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Thursday 31 March 2011

Canadian Implementation of new Roman Missal

As reported earlier and in a continuing series here on Vox Cantoris, the new Roman Missal in Canada is finally approved for use after a long wait.

Here for your consumption is this with my comment:

Your Eminences, Your Excellencies,

Our Conference has now received
recognitio for all sections of the English translation of the revised Roman Missal for use in Canada. (This was granted at the end of February and the CCCB's own website indicates that they would only "approve" the GIRM for use once a French version was complete. Rome thinks otherwise!) The Executive Committee, in consultation with the Permanent Council, has selected the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011, as the date for the official implementation of the English translation of the Missal. (Our sources indicate that Rome told the CCCB that Advent I was the date, they did not select it and were given no opportunity to delay it any further) The official decree for this date has not yet been published, because our Conference is still involved in discussions with the Congregation for Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments about the exact wording of one of the requested adaptations for Canada. (What adaptation? Is this the desire to canonize three different kneeling postures including only at the Consecration which goes against the GIRM for the United States and Great Britain. Canada needs MORE kneeling, not less! Again, the Canadian Proper of Saints cannot be that compicated and since it is part of the Missal and "all sections" have been approved, it must be something else. Note that there is one change and that is that the people are to stand at the beginning of the Orate Fratres--Pray Brethren-or Pray Brothers and Sisters)

These discussions with the Congregation will not in any way slow down the preparation of the English translation of the revised Missal. Both the National Liturgy Office and the
CCCB Publications Department are busy preparing the new book and their work is proceeding on schedule.

As well, the English Sector National Liturgy Office is preparing to start the launching of the
catechetical material it has already prepared. The resource Celebrate and Song, which contains the parts of the Mass spoken by the people, as well as three newly composed Mass settings and the ICEL chants, is now finished and will be available for distribution during the first half of April. This resource also contains the texts of Eucharistic Prayers I-IV and 40 hymns (Propers, where are the Propers?) not currently found in the Catholic Book of Worship III. (The ICEL chants are exceptionally well done; I have not yet seen the three new settings.)

Starting the first week of April, the National Liturgy Office will begin posting texts and power-point slides to be used for workshops at the local level – including workshops dealing with the theology of Eucharist,
(I really wish they would stop referring to the liturgy as "Eucharist" instead of the Mass or Holy Sacrifice of the Mass) the process of translation and revision, and the history of the Eucharist.

We had not been able to proceed with the production of the DVDs with Salt and Light TV until the matter of Canadian adaptations was resolved
(so the questions are resolved and it is now only wording? What are the questions that were resolved? Why is it not revealed?) and recognitio received. We can now proceed with the DVDs. National Liturgy Office Director Father Bill Burke and CCCB Publications Director Dr. Glenn Byer have met with Salt and Light CEO Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B. The scripts to be used are completed. Salt and Light will do filming in May and June and then, after editing and production, the two DVDs will be ready for distribution by the end of August. (The United States has been preparing for over a year already) The first will be a two-hour presentation on the theological emphases of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. The second will be an hour-long presentation with a teaching DVD on the structure of the Mass and the meaning of each part of the Mass. The National Liturgy Office will provide a packet of material including suggested workshop formats and questions for discussion at the parish level.

Finally, early in September, we will have
CDs ready with a cantor singing a dozen or so of the new prefaces to assist priests who do not read music but would like to sing the prefaces. (This is good, any priest wishing private lessons may contact me at voxcantoris (at) rogers (dot) com for the Prefaces, Gospel, Exultet, Proclamation of the Moveable Feasts on Epiphany, etc.).

If you have any questions or concerns about the implementation of the English translation of the revised Missal for use in Canada, or about the
catechetical materials being planned for its implementation, please do not hesitate to call me.

With every good and prayerful wish on our Lenten journey, I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ Our Lord,

(Rev. Msgr.) Patrick Powers, P.H.
General Secretary

Better late than never.

It remains to be seen what "
adaption" is approved for Canada and if this is simply the Canadian Proper of Saints or if it is the desire of the CCCB to see various kneeling postures implemented. To refresh you on this matter see here.

Let us hope that the CCCB and those responsible at Salt + Light for the training materials and will include some liturgical discipline in their instruction. There is some justified cynicism that the new translation won't stop some priests from changing the words once again.


[22.3.] Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority. Sacrosanctam Concilium

[52.]...
I (Pope John Paul II) consider it my duty, therefore to appeal urgently that the liturgical norms for the celebration of the Eucharist be observed with great fidelity. These norms are a concrete expression of the authentically ecclesial nature of the Eucharist; this is their deepest meaning. Liturgy is never anyone's private property, be it of the celebrant or of the community in which the mysteries are celebrated. Ecclesia de Eucharistia

[59.] The reprobated practice by which Priests, Deacons or the faithful here and there alter or vary at will the texts of the Sacred Liturgy that they are charged to pronounce, must cease. For in doing thus, they render the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy unstable, and not infrequently distort the authentic meaning of the Liturgy. Redemptionis Sacramentum
There are questions worth asking by all John and Mary Catholics; not just by this "untrained liturgist."

9 comments:

T/M/R said...

Interesting! And this letter is nowhere to be found on the CCCB website. What gives?

Vox Cantoris said...

The CCCB has been silent on most things relating to the new Missal. It cannot compare to the excellent resources available through the USCCB and other private sources.

Their communication strategy is sadly lacking.

Mike said...

Wow I wonder what some of  southerners are into. Click
here


I hope it's not catching.

Anil Wang said...

Mike,

Click the "CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!" button on your link.

Pascendi said...

"... teachings .... instructions ..." ??? After all these years of a liturgical revival, "noble simplicity", etc., etc., the clergy and faithful still do not know what Mass is; what the parts are ...? Is it any wonder that the Faithful are confused on the Real Presence (not to mention clerical confusion!!).

It is to be hoped that the education of the faithful and indeed the clergy will include the Mystery of Faith! : that Jesus Christ is really and truly present on the altar after the words of Consecration - through the great mystery of what the Church calls "transubstantiation" (not consubstantiation etc.) that He is present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. And then let us hope that this awareness in His Presence amongst us will bring true reverence: the awe and respect worthy within a temple of God (and not a theatre or community meeting place), an increase of reception kneeling and on the tongue...

Let us pray for our priests. They desperately need our prayers. Let us pray for priests to have the humility to return to true and correct liturgical practice; realizing that the liturgy is not private devotion, but the public prayer of the Church.

Let us pray to St. Joseph that Canada may become worthy to have such a great Patron.

Pascendi said...

With the new Missal being published, it is essential that Catholics ensure that the abuse of the liturgy cease.

Each and every post-conciliar pope has spoken strongly on this issue. The Mass is profaned when a priest adds or detracts from the public prayer of the Church. He renders the Mass illicit.

He places himself above Peter; he contradicts himself (on the one hand he may read from the Canon the words of unity with the Supreme Pontiff and the Ordinary, all the while rejecting in practice submission by creating his own Mass through the changing of words (e.g. dropping "sacrifice" from the Orate Fratres for "our offering of bread and wine" ), addition of illicit practices (e.g. using extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist outside of the norms of the law), profanation of the Mass (e.g. incorporating pagan dance), and worst of all profanation of the Blessed Sacrament (e.g. "Eucharistic Ministers" not purifying their hands, not providing and preaching on the need for sacramental confession for mortal sin prior to reception of our Lord Jesus Christ), and so on ...

Anonymous said...

The National Liturgy Office of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is currently working on the revised Roman Missal.  It is expected to be implemented in Fall 2011.

Soon we will get clear, accurate and unleaked information.

James said...

I emigrated to Canada from the UK last september. I was the lead Altar Server who trained the ones in our Parish. I also had the great privilage of being the Thurifier in the Cathedreal when our priest was made a Canon. One of the most important things used to teach the children as Altar Servers was REVERENCE. We must as Catholics remember WHO it is that is really and truely present - Body Blood Soul and Divinity in the Tabernacle. Part of this was the geneflection and Kneeling - signs of reverence and humilty in the presence of the Lord.

With this to see everyone stand during the most important part of the mass - the consecration - when Jesus through the miracle of the mass comes present on our altar was a bit unnerving. I have got used to it, although our family, and a few others still kneel from the Sanctus to the Great Amen, and also after the Lamb of God until we go to receive communion.

Therefore I have prayed in front of the tabernacle for greater reverence here - and hopefully with the Vatican putting out the new GIRM we will all be the same.

One final note, I always, apart from the time of swine flu outbreak, received our Lord on my tounge. The Pope in his masses gives out communion to people who kneel on a kneeler - as the Pope thought people need to remember the significance of that precious moment.

Lets hope and pray that the reverence Our Lord deserves comes within the Catholic Church worldwide.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm for some reason only half the post can be seen. I tried reloading but still same.

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