The

Roman
Missal
2000

The Theological Vision

of Sacrosanctum Concilium
and the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani

I. Theological Premises of the Conciliar Reform of the Liturgy

The Celebration of the Eucharist is Christo-centric
Every Celebration of the Eucharist Requires a Bishop or
his Priest
Participation of the Faithful is the Goal to be Considered
Before all Others
The Eucharist is the Source and Summit of the Christian
Life

The Celebration of the Eucharist

is First of all Christo-centric
Saint Augustine:
So now, if you want to understand the body of Christ, listen to
the Apostle Paul, speaking to the faithful: You are the body of
Christ, member for member (1 Cor. 12.27). If you, therefore,
are Christs body and members, it is your own mystery that is
placed on the Lords table! It is your own mystery that you are
receiving! You are saying Amen to what you are --your
response is a personal signature, affirming your faith. When
you hear, The Body of Christ --you reply, Amen. Be a
member of Christs body, then, so that your Amen may ring
true.

The Celebration of the Eucharist

is First of all Christo-centric
The Altar
The Altar Cross
Sacred Images
The Tabernacle

 Altar: signifies to the assembly of the faithful the one Christ

and the one Eucharist of the Church (303) and represents
Christ Jesus, the Living Stone (1 Peter 2:4; cf. Eph. 2:20)
Altar Cross: with the figure of Christ crucified upon
it...should clearly visible not only during the liturgy but at all
times.
Sacred Images: In the earthly liturgy, the Church participates
in a foretaste of the heavenly liturgy, which is celebrated in the
holy city Jerusalem, towards which she tends as a pilgrim and
where Christ sits at the right hand of God. By so venerating
the memory of the saints, the Church hopes for some small
part and company with them.

The Tabernacle
the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a
tabernacle in a part of the church which is noble, worthy,
conspicuous, well decorated and suitable for prayer.
Location according to the judgment of the diocesan Bishop.
a) either in the sanctuary, apart from the altar of celebration,
in a more agreeable form and place, but not excluding on an
old altar which is no longer used for celebration.
b) or even in another chapel suitable for adoration and the
private prayer of the faithful, and which ought to be joined
integrally with the church and be conspicuous to the faithful.

Every Celebration of the Eucharist

Requires the Bishop or his Priest
Presbyterorum Ordinis, 5.

It is in the eucharistic cult or in the eucharistic assembly of the

faithful (synaxis) that [bishops and their priests] exercise in a
supreme degree their sacred functions; there, acting in the
person of Christ and proclaiming his mystery, they unite the
votive offerings of the faithful to the sacrifice of Christ their
head, and in the sacrifice of the Mass they make present again
and apply, until the coming of the Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 11:26), the
unique sacrifice of the New Testament, that namely of Christ
offering himself once for all a spotless victim to the Father (cf.
Heb. 9:11-28).

Every Celebration of the Eucharist

Requires the Bishop or his Priest

The Bishop
Priests
Deacons

The Bishop
chief steward of the mysteries... moderator, promoter and
guardian of the entire liturgical life of his diocese.

blessing with the Book of the Gospels

prayers for the bishop

The Priest

celebration of the Eucharist

is seen as the priests principal office,
commended to celebrate the Eucharistic sacrifice even daily
function of their own order

the common spiritual good of the people of God, rather than...his

own inclinations

The Priest at Mass

Gospel in the absence of a deacon...blessing from
bishop, not another priest
sign of peace with the other ministers...The peace
of the Lord be with you always. R. Amen.
Fractio should not be unnecessarily prolonged
host over the chalice at Ecce

The Deacon at Mass I

At Mass the deacon proclaims the gospel reading,
sometimes preaches God's word, announces the
intentions of the general intercessions, ministers
to the priest, prepares the altar and serves the
celebration of the sacrifice, distributes the
Eucharist to the faithful, especially under the
species of wine, and from time to time gives
directions regarding the people's gestures and
posture.

The Deacon at Mass II

the first among the ministers by reason of his sacred
ordination
Book of the Gospels in the entrance procession is slightly elevated...arriving
at the altar he does not bow at all, but immediately places the book on the altar
and kisses the altar with the priest.

In the presence of concelebrants, the deacon stands near the altar when
his ministry involves the chalice and Missal. Nevertheless, as much as possible,
the deacon stands back from the altar, slightly behind the concelebrants.

As a rule he kneels from the epiclesis to the elevation

of the chalice

Participation of the Faithful is the

Goal to be Considered Before all Others
Sacrosanctum Concilium 48:
And so the church devotes careful efforts to prevent Christian believers from
attending this mystery of faith as though they were outsiders or silent
onlookers: rather, having a good understanding of this mystery, through the
ritual and the prayers, they should share in the worshipping event, aware of
what is happening and devoutly involved. They should be formed by Gods
word, and refreshed at the table of the Lords body; they should give thanks to
God; they should learn to offer themselves as they offer the immaculate victim
-- not just through the hands of the priest, but also they themselves making the
offering together with him; and, as each day goes by, they should be led
towards their final goal of unity with God and among themselves through the
mediation of Christ, so that finally God may be all in all.

Participation of the Faithful is the

Goal to be Considered Before all Others
For these people are the people of God, purchased by Christ's blood,
gathered together by the Lord, nourished by his word. They are a
people called to offer God the prayers of the entire human family, a
people giving thanks in Christ for the mystery of salvation by
offering his sacrifice. Finally, they are a people growing together
into unity by sharing in Christ's body and blood. These people are
holy by their origin, but becoming ever more holy by conscious,
active, and fruitful participation in the mystery of the Eucharist.
(IGMR, no. 15)

Participation of the Faithful is the

Goal to be Considered Before all Others
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Readers
Acolytes
Other Ministers

The Congregation
POSTURE AND GESTURE

allow the whole celebration to shine with dignity and noble

simplicity, demonstrating the full and true meaning of each of
their diverse parts, while fostering the participation of all.
Adds reasons of health to the exceptions when people may
stand at the consecration
Those standing at the consecration ought to make a profound
bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration.
Where it is the custom that the people remain kneeling from
the end of the Sanctus until the end of the Eucharistic Prayer
[as in the United States] this is laudably retained.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy

Communion
Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may be
called forward by the priest
Only when a sufficient number of priests or deacons
are not present
First among those to be called forward are instituted
acolytes

Readers
A ministerial, not a presidential function
Duties of the instituted reader are described as specific
to him and which he alone ought to perform, even
though ordained ministers may be present.
In the absence of a deacon, the reader, properly
vested, may carry the Books of the Gospels slightly
elevated in the entrance procession. The Lectionary,
however, is never carried in procession.

Other Ministers
In the absence of an instituted acolyte, lay ministers may serve at
the altar, assisting the priest or deacon. They may carry the cross,
candles, ashes, censer, bread, wine and water or serve as
extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. The Bishop may
issue norms concerning the function of altar server.

105 The following also exercise a liturgical function:

a) The sacristan, who arranges the liturgical books, the vestments and other things which
are necessary in the celebration of Mass.

b) The Commentator, who provides the faithful with brief explanations and commentaries
as needed with the purpose of introducing them to the celebration and preparing them to
understand it better. The commentator's remarks must be meticulously prepared and
marked by a simple brevity. In performing this function the commentator stands in a
convenient place visible to the faithful, not, however, at the ambo.

c) Those who take up the collection.

d) Those who, in some places meet the faithful at the church entrance, seat them, and
direct processions.

The Eucharist is the Source and

Summit of the Christian Life
Sacrosanctum Concilium 7:

To accomplish so great a work, Christ is always present in his

Church, especially in its liturgical celebrations. He is present in the
sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of his minister, "the
same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly
offered himself on the cross," but especially under the eucharistic
elements. By his power he is present in the sacraments, so that
when a man baptizes it is really Christ himself who baptizes. He is
present in his word, since it is he himself who speaks when the holy
Scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the
Church prays and sings, for he promised: "Where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them
(Matthew 18:20).

The Eucharist is the Source and

Summit of the Christian Life
IG 16:
The celebration of Mass, the action of Christ and the people of
God arrayed hierarchically, is for the Church universal and local
as well as for each of the faithful the center of the whole
Christian life.1 In the Mass we have the high point of the work
that in Christ God accomplishes to sanctify us and the high point
of the worship that the human race offers to the Father, whom we
adore through Christ, the Son of God, in the Holy Spirit.2 During
the cycle of the year, moreover, the mysteries of redemption are
recalled in the Mass in such a way that they are somehow made
present.3 All other liturgical rites and all the works of the
Christian life are linked with the Eucharistic celebration, flow
from it, and have it as their end.

Liturgy of the Word

Silence
Music
Communion under both kinds
Sacred Vessels
Incense

The Eucharist is the Source and

Summit of the Christian Life
Silence: even before the celebration itself, it is
praiseworthy for silence to be observed in church,
in the sacristy and adjacent areas, so that all may
dispose themselves for the sacred rites which are
to be enacted in a devout and fitting manner.
Music: Gregorian chant as more proper to the
Roman liturgy included, though other kinds of
sacred music, polyphony in particular, are not in
any way to be excluded.

The Eucharist is the Source and

Summit of the Christian Life
Communion under both kinds: In addition, the bishops may
establish norms for the distribution of Communion under
both kinds for his own diocese which must be observed even
in the churches of religious orders and small communities.

Sacred Things III

Sacred Vessels are to be made from noble metal. It
is only following a formal action of the Conference of
Bishops and confirmation by the Apostolic See that
other solid materials which, in the common
estimation of the region are regarded as noble may
be used.

Incense

Adaptations and Inculturation

By Bishops
By Episcopal Conferences
More profound changes
Nature of the Roman Rite