Understanding the Norms in the GIRM

[Mysty101]

I seems that there is quite a range of the authority of the GIRM.

Some act as if it is merely a suggestion, others feel it is an instruction, but it is OK to deviate on personal preference.

This revised Institutio Generalis possesses a unique role among all the documents on the liturgy. Like its preceding editions, it has been published in order to give life to a dream. It was the dream of reformers such as St. Hippolytus, St. Gregory, and St. Leo. It was the dream of Pope Paul VI and clearly remains the vision of Pope John Paul II, who calls us to “an ever deeper grasp of the liturgy of the Church, celebrated according to the current books and lived above all as a reality in the spiritual order” (Vicesimus Quintus Annus, 1988, no. 14). Likewise, this dream is shared by the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that it serves. Finally, it is the vision of the Church itself: the dream of God’s people joined to Christ in Baptism and made “ever more holy by conscious, active, and fruitful participation in the mystery of the Eucharist” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 5).

At the request of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, Bishop of Belleville, President of the Conference of Bishops of the United States of America, in a letter of November 13, 2002, and in virtue of the faculties granted to this Congregation by the Supreme Pontiff JOHN PAUL II, we gladly confirm and approve the English translation of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani, excerpted from the third typical edition of the same Missal, as in the attached copy
Two copies of the printed text should be forwarded to this Congregation.

All things to the contrary notwithstanding.

From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, March 17, 2003.

• Francis Cardinal Arinze
  Prefect
• Franciscus Pius Tamburrino
  Archbishop-Secretary

Comments?

 

[MilesJesu]

Unfortunately, you are correct that many feel that the GIRM only offers guidelines. But upon examination of the document, you can see in paragraph 21 that:

“21. This Instruction aims both to offer general guidelines for properly arranging the Celebration of the Eucharist and to set forth rules for ordering the various forms of celebration.32”

Many forget the second part about setting forth rules. Even so, there are some that either through ignorance or malice, forget about paragraph 24 that states:

“…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”
Peace,

MilesJesu

 

[Mysty101]

MilesJesu:

“…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”

Absolutely, but we must also remember the instructions in regard to abuse especially a minor one
from RS
**

183.

In an altogether particular manner, let everyone do all that is in their power to ensure that the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist will be protected from any and every irreverence or distortion and that all abuses be thoroughly corrected. This is a most serious duty incumbent upon each and every one, and all are bound to carry it out without any favoritism.

184. Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ’s faithful, has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.290 It is fitting, however, insofar as possible, that the report or complaint be submitted first to the diocesan Bishop. This is naturally to be done in truth and charity.
**
There is absolutely no instruction for a member of the congregation to correct or especially ridicule anyone, especially regarding something which is not specifically stated as an abuse.