General Instruction of the Roman Missal
What has changed?
 Here are some key things to know about the General Instructions of the Roman Missal (GIRM):
"GIRM" is not pronounced as "germ". It's a hard G.
- The instructions or "norms" are general principles.
- The GIRM is more like a recipe book than Canon Law.
- "Norms" means "overriding principles" because they can be adapted for various local cultures, but only when necessary.
- Adaptations should not become a priest's own special twist that supersedes the norms, but it's okay to have varied adaptations as long as they show respect for the norms.
- There are degrees of required compliance, which means the weight of the norms vary - indicated by "must", "should", or "may". We're to be neither overly rigid nor overly lax in using the instructions.
Note: To understand how adaptations work, understand the difference between "adaptations" and "accommodations". In the former, the Church provides the general guidelines, in the latter, pastors can make temporary but necessary changes.
The GIRM was revised in 2000 and instituted in the U.S. in 2002. Most changes are relatively minor. Perhaps the biggest change is that there's more emphasis on using silence during the Mass. Here are the other most noticeable changes:
| SETUP FOR MASS (the environment) |
| • |
Art should enhance the faith, not be distracting. |
| • |
REAL candles, flowers, etc. are to be used. |
OPENING RITES
|
| • |
"Lord have mercy" should be expressed as praise. |
LITURGY OF THE WORD
|
| • |
It should promote meditation, not haste, by slowing things down between readings and by giving time for silent reflection before and/or after the homily. |
| • |
After Mass, the Book of the Gospels is NOT to be carried out any more, because we all carry the Gospel out of the church in our hearts and lives. |
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST |
| • |
The entire Eucharistic Prayer is to known as consecratory, which means if bells are rung, they should be rung at the start and at the end of the prayer, not just when the host and cup are raised. |
| • |
The Offertory should be done is such a way as to communicate that we are offering our lives to become more like Christ. |
COMMUNION |
| • |
The GIRM is mute on what hand gestures should be used for the Our Father; it's up to the parish. |
| • |
There is to be no genuflecting in the communion line. This can get in the way or draw attention to self instead of to Christ in the Eucharist. When about to receive the Eucharist, a slight bow of the head, from above the shoulders, is to be made to show respect. |
REGARDING POSTURE DURING COMMUNION |
| • |
"…as circumstances allow, they may sit or kneel while the period of sacred silence after Communion is observed." |
| • |
"In the dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus ["Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of your Glory..."] until after the Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or some other good reason. Those who do not kneel ought to make a profound bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration. The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei ["Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us...", which is after the sign of peace] unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise." |
REGARDING POSTURE IN GENERAL |
| • |
There is to be uniformity of posture, to indicate our unity as the Body of Christ. This means that if you're visiting a parish that stands when you're used to kneeling, or that kneels when you're used to standing, do as that parish does instead of being different. |
| • |
"With a view to a uniformity in gestures and postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the directions which the deacon, lay minister, or priest gives according to whatever is indicated in the Missal." |
More information:
Here's the US bishops' copy of the GIRM:
http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/girm/index.shtml
For a complete description of all the changes, see:
http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/innews/03042002.shtml
See the U.S. bishops' webpage on posture:
http://www.nccbuscc.org/liturgy/q&a/mass/posture.shtml
For more on the correct posture during Mass, see the WordByte "Should we be standing or kneeling?" |
