General Instruction of the Roman Missal
Why are the Changes Important?
A look at the history of the liturgy reveals that it has been a reality in flux, adapting to place, culture, and era. The new General Instructions are an update, a fine-tuning, you could say, of what the Second Vatican Council called for in the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
“When he was about to celebrate with his disciples the Passover meal in which he instituted the sacrifice of his Body and Blood, Christ the Lord gave instructions that a large, furnished upper room should be prepared (Lk 22:12). The Church has always regarded this command as applying also to herself when she gives directions about the preparation of people’s hearts and minds and of the places, rites and texts for the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist. The current norms, prescribed in keeping with the will of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, and the new Missal that the Church of the Roman Rite is to use from now on in the celebration of Mass are also evidence of the great concern of the Church, of her faith, and of her unchanged love for the great mystery of the Eucharist. They likewise bear witness to the Church’s continuous and unbroken tradition, irrespective of the introduction of certain new features (GIRM, 1).
Official Clarity. The new Instructions are a direct response to the needs and desires of the faithful, bishops, pastors and liturgists for clarity about the meaning of the Mass, a desire for uniformity and a longing to strengthen the qualities of reverence and silence that are so important for worship.
The Role of the Faithful. The GIRM reiterates the Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy in the assertion that all gathered should give thanks to God, not only through the hands of the priests, but also with him, they should offer themselves as well … with full, conscious, active participation.” (CSL, 48, 14).
The Role of the Priest. The priest acts “in the person of Christ, head of the Church.” As such “when he celebrates the Eucharist, therefore, he must serve God and the people with dignity and humility, and by his bearing and by the way he says the divine words he must convey to the faithful the living presence of Christ” (GIRM, 93).
The Role of Other Liturgical Ministers. The GIRM reminds us that whenever we gather for Eucharist, we are gathered in a variety of ministries and roles – all rooted in our Baptism in which we are all participants in the priesthood of Christ (GIRM, 91, 95-107). Some of the baptized are called to serve in the ministerial priesthood as bishops, priests and deacons. Others manifest the great diversity within the one Body of Christ as they serve as lectors, altar servers, EMs, cantors, musicians, preparing the environment, ushers etc. The GIRM states that such a variety is desirable and should be maintained. (GIRM, 91)
The Importance of Singing. The GIRM states that singing is a necessary and integral part of the liturgy. So important is singing that it recommends, “every care should be taken that singing by the ministers and the people is not absent in celebrations that occur on Sundays and on holy days of obligation.”
Silence. Sacred silence, as part of the celebration, is to be observed at designated times. Silence assists us in our meditation and provides for a deeper sense of prayer, divine mystery, and awe.
Reverence. Desiring to emphasize the reverence, solemnity and awe that are integral to our worship, the revised GIRM speaks of sacredness and respect in more than 93 or its 399 paragraphs. Decorations, words, actions, gestures and postures should reflect the seriousness of the utter joy of what we join Christ in doing.
Unity and Uniformity/Meal and Sacrifice. Because we live in a culture that emphasizes our individual rights and stresses an individualistic idea that Mass is about “me and Jesus alone,” the GIRM cautions against “any appearance of individualism or division” and encourages us all to form one Body in celebrating this great sacrificial meal (GIRM, 95-96). Mass is a communitarian meal, and equally important Mass perpetuates the sacrifice of the Cross. Christ died and rose not simply for me, but for us all, and in fact, for all of creation. Consequently, Mass can never be a solitary, private, individual activity. The revised GIRM reminds us in the strongest language to date that the Eucharist is the “sacrament of unity”; we worship as one Body. (Some examples of this unity as one Body, would be the unity of posture of all present during the Communion Procession when we all stand until the last person has received, or periods of silence, and unity in postures such as standing, sitting or kneeling).
(Bulletin Article January 4, 2004. Source: www.dioceseofcleveland.org/liturgy)
For more articles on the GIRM click WORSHIP.