Using the Maniple in the OF/NO

[Facite]

Would it be licit for a priest to say a NO Mass vested in a maniple? My understanding is that a priest must use a maniple in a VO Mass, but would the changes made in the Second Vatican Council render the use of this garment as illicit in the OF?

Thank you for all your answers,
Facite

 

[YoungTradCath]

I’m going to let others answer your question, but Vatican II doesn’t have a thing to do with maniples.

 

[mymamamary]

Would it be licit for a priest to say a NO Mass vested in a maniple? My understanding is that a priest must use a maniple in a VO Mass, but would the changes made in the Second Vatican Council render the use of this garment as illicit in the OF?

Thank you for all your answers,
Facite

**I don’t think it’s illicit as I don’t really see mention of it in the rubrics (although I am open to correction on that), just not common. I still think that the Maniple was a great idea and should have been prescribed in the new rubrics. It’s a symbolism of the work and sacrifice that it takes the Priest (and by extension us) to offer forth spiritual fruits. **

 

[porthos11]

The wording of the Instruction Tres Abhinc Annos regarding the maniple is:

“The maniple is no longer required.”

This wording strongly indicates that the maniple has become optional, but not suppressed and that it remains licit to use the maniple in an OF Mass. It’s just no longer illicit to omit it.

 

[corsair]

Good answer, Porthos 11. In fact the OF Mass can be celebrated using All of the vestments of the EF Mass and ad orientum. It does seem to be frowned upon in most Dioceses.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Good answer, Porthos 11. In fact the OF Mass can be celebrated using All of the vestments of the EF Mass and ad orientum. It does seem to be frowned upon in most Dioceses.

Well… except the tunicle, I believe, unless you can craft up a legal work-around that allows instituted acolytes (how I wish there were more!) to wear tunicles, since for all practical purposes an acolyte is a subdeacon, as Paul VI even states in Ministeria quaedam.

 

[FrStevenJones]

Would it be licit for a priest to say a NO Mass vested in a maniple? My understanding is that a priest must use a maniple in a VO Mass, but would the changes made in the Second Vatican Council render the use of this garment as illicit in the OF?

Thank you for all your answers,
Facite

Maniples are not prohibited in the Roman Missal, but they are not required either. In fact, they are not mentioned. Strictly speaking, using one is praeter legem (outside the law) but not contra legem ( against the law).

 

[Facite]

Would that also go with the use of a biretta in Mass, or using a cope at the beginning procession of the Mass? Would it be permissible to us those during an NO Mass?

 

[FrStevenJones]

Would that also go with the use of a biretta in Mass, or using a cope at the beginning procession of the Mass? Would it be permissible to us those during an NO Mass?

I believe both of those practices are praeter legem, but not contra legem, and thus would be permissible.

A priest should be very cautious, however, about adding his own “praeter legem” adenda to th Roman Missal.

 

[Facite]

Okay, this may be getting a bit off topic, but would it be permissible for minor or major seminarians to be wear birettas during Mass? If so, would there be a certain time during Mass at which the seminarian wearing the biretta will have to remove it?

 

[YoungTradCath]

Okay, this may be getting a bit off topic, but would it be permissible for minor or major seminarians to be wear birettas during Mass? If so, would there be a certain time during Mass at which the seminarian wearing the biretta will have to remove it?

I don’t see why not; FSSP and ICRSS seminarians do. Diocesan seminarians do sometimes. At the name of Jesus, the Trinity, and some other times. Google around.

 

[NickD]

Would that also go with the use of a biretta in Mass, or using a cope at the beginning procession of the Mass? Would it be permissible to us those during an NO Mass?

The biretta is not mentioned in the Novus Ordo rubrics, I believe, so its use wouldn’t be contra legem… However, I refer you to GIRM 337 regarding vestments:

1. The vestment proper to the Priest Celebrant at Mass and during other sacred actions directly connected with Mass is the chasuble worn, unless otherwise indicated, over the alb and stole.

I believe the cope is called for in very limited situations, e.g. Palm Sunday processions. So, for better or for worse, he couldn’t use the cope during a “regular” Ordinary Form Mass.

 

[porthos11]

The biretta is not mentioned in the Novus Ordo rubrics, I believe, so its use wouldn’t be contra legem… However, I refer you to GIRM 337 regarding vestments:

I believe the cope is called for in very limited situations, e.g. Palm Sunday processions. So, for better or for worse, he couldn’t use the cope during a “regular” Ordinary Form Mass.

Right. The cope in the EF was tied to the Asperges ceremony, which was technically a separate rite before Mass began. In the OF, the Asperges has become an option in the penitential rite so it would make no sense for the priest to process in a cope only to change into a chasuble right away. If there was no Asperges (such as during a High Mass outside of Sunday), the priest processed in his chasuble.

 

[andrewstx]

I used to serve Mass for maniple wearing priests and I just see them as impracticle so many times I saw Chalices being nearly knocked over and hosts nearly knocked off of the corporal.

To me maniples are uneeded and even dangerous. They really just started as hankies tucked up a sleeve as it were.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I used to serve Mass for maniple wearing priests and I just see them as impracticle so many times I saw Chalices being nearly knocked over and hosts nearly knocked off of the corporal.

To me maniples are uneeded and even dangerous. They really just started as hankies tucked up a sleeve as it were.

That is a good point which I hadn’t though of. At the same time, they look so… elegant. Agh.

 

[porthos11]

I used to serve Mass for maniple wearing priests and I just see them as impracticle so many times I saw Chalices being nearly knocked over and hosts nearly knocked off of the corporal.

To me maniples are uneeded and even dangerous. They really just started as hankies tucked up a sleeve as it were.

Then they’re not doing things right. The maniple happens to be required vestment in the Extraordinary Form Mass and the positioning of the chalice and ciboria, as well as the proper movements of the hands prevent any accidents. And there are more movements in the EF. There is no reason maniples should get in the way of the sacred elements in the OF given that the hand is away from the altar most of the time when compared to the EF.

 

[Chatter163]

Sounds like maniple was not far enough up the arm. I regularly served Masses for maniple-wearing priests as a child, and again as an adult for the past 25 years, much of which has been several times a week with FSSP priests. I have never seen this happen even once.