as our previous poster did, and continue to use it in defiance of the norms.

It really grates on my nerves when one of our deacons does it, so instead of “Thanks be to God,” I reply, “Whatever.”

Betsy
 
baltobetsy said:
However, there are some priests and deacons who think this dismissal is “pretty cool,” as our previous poster did, and continue to use it in defiance of the norms.
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Betsy:

I meant that the doctrine of the Mass, the fact that we have the opportunity to stand at the foot of the Cross, is cool. I did not say that it is “cool” for priests to change the Mass as they see fit. I’m with you: I’m opposed to this innovation. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear.
 
It’s not correct. the sacramentary says to say A B or C

DISMISSAL

The dismissal sends each member of the congregation to do good works, praising and blessing the Lord (see General Instruction, n. 57).

The deacon (or priest), with hands joined, sings or says:
A.
Go in the peace of Christ.
B.
The Mass is ended, go in peace.
C.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

The people answer: Thanks be to God.

The priest kisses the altar as at the beginning. Then he makes the customary reverence with the ministers and leaves.

If any liturgical service follows immediately, the rite of dismissal is omitted.
 
Since we’re on the subject, what about: The Mass has ended, go in peace (sometimes “let us go in peace”) to love and serve the Lord and one another.

Is that allowable?
 
My family’s parish in MD the pastor says “The mass has not ended but is intended to be lived. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Would that be acceptable?
 
gmarie21 said:
My family’s parish in MD the pastor says “The mass has not ended but is intended to be lived. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Would that be acceptable?
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No.

See Fr. Corey’s post above. There are 3 dismissals that the priest may choose from. He is prohibited from changing them or using others that he might devise.
 
Our new priest says:

This Eucharistic celebration is ended
**
 
Brendan said:
No.

See Fr. Corey’s post above. There are 3 dismissals that the priest may choose from. He is prohibited from changing them or using others that he might devise.
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Well … not really.

It IS very true that one of the approved options must be used. However, “similar words” (Canon Law, GIRM) may be used. It’s not a stretch to say “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord and one another”. That is substantially similar. “The mass never ends” is not similar at all.
 
cmacagno said:
My husband and I just moved to a new area, and at our new parish, the priest says at the end of mass, “the mass never ends” instead of “the mass has ended”. Does anyone know if this is liturgically correct. I’ve never heard it said at any other church.
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Of course not.
 
gmarie21 said:
My family’s parish in MD the pastor says “The mass has not ended but is intended to be lived. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Would that be acceptable?
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The only thing that is acceptable is exactly what is printed in the liturgical books, and nothing else.
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
Well … not really.

It IS very true that one of the approved options must be used. However, “similar words” (Canon Law, GIRM) may be used. It’s not a stretch to say “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord and one another”. That is substantially similar. “The mass never ends” is not similar at all.
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Laudatur Iesus Christus.

Dear PaixGioiaAmor:

Could you please give a more specific citation to the Canon Law or to the General Instruction for the Roman Missal? Does this “similar words” provision apply to all liturgical texts, in your view, or to only certain parts of the Liturgy?

In view of the Lord’s argument that, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other,” (Luke 16:13; Matthew 6:24) one might wonder what mischief this “and one another” has caused over the last few decades.

Pax Christi nobiscum.

John Hiner
 
PaixGioiaAmor said:
Well … not really.

It IS very true that one of the approved options must be used. However, “similar words” (Canon Law, GIRM) may be used. It’s not a stretch to say “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord and one another”. That is substantially similar. “The mass never ends” is not similar at all.
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It needs to be directly referenced in the GIRM. There are indications such as the greeting from the introductory rite, where the priest can address these people in “these or similar words”, likewise in the “orate fratres” portion ("pray brethren) where it is also carefully noted that he can use “these or similar words.” This is not a blanket adaptation.

Therefore, it does not apply to the conclusion of the Mass, as the rubrics and wording are specifically spelled out (and Fr. Corey’s post comes directly from the Roman Missal).
 
Whether it is liturgically correct or not is immaterial, since it is theologically correct.
The salvific work of Christ is an ongoing work. What was made physical on the cross and is memorialized at Mass is a work of salvation which God performs in his timelessness. It neither begins nor ends. God’s very existence is forgiving and saving.

Matthew
 
drafdog said:
Whether it is liturgically correct or not is immaterial, since it is theologically correct.
The salvific work of Christ is an ongoing work. What was made physical on the cross and is memorialized at Mass is a work of salvation which God performs in his timelessness. It neither begins nor ends. God’s very existence is forgiving and saving.

Matthew
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Matthew, my friend, inasmuch as you are right, to a certain extent, the thread concerns whether or not saying this is permissible under the GIRM and Redemptionis Sacramentum. It is not. As nice a saying as is, no one is allowed to add, subtract, multiply or divide what is written in the Roman MIssal. This goes back to even the Constition on Sacred Liturgy (Vatican II).

When we think that we can override, “enhance” or “improve” the Mass by making additions of our own, then we are playing a dangerous game with the integrity of the Mass. Think about it. As interesting as your posts are, sometimes you might be treading on choppy waters.
 
Thank you all for your comments on this. I want to get up enough nerve to approach my new priest about this.
 
I’ve recently returned to my long-time parish; the pastor is new to me, but he has been at the parish for several years. He closes the Mass with the “never ends, must be lived” language discussed above.

cmacagno, how did your priest react to your question?
 
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