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NEWSPAPER DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH
SUPPLEMENT TO ISSUE OF THURSDAY, OCT. 29,1964
Text of Instruction on Liturgy
INTRODUCTION
I. Nature of Instruction
1. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy is de
servedly counted among the first fruits of the Sec
ond Ecumenical Vatican Council, since it governs
the most excellent part of the Church’s activity. It
will bear more abundant fruit the more profoundly
the pastors and the faithful of Christ perceive its
genuine spirit and put it into practice with good will.
2. The Commission for the Implementation of
the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, established
by the Supreme Pontiff, Paul VI, in the apostolic
letter Sacram Liturgiam has already speedily under
taken the task entrusted to it, to bring the direc
tives of the constitution and of the apostolic letter
to a proper fulfillment and to provide for the in
terpretation and execution of these documents.
3. It is of the greatest importance that the docu
ments, from the very beginning, should be properly
applied everywhere, with doubts, if there are any,
concerning its interpretation being removed. There
fore, the commission, by mandate of the Supreme
Pontiff, has prepared this instruction, in which the
functions of the bodies of bishops in liturgical mat
ters are more clearly defined, some principles given
in general words in the above-mentioned documents
are explained more precisely, and finally some mat
ters, which can be put into practice now, before the
restoration of the liturgical books, are allowed or re
quired.
II. Some Principles to Be Noted
4. What is now defined as to be put into practice
has the purpose of making the liturgy correspond
always more perfectly to the mind of the council
concerning the promotion of active participation of
the faithful.
The general reform of the sacred liturgy, more
over, will be accepted more readily by the faithful
if it proceeds gradually and by stages and if the
reform is proposed to the faithful and explained to
them by the pastors by means required of the cate-
chesis.
5. Nevertheless, it is necessary first that all be
persuaded of the intention of the Constitution on the
Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council: not
cnly to change liturgical forms and texts, but rather
to stir up that formation of the faithful and pas
toral activity which has the sacred liturgy as sum
mit and fount (cf. Const., Art. 10). The changes thus
far introduced and to be introduced into the sacred
liturgy in the future are directed toward this end.
6. The power of pastoral-liturgical activity rests
The Southern Cross here presents a special four-
page section with the complete text of the instruction
on the liturgy issued by the Sacred Congregation of
Rites. This center section can be pulled out and
saved for ready reference. The text was provided by
N.C.W.C. News Service. It is dated Sept. 26, 1964,
but was not made public until Oct. 16, 1964.
in this, that the Christian life may express the pas
chal mystery in which the Son of God, incarnate
and made obedient even to the death of the cross,
is so exalted in His resurrection and ascension that
He may share His divine life with the world. By
this life men, dead to sin and conformed to Christ,
‘ may live no longer for themselves but for him
who died for them and rose again.” (2 Cor. 5:15).
This is done through faith and through the sac
raments of faith, that is, chiefly through Baptism
(cf. Const., Art 6.) and the most sacred mystery
of the Eucharist (cf. Const., Art. 47). Around the
Eucharist are ranged the other sacraments and the
sacramentals (cf. Const., Art. 61) and the cycle of
celebrations by which the paschal mystery of Christ
is unfolded in the Church during the course of the
year. (cf. Const., Art 102-107).
7. Therefore, even if the liturgy does not exhaust
the entire action of the Church (cf. Const Art. 9),
nevertheless the greatest attention must be paid to
the necessary connection between pastoral works
and the sacred liturgy, so that pastoral-liturgical ac
tion is not exercised as if separate and abstract,
but as intimately joined to other pastoral activities.
It is especially necessary that there be a close
union between the liturgy and catechesis, religious
formation, and preaching.
III. Fruits Hoped For
8. Thus, the Bishops and their assistants in the
priesthood should relate their entire pastoral minis
try ever more closely to the liturgy. In this way
the faithful may derive the divine life in abundance
from the perfect participation in the sacred celebra
tions and, made the ferment of Christ and the salt
of the earth, will proclaim the divine life and com
municate it to others.
CHAPTER I
Some General Norms
I. Application of Norms
9. The practical norms, found in the constitu
tion or in this instruction, and whatever is per
mitted or determined now by this instruction before
the restoration of the liturgical books, even if they
pertain to the Roman rite alone, may nevertheless
be applied to the other Latin rites, the provisions of
law being observed.
10. Those matters which are entrusted to the
competent territorial ecclesiastical authority in this
instruction may and should be put into effect by
that authority alone through: legitimate decrees.
In individual cases, the time and the circum
stances in which these decrees will take effect shall
be defined, always with a reasonable interval of time
for the faithful to be instructed and prepared for
their observance.
II. Liturgical Formation of Clerics
11. With regard to the liturgical formation ot
clerics:
(a) In theological faculties there shall be a
chair of liturgy, so that all the students may receive
the necessary liturgical instruction; in seminaries
and in the houses of studies, of Religious, local Or
dinaries and major superiors shall see to it that as
sotn as possible there be a special and properly
prepared teacher of liturgy.
(b) Professors who are appointed to teach
sacred liturgy shall be prepared as soon as possible,
in accordance with the norm of Art. 15 of the con-
situation.
(c) For the further liturgical instruction of
clerics, particularly of those who are already work
ing in the Lord’s vineyard, pastoral-liturgical insti
tutes shall be established where possible.
12. The liturgy shall be taught for a suitable
period of time, to be indicated in the curriculum
of studies by the competent authority, and according
to an appropriate method in accordance with the
norm of Art. 16 of the constitution.
13. Liturgical services shall be celebrated as
perfectly as possible. Therefore:
(a) The directions shall be cartfully observed
and the ceremonies performed with dignity, under
the diligent vigilance of the seminary directors,
with the necessary preparations beforehand.
(b) Clerics shall frequently fulfill the liturgi
cal functions of their order, that is, of deacon, sub
deacon, acolyte, lector, and, in addition, of com
mentator and cantor.
(c) The churches and oratories, the sacred
furnishings in general, and sacred vestments shall
afford an example of genuine Christian art, in
cluding contemporary art.
III. Liturgical Formation of Spiritual Life
of Clerics (Const., Art. 17)
14. In order that clerics may be formed for
the full participation in liturgical celebrations and
for the spiritual life to be derived from these cele
brations, while being prepared to share this parti
cipation and life with others, the Constitution on
the Sacred Liturgy shall be put into full effect in
seminaries and houses of studies of religious, in
accordance with the norm of documents from the
Apostolic See, with the unanimous and harmonious
cooperation of all the directors and teachers to this
end. A suitable formation in the sacred liturgy shall
be provided for the clerics together with the recom
mendation of books dealing with the liturgy, especial
ly under its theological and spiritual aspect, which
should be available in the library in sufficient num
bers: as well as by meditations and* conferences
which shall be drawn above all from the fount of
sacred Scripture and the liturgy (cf. Const., Art.
35, 2); and by common exercises, in accordance
with Christian custom and usage, but suited to the
various seasons of the liturgical year.
15. The Eucharist, the center of the entire
spiritual life, shall be celebrated daily with the use
of different and appropriate forms which best cor
respond to the condition of the participants (cf.
Const., Art. 19).
On Sundays, however, and on other major feast
days, a sung Mass shall be celebrated with the
participation of all who are in the seminary or house
of studies, with a homily and, as far as possible,
with the sacramental communion of those who are
not priests. The priests may concelebrate, especially
on the more solemn feast days, if the needs of the
faithful do not require that they celebrate indivi
dually, and after the new rite of concelebration has
been published.
It is desirable that, at least on major feast
days, the students should participate in the celebra
tion of the Eucharist assembled around the Bishop
in the cathedral church (cf. Const., Art. 41).
16. It is most fitting that the clerics, even if
they are not yet bound by the obligation of the Di
vine Offict, should each day recite or chant in com
mon lauds, in the morning as morning prayer, and
vespers, in the evening as evening prayer, or com
pline, at the end of the day. The directors them
selves shall take part in this common recitation,
as far as possible. In addition, sufficient time shall
be provided in the order of the day for clerics in
sacred orders to pray the divine office.
It is desirable that, as least on major feast
days, the students should chant vespers in the
cathedral church, where possible.
17. Exercises of piety, arranged according to
the laws or customs of each place or institute,
shall be held in due esteem. Nevertheless, care
should be taken, especially if these exercises are
celebrated in common, that they be in harmony
with the sacred liturgy, according to the purpose of
Art. 13, and that they be related to the seasons of
the liturgical year.
IV. Liturgical Formation of Members of
Institute Dedicated to Acquiring Perfection
18. What has been said in the preceding articles
concerning the liturgical formation of the spiritual
life of clerics must be applied also to the members,
both men and women, of institutes dedicated to
acquiring perfection, with the necessary adaptations.
V. Liturgical Formation of the Faithful
(Const., Art. 19)
19. Pastors of souls shall strive diligently and
patiently to carry out the command of the consti
tution concerning the liturgical formation of the
faithful and their active participation, both internal
and external, ‘‘according to their age and condition,
their way of life, and standard of religious cul
ture” (Const. Art. 19). They should be especially
concerned about the liturgical formation and the
active participation of those who are engaged 'n
religious associations of the laity, since it is the
latter’s duty to share more intimately in the life of
the Church and also to assist the pastors of souls in
properly promoting the liturgical life of the parish
(cf. Const., Art. 42).